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Going Positively Nuts With The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ravenous Squirrel" href="#" target="_blank">Ravenous Squirrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://danscottart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Scott</a></em></p>
<p>Like most people, the first Commander deck I ever built was a total mess of cards with no real theme. At first, I had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraska, Relic Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Vraska, Relic Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the command zone, until I was informed that planeswalkers couldn't be commanders. (I still think that's stupid.) Then, it was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pharika, God of Affliction" href="#" target="_blank">Pharika, God of Affliction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because I thought that card looked sick. Unfortunately, even though it did have some awesome art, it wasn't very good.</p>
<p>But finally, I landed on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and I had enough random sacrifice cards in the deck that it was actually alright! I still have that deck to this day, and it's grown pretty strong.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ravenous Squirrel"></div></div>
<p>But of course, this is a Pauper series, and Mazirek is not an uncommon commander. So instead, we're gonna be building around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ravenous Squirrel" href="#" target="_blank">Ravenous Squirrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a one-mana rodent that wants to see as many cards on the altar as possible.</p>
<p>Every time we sacrifice a creature or artifact, the Squirrel grows, and we can pay three mana to sacrifice one of those in exchange for a card and a life. Not exactly Mazirek, but I think we can make a deck with the same spirit - and hopefully equivalent Pauper power level.</p>
<h2>To the Altar!</h2>
<p>So obviously, the place to start is with sacrificing. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the perfect cards to begin with, as one-mana creatures that can sacrifice any number of others in a turn. We'll support them with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nantuko Husk" href="#" target="_blank">Nantuko Husk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodthrone Vampire" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodthrone Vampire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who are more expensive, but still highly effective.</p>
<p>Finally, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the best sacrifice outlet of them all, and a card that I'm always surprised was printed at common.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carrion Feeder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Ghoul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod&#039;s Altar"></div></div>
<p>Now, I'd like to play as many artifacts and creatures as possible, so that our sacrifice outlets can also be our sacrifice fodder, but there are a few instants and sorceries that are just too good to pass up.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Dispute" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Dispute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance, sacrifices a creature, draws two cards, and makes another permanent that can trigger our commander, all for two mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckoner&#039;s Bargain" href="#" target="_blank">Reckoner&#039;s Bargain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Village Rites" href="#" target="_blank">Village Rites</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corrupted Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">Corrupted Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fanatical Offering" href="#" target="_blank">Fanatical Offering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all exist in the same vein, sacrificing permanents in exchange for cards.</p>
<p>It's a great deal to make; we trigger our commander for cheap, and draw more cards that can enlarge our commander further.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Dispute"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckoner&#039;s Bargain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Village Rites"></div></div>
<h2>Victims</h2>
<p>That should be enough to consistently grow our Squirrel, but it's not terribly efficient to pay three for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and sacrifice it to itself. So let's see what cards can make a ton of sacrifice fodder.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elfsworn Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Elfsworn Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has to be the best one in the deck, making an Elf for every land we play, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sporemound" href="#" target="_blank">Sporemound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nearly identical twin.</p>
<p>Then there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drey Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Drey Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kozilek&#039;s Predator" href="#" target="_blank">Kozilek&#039;s Predator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which create a total of three bodies on entry, and the Keeper has the upside of giving our commander menace, while the Predator's tokens can sacrifice themselves. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glittermonger" href="#" target="_blank">Glittermonger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also spectacular, creating a Treasure token every single turn.</p>
<p>Finally, at the bottom of our list, we have some creatures that can die twice, sometimes literally, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Young Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or just in principle, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shambling Ghast" href="#" target="_blank">Shambling Ghast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blisterpod" href="#" target="_blank">Blisterpod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elfsworn Giant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drey Keeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Young Wolf"></div></div>
<h2>Now To War!</h2>
<p>Now for the matter of putting this slaughter to use. Our commander is pretty great, so why not have multiple? Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodbriar" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodbriar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gixian Infiltrator" href="#" target="_blank">Gixian Infiltrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grow with every sacrifice, just like our Ravenous Squirrel. Along with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and all our other creatures that can grow, we could have quite a few threatening giants.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodbriar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gixian Infiltrator"></div></div>
<p>And we don't want to leave them hanging, do we? Well, maybe, if they're hanging from a glider. Flying is absolutely the most effective evasive ability, so we'll pack the deck with Equipment like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cobbled Wings" href="#" target="_blank">Cobbled Wings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilded Pinions" href="#" target="_blank">Gilded Pinions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wings of Hubris" href="#" target="_blank">Wings of Hubris</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and any other cards that can put a colossal Squirrel in the air.</p>
<p>We'll make sure to use Equipment, rather than Auras, because we may want to put them on the altar at some point. It's an unlikely scenario, but theoretically you could sacrifice those wings after blockers have been declared to get a game winning point of damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cobbled Wings"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilded Pinions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wings of Hubris"></div></div>
<p>But that extra +1/+1 counter is useless if your opponents just remove the big Squirrel. So, as with any Voltron deck, we need some protection. Luckily, we're in green, so it's easy peazy.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ranger&#039;s Guile" href="#" target="_blank">Ranger&#039;s Guile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, yeah yeah yeah. All the usual stuff. What I didn't know about, however, was that black actually has some decent protection spells. And I'm not talking about <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>, because that card wouldn't bring back the counters. I mean <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion&#039;s Hunger" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion&#039;s Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that gives our commander indestructible and draws a card! Awesome.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gaea&#039;s Gift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oblivion&#039;s Hunger"></div></div>
<p>Finally, the last step of any good Voltron deck, throwing our commander at someone's face for a ton of direct damage. Usually, that would be done with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or some other red variant of those cards. Fling cards are very popular, and for good reason, but there are actually two underplayed black spells that may be even better.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is literally <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it gains you life! And then, for one more mana, you have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Essence Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Essence Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't even require a sacrifice! Perfect, right?</p>
<p>Ok, yeah, clearly the problem is that they're not instants. Yes, I do agree that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a better card because it's an instant, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't as terrible as sorcery speed removal. Most of the time, you'll be casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> right after combat, in your second main phase, in an attempt to win the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rite of Consumption"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Essence Harvest"></div></div>
<p>Sure, you <em>could</em> wait till your opponent's turn, but because it's often the last action in a game, I don't see sorcery speed as a huge deal for these cards. Also, we're not in red. Duh.</p>
<h2>Ravenous Squirrel Pauper Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Pauper Commander - Ravenous Squirrel" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ravenous Squirrel
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Bayou Groff
*1 Blisterpod
*1 Bloodbriar
*1 Bloodthrone Vampire
*1 Brindle Shoat
*1 Carrier Thrall
*1 Carrion Feeder
*1 Caustic Caterpillar
*1 Copper Myr
*1 Crypt Rats
*1 Dimir House Guard
*1 Drey Keeper
*1 Duskshell Crawler
*1 Eldrazi Repurposer
*1 Elfsworn Giant
*1 Gixian Infiltrator
*1 Glittermonger
*1 Greedy Freebooter
*1 Guildsworn Prowler
*1 Infestation Sage
*1 Jewel Thief
*1 Kozilek&#039;s Predator
*1 Mortician Beetle
*1 Nantuko Husk
*1 Nested Shambler
*1 Phyrexian Ghoul
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Shambling Ghast
*1 Sporemound
*1 Tukatongue Thallid
*1 Viridian Emissary
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Yavimaya Elder
*1 Young Wolf
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Blood Fountain
*1 Chromatic Sphere
*1 Cobbled Wings
*1 Gilded Pinions
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Heaped Harvest
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Nihil Spellbomb
*1 Nimblewright Schematic
*1 Prized Statue
*1 Tormod&#039;s Crypt
*1 Wings of Hubris
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bone Shards
*1 Bone Splinters
*1 Chatterstorm
*1 Essence Harvest
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Rite of Consumption
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Spark Harvest
*1 Unearth
*1 Vampire&#039;s Kiss
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Corrupted Conviction
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Eviscerator&#039;s Insight
*1 Fanatical Offering
*1 Gaea&#039;s Gift
*1 Oblivion&#039;s Hunger
*1 Ranger&#039;s Guile
*1 Reckoner&#039;s Bargain
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping
*1 Tragic Slip
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darkmoss Bridge
*12 Forest
*14 Swamp
*1 Tree of Tales
*1 Vault of Whispers
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>Well, there's what <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would look like if he got transmogrified into a Squirrel. Much less intimidating, I have to say. Yeah, this deck does basically the exact same thing as a Mazirek deck, but the payoff is so much worse. For sacrificing half our board, we get one moderately sized Squirrel that only does anything if we have evasion and protection in hand.</p>
<p>I remember now why I stopped playing Voltron decks.</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="VMMm6AxrZX"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/pauper-commander-mr-orfeo-the-boulder/">Pauper Commander - Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="pZnEMVYEUO"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/pauper-commander-tannuk-memorial-ensign/">Pauper Commander - Tannuk, Memorial Ensign</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Pauper Commander - Tannuk, Memorial Ensign&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/pauper-commander-tannuk-memorial-ensign/embed/#?secret=bTrRuqIHFU#?secret=pZnEMVYEUO" data-secret="pZnEMVYEUO" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="xKmecd1w3D"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/pauper-commander-alexios-deimos-of-kosmos/">Pauper Commander - Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Pauper Commander - Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/pauper-commander-alexios-deimos-of-kosmos/embed/#?secret=VG20NXE7fz#?secret=xKmecd1w3D" data-secret="xKmecd1w3D" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Ravenous Squirrel Pauper Commander Deck Tech

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire / / Ice|MH2|290" href="#" target="_blank">Fire / / Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by Dan Scott</h6>
<p>Hello, and welcome to <em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire // Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Fire // Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em>, a brand new data-driven series where we'll go over some cards that are gaining and losing popularity in various Commander decks. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data.</p>
<p>Of course, EDHREC has a ton of data. Using that data, we'll draw some conclusions about how certain commander's decks are changing over time, give some insight into how the format's players are thinking about new cards, and maybe even give you some cool tech for your favorite commander's list.</p>
<p>With all that said, let's jump right into it.</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/introducing-the-math-behind-edhrecs-fire-and-ice-series"><strong><em>For information on how we calculate the </em>Fire and Ice<em> Scores used in this article, check out this writeup.</em></strong></a></p>
<h1><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h1>
<p>Nekusar is an absolute menace for EDH players. This deck churns out damage using its commander's abilities and can make short work of any tables that don't have a way to deal with him quickly.</p>
<p>Nekusar is all in on punishing its opponents for playing the game and is feared for good reason. Looking quickly at its most popular cards, we see that 61% of Nekusar decks are running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Razorkin Needlehead" href="#" target="_blank">Razorkin Needlehead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, 61% have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Deal" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Deal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and 61% contain <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychosis Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Psychosis Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razorkin Needlehead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Deal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Psychosis Crawler"></div></div>
<h2>What's Fiery for Nekusar Decks?</h2>
<p>Now that we've got a grasp on what Nekusar does, let's see what cards are trending up for these decks since January of this year.</p>
<p>Some new cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistrise Village" href="#" target="_blank">Mistrise Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, slot really nicely into this deck. From <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em>, it's actually the highest riser among all Nekusar decks, with a Fire Score of 5.77. After all, no one wants their spells countered when they're trying to group slug their way through a game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mistrise Village"></div></div>
<p>But, beyond the new cards, there's some really interesting rising stars:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reforge the Soul" href="#" target="_blank">Reforge the Soul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, 2.44 Fire Score</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel of Misfortune" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel of Misfortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, 2.25 Fire Score</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Psyche" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Psyche</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, 2.09 Fire Score</li>
</ul>
<p>These wheels all fit nicely into the deck's general group slug gameplan, so it's interesting to see that so many decks didn't have them included before.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reforge the Soul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wheel of Misfortune"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Molten Psyche"></div></div>
<p>Now, onto some more niche inclusions. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Caress" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Caress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a high Fire Score of 2.54 This card pairs nicely with the wheels often included in Nekusar lists, and players have taken notice.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigil of Sleep" href="#" target="_blank">Sigil of Sleep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been a big riser too, seeing a Fire Score of 2.13. This card comes to us all the way from 1999's <em>Urza's Destiny</em>, and can turn our commander's already-bothersome pings into game-ending removal, too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana&#039;s Caress"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigil of Sleep"></div></div>
<h2>What's Icy for Nekusar Decks?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seizan, Perverter of Truth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Tyranny"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fevered Visions"></div></div>
<p>And, if cards are finding their way into Nekusar lists, other cards have got to come out. While the cuts from these decks are varied, three cards lead the pack with big changes in deck inclusion rate.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seizan, Perverter of Truth" href="#" target="_blank">Seizan, Perverter of Truth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a Ice Score of -3.58, the lowest score we'll see for this deck. This may be because of its mana cost: this card sits at the same slot in the curve as our commander.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Tyranny" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Tyranny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has seen a big drop, too, with a slightly more extreme Ice Score of -3.45.While this card is good, its restrictive mana cost may be too much for deckbuilders to justify.</p>
<p>And, lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fevered Visions" href="#" target="_blank">Fevered Visions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a -3.38 Ice Score.</p>
<p>Nekusar pilots may be looking for ways to deal more damage than just two-per-turn, possibly justifying this card's large percent change.</p>
<div class="mceTemp">
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-158720 aligncenter" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM.png" alt="" width="1375" height="435" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM.png 1758w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM-300x95.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM-1024x324.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM-768x243.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.05.44 PM-1536x486.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1375px) 100vw, 1375px" /></a></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chatterfang, Squirrel General" href="#" target="_blank">Chatterfang, Squirrel General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chatterfang, Squirrel General"></div></div>
<p>Chatterfang is another super popular commander, leading nearly 20,000 decks and finding himself as the 23rd most popular commander as of the time of writing.</p>
<p>We'll see some notoriously powerful cards gaining popularity here, as some cute on-theme cards fall out of favor. That said, let's see what we can find <em>squirrelled</em> away in Chatterfang's data.</p>
<p>For those of you who haven't had the chance to play against Chatterfang, the deck generally aims to fill the board with tokens and drain out its opponents with Aristocrats-themed win conditions.</p>
<p>Some popular cards for the deck include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (73% of decks), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (68% of decks), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Provisioner" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Provisioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (64% of decks).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zulaport Cutthroat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tireless Provisioner"></div></div>
<h2>What's Fiery for Chatterfang Decks?</h2>
<p>There's a few cards that have seen big rises in popularity, including eight cards that have seen big jumps in inclusion this year. Let's take a peek at some of the most interesting risers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Soultrader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diabolic Intent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nature&#039;s Rhythm"></div></div>
<p>First up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warren Soultrader" href="#" target="_blank">Warren Soultrader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, carrying a Fire Score of 3.64. This card fits right in with the deck's aristocrat and token themes, making it a great inclusion.</p>
<p>It's also got <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=card%3A%22Warren+Soultrader%22+ci%3Agolgari+legal%3Acommander">a huge number of combos that make use of it</a> within Chatterfang's black-green color identity.</p>
<p>Another popular addition is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Intent" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Intent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card got a Fire Score of 2.64, and it does a pretty good impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diabolic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Diabolic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a deck with so many disposable creatures.</p>
<p>Last but not least is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Rhythm" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Rhythm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another card from <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> that's found a home in one of the format's most popular decks. This card works great with the creature-heavy, graveyard-centric gameplan of the deck, so it's no surprise that it tops our list here with a Fire Score of 4.78.</p>
<h2>What's Icy for Chatterfang Decks?</h2>
<p>Quite a few cards have seen big drops in popularity, too, with nine cards seeing their inclusion rate drop by precipitously.</p>
<p>The card that left the most decks, by far, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squirrel Mob" href="#" target="_blank">Squirrel Mob</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a Ice Score of -4.39 (the lowest we'll see today). While this card is cool and thematic for players who'd like a Squirrel-centric build, paying for a large creature with no built-in evasion is much less appealing now than it has been in the past.</p>
<p>The same holds true for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drey Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Drey Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that's got a Ice Score of -3.84. While this card is certainly flavorful, a higher casting cost and an expensive activated ability have likely taken this card out of contention for a slot in Chatterfang's army.</p>
<p>The last card that we'll touch on today is one that I wouldn't have expected to be on this list.</p>
<p>While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squirrel Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Squirrel Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has a Ice Score of -3.74, I view it as a key role-player for <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wotc-introduces-new-bracket-system-for-edh">lower bracket</a> Chatterfang lists. However, it's possible that it's being replaced by the popular (and consequently more expensive) Treasure-maker <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warren Soultrader" href="#" target="_blank">Warren Soultrader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as demonstrated in the mirrored pattern of usage in the line graph below for these two cards.</p>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158719" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM.png" alt="" width="1772" height="588" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM.png 1772w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM-300x100.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM-1024x340.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM-768x255.png 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-2.06.35 PM-1536x510.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1772px) 100vw, 1772px" /></a></p>
<h1>Until next time, Stay Cool (or Hot)!</h1>
<p>That's all we have for this week, but we'll be back soon with another edition of <em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire // Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Fire // Ice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em>. For now, I'd love to hear from you. Let me know what commander's you'd like a data deep dive on in the comments below. I'll take a few of the most interesting picks and include them in the next installment in this series. Until then, happy brewing!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar, the Mindrazer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chatterfang, Squirrel General"></div></div>
</div>


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