Welcome to the Nitpicking Nerds Precon Upgrade Guide for the Dungeon of Death deck, where we examine which cards are worth cutting and adding in order to transform this low-power precon into a dungeon-venturing reanimator deck! 

When upgrading a Commander precon, it’s important to focus on the commander’s strengths and stick to a main strategy to avoid the deck becoming unfocused. Trimming cards of wildly differing strategies will help keep the deck focused and increase its overall synergy. It’s also important to power up the deck’s win conditions, and when possible, to include win conditions that don’t just involve combat damage.

Sefris’s deck is looking to fill its graveyard and venture into the dungeon as much as possible, and win by completing those dungeons to reanimate massive game-ending threats.

Now that we know what we’re looking to do, it’ll be easy to start making cuts.

First to go are the cards that are meant for other decks.

• NihiloorNihiloor and Minn, Wily IllusionistMinn, Wily Illusionist could do good work, but in their own decks, far away from this one.
• Component PouchComponent Pouch and Arcane EndeavorArcane Endeavor are better in decks that can take advantage of the die rolling mechanic.
• Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves is often included in too many decks in our opinion, and we decided to cut it here too. If you are a ride or die Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves fan, you could leave it in.
• Save Wand of OrcusWand of Orcus for your Zombie tribal decks.

Now it’s time to cut the cards that are just too weak to keep.

• PropagandaPropaganda is a card we basically treat as unplayable, and it certainly isn’t pulling weight in a reanimator deck.
• Minimus ContainmentMinimus Containment, Extract BrainExtract Brain, Utter EndUtter End, and Immovable RodImmovable Rod are far too expensive to be included in our removal suite.
• Rod of AbsorptionRod of Absorption won’t be doing any absorbing for us, Bucknard’s Everfull PurseBucknard’s Everfull Purse won’t be dishing out free funds for our opponents, and Clay GolemClay Golem might not ever be activated in the history of the format, by anyone.

These next cuts work with Sefris, but can be upgraded by a substantial amount.

• Eternal DragonEternal Dragon, Ronom UnicornRonom Unicorn, MulldrifterMulldrifter, Murder of CrowsMurder of Crows, Vanish into MemoryVanish into Memory, and Forbidden AlchemyForbidden Alchemy all put creatures into the graveyard for Sefris’s venture ability, but are much too slow.
• Wall of OmensWall of Omens isn’t horrible, but it is a filler cantrip effect we can afford to cut.
• Thorough InvestigationThorough Investigation can venture, but this deck doesn’t want to enter combat enough for it to shine.

Here are the cards getting cut from the reanimation side of the deck.

• Sunblast AngelSunblast Angel and Meteor GolemMeteor Golem are extremely mediocre reanimation targets, and we’re staying away.
• Grave EndeavorGrave Endeavor, RevivifyRevivify, and VictimizeVictimize are reanimation spells that are too expensive when compared to other options. We can also cut down on them, because Sefris should be doing it nonstop!

• For lands, we’re trimming all the lackluster duals and fetches, along with some extra basics: Azorius ChanceryAzorius Chancery, Dimir AqueductDimir Aqueduct, Orzhov BasilicaOrzhov Basilica, Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds, Darkwater CatacombsDarkwater Catacombs, Terramorphic ExpanseTerramorphic Expanse, Esper PanoramaEsper Panorama, four PlainsPlains, two IslandIslands, and two SwampSwamps.

Those cuts left us plenty of room for amazing ramp, card draw, venture synergy, and more.

• The precon was critically lacking sacrifice outlets, so we have brought in some of the best: Carrion FeederCarrion Feeder and Viscera SeerViscera Seer.
• Midnight ReaperMidnight Reaper, Grim HaruspexGrim Haruspex, Syr Konrad, the GrimSyr Konrad, the Grim, and Cruel CelebrantCruel Celebrant will help take advantage of sacrificing our own creatures.
• Nether TraitorNether Traitor is a powerhouse that will come back and die as many times as you can pay for.

Dungeon of Death did Sefris dirty by barely taking advantage of her ability to venture on each player’s turn. Let’s do her justice!

• Perpetual TimepiecePerpetual Timepiece will mill creatures and trigger Sefris when we need it most.
• As far as discarding goes, you now have access to Tortured ExistenceTortured Existence, Key to the CityKey to the City, Ghostly PilfererGhostly Pilferer, Archfiend of IfnirArchfiend of Ifnir, Valiant RescuerValiant Rescuer, Street WraithStreet Wraith, Vedalken AethermageVedalken Aethermage, Nimble ObstructionistNimble Obstructionist, and Dimir House GuardDimir House Guard. And with access to discard and mill, let’s add in Master of DeathMaster of Death for multiple bites at the apple. There’s even free counterspell Foil to pitch a creature with.
• Lastly, there’s EntombEntomb and Buried AliveBuried Alive to find exactly the creatures you’ll want to reanimate with Sefris.

Now it’s time to bring back the biggest and baddest creatures possible.

• ReveillarkReveillark can reanimate smaller creatures, like Priest of Fell RitesPriest of Fell Rites and Ravenous ChupacabraRavenous Chupacabra, which have also been added to the deck.
• Nezahal, Primal TideNezahal, Primal Tide, Razaketh, the FoulbloodedRazaketh, the Foulblooded, Agent of TreacheryAgent of Treachery, Sepulchral PrimordialSepulchral Primordial, and Gray Merchant of AsphodelGray Merchant of Asphodel will close games out in a hurry after you reanimate them. If they die, Sefris of the Hidden WaysSefris of the Hidden Ways has got your back.

Finally, the lands:

• Ash BarrensAsh Barrens, Irrigated FarmlandIrrigated Farmland, Fetid PoolsFetid Pools, Secluded SteppeSecluded Steppe, Lonely SandbarLonely Sandbar, and Barren MoorBarren Moor have been added to increase the cycling subtheme we have going on.
• Hallowed FountainHallowed Fountain, Watery GraveWatery Grave, Godless ShrineGodless Shrine, and River of TearsRiver of Tears come in to help with mana fixing.
• Hagra MaulingHagra Mauling and Kabira TakedownKabira Takedown make appearances as the MDFC’s of the deck.

That concludes the full list of adds and cuts for the Dungeon of Death precon! Now get out there, fill your graveyard, and venture into the dungeon until you’ve reanimated enough monsters to close out the game!