<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum" href="#" target="_blank">Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/darenbader">Daren Bader</a></em></p>
<p>There hasn't been a set in recent memory with as absurd a quantity of new commanders that really get the gears in my brain turning as <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/mbc"><em>Mystery Booster Commander Edition</em></a>.</p>
<p>Every time I come back to the set list, something new piques my interest that I had barely paid attention to before. This time around, it's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum" href="#" target="_blank">Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This new Temur (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander is a fascinating design, and it may be just the commander in these colors that I've long been on the hunt for. I've been through many of the other options Temur has to offer, and despite my love of Temur decks in other formats, none of them have really gripped me in Commander. In this deck tech, I'm going to try to change that with Zagorka.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overlord of the Hauntwoods"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum" href="#" target="_blank">Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/2 with vigilance and trample for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. At the beginning of your end step, each player may choose to create a tapped land token that can tap for any color, called a Sanctum. Each player that does cannot attack you during their next turn.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge that Zagorka faces is that sometimes the opponents will be able to outpace her with the extra mana she gives out, especially considering that they get to use that mana first. Giving opponents choices is also rarely good. They can choose to take the Sanctum token before turns when they don't plan to attack you, use that mana to create a snowballing advantage, then stop taking the lands when it's time to go on the offensive.</p>
<p>A deck with Zagorka at the helm has potential in a lot of different lanes. She could lead a group hug deck that wants to feed the table resources, like Sanctum tokens, and stay alive long enough to resolve a huge game-ending spell or a more traditional landfall deck. There's even a world where she's interested in giving away Sanctums to feed some sinister end goal like enabling <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wilderness Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Wilderness Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>My build of Zagorka is going to be a fairly normal ramp deck that uses the commander to enable landfall cards and work up to burning out the table with Price of Progress and its analogues. One of Zagorka's biggest strengths is the consistency she enables. A two-mana ramp spell on turn two followed by a Zagorka coming down on turn three will result in six mana on turn four, assuming I'm able to play a land every turn. The best part is that I don't even need to untap with Zagorka to get that benefit, unlike decks with mana dorks in the command zone, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Heart of the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helga, Skittish Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Helga, Skittish Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planar Genesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mind into Matter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lotus Cobra"></div></div>
<p>Every game with this deck must begin with a two-mana ramp spell on turn two. There are twelve of them in total, and the goal is to mulligan to three lands plus one of these ramp spells every game. The middle and late stages of the game will sort themselves out as long as it follows a turn-two ramp spell and a turn-three cast of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum" href="#" target="_blank">Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>My suite of two-mana ramp spells is fairly pedestrian. Staples like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Visits" href="#" target="_blank">Three Visits</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are virtually inescapable. However, there are a select few that were chosen due to their ability to stay relevant as the game progresses. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edge of Autumn" href="#" target="_blank">Edge of Autumn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Growth Spiral" href="#" target="_blank">Growth Spiral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotus Cobra" href="#" target="_blank">Lotus Cobra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind into Matter" href="#" target="_blank">Mind into Matter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planar Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Planar Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all perfect on turn two and passable cards to draw later on. Mind into Matter in particular is a spell I'd actually rather cast for a ton of mana on turn five than run out on turn two.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bonny Pall, Clearcutter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola Rhul"></div></div>
<p>Once I've arrived at turn four with six mana, what happens? There are fifteen six-mana spells to slam on the table, most of them being independently powerful haymakers. Many of them have landfall or some other land-related ability, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait" href="#" target="_blank">Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonny Pall, Clearcutter" href="#" target="_blank">Bonny Pall, Clearcutter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others help fill out the deck's suite of interaction, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frost Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Frost Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kogla, the Titan Ape" href="#" target="_blank">Kogla, the Titan Ape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roil Elemental" href="#" target="_blank">Roil Elemental</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The odd one out in the six-drops category is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a creature that's strictly here to support Zagorka. Getting an extra end step means an extra Sanctum, and there are plenty of creatures to blink with her other ability later in the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Double"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication"></div></div>
<p>This deck is a great candidate for a healthy smattering of clone effects. I've only included clones that skirt the legend rule to ensure they work well with Zagorka. Getting extra Zagorka triggers each end step is a really high floor for the likes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication" href="#" target="_blank">Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and they all have the ceiling of copying a bomb like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ureni, the Song Unending" href="#" target="_blank">Ureni, the Song Unending</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>How Does This Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Price of Progress"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunspine Lynx"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Order"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum" href="#" target="_blank">Zagorka</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s primary win condition is burning the opponents out through effects that punish nonbasic lands. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunspine Lynx" href="#" target="_blank">Sunspine Lynx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Order" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Order</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all inflict damage on opponents that scales with their number of nonbasic lands, like the Sanctum tokens that Zagorka will have spent the whole game distributing.</p>
<p>These effects are symmetrical, meaning it's very possible to wind up in situations where Price of Progress cannot be cast without also taking yourself out. To mitigate this, the lands in this deck are mostly basics and fetch lands that can get basics. I've also included two sacrifice outlets, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Safekeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Safekeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, that can minimize the cost of using these big burn spells.</p>
<p>Most Commander decks are going to feature a high count of nonbasic lands to begin with, which gives Price of Progress a decent floor. The real trick to getting the numbers high enough to win the game will be in getting opponents to accept Zagorka's Sanctum as often as possible. I believe that most Commander players, even if they suspect there's a scheme afoot, will end up taking some number of the Sanctums. Otherwise, they'll start to fall behind the players that do. If both Tammy and I are getting a free extra land every turn, Johnny and Spike are going to have to seriously weigh the cost of not joining the club.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titania, Protector of Argoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omnath, Locus of Rage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampaging Baloths"></div></div>
<p>Plan B is just making a million tokens and alpha striking the table to death. There are nine repeatable sources of token generation, most of which are tied to a landfall trigger, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Baloths" href="#" target="_blank">Rampaging Baloths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>One of the biggest setups for winning through combat damage is using a sacrifice outlet like Zuran Orb or Sylvan Safekeeper to sacrifice all or most of your lands on the end step before your turn with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titania, Protector of Argoth" href="#" target="_blank">Titania, Protector of Argoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, making a 5/3 Elemental token for each land sacrificed. There's a non-zero amount of risk involved in this play, but it's worth going for more often than not, more so if the opponents are all tapped out.</p>
<h2>Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Beware the Nonbasics" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
*1 Ancient Greenwarden
*1 Bane of Progress
*1 Bonny Pall, Clearcutter
*1 Chameleon, Master of Disguise
*1 Esix, Fractal Bloom
*1 Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Frost Titan
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Kodama of the East Tree
*1 Kogla, the Titan Ape
*1 Koma, Cosmos Serpent
*1 Lotus Cobra
*1 Multani, Yavimaya&#039;s Avatar
*1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
*1 Old Gnawbone
*1 Omnath, Locus of Rage
*1 Rampaging Baloths
*1 Roil Elemental
*1 Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
*1 Spark Double
*1 Springheart Nantuko
*1 Starwinder
*1 Sunspine Lynx
*1 Sylvan Safekeeper
*1 Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
*1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
*1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
*1 Ureni, the Song Unending
*1 Vaultborn Tyrant
*1 Y&#039;shtola Rhul
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Consult the Star Charts
*1 Farsight Ritual
*1 Flusterstorm
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Planar Genesis
*1 Price of Progress
*1 Stubborn Denial
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Edge of Autumn
*1 Explore
*1 Farseek
*1 Irenicus&#039;s Vile Duplication
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Mind into Matter
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Shared Roots
*1 Three Visits
*1 Thunderous Debut
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue
*1 Zuran Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Dancing from Dark to Dawn
*1 Dragonback Assault
*1 Primal Order
*1 Sapling Nursery
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Flooded Strand
*11 Forest
*1 Fountainport
*8 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*3 Mountain
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Shifting Woodland
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I'm tentatively placing this deck in <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets">Bracket</a> 2 (Core). There are no <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers">Game Changers</a>, no infinite combos, no extra turns, and the games the deck wants to play are overwhelmingly likely to last more than six turns. I'm a little concerned that the level of focus and consistency could be too much for an average Bracket 2 table, but I'd need to see a bigger sample size of games played in that environment to make a perfect judgment.</p>
<p>Building and testing this deck was a joy! I'll be on the hunt for other <em>Mystery Booster Commander</em> <em>Edition</em> cards that enable me to play old favorites like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterbalance" href="#" target="_blank">Counterbalance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to cover next. Speaking of, I'd recommend checking out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/gustha-ebbasdotter-counterbalance-control">my article</a> on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gustha Ebbasdotter" href="#" target="_blank">Gustha Ebbasdotter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> where I get to have a little too much fun with said Counterbalance.</p>


termur

Zagorka, Mother of Sanctum: Paying the Price of Progress