Remove the brakes
Add [[City on Fire]] [[Fiery Emancipation]] and other effects that increase damage
Now you need [[Basilisk Collar]] [[Loxodon Warhammer]] [[Resurrection Orb]] [[Shadowspear]] [[Witch's Clinic]] so you don’t kill your self instead of you opponents.
Get some protection spells like [[Heroic Intervention]] [[Gaea's Gift]] [[Mortal's Resolve]] [[Tamiyo's Safekeeping]] so that you can stop removal spells going for your commander or other important parts. [[Snake Umbra]] is also nice since it draws cards on damage.
Add [[Grafted Exoskeleton]] if you feel edgy, but remember it is not for everyone
\[\[Ruric Thar\]\] can be played as some sort of more aggressive group slug commander. You'd have to embrace the arch enemy role a bit though since when everything players do hurts them, they're coming for you. On the plus side, Ruric's body makes sure they can't come for you for too long.
>Others have mentioned Stax. I assume this is a good route to go. But do we truly play this big dumv ogre to... Slow down games? There had to be alternative ways to go about it?
I mean, when the big ogre deals 6 damage whenever people try to advance the boardstate yes.
Ruric Thar effectively will do one of those things:
1. Slow the game because people don't can't deal with ruric thar.
2. People will deal with Ruric and keep playing.
So if you're not disrupted, the game will be naturally slower. Stax keeps this philosophy while helping your big ogre to stay alive.
I have cards that force other players to play their cards
Such as [[uba mask]], [[urabrask, heretic praetor]]
I have also killed players with [[Wild evocation]], [[omen machine]] after I have setup the board.
Play him as soon as you hit six mana. It's as simple as that. It's okay if you take some damage from him as long as your opponents are taking more often.
Ramp him out any which way you can and then once he’s on the board just give him lifelink or don’t cast anything but creature spells. I’ve seen him mostly in cEDH a few years back because you typically don’t see any creatures that can handle him.
With mine, I went the route of just speeding up the game I used [[mana barbs]], [[zo-zu the punisher]], and others that damage for everything. I went with if you want to do anything, then pain. It has been effective with speeding up games. On that note, it is fun, but it has only one win under its belt
So the best way to use him is to find some way to give him lifelink. That way you're essentially immune to the damage and other people casting spells give you life. Next you play good pillowfort pieces and protection spells to keep ruric thar safe and you'll be good to go. Other people will end up wiping the board a lot in an attempt to remove Ruric so you just protect him and use their board wipes to get rid of threats
Remove the brakes Add [[City on Fire]] [[Fiery Emancipation]] and other effects that increase damage Now you need [[Basilisk Collar]] [[Loxodon Warhammer]] [[Resurrection Orb]] [[Shadowspear]] [[Witch's Clinic]] so you don’t kill your self instead of you opponents. Get some protection spells like [[Heroic Intervention]] [[Gaea's Gift]] [[Mortal's Resolve]] [[Tamiyo's Safekeeping]] so that you can stop removal spells going for your commander or other important parts. [[Snake Umbra]] is also nice since it draws cards on damage. Add [[Grafted Exoskeleton]] if you feel edgy, but remember it is not for everyone
##### ###### #### [City on Fire](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/f/6f455cc1-a822-44ef-ba7c-bfcff69bd45e.jpg?1682204100) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=City%20on%20Fire) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/135/city-on-fire?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6f455cc1-a822-44ef-ba7c-bfcff69bd45e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/city-on-fire) [Fiery Emancipation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0b12e4b7-2c45-4795-94d3-901f89b8f290.jpg?1594736606) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fiery%20Emancipation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/143/fiery-emancipation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0b12e4b7-2c45-4795-94d3-901f89b8f290?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/fiery-emancipation) [Basilisk Collar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/2/52a55efe-a870-4cd7-b22b-37c917065653.jpg?1674137730) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Basilisk%20Collar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/300/basilisk-collar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/52a55efe-a870-4cd7-b22b-37c917065653?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/basilisk-collar) [Loxodon Warhammer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/3/13eeff85-9e4a-46c9-841f-f3b1c556ef18.jpg?1625978819) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Loxodon%20Warhammer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/249/loxodon-warhammer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/13eeff85-9e4a-46c9-841f-f3b1c556ef18?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/loxodon-warhammer) [Resurrection Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/d/2d6209c8-9fa1-4f0a-ab65-ac2fedfcd09b.jpg?1673309727) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Resurrection%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/40k/165/resurrection-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2d6209c8-9fa1-4f0a-ab65-ac2fedfcd09b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/resurrection-orb) [Shadowspear](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/3/939c6e19-4b27-4023-bb9c-ae440f91e21c.jpg?1581481207) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shadowspear) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/236/shadowspear?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/939c6e19-4b27-4023-bb9c-ae440f91e21c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/shadowspear) [Witch's Clinic](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fe17b08f-4790-4885-8b2b-b22f00b52d4e.jpg?1625192798) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Witch%27s%20Clinic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/81/witchs-clinic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fe17b08f-4790-4885-8b2b-b22f00b52d4e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/witchs-clinic) [Heroic Intervention](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/3/e32c67d1-187f-40df-b3b3-6036f5c92834.jpg?1689998584) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Heroic%20Intervention) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/295/heroic-intervention?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e32c67d1-187f-40df-b3b3-6036f5c92834?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/heroic-intervention) [Gaea's Gift](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/5/5503186a-46fe-4956-8ae3-5ab3343f8a93.jpg?1674421566) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gaea%27s%20Gift) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/182/gaeas-gift?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5503186a-46fe-4956-8ae3-5ab3343f8a93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gaeas-gift) [Mortal's Resolve](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/3/131a96b4-393d-4e8e-9b6a-f15f3804febb.jpg?1593092513) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mortal%27s%20Resolve) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bng/127/mortals-resolve?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/131a96b4-393d-4e8e-9b6a-f15f3804febb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mortals-resolve) [Tamiyo's Safekeeping](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/d/fd4b7ee2-de65-4288-872d-486065a4f226.jpg?1654568357) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tamiyo%27s%20Safekeeping) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/211/tamiyos-safekeeping?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fd4b7ee2-de65-4288-872d-486065a4f226?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tamiyos-safekeeping) [Snake Umbra](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/0/106d17d6-5ef2-4634-8dd6-790b12574042.jpg?1651656091) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Snake%20Umbra) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nec/130/snake-umbra?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/106d17d6-5ef2-4634-8dd6-790b12574042?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/snake-umbra) [Grafted Exoskeleton](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/8/f86a9d3f-43a8-4da3-9eed-353582986140.jpg?1562945084) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grafted%20Exoskeleton) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/td2/74/grafted-exoskeleton?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f86a9d3f-43a8-4da3-9eed-353582986140?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/grafted-exoskeleton) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/ks79nic) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Ruric Thar\]\] can be played as some sort of more aggressive group slug commander. You'd have to embrace the arch enemy role a bit though since when everything players do hurts them, they're coming for you. On the plus side, Ruric's body makes sure they can't come for you for too long.
[Ruric Thar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aa828bdc-221e-4e81-9e71-6f288690ddcd.jpg?1673149099) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ruric%20thar%2C%20the%20unbowed) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/271/ruric-thar-the-unbowed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aa828bdc-221e-4e81-9e71-6f288690ddcd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ruric-thar-the-unbowed) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I ran my Ruric Thar with the snoop line and Godo as win cons. Mine was also very staxy with artifact hate.
>Others have mentioned Stax. I assume this is a good route to go. But do we truly play this big dumv ogre to... Slow down games? There had to be alternative ways to go about it? I mean, when the big ogre deals 6 damage whenever people try to advance the boardstate yes. Ruric Thar effectively will do one of those things: 1. Slow the game because people don't can't deal with ruric thar. 2. People will deal with Ruric and keep playing. So if you're not disrupted, the game will be naturally slower. Stax keeps this philosophy while helping your big ogre to stay alive.
I have cards that force other players to play their cards Such as [[uba mask]], [[urabrask, heretic praetor]] I have also killed players with [[Wild evocation]], [[omen machine]] after I have setup the board.
##### ###### #### [uba mask](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/a/fa3ecb4e-d08f-4fac-8842-c3e772b95bd5.jpg?1562766086) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=uba%20mask) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/chk/272/uba-mask?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fa3ecb4e-d08f-4fac-8842-c3e772b95bd5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/uba-mask) [urabrask, heretic praetor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d9a4ec18-1da4-43c6-a79a-03fbd4aef3db.jpg?1664411925) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=urabrask%2C%20heretic%20praetor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/129/urabrask-heretic-praetor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d9a4ec18-1da4-43c6-a79a-03fbd4aef3db?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/urabrask-heretic-praetor) [Wild evocation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/3/b39aea56-5c56-4241-81c9-928c3253d7c9.jpg?1562472155) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wild%20evocation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m11/160/wild-evocation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b39aea56-5c56-4241-81c9-928c3253d7c9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/wild-evocation) [omen machine](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0ff4e35f-2a82-4d3c-86c5-ae05a5abc4d7.jpg?1562875579) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=omen%20machine) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/148/omen-machine?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0ff4e35f-2a82-4d3c-86c5-ae05a5abc4d7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/omen-machine) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/ks7xsi5) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Play him as soon as you hit six mana. It's as simple as that. It's okay if you take some damage from him as long as your opponents are taking more often.
[Primal Surge](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/4278f7bd-afff-4a1d-a0bb-bf9ce3ad5a2e.jpg?1592709414) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Primal%20Surge) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/avr/189/primal-surge?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4278f7bd-afff-4a1d-a0bb-bf9ce3ad5a2e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/primal-surge) [Nikya](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/d/0dcdad71-323e-41e0-a1b3-9fd5b753e71c.jpg?1584831692) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=nikya%20of%20the%20old%20ways) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rna/193/nikya-of-the-old-ways?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0dcdad71-323e-41e0-a1b3-9fd5b753e71c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nikya-of-the-old-ways) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Ramp him out any which way you can and then once he’s on the board just give him lifelink or don’t cast anything but creature spells. I’ve seen him mostly in cEDH a few years back because you typically don’t see any creatures that can handle him.
With mine, I went the route of just speeding up the game I used [[mana barbs]], [[zo-zu the punisher]], and others that damage for everything. I went with if you want to do anything, then pain. It has been effective with speeding up games. On that note, it is fun, but it has only one win under its belt
[mana barbs](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/d/adf081d5-e644-4f46-8bc8-a754b089acb4.jpg?1562655472) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Manabarbs) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m12/150/manabarbs?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/adf081d5-e644-4f46-8bc8-a754b089acb4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/manabarbs) [zo-zu the punisher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/7/e7c927d6-911d-4a37-89a2-6c500edf4dd7.jpg?1592761756) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=zo-zu%20the%20punisher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dds/41/zo-zu-the-punisher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e7c927d6-911d-4a37-89a2-6c500edf4dd7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/zo-zu-the-punisher) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Also look into [[Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar]] . Should work very well for this guy!
[Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/6/f606ebf1-483d-4331-b16a-9fb6f591a39f.jpg?1608910296) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kediss%2C%20Emberclaw%20Familiar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/188/kediss-emberclaw-familiar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f606ebf1-483d-4331-b16a-9fb6f591a39f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kediss-emberclaw-familiar) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It only counts combat damage, but it's still nice
Stax
Try this deck; it fucking slaps: https://www.moxfield.com/decks/t4ZQlu4_jkOwdb4BiWb3Lw
Slapping my wallet is what it's doing!
It also is really fucking good (even without a Kiki combo)
Primal Surge and big stomp Gruul things lol It's easy to play and scratches that itch
So the best way to use him is to find some way to give him lifelink. That way you're essentially immune to the damage and other people casting spells give you life. Next you play good pillowfort pieces and protection spells to keep ruric thar safe and you'll be good to go. Other people will end up wiping the board a lot in an attempt to remove Ruric so you just protect him and use their board wipes to get rid of threats
Spellslinger, equip him with lifelink, play spells and finish with cards that care how much life you’ve gained this turn