<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lucky the Pizza Dog" href="#" target="_blank">Lucky the Pizza Dog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rudy_crut/">Rudy Siswanto</a> </em></p>
<h2>Who Let the Dog Out?</h2>
<p>This week, we're going to deviate from our usual antics and instead explore a preview! Hailing from the upcoming <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/msh"><em>Marvel Superheroes</em></a> set is our commander of the week.</p>
<div id="attachment_184622" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184622" class="size-medium wp-image-184622" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-225x300.jpg" alt="Lucky, a dog wearing a black and grey coat, looks up with a wagging tail." width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20221115_061047-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-184622" class="wp-caption-text">One of the many dogs I've live with throughout my life (it's an old photo).</p></div>
<p>...Wait, that's <em>my</em> Lucky. I meant this one.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lucky the Pizza Dog"></div></div>
<p>Before I go on, let me give you a bit of advice, as a dog owner (and someone who's lived with dogs for most of his life): Do not give dogs pepperoni, let alone pizza (crust is fine, assuming it isn't stuffed and/or seasoned in some way). Pepperoni is high in fats, and food like that can be toxic to dogs.</p>
<p>Ok, with that disclaimer out of the way, we can actually look at the card. This card is sure to be a roleplayer in decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sophia, Dogged Detective" href="#" target="_blank">Sophia, Dogged Detective</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rin and Seri, Inseparable" href="#" target="_blank">Rin and Seri, Inseparable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, for this week, Lucky is our commander.</p>
<p>He'll want us to run lots of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/dogs">Dogs</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/cats">Cats</a>, and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/heroes">Heroes</a>. On top of that, we'll need ways to gain life (ironic, considering what I said above) and interact with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/plus-1-plus-1-counters">+1/+1 counters</a>.</p>
<h3>Halleujah, it's Raining Cats and Dogs!</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="District Mascot"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undergrowth Leopard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wary Watchdog"></div></div>
<p>To begin, we must add a good assortment of Dogs and Cats. Those two will form the bulk of our creature line up. That said, the list isn't that brilliant. Cats, for example, really benefited from having white, and losing access to it is not small blow.</p>
<p>In a similar vein, Dogs lose some crucial options to make them stay afloat. As for Heroes, there really isn't much to draw from, but I imagine this'll change when <em>Marvel Superheroes </em>releases.</p>
<p>For the Dogs, we take what we can. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="District Mascot" href="#" target="_blank">District Mascot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best choices. It blows up troublesome artifacts, and gets bigger via +1/+1 counters, thus synergizing with those.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undergrowth Leopard" href="#" target="_blank">Undergrowth Leopard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially a colorshifted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathar Commando" href="#" target="_blank">Cathar Commando</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> without flash, but will do some work here. Another good kitty is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of Fables" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of Fables</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which ensures our hand stays full if we connect with our animals.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tanuki Transplanter" href="#" target="_blank">Tanuki Transplanter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will provide ramp on attack, and potentially even more when we reconfigure it onto another, larger creature.</p>
<h3>Get a Life. Or Three.</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Cornucopia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Comforting Counsel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Healing Technique"></div></div>
<p>In order to get +1/+1 counters on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lucky the Pizza Dog" href="#" target="_blank">Lucky the Pizza Dog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we need to gain life. While the Food tokens he creates help us, we can't fully rely on them to get there.</p>
<p>A member of a personal favorite cycle of cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Healing Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Healing Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will gain us life while recurring something (twice if we demonstrate it), then exiles itself so we can't reuse it.</p>
<p>While this does help, note that Lucky doesn't care how much life we gain, but rather if we did or not (and triggers each turn to boot).</p>
<p>However, my secret tech for this deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Cornucopia" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Cornucopia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Yes, it's a mana rock in a color that doesn't need it. Also, yes, it's better if we're running multiple colors.</p>
<p>But need I remind you that even one point of life will satisfy the criteria needed to get Lucky a +1/+1 counter. All it takes is one spell, and the mana produced from the Cornucopia helps get us there.</p>
<p>In addition, what's a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lifegain">Lifegain</a> deck without payoffs? Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Comforting Counsel" href="#" target="_blank">Comforting Counsel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will buff our entire board once we get enough growth counters on it.</p>
<p>Hitting five of those is easier than we think. Something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (not in this deck list, mind) will get there very quickly. Again, like the Technique, Counsel only cares about if we gained life, not how much of it.</p>
<h3>Counter-Plan</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terrasymbiosis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pridemalkin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Earth Crystal"></div></div>
<p>The last piece to our stratagem involves +1/+1 counters. Something that's very easy to exploit. Of course, our creatures tend to be bite-sized compared to the bigger ones our opponents will likely play, so we need to be on even footing with them.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Earth Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Earth Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double the counters we put on our creatures, including the ones from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lucky the Pizza Dog" href="#" target="_blank">Lucky the Pizza Dog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s end step trigger. It can also put counters on our creatures in a pinch (or we got nothing better to spend mana on).</p>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pridemalkin" href="#" target="_blank">Pridemalkin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will put a counter on a creature we control, but will more importantly give them all trample if they have a +1/+1 counter on them.</p>
<p>Lastly, we have no shortage of payoffs for distributing counters around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terrasymbiosis" href="#" target="_blank">Terrasymbiosis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will draw us cards for each +1/+1 counter(s) we put on creatures.</p>
<p>Be mindful that we only get its trigger once each turn, so choose when you'll put the most counters to use the trigger (thankfully a "may" ability) to get the most value from the card.</p>
<p>Another example of a payoff we can use is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Call" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It draws us cards equal to the number of creatures we have that got +1/+1 counters on them, and makes them indestructible for the turn.</p>
<h3>A Tribute to My Lucky</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Raining Dogs and Cats" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Lucky the Pizza Dog
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ainok Wayfarer
*1 Arbor Adherent
*1 Chrome Companion
*1 District Mascot
*1 Eel-Hounds
*1 Generous Stray
*1 Greater Tanuki
*1 Hunting Cheetah
*1 Iron Mastiff
*1 Jewel Thief
*1 Keeper of Fables
*1 Longshot Squad
*1 Malamet Brawler
*1 Mirri, Cat Warrior
*1 Mowu, Loyal Companion
*1 Mushroom Watchdogs
*1 Nacatl War-Pride
*1 Pridemalkin
*1 Prowling Serpopard
*1 Scrounging Bandar
*1 Scythecat Cub
*1 Spider-Ham, Peter Porker
*1 Spider-Man, Miles Morales
*1 Tanuki Transplanter
*1 Topiary Panther
*1 Trade Route Envoy
*1 Traveling Botanist
*1 Undergrowth Leopard
*1 Wary Watchdog
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ancient Cornucopia
*1 Emerald Medallion
*1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Great Henge
*1 Tome of Legends
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Collective Resistance
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Krosan Grip
*1 Trash the Town
*1 Wrap in Vigor
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bioengineered Future
*1 Comforting Counsel
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Innkeeper&#039;s Talent
*1 Loading Zone
*1 Roaring Earth
*1 Terrasymbiosis
*1 Trail of Crumbs
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Courage in Crisis
*1 Cultivate
*1 Expand the Sphere
*1 Genesis Storm
*1 Healing Technique
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Open the Way
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Study the Classics
*1 Unnatural Restoration
*1 Verdant Confluence
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Animal Sanctuary
*1 Evendo, Waking Haven
*32 Forest
*1 Hidden Nursery
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>A Bowl of Pizza-Flavored Kibble</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Expand the Sphere"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Genesis Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Innkeeper&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p>Here's my personal list, which hasn't been built yet (Got sidetracked by a couple of other commanders). Here, I incorporated a number of my favorite cards in the game, but also work with our commander in some way.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genesis Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Genesis Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is bound to get a few copies because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lucky the Pizza Dog" href="#" target="_blank">Lucky the Pizza Dog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costs a measly two mana.</p>
<p>A similar deal can be said about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tome of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Tome of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will accrue counters quite quickly, especially with proliferate.</p>
<p>Speaking of proliferate, we have a few cards which do exactly that. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Courage in Crisis" href="#" target="_blank">Courage in Crisis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is mainly in there for that reason, plus a way to add a counter.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Expand the Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Expand the Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the potential to proliferate multiple times, depending on what we reveal. If we don't have a proliferate card handy, the numerous <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hardened Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Hardened Scales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects will do. Some, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ozolith, the Shattered Spire" href="#" target="_blank">Ozolith, the Shattered Spire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, have additional uses.</p>
<p>Lastly, something I'd advise when running this deck is to not flood the board too much. A well-timed wipe will knock the wind out of our sails, and rebuilding may not be easy. So, I incorporated a few protection spells to help shore up this weakness.</p>
<p>That said, we're also not likely to draw into them. Ironically, the lack of board wipes is a weakness as well, but this is a feature of green as a color. The best "wipe" green has is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri&#039;s Predation" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri&#039;s Predation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and I went out of my way to avoid making tokens that weren't Dogs or Cats (or Food).</p>
<h3>Well-Rested</h3>
<p>I hope very much that the deck appeals to you in some way, even if it does fall on the weaker side of things. In any case, it was meant more as a tribute to my dog (who's still alive, but is very old) than something serious. For that, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lucky the Pizza Dog" href="#" target="_blank">Lucky the Pizza Dog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s EDHREC page might give you some pointers.</p>
<p>What will you be looking forward to from <em>Marvel Superheroes</em>? I'm not really a fan of the IP, but I do love me an adorable dog with the same name is one of my own.</p>
<p>Also, I may or may not be hoping to plan a scheme while twirling my absurdly comical mustache like some Saturday cartoon villain. I'd love to get that opportunity some day. Tune in next week where we finish off the <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13">Commander 2013</a> </em>precons once and for all.</p>


pizza dog

A Commander Deck Tech on Lucky, the Pizza Dog