<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.cynthia-sheppard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cynthia Sheppard</a></em></p>
<p>This week on <em>Precon Remastered</em>, where we remake old precons into something that would go toe-to-toe with today's releases, we're taking on one of the most notorious preconstructed Commander decks of all time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thraximundar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar, the Mindrazer"></div></div>
<p>Yup, we're talking about <em>that</em> precon. <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/mind-seize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mind Seize</em></a> earned its infamy off the back of one card: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True-Name Nemesis" href="#" target="_blank">True-Name Nemesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (henceforth known as TNN). The new card became an all-star in Eternal formats (read: Legacy and/or Vintage), and took them by storm.</p>
<p>eBay listings were selling the entire deck except TNN. The precon was sold out everywhere, and was absurdly marked up. Back then, it caused an absolute uproar, and was eventually heard. The precon had been printed more frequently, driving down the price, and TNN was eventually reprinted at least once or twice.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the obvious choice to run this precon. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exceptionally strong, but it doesn't do much here. And as much as I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thraximundar" href="#" target="_blank">Thraximundar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, he's just sitting there, menacingly.</p>
<h2>The Rules of <em>Precon Remastered</em></h2>
<p>Here are our rules for remastering precons:</p>
<ol>
<li>The value of the deck cannot exceed $120. This will apply to the reprints only, which gets to my first personal quirk.</li>
<li>Every card unique to the original precon stays in the deck. All those new cards that get released with precons remain in the list.</li>
<li>The land package should closely reflect what we get in precons these days (and, in my humble opinion, they're actually pretty good).</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li><em>Universes Beyond</em> cards are not added. No exceptions, unless they have a in-universe variant.</li>
</ol>
<p>With that out of the way, let's take a good look at what the <em>Mind Seize</em> precon looked like originally.</p>
<h2>Original <em>Mind Seize</em> Precon Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mind Seize - Commander 2013" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Augur of Bolas
*1 Baleful Force
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Charmbreaker Devils
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Echo Mage
*1 Fog Bank
*1 Guard Gomazoa
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Mnemonic Wall
*1 Nekusar, the Mindrazer
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Nivix Guildmage
*1 Terra Ravager
*1 Thraximundar
*1 True-Name Nemesis
*1 Uyo, Silent Prophet
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
*1 Viseling
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Annihilate
*1 Crosis&#039;s Charm
*1 Dismiss
*1 Grixis Charm
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Gambit
*1 Opportunity
*1 Soul Manipulation
*1 Starstorm
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Vision Skeins
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Army of the Damned
*1 Cruel Ultimatum
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Fissure Vent
*1 Incendiary Command
*1 Infest
*1 Molten Disaster
*1 Phthisis
*1 Prosperity
*1 Skyscribing
*1 Strategic Planning
*1 Tempt with Reflections
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Armillary Sphere
*1 Eye of Doom
*1 Mirari
*1 Obelisk of Grixis
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Temple Bell
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Arcane Melee
*1 Curse of Chaos
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Price of Knowledge
*1 Propaganda
*1 Spiteful Visions
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Akoum Refuge
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Dimir Guildgate
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Grixis Panorama
*9 Island
*1 Izzet Boilerworks
*1 Izzet Guildgate
*1 Molten Slagheap
*5 Mountain
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Rakdos Guildgate
*1 Rupture Spire
*8 Swamp
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Urza&#039;s Factory
*1 Vivid Creek
*1 Vivid Marsh
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><em>Mind Seize</em>? More Like <em>Mind Split</em></h2>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, we can see that she needs us to run a ton of big, splashy spells that she can cast easily. Here's the problem: Because of each <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander 2013</em></a> precon having an identity crisis, the deck is split between trying to make Jeleva work and some support for the other commanders.</p>
<p>What we'll need to do is streamline the deck so that it's more focused. Worse still, Jeleva has to attack to get her trigger, and the precon doesn't provide many ways to protect her, let alone give her haste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiteful Visions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="True-Name Nemesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Ultimatum"></div></div>
<p>Also, there are 22 instants and sorceries in the deck, which is not an ideal number here. Amongst them are a few X-costing spells that don't work with our commander at all (because X will be zero when cast with Jeleva's ability). The main priority, on top of protecting Jeleva and sorting out that mana base, is to bump those numbers up. 22 is such a rookie number, after all.</p>
<p>The new cards don't really support our strategy all that much, but we unfortunately have to keep them in. For instance, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terra Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Terra Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mainly belongs in a more aggressive deck, while the three Curses have more niche applications.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eye of Doom" href="#" target="_blank">Eye of Doom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a much slower, inverted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hooded Horror" href="#" target="_blank">Hooded Horror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would've been much better if it were cheaper to cast. Even then, it's still better off elsewhere.</p>
<h2><em>Mind Seize </em>Remastered</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mind Seize Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Brainsurge
*1 Crosis&#039;s Charm
*1 Evacuation
*1 Grixis Charm
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Gambit
*1 Magma Opus
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Return the Favor
*1 Sudden Spoiling
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Aminatou&#039;s Augury
*1 Army of the Damned
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Blatant Thievery
*1 Clone Legion
*1 Cruel Ultimatum
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Diabolic Vision
*1 Dream Harvest
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Hit the Mother Lode
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Serum Visions
*1 Spelltwine
*1 Tempt with Reflections
*1 Volcanic Vision
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brainstone
*1 Eye of Doom
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Archmage Emeritus
*1 Baleful Force
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Harmonic Prodigy
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Nekusar, the Mindrazer
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Nivix Guildmage
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Terra Ravager
*1 Thraximundar
*1 True-Name Nemesis
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Chaos
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Price of Knowledge
*1 Propaganda
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*7 Island
*7 Mountain
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Scorched Geyser
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*1 Sunken Hollow
*7 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Talk About a Glow-Up</h2>
<p>Now, if you ask me, that looks much better! I've upped the instant/sorcery count on top of cutting the X-spells. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou&#039;s Augury" href="#" target="_blank">Aminatou&#039;s Augury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> now grace our lineup. I kept some of the better hits from the stock list because at least they can still work here.</p>
<p>But now, amongst them, we have more ways to protect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return the Favor" href="#" target="_blank">Return the Favor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can also copy spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evacuation" href="#" target="_blank">Evacuation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> bounces the board, and works with our commander because then, if you had ran out of cards to cast with her ability, we can reset her ability! The bad news is that she'll hit each player for four cards, but it's still something. The same goes with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Laboratory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return the Favor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evacuation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise of the Dark Realms"></div></div>
<p>On top of better lands and ramp, I threw in both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lavaspur Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Lavaspur Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to ensure that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is protected, and can attack the turn she enters. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstone" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which functions like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (also in the new 99). We also have a few other spells like it, so be sure to use those before dropping Jeleva to ensure we always hit a target. Superior options would be great if you've got the money, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonic Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonic Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double up on both of Jeleva's effects, making it especially potent here.</p>
<h2>A Scourge No More</h2>
<p>In a way, it's a bit of a shame that Jeleva fell off into obscurity, because she's capable of some big plays, so here's hoping I was able to revamp (hehe) some interest in her. I guess that's power creep for you. Anyway, tune in next time when we stumble upon our next entry in my other series with yet another typal commander.</p>


Remastering the Mind Seize Precon

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.ericdeschamps.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Deschamps</a></em></p>
<p>This week on <em>Precon Remastered</em>, we return to <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander 2013</em></a> with the next precon to remake into something more modern. We're taking a gander at the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/eternal-bargain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Eternal Bargain </em>precon</a>, the Esper (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" 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>) deck that was split between <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lifegain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifegain</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/artifacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artifacts</a>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sydri, Galvanic Genius"></div></div>
<p>Unlike <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/remastering-the-evasive-maneuvers-precon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Derevi deck from last time</a>, remastering this list is a lot more straightforward. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who will be our commander of choice, is dead set on a Lifegain strategy. However, we'll still have some artifacts for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sydri, Galvanic Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Sydri, Galvanic Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to do her thing, but the numbers won't be so high.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Of, course, saying "budget" is my perfect segue to cover the rules.</p>
<h2>The Rules of <em>Precon Remastered</em></h2>
<p>Here are our rules for remastering precons:</p>
<ol>
<li>The value of the deck cannot exceed $120. This will apply to the reprints only, which gets to my first personal quirk.</li>
<li>Every card unique to the original precon stays in the deck. All those new cards that get released with precons remain in the list.</li>
<li>The land package should closely reflect what we get in precons these days (and, in my humble opinion, they're actually pretty good).</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Universes Beyond cards are not added. No exceptions, unless they have a in-universe variant.</li>
</ol>
<p>With that out of the way, let's take a good look at what the precon looked like originally.</p>
<h2><em>Eternal Bargain</em> Original Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Eternal Bargain - Commander 2013" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ajani&#039;s Pridemate
*1 Augury Adept
*1 Azorius Herald
*1 Disciple of Griselbrand
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Divinity of Pride
*1 Filigree Angel
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Kongming, &quot;Sleeping Dragon&quot;
*1 Marrow Bats
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Phyrexian Delver
*1 Phyrexian Gargantua
*1 Raven Familiar
*1 Razor Hippogriff
*1 Serene Master
*1 Serra Avatar
*1 Sharding Sphinx
*1 Sharuum the Hegemon
*1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
*1 Stormscape Battlemage
*1 Sydri, Galvanic Genius
*1 Tidal Force
*1 Tidehollow Strix
*1 Tower Gargoyle
*1 Vizkopa Guildmage
*1 Wall of Reverence
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Dromar&#039;s Charm
*1 Lim-Dûl&#039;s Vault
*1 Reckless Spite
*1 Spinal Embrace
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Brilliant Plan
*1 Death Grasp
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Famine
*1 Order of Succession
*1 Survival Cache
*1 Tempt with Immortality
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Crawlspace
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Nihil Spellbomb
*1 Obelisk of Esper
*1 Pristine Talisman
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sun Droplet
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thopter Foundry
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Act of Authority
*1 Cradle of Vitality
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Curse of the Forsaken
*1 Darksteel Mutation
*1 Greed
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Sanguine Bond
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Azorius Guildgate
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dimir Guildgate
*1 Esper Panorama
*1 Evolving Wilds
*6 Island
*1 Jwar Isle Refuge
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Orzhov Guildgate
*9 Plains
*1 Rupture Spire
*1 Springjack Pasture
*9 Swamp
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Transguild Promenade
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>At First Glance</h3>
<p>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 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which has been reprinted in several precons recently.</p>
<p>That's all well and good, but it does command a considerable price tag.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sanguine Bond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sharuum the Hegemon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toxic Deluge"></div></div>
<p>The obvious danger to upgrading this list for Bracket 2, besides the artifact/lifegain overlap, is avoiding the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguine Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguine Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 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.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the deck list decided that for us, so that's what we're going with.</p>
<p>The reprint commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharuum the Hegemon" href="#" target="_blank">Sharuum the Hegemon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 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.</p>
<h2><em>Eternal Bargain Remastered</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Eternal Bargain Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ajani&#039;s Pridemate
*1 Amalia Benavides Aguirre
*1 Cliffhaven Vampire
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Drogskol Reaver
*1 Exemplar of Light
*1 Felidar Sovereign
*1 Haliya, Guided by Light
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Indulging Patrician
*1 Marauding Blight-Priest
*1 Noxious Gearhulk
*1 Nykthos Paragon
*1 Razor Hippogriff
*1 Rhox Faithmender
*1 Serene Master
*1 Sphinx of the Revelation
*1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
*1 Sunscorch Regent
*1 Sydri, Galvanic Genius
*1 Tidal Force
*1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
*1 Vizkopa Guildmage
*1 Wall of Reverence
*1 Witch of the Moors
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Death Grasp
*1 Debt to the Deathless
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Order of Succession
*1 Space-Time Anomaly
*1 Stargaze
*1 Tempt with Immortality
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Alhammarret&#039;s Archive
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Pristine Talisman
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Trading Post
*1 Venser&#039;s Journal
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Act of Authority
*1 Cradle of Vitality
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Curse of the Forsaken
*1 Darksteel Mutation
*1 Greed
*1 Lunar Convocation
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Sanguine Bond
*1 Test of Endurance
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Counterspell
*1 Despark
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Void Rend
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darkwater Catacombs
*1 Desolate Mire
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Eclipsed Steppe
*1 Fetid Pools
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*6 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Opal Palace
*6 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Sunken Hollow
*6 Swamp
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Umbral Expanse
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>The Good Things in Life(gain)</h3>
<p>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 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive" href="#" target="_blank">Alhammarret&#039;s Archive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In addition, we added a few more effects akin to Sanguine Bond to further capitalize on them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Space-Time Anomaly"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exsanguinate"></div></div>
<p>We also have more payoffs for lifegain, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exemplar of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Exemplar of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>However, where I decided to be a royal jerk is the inclusion of alternative win conditions. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Test of Endurance" href="#" target="_blank">Test of Endurance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are laughably easy to pull off.</p>
<p>If it weren't for the new card rule, I would've cut <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sydri, Galvanic Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Sydri, Galvanic Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (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 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exsanguinate" href="#" target="_blank">Exsanguinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Space-Time Anomaly" href="#" target="_blank">Space-Time Anomaly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Standing Up</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Anyway, next week lets us revisit <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/cmd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander (2011)</em></a> 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.</p>


Remastering the Eternal Bargain Commander Precon

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Derevi, Empyrial Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=artist%3Amichaelkomarck&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=name">Michael Kormack</a></em></p>
<h2>Changing Tactics</h2>
<p>This week on <em>Precon Remastered</em>, where we take old precons and give them a modern makeover, we have quite a jump. Basically, I've been asked to skip the rest of the original precons and begin instead with the infamous <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13"><em>Commander 2013</em></a> set of decks (I'll get to why it's infamous in a moment). For the other three precons from the original release, you can find them <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/counterpunch-ghave-precon-upgrade">here</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/heavenly-inferno-kaalia-precon-upgrade">here</a>, and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/mirror-mastery-riku-precon-upgrade">here</a>. Now then, shall we get started?</p>
<h3>Lay of the Land</h3>
<p>To give a brief overview of the decks, there's a reason for what I said above: all (except one) of the decks have quite the identity crisis, split between two very different themes. Not to mention, we're still contending with some...interesting card choices. What will this mean for our five decks? The answer's fairly simple: we're going to do all five of the main commanders for this cycle. The others have been built up well enough that I'd be beating a dead horse (to varying degrees; looking at you, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). Besides, the main commanders need to be in the command zone for them to be truly effective. So, it will be those five I'll focus on.</p>
<h3>The Leader of Legend</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Derevi, Empyrial Tactician"></div></div>
<p>Our commander for this week has quite a storied history back in the day. Where everyone was building <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/stax">Stax</a> decks for her (we won't do that here, I assure you: we gotta have friends!), I took a different approach for her. I saw her through an Arthurian lens, being the leader of a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens">token</a> deck, getting all those tap/untap triggers. The precon features them to a small extent, feeding into a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tap-untap">Tap/Untap</a> theme, but it does take on a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/blink">Blink</a> theme. That would be because of the deck's secondary commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, printed so Blink decks had all the tools under one shed. Besides, that's boring! I'm asleep by the time those decks start going off.</p>
<h3>The Rules of Engagement</h3>
<p>As always, I'll post the rules for remastering precons, so those new to the series can get a grasp of what we're aiming to do, or if a reader ends up forgetting (that includes you). They are as follows:</p>
<p>1. The value of the deck cannot exceed $120. This will apply to the reprints only, which gets to my first personal quirk.</p>
<p>2. Every card unique to the precon stays in the deck. All those new cards that get released with precons remain in the list.</p>
<p>3. The land package should closely reflect what we get in precons these days (and, in my humble opinion, they're actually pretty good).</p>
<p>4. 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.</p>
<p>5. <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards are not added. No exceptions, unless they have a in-universe variant.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, let's take a gander at the original list.</p>
<h3><em>Evasive Maneuvers</em></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Evasive Maneuvers - Commander 2013" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Aerie Mystics
*1 Angel of Finality
*1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Deceiver Exarch
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Djinn of Infinite Deceits
*1 Dungeon Geists
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Fiend Hunter
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Hada Spy Patrol
*1 Karmic Guide
*1 Kazandu Tuskcaller
*1 Lu Xun, Scholar General
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mistmeadow Witch
*1 Murkfiend Liege
*1 Phantom Nantuko
*1 Pilgrim&#039;s Eye
*1 Roon of the Hidden Realm
*1 Rubinia Soulsinger
*1 Selesnya Guildmage
*1 Skyward Eye Prophets
*1 Stonecloaker
*1 Thornwind Faeries
*1 Winged Coatl
*1 Wonder
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aethermage&#039;s Touch
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Blue Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Krosan Grip
*1 Selesnya Charm
*1 Unexpectedly Absent
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Borrowing 100,000 Arrows
*1 Kirtar&#039;s Wrath
*1 Restore
*1 Tempt with Glory
*1 Wash Out
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Azorius Keyrune
*1 Basalt Monolith
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Closet
*1 Darksteel Ingot
*1 Leonin Bladetrap
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Surveyor&#039;s Scope
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Paruns
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
*1 Thunderstaff
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Control Magic
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Predation
*1 Curse of the Forsaken
*1 Darksteel Mutation
*1 Flickerform
*1 Leafdrake Roost
*1 Presence of Gond
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Azorius Guildgate
*1 Bant Panorama
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Faerie Conclave
*6 Forest
*7 Island
*1 Opal Palace
*7 Plains
*1 Rupture Spire
*1 Saltcrusted Steppe
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Sejiri Refuge
*1 Selesnya Guildgate
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Simic Guildgate
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Transguild Promenade
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>The Current Stratagem</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Borrowing 100,000 Arrows"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mistmeadow Witch"></div></div>
<p>Like I said before, the decks from this precon cycle have an identity crisis, and this one's no exception. Here, we have a split between Blink and Tap/Untap. However, the card selection in both themes are pretty terrible. On the one hand, we have random stuff like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thornwind Faeries" href="#" target="_blank">Thornwind Faeries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leafdrake Roost" href="#" target="_blank">Leafdrake Roost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, whose effects are too minimal to make any difference. On the other, we have the likes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Acidic Slime" href="#" target="_blank">Acidic Slime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and an old favorite in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonecloaker" href="#" target="_blank">Stonecloaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That said, there is a clear winner between the two, and my choice will certainly raise some eyebrows.</p>
<p>The mana base, to the surprise of no one, needs a lot of work. The Ravnica bounce lands (ex. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selesnya Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Selesnya Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) are terrible in decks with three colors or higher. Not to mention they'll make great <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strip Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Strip Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> targets. The Gates enter tapped and were better off being basic lands. Looking at mana bases like this one shows us how far precons have come. So, what exactly am I planning to do here?</p>
<h3><em>Evasive Maneuvers </em>Remastered</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Evasive Maneuvers" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
*1 Aether Channeler
*1 Angel of Finality
*1 Archetype of Imagination
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Brago, King Eternal
*1 Cloudblazer
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Djinn of Infinite Deceits
*1 End-Raze Forerunners
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Fiend Hunter
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Karmic Guide
*1 Lu Xun, Scholar General
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mistmeadow Witch
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Peregrine Drake
*1 Restoration Angel
*1 Roon of the Hidden Realm
*1 Rubinia Soulsinger
*1 Soulherder
*1 Stonecloaker
*1 Thragtusk
*1 Trygon Predator
*1 Wall of Blossoms
*1 Wall of Omens
*1 Willbreaker
*1 Wonder
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Selesnya Signet
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Surveyor&#039;s Scope
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Candlekeep Sage
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Predation
*1 Curse of the Forsaken
*1 Darksteel Mutation
*1 Dismiss into Dream
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Displace
*1 Krosan Grip
*1 Momentary Blink
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Selesnya Charm
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpectedly Absent
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Another Round
*1 Cultivate
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Restore
*1 Tempt with Glory
*1 Time Wipe
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Bant Panorama
*1 Brushland
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*6 Island
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Overflowing Basin
*6 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Sodden Verdure
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>Did I Blink?</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adeline, Resplendent Cathar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Willbreaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<p>When upgrading precons like this one, we pick a theme and run with it. Here, I leaned harder into the Blink theme but kept Derevi at the helm. Why? She gives the ETB (enters-the-battlefield) creatures more life by using them to get Derevi's trigger. That said, I also retained (and added) a few key pieces that make Derevi tick. I may have not done the Stax route, but I did add a couple cards that will be really mean with our commander out. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismiss into Dream" href="#" target="_blank">Dismiss into Dream</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Willbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Willbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be backbreaking under the right circumstances. Perhaps they could outright win the game. However, their high mana cost, and Willbreaker being easy to remove, will keep them from being too horrifying.</p>
<p>A lot of the key pieces for Blink decks are not cheap (Who knew <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was around $7? Yikes!), but we still have some budget options. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Another Round" href="#" target="_blank">Another Round</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will blink our board, and will do so as many times as we pay into it. In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yorion, Sky Nomad" href="#" target="_blank">Yorion, Sky Nomad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will blink everything but itself, but we can blink it to do the effect again. On that note, our suite of Blink targets have been improved to the best of my ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eternal Witness" href="#" target="_blank">Eternal Witness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will get something back, and we have the infamous Standard pair of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restoration Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Restoration Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thragtusk" href="#" target="_blank">Thragtusk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Further upgrades to the deck will mean moving all the way, adding the cards I couldn't add because they were out of our price range.</p>
<h3>Successful Maneuvers</h3>
<p>While we were able to get there, Derevi does seem to be at an odd place. That said, there are a brave <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/derevi-empyrial-tactician/blink">255 people</a> (at time of writing) using her as a Blink deck.</p>
<p>Do you think Roon gets the nod over Derevi? Why or why not? In the meantime, come back next time were we return to the next commander in <em>Commander Makeover</em>, and start making some generic Goblin noises.</p>


Remastering the Evasive Maneuvers Precon

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CWisnu+Tan%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wisnu Tan</a></em></p>
<p>For several years, the Esper (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" 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>) color identity has had a problem with, well, identity. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the only top commander in the identity for a long time, Esper's whole schtick involved Control builds. But 2025 has brought something of an Esper Renaissance of sorts.</p>
<p>This revival involves two new top Esper commanders making their respective rounds over the course of the past year. So read on, and join us as we look at those commanders and get a feel for where they stand!</p>
<h2>Esper Color Identity - A Bygone History</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sharuum the Hegemon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zur the Enchanter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sen Triplets"></div></div>
<p>Before we can get into the new hotness of Esper, we must talk about its foundations, the bedrock that paved the way for them. Let's set the scene:</p>
<p>The year is 2013. Commander wasn't quite as influenced by Wizards of the Coast's designs; in fact, Wizards was a while away from noticing the full impact of the fan-driven format and then crafting sets around it.</p>
<p>The main commanders with an Esper color identity that players would often see were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zur the Enchanter" href="#" target="_blank">Zur the Enchanter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sharuum the Hegemon" href="#" target="_blank">Sharuum the Hegemon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sen Triplets" href="#" target="_blank">Sen Triplets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromium" href="#" target="_blank">Chromium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was but a twinkle in many players' eyes, but that's because by then, the Elder Dragon, one of the five that the format was originally named after, was outclassed.</p>
<p>All this to say, Esper was a fine identity to build around, but in doing so, you were a bit pigeonholed. Either you were playing some brand of artifact themes, Stax, or some abominable build that Zur could facilitate for you (and I should know, given that Zur was <em>my</em> first commander ever).</p>
<p>The rules were also pretty fast and loose back then. The "tuck" circumvention to the command zone redirection was still in effect, for instance. This gave blue decks of all kinds a huge advantage; if your built-around commander got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hinder" href="#" target="_blank">Hinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>ed or was the subject of an ill-fated <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spin into Myth" href="#" target="_blank">Spin into Myth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you could kiss your specially-crafted strategy goodbye. This was especially true with so few options for redundancy.</p>
<p>All this to say, blue was great; it was nearly all-powerful.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spin into Myth"></div></div>
<p>And then came Commander 2013.</p>
<h2>The Age of Oloro</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic"></div></div>
<p>Enter: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The first de facto <em>eminence</em> commander, Oloro could gain his pilot life by just sitting there. Stax had not eaten this well since Zur first made his debut in 2007's <em>Coldsnap</em> expansion.</p>
<p>As players in years to come would prove, all an Oloro player had to do was play a metric ton of disruption pieces and control the board, and they'd be nigh-untouchable. At risk of sounding even more like an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Old Fogey" href="#" target="_blank">Old Fogey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> than I already do, back then, players weren't as fond of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="False Cure" href="#" target="_blank">False Cure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rain of Gore" href="#" target="_blank">Rain of Gore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, either for their symmetry or their brevity. Lifegain was as valid a strategy as it is now (heck, that's why my Zur was so potent!).</p>
<p>However, that hesitation was the reason that Oloro was gaining life like a mad cleric on a healing bender.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Propaganda"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphere of Safety"></div></div>
<p>As of the time of writing, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic has a prolific 17,538 decks to his name on <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/oloro-ageless-ascetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC's database</a>, putting him as the #59th most popular commander to date. Many of these decks come from the days of yore, when Commander was still the Wild West wasteland, then still known more as Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH).</p>
<p>But the pendulum, ever swinging, was going to lose the Esper color identity much of the players' favor in a variety of ways.</p>
<h2>Post-Oloro Days; Or, Esper's Stasis</h2>
<p>For the next eleven years after Oloro's printing, Wizards of the Coast tried <em>really</em> hard to make an Esper commander that could outshine him. From printing one of the coolest <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou, the Fateshifter" href="#" target="_blank">planeswalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cards ever to printing an all-new <em>eminence</em> commander in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Wizards nearly even got there!</p>
<p>But, after Oloro, Wizards' efforts were not as recognized by players as they may have wanted. And hey, these commanders are as cool as any other - I'm not complaining that they were too weak or too strong. But that's just the problem; they're <em>as cool as any other</em>. Even the appeal of early Universes Beyond wasn't enough to draw a ton of players to bring another Esper commander to the top again.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aminatou, the Fateshifter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marneus Calgar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir"></div></div>
<p>Meanwhile, Oloro faded into relative obscurity, obfuscated by many other commanders of non-Esper color identities, and effectively, power crept out of the zeitgeist.</p>
<h2>2025 - The Esper Renaissance</h2>
<p>Then, in 2025, something remarkably funny happened.</p>
<p><em>Aetherdrift</em>, a set that many players happen to malign as <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/are-hat-sets-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being a "hat" set</a>, or a set where known characters took on traits of their setting, gave us something remarkable. This set gave us three planar settings, one of which was Amonkhet. The Egyptian-inspired plane, once ravaged by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicol Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Nicol Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s dire machinations, was now recovering and wanted to display their world's relevance. Avishkar and Muraganda were also there, though their importance is less in this article compared to Amonkhet.</p>
<p>Alongside these settings, players got two new Commander decks, one of which was an Esper deck. Its featured (or, non-face) commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, was an instant hit among many players who grew to find its play patterns extremely interesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist"></div></div>
<p>It is here that we see the first of two commanders within the Esper color identity in top-ranking positions, heralding a Renaissance for the shard. Right now, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/hashaton-scarabs-fist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hashaton is doing much better than Oloro is</a>, with 19,996 decks at his disposal and a ranking of #36 on EDHREC.</p>
<p>That Hashaton is literally only four decks away from hitting 20,000 is no small feat, but one Cat Warlock would soon outdo even those numbers.</p>
<h2>Y'shtola, Esper's Blessed</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed"></div></div>
<p>Meet <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a commander that is currently ranked #6 on EDHREC, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/yshtola-nights-blessed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with over 30,000 decks at her command</a>. If you've been reading our articles lately, you're already intimately familiar with our doting over such a cool card and her ascension into the Top 10 and better.</p>
<p>In addition to being a herald of the Esper Renaissance, she's also largely a herald of a new way to play decks within the Esper color identity. While we've gotten several new archetypes within Esper, from Blink and Superfriends with Aminatou to Aggro-Combo with Hashaton, Y'shtola is the first one that seems to have stuck particularly well.</p>
<p>Well, since Oloro, who has sort of just been <em>sitting there</em>, ever true to form.</p>
<p>Sure, Hashaton was something new and funky-fresh for Esper, but Y'shtola may honestly mark the start of something new.</p>
<p>So now, let me open the floor to you, dear readers. What is your experience with using the Esper color identity? Do you believe that Y'shtola truly marks a rebirth for Esper? And what do you foresee in the color combination for the near-future? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


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