Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager | Art by Andrew Mar

Every once in a while, you'll be reminded of a show, game, or book you enjoyed as an adolescent and think, "I don't remember that." With the upcoming release of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, I was reminded just how much I forgot about the heroes in a half-shell.

While I don't recall the staggering number of sharks, robots, and aliens in the show or the movies, I most certainly don't remember Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager either.

Nevertheless, what my mind has forgotten, it'll refill with how I can best utilize Slash within the game of Magic. Let's help this reptile rampage and hit the streets of NYC with a new take on an old classic.

What Does Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager Do?

Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager has a glaring similarity with one of the most popular mono-red commanders of all time: Purphoros, God of the ForgePurphoros, God of the Forge. I could tell you all the similarities and differences between these two cards, but Chris Guest addressed that with a fantastic article not long ago. It's well thought out and very insightful, so please read it.

I mention that these two cards are similar because at the core of the deck, Slash plays much like Purphoros. But similar is not the same.

This deck runs many cards that would find a home in Purphoros, and it even runs the big red god itself. You don't become one of the most popular red commanders by accident, after all.

Both decks love something like Torbran, Thane of Red FellTorbran, Thane of Red Fell, to turn all those small damage triggers into painful pokes. Paired up with something like Impact TremorsImpact Tremors, pumping damage numbers to the point where one turn might be all someone needs to win. Lastly, something like Song of TotentanzSong of Totentanz acts as both a way to make tokens for chip damage and a way to give haste to your entire board for only a single .

At a base level, there's an "easy" way to build a deck like Slash. You make it look like Purphoros. I didn't want to do precisely that, but at the same time, I'm not trying to fix something that isn't broken. There happens to be a line of text on Slash that makes me look at the deck in a different light.

Whenever Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile RampagerAttacks

Whenever Slash attacks, create a 2/2 red Mutant creature token. This is the line of text that cracked the code for me when it came to putting this deck together. Yes, it still uses the creature entering to deal two damage aspect of the card, but this build relies less on playing a card like Krenko, Mob BossKrenko, Mob Boss, who taps to make an ever-increasing amount of tokens. Instead, it uses Krenko, Tin Street KingpinKrenko, Tin Street Kingpin, who needs to turn sideways to make those tokens.

Did you know that there's a good deal of Equipment that makes a token or tokens when attacking? Neither did I, until I made this list. I'll save you some time and show off which ones I think you need to know about when you go to slash members of the Foot Clan.

With every passing day, Warhammer 40k shows me cards that I never knew existed. Inquisitorial RosetteInquisitorial Rosette isn't only one of those cards, but it might be a perfect card for this deck. Cheap to cast and cheap to equip are always an upside when evaluating Equipment outside of a deck with .

Obviously, making a token is excellent, but if that token can double as a blocker, what more could we want? How about giving everything menace so that combat is suddenly in your favor. The Rosette is a crazy good card, but the hits keep on coming.

The Spear of LeonidasThe Spear of Leonidas shares the cheap to cast and cheap to equip portion of the checklist with the Rosette. It can also make a token, this time in the form of a 3/2 Horse. The spear also does two more things. First, it can give Slash double strike, which means if anyone at the table has been hit by Slash already, they're on the brink of elimination.

It isn't talked about much now, but seven power is a bit of a magic number in the game of Commander. After all, 21 damage is all you need from a commander. Commander damage aside, the spear can also provide some much-needed card filtering.

Finally, Infantry ShieldInfantry Shield acts as a key piece in taking out an entire table in one combat step. Giving Slash mobilize X, where X is its power, means Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager attacks with menace for seven—at the same time, creating seven 1/1 tokens that are attacking. Slash itself creates a 2/2 token on combat as well. All together, Slash burns the table for 16 damage per player and will likely hit another player for seven more damage. If all the 1/1 tokens get in for damage, we're looking at a casual 62 damage in one combat step.

Speaking of the Combat Step

Part two of this deck is the combat step. If Slash can make a token every time they attack, why not pump up those numbers? More combats + more tokens = more damage.

The Great Train HeistGreat Train Heist is still one of the best red cards that needs to see more play. With a 2.88% inclusion rate, this card isn't unknown, but those are rookie numbers. is plenty cheap for an extra combat step, and every bit of extra mana lying around turns this card into a bona fide game winner.

Overpowering AttackOverpowering Attack works exceptionally well in this deck since we want Slash to connect. We might not have any Assassins to help with the freerunning cost of the card, but we will find a way to get Slash to connect one way or another.

Another new TMNT card is Raphael, Tag Team ToughRaphael, Tag Team Tough. Capped at giving only a single extra combat and needing to do damage might seem like they aren't worth the cost. The table will wise up to how deadly Slash can be, especially if you play with a playgroup more than once. Raphael is a good backup card that can hold Equipment well and benefit from all of our ways to get multiple combat steps.

Math Is for Blockers...unless

The phrase "math is for blockers" often comes along with turning all your creatures sideways and hopping for the best. I'm not a big fan of math, however. For me, it would be much easier if my opponents were incentivized not to block, or if they couldn't block at all.

With BedlamBedlam in play, there's no blocking allowed. This could backfire, but what is a bit of risk without the upside of a reward? Pain for AllPain for All comes from one of the best sets of 2025, Edge of Eternities, and it does some heavy lifting. The seven damage it can throw around when put on Slash can clear out a pesky blocker or go right to an opponent's face. Any opponent who makes the mistake of blocking not only causes pain for themselves but also a bit of anguish to the rest of the table.

The other players might not focus on you if someone else is causing them pain.

A bit of a forgotten cycle from years ago, Archetype of AggressionArchetype of Aggression sets some new ground rules for the table. Your creatures get trample and only your creatures get trample. No spell, nor creature, nor enchantment, nor Equipment, nor land will be able to overcome this aggression. Now the Archetype is pretty easy to kill, but this deck thrives on doing the most work with the least number of chances.

Wrap Up

The turtles came with a big surprise. While the leaks weren't welcome, seeing the entire suite of rare and mythic cards filled me with a bit of excitement. I was surprised to like what I was seeing for the most part. I was surprised by how much I enjoy Slash, Reptile RampagerSlash, Reptile Rampager.

I wanted this build to hit right in the sweet spot of Bracket 2. This deck can win games and sometimes does so quickly. Cards like Mana GeyserMana Geyser and Sozin's CometSozin's Comet allow for a lot of explosiveness even in the middle of combat.

Having another copy of Purphoros, God of the ForgePurphoros, God of the Forge means that sometimes games will end with a well-timed Firecat BlitzFirecat Blitz. You can, however wrath this deck into submission. Slash isn't the cheapest option and comes with no protection, and running Norin the WaryNorin the Wary makes you realize that blockers are sometimes needed to keep you alive.

All this taken into account, Slash, Reptile Rampager is a fun commander from what will likely be a sleeper set in 2026. But let me know what you think. Who's your favorite hero in a half-shell? What's your favorite extra combat step? Let me know here, or anywhere you can find nicnax96. Cowabunga, readers!

Slash, Reptile Rampager Commander Deck List