Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic | Art by Eric Deschamps
This week on Precon Remastered, we return to Commander 2013 with the next precon to remake into something more modern. We're taking a gander at the Eternal Bargain precon, the Esper () deck that was split between Lifegain and Artifacts.
Unlike the Derevi deck from last time, remastering this list is a lot more straightforward. Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic who will be our commander of choice, is dead set on a Lifegain strategy. However, we'll still have some artifacts for Sydri, Galvanic GeniusSydri, Galvanic Genius to do her thing, but the numbers won't be so high.
The good news is that, to some degree, there's some overlap between the two game plans. The bad news is that it might eat up a good chunk of the budget.
Of, course, saying "budget" is my perfect segue to cover the rules.
The Rules of Precon Remastered
Here are our rules for remastering precons:
- The value of the deck cannot exceed $120. This will apply to the reprints only, which gets to my first personal quirk.
- Every card unique to the original precon stays in the deck. All those new cards that get released with precons remain in the list.
- The land package should closely reflect what we get in precons these days (and, in my humble opinion, they're actually pretty good).
- For at least until 2020, we're not tied to a particular set, so we're free to choose whatever we want. You can be assured I have ideas for 2020 and beyond, though.
- Universes Beyond cards are not added. No exceptions, unless they have a in-universe variant.
With that out of the way, let's take a good look at what the precon looked like originally.
Eternal Bargain Original Deck List
Eternal Bargain - Commander 2013
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic
Creatures (27)
- 1 Ajani's PridemateAjani's Pridemate
- 1 Augury AdeptAugury Adept
- 1 Azorius HeraldAzorius Herald
- 1 Disciple of GriselbrandDisciple of Griselbrand
- 1 Diviner SpiritDiviner Spirit
- 1 Divinity of PrideDivinity of Pride
- 1 Filigree AngelFiligree Angel
- 1 Hooded HorrorHooded Horror
- 1 Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon"Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon"
- 1 Marrow BatsMarrow Bats
- 1 Myr BattlesphereMyr Battlesphere
- 1 Phyrexian DelverPhyrexian Delver
- 1 Phyrexian GargantuaPhyrexian Gargantua
- 1 Raven FamiliarRaven Familiar
- 1 Razor HippogriffRazor Hippogriff
- 1 Serene MasterSerene Master
- 1 Serra AvatarSerra Avatar
- 1 Sharding SphinxSharding Sphinx
- 1 Sharuum the HegemonSharuum the Hegemon
- 1 Sphinx of the Steel WindSphinx of the Steel Wind
- 1 Stormscape BattlemageStormscape Battlemage
- 1 Sydri, Galvanic GeniusSydri, Galvanic Genius
- 1 Tidal ForceTidal Force
- 1 Tidehollow StrixTidehollow Strix
- 1 Tower GargoyleTower Gargoyle
- 1 Vizkopa GuildmageVizkopa Guildmage
- 1 Wall of ReverenceWall of Reverence
Instants (4)
- 1 Dromar's CharmDromar's Charm
- 1 Lim-Dûl's VaultLim-Dûl's Vault
- 1 Reckless SpiteReckless Spite
- 1 Spinal EmbraceSpinal Embrace
Sorceries (8)
- 1 Brilliant PlanBrilliant Plan
- 1 Death GraspDeath Grasp
- 1 Deep AnalysisDeep Analysis
- 1 FamineFamine
- 1 Order of SuccessionOrder of Succession
- 1 Survival CacheSurvival Cache
- 1 Tempt with ImmortalityTempt with Immortality
- 1 Toxic DelugeToxic Deluge
Artifacts (10)
- 1 CrawlspaceCrawlspace
- 1 Nevinyrral's DiskNevinyrral's Disk
- 1 Nihil SpellbombNihil Spellbomb
- 1 Obelisk of EsperObelisk of Esper
- 1 Pristine TalismanPristine Talisman
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 Sun DropletSun Droplet
- 1 Swiftfoot BootsSwiftfoot Boots
- 1 Thopter FoundryThopter Foundry
- 1 Well of Lost DreamsWell of Lost Dreams
Enchantments (9)
- 1 Act of AuthorityAct of Authority
- 1 Cradle of VitalityCradle of Vitality
- 1 Curse of InertiaCurse of Inertia
- 1 Curse of Shallow GravesCurse of Shallow Graves
- 1 Curse of the ForsakenCurse of the Forsaken
- 1 Darksteel MutationDarksteel Mutation
- 1 GreedGreed
- 1 Phyrexian ReclamationPhyrexian Reclamation
- 1 Sanguine BondSanguine Bond
Lands (41)
- 1 Arcane SanctumArcane Sanctum
- 1 Azorius ChanceryAzorius Chancery
- 1 Azorius GuildgateAzorius Guildgate
- 1 Barren MoorBarren Moor
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Dimir GuildgateDimir Guildgate
- 1 Esper PanoramaEsper Panorama
- 1 Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds
- 6 IslandIsland
- 1 Jwar Isle RefugeJwar Isle Refuge
- 1 Lonely SandbarLonely Sandbar
- 1 Opal PalaceOpal Palace
- 1 Orzhov BasilicaOrzhov Basilica
- 1 Orzhov GuildgateOrzhov Guildgate
- 9 PlainsPlains
- 1 Rupture SpireRupture Spire
- 1 Springjack PastureSpringjack Pasture
- 9 SwampSwamp
- 1 Temple of the False GodTemple of the False God
- 1 Transguild PromenadeTransguild Promenade
At First Glance
Going over the list, we have a decent start, outside of the obvious things I've touched on in previous entries. That said, a good chunk of the new cards don't really serve any purpose in this list, but they still must be kept. The obvious standout is Toxic DelugeToxic Deluge, which has been reprinted in several precons recently.
That's all well and good, but it does command a considerable price tag.
The obvious danger to upgrading this list for Bracket 2, besides the artifact/lifegain overlap, is avoiding the Sanguine BondSanguine Bond and Exquisite BloodExquisite Blood combo. Dealing just one damage or gaining one life will create a loop where we end up killing the table. We can't have that, so it's either we focus on one or the other.
Fortunately, the deck list decided that for us, so that's what we're going with.
The reprint commander, Sharuum the HegemonSharuum the Hegemon will very likely get cut, alongside a great chunk of Artifact support. While we'll have a good number of artifacts, we'll be keeping this list around Lifegain first and foremost.
Eternal Bargain Remastered
Eternal Bargain Remastered
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic
Creatures (25)
- 1 Ajani's PridemateAjani's Pridemate
- 1 Amalia Benavides AguirreAmalia Benavides Aguirre
- 1 Cliffhaven VampireCliffhaven Vampire
- 1 Diviner SpiritDiviner Spirit
- 1 Drogskol ReaverDrogskol Reaver
- 1 Exemplar of LightExemplar of Light
- 1 Felidar SovereignFelidar Sovereign
- 1 Haliya, Guided by LightHaliya, Guided by Light
- 1 Hooded HorrorHooded Horror
- 1 Indulging PatricianIndulging Patrician
- 1 Marauding Blight-PriestMarauding Blight-Priest
- 1 Noxious GearhulkNoxious Gearhulk
- 1 Nykthos ParagonNykthos Paragon
- 1 Razor HippogriffRazor Hippogriff
- 1 Rhox FaithmenderRhox Faithmender
- 1 Serene MasterSerene Master
- 1 Sphinx of the RevelationSphinx of the Revelation
- 1 Sphinx of the Steel WindSphinx of the Steel Wind
- 1 Sunscorch RegentSunscorch Regent
- 1 Sydri, Galvanic GeniusSydri, Galvanic Genius
- 1 Tidal ForceTidal Force
- 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk RoseVito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
- 1 Vizkopa GuildmageVizkopa Guildmage
- 1 Wall of ReverenceWall of Reverence
- 1 Witch of the MoorsWitch of the Moors
Sorceries (9)
- 1 Death GraspDeath Grasp
- 1 Debt to the DeathlessDebt to the Deathless
- 1 Deep AnalysisDeep Analysis
- 1 ExsanguinateExsanguinate
- 1 Order of SuccessionOrder of Succession
- 1 Space-Time AnomalySpace-Time Anomaly
- 1 StargazeStargaze
- 1 Tempt with ImmortalityTempt with Immortality
- 1 Toxic DelugeToxic Deluge
Artifacts (11)
- 1 Alhammarret's ArchiveAlhammarret's Archive
- 1 Arcane SignetArcane Signet
- 1 Nevinyrral's DiskNevinyrral's Disk
- 1 Pristine TalismanPristine Talisman
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 Talisman of DominanceTalisman of Dominance
- 1 Talisman of HierarchyTalisman of Hierarchy
- 1 Talisman of ProgressTalisman of Progress
- 1 Trading PostTrading Post
- 1 Venser's JournalVenser's Journal
- 1 Well of Lost DreamsWell of Lost Dreams
Enchantments (11)
- 1 Act of AuthorityAct of Authority
- 1 Cradle of VitalityCradle of Vitality
- 1 Curse of InertiaCurse of Inertia
- 1 Curse of Shallow GravesCurse of Shallow Graves
- 1 Curse of the ForsakenCurse of the Forsaken
- 1 Darksteel MutationDarksteel Mutation
- 1 GreedGreed
- 1 Lunar ConvocationLunar Convocation
- 1 Phyrexian ReclamationPhyrexian Reclamation
- 1 Sanguine BondSanguine Bond
- 1 Test of EnduranceTest of Endurance
Instants (6)
- 1 Anguished UnmakingAnguished Unmaking
- 1 CounterspellCounterspell
- 1 DesparkDespark
- 1 Path to ExilePath to Exile
- 1 Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares
- 1 Void RendVoid Rend
Lands (37)
- 1 Adarkar WastesAdarkar Wastes
- 1 Arcane SanctumArcane Sanctum
- 1 Caves of KoilosCaves of Koilos
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Darkwater CatacombsDarkwater Catacombs
- 1 Desolate MireDesolate Mire
- 1 Drowned CatacombDrowned Catacomb
- 1 Eclipsed SteppeEclipsed Steppe
- 1 Fetid PoolsFetid Pools
- 1 Glacial FortressGlacial Fortress
- 1 Irrigated FarmlandIrrigated Farmland
- 6 IslandIsland
- 1 Isolated ChapelIsolated Chapel
- 1 Opal PalaceOpal Palace
- 6 PlainsPlains
- 1 Prairie StreamPrairie Stream
- 1 Skycloud ExpanseSkycloud Expanse
- 1 Sunken HollowSunken Hollow
- 6 SwampSwamp
- 1 Temple of EnlightenmentTemple of Enlightenment
- 1 Umbral ExpanseUmbral Expanse
- 1 Underground RiverUnderground River
The Good Things in Life(gain)
Wow. I never thought I'd see Oloro getting so expensive. The good news is that, under my rules, the new cards don't impact us financially (and I kept thinking otherwise in past articles). This caveat allowed us to include cards that typically wouldn't have made it, like Alhammarret's ArchiveAlhammarret's Archive. In addition, we added a few more effects akin to Sanguine Bond to further capitalize on them.
We also have more payoffs for lifegain, like Exemplar of LightExemplar of Light and Nykthos ParagonNykthos Paragon.
However, where I decided to be a royal jerk is the inclusion of alternative win conditions. Both Test of EnduranceTest of Endurance and Felidar SovereignFelidar Sovereign are laughably easy to pull off.
If it weren't for the new card rule, I would've cut Sydri, Galvanic GeniusSydri, Galvanic Genius for Approach of the Second SunApproach of the Second Sun (the former I'll get to in a moment). These will seriously speed up the clock for our opponents, but might end up being unfair to everyone (and boring for you). In that case, I'd cut them for something much more harmless. It's not like we don't have other ways to win, with cards like ExsanguinateExsanguinate and Space-Time AnomalySpace-Time Anomaly.
That said, it's the artifact lineup that takes the fall. Sydri will become a lot less effective here, and will likely be the first card cut with further upgrades. Perhaps more ramp instead if needed.
Standing Up
If there's anything I took away from this writeup, it's two things: I should be paying more attention to the new card price exemptions (as outlined in the rules), and I might end up making a slight adjustment to the rules, bumping the budget to $150 as opposed to $120, but only time will tell if I need to implement it. Just know that I came really close to doing that.
Anyway, next week lets us revisit Commander (2011) for a different reason. Ironically, if it weren't for the shakeup earlier, a commander I would've already covered. Join me next time where we (finally!) get to take to the skies.
Owain Roberts
Owain has been playing on and off from around Invasion block to 2011, and has been playing since. He's recently embraced Rakdos as his go-to color combination, though he's also looking for opportunities to branch out. When he isn't slinging spells, he can be found looking after his pet dogs.
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