(Davros, Dalek CreatorDavros, Dalek Creator | Art By Simon Dominic |Brudiclad, Telchor EngineerBrudiclad, Telchor Engineer | Art by Daarken | Tezzeret, Master of the BridgeTezzeret, Master of the Bridge | Art by Chase Stone)
Hey friends, Beth, the Queen of Cardboard here, with the Precon Upgrade Guide for Masters of Evil, the Doctor Who Commander Deck. These decks are incredibly powerful and synergistic untouched, so I've chosen to focus on the face commander, Davros, Dalek CreatorDavros, Dalek Creator, and use Daleks and Cybermen with a little artifact help from the Universes Within.
With the changes we're making, we'll overtake our opponents with an army of artifact creatures, while using their abilities to frustrate our opponents and stall their decks.
Exterminate!
Davros is looking for you to make your opponents lose life, but by creating Daleks with menace it swings towards being a combat-based deck that focuses on artifact token creation. In this deck, we're not primarily looking to drain the board via spells or abilities, instead we're going to swing in for big beats and overtake our opponents with a wide board state. Keeping in mind cards like Dalek SquadronDalek Squadron, The Dalek EmperorThe Dalek Emperor, and Cult of SkaroCult of Skaro, I've included Brudiclad, Telchor EngineerBrudiclad, Telchor Engineer as a necessary card for this deck.
Brudiclad gives all our creature tokens haste and creates Myr tokens as well. The best part of this card, however, is the ability to turn all tokens into a copy of any token you control. This means the tokens that Brudiclad and Oni-Cult AnvilOni-Cult Anvil create can also become 3/3 Daleks with menace, or you could choose to lean even further into token creation and turn everything into Dragons, Angels, or even Pegasi. With tokens, there is a myriad of options to choose from.
Ashad, the Lone CybermanAshad, the Lone Cyberman can create a token copy of the first nonlegendary artifact spell we cast each turn, giving more options for Brudiclad to transform every token into. Imagine a board full of Auton SoldierAuton Soldiers; or don't, it's a little scary, to say the least.
Artificers Through Time and Space
With all of the scary things happening on our board, we'll need to be prepared to act quickly and have a defense plan. To lower the cost of our artifact spells I've added in Etherium SculptorEtherium Sculptor and Enthusiastic MechanautEnthusiastic Mechanaut. Because these creatures are also artifacts themselves, it will only add synergy to what the deck is trying to do.
For some protection, we have Padeem, Consul of InnovationPadeem, Consul of Innovation. Padeem is extremely helpful in not only giving almost the entire board hexproof, but also allowing us to draw if we control the artifact with the highest mana value each upkeep. Workshop EldersWorkshop Elders, the only other non-artifact creature I added to the deck, gives our artifact creatures flying. If I've learned anything from Limited, it's that flying is good. Many decks struggle to deal with flying, and since we plan to create a large board state, this will help us swing in and kill faster.
Master TransmuterMaster Transmuter allows us to pick up any artifact we control and replace it with one in our hand. It's going to feel extremely good to replace a 1/1 Construct with a Karn, Legacy ReforgedKarn, Legacy Reforged. Finally, we have Tezzeret, Master of the BridgeTezzeret, Master of the Bridge. While not an artifact himself, Tezzeret helps us cast every other creature spell we have for little to nothing, as well as deal damage to each opponent equal to the number of artifacts we control. Did I say we weren't doing that? Oops. While this isn't the primary goal of the deck, Tezzeret is just too good not to be included here. In addition to the +2 ability, his -3 recurs any artifact from the graveyard to hand, and if we're so lucky as to get to -8 we'll be able to exile the top 10 cards of our library and put any artifact within straight to the battlefield. There's a good chance for big drops here as most of the spells in this deck are, in fact, artifacts.
Rounding out the additions to the deck are our support spells. I focused on adding spells that would provide value without detracting from the overall focus of the deck. Kuldotha ForgemasterKuldotha Forgemaster tutors any artifact directly to the battlefield. Because we'll have to sacrifice something to do so, we also have the additional recursion from Scrap TrawlerScrap Trawler and Silas Renn, Seeker AdeptSilas Renn, Seeker Adept. Mystic ForgeMystic Forge allows us to cast off the top of the library or help us by exiling a card to get through the deck faster. Lithoform EngineLithoform Engine can copy any spell, ability, or permanent, because one thing is great, but two is better. Finally, I added mana rocks, but these are optional slots that you could choose instead to include even more powerful options.
Masters of Evil Cards Added
View on ArchidektArtifacts (6)
- 1 Izzet SignetIzzet Signet
- 1 Lithoform EngineLithoform Engine
- 1 Mystic ForgeMystic Forge
- 1 Oni-Cult AnvilOni-Cult Anvil
- 1 Relic of SauronRelic of Sauron
- 1 Talisman of CreativityTalisman of Creativity
Creatures (10)
- 1 Brudiclad, Telchor EngineerBrudiclad, Telchor Engineer
- 1 Enthusiastic MechanautEnthusiastic Mechanaut
- 1 Etherium SculptorEtherium Sculptor
- 1 Karn, Legacy ReforgedKarn, Legacy Reforged
- 1 Kuldotha ForgemasterKuldotha Forgemaster
- 1 Master TransmuterMaster Transmuter
- 1 Padeem, Consul of InnovationPadeem, Consul of Innovation
- 1 Scrap TrawlerScrap Trawler
- 1 Silas Renn, Seeker AdeptSilas Renn, Seeker Adept
- 1 Workshop EldersWorkshop Elders
Planeswalkers (1)
- 1 Tezzeret, Master of the BridgeTezzeret, Master of the Bridge
Parting of the Ways
Removing cards from a deck is always hard, especially from decks in this series as they're so synergistic and have meaning and a story within the deck itself. For this deck, I chose to focus on artifacts as the main theme of the deck, which meant that while Cybermen and Daleks had a home, 17 cards in the deck had to go.
I chose to remove most of the Masters, as they felt like commanders to their own decks, each with a unique talent and theme. An argument could be made to include The Master, MultipliedThe Master, Multiplied in this upgraded deck, but I'll leave that up to you.
Masters of Evil Cards Removed
View on ArchidektCreatures (15)
- 1 Rassilon, the War PresidentRassilon, the War President
- 1 Renegade SilentRenegade Silent
- 1 Sontaran GeneralSontaran General
- 1 Sycorax CommanderSycorax Commander
- 1 The Beast, Deathless PrinceThe Beast, Deathless Prince
- 1 The Flood of MarsThe Flood of Mars
- 1 The Master, Formed AnewThe Master, Formed Anew
- 1 The Master, MesmeristThe Master, Mesmerist
- 1 The Master, MultipliedThe Master, Multiplied
- 1 The RaniThe Rani
- 1 The ValeyardThe Valeyard
- 1 Time ReaperTime Reaper
- 1 Vashta NeradaVashta Nerada
- 1 Vislor TurloughVislor Turlough
- 1 Zygon InfiltratorZygon Infiltrator
Enchantments (2)
- 1 The Sound of DrumsThe Sound of Drums
- 1 The Toymaker's TrapThe Toymaker's Trap
What Remains
With only 17 changes in this deck, there's a lot of flavor left to be had. All of the original spells are still in the deck as well as our Cybermen. This gives the deck a Cybermen vs. Dalek feel, which flavorfully is fun and interesting. The land base is set to 37, and this is the first time I didn't drop any basics in a precon upgrade. Some things could be tweaked to make this deck even more unique or powerful, and I'd love to see your deck lists below.
Masters of Evil Precon Upgrade Guide
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Davros, Dalek CreatorDavros, Dalek Creator
Creatures (25)
- 1 Ashad, the Lone CybermanAshad, the Lone Cyberman
- 1 Auton SoldierAuton Soldier
- 1 Brudiclad, Telchor EngineerBrudiclad, Telchor Engineer
- 1 Clockwork DroidClockwork Droid
- 1 Cult of SkaroCult of Skaro
- 1 Cyberman PatrolCyberman Patrol
- 1 CybermatCybermat
- 1 Cybermen SquadronCybermen Squadron
- 1 Dalek DroneDalek Drone
- 1 Dalek SquadronDalek Squadron
- 1 Enthusiastic MechanautEnthusiastic Mechanaut
- 1 Etherium SculptorEtherium Sculptor
- 1 Karn, Legacy ReforgedKarn, Legacy Reforged
- 1 Kuldotha ForgemasterKuldotha Forgemaster
- 1 Master TransmuterMaster Transmuter
- 1 MissyMissy
- 1 Padeem, Consul of InnovationPadeem, Consul of Innovation
- 1 Scrap TrawlerScrap Trawler
- 1 Silas Renn, Seeker AdeptSilas Renn, Seeker Adept
- 1 Solemn SimulacrumSolemn Simulacrum
- 1 The Cyber-ControllerThe Cyber-Controller
- 1 The Dalek EmperorThe Dalek Emperor
- 1 The Master, Gallifrey's EndThe Master, Gallifrey's End
- 1 Weeping AngelWeeping Angel
- 1 Workshop EldersWorkshop Elders
Sorceries (8)
- 1 Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act
- 1 DeleteDelete
- 1 Doomsday ConfluenceDoomsday Confluence
- 1 Ensnared by the MaraEnsnared by the Mara
- 1 ExterminateExterminate
- 1 Feed the SwarmFeed the Swarm
- 1 Great Intelligence's PlanGreat Intelligence's Plan
- 1 Hunted by The FamilyHunted by The Family
Enchantments (6)
- 1 BlinkBlink
- 1 Day of the MoonDay of the Moon
- 1 Death in HeavenDeath in Heaven
- 1 Genesis of the DaleksGenesis of the Daleks
- 1 PropagandaPropaganda
- 1 Wound ReflectionWound Reflection
Artifacts (18)
- 1 Arcane SignetArcane Signet
- 1 Commander's SphereCommander's Sphere
- 1 CybershipCybership
- 1 Izzet SignetIzzet Signet
- 1 Laser ScrewdriverLaser Screwdriver
- 1 Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves
- 1 Lithoform EngineLithoform Engine
- 1 Midnight Crusader ShuttleMidnight Crusader Shuttle
- 1 Mind StoneMind Stone
- 1 Mystic ForgeMystic Forge
- 1 Oni-Cult AnvilOni-Cult Anvil
- 1 Relic of SauronRelic of Sauron
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 Talisman of CreativityTalisman of Creativity
- 1 Talisman of DominanceTalisman of Dominance
- 1 Talisman of IndulgenceTalisman of Indulgence
- 1 Thought VesselThought Vessel
- 1 Wayfarer's BaubleWayfarer's Bauble
Instants (4)
- 1 Cyber ConversionCyber Conversion
- 1 Don't BlinkDon't Blink
- 1 Snuff OutSnuff Out
- 1 This Is How It EndsThis Is How It Ends
Planeswalkers (1)
- 1 Tezzeret, Master of the BridgeTezzeret, Master of the Bridge
Lands (37)
- 1 Canyon SloughCanyon Slough
- 1 Choked EstuaryChoked Estuary
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Creeping Tar PitCreeping Tar Pit
- 1 Crumbling NecropolisCrumbling Necropolis
- 1 Darkwater CatacombsDarkwater Catacombs
- 1 Dragonskull SummitDragonskull Summit
- 1 Drowned CatacombDrowned Catacomb
- 1 Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard
- 1 Fetid PoolsFetid Pools
- 1 Fiery IsletFiery Islet
- 1 Foreboding RuinsForeboding Ruins
- 1 Frostboil SnarlFrostboil Snarl
- 1 Gallifrey Council ChamberGallifrey Council Chamber
- 1 Haunted RidgeHaunted Ridge
- 2 IslandIsland
- 1 Lavaclaw ReachesLavaclaw Reaches
- 2 MountainMountain
- 1 Ominous CemeteryOminous Cemetery
- 1 Path of AncestryPath of Ancestry
- 1 Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower
- 1 River of TearsRiver of Tears
- 1 Shadowblood RidgeShadowblood Ridge
- 1 Shipwreck MarshShipwreck Marsh
- 1 Smoldering MarshSmoldering Marsh
- 1 Stormcarved CoastStormcarved Coast
- 1 Sunken HollowSunken Hollow
- 2 SwampSwamp
- 1 Temple of DeceitTemple of Deceit
- 1 Temple of EpiphanyTemple of Epiphany
- 1 Temple of MaliceTemple of Malice
- 1 Temple of the False GodTemple of the False God
- 1 Terramorphic ExpanseTerramorphic Expanse
- 1 Thriving MoorThriving Moor
Let me know in the comments what you think, and make sure to check out my precon primer for this deck. In the next few weeks, I'll have the other three Doctor decks for you to check out. Thank you for reading. If you liked this article make sure to check out some more.
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