<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.daarken.com/">Daarken</a></em></p>
<h2>Welcome to the Cult</h2>
<p>Salutations to you, dear readers! And, if you're new, welcome to <em>Precon Remastered</em>, where old preconstructed Commander decks are given new life by sacrificing some cards.</p>
<p>Today, we delve into the darkness to call upon sinister forces. Forces that, in ancient times, were cast aside until <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ons"><em>Onslaught</em></a>, where they made their triumphant return. Much has happened since then...</p>
<p>Oh, we're not talking about <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/demons">Demons</a> right now? Oops. Let's just get straight to the commander then.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath"></div></div>
<p>This week, our commander of choice is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. On the surface, it doesn't do all that much. The lone plus ability gives us some life while slightly draining our opponents. Meanwhile, the minus ability puts a Demon token onto the battlefield at the cost of two life. Lastly, the ultimate bestows upon us an emblem that acts as a sacrifice outlet akin to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disciple of Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Disciple of Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>However, a deeper reading tells us something more than meets the eye (and no, it's not <em>Transformers</em>). But first, we need to lay the groundwork.</p>
<h3>Gathering the Materials</h3>
<p>As always, 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>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 an 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>
<h3>The Original List</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sworn to Darkness Commander 2014" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bad Moon
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Abyssal Persecutor
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Butcher of Malakir
*1 Crypt Ghast
*1 Demon of Wailing Agonies
*1 Disciple of Bolas
*1 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
*1 Evernight Shade
*1 Flesh Carver
*1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Liliana&#039;s Reaver
*1 Magus of the Coffers
*1 Morkrut Banshee
*1 Nantuko Shade
*1 Nekrataal
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Pestilence Demon
*1 Phyrexian Gargantua
*1 Pontiff of Blight
*1 Raving Dead
*1 Reaper from the Abyss
*1 Shriekmaw
*1 Skirsdag High Priest
*1 Vampire Hexmage
*1 Xathrid Demon
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Annihilate
*1 Malicious Affliction
*1 Skeletal Scrying
*1 Spoils of Blood
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Tendrils of Corruption
*1 Tragic Slip
*1 Wake the Dead
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Aether Snap
*1 Black Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Dread Return
*1 Dregs of Sorrow
*1 Infernal Offering
*1 Mutilate
*1 Necromantic Selection
*1 Profane Command
*1 Promise of Power
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Syphon Mind
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Charcoal Diamond
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Jet Medallion
*1 Lashwrithe
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Unstable Obelisk
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Crypt of Agadeem
*1 Everglades
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Polluted Mire
*32 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>A Weak Performance</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghoulcaller Gisa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dregs of Sorrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evernight Shade"></div></div>
<p>While the section name is only slightly misleading, there's something to be said about what we got. Like when I covered <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/peer-through-time"><em>Peer Through Time</em></a> the other week, we have ourselves a hodgepodge of cards that fall pretty flat. There are a few X-spells in the list, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dregs of Sorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Dregs of Sorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> telling us that this deck will be mana-hungry. On top of that, our best impressions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are either a creature that needs to wait a turn, or a land that depends on the number of creatures in our graveyard.</p>
<p>That said, I do detect a bit of a theme in the 99, which I'll get to in a bit. However, said theme doesn't work too well with our alternate commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghoulcaller Gisa" href="#" target="_blank">Ghoulcaller Gisa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's better placed at the helm of a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/zombies">Zombie</a> deck. On the other hand, Gisa does work with the very evident sacrifice theme present in the deck list.</p>
<p>The best cards to sacrifice are also, paradoxically, the worst cards in the list. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morkrut Banshee" href="#" target="_blank">Morkrut Banshee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evernight Shade" href="#" target="_blank">Evernight Shade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are easy fodder, considering they don't do much to affect the board. The Shade has the added benefit of being sacrificed a second time thanks to undying.</p>
<h3>New Ingredients for the Ritual</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necromantic Selection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malicious Affliction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raving Dead"></div></div>
<p>With the new cards, we do get a few goodies. With creatures dying left and right, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malicious Affliction" href="#" target="_blank">Malicious Affliction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be likely to kill off two creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necromantic Selection" href="#" target="_blank">Necromantic Selection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will wipe the board, and bring us back a creature, too! In addition, we've got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstable Obelisk" href="#" target="_blank">Unstable Obelisk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which snipes a troublesome permanent, especially enchantments. Note that this card has been outclassed here, as we'll see soon, but at least it hits artifacts, right?</p>
<p>On top of those new cards, we get some cards that help <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats">Aristocrats</a> decks. One of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wake the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Wake the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can bring back multiple creatures. Note that we can't use it on our turn, so they're blocking fodder.</p>
<p>Mostly.</p>
<p>What we could also do is cast it, bring back a bunch of creatures, then sacrifice them to fuel stuff like <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>, among other things. It also lets us reuse enters the battlefield (ETB) effects, so yay! More value.</p>
<p>Anyway, we also get another sacrifice outlet in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flesh Carver" href="#" target="_blank">Flesh Carver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but paying two to do it each time means we can only do it so many times during each round. However, Aristocrats is not what I'm intending to do here, so what's that mysterious theme I hinted at earlier?</p>
<h3><em>Sworn to Darkness </em>Remastered</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sworn to Darkness Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abyssal Harvester
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Defiling Daemogoth
*1 Demon of Loathing
*1 Demon of Wailing Agonies
*1 Demonlord Belzenlok
*1 Desecration Demon
*1 Disciple of Bolas
*1 Dream Devourer
*1 Flesh Carver
*1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Indulgent Tormentor
*1 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Pestilence Demon
*1 Raving Dead
*1 Reaper from the Abyss
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Vampire Hexmage
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Consuming Corruption
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Defile
*1 Malicious Affliction
*1 Ob Nixilis&#039;s Cruelty
*1 Spoils of Blood
*1 Tendrils of Corruption
*1 Tragic Slip
*1 Wake the Dead
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ambition&#039;s Cost
*1 Corrupt
*1 Dread Return
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 In Garruk&#039;s Wake
*1 Infernal Offering
*1 Living Death
*1 Mutilate
*1 Necromantic Selection
*1 Promise of Power
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reign of the Pit
*1 Settle the Score
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Stitch Together
*1 Syphon Mind
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Charcoal Diamond
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Jet Medallion
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Unstable Obelisk
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Demonic Covenant
*1 Dogged Pursuit
*1 Underworld Connections
*1 Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Everglades
*1 Myriad Landscape
*32 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>Blessings of Power</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demon of Loathing"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Covenant"></div></div>
<p>If you guessed Demons, you're exactly right! I leaned into a Demon deck with this remaster. It certainly fits our commander, considering it depicts him before he became one. That said, there are only a few cards that reward us for selling our souls to them.</p>
<p>Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Covenant" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Covenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will have us draw a card and lose a life if a Demon is attacking an opponent. If my guess is right, we could draw as many as an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ambition&#039;s Cost" href="#" target="_blank">Ambition&#039;s Cost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows. Next, we have Standard all-star <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber" href="#" target="_blank">Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will draw more cards, plus drain our opponents for two. The other half can be unlocked in a pinch.</p>
<p>More often than not, Demons tend to work alone, and it shows. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Depravity" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Depravity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will set back those pesky go-wide decks considerably. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonlord Belzenlok" href="#" target="_blank">Demonlord Belzenlok</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will potentially draw us a few cards, as will <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kothophed, Soul Hoarder" href="#" target="_blank">Kothophed, Soul Hoarder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That said, Demons tend to be expensive and mana hungry. We are packing more wipes than usual to help cover us early on, but we also have cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Devourer" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Devourer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which makes casting them cheaper if we foretell them instead.</p>
<h3>Ceremonial End</h3>
<p>That about does it for our delightfully evil overlords, and for this series for a bit. Come back next week when we return to <em>Commander Makeover</em> with a new entry.</p>


Sworn to Darkness | Precon Remastered

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Temporal Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Temporal Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.tylerjacobsonart.com/">Tyler Jacobson</a></em></p>
<h2>Through the Looking Glass</h2>
<p>Greetings, and welcome to <em>Precon Remastered</em>! Here, we're taking precons from the past, and upgrading them with cards from today. Funny thing about that, because our precon this week features a commander who messes with time!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Temporal Archmage"></div></div>
<p>Before anyone questions why Teferi hasn't aged and is a planeswalker, this is him before he got desparked the first time during <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tsp"><em>Time Spiral</em></a> block. Anyway, that first ability's quite nifty, but he's at his strongest with the second one. Untapping four permanents (including lands!) has the potential for some really broken things. Infinite combos exist with stuff like this.</p>
<h3>A Glimpse Through Time</h3>
<p>As always (for new readers, welcome!), 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>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 an 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>
<h3>The Original List</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Peer Through Time - Commander 2014" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Teferi, Temporal Archmage
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Artisan of Kozilek
*1 Azure Mage
*1 Breaching Leviathan
*1 Brine Elemental
*1 Deep-Sea Kraken
*1 Dulcet Sirens
*1 Fathom Seer
*1 Fog Bank
*1 Frost Titan
*1 Hoverguard Sweepers
*1 Ixidron
*1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Phyrexian Ingester
*1 Reef Worm
*1 Riptide Survivor
*1 Sea Gate Oracle
*1 Shaper Parasite
*1 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
*1 Sphinx of Magosi
*1 Sphinx of Uthuun
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Stormsurge Kraken
*1 Willbender
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Cackling Counterpart
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Dismiss
*1 Domineering Will
*1 Exclude
*1 Intellectual Offering
*1 Into the Roil
*1 Pongify
*1 Stroke of Genius
*1 Turn to Frog
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Aether Gale
*1 Call to Mind
*1 Compulsive Research
*1 Concentrate
*1 Distorting Wake
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Rush of Knowledge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Assault Suit
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Crown of Doom
*1 Dreamstone Hedron
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thran Dynamo
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Unstable Obelisk
*1 Ur-Golem&#039;s Eye
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Fool&#039;s Demise
*1 Infinite Reflection
*1 Well of Ideas
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Coral Atoll
*1 Ghost Quarter
*31 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Remote Isle
*1 Tectonic Edge
*1 Zoetic Cavern
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>A Point in Time</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dulcet Sirens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sphinx of Magosi"></div></div>
<p>I'll be upfront with you: the deck's a mess. It reads like a ramp deck with a bunch of unnecessary subthemes. However, there is a control element here that will help keep <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Temporal Archmage" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Temporal Archmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> around. Though, we do have a few cards with morph for some reason. Maybe because one of the new cards is a morph creature in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dulcet Sirens" href="#" target="_blank">Dulcet Sirens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<p>Interestingly, we also have a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers">Game Changer</a> in the list. This would also mark the first time that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was reprinted (though, it would go on to be reprinted a few more times as of writing).</p>
<p>Other than that, we have a bunch of big beaters to act as our win condition (wincon), like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphinx of Magosi" href="#" target="_blank">Sphinx of Magosi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Three mana to activate the ability is a lot, but Teferi can untap the mana we need to pay it. Perhaps multiple times, if we have the right mana rocks!</p>
<h3>Perspectives in Time</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Domineering Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Well of Ideas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormsurge Kraken"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of control, the new cards mostly align with this plan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Domineering Will" href="#" target="_blank">Domineering Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun example, messing with combat math or getting rid of meddlesome creatures. In addition, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Well of Ideas" href="#" target="_blank">Well of Ideas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormsurge Kraken" href="#" target="_blank">Stormsurge Kraken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are favorites of mine, both drawing cards to keep our hand full.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, heavy is the head that holds the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crown of Doom" href="#" target="_blank">Crown of Doom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which needs to be donated as fast as possible. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstable Obelisk" href="#" target="_blank">Unstable Obelisk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help deal with blue's biggest weaknesses. In a similar vein as Crown of Doom, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reef Worm" href="#" target="_blank">Reef Worm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> teaches us that there's always a bigger fish. Now, I wonder if there's a way to make multiple copies? Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infinite Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Infinite Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help with this.</p>
<p>But, as much as our new cards love to teach us life lessons this week, our alternate commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, teaches us that he is not the perfect fit for this precon, as he needs to be heavily built around (and reprint option, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lorthos, the Tidemaker" href="#" target="_blank">Lorthos, the Tidemaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is better off in the 99).</p>
<h3>Are We Altering Time?</h3>
<p>A few weeks back, we gave <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/nature-of-the-beast"><em>Nature of the Beast</em></a> a massive facelift. On top of that, I mentioned that this deck was a pile. Does this qualify as a total redo?</p>
<p>Not exactly.</p>
<p>When I altered the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marath, Will of the Wild" href="#" target="_blank">Marath, Will of the Wild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> precon, I scrapped the themes, and it became a +1/+1 counters theme. Here? I don't see any reason to go that far. Yes, we will have an entirely new theme in here, but it likely won't deviate from what the precon's already trying to do too much. So, what exactly did I decide to do?</p>
<h3><em>Peer Through Time </em>Remastered</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Peer Through Time Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Teferi, Temporal Archmage
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Breaching Leviathan
*1 Deepglow Skate
*1 Dulcet Sirens
*1 Fog Bank
*1 Ixidron
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Reef Worm
*1 Sparkshaper Visionary
*1 Stitcher Geralf
*1 Stormsurge Kraken
*1 Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus
*1 Thrummingbird
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Dismiss
*1 Domineering Will
*1 Evacuation
*1 Experimental Augury
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Gambit
*1 Intellectual Offering
*1 Into the Roil
*1 Mirror Match
*1 Pongify
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Turn to Frog
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Assault Suit
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Crown of Doom
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Ichormoon Gauntlet
*1 Midnight Clock
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Chain Veil
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Unstable Obelisk
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Call to Mind
*1 Compulsive Research
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Rush of Knowledge
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Ever-Watching Threshold
*1 Imprisoned in the Moon
*1 Oath of Jace
*1 Teferi&#039;s Talent
*1 Well of Ideas
[/Enchantments]
[planeswalkers]
*1 Jace Beleren
*1 Jace, Architect of Thought
*1 Jace, Mirror Mage
*1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
*1 Karn Liberated
*1 Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor
*1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
*1 Tezzeret, Artifice Master
*1 Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
*1 Vronos, Masked Inquisitor
*1 Will Kenrith
[/planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Coral Atoll
*1 Ghost Quarter
*32 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Tectonic Edge
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>Friends Across Time</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vronos, Masked Inquisitor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Chain Veil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p>...Ok, I know. Just hear me out a minute. People don't like <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/planeswalkers">Superfriends</a>, and will go out of their way to murder us. That said, we did get such a precon a few years ago under <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commodore Guff" href="#" target="_blank">Commodore Guff</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We only have 12 planeswalkers in the deck, so I wouldn't go as far as to call this a <em>true</em> Superfriends deck.</p>
<p>In truth, it's a subtheme if anything. Yes, we do have that random morph creature in the 99, but that's easily the first card to cut when upgrading this list. However, we retain a lot of the control elements found in the original list, and those will come in handy in protecting our planeswalkers.</p>
<h3>Beyond Time</h3>
<p>All things considered, there aren't many planeswalkers in each given color. In fact, most Superfriends lists utilize at least two colors. So, upgrading the remastered list has a lot to do with personal taste. Don't like having many planeswalkers? Sure, scrap them for something you like. Regardless what we do, the control theme is likely to stick around.</p>
<h3>Back to the Present Time</h3>
<p>As I made the remastered list, I wondered if 12 planeswalkers was enough to constitute a Superfriends deck. What's the optimal number of them to make the theme viable? Sound off in the comments on what that number is (and if there aren't enough planeswalkers in the Remastered list). Anyway, tune in next time when we return to our other series, <em>Commander Makeover</em>.</p>


Precon Remastered-Peer Through Time

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, the Lithomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, the Lithomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.ericdeschamps.com/">Eric Deschamps</a></em></p>
<h2>Heating up the Forge</h2>
<p>Salutations, readers! This week on <em>Precon Remastered</em>, where we remake older precons, we arrive at a new set of precons. Starting this week, we're taking on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c14"><em>Commander 2014</em></a> precons, all of which are mono-colored. See, there's a beauty to having mono-color decks, and I more or less described it in an article a few weeks back.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nahiri, the Lithomancer"></div></div>
<p>Another feature of these precons is that this is the first time we see planeswalkers as commanders. As such, we're going to be remastering the precons with them in mind. First on our list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, the Lithomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, the Lithomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is very much an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/equipment">Equipment</a>-centric commander (hint: her +1 ability goes great with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), but is her list more coherent, or are we looking at an identity crisis like we saw in <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13"><em>Commander 2013</em></a>?</p>
<h3>Gathering the Tools</h3>
<p>As always, 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>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 an 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>
<h3>The Original List</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Forged in Stone - Commander 2014" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Adarkar Valkyrie
*1 Angel of the Dire Hour
*1 Angelic Field Marshal
*1 Celestial Crusader
*1 Containment Priest
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Geist-Honored Monk
*1 Grand Abolisher
*1 Hallowed Spiritkeeper
*1 Jazal Goldmane
*1 Kemba, Kha Regent
*1 Kor Sanctifiers
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Requiem Angel
*1 Serra Avatar
*1 Silverblade Paladin
*1 Skyhunter Skirmisher
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Sunblast Angel
*1 Twilight Shepherd
*1 Whitemane Lion
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Afterlife
*1 Benevolent Offering
*1 Brave the Elements
*1 Comeuppance
*1 Condemn
*1 Midnight Haunting
*1 Oblation
*1 Return to Dust
*1 White Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Wing Shards
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Decree of Justice
*1 Deploy to the Front
*1 Fell the Mighty
*1 Gift of Estates
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Nomads&#039; Assembly
*1 Spectral Procession
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Argentum Armor
*1 Assault Suit
*1 Bonehoard
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Loreseeker&#039;s Stone
*1 Loxodon Warhammer
*1 Marble Diamond
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
*1 Moonsilver Spear
*1 Pearl Medallion
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strata Scythe
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Vengeance
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Armistice
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Marshal&#039;s Anthem
*1 Mobilization
*1 Sacred Mesa
*1 True Conviction
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Drifting Meadow
*1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Karoo
*32 Plains
*1 Secluded Steppe
*1 Temple of the False God
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>An Eye for Details</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Decree of Justice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Comeuppance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loxodon Warhammer"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, we can say that, while the list does suffer from a split in themes, at least they're working together...somewhat. The creature lineup isn't exactly brimming with creatures that we must equip. But hey, at least we got reprints of the Medallion cycle, so that's good, right? Yes, but there aren't many ways to buff those tokens either. It seems clear that the intent is to equip the tokens with our Equipment, then proceed to pummel our opponents. That's all well and good, but <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/equipment">Equipment decks</a> have seriously evolved these days, and most of them don't use many tokens, if at all.</p>
<p>The new cards, though, are solid. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Masterwork of Ingenuity" href="#" target="_blank">Masterwork of Ingenuity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an Equipment clone, turning it into whatever we want it to be. There's always the awesome but niche <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Comeuppance" href="#" target="_blank">Comeuppance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is bound to create stories at the table. In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fell the Mighty" href="#" target="_blank">Fell the Mighty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best board wipes for a Tokens deck out there. However, most of the rest deal with making tokens in varying degrees. Also, the deck's alternate commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jazal Goldmane" href="#" target="_blank">Jazal Goldmane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is one of the only ways to pump our board of tokens into something lethal, but five mana is quite an investment to make to do so.</p>
<p>Lastly, the card quality, as always, can be so much better. That said, the best part is that we don't have to worry about mana bases for this set of precons since we're never going to get color screwed. Again, one of the great things about mono-color decks as well as being easy on our wallets.</p>
<h3>The Finished Product</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Forged in Stone Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Angel of the Dire Hour
*1 Angelic Field Marshal
*1 Armored Skyhunter
*1 Balan, Wandering Knight
*1 Brass Squire
*1 Containment Priest
*1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
*1 Hallowed Spiritkeeper
*1 Heavenly Blademaster
*1 Indomitable Archangel
*1 Jazal Goldmane
*1 Keeper of the Accord
*1 Kemba, Kha Enduring
*1 Kor Cartographer
*1 Kor Outfitter
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Silverblade Paladin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Welcoming Vampire
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Benevolent Offering
*1 Comeuppance
*1 Dispatch
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Reprieve
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Cut a Deal
*1 Deploy to the Front
*1 Fell the Mighty
*1 Gift of Estates
*1 Secret Rendezvous
*1 Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation
*1 Unfinished Business
*1 Vanquish the Horde
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Archaeomancer&#039;s Map
*1 Argentum Armor
*1 Assault Suit
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Bonehoard
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Loreseeker&#039;s Stone
*1 Loxodon Warhammer
*1 Marble Diamond
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pearl Medallion
*1 Plate Armor
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strata Scythe
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Vengeance
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Tocasia&#039;s Welcome
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Lighthouse
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Karoo
*1 Myriad Landscape
*32 Plains
*1 Secluded Steppe
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>Top-Notch Quality</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodforged Battle-Axe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sram, Senior Edificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Colossus Hammer"></div></div>
<p>The improved list still retains the <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens">Tokens</a> subtheme, but it's been greatly reduced, mostly relegated to the new cards. On top of that, we now have better equip targets alongside a much better Equipment lineup. Working with the tokens is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is bound to get a ton of copies to spread around. No need to <em>axe</em> any questions about it.</p>
<p>...Are you still with me? Moving on.</p>
<p>While he didn't exist when this precon was released, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sram, Senior Edificer" href="#" target="_blank">Sram, Senior Edificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides much-needed draw card, especially in a color that's notorious for lacking it (at least that was true back in the day). The same can be said about ramp, and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer&#039;s Map" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer&#039;s Map</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have come out since then, providing white with needed essentials.</p>
<p>In addition, we also get what could be one of the best Equipment (besides <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) for her +1 ability: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Colossus Hammer" href="#" target="_blank">Colossus Hammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Since the ability automatically attaches an Equipment to the token <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, the Lithomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, the Lithomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates, it'll bypass the whopping eight mana needed to equip the Hammer.</p>
<h3>More Thoughts</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heavenly Blademaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Welcoming Vampire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unfinished Business"></div></div>
<p>Furthermore, there are some more new additions I'd like to highlight. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welcoming Vampire" href="#" target="_blank">Welcoming Vampire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tocasia&#039;s Welcome" href="#" target="_blank">Tocasia&#039;s Welcome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both work with (you guessed it) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, the Lithomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, the Lithomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s +1 ability, letting us draw a card off the token entering. With the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'd be drawing the equivalent of an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Recall" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Recall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Heavenly Blademaster is a nasty piece of work here. With the right Equipment attached, she's sure to menace our opponents while slashing their life totals in chunks. We can also achieve this with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balan, Wandering Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Balan, Wandering Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The only difference is that Balan doesn't fly, so we'll have to find some other form of evasion.</p>
<p>I made no changes to the mana base. Expect this to be a common trend with <em>Commander 2014</em>, as there really isn't much to upgrade. Unless someone happens to have a bunch of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>es growing on trees. Not a land, but the same can be said for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of Eldraine" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of Eldraine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't deserve the price tag it has. Here's to it being reprinted to the ground, I hope (Nykthos is a lot more unlikely).</p>
<p>Lastly, we have a few more pieces of recursion. That said, the best of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unfinished Business" href="#" target="_blank">Unfinished Business</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which not only revives a creature, but attaches a load of Equipment (or Auras, if we're into that) to said creature. So, picking the right creature to recur could potentially close the game from out of nowhere.</p>
<h3>Whited Out</h3>
<p>Looking at both lists side by side is a way of seeing how much white (and Commander as a whole) has changed over the last 10 years at least. Also, we're almost certainly going to see the same thing reflected in the other lists as well. With the new starter precons coming out later being mono-color, it'll be interesting to compare this list with the new mono-white deck (which is confirmed to be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<p>In the meantime, tune in next time, where we return to our other series, <em>Commander Makeover</em>.</p>


precon remastered

Sworn to Darkness | Precon Remastered

Precon Remastered-Peer Through Time

Remaking 2014's Forged in Steel Precon Commander Deck