Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower | Art by Marta Nael

It's Rabbit Season!

Greetings, and welcome back to Commander Makeover! Here, older commanders get a new shine using newer cards under two years old. Who might be our pick this week—

Oh. She's here.

With Bloomburrow now rotated out of our under two year rule, we finally get to address the rabbit in the room. Yes, I mean the "carnivorous rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail" room. Before recently, there was exactly one commander on my blacklist: Merieke Ri BeritMerieke Ri Berit. I have a deep-rooted hatred for the card, dating back to the format's early days. Now, Bumbleflower joins her on the list. Why?

She looks so innocent, giving cards when we cast spells on top of that cutesy art. But don't let that fool you. She spirals very quickly and, before we know it, that rabbit flies and bites us to death in the neck. She can even kill with commander damage, and that's nothing to sneeze at, on top of multiple alternative win conditions.

This week, I will arm us with the knowledge we need to combat this recent menace. Bumbleflower has been adding some new tricks to her arsenal, and we'd better know what we're up against these days.

Gleaming SplendorGleaming Splendor

The latest "must run" white staple is here, and slots perfectly under...ugh, our commander's playstyle. They'll be drawing their second card often, meaning we get lots of Treasures. I can imagine this card getting altered to replace Smaug with Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower as part of her reign of terror. In addition, those Treasures being made means more we can do in our opponents' turns.

Bilbo's GambitBilbo's Gambit

Here, that foul rabbit can tell us to shut up by sending a crucial spell of ours off the stack. Worse, if she bribes us with a Treasure token, we're forced to have the right to remain silent for a turn. That also includes our opponents, so they can't do anything. The good news is that this doesn't have split second, so we can get Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower to sit back down in her chair.

Since When Did We Get Bards?

From The Hobbit, we get a couple of cards featuring the same character. We can discuss this unfortunate state of affairs another time. Right now, we must arm ourselves against the Rabbit Regime. First up is Bard the BowmanBard the Bowman, who will trigger very easily here. Giving a creature yet another counter and now lifelink will ensure that attacking is not a good idea. Do not give the Rabbit any carrots (also, seriously, don't—they're not healthy for rabbits, despite the popular rhetoric).

On top of that, we have Bard, King of DaleBard, King of Dale, who will supply the foul rabbit with cards and (if she runs them) tokens. This Bard comes at a hefty six mana to cast, but he also has vigilance, reach, and a considerable body. But let's be real: it's those abilities that make him shine here.

Kid LokiKid Loki

Arrr! Now Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower gets hexproof, too? Players with this deck will try to trigger this card to give the rabbit hexproof. Do not let this happen, especially if she's poised to kill someone in one hit. Fortunately, drawing a second card each turn only pumps Kid Loki himself. That said, he, too, can get real big quickly. Just watch he doesn't get flying as well.

King T'ChallaKing T'Challa

What's this? A second Faerie MastermindFaerie Mastermind? As if the rabbit needed more triggers off of someone's second card draw. The flip side makes this card into a brutal attacker. But here? He's probably going to stay in this front face for that sweet card advantage. In this deck, his ability's going to be easily triggered, ensuring that the players will be ogling all the cards they drew.

Pensive ProfessorPensive Professor

Once again, even more card draw. It's also a perfect target for Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower to put the counters on. That increment ability is essentially flavor text. Like the earlier mentioned Kid LokiKid Loki, it's going to get big fast. If this card gets triggered consistently, it'd be a good pal to Twenty-Toed ToadTwenty-Toed Toad.

The Unagi of Kyoshi IslandThe Unagi of Kyoshi Island

This is undoubtedly a super-charged version of Faerie MastermindFaerie Mastermind, and one that's much harder to remove. Drawing two cards each turn is nuts, and very easy to pull off, courtesy of the accursed Rabbit commander we're covering this week. In addendum, that ward cost ensures that they either slow down to target it, or tap down their creatures and artifacts to pay for the cost.

Bender's WaterskinBender's Waterskin

What's better than holding up mana? An artifact that can be used each and every turn, and this card does exactly that. Granted, it's one mana, but one can make a big difference. Having that always available is a boon. But here, it only fuels more antics Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower brings to the table. Definitely a good card to run when trying to play at instant speed.

Tataru TaruTataru Taru

Now that's one way to get far ahead on mana, and from my favorite Universes Beyond set, too. Her trigger on entry guarantees at least one Treasure, which is always good. That said, this is that evil Rabbit, Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower we're talking about here. Tataru's going to trigger basically every turn, ensuring that, even in green, she'll be running away with loads of mana, the Rabbit oppressing everyone else's turns.

Scrawling CrawlerScrawling Crawler

As if Psychosis CrawlerPsychosis Crawler wasn't bad enough. Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower now has a second, yet tamer version of it. This card effectively reads "My commander's going to draw you lots of cards, and you lose lots of life, and you're going to love it." Fortunately, it being an artifact creature means it'll be much easier to remove than our average creature.

Homunculus HordeHomunculus Horde

Yet again, a trigger that's easily achievable. But, for what, exactly? A copy of this—oh, wait. This is a card that, the longer it's left out in play, will get out of hand real fast. Like Scute SwarmScute Swarm long before it (pray that nefarious Rabbit commander doesn't run this, too), this will create a copy of itself, then two becomes four the next turn. Both should be eliminated with swift prejudice.

High Fae TricksterHigh Fae Trickster

I'd say expect this in every version of Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower we come across. I'll tell you why: To get all of those triggers, we need to be casting spells. Giving everything flash is the spice needed to really kick that plan into high gear. On the other hand, this is also one of the easier versions of this effect to remove, so expect this to be protected. That Rabbit wants to flash things out, or end up playing a lot of instants.

TerrasymbiosisTerrasymbiosis

Whew, that's going to be a lot of cards. With all of the Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower triggers flying around, that's going to translate into a trove of cards in hand. If the deck has a stronger +1/+1 counter slant (which we should expect, to be honest), then this card has the potential to draw even more than two cards.

Sphere GridSphere Grid

Speaking of +1/+1 counter slant, this is a good payoff in that direction. Those creatures with loads of counters on them suddenly become very dangerous, especially if it's Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower. She'll threaten even more commander damage, and that reach will do a lot to deter flyers coming her way. The first ability is flavor text here, but it's not nothing.

Good Hunting

And there we have it. A guide on what to expect when you come across the enemy...I mean Ms. BumbleflowerMs. Bumbleflower. The commander's a menace to society, and must be stopped without let-up. I'll admit I have a heavy bias here, considering what I said at the beginning, but the point stands. Anyone who sees the commander out there will soon learn why she's as notorious as she deserves.

Anyway, next week, I have a special deck tech centering on the freshly minted Reality Fracture, so look forward to next week for that.