<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></p>
<p>It seems like <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tokens</a> are everywhere these days in Commander. From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure|TFDN|23" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutagen" href="#" target="_blank">Mutagen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we've got a lot to keep track of. There are lots of ways to maximize the power of these temporary game pieces, and this EDHREC Guide will show you exactly how to do so.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tokens-textless.png

<p>Tokens are permanents created by spells and abilities. Unlike most other permanents, though, they're not cast from any zone and cease existing when they leave the battlefield.</p>
<p>While tokens can technically be any sort of permanent, they're most commonly creatures. In a typical game of Commander, you might see a 3/3 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elephant|TLCC|12" href="#" target="_blank">Elephant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creature token created by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, two <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure|TFDN|23" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> artifact tokens created by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse" href="#" target="_blank">An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or maybe even a 1/1 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fish" href="#" target="_blank">Fish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creature token created by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Into the Flood Maw" href="#" target="_blank">Into the Flood Maw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Generous Gift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Into the Flood Maw"></div></div>
<p>But not all tokens are attached to interactive spells. There's also a whole host of cards that can make creature tokens appear on our side of the board, often in large numbers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resolute Reinforcements" href="#" target="_blank">Resolute Reinforcements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, enters the battlefield with a friend! Other cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterblossom" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterblossom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may make us multiple creature tokens over the course of a game, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clone Legion" href="#" target="_blank">Clone Legion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may create a huge army of tokens all in one go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resolute Reinforcements"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bitterblossom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clone Legion"></div></div>


<p>While every color makes tokens, some colors can use them better than others. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> tend to be best at maximizing the power of tokens. <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> can do some interesting things with tokens too, but don't stack up quite as well.</p>
<h3>White</h3>
<p>White has a lot of effects that allow us to double the amount of tokens we create, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ocelot Pride" href="#" target="_blank">Ocelot Pride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>This color also provides card advantage (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caretaker&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Caretaker&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) and other benefits (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rosie Cotton of South Lane" href="#" target="_blank">Rosie Cotton of South Lane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) when we make tokens.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anointed Procession"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Caretaker&#039;s Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rosie Cotton of South Lane"></div></div>
<p>All told, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> cards play extremely well with this strategy.</p>
<h3>Green</h3>
<p>Green can also double the number of tokens we put onto the battlefield, with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Second Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Second Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But, unlike white, green lets us make a ton of mana with our creature tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Jaheira, Friend of the Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns each of our tokens into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moss Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Moss Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, accelerating us to huge plays turn after turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Second Harvest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest"></div></div>
<p>Same goes for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enduring Vitality" href="#" target="_blank">Enduring Vitality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, assuming that we're mostly making use of creature tokens.</p>
<h3>Red</h3>
<p>Red has more unique payoffs for creature tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Determined Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Determined Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echoing Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Echoing Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make one particularly scary creature token per turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Determined Iteration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echoing Assault"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battle Hymn"></div></div>
<p>There's a few other interesting cards that <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> gives access to, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Hymn" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Hymn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stadium Headliner" href="#" target="_blank">Stadium Headliner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that become stronger with a board full of creature tokens.</p>
<h3>Blue</h3>
<p>Much like <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, there's a small number of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> cards that do some powerful things with tokens. My favorites are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldwalker Helm" href="#" target="_blank">Worldwalker Helm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/artifacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artifact</a> decks and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Poppet Stitcher" href="#" target="_blank">Poppet Stitcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spellslinger</a> decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldwalker Helm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Poppet Stitcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Junk Winder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junk Winder" href="#" target="_blank">Junk Winder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nice all-purpose tool, too.</p>
<h3>Black</h3>
<p>Most of the token-related cards that <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> gives access to are focused on causing our opponents to lose life. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirkwood Bats" href="#" target="_blank">Mirkwood Bats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadier&#039;s Nightblade" href="#" target="_blank">Nadier&#039;s Nightblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fantastic examples, and can easily end games if they're left unchecked.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirkwood Bats"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nadier&#039;s Nightblade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div></div>
<p>There isn't much else going on for tokens in this color, but creature tokens can make nice fodder for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effect.</p>


<p>Now that we know what each color can do with tokens, let's choose a deck to build. This should serve as a good example of what a mid-power, <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets">Bracket 2</a> tokens deck could look like (leaving out <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers">Game Changers</a> and most tutors).</p>
<p>There's no single correct way to build a deck for this theme, and my goal with this guide is to show off as many cool cards for a creature token-centric build as possible.</p>
<p>With that said, let's choose a commander. We've established that <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> are the best colors for tokens, but we know that there's some fun stuff happening with other colors too. I want our commander to provide consistent value, while also driving our game plan forward once we've saturated the board with an army of small creatures.</p>
<p>I've settled on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rin and Seri, Inseparable" href="#" target="_blank">Rin and Seri, Inseparable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a Naya (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" 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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander that wants to combine the powers of Cats and Dogs! This legendary creature is as cute as it is powerful, and I think it'll be a fantastic leader for our list.</p>
<h3>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rin and Seri, Inseparable" href="#" target="_blank">Rin and Seri, Inseparable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rin and Seri, Inseparable"></div></div>
<p>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-r" 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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Rin and Seri is a 4/4 Dog Cat. When we cast a Dog spell, they make us a 1/1 Cat creature token. Similarly, when we cast a Cat spell, they make us a 1/1 Dog creature token.</p>
<p>Then, for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" 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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-tap" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, we get to hit any target for an amount of damage equal to the number of Dogs we control while gaining life equal to the number of Cats we control.</p>


<p>All token decks need, as you might guess, a way to fill the board with temporary game pieces. For a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, we may need to tap our commander a few times. For an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, we may need to cast Vampires. But, for our Rin and Seri deck, we need to cast Cats and Dogs. And lots of them.</p>
<p>Over <em>Magic</em>'s 30+ year history we've seen a lot of powerful household pets, so we're certainly not starved for options.</p>
<p>Among the best cards in this deck are <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Shapeshifter#Changelings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changelings</a>, creatures that count as every creature type at all points in the game. When we cast these spells, we get to make both a Cat token and a Dog token. They also count for both parts of our commander's activated ability!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutable Explorer" href="#" target="_blank">Mutable Explorer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a new card from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ecl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em></a>, a changeling that makes us a token version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutavault" href="#" target="_blank">Mutavault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> when it hits the board. Two changelings for the price of one would already be good, but this Shapeshifter also puts us ahead by one mana!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mutable Explorer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Realmwalker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Universal Automaton"></div></div>
<p>I'm also a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realmwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Realmwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as it gives us access to 20+ creatures from the top of our library if we choose Cats as it enters the battlefield.</p>
<p>Various cheap changelings, 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> round out our Cat-Dog cadre.</p>
<p>With all the creature tokens we'll be making, anthems (cards that buff up all of our creatures' power and toughness or give them abilities) are particularly strong. I'm a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyhunter Strike Force" href="#" target="_blank">Skyhunter Strike Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which routinely gives each of our creatures +3/+3 every single combat. For just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, it's hard to ask for more from a Cat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyhunter Strike Force"></div></div>
<p>For just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> more, we can cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jazal Goldmane" href="#" target="_blank">Jazal Goldmane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Once we've got enough mana to activate this feline's ability, we can turn a board of mid-size creatures into a board of game-ending threats. Jazal becomes effective with as few as five creatures on board, but can easily become lethal with 10 or more creatures out.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jazal Goldmane"></div></div>
<p>I spoke earlier about token doublers, and how powerful they are. While making twice as many tokens as we usually would is pretty strong, most cards in this category don't provide much utility beyond simply making extra tokens. That's why I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ocelot Pride" href="#" target="_blank">Ocelot Pride</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Storm Slayer" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Storm Slayer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this list: they provide value beyond doubling.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ocelot Pride"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth, Storm Slayer"></div></div>
<p>If we gain life, Ocelot Pride can make us a 1/1 Cat token. We can do that easily with our commander's activated ability! On the other hand, Elspeth acts as repeatable removal and can provide our creature tokens with a power boost and some evasiveness to punch through and end games effectively.</p>
<p>While I've still found space for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parallel Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Parallel Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the like, I'd certainly reach for the Cat and the planeswalker first.</p>


<p>Our focus on Cats and Dogs has led us to cards that other token decks may not play. These cards really shine in a Rin and Seri deck, so I wanted to spotlight them before showing off our deck list.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prowling Serpopard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ainok Strike Leader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prava of the Steel Legion"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowling Serpopard" href="#" target="_blank">Prowling Serpopard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a funny looking creature that protects all of our creature spells on the stack. For a Bracket 2 deck like this, warding off counterspells may not come up super often. But, occasionally, this Cat Snake will really help us dodge those pesky blue players' counterspells.</p>
<p>Speaking of protection, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ainok Strike Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Ainok Strike Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just so happens to be a Dog (that appears to be riding a cat). This creature makes extra 1/1 Goblin tokens and can save all of our creature tokens from a board wipe. The Cats and Dogs that Rin and Seri make are extremely valuable, due to our commander's ability to turn them into direct damage, so preserving them is a high priority.</p>
<p>There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prava of the Steel Legion" href="#" target="_blank">Prava of the Steel Legion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an anthem that makes our creature tokens survive combat more easily. A +1/+4 boost to toughness is unique, and quite neat. Her <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> activated ability is a nice way to spend excess mana, too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feline Sovereign"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Qasali Slingers"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ajani, Nacatl Pariah"></div></div>
<p>Some more specific typal synergies bolster this deck's 99, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feline Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Feline Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can easily dispatch any problematic artifacts or enchantments, just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Qasali Slingers" href="#" target="_blank">Qasali Slingers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And if we want a super-powered planeswalker, we can turn to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani, Nacatl Pariah" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani, Nacatl Pariah</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s transformed side. He provides an anthem, direct damage to any target, and even a one-sided board wipe!</p>
<p>Finally, I wanted to shout out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Embereth" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Embereth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card does so much for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Court of Embereth"></div></div>
<p>First, it introduces the <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Monarch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monarchy</a>. This is a super fun mechanic for low- and mid-power Commander, encouraging all players to hit each other and speed up the game.</p>
<p>With the number of creature t0kens that we'll be creating, we've got a decent likelihood of holding onto the crown for at least one turn cycle. If we do so, we get to take a big chunk out of each opponents' life total. Even if we don't hold onto the monarchy, we're still happy to see the game move a bit faster than it normally would.</p>
<p>This deck is low to the ground, and we want to start killing other players as soon as possible.</p>


<p>There are some fantastic ways to get value from tokens in other colors, though. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anhelo, the Painter" href="#" target="_blank">Anhelo, the Painter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>'s ability to sacrifice creatures for value, and combines it with <span class="mana-container-container"><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>'s ability to cast instants and sorceries efficiently.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anhelo, the Painter"></div></div>
<p>This Vampire Assassin comes to us from the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/maestros-massacre" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Maestros Massacre</em></a> preconstructed deck from <em>Streets of New Capenna</em>, and has been on my to-brew list for a while. He gets to play some super cool new cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timeline Culler" href="#" target="_blank">Timeline Culler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> alongside classics like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mizzix&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Mizzix&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, creating an awesome play experience.</p>
<p>I also want to shout out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrin Took" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrin Took</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a mono-<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> commander that goes infinite with a few other cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peregrin Took"></div></div>
<p>His color identity gives us access to some of the best creature token synergies available to Commander players, and I think Pippin deserves to lead more of his own decks. He sees a good bit of play as a combo piece in other token-focused decks, but I want this Halfling Citizen to have his own time in the spotlight.</p>
<p>Other <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Food" href="#" target="_blank">Food</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> synergies like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Cabbage Merchant" href="#" target="_blank">The Cabbage Merchant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can round out a solid 99.</p>


Tokens in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Tokens in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Steps Ahead" href="#" target="_blank">Three Steps Ahead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/franmiyara/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Francisco Miyara</a></em></p>
<p>Card evaluation is an essential deckbuilding and gameplay skill in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. Quadrant theory approaches card evaluation with a simplified view of the game state. It divides the game into four strategic quadrants: developing, winning, losing, and parity.</p>
<p>In practice, quadrant theory considers how a good card performs in each quadrant. Although the idea originated with Draft, it applies to deckbuilding and gameplay in every <em>Magic</em> format. This guide examines quadrant theory through the lens of Commander.</p>


<p>Everyone is developing when the game begins. The goals in this quadrant are the preliminary steps in the deck's game plan. All the players are establishing a mana base and deploying setup pieces.</p>
<p>Color fixing and ramp are typical developing plays. Development could also include early draw sources, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Remora" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Remora</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or early threats like a hasty creature.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Remora"></div></div>
<p>Disrupting opponents' development is also valid. Don't hesitate to "<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">bird</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>", or hinder everyone else with rule-making effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thalia, Heretic Cathar" href="#" target="_blank">Thalia, Heretic Cathar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a hero of the developing quadrant because she slows down opponents and presents a combat threat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thalia, Heretic Cathar"></div></div>
<p>Eventually every deck needs to cast spells that are part of the deck's main strategy. Late development includes enablers and payoffs that break parity and lead to winning game states. The exact nature of these cards depend on the deck's main strategy.</p>
<p>For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be a developing card to go wide with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/goblins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goblins</a>, or part of a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">combo</a>.</p>
<p>Developing accounts for both resource accumulation and initiating a deck's game plan. Good developing cards move the game forward with low opportunity cost. Bad developing cards spend resources without providing a clear advantage.</p>


<p>Commander balances social gameplay with a competitive outcome. One player should win, and the path to victory can be paved with various advantages. In the winning quadrant, one player broke parity, and they will win if the game remains on that path.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm"></div></div>
<p>Some decks clearly telegraph their winning board states, especially combat decks. A horde of Dragons led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm" href="#" target="_blank">Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will quickly become an unstoppable force.</p>
<p>It's possible to be in the winning quadrant based on hidden information. <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/storm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Storm</a> decks are a prime example, as they hold cards back to build up a critical mass of available spells and mana. The rest of the table is forced to anticipate the moment when the Storm player will fire.</p>
<p>Cards are good in the winning quadrant if they protect the win condition or add to it.</p>
<p>Sometimes the difference between winning and parity is the right tools to protect the plan. <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>, a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be all it takes to secure a win.</p>
<p>Additional payoffs are great winning cards. A <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/sacrifice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacrifice</a> deck can win games with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and adding a <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> to the board can seal the deal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zulaport Cutthroat"></div></div>
<p>Adding another payoff to a winning board walks a line between winning and winning more. For example: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card in an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/hare-apparent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hare Apparent deck</a>. Playing the Doubling Season could break parity and launch the deck into the winning quadrant. However, that same Doubling Season is "win more" if the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hare Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Hare Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pile is already fruitful and multiplying.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hare Apparent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doubling Season"></div></div>
<p>A card crosses the line into win more when the player was winning anyway and the new card only increases the margin of victory. Win more cards aren't inherently bad, but they often aren't needed either.</p>


<p>Things are looking grim. An opponent clearly has the upper hand, but it isn't hopeless. The losing quadrant encompasses any situation where another player will win unless a force changes the game's trajectory. The losing quadrant is where players need gas to make a comeback.</p>
<p>A card is good in the losing quadrant if it saves a player from dying, disrupts the winning player, or shifts the balance of power.</p>
<p>Some losing cards merely cause a player to lose less, without giving the controller an advantage to come back with. Preventing combat damage is a lose less effect, because it doesn't provide the caster with any resources to win.</p>
<p>Lose less cards are situational; a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Holy Day" href="#" target="_blank">Holy Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might leave the winning player vulnerable, or it might just delay the inevitable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Holy Day"></div></div>
<p>A better losing card stops opponents from winning and gives the losing player something to work with. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Platinum Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Platinum Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the case study in this quadrant. The words "You can't lose" and "your opponents can't win" are a reassuring safety net. Also, a four-power flyer is a potent combatant.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Platinum Angel"></div></div>
<p>The best cards in the losing quadrant single-handedly shift the game to parity or winning. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pest Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Pest Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> removes problems and makes an army of creature tokens. It has the potential to reverse the fortunes of the entire table.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pest Infestation"></div></div>
<p>Game losses are inevitable. Occasionally, it's better to shuffle up and play again than drag out a hopeless game. And yet, few gameplay experiences are more thrilling than the come-from-behind win. Consider whether the available cards can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat before scooping to a dire game state.</p>


<p>If all the players are evenly matched, then the game is at parity. Everyone has similar access to mana and cards, and life totals are close. There's no good attacks without the risk of crack back. It's time to make a play, and you want cards that tip the scales without leaving you vulnerable.</p>
<p>Developing is technically a parity game state, but it gets its own quadrant because the goals are different. True parity exists when all the players have the resources to win, but no one has the advantage. The goal is to break parity and move on to winning.</p>
<p>Cards are good in the parity quadrant if they remove obstacles to winning, or achieve an advantage over the opponents.</p>
<p>The value of removal in a parity situation depends on two factors. The first is the exchange rate of cards removed for cards spent. The second is the player's ability to capitalize on the resulting board state.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder|MKM|95" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> exchanges one creature for one card. In the parity quadrant, that's a good trade to get rid of a blocker, eliminate an major attacking threat, or shut down a value engine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murder|MKM|95"></div></div>
<p>Some effects or spells offer a better exchange rate. Spending six mana for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Casualties of War" href="#" target="_blank">Casualties of War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels great when it can hit five targets.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Casualties of War"></div></div>
<p>A one-sided board wipe is the best removal for breaking parity. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruinous Ultimatum" href="#" target="_blank">Ruinous Ultimatum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the reigning champion of parity-breaking board wipes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ruinous Ultimatum"></div></div>
<p>Removal only breaks parity if the resulting board state favors the effect's controller. The true value of that Ruinous Ultimatum depends on having a board state that can close the game once the opposition is out of the way.</p>
<p>Building a dominant board presence is a proven approach to breaking parity. In this regard, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonehoard Dracosaur" href="#" target="_blank">Bonehoard Dracosaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are parity breaking all-stars.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bonehoard Dracosaur"></div></div>
<p>This 5/5 flyer with first strike puts opponents on a clock, and it doesn't stop there. Its upkeep trigger provides additional resources in the form of cards, mana, and creatures. Cards like this force opponents to have an answer or lose.</p>
<p>Parity can be a moment of tension, when everyone is holding their breath for the dramatic shift. Parity can also be a boring stalemate.  No one wants that. Inject some drama into the game, make a play and play to win.</p>


<p>Quadrant theory originated as a card evaluation tool for drafting a deck from a limited pool of cards. Unlike draft, a Commander deck could include almost any card. However, a Commander deck's card pool is functionally limited in other ways.</p>
<p><a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Color_identity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Color identity</a> is a rules-based limitation. Thanks to color identity, designing a Commander deck around a strategy or theme has a lot in common with drafting a prescribed archetype in a limited format.</p>
<p>Applying quadrant theory to Commander deckbuilding starts with assessing a potential commander's performance in each quadrant. Here are a few examples:</p>
<h3>Teysa Karlov</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teysa Karlov"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doubles your death triggers and gives relevant keywords to token creatures. She's a great commander for an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a> deck, a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tokens</a> deck, or a hybrid of those two themes. She's strong in the winning quadrant with a sacrifice engine or token swarm on board.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Teysa is almost useless if the deck is losing, but the extra triggers or keywords could be enough to break parity. Teysa is not a developing card; the rest of the game plan needs to develop for Teysa to be effective. Quadrant theory highlights Teysa's pros and cons in a context that will be useful for designing the rest of the deck.</p>
<h3>Magda, Brazen Outlaw</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magda, Brazen Outlaw"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pumps Dwarves, makes Treasures, and cheats artifacts or Dragons into play from the library. Any one of those abilities is a fine basis for a deck, although the last ability is easily the most powerful.</p>
<p>Madga's low mana value and ability to produce a Treasure token help out in developing. In the losing and parity quadrants, Magda's effectiveness depends on the number of available Treasures. With at least five Treasures, the activated ability tutoring for an answer and putting it directly on the battlefield could overcome a losing situation or break parity.</p>
<p>In the winning quadrant, Magda crosses the line into win more. If the deck is already winning, then anything Magda does is extra.</p>
<p>Outdside of developing, Magda's effectiveness is totally reliant on the number of other Dwarves or Treasures you have. That's a low bar to clear, which contributes to Magda's popularity.</p>
<h3>Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait"></div></div>
<p><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> is the eye-roll-inducing incarnation of Simic (<span class="mana-container-container"><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-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) design. Blue and green are the color pair of easy value, especially in the developing quadrant. In any other color pair, a six-mana commander would flatline in the developing quadrant. For a Simic deck, six mana is barely a speed bump.</p>
<p>Aesi shatters parity by making sure its controller will always have more resources. The power of Simic in developing and parity is also its weakness in the winning quadrant. Aesi rewards play patterns that build a winning board state, but doesn't provide a payoff to close the game.</p>
<p>Aesi is similarly weak in the losing quadrant. Card draw can solve problems, if you draw answers, but an Aesi deck is probably drawing more lands. It needs help from other cards to claw back from a losing position.</p>
<p>Altogether, Aesi is powerful, but not without gaps that need filling.</p>


<p>Card choices for the 99 of your Commander deck should capitalize on a commander's strengths and compensate for a its weaknesses. Quadrant theory helps players fill in their commander's gaps for a well-rounded deck.</p>
<h3>Developing</h3>
<p>If a commander card doesn't contribute to the developing quadrant, then the deck needs more developing cards. On the other hand, a strong developing commander frees up space for the rest of the deck to focus on other quadrants.</p>
<p>The last section highlighted Teysa Karlov as a weak card in the developing quadrant. A Teysa deck needs cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Bastion of Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to develop the board before her effects matter.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion of Remembrance"></div></div>
<p>By providing both a creature token and a death trigger, Bastion of Remembrance is strong in all quadrants for a Teysa Karlov deck. It's especially good at developing the board for Teysa, by combining setup (the Human token) and payoff (the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect) into a three-mana investment.</p>
<h3>Winning</h3>
<p>Winning is the least important quadrant for deckbuilding choices. Good cards in other quadrants are usually good in the winning quadrant too. Many commanders function as enablers for a strategy, and need payoffs in the 99 to fill gaps in the winning quadrant.</p>
<p><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> demonstrates even powerful commanders may need help in the winning quadrant. Making extra land drops and drawing extra cards can put a deck ahead on resource counts without actually providing a win condition.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scute Swarm"></div></div>
<p><em>Landfall</em> triggers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scythecat Cub" href="#" target="_blank">Scythecat Cub</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> give Aesi an outlet to win through combat after accruing more mana and cards than any deck actually needs to win.</p>
<h3>Losing</h3>
<p>Regardless of how good a commander is in the losing quadrant, every Commander deck needs an intentional approach to losing situations. It can be fun to build a glass cannon deck that shatters at the first sign of resistance. It's okay if the deck's strategy for the losing quadrant is scoop and try again.</p>
<p>Most decks deserve a chance to come back from a disadvantaged position. Building a deck with this in mind takes one or both of these forms: interaction and backup plans.</p>
<p>The main vulnerability for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is permanents that turn off Magda's activated ability. Some creatures, artifacts, and enchantments shut Magda down by prohibiting the activation, disallowing sacrifice, or preventing objects from entering the battlefield unless they were cast. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel of Jubilation" href="#" target="_blank">Angel of Jubilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Madga player's worst nightmare.</p>
<p>Removal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Magic Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Magic Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> solve problems that would otherwise cause Magda to lose.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Magic Surge"></div></div>
<p>Having a backup plan is great, as long as it doesn't steal card slots from a deck's main strategy. Luckily for Magda, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a Dragon with an artifact-based win condition. No sacrifices or activations required.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hellkite Tyrant"></div></div>
<h2>Parity</h2>
<p>Commander players strive for balanced games. It's the reason we have pregame conversations, and the driving force behind the <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bracket System</a>. One side effect of a balanced game is a higher occurrence of parity situations. This increases the importance of parity-breaking cards in deck design.</p>
<p>If a commander struggles to break parity on its own, then the 99 needs to help.</p>
<p>Teysa Karlov's ability to give tokens two additional keywords is a parity breaker <em>if </em>there are already tokens in play. The rest of the deck has to compensate for the fact that this version of Teysa does not make creature tokens herself. Fortunately, there's another iteration of Teysa that does.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teysa, Orzhov Scion"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa, Orzhov Scion" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa, Orzhov Scion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes flying Spirits. Adding lifelink and vigilance to those tokens leads to big life swings with lower risk of opponents attacking back.</p>


<p>It's preview season again...still? The new hotness might be a heater in an older deck. That preconstructed deck is fine out of the box, but the itch to upgrade it is real. Whatever the reason, quadrant theory can help upgrade existing decks.</p>
<p>Let's upgrade a precon using quadrant theory to evaluate the cards. The <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/token-triumph" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Token Triumph</em> Starter Commander deck</a> came with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the face commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emmara, Soul of the Accord"></div></div>
<p>Emmara is a bear (a 2/2 for two mana) with upside. She makes creature token every time she taps. As a low-cost token producer, Emmara shines in developing, but starts to struggle at parity as opponents put up blockers. Breaking parity with Emmara often requires other methods to tap her. A 2/2 with no keywords doesn't do much more than chump block when the deck is losing.</p>
<p>If the deck is winning, then Emmara helps keep opponents on a short clock.</p>
<p>This deck is a masterclass in entry-level product design. It's layered with strategic card choices that can either guide a new player or engage a veteran player. It's strong enough to compete with more expensive decks. At the same time, it contains a lot of slower, weaker cards begging for an upgrade.</p>
<p>Applying quadrant theory to the rest of the list exposes one card in particular that needs to go. This artifact costs four mana to do nothing, and another four mana to provide any amount of benefit.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slate of Ancestry"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slate of Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">Slate of Ancestry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the Commander equivalent of draft chaff: cards that get tossed aside because Limited players don't want them. Quadrant theory doesn't apply to draft chaff. As a deckbuilding tool, quadrant theory assumes a card is good, and examines <em>how good</em> it could be in common scenarios.</p>
<p>Taking out Slate of Ancestry makes room for something better. The replacement should address one of the quadrants where the commander or the rest of the deck struggles.</p>
<p><em>Token Triumph</em> is short on creatures with flying or reach, and the commander needs help at parity. Plenty of cards could address both those problems, but here a couple that fit neatly into the theme of the deck:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seraph of the Masses"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triplicate Spirits"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seraph of the Masses" href="#" target="_blank">Seraph of the Masses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triplicate Spirits" href="#" target="_blank">Triplicate Spirits</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both address the flying shortage, and they both have convoke, which can tap Emmara to make a Soldier. Which one of these cards deserves the slot vacated by Slate of Ancestry? Quadrant theory simplifies that decision.</p>
<p>For starters, these cards both cost too much mana to be useful in developing. The deck is healthy in that quadrant anyway, so the rest of the evaluation will focus on the other three quadrants.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seraph of the Masses"></div></div>
<p>Seraph of the Masses is a strong payoff for the deck's go-wide strategy. This Angel is a solid finisher if the deck is winning. It's also a potent parity breaker against other go-wide decks.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Seraph is bad value for mana if the deck has fewer than seven creatures in play. In other words, it's weak in the losing quadrant.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triplicate Spirits"></div></div>
<p>Triplicate Spirits will break parity against other decks that don't have flyers. Otherwise, this is a fair defensive play against decks that swing more aggressively in the air. Putting up three blockers for one card is helpful in the losing quadrant, even if the mana cost is steep.</p>
<p>If the deck is winning, then three flying Spirits are a welcome addition to the team.</p>
<p>Earlier we noted Emmara needs help at parity. Seraph of the Masses is a bomb in the parity and winning quadrants. However, Triplicate Spirits is good at parity, and better in the losing quadrant. Both cards are good, but advantage in the losing quadrant makes the Triplicate Spirit more valuable when the game is on the line.</p>
<p>Most players intuitively know they shouldn't cut a land for a spell. Every Commander player has considered it; most have probably done it against better judgment. What about changing a sorcery for a creature? A three-drop for a four-drop?</p>
<p>Not every change to a deck is strictly better. An awareness of quadrant theory helps navigate the nuance of tuning an existing deck.</p>


<p>Quadrant theory during deckbuilding looks at how an individual card should perform in a range of circumstances. Quadrant theory during gameplay does the evaluation in reverse. You know which quadrant you're in, and you want to find the right cards for the game state.</p>
<p>Any effect that allows you to sculpt your hand is an opportunity to apply quadrant theory in real time. Mechanics like scry and surveil are a lot like drafting. You have new information, and you need to make a choice about taking or passing a card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Opt|TDC|158"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Consider|TDC|148"></div></div>
<p>Scry and surveil are abilities that allow the player to manipulate the top of their library. With Scry, as seen on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opt" href="#" target="_blank">Opt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the choice is whether to put cards on top or bottom of the library. Surveil, as seen on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consider|TDC|148" href="#" target="_blank">Consider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, allows the player to choose between leaving cards on top of the library, or placing them in the graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impulse|VIS|34"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merfolk Looter"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impulse|VIS|34" href="#" target="_blank">Impulse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects are a lot like scrying, picking a card you need and filtering away things you don't need.  <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Looting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Looting</a> is <em>Magic</em> slang for drawing then discarding cards. It gets its name from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merfolk Looter" href="#" target="_blank">Merfolk Looter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, has graveyard synergy like surveil, plus interaction with draw and discard triggers.</p>
<p>Regardless of the exact card selection mechanics in your deck, quadrant theory can help you decide what to keep and what to pass.</p>
<p>Many players misplay these effects in one way or another. Maybe it's reluctance to put something in the graveyard. Perhaps that card on top is a bomb, but now isn't the time for it. Applying quadrant theory to card selection during gameplay helps players make strategically favorable choices.</p>
<h3>Developing</h3>
<p>In developing, mana curve matters and land drops are king. Imagine playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elven Farsight" href="#" target="_blank">Elven Farsight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn one, and one of the three cards is a creature. The tempting play is to put that creature card on top to draw the card. Does that creature help in the developing quadrant? Do the other cards in hand fulfil the deck's developing needs?</p>
<p>Evaluate each card honestly, with quadrant theory in mind, to make the optimum play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elven Farsight"></div></div>
<p>Card selection in the developing quadrant should focus on sequencing the plays that set up the game plan.</p>
<h3>Winning</h3>
<p>If a deck is winning, then card selection blurs the lines between smart plays and win more plays. Resolving card selection effects takes time. To a losing player, it might look like the winning player is wasting time, or worse, playing with their food. If it's possible to close the game with the available resources, then do it.</p>
<p>If there's any doubt, either because a hand is lackluster, or because an opponent might have answers, then card selection is a valuable tool for securing a win.</p>
<p>Remember, good cards in the winning quadrant protect the win condition or add to it. Any card selection opportunity should prioritize winning faster, to make more time for the next game.</p>
<h3>Losing</h3>
<p>Everyone has to dig for answers sometimes. The losing quadrant values card selection for the chance to triage the game, or at least put a tourniquet on it.</p>
<p>If the answer to the present threat exists in the deck, then anything else needs to get out of the way. Any card except the answer is chaff. Scry chaff to the bottom, or loot it to the graveyard.</p>
<h3>Parity</h3>
<p>A fully developed, evenly matched game state is the most difficult time to resolve a card selection effect. The right card to tip the scales might not be obvious. This is the quadrant for carefully considering each card before passing on it.</p>


<p>This guide would not be possible without limited player Brian Wong, and the content creators who documented his ideas. Brian Wong presented his thoughts on card evaluation on the <em>Limited Resources</em> podcast in 2013.</p>
<p>Follow the links to deep dive into the origin and explanation of quadrant theory:</p>
<p><a href="https://lrcast.com/limited-resources-184-card-evaluation-with-brian-wong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Limited Resources 184 - Card Evaluation with Brian Wong</a></p>
<p><a href="https://lrcast.com/limited-resources-248-quadrant-theory-revisited/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Limited Resources 248 - Quadrant Theory Revisited</a></p>
<p><a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/quadrant-theory-2014-08-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quadrant Theory</a>, article by Marshall Sutcliffe, published by <em>WotC</em></p>
<p>If you don't have time for long form content, then check out these helpful shorts from the Command Zone:</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Have You Heard of This Evaluation  Theory? #shorts #podcast" width="422" height="750" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YmDyMAKIxJ0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Quadrant Theory will make your decks better!" width="422" height="750" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fU-BHhnihWs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


Quadrant Theory in Commander

The EDHREC Guide to Quadrant Theory in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist|voc|119" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/algenpfleger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johannes Voss</a></em></p>
<p>Do you find yourself afflicted with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morbid Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Morbid Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Do you view each Commander game as a literal <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death Match" href="#" target="_blank">Death Match</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Do you welcome <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death&#039;s Approach" href="#" target="_blank">Death&#039;s Approach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with open arms? If so, you may find yourself aligned with one of Commander's most popular archetypes: <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a>.</p>
<p>This strategy involves sacrificing creatures for value, bringing them back, then sacrificing them again for even more value.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morbid Curiosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Death Match"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Death&#039;s Approach"></div></div>
<p>Aristocrats decks usually include <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and frequently <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, sometimes branching off into other colors, like <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> aristocrats cards do exist, but they're much less common than other colors).</p>
<p>The strategy gets its name from cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cartel Aristocrat" href="#" target="_blank">Cartel Aristocrat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which defined the archetype as Commander was becoming more popular. But Aristocrats is so much more than just a name. It's become one of the most popular ways to play our format, with more than 84,000 decks on EDHREC centered around the strategy.</p>
<p>The most popular commanders are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teysa Karlov" href="#" target="_blank">Teysa Karlov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who provide a big boost to any deck's effectiveness from the command zone.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cartel Aristocrat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teysa Karlov"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meren of Clan Nel Toth"></div></div>
<p>But, what makes up the 99 of an aristocrats deck? And how do you make sure that you keep the value, and the blood, flowing in your pod? That's what this Guide intends to show you.</p>


<p>One way to conceptualize an Aristocrats deck is as a three-legged stool. Without any one of these three legs, the deck won't perform well. It's important to have a balance of all these components in your 99, and possibly even one of them in your command zone, to ensure that you'll have access to each of them when you need it.</p>
<p><strong>1. Sacrifice Outlets</strong></p>
<p>Sac outlets, or cards that let you sacrifice other creatures at a low cost (or no cost at all) are crucial to an Aristocrats deck's success. These cards ensure that you're making use of important death triggers, which a good Aristocrats deck will have plenty of.</p>
<p>Without a sac outlet, you're reliant on your opponents killing your creatures in combat, or with removal. If they see that you'll benefit from their death, your opponents likely won't do that. So, ensuring you've got a way to speed up the process of death is key.</p>
<p><strong>2. Sacrifice Fodder</strong></p>
<p>It's also important that you've got enough creatures to sacrifice. Whether that's creature tokens, disposable creatures, or creatures that can be brought back from the graveyard easily, it's important to have a lot of creatures that you won't mind killing.</p>
<p>Every deck is different, and most decks will pick one of those three types of creatures to focus on, while including the other two creatures secondarily.</p>
<p><strong>3. Sacrifice Payoffs</strong></p>
<p>Now, for the fun part. We'll hopefully have access to a cheap sacrifice outlet, and a lot of creatures to kill. But, if we don't have a payoff, we'll just be spinning our wheels. Whether the payoff for creatures dying is making more creatures, drawing cards, or even directly draining our opponents' life totals, we need some way to gain advantage from all the death we're causing.</p>
<p>This is the "leg" that most deckbuilders neglect: Aristocrats decks have a reputation for taking long, solitaire-esque turns with very little having changed at the end of them. Including enough sacrifice payoffs ensures that you avoid falling into that trap.</p>


<p>So, we've established the importance of each leg. Now let's talk about some specific cards that fill those roles well. I'll focus primarily on <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> cards, as most Aristocrats pilots will include it in their deck's color identity, but I'll branch out into other colors to showcase Commander's coolest tech.</p>
<p><strong>Sacrifice Outlets</strong></p>
<p>There's an abundance of sacrifice outlets available to Commander players, and I'll be focusing on the free ones. While low-cost ones, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshtaker" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshtaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> certainly have their place, the difference between paying <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and paying <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-0" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for an effect is massive.</p>
<p>One of my favorite sac outlets 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>, which turns creatures into mana. At the low cost of just one life, this is essentially free in our 40-life format. Other great options include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Priest of Forgotten Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Priest of Forgotten Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for mana and card advantage at an efficient rate, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greater Good" href="#" target="_blank">Greater Good</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the massive card advantage and graveyard-filling potential it provides.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Soultrader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Forgotten Gods"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greater Good"></div></div>
<p><strong>Sacrifice Fodder</strong></p>
<p>Decks often stick to one of three game plans: flooding the board with tokens, running a lot of disposable creatures in their 99, or including lots of creatures that can be recurred easily. I'll give one example for each.</p>
<p>Token creators, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ophiomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Ophiomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are particularly powerful when paired with free, instant-speed sacrifice outlets. When that condition is met, this Human Shaman can provide four creature tokens per table rotation - an incredible rate for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>Cheap, disposable creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greedy Freebooter" href="#" target="_blank">Greedy Freebooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are also great, letting us gain little bits of value over and over again.</p>
<p>And, creatures that can bring themselves back from the graveyard easily, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ox of Agonas" href="#" target="_blank">Ox of Agonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can be great inclusions too.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ophiomancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greedy Freebooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ox of Agonas"></div></div>
<p><strong>Sacrifice Payoffs</strong></p>
<p>The most iconic card for modern Aristocrats decks, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also one of its most powerful payoffs. This Vampire is everything we want: It's cheap, it triggers off of <em>all</em> creatures dying - including our opponents' - and it can end games quickly. It should be automatically included in most every Aristocrats deck that can run it.</p>
<p>Other payoffs include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can provide a truly remarkable amount of mana, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle of Hoover Dam" href="#" target="_blank">Battle of Hoover Dam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which has two extremely useful modes in graveyard-centric decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battle of Hoover Dam"></div></div>


<p>To show you an example of an Aristocrats deck, we'll be putting together an Orzhov (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) list, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zahur, Glory&#039;s Past" href="#" target="_blank">Zahur, Glory&#039;s Past</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm. This Zombie Cat Warrior covers at least one of our three needs, acting as a free sacrifice outlet that we'll always have access to.</p>
<p>Plus, if we're able to get up to max speed (by making an opponent lose life on at least three separate turns), we'll get a nice sacrifice payoff too!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zahur, Glory&#039;s Past"></div></div>
<p>I like this commander for a few reasons. First, it's cheap; at just two mana, we'll be able to access Zahur early and often. Second, his color identity lets us access the best Aristocrats cards in Commander. Let's see what the rest of the deck has in store.</p>


<p><strong>Sacrifice Outlets</strong></p>
<p>We've got some powerful cards here, including some of the favorites I mentioned earlier. But, I've also included some Zombie-centric outlets, to lean into the typal theme that our commander encourages.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghoulcaller Gisa" href="#" target="_blank">Ghoulcaller Gisa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide a <em>ton</em> of 2/2 Zombie tokens for us, even if the average power of creatures in this deck is relatively low. Turning a 3/3 into three 2/2s is amazing, letting us trigger our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects and giving us more sacrifice fodder for later.</p>
<p>Speaking of, the recently released <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umbral Collar Zealot" href="#" target="_blank">Umbral Collar Zealot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits right in as a backup version of our commander. Because we've got some reanimation effects, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unearth" href="#" target="_blank">Unearth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, available to us, being able to simultaneously sacrifice a creature and dump more cards into the graveyard is quite strong.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghoulcaller Gisa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Umbral Collar Zealot"></div></div>
<p><strong>Sacrifice Fodder</strong></p>
<p>This list is focused pretty heavily on tokens. Our commander can make us tokens pretty frequently, and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adeline, Resplendent Cathar" href="#" target="_blank">Adeline, Resplendent Cathar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia" href="#" target="_blank">Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="On Wings of Gold" href="#" target="_blank">On Wings of Gold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are each useful ways for us to flood the board with creature tokens.</p>
<p>Adeline is probably the most powerful of the bunch, netting us three 1/1 tokens every single time we attack!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adeline, Resplendent Cathar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="On Wings of Gold"></div></div>
<p><strong>Sacrifice Payoffs</strong></p>
<p>Our death triggers are focused primarily on life loss, to ensure Zahur and our other max speed cards are as effective as possible. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cruel Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Cruel Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marionette Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Marionette Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all nice companions to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>We've also got card advantage pieces, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morbid Opportunist" href="#" target="_blank">Morbid Opportunist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and mana advantage pieces, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pitiless Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Pitiless Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because we're a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> deck, we've got no shortage of payoff pieces.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Celebrant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marionette Apprentice"></div></div>


<p>This deck's also got a fun Zombie subtheme. From <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death Baron" href="#" target="_blank">Death Baron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we've got some of Commander's strongest undead in our 99.</p>
<p>We've also got more ways to make Zombie tokens, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Eternal Oketra" href="#" target="_blank">God-Eternal Oketra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana, Dreadhorde General" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana, Dreadhorde General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, ensuring we'll have on-theme sacrifice fodder.</p>
<p>There's even typal cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accursed Duneyard" href="#" target="_blank">Accursed Duneyard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this list.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gravecrawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Eternal Oketra"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Accursed Duneyard"></div></div>
<p>Other max speed cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embalmed Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Embalmed Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gas Guzzler" href="#" target="_blank">Gas Guzzler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hour of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Hour of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, let us take advantage of the lifeloss we're sure to be spreading around the table, while also furthering our main game plan.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embalmed Ascendant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gas Guzzler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hour of Victory"></div></div>


<p>And, finally, here's our full deck list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="AristoCats" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="https://archidekt.com/decks/16857185/aristocats" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zahur, Glory&#039;s Past
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Corrupted Conviction
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Despark
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Vanishing Verse
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Cursecloth Wrappings
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
*1 Hour of Victory
*1 On Wings of Gold
*1 Phyrexian Arena
*1 The Meathook Massacre
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Bloodghast
*1 Corpse Knight
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Cryptbreaker
*1 Death Baron
*1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
*1 Embalmed Ascendant
*1 Enduring Innocence
*1 Gas Guzzler
*1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Gravecrawler
*1 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
*1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
*1 Lord of the Accursed
*1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Nesting Bot
*1 Ophiomancer
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Priest of Forgotten Gods
*1 Reassembling Skeleton
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Umbral Collar Zealot
*1 Undead Augur
*1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
*1 Warren Soultrader
*1 Wayward Servant
*1 Welcoming Vampire
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Damn
*1 Dewdrop Cure
*1 Raise the Past
*1 Reanimate
*1 Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation
*1 Unearth
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Accursed Duneyard
*1 Amonkhet Raceway
*1 Bleachbone Verge
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fetid Heath
*1 Fountainport
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Muraganda Raceway
*11 Plains
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*10 Swamp
*1 Tainted Field
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Aristocrats in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Aristocrats in Commander

<p>If you've played Commander for a while, odds are you've seen tons of YouTube videos, articles, and even Reddit threads about changes to make to a precon to bring it up to speed with better-constructed Commander decks. We've even got <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some of those upgrade guides on our site</a>, showing you what to add and what to cut from any preconstructed deck you can think of.</p>
<p>Those guides are helpful because all readers are beginning from the same spot. All <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bello, Bard of the Brambles" href="#" target="_blank">Bello, Bard of the Brambles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-led <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/animated-army" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Animated Army</em></a> decks start out the same, meaning that articles, videos, and social media posts that talk about adds/cuts are working with the same base.</p>
<p>But what if you've built your own deck from scratch? This guide will give a general template for finding cards to add, cards to cut, and how to make any Commander deck a better version of itself.</p>
<p>Let's learn how to tune up your Commander deck!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<p>Although every deck is different, most decks will have at least a few necessities in common. That's why we're calling this section "Eating Our Vegetables" - it's often more fun to include synergistic pieces in your deck, but you need a solid foundation to build a functional deck on.</p>
<p>Plus, with enough time, you can learn to love your vegetables for the strength they lend to your deck!</p>
<p>In order to compete at almost any bracket, we'll need ramp, removal, and card advantage. I'd argue that most decks also need board wipes and (to a lesser extent) graveyard hate. These groups, often referred to as the deck's "veggies," are key to any list's success.</p>
<p>I'll explain what each of those mean, and their importance to your deck, below.</p>
<h3>Ramp - Gives You Access to More Mana Than Simply Playing One Land per Turn</h3>
<p>Most decks need around 10 pieces of ramp. Big mana decks, like those running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gishath, Sun&#039;s Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Gishath, Sun&#039;s Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, may need more.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gishath, Sun&#039;s Avatar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fynn, the Fangbearer"></div></div>
<p>It's reasonable to include up to 15 ramp spells in those decks, and I've even seen successful lists that go all-in on a few high mana value spells run as many as 20.</p>
<p>Decks that are generally lower-to-the-ground can get away with less ramp and more "gas." Decks led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fynn, the Fangbearer" href="#" target="_blank">Fynn, the Fangbearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, are full of one- and two-drop creatures that don't require much mana to be game-changing threats.</p>
<p>There's clearly a spectrum of acceptability here, but most decks are going to want at least a few ways to get ahead on mana. My personal bare minimum is seven, even in decks that don't care too much about ramp. That means that I have a ~40% chance to find one of these cards in my opening hand, which is a number I'm comfortable with.</p>
<p>Some classic ramp pieces include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampant Growth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Llanowar Elves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div>
<h3>Removal - Lets You Get Rid of Your Opponents' Scariest Things</h3>
<p>Most decks also require about 10 pieces of removal, with aggressive decks needing less and control decks needing more.</p>
<p>A deck that seeks to win quickly, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, may only run 5-7 pieces of efficient interaction due to its game plan and color identity. But a pilot that wants a long, drawn-out victory with their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shorikai, Genesis Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Shorikai, Genesis Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list would likely include 15 or more interactive spells in their 99. Again, there's a range here.</p>
<p>This is also dependent on your commander's color identity. Some color combinations, like <span class="mana-container-container"><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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> have access to better removal than <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> decks do. It's important to know that running more removal can sometimes make up for having lower quality removal overall, but it's the combination of efficiency and frequency that makes a deck's interaction suite effective.</p>
<p>Some classic removal spells include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crush Contraband" href="#" target="_blank">Crush Contraband</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsummon" href="#" target="_blank">Unsummon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Blade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crush Contraband"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unsummon"></div></div>
<h3>Card Advantage - Gives You Access to More Cards Than Simply Drawing One Card per Turn</h3>
<p>Next up is card advantage, which most decks need 12+ pieces of.</p>
<p>If you're an aggressive deck, you need to make sure that you're refilling your hand with low-cost, high-impact spells to keep the game moving.</p>
<p>If you're a slower, more control-oriented deck, you need to make sure you're drawing into the answers you need to keep your opponents' threats at bay.</p>
<p>Point is, card advantage is important, whether it's impulse draw, milling cards, or straight up drawing cards the old-fashioned way. Most Commander players would benefit from including more card advantage in their decks, and it's the easiest way to make sure that your lists feel more consistent.</p>
<p>Plus, with the deluge of new cards we're seeing, there's bound to be some card advantage pieces that work perfectly with any strategy you choose to center your Commander deck on.</p>
<p>Some classic card advantage pieces include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divination" href="#" target="_blank">Divination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Act on Impulse" href="#" target="_blank">Act on Impulse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mentor of the Meek" href="#" target="_blank">Mentor of the Meek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Divination"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Act on Impulse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mentor of the Meek"></div></div>


<h3>Board Wipes - Let You Get Everything off the Board in One Fell Swoop</h3>
<p>Let's talk about board wipes. I include at least two sweepers in all of my decks. That means that, without tutoring for one, there's about a 25% chance I'll see one of them within eight draws. I'm comfortable with that number, because I feel that I'll need a sweeper that early in roughly one in every four games.</p>
<p>Having access to a panic button is nice, but I don't require it every game. Decks that commit heavily to the battlefield, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Najeela, the Blade-Blossom" href="#" target="_blank">Najeela, the Blade-Blossom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, would do well to include one-sided wipes like <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>Decks that have fewer on-board pieces, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eluge, the Shoreless Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Eluge, the Shoreless Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are likely to include more than two board wipes to ensure that their life total isn't in danger.</p>
<p>As always, your mileage may vary, but I've found that two wipes is usually enough. Some classic board wipes include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Damnation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div></div>
<h3>Graveyard Hate - Lets You Remove Opponents’ Access to Cards in Their Graveyards</h3>
<p>Next up, let's talk about the most neglected Commander staple: graveyard hate. Way too many Commander decks have something to do with the graveyard.</p>
<p>Whether it's a dedicated <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reanimator list or just an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oloro, Ageless Ascetic" href="#" target="_blank">Oloro, Ageless Ascetic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck that happens to be running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you'll usually find that at least one player in your Commander pod will be messing with their 'yard in one fashion or another.</p>
<p>Wizards has given us a lot of low-deckbuilding-cost ways to hate out our opponents' graveyards, from MDFCs (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boggart Trawler" href="#" target="_blank">Boggart Trawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), to modal spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to hyper-efficient artifacts like <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>, there's really no excuse for not including at least one of these pieces in your 99.</p>
<p>Some classic graveyard hate pieces include <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauthi Voidwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Dauthi Voidwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathrite Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Deathrite Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boggart Trawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos Charm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul-Guide Lantern"></div></div>


<p>Now, let's talk about the fun part of upgrading: going all-in on certain strategies that make a deck yours.</p>
<p>For this section I'll focus on a +1/+1 counters deck led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hamza, Guardian of Arashin" href="#" target="_blank">Hamza, Guardian of Arashin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I've taken his average decklist from EDHREC, and pasted it below so you can see what we're working with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="HamzaV1" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hamza, Guardian of Arashin
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abzan Battle Priest
*1 Abzan Falconer
*1 Ainok Bond-Kin
*1 Armorcraft Judge
*1 Arwen, Weaver of Hope
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Beast Whisperer
*1 Botanical Brawler
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Conclave Mentor
*1 Defiler of Vigor
*1 Duskshell Crawler
*1 Envoy of the Ancestors
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Evolution Witness
*1 Fertilid
*1 Forgotten Ancient
*1 Good-Fortune Unicorn
*1 Gyre Sage
*1 Herd Baloth
*1 Incubation Druid
*1 Ivy Lane Denizen
*1 Juniper Order Ranger
*1 Kami of Whispered Hopes
*1 Kodama of the West Tree
*1 Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Luminarch Aspirant
*1 Managorger Hydra
*1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
*1 Renata, Called to the Hunt
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Stonecoil Serpent
*1 Tuskguard Captain
*1 Warden of the Grove
*1 Wildwood Scourge
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ajani, the Greathearted
[/Planeswalkers]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Great Henge
*1 The Ozolith
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Basri&#039;s Solidarity
*1 Cultivate
*1 Damning Verdict
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Requisition Raid
*1 Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Pledge of Unity
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Terrasymbiosis
*1 Tribute to the World Tree
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*10 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Gavony Township
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*10 Plains
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Temple of Plenty
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>This list is by no means bad, but it certainly has room for improvement.</p>
<p>We'll tweak the amount of certain card categories that are here, and improve the overall card quality within the deck.</p>


<p><strong>Ramp:</strong> With access to ramp in the command zone, we just don't need 15 more pieces in our 99. I'll be cutting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>We're focused quite heavily on creatures in this deck, so having these moderately effective ramp spells gumming up the two- and three-drop spot on our mana curve doesn't do much for us.</p>
<p>I'd rather use that mana to cast a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Whispered Hopes" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Whispered Hopes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incubation Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Incubation Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampant Growth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cultivate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kodama&#039;s Reach"></div></div>
<p><strong>Removal: </strong>This deck doesn't have nearly enough removal. With just five pieces currently in the 99, we're leaving ourselves open to our opponents running away with the game before we can get our board state online.</p>
<p>We'll be adding five more awesome interactive spells:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cankerbloom" href="#" target="_blank">Cankerbloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - a nice way to threaten opponents with on-demand removal, and can buff up our creatures if we don't need the interaction it provides.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steelbane Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Steelbane Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - will work quite nicely with our commander's cost-reducing ability, letting it get huge for a smaller mana investment.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inscription of Abundance" href="#" target="_blank">Inscription of Abundance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archdruid&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archdruid&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - both provide some awesome flexibility, with each mode on these two spells having a purpose in our deck.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titanic Brawl" href="#" target="_blank">Titanic Brawl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exactly what a fight spell should be: it costs just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and can be cast at instant speed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cankerbloom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steelbane Hydra"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titanic Brawl"></div></div>
<p><strong>Card Advantage:</strong> This section is already quite solid. We've got 12 pieces of card advantage, but I'd like to add a few more, given how good this deck is at generating excess mana and dumping its hand onto the board.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Heirloom" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Heirloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will do the trick, with both providing some nice utility beyond just letting us see more cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herd Heirloom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar"></div></div>
<p><strong>Board Wipes and Graveyard Hate:</strong> There's just one sweeper in here right now, so I went ahead and added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunfall" href="#" target="_blank">Sunfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to bring us to an even two. This spell is awesome, leaving us with a big, +1/+1 counter-laden creature to make up for whatever we lost in the wipe.</p>
<p>I also added <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> as our graveyard hate piece, a nice fit thanks to its +1/+1 counter growth.</p>


<p>For those of you who want to move beyond simple counts of basic deck necessities, let's talk a bit about other upgrades.</p>
<p>It's important to include cards that directly help your game plan, cards that support you when things aren't going right, and cards that help turn a good board state into a great one.</p>
<p>This list is relatively well-tuned already, but I've got my eye on a few cuts to make room for better cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Renata, Called to the Hunt" href="#" target="_blank">Renata, Called to the Hunt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Good-Fortune Unicorn" href="#" target="_blank">Good-Fortune Unicorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ivy Lane Denizen" href="#" target="_blank">Ivy Lane Denizen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, are slower versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arwen, Weaver of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Arwen, Weaver of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We don't need all of these effects, so Renata, the Unicorn, and the Elf are gone.</p>
<p>And, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herd Baloth" href="#" target="_blank">Herd Baloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Juniper Order Ranger" href="#" target="_blank">Juniper Order Ranger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are certainly cool mana-curve topping creatures, we're hoping to make some splashier plays at the five-mana spot.</p>
<p>As cool as they are, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basri&#039;s Solidarity" href="#" target="_blank">Basri&#039;s Solidarity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani, the Greathearted" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani, the Greathearted</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ainok Bond-Kin" href="#" target="_blank">Ainok Bond-Kin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have got to go. They'd have a home in a Bracket 2 version of this list, but we're aiming pretty firmly for Bracket 3 here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ivy Lane Denizen"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Juniper Order Ranger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ainok Bond-Kin"></div></div>
<p>We've got room for three more cards now, and I want to make sure they're high impact.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sovereign Okinec Ahau" href="#" target="_blank">Sovereign Okinec Ahau</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> certainly fits the bill. For just four mana, he can turn a middling board state into a game-ending one in no time.</p>
<p>We'll be throwing the recently released <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ouroboroid" href="#" target="_blank">Ouroboroid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in there too, for the exact same reason. This card's recent release date is likely the only reason it wasn't in the deck before.</p>
<p>Lastly, as a bit of protection from opponents' interaction, I've added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of Gobakhan" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of Gobakhan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is a neat little mini-discard spell, a repeatable way to get +1/+1 counters on our creatures, and a way to protect them from errant removal if need be. All that for just <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-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sovereign Okinec Ahau"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ouroboroid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of Gobakhan"></div></div>


<p>With all that said and done, here's our upgraded Hamza list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="HamzaV2" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hamza, Guardian of Arashin
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abzan Battle Priest
*1 Abzan Falconer
*1 Armorcraft Judge
*1 Arwen, Weaver of Hope
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Beast Whisperer
*1 Botanical Brawler
*1 Cankerbloom
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Conclave Mentor
*1 Defiler of Vigor
*1 Duskshell Crawler
*1 Envoy of the Ancestors
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Evolution Witness
*1 Fertilid
*1 Forgotten Ancient
*1 Gyre Sage
*1 Incubation Druid
*1 Ivy Lane Denizen
*1 Kami of Whispered Hopes
*1 Kodama of the West Tree
*1 Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Luminarch Aspirant
*1 Managorger Hydra
*1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
*1 Ouroboroid
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Sovereign Okinec Ahau
*1 Steelbane Hydra
*1 Stonecoil Serpent
*1 Tuskguard Captain
*1 Warden of the Grove
*1 Wildwood Scourge
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Herd Heirloom
*1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Great Henge
*1 The Ozolith
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Beast Within
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Inscription of Abundance
*1 Inspiring Call
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Pledge of Unity
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Titanic Brawl
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Branching Evolution
*1 Cathars&#039; Crusade
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Hardened Scales
*1 Terrasymbiosis
*1 Tribute to the World Tree
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Damning Verdict
*1 Requisition Raid
*1 Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorceries]
[Battles]
*1 Invasion of Gobakhan // Lightshield Array
[/Battles]
[Lands]
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*10 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Gavony Township
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Llanowar Reborn
*1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*10 Plains
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Temple of Plenty
[/Lands]"></span></div>


upgrade commander deck

EDHREC Guide to Tokens in Commander

The EDHREC Guide to Quadrant Theory in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Aristocrats in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Upgrading Your Commander Deck