<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hakbal of the Surging Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Hakbal of the Surging Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by<a href="https://www.tylerwalpole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Tyler Walpole</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicanzil, Current Conductor" href="#" target="_blank">Nicanzil, Current Conductor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/faribakhamseh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fariba Khamseh</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood" href="#" target="_blank">Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.campbellwhitedesign.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Campbell White</a>)</h6>
<p>Hello friends. It's Beth, Queen of Cardboard, with the Precon Primer for the <em>Lost Caverns of Ixalan</em> deck, <em>Explorers of the Deep</em>. Popularity-wise, this deck falls far below <em>Veloci-ramp-tor</em>, but fish friends rejoice, because this deck is splashy and takes full advantage of the Explore mechanic.</p>
<p>Explore allows you to reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land, it goes to hand; if it's not, you get to put a +1/+1 counter on the Exploring creature and you can leave the card on top or put it in the graveyard. In prerelease at my game store, this mechanic was relatively overlooked, with players focusing more on Descend, artifacts, and big stompy Dinos. In Commander, however, Explore is extremely useful - thinning your deck as needed, getting those lands you're missing, and making your creatures a little bit bigger.</p>
<p>Let's get into how you can Explore your way to victory with this Merfolk deck.</p>
<h2>I Wanna Be Where the Merfolk Are</h2>
<p>As typal builds go, <a href="https://edhrec.com/typal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC</a> shows that Merfolk falls far behind the most popular type, Dragons. But they've held a place in my heart, if not my decks, for some time. Prior to <em>Lost Caverns</em>, your most powerful Merfolk didn't really lend to a typal build. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tatyova, Steward of Tides" href="#" target="_blank">Tatyova, Steward of Tides</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wants to turn your lands into creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrasios, Triton Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Thrasios, Triton Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is busy dominating the cEDH scene, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adrix and Nev, Twincasters" href="#" target="_blank">Adrix and Nev, Twincasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are token focused. Most Merfolk decks until now were helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca" href="#" target="_blank">Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who is not a weak commander, but having variety is the spice of deck building, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hakbal of the Surging Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Hakbal of the Surging Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is coming in with a surge of support.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hakbal of the Surging Soul"></div></div>
<p>Hakbal is a four-mana 3/3, which feels a little expensive until you experience the Explore mechanic going off. Hakbal allows all your Merfolk to Explore at the beginning of combat. So getting out two or three Merfolk out ahead of your commander is actually a good thing, because when he's out, instead of Exploring once, you can do it multiple times.</p>
<p>This is the Simic synergy that will make you drop your Human deck and consider living under the sea with your Merfolk - at least on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explorers of the Deep Precon Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hakbal of the Surging Soul
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Beast Within
*1 Commit // Memory
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Quandrix Command
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Ripples of Potential
*1 Ruinous Intrusion
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Benthic Biomancer
*1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
*1 Coralhelm Commander
*1 Deeproot Elite
*1 Deeproot Historian
*1 Emperor Mihail II
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Herald of Secret Streams
*1 Kiora&#039;s Follower
*1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
*1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
*1 Master of the Pearl Trident
*1 Merfolk Cave-Diver
*1 Merfolk Mistbinder
*1 Merfolk Skydiver
*1 Merfolk Sovereign
*1 Merrow Reejerey
*1 Metallic Mimic
*1 Mist Dancer
*1 Nicanzil, Current Conductor
*1 Prime Speaker Zegana
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Sage of Fables
*1 Seafloor Oracle
*1 Singer of Swift Rivers
*1 Stonybrook Banneret
*1 Surgespanner
*1 Svyelun of Sea and Sky
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea
*1 Thieving Skydiver
*1 Tishana, Voice of Thunder
*1 Topography Tracker
*1 Tributary Instructor
*1 Vorel of the Hull Clade
*1 Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood
*1 Zegana, Utopian Speaker
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Deeproot Waters
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Reflections of Littjara
*1 Simic Ascendancy
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bygone Marvels
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Explore
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Ravenform
*1 Wave Goodbye
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Command Tower
*3 Forest
*4 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*6 Island
*7 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Unclaimed Territory
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<h2>Flippin Ya Fins is Gonna Get Ya Far</h2>
<p>Let's be honest, Explore by itself isn't the most busted mechanic. It's what your commander and alternate commander do with it that makes it cracked. The primary goal of Explore is to either get cards you don't want (or do if you're short on lands) out of your deck and out of your way. Additionally, it's going to pump your creatures permanently with +1/+1 counters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nicanzil, Current Conductor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald of Secret Streams"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mist Dancer"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicanzil, Current Conductor" href="#" target="_blank">Nicanzil, Current Conductor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to take advantage of this - whenever a creature Explores a land card, you can put a land card into play tapped; and when a creature Explores a nonland card, you'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature and Nicanzil as well. Don't worry about all those lands going to hand, because Hakbal also lets you put a land into play when he attacks, and if you don't have one or don't want to, you draw a card. This is a value engine that doesn't stop, with some heavy support from your Merfolk.</p>
<p>Your Merfolk army not only gets more evasive as you play more cards, you're also going to have so many cards you might not know what to do with it all. Don't worry, you'll end up playing most of them with all the ramp you'll be getting from your commander.</p>
<h2>Poor Unfortunate Opponents</h2>
<p>This deck is swingy, and as such you'll need to get through for combat damage. So it has a lot of removal, and you'll be sure to take advantage of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wave Goodbye" href="#" target="_blank">Wave Goodbye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a mass return-to-hand for creatures that don't have +1/+1 counters on them. I really like this one because it doesn't destroy your creatures who don't have counters yet, but gets the board open for combat. Other fan favorites in this deck include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherize" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wave Goodbye"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merfolk Sovereign"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quandrix Command"></div></div>
<p>If you're not able to wipe the board, you can at least swing in with your biggest creatures, because there are multiple ways to make your creatures unblockable. In addition to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald of Secret Streams" href="#" target="_blank">Herald of Secret Streams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this deck is equipped with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, God of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, God of the Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merfolk Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Merfolk Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merfolk Cave-Diver" href="#" target="_blank">Merfolk Cave-Diver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As a blue player, you'll have some responses, but the deck is lacking in counterspells. The ones included, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quandrix Command" href="#" target="_blank">Quandrix Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commit // Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Commit // Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are a little slower than the average blue player's arsenal.</p>
<h2>Wait, That's Not a Fish</h2>
<p>Included in the creature section of the deck are four decidedly not-Merfolk creatures, and the only one that I'm super excited about is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood" href="#" target="_blank">Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only does this smiling axolotl get a 10/10 on the cuteness scale, it's also incredibly synergistic with the deck. Turning your opponents' lands into Islands is another way you'll be able to swing in for combat damage, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master of the Pearl Trident" href="#" target="_blank">Master of the Pearl Trident</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stonybrook Banneret" href="#" target="_blank">Stonybrook Banneret</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cold-Eyed Selkie" href="#" target="_blank">Cold-Eyed Selkie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolution Sage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Metallic Mimic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Realmwalker"></div></div>
<p>As for the other three (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Metallic Mimic" href="#" target="_blank">Metallic Mimic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realmwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Realmwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), while they're creating synergy with the deck, I would have preferred something a little more oceanic, or at least from Ixalan itself, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Reejerey" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Reejerey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Commerce" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Commerce</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of Atlantis" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of Atlantis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would have been my choices.</p>
<h2>In Conclusion</h2>
<p>It's hard to explain how good this deck is until you see it in action. It has plenty of evasion and gets a wide and strong board state quickly with a lot of typal support, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reflections of Littjara" href="#" target="_blank">Reflections of Littjara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you like playing decks that give you full hands, swingy board states, and lots of ramp, this is the deck for you. You'll be flipping out when you see this deck popping off against creatures big and small.</p>
<p>One thing is for sure, fish is not on the menu for your opponents when you're at the helm. Let me know in the comments what you liked about this deck and some of your favorite Merfolk from <em>Lost Caverns of Ixalan</em>. And stay tuned for my Upgrade Guide!</p>
<h3>If you liked this article, be sure to check out:</h3>
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Precon Primer - Explorers of the Deep

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hakbal of the Surging Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Hakbal of the Surging Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.tylerwalpole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Walpole</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titan of Littjara" href="#" target="_blank">Titan of Littjara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/eyari" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aldo Dominguez</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By <a href="https://www.artstation.com/llyncis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anastasia Balakchina</a>)</h6>
<p>Hey friends. Beth, Queen of Cardboard here with the Upgrade Guide for the <em>Lost Caverns of Ixalan </em>preconstructed deck, <em>Explorers of the Deep</em>. Out of the box, this deck is incredibly synergistic and powerful, and is among my favorite decks released in 2023.</p>
<p>As with my other Precon Guides, I'm upgrading this deck in a way that is in line with what the commander is trying to do: make a wide Merfolk board state and Explore for value in +1/+1 counters and lands. With decks that are already synergistic, it can be extremely difficult to make additions, and even more difficult to cut cards from the deck.</p>
<p>But upgrade we must, so for this deck I made 17 changes. Let's get into it!</p>
<h2>Splish, Splash, Bash</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hakbal of the Surging Soul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roaming Throne"></div></div>
<p>The commander for this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hakbal of the Surging Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Hakbal of the Surging Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, helps your board state get thicker and your deck get thinner, by giving every Merfolk on the board the ability to Explore at the beginning of combat. You don't need to attack with Hakbal, but when you do you'll be able to put a land from your hand onto the battlefield. If you don't want to or can't, you'll draw a card instead. This being a "may" ability is kind of cracked because in Simic, you're going to have plenty of access to ramp - and Merfolk are not that expensive. You'll probably know what's on the top of your library, thanks to Explore, so you can make the decision in the moment if you need card draw or land drops more.</p>
<p>One of the cards that I thought necessary to support this, and any typal deck, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This doubles the triggers of your chosen creature type (Merfolk), allowing you to Explore not once, but twice each combat, in addition to any other triggered abilities they have. There are 19 Merfolk with triggered abilities in the deck, so having them trigger twice is double the fun. In addition to the Throne I included typal all-stars <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Vanquisher&#039;s Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deeproot Waters" href="#" target="_blank">Deeproot Waters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was already in the deck, but I wanted to get as much value as possible, so I also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deeproot Pilgrimage" href="#" target="_blank">Deeproot Pilgrimage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; having both allows you to create a 1/1 hexproof Merfolk both when you cast Merfolk spells and when you tap your Merfolk. Don't worry about tapping your entire board state as needed, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merrow Commerce" href="#" target="_blank">Merrow Commerce</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> untaps each Merfolk at the end of your turn. Also joining the Merfolk team are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deepfathom Echo" href="#" target="_blank">Deepfathom Echo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forerunner of the Heralds" href="#" target="_blank">Forerunner of the Heralds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jadelight Ranger" href="#" target="_blank">Jadelight Ranger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thada Adel, Acquisitor" href="#" target="_blank">Thada Adel, Acquisitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, rounding out the creatures is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titan of Littjara" href="#" target="_blank">Titan of Littjara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an Illusion that becomes a Merfolk upon entering the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deeproot Pilgrimage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merrow Commerce"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thada Adel, Acquisitor"></div></div>
<p>This deck is all about filling your hand with answers, so to further enable that purpose I added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for card draw, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">Swan Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise the Palisade" href="#" target="_blank">Raise the Palisade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for answers. Additionally, I felt that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Growing Rites of Itlimoc" href="#" target="_blank">Growing Rites of Itlimoc</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Garenbrig" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Garenbrig</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burgeoning" href="#" target="_blank">Burgeoning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> had a purpose in this deck. If these cards are too expensive or powerful for your playgroup, I totally get it. Some other options could be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elven Chorus" href="#" target="_blank">Elven Chorus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hadana&#039;s Climb" href="#" target="_blank">Hadana&#039;s Climb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Path of Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Check out the adds I made to this deck below:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explorers of the Deep Cards Added" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Enchantments]
*1 Burgeoning
*1 Court of Garenbrig
*1 Deeproot Pilgrimage
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Merrow Commerce
*1 Rhystic Study
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Counterspell
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Deepfathom Echo
*1 Forerunner of the Heralds
*1 Jadelight Ranger
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
*1 Titan of Littjara
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Raise the Palisade
[/Sorceries]"></span></div>


<h2>Drowned in the Deep</h2>
<p>Cuts are extremely hard, especially in a deck that's already incredibly synergistic with 36 lands. For me, the hardest cut was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Ascendancy" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Ascendancy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as I love alternate win conditions. However, I felt that by the time you had 20 growth counters, you'd already be in a good position to win the game.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ripples of Potential" href="#" target="_blank">Ripples of Potential</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that I don't see potential in for this deck. Proliferate was part of the package in the original deck that I wasn't a fan of. You can Proliferate once or you can Explore multiple times; the deck didn't have room for both. And with this deck, you're building a board state so fast, you'll be fine overcoming a board wipe or two. So this attempt at a blue <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just wasn't my jam.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ripples of Potential"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thassa, God of the Sea"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolution Sage"></div></div>
<p>I also removed 14 creatures from the deck because they didn't feel impactful enough compared to what I wanted to add. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, God of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, God of the Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is good, but she's not a Merfolk, and there are other ways that my creatures can swing in for damage. One choice I would possibly reconsider when it comes to Proliferating is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I removed it because it's not a Merfolk and I wasn't sure I would get as many land drops as I would double triggers with Roaming Throne. But if you're dropping enough land, you could be Proliferating four or five times a turn, and that's valuable.</p>
<p>For all the cards I removed check the list below:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explorers of the Deep Cards Removed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Creatures]
*1 Benthic Biomancer
*1 Coralhelm Commander
*1 Deeproot Elite
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Kiora&#039;s Follower
*1 Merfolk Skydiver
*1 Merfolk Sovereign
*1 Metallic Mimic
*1 Sage of Fables
*1 Surgespanner
*1 Thassa, God of the Sea
*1 Thieving Skydiver
*1 Tributary Instructor
*1 Vorel of the Hull Clade
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Simic Ascendancy
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Ripples of Potential
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bygone Marvels
[/Sorceries]"></span></div>


<h2>Making Waves</h2>
<p>Making a cut of 14 creatures in a typal deck may seem excessive until you take a look at the deck in its final form: 30 creatures, 10 instants, 6 sorceries, 11 enchantments, and 7 artifacts. Cut out the less impactful Merfolk and the deck runs a lot smoother, enabling you to drop those lands you've Explored onto the battlefield sooner with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burgeoning" href="#" target="_blank">Burgeoning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, doubling your triggered abilities with<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and reacting to your opponents with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">Swan Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise the Palisade" href="#" target="_blank">Raise the Palisade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>For the entire decklist, check it out below:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explorers of the Deep Precon Upgrade Guide" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hakbal of the Surging Soul
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Beast Within
*1 Commit // Memory
*1 Counterspell
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Quandrix Command
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Ruinous Intrusion
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Burgeoning
*1 Court of Garenbrig
*1 Deeproot Pilgrimage
*1 Deeproot Waters
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Merrow Commerce
*1 Reflections of Littjara
*1 Rhystic Study
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
*1 Deepfathom Echo
*1 Deeproot Historian
*1 Emperor Mihail II
*1 Forerunner of the Heralds
*1 Herald of Secret Streams
*1 Jadelight Ranger
*1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
*1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
*1 Master of the Pearl Trident
*1 Merfolk Cave-Diver
*1 Merfolk Mistbinder
*1 Merrow Reejerey
*1 Mist Dancer
*1 Nicanzil, Current Conductor
*1 Prime Speaker Zegana
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Seafloor Oracle
*1 Singer of Swift Rivers
*1 Stonybrook Banneret
*1 Svyelun of Sea and Sky
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
*1 Tishana, Voice of Thunder
*1 Titan of Littjara
*1 Topography Tracker
*1 Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood
*1 Zegana, Utopian Speaker
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Curse of the Swine
*1 Explore
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Ravenform
*1 Wave Goodbye
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Command Tower
*7 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*13 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Unclaimed Territory
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<h2>In Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck puts Hakbal solidly as the new Merfolk commander, and whether you make these upgrades or leave the deck exactly as it is, he is a force to be reckoned with. If you're looking to stay at the casual level with this deck or pump it up to something more competitive with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, this is a good place to start.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments what you think of the deck and what additions you'll be making to this Merfolk precon.</p>
<h3>If you liked this article, make sure to check out:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="xotGcEQjXE"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/affinity-for-commander-overpowered-merfolk-commander-lost-caverns-of-ixalan-explorers-of-the-deep-precon-deck-upgrade/">Affinity for Commander - Overpowered Merfolk Commander!!! Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Explorers of the Deep Precon Deck Upgrade</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="DWlgD3zSho"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/precon-upgrade-guide-blast-from-the-past/">Precon Upgrade Guide - Blast From the Past</a></p></blockquote>
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Precon Upgrade Guide - Explorers of the Deep

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Vegetation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="https://johnavonart.com/">Art by John Avon</a></h6>
<h1>"Eat Your Veggies" Deckbuilding</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Singleton Shmingleton</em>, where I bend the singleton rules of Commander by building decks with as many functional reprints of a certain card as possible. This week's card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Vegetation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a four-mana ramp spell that takes me back to when I first started playing Commander. It was a simpler time, back when <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Mob" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Mob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was overpowered and <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> was an auto-include.</p>
<p>At that time, more so than now, extensive ramp packages justified incredibly high curves, and no one played to the board before turn four at the very earliest. The philosophy was simple: you can play whatever you want, and it will work as long as you "eat your vegetables" by including ramp and removal. And no card better represents that mentality than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Vegetation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which even has picked up the nickname "veggies" to match its role. It isn't a particularly interesting card, it doesn't necessarily fit thematically with many commanders, but it's an easy way to switch from midgame to haymaker mode in a single turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scute Mob"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Acidic Slime"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Explosive Vegetation"></div></div>
<p>As early as <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/in-the-margins-explosive-vegetation/">2018</a>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Veggies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was getting some flack for being too slow, and since then many content creators have advised to move ramp down the curve from four to three and then from three to two. But we still receive a new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Veggies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> variant every couple years, and these new cards show off the new era of card design for Commander. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Circuitous Route" href="#" target="_blank">Circuitous Route</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vastwood Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Vastwood Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are designed to fill specific niches in specific decks by serving both as a responsible "eating your veggies" slot and furthering the deck's overall goal. In this way, four-mana ramp spells are trying to keep up with the competition in an ever-faster format.</p>
<p>There are now eleven cards that I would count as functional reprints of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Veggies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They all cost four mana and put two lands onto the battlefield. All of them happen to be green, unsurprisingly. Here they are:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explosive Vegetation" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Sorceries]
*1 Circuitous Route
*1 Expand the Sphere
*1 Explosive Vegetation
*1 Hunting Wilds
*1 Migration Path
*1 Path of the Animist
*1 Ranger&#039;s Path
*1 Skyshroud Claim
*1 Vastwood Surge
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Blighted Woodland
[/Lands]
[Battles]
*1 Invasion of Zendikar // Awakened Skyclave
[/Battles]"></span></div>


<p>The most played of these cards is also the oldest: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyshroud Claim" href="#" target="_blank">Skyshroud Claim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Nemesis</em>, with 158,909 decks to its name. The double upside of being able to fetch any Forests and putting them into play untapped makes this far and away the most efficient version of this effect without anything else tacked on. The next most-played is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Woodland" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Woodland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in 130,924 decks, which can function just fine as a land in situations that don't require ramp, and doesn't raise the mana curve. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Veggies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> itself is number four, seeing play in 60,914 decks. The least played version is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Path of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in 990 decks, despite being printed in a preconstructed deck. People really don't like having words on their cards that don't mean anything, so for the vast majority of players who don't play Planeshift, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Path of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is unappealing.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyshroud Claim"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blighted Woodland"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path of the Animist"></div></div>
<h2>Too Many Vegetables?</h2>
<p>Now that over 10% of our deck is devoted to four-mana ramp spells, we come up against a problem: Our ramp package is raising our curve so high that we might need to ramp into it. Or, at the very least, we need to put quite a few cheap cards into the deck so that we can play the game before our ramp spells. But in that case, what are we ramping into? Ramp strategies always have a difficult line to walk where they can draw all ramp and no payoffs or vice-versa, and having our mana acceleration farther up the curve exacerbates this problem.</p>
<p>So this deck needs to assume a slower game. This deck needs to assume we don't need a blocker until turn five, and assume that turning ten mana into twenty will matter. Isn't that a relief? Truth be told, I prefer aggressive strategies that prey on decks like this, but I can get down to spin some wheels for a few turns.</p>
<p>Now, if we're going to be aiming for some big mana, I know exactly the commander to lead this journey. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix, God of Horizons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves mana and value, and once was a powerhouse strategy. Helming 2,819 decks today, he's still no slouch, but he used to be the pre-eminent Big Value commander in two of the game's best Big Value colors. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make it so any excess of cards or mana will not be wasted, and rewards us for generating absurd numbers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kruphix, God of Horizons"></div></div>
<p>With this guy as our commander, our plan comes into focus. The best ramp payoffs to go with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are colorless Eldrazi, since our overflow mana turns colorless. Several of the titans definitely make it in, and new card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desecrate Reality" href="#" target="_blank">Desecrate Reality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seems perfect here, acting as an instant-speed removal spell that we can hold up sneakily with only colorless mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, the Great Distortion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kozilek, Butcher of Truth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desecrate Reality"></div></div>
<p>Some other cards work particularly well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kruphix, God of Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wilderness Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Wilderness Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all untap our lands for re-use on our opponents' turns, allowing us to store mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helix Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Helix Pinnacle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers an alternate win condition to turn a lot of mana into a win without the extra steps. And the brand-new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Millennium Calendar" href="#" target="_blank">The Millennium Calendar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns wheel-spinning into a win surprisingly quickly, especially if we can activate its doubling ability multiple times per turn cycle.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seedborn Muse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Helix Pinnacle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Millennium Calendar"></div></div>
<h2>Shuffle It Up</h2>
<p>One sneaky benefit of running so many cards that search for lands is that we have a lot of ways to shuffle our deck. This can combine very well with cards that manipulate the top of our deck, such as <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>. We can time our shuffles and spin our top so that we only ever have to draw good cards. Playing blue lets us use Legacy all-stars <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and green adds standalone powerhouse <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Library" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Library</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and sleeper <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirri&#039;s Guile" href="#" target="_blank">Mirri&#039;s Guile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But my favorite card in this package is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Any Modern player can tell you that it combines well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Misty Rainforest" href="#" target="_blank">fetchlands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, allowing you to choose when to shuffle your library based on whether you want to draw the top card or not. Similarly, if we crack the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the card we see can tell us whether to cast an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Vegetation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or something else this turn. I know it's funny to say this about a card that sees play in over 45,000 deck, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and it's brother <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Bauble" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Bauble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) is underplayed. The cost of inclusion is so incredibly low, and it has little synergies with everything from artifact strategies to graveyard strategies to this, a big mana Eldrazi deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirri&#039;s Guile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra&#039;s Bauble"></div></div>
<h2>The Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Explosive Vegetation" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kruphix, God of Horizons
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Circuitous Route
*1 Cultivate
*1 Expand the Sphere
*1 Explosive Vegetation
*1 Gelatinous Genesis
*1 Genesis Wave
*1 Hunting Wilds
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Migration Path
*1 Nissa&#039;s Pilgrimage
*1 Open the Way
*1 Path of the Animist
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Ranger&#039;s Path
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Skyshroud Claim
*1 Tooth and Nail
*1 Vastwood Surge
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Alchemist&#039;s Refuge
*1 Blighted Woodland
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*18 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*11 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Restless Vinestalk
*1 Rimewood Falls
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Tangled Islet
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]
[Battles]
*1 Invasion of Zendikar // Awakened Skyclave
[/Battles]
[Artifacts]
*1 Doubling Cube
*1 Mishra&#039;s Bauble
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Millennium Calendar
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Capsize
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Desecrate Reality
*1 Pull from Tomorrow
*1 Stroke of Genius
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
*1 Artisan of Kozilek
*1 Avenger of Zendikar
*1 Endbringer
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Genesis Hydra
*1 Hydra Broodmaster
*1 Hydroid Krasis
*1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
*1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
*1 Nyxbloom Ancient
*1 Omnath, Locus of Mana
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Seedborn Muse
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Awakening
*1 Helix Pinnacle
*1 Mirri&#039;s Guile
*1 Sylvan Library
*1 Up the Beanstalk
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>


<p>This deck feels like home. My first few Commander decks were all Simic (blue and green) value piles trying to go over the top of everyone else, and this deck certainly does that. The nice thing about multiplayer <em>Magic</em> is that having a slower start often makes opponents forget about us, until we cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gelatinous Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Gelatinous Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with X=15. Fiddling with the top of our deck and searching up lands number twelve and thirteen are enjoyable enough that it doesn't feel like losing if we don't get there, and if we do manage to pull it off it feels wonderful. Commander can still be big and slow if you want it to be, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">veggies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are still tasty.</p>
<h2>Until Next Time</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undying Evil"></div></div>
<p>We get a second chance at a creature? It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Not Dead After All" href="#" target="_blank">Not Dead After All</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? That sounds like a scam. Seeing the havoc this type of card has wreaked on Modern alongside the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grief" href="#" target="_blank">Evoke elementals</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I'm excited to see what it can do in Commander! How can we turn this into a killer deal? Find out next time on <em>Singleton Shmingleton</em>!</p>
<h4>Read More</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="JY77jWSuMp"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/in-the-margins-explosive-vegetation/">In the Margins — Explosive Vegetation</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;In the Margins — Explosive Vegetation&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/in-the-margins-explosive-vegetation/embed/#?secret=0TGI5jKU3o#?secret=JY77jWSuMp" data-secret="JY77jWSuMp" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="l7jLV768ng"><p><a href="https://commandersherald.com/retrospective-reviews-commander-2011/">Retrospective Reviews: Commander 2011</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Retrospective Reviews: Commander 2011&#8221; &#8212; Commander&#039;s Herald" src="https://commandersherald.com/retrospective-reviews-commander-2011/embed/#?secret=qCvi10ySMX#?secret=l7jLV768ng" data-secret="l7jLV768ng" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Singleton Shmingleton - Explosive Vegetation

Singleton Shmingleton - Skyshroud Ranger

Elven Council - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grolnok, the Omnivore" href="#" target="_blank">Grolnok, the Omnivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/simondominic">Simon Dominic</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo, and this is <em>Epic Experiment</em>, a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grolnok, the Omnivore" href="#" target="_blank">Grolnok, the Omnivore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grolnok, the Omnivore"></div></div>
<p>Grolnok is a versatile permanent-based commander that acts as a self-mill card advantage engine. One of the most impressive things about it is its sheer flexibility, allowing it to be at the helm of a myriad of permanent-based strategies; even <em>Flashback</em>-heavy investments have a good payoff, since they don't get exiled. It honestly really feels more like a Sultai legend than like a Simic legend, which is a good thing. The tribal aspect of Grolnok might be an underrated element of its kit; it allows for cheap <em>Changeling</em> cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Universal Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Universal Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to accelerate its mill triggers, although I wouldn't invest too heavily in tribal synergies.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mental Note"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knowledge Pool"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir"></div></div>
<p>Grolnk is a powerful way to get incremental advantages, but a secondary effect of its kit is a way to dig for specific cards. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mental Note" href="#" target="_blank">Mental Note</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Scour" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Scour</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become powerful digging tools, and slower cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mesmeric Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Mesmeric Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are basically free looks. All this digging needs an actual payoff, otherwise what's the point? There are a bunch of powerful cards to consider, but one combination that caught my eye very early on was the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knowledge Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Knowledge Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, a powerful hard lock that has a surprisingly safe play pattern for an 11-mana combo (we use Teferi on EOT and play Knowledge Pool on our turn).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codex Shredder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hedron Crab"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crawling Sensation"></div></div>
<p>Self-mill is an important part of our deck, and we need a solid foundation in order to fully utilize our commander's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codex Shredder" href="#" target="_blank">Codex Shredder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wand of Vertebrae" href="#" target="_blank">Wand of Vertebrae</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are cheap self mill sources that can also help if we get an important card stuck in our graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merfolk Secretkeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Merfolk Secretkeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minister of Inquiries" href="#" target="_blank">Minister of Inquiries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hedron Crab" href="#" target="_blank">Hedron Crab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Universal Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Universal Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (to some extent) are self-mill sources that can be used as blockers in a pinch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crawling Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Crawling Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crawling Sensation" href="#" target="_blank">Crawling Sensation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are slow self-mill enchantments, but they provide a lot of defensive power in the mid-game.</p>
<p>Since we have the ability to dig through our deck and have access to a lot of permanents, we're using a silver bullet suite that allows us to have a nice array of answers to problematic effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venser, Shaper Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Venser, Shaper Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frilled Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Frilled Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are good defensive options; while we lose the element of surprise, having them constantly there can play mind games with the rest of the table whenever we leave mana open. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scavenging Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Scavenging Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul-Guide Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Soul-Guide Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are effective graveyard hate that can also provide a bit of secondary value that might prove to be useful even when the graveyard hate is not all that necessary.</p>
<p>Our commander is our main source of card advantage, so keeping it alive is extremely important, which means that including a protection suite is very much a must if we want to have any sort of consistency. <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Plate" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Plate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide some solid protection against single and mass removal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Shard" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Shard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erratic Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Erratic Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are a bit of a spicy tech that not only can protect our commander, but also get value from our many strong ETB creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Grolnok" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Grolnok, the Omnivore
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Hedron Crab
*Merfolk Secretkeeper
*Minister of Inquiries
*Universal Automaton
*Scavenging Ooze
*Brazen Borrower
*Eternal Witness
*Reclamation Sage
*Frilled Mystic
*Sower of Temptation
*Venser, Shaper Savant
*Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
*Hullbreaker Horror
*Waker of Waves
[/Creature]
[Artifact]
*Codex Shredder
*Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*Sol Ring
*Soul-Guide Lantern
*Universal Solvent
*Wand of Vertebrae
*Lightning Greaves
*Mesmeric Orb
*Swiftfoot Boots
*Crystal Shard
*Erratic Portal
*Knowledge Pool
*Mycosynth Lattice
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Wild Growth
*Drowned Secrets
*Fertile Ground
*Frogify
*Jace&#039;s Erasure
*Kenrith&#039;s Transformation
*Omen of the Sea
*Wolfwillow Haven
*Crawling Infestation
*Crawling Sensation
*Glittering Frost
*Imprisoned in the Moon
*Overgrowth
*Verdant Haven
*Words of Wilding
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Consider
*Mental Note
*Opt
*Otherworldy Gaze
*Thought Scour
*Arcane Denial
*Curate
*Cyclonic Rift
*Deliberate
*Long-Term Plans
*Commit // Memory
[/Instant]
[Planeswalker]
*Narset, Parter of Veils
*Karn, the Great Creator
*Tamiyo, Collector of Tales
[/Planeswalker]
[Sorcery]
*Increasing Confusion
*Ponder
*Preordain
*Serum Visions
*Sleight of Hand
*Echo of Eons
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Barkchannel Pathway
*Botanical Sanctum
*Breeding Pool
*City of Brass
*Command Tower
*Dreamroot Cascade
*Exotic Orchard
*Hinterland Harbor
*Mana Confluence
*Prismatic Vista
*Mana Confluence
*Rejuvenating Springs
*Yavimaya Coast
*Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*9 Forest
*14 Island
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>We have three powerful planeswalkers that, because of their sheer power, I feel are very relevant to discuss. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an interesting addition; on the one hand, it acts as a silver bullet, but its main purpose is to imitate our commander for our key artifacts (mainly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knowledge Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Knowledge Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, the Great Creator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tamiyo, Collector of Tales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset, Parter of Veils"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo, Collector of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo, Collector of Tales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fantastic card in this list. Her +1 is great when we have our commander out, and her -3 is a great failsafe ability in case we get a card in the graveyard that we really want back. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful lock piece, and together with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commit // Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Commit // Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo of Eons" href="#" target="_blank">Echo of Eons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we have a powerful easy to execute combo that doesn't really rely on our commander and can buy us the time to assemble our main lock.</p>
<hr />
<div id="mtgh_f554a" class="mtgh">
<div class="header">
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>For our opening hands, we're looking for cheap ways to start self-milling, because once we start going it's <em>very</em> hard to stop us. Lands and ramp are nice, but I'd prioritize ways to actually capitalize on Grolnok's ability from the first moment that it hits the table.</p>
<p>In the early game, we're trying to set up for our commander's arrival, either with some of our cheap self-mill-enablers or simply by ramping into a faster buildup. Self-milling without our commander is very dangerous, so we should carefully consider if it's worth getting a card stuck in our graveyard.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, if we're able to establish a self-mill engine with our commander, then we'll be rolling in resources. It's hard to miss on stuff like land drops or action cards with the number of cards that we can see, and the best part is that it tends to snowball. In the later stages, we should always pay attention for opportunities to flash in Teferi at the end of the turn.</p>
<p>Our deck has a very strong late game because it can build back up very quickly whenever our commander hits the table. All those precious cards that we hadn't had the chance to cast are still available to us, and by this point, mana isn't that much of a problem, so we probably will have the opportunity to chain at least one or two huge cards before passing the turn.</p>
</div>
</div>
<hr />
<div id="mtgh_f554a" class="mtgh">
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
</div>
<p>Say this current list isn't 100% your style. What else could you pursue to assist this strategy?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthcraft"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Propaganda"></div></div>
<p>Investing heavily into Stax effects, removing the cantrips, and playing more like a pillow fort strategy could be quite effective, since one of the main obstacles of such strategy is finding its relevant effects in time.</p>
<p>Finding another permanent-based combo can also change the deck up a bit. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthcraft" href="#" target="_blank">Earthcraft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squirrel Nest" href="#" target="_blank">Squirrel Nest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cheap (at least mana-wise) "I win" combo that can be very easily dug out with our engine. We could even put more priority on self-mill cards to go even faster!</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment</em>! What do you think of this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which did you not? Was this Epic Experiment a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


simic

Precon Primer - Explorers of the Deep

Precon Upgrade Guide - Explorers of the Deep

Singleton Shmingleton - Explosive Vegetation

Singleton Shmingleton - Skyshroud Ranger

Elven Council - Precon Primer

Epic Experiment - Grolnok

Archetune-Up - Over the Slime and Under the Radar

Ultra Budget Brews - Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty

Strixhaven Set Review - Quandrix and Green

Conditions Allow - Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist