<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mycotyrant" href="#" target="_blank">The Mycotyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.chasestoneart.com/">Chase Stone</a></em></p>
<p>Fire and Ice? I thought you said acquire mice...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Acquire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mouse"></div></div>
<p>Welcome once again to <em>Fire and Ice</em>! This is the data-driven series where I go over cards that are becoming more or less popular for different Commander decks, and talk about why they may be gaining or losing popularity. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data, and I'm super excited to jump into today's article!</p>
<p>EDHREC, of course, has a ton of data. We'll draw conclusions from that data about how certain commanders' decks have changed over time, give insight about new cards, and hopefully provide some tech for your favorite commander's list.</p>
<p>Today, we're focusing on The Mycotyrant. This commander currently sits as the 264th most popular commander on EDHREC, with 9,156 decks to its name. Much like the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1dRBWyf6z8">Globglogabgalab</a>, the Mycotyrant loves knowledge. So, let's see what this yeast of thoughts and minds can do!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mycotyrant"></div></div>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mycotyrant" href="#" target="_blank">The Mycotyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div id="attachment_191591" style="width: 999px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-26.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-191591" class="size-full wp-image-191591" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-26.png" alt="What's Hot and What's Not for The Mycotyrant" width="989" height="550" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-26.png 989w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-26-300x167.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-26-768x427.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-191591" class="wp-caption-text">What's Hot and What's Not for The Mycotyrant</p></div>
<p>We can cast this creature for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. The Elder Fungus has trample and a statline equal to the number of creatures we control that are Fungi or Saprolings (including itself). Additionally, at the end of each of our turns, this big guy lets us create a 1/1 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fungus|TLCI|7" href="#" target="_blank">Fungus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> token for each time a permanent card was put into our graveyard on that turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fungus|TLCI|7"></div></div>
<p>Pilots often seek to mill themselves out aggressively, creating a huge Voltron threat and flooding the board with 1/1s too. Because we're in Golgari, this commander also provides us with access to some of the best graveyard synergies in the whole format!</p>
<p>Among <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mycotyrant" href="#" target="_blank">The Mycotyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s most popular cards are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skull Prophet" href="#" target="_blank">Skull Prophet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (65% inclusion rate), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycoloth" href="#" target="_blank">Mycoloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60% inclusion rate), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cankerbloom" href="#" target="_blank">Cankerbloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (61% inclusion rate).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skull Prophet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mycoloth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cankerbloom"></div></div>
<h2>What's Fiery for Mycotyrant Decks?</h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron of Essence" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron of Essence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 12.55</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cauldron of Essence"></div></div>
<p>Wow! This artifact has a super high Fire Score. This three-drop can drain our opponents' life totals, cause us to descend an extra time each turn, and even bring back whatever powerful creatures we mill over in the pursuit of Fungi.</p>
<p>We can get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effects for cheaper, but having such an effect stapled onto a permanent that can reanimate stuff for a reasonable rate is just gravy.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mole Man, Moloid Master" href="#" target="_blank">Mole Man, Moloid Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 8.73</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mole Man, Moloid Master"></div></div>
<p>This three-drop is another fantastic fit for Mycotyrant decks. He lets us make use of the lands we dump into the bin, while also letting us mill even more cards through the tokens he creates. Those tokens can make for good sacrifice fodder, too.</p>
<p>If we pair this Human Villain with a fetch land or something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then we'll really be in the money.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Researcher" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Researcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 8.60</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Researcher"></div></div>
<p>This creature is a bit slow for my taste. It requires an investment of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, some life points, and asks us to wait a turn before we can do anything with this creature.</p>
<p>Sure, it's neat that we can surveil once at the beginning of our upkeep, but I'd rather get more immediate benefit when I pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> (plus another <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and some life down the line).</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return of the Mole Man" href="#" target="_blank">Return of the Mole Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 5.70</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return of the Mole Man"></div></div>
<p>Each of this enchantment's two abilities is stellar. First off, we can fill our 'yard to the brim when we hit our land drops. In a deck like this, we'll be dropping lands consistently and therefore stocking our trash pile high.</p>
<p>Then, when we've got a super big bin and fewer lands to play, we can invest <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-5" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to make a boatload of tokens that'll mill us even more quickly. Six mana is admittedly a high price tag, but we're in a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-based deck! We'll be just fine.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Immoral Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Immoral Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 3.39</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Immoral Bargain"></div></div>
<p>The Fungi that our commander makes are disposable. In fact, we'll often want to get rid of them to trigger our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Species Specialist" href="#" target="_blank">Species Specialist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Three mana is already the standard rate to get rid of one nonland permanent (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and others), so paying the same amount of mana to essentially wipe our opponents' boards is pretty sweet.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vastlands Scavenger" href="#" target="_blank">Vastlands Scavenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 2.84</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vastlands Scavenger"></div></div>
<p>This is a real head-scratcher. Yes, a three-mana 4/4 with deathtouch is technically above rate. But, that's not really relevant in our 40-life, multiplayer format. Then, if we want to cast the instant that this creature comes with, we need to spend a total of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-5" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>! That's crazy, especially given the fact that we can only reanimate a creature from the seven cards that we mill. If I cast Bind to Life and whiff, I might just concede on the spot...</p>
<p>I'd rather play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bramble Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Bramble Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> than this creature. But, truth be told, I don't think that either has a spot in optimized Mycotyrant lists.</p>
<h2>What's Icy for Mycotyrant Decks?</h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slimefoot, the Stowaway" href="#" target="_blank">Slimefoot, the Stowaway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Ice Score of -2.08</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slimefoot, the Stowaway"></div></div>
<p>It's cute that this Fungus makes Saprolings, as both creature types count towards our commander's power and toughness. But, we don't have much Saproling synergy in our 99.</p>
<p>This creature operates below maximum effectiveness here, and will often act as a very bad Blood Artist instead of a neat value engine. Slimefoot is a better fit in the command zone of its own deck.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akawalli, the Seething Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Akawalli, the Seething Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Ice Score of -1.94</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akawalli, the Seething Tower"></div></div>
<p>At its best, this creature is a 7/7 with menace and trample for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. But it doesn't do much for us beyond attacking effectively. Akawalli doesn't mill cards or make tokens, meaning it doesn't fit with our game plan very well.</p>
<p>Plus, while seven power and toughness seems like a lot, this card was clearly designed to be more of a threat in Limited than in Commander. In our format, it can be blocked and killed pretty easily.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sporecrown Thallid" href="#" target="_blank">Sporecrown Thallid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Ice Score of -1.94</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sporecrown Thallid"></div></div>
<p>Two mana for a +1/+1 anthem isn't bad at all! In fact, there are very few anthems in Commander that eclipse this rate (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flowering of the White Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Flowering of the White Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes to mind).</p>
<p>But, because the Fungus tokens that our commander makes can't block, we lose half of this Thallid's appeal. We'll usually be trying to kill our opponents with commander damage regardless, so I think it's safe to cut this creature if you want to make room for some shiny new cards.</p>
<h2>What's in a Mycotyrant Deck?</h2>
<p>Here's a Mycotyrant deck that has all of its hot cards and none of its cold cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Fire and Ice - The Mycotyrant" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Mycotyrant
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cauldron of Essence
*1 Hedge Shredder
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Aftermath Analyst
*1 Ayara, First of Locthwain
*1 Brightcap Badger // Fungus Frolic
*1 Broodrage Mycoid
*1 Cankerbloom
*1 Deathcap Marionette
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Golgari Grave-Troll
*1 Golgari Thug
*1 Grave Researcher // Reanimate
*1 Hermit Druid
*1 Icetill Explorer
*1 Insidious Fungus
*1 Millikin
*1 Mirkwood Bats
*1 Mole Man, Moloid Master
*1 Mycoloth
*1 Nemata, Primeval Warden
*1 Nyx Weaver
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Six
*1 Skull Prophet
*1 Splinterfright
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Tendershoot Dryad
*1 Underrealm Lich
*1 Vastlands Scavenger // Bind to Life
*1 Wight of the Reliquary
*1 World Shaper
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Beastmaster Ascension
*1 Cemetery Tampering
*1 Crawling Infestation
*1 Deadbridge Chant
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Insidious Roots
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Out of the Tombs
*1 Return of the Mole Man
*1 Ripples of Undeath
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Beast Within
*1 Fungal Rebirth
*1 Grisly Salvage
*1 Lethal Scheme
*1 Putrefy
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dread Return
*1 Fungal Sprouting
*1 Immoral Bargain
*1 Lich-Knights&#039; Conquest
*1 Life from the Loam
*1 Rise of the Witch-king
*1 Squirming Emergence
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dakmor Salvage
*1 Deathcap Glade
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*10 Forest
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Necroblossom Snarl
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*9 Swamp
*1 Tainted Wood
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Twilight Mire
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I do really miss <em>Ixalan</em>. Each of the factions in the set is super interesting, and the story wasn't half bad this time around either. We will get some nautical nonsense next year with the release of <em>Nauctis: The Sunken Realm</em>, so here's hoping it's as cool as <i>Lost Caverns of Ixalan </i>was<em>.</em></p>
<p>What was your favorite faction in Ixalan? Did your answer change during our last visit to the plane? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll be back soon for more <em>Fire and Ice</em>.</p>


cauldron of essence

Fire and Ice: Which Cards Are Hot and Cold for The Mycotyrant?