<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://indusconcept.com/?ckattempt=1">Yongjae Choi</a></em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/wizards">Wizards</a> are as old as the concept of magic and varied as the cultures they appear in. And <em>Magic</em> takes this in stride, depicting hundreds of wizards across dozens of planes using a variety of spells and techniques.</p>
<p>But how do you play Wizards in Commander? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Wizard decks? And how do you win with Wizards in Commander?</p>
<p>This EDHREC Guide is here to answer all of these questions.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1920-inalla-archmage-ritualist-e1781183504122.jpg

<p>Wizards have been in <em>Magic</em> since <em>Alpha</em> and have only continued to grow from there.</p>
<p><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> since their inception, they have appearances in every color and often involve powerful abilities to compensate for middling statlines.</p>
<p>Typically, each plane will have multiple factions or culture groups and those factions will each have a variety of Wizards within them dependent on the plane's needs.</p>
<p>For instance, Zendikar possesses a number of elementalists who control Elementals while Innistrad's Ghoulcallers wake the dead.</p>
<p>On Ravinca, the entire Izzet guild is reliant on the melting pot of many different Wizards pooling their genius together.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, Parun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempest Angler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kefka, Dancing Mad"></div></div>
<p>In <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/grand-creature-type-update-2007-09-26">the Grand Creature Type Update</a>, the Wizard creature type absorbed a variety of spell-casting classes such as Mage, Sorcerer, Sorceress, and Witch.</p>
<p>Unlike many other creature type updates, though, Wizards weren't intended to be a catch-all for spellcasters!</p>
<p>Warlocks still occupy the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> niche, Shamans the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Druids the <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 Clerics the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>These disparate spellcaster creature types represent different 'flavors' of magical practice, where all those obsolete classes subsumed by Wizard had the same flavor of studying arcane power to manifest spells.</p>
<p>Wizards are also considered to be part of a 'party' alongside Clerics, Rogues, and Warriors.</p>


<h3>Spellslinging</h3>
<p>If you want to play a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger">Spellslinger</a> deck, Wizards are your best friend.</p>
<p>They often have powerful synergies with casting or reclaiming instants and sorceries, with the prowess keyword being quite common among them.</p>
<p>They might grant cost reduction, grant you creature tokens, or copy certain spells you cast.</p>
<p>Wizards are reliant upon but also wholly support spell slinging, burn damage, and stack control.</p>
<p>And with their concentration in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-ur" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, they have access to quite powerful instants and sorceries!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Veyran, Voice of Duality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormcatch Mentor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talrand, Sky Summoner"></div></div>
<h3>Hitting the Books</h3>
<p>Many Wizards, as a result of being <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, enjoy granting you information you wouldn't otherwise have access to.</p>
<p>This might be scrying, surveilling, or always having access to the top card of your deck. In some cases, you can even play that top card.</p>
<p>On top of that, many Wizards also grant you the ability to draw cards!</p>
<p>These Wizards grant you incredible control of what your hand and near-future hand will be, making informed decisions about what makes it to the top of your library and what happens once it makes it there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nalia de&#039;Arnise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aether Channeler"></div></div>
<h3>Unlimited Power</h3>
<p>Wizards really do it all, with only a few slices of the color pie being inaccessible to them.</p>
<p>They duplicate ability triggers, synergize with multiple creature classes such as Monks and the rest of the party, and can reclaim cards from the graveyard.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they can deal incredible damage directly to your opponents.</p>
<p>Most Wizards can only do one specific thing, as most creatures do.</p>
<p>But the variety of what Wizards as a creature type have access to is astounding. Effectively, anything their magic can accomplish!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fandaniel, Telophoroi Ascian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage of Echoes"></div></div>


<h3>Hit the Gym</h3>
<p>Wizards have to make a choice, either to have a powerful ability or decent power and toughness.</p>
<p>Many times, Wizards choose the former. And as a result, you can make copies of your instants or reclaim your sorceries but your most powerful creature is a 3/3 you can't afford to block with.</p>
<p>There are certainly exceptions, though, mostly occupying the 'battle-mage' archetype or Wizards which possesses prowess.</p>
<p>These Wizards often have lower-powered abilities than others, but they generally still have <em>an</em> ability to supplement their statline. Therefore, you'll rarely have a Wizard that is 'just' a blocker.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Queen Brahne"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<h3>Education is Expensive</h3>
<p>Even mid-range Wizards tend to be very expensive and, as discussed above, they almost never have a power or toughness exceeding their mana cost.</p>
<p>This is coupled with their reliance on instants and sorceries, meaning you not only have to have the mana to cast your Wizards but also enough saved to maintain the board state.</p>
<p>Wizards get around this mostly by fielding creatures who reduce the cost of your Wizards, though the mana generation of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> provides can offset this as well.</p>
<p>So long as you don't get impatient, you'll be able to slowly build up a force of Wizards while retaining enough mana to respond to threats each turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stonybrook Banneret"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baral, Chief of Compliance"></div></div>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has <em>Eminence,</em> a keyword that allows it to provide value while on the battlefield or in the command zone.</p>
<p>Inalla in particular gives you the ability to pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> when a nontoken Wizards enters the battlefield (ETB) under your control in order to create a copy of that Wizard.</p>
<p>The copy gains haste and is exiled at the beginning of the next end step.</p>
<p>With only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> you can double the discount from a cost-reducing Wizard, the damage of a pinging Wizard, or the spells reclaimed from a retrieval Wizard.</p>
<p>Many of Wizards' most powerful effects are reliant upon ETB, and since this is an <em>Eminence </em>ability your opponents can't shut it down easily.</p>
<p>The ability to tap five Wizards to cause a player to lose seven life is useful and made easier by the extra Wizard tokens you'll be forming, but not the main draw of Inalla.</p>
<p>It's useful for ensuring value from your tokens before they're exiled and can occur more than once per turn!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives every one of your Wizards the ability to tap and allow you to draw a card.</p>
<p>This increases your card draw with a limit only determined by how many Wizards you have.</p>
<p>And your Wizards often have abilities that don't need to be tapped to be activated, meaning they still grant their intended value.</p>
<p>Pair this with the fact your Wizards likely won't be blocking, and this is effectively free card draw!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bria, Riptide Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Bria, Riptide Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bria, Riptide Rogue"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bria, Riptide Rogue" href="#" target="_blank">Bria, Riptide Rogue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ensures that all of your creatures have prowess, gaining +1/+1 until end of turn each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>Not only does this stack with any other creatures' prowess keywords, but Bria has the additional effect that each noncreature spell you cast makes a target creature unable to block for the turn.</p>
<p>Bria is a more much aggressive and active commander than most Wizards, actively pushing your board state to attack and giving you the ability to compensate for Wizards' poor power.</p>
<p>Depending on how many spells you're casting in a turn, you can devastate even a well-guarded opponent by bypassing their defenders, swinging with prowess, and dealing direct damage with instants and sorceries.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alania, Divergent Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Alania, Divergent Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alania, Divergent Storm"></div></div>
<p>Whenever you cast a spell, if it's the first instant, sorcery or Otter spell other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alania, Divergent Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Alania, Divergent Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>  you've cast this turn, you can let an opponent draw a card. If you do, you can copy that spell.</p>
<p>This allows you to dip into group <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/group-hug">Group Hug</a>, particularly when paired with other spells oriented around benefiting any target including your opponents.</p>
<p>But it also isn't that high a cost to simply get free copies of your instants and sorceries, given your ability to double anything from damage to card draw to alternate win conditions.</p>
<p>It can even support combining an Otter subtheme into your Wizard typal deck, given the power of certain Otter Wizards such as Alania.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>Each of your end steps, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a 0/1 Wizard that deals 1 damage to each opponent for every noncreature spell you cast.</p>
<p>Then if you have four or more Wizards, Kuja transforms and has a new ability where Wizards you control deal double damage to permanents and players.</p>
<p>This doubles the pinging damage from the 0/1 Wizards Kujo previously created, providing up to eight damage per noncreature spell cast as many times as you have creatures to cast.</p>
<p>Though this also doubles the damage dealt from their activated abilities or combat damage from toughness, empowering Wizards with prowess even further.</p>
<p>The intended setup is to further the strength of your Wizard tokens, though this is far from the only synergy.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaza, Roil Chaser" href="#" target="_blank">Kaza, Roil Chaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaza, Roil Chaser"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaza, Roil Chaser" href="#" target="_blank">Kaza, Roil Chaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is two-mana 1/2 with flying and haste which can tap to reduce the next instant or sorcery spell's cost by X, where X is the number of Wizards you control.</p>
<p>Assuming you have two other Wizards upon casting Kaza, this ability immediately reduces the instant or sorcery for more than Kaza cost.</p>
<p>Kaza's greatest weakness is its frailty paired with an increasing commander tax, leading to lower and lower immediate returns.</p>
<p>A commander granting cost-saving to other cards is incredibly powerful so long as you save more than you're spending.</p>
<p>Should you have any ability to protect Kaza, the cost reduction will add up overtime even after playing Kaza with a commander tax.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naban, Dean of Iteration"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naban, Dean of Iteration" href="#" target="_blank">Naban, Dean of Iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> causes any ETB effects from Wizards you control to trigger an additional time.</p>
<p>There are quite a few Wizards that have an ETB such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, where the ability to repeat it doubles its value.</p>
<p>Most Wizards provide their value from their abilities, so many of these ETB Wizards struggle to add value other than being a 'Wizard on the board' upon being cast.</p>
<p>Naban doesn't extend their usefulness past their casting, but does enhance it.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Adeliz, the Cinder Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adeliz, the Cinder Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Adeliz, the Cinder Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effectively, but does not literally, grant prowess to all of your Wizards. Including itself!</p>
<p>Adeliz's ability only activates upon casting instants and sorceries, but it pairs with existing prowess keywords or Wizard activations from casting noncreature spells.</p>
<p>Depending on what spells you can cast in a turn, it can even turn middling Wizards with 1/1 and 2/2 statlines into genuine threats that need to be responded to independent of whatever abilities they might have.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysidian Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Mysidian Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysidian Elder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysidian Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Mysidian Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has an ETB to create a 0/1 Wizard that deals a damage to each opponent whenever you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>This provides you two Wizards for the cost of one while dealing consistent damage each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>The natural synergy is with commanders such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but using a 1/3 as a blocker while protecting a 0/1 that pings each noncreature spell cast is a sustainable strategy!</p>
<p>Particularly if you can double the ETB to create multiple tokens or reclaim it from the graveyard.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalia de&#039;Arnise" href="#" target="_blank">Nalia de&#039;Arnise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nalia de&#039;Arnise"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalia de&#039;Arnise" href="#" target="_blank">Nalia de&#039;Arnise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is intended to assist you in forming a party, allowing you to look at the top card of your library and cast Clerics, Rogues, Warriors, and Wizards from it.</p>
<p>Each combat you have a full party, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and grant them deathtouch until end of turn.</p>
<p>For a Wizard typal deck, this is still useful!</p>
<p>However, the greatest value it provides is in allowing you greater access to Wizards from the top of your library with no need for the remainder of the party.</p>
<p>Your Wizards likely won't be swinging directly, meaning that +1/+1 counters and deathtouch won't be useful.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gains +1/+0 for each artifact you control while also creating a Treasure token each time you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.</p>
<p>This, of course, is a self-building synergy where casting spells grants you more Treasure tokens which increase Storm-Kiln Artist's power.</p>
<p>But the most valuable contribution it grants is the ability to create Treasures off of casting and copying instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>This effectively decreases the cost of any instant or sorcery by one mana of any color, ensuring you can keep up the pressure.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to exile an instant from your hand with converted mana cost two or less from your hand. You may then copy it and cast the copy for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> on.</p>
<p>This allows you repeatedly cast a low-costed instant, triggering multiple ability activations from your Wizards each time you cast and potentially even each time you copy it.</p>
<p>What instant you copy is variable based on your needs, but something repeatable and flexible in its target are the best options.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Robe of the Archmagi" href="#" target="_blank">Robe of the Archmagi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Robe of the Archmagi"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Robe of the Archmagi" href="#" target="_blank">Robe of the Archmagi</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> synergizes best with Wizards with prowess, being only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to equip to them and allowing you to draw cards equal to the combat damage they deal.</p>
<p>Even for a low-power Wizard, drawing two or three cards by swinging them at an open opponent will give you an incredible amount of value over time.</p>
<p>Equipping the robe to a dedicated attacker will fill up your hand in a single turn.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Stormchaser&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stormchaser&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Stormchaser&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Class enchantment, meaning it begins at Level 1 and you must spend additional mana to advance it up to its maximum of Level 3.</p>
<p>At Level 1, you create a 1/1 Otter with prowess. At Level 2, you may instantly return an instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand.</p>
<p>And at Level 3, any time you cast an instant or sorcery spell you create a 1/1 Otter with prowess.</p>
<p>While expensive, the highest-value of this Class is the ability to create an Otter with prowess each time you cast an instant or sorcery.</p>
<p>Even though they aren't Wizards, that's still bodies that scale with your spellslinging to occupy your side of the board.</p>
<p>Paired with an Otter commender, you can very easily run a dual-typal Wizard Otter deck, though that's not a requirement to get incredible use from this Class.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thousand-Year Storm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to copy an instant or sorcery you cast for each other instant and sorcery spell you cast before it this turn.</p>
<p>This only scales off of spells you cast, not copies of them made by the Storm, but it still scales quickly!</p>
<p>With any amount of card draw or cost reduction, this can lead to an incredible amount of copies for your spells cast, turning a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into a board wipe or even a win condition.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artist&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Artist&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Artist&#039;s Talent"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Artist&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Artist&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another Class, this time reliant on enhancing your noncreature spells.</p>
<p>At Level 1, casting a noncreature spell allows you to discard a card in order to draw a card.</p>
<p>At Level 2, your noncreature spells cast <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> less. Level 3 increases your noncombat damage by 2.</p>
<p>This greatly enhances your flexibility in instants and sorceries in particular, allowing you to shape your hand while casting them for cheaper and hitting harder.</p>
<p>If you're struggling for mana production, stretching to hit Level 2 and then just sitting on it will save you quite a bit of mana going forward.</p>
<p>The extra damage is something you can invest in once you stabilize your mana production.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightning Bolt"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> instant that deals three damage to any target.</p>
<p>It's cheap, it's versatile, and it is downright oppressive when paired with a Wizard deck.</p>
<p>You can increase its damage, copy it to cast it again, reclaim it from the graveyard, trigger activated abilities from it, and so much more.</p>
<p>There are many spells like it, which are cheap, high-value instants and sorceries that are useful on their own and enhanced further through synergies with Wizards.</p>
<p>Most are considered color staples so I won't mention them here, but things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opt" href="#" target="_blank">Opt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Consider" href="#" target="_blank">Consider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even something like <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> all occupy a similar state.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ponder"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to look at the top three cards of your library and return them in any order for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, then draw a card.</p>
<p>It's cheap, it's effective at sculpting your upcoming hands, and it triggers your Wizard triggers! Great all around.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Step Through" href="#" target="_blank">Step Through</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Step Through"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Step Through" href="#" target="_blank">Step Through</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to return two creatures to their owners' hands, which can shut down a built-up opponent or allow you regain the benefits of your own Wizards' ETB.</p>
<p>You can even split the difference and choose one of each, depending on what best suits the scenario.</p>
<p>Additionally, you may discard it for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> in order to search your library for a Wizard and add it to your hand.</p>
<p>This ensures you'll find value from Step Through, even if it isn't by directly casting it.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Crackling Wit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Crackling Wit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ral, Crackling Wit"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Crackling Wit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Crackling Wit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gains a loyalty counter each time you cast a noncreature spell.</p>
<p>In addition to this, it can gain one by creating a 1/1 Otter with prowess. This means you'll be able to keep Ral's loyalty high and jump it up into the double digits almost immediately depending on your hand when casting it.</p>
<p>For -3 loyalty counters you can draw three cards and then discard two.</p>
<p>Ral's ultimate allows you to both draw three cards and also grant you an emblem where your instants and sorceries gain storm.</p>
<p>This means they're copied for each spell cast before it this turn.</p>
<p>This isn't only powerful, it's also entirely reasonable given how many noncreature spells you'll be casting!</p>
<p>Any number of one-two mana instants can provide both a loyalty counter alongside independent value, meaning you may not even need to create an Otter with prowess to use Ral's ultimate.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Storm Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Storm Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ral, Storm Conduit"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ral, Storm Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Ral, Storm Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a different rendition of the same planeswalker. Instead of gaining loyalty counters, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, Ral deals a pint of damage to an opponent or planeswalker.</p>
<p>It can increase its loyalty to scry and it can decrease to copy your next instant or sorcery.</p>
<p>While scrying one card is underwhelming, the passive ability to deal continuous targeted ping damage can't be overstated.</p>
<p>It synergizes with Ral's second activated ability and will also trigger regularly on your turn, granting a great vector of pressure to whittle down planeswalkers or chip away at an opponent.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Wielder of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace, Wielder of Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Jace, Wielder of Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an odd one, allowing you to win the game if you would draw from an empty library.</p>
<p>Jace's ultimate also allows you to draw seven cards and win the game if you would have no cards in your library after that.</p>
<p>His +1 forces a player to mill two cards and then you may draw a card.</p>
<p>This doesn't directly synergize with Wizards, but it synergizes with card draw and self-mill.</p>
<p>It effectively functions like a more-expensive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and has a known combo with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorph" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it doesn't actually go against the Wizard strategy.</p>
<p>Consistent card draw paired with control of your opponents' libraries is useful in any deck, regardless of if you're going for the alternate win condition.</p>


<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Sanctuary"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enters unless you control three or more other Islands, which Wizards will have no trouble playing with their concentration in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>If you manage to hold off and ensure Mystic Sanctuary isn't tapped, it gains an ETB to return an instant or sorcery from your graveyard on top of your library.</p>
<p>This effect won't activate until you have multiple Islands, which means you're likely going to have gone through more than a handful of turns before using it.</p>
<p>That gives plenty of time to activate a noncreature spell you'd like to return to your library, of any power level across low and mid-range costs.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otawara, Soaring City" href="#" target="_blank">Otawara, Soaring City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Otawara, Soaring City"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Otawara, Soaring City" href="#" target="_blank">Otawara, Soaring City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be discarded for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" 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> to return an artifact, creature, enchantment, or planeswalker to its owner's hand.</p>
<p>This costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> less for each legendary creature you control, meaning your powerful Wizards with big effects.</p>
<p>Returning nearly any permanent to its owner's hand for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> is great, particularly if you're already doing fine with lands and don't mind discarding it.</p>
<p>This can be used to remove a particularly problematic creature, shut down a tax like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or return your own permanents to your hand and allow you to capitalize on their ETB.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge" href="#" target="_blank">Alchemist&#039;s Refuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alchemist&#039;s Refuge" href="#" target="_blank">Alchemist&#039;s Refuge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives you the ability to cast your spells as though they had flash for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" 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>.</p>
<p>This has no significant difference on instants, but it gives you out-of-turn creature ETB effects, surprise enchantments, and sorceries changing the board state right before your upkeep.</p>
<p>The unpredictability of this can really throw your opponents off their game while the flexibility it allots you can allow for some pretty flashy displays of power. It certainly requires some planning, but it's a good option to have.</p>


<p>Wizards rely upon your noncreature spells, most notably instants and sorceries.</p>
<p>Many have low power and toughness, existing only to retrieve noncreature spells from the graveyard or copy them upon casting.</p>
<p>A fair few Wizards have an ability that triggers each time an instant or sorcery, sometimes any noncreature spell, is cast. Sometimes even when they're copied!</p>
<p>These effects are often minor and meant to supplement the noncreature spell's effect, but adding up over both time and volume can lead to devastating waves that beat down your opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysidian Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guttersnipe"></div></div>
<p>Otherwise, Wizards want to strengthen a few combat-oriented creatures with prowess or Magecraft and open up the field to allow them to attack directly.</p>
<p>These are explosive, dynamic decks that want to maximize their mana expenditure in a single turn.</p>
<p>They cast a number of inexpensive instants and sorceries to pump their creatures, removing or tapping key blockers, and attempting to take down an opponent in a turn or two.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Veyran, Voice of Duality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tempest Angler"></div></div>


<p>There are number of combos Wizards have access to, be it two-turn combos restricted to higher brackets or methods of creating infinite triggers of Magecraft.</p>
<p>Often, these combos are reliant on card draw, instant casting triggers/reclamation, or the ability to ping for a small amount of damage multiple times per turn.</p>
<p>Some of them don't even involve Wizards, though they're Wizard-aligned and synergize with Wizard strategies even if not of they same creature type.</p>
<p>Niv-Mizzet has multiple iterations who deal a damage to any target upon you drawing a card, which can be paired with an enchantment to allow you to draw a card upon dealing damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, Parun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can go infinite with multiple different spell combinations, relying on keywords such as buyback to create Treasure tokens it then spends to cast additional copies of spells.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seething Song"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reiterate"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows you to return creatures such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peregrine Drake" href="#" target="_blank">Peregrine Drake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to your hand, gaining the effects of their ETB once more and returning Ghostly Flicker to your hand for one more untapped land than you started with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peregrine Drake"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div></div>


Wizards in Commander

The Best Wizard Combos in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Kuja, Genome Sorcerer | Art by <a href="https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-joshua-raphael/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a></em></p>
<p>The long-awaited <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set is on the horizon, and the hype train has already left the station. Even if you aren't the most excited to see cards from this video game series enter <em>Magic</em>, you do have to admit that some of these new designs are incredible. One of the legendary creatures that has taken the internet by storm already is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>When I was young, my brothers played through <em>Final Fantasy IX</em> and I'll be honest with everyone here: Kuja was terrifying to me... So, it seems only fitting that I would overcome my fear for this villain and bring you fourteen cards for under $14 to help you get started on brewing around this commander on a budget. Strap in, throw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4AQ7kRcn_A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuja's awesome theme</a> on, and get ready to bring the house down with your accursed flames!</p>
<h2>What Does Kuja, Genome Sorcerer Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer"></div></div>
<p>Coming in straight from my childhood nightmares to terrorize your playgroup, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. On its front side, you'll be making an 0/1 Wizard on your endstep that pings your opponents when you cast noncreature spells. Then, after you control four or more Wizards, Kuja will flip to his other side, Trance Kuja, Fate Defied, which then doubles the damage any of your Wizards deal from there on out.</p>
<p>Since this commander costs four mana, there's a good chance you'll have a Wizard or two out already by the time you cast him. That means you'll be flipping over to the damage doubling side sooner than most people think. So, with this list I'll be highlighting some great Wizards that pair nicely with that second side of Kuja, as well as some big noncreature spells that can help set you far ahead the rest of the table, especially when paired with those little Wizard tokens.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at the list now.</p>
<h3>Coruscation Mage</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coruscation Mage"></div></div>
<p>Our first card this week is a perfect Wizard for this list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coruscation Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Coruscation Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deals a damage to each opponent when you cast a noncreature spell, which is the main goal of this deck already. It also can come with an offspring token, to add even more fuel to its fire. Once your Kuja flips, you could possibly be dealing four damage to your foes over and over again. Pair this Otter with your small Wizard tokens, and it's time to really deal some pain.</p>
<h3>Gleeful Arsonist</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleeful Arsonist"></div></div>
<p>This next card fills a similar role to our last entry, and it comes with an added layer of protection. If <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleeful Arsonist" href="#" target="_blank">Gleeful Arsonist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> happens to get killed as your game goes on, that undying effect is here to bring it right back with a +1/+1 counter on it. Since the Arsonist deals damage to your opponents equal to its power, you'll almost prefer it to get destroyed just so it can come back better than ever! Plus, this card looks like it fits right in with Kuja and his antics...</p>
<h3>Irencrag Pyromancer</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irencrag Pyromancer"></div></div>
<p>Decks built around this new commander will most likely be filled with cantrips (spells that have an effect and also draws you a card), to help trigger your Wizard's pinging abilities as often as you can. If your build of the deck goes in that direction, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irencrag Pyromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Irencrag Pyromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perfect for you. Of course, the ability to double its damage could just end games for you, but even dealing three damage as its base level can clear up your opponents' threats. Dropping this on turn three could just halt a lot of other players' game plans if they're concerned you could just wipe their value pieces off the board.</p>
<h3>Blood Cultist</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Cultist"></div></div>
<p>Another great way to keep the board clear of small threats is with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Cultist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Cultist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Tapping to deal one damage isn't too bad, especially when you can ping things down to grow your creature. However, once Kuja has flipped over to his other side, you can then deal two damage to enemy creatures or just swing in with a big beefy Cultist. One way or another, adding this card to your deck will be a thorn in everyone else's sides.</p>
<h3>Basalt Ravager</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basalt Ravager"></div></div>
<p>Next up is a card you might want to hold on to until your board is just right. Sure, you can slam <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Basalt Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Basalt Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down before you have double damage and it would probably make a big impact. However, if you wait until the right time and Kuja has been flipped over, you could possibly just take a player out of the game. On top of that burn damage the Ravager offers, it can also swing in to deal eight damage if you put it in the red zone.</p>
<h3>Anathemancer</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anathemancer"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of game enders, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can truly take some of the more lavish players at your table out of the game. When it enters, it hits one of your opponents with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-esque effect, which, when paired with a damage doubler, could be backbreaking. This type of spell is great for picking off a player who might be more ahead than the rest of the table, after they fill their board with stacks of specialty lands. Also, even though <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s unearth is expensive, you could take someone by surprise late in the game to close things out.</p>
<h3>Harmonic Prodigy</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonic Prodigy"></div></div>
<p>Alright, since we're midway through the list, it's time to double everything our Wizards are doing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonic Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonic Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>! So far, every creature we've talked about has had a triggered ability, which means that when the Prodigy is out, your game plan is going to go up a level. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flipped, doubling your Wizard's damage, that 0/1 token is dealing four damage whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Which is already crazy, but then you drop something like that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anathemancer" href="#" target="_blank">Anathemancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we just talked about... That could be game over.</p>
<h3>Harnesser of Storms</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harnesser of Storms"></div></div>
<p>This deck is already looking to cast as many noncreature spells as possible, so adding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harnesser of Storms" href="#" target="_blank">Harnesser of Storms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the list will ensure you're constantly churning through your library. This deck will most likely be an <em>all-in</em> type of strategy, so having an effect to dig deeper into your library while you're progressing through a risky turn will be a big help. Even if this creature only assists you with hitting your land drops each turn, you'll be happy to have it on your team.</p>
<h3>Party Thrasher</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Party Thrasher"></div></div>
<p>If you happen to have a lot of those 0/1 tokens sitting around, why not throw a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Party Thrasher" href="#" target="_blank">Party Thrasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down and have them help you cast your spells? Giving convoke to all your noncreature spells is a great way to push through that last little bit of damage to the rest of the table, by chaining several powerful spells together on the same turn. Plus, even if you run out of threats to cast, the Thrasher has a way to exile two cards from your library and ensure you can keep this pain train rolling.</p>
<h3>Electrostatic Infantry</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Electrostatic Infantry"></div></div>
<p>A majority of the noncreature spells you'll be casting in a deck like this will be instants and sorceries, which is exactly what <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrostatic Infantry" href="#" target="_blank">Electrostatic Infantry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loves to see. Gaining a counter whenever you sling one of those spells is great, especially when you make it to the late game and can double the trampling damage this creature can offer. Given enough time, this could be a way to slam through your opponent's defenses and turn their chump blockers into chump change (I don't even know if that made sense).</p>
<h3>Taurean Mauler</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Taurean Mauler"></div></div>
<p>Listen, I know this bull thing doesn’t look like a Wizard, but technically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taurean Mauler" href="#" target="_blank">Taurean Mauler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a part of that team. Throwing this onto the field in the early game and letting it grow to a massive size just means that you can consistently pressure the boards of the other players at the table. On top of that, the next few spells I'll be talking about on this list work perfectly when you have a big creature like the Mauler, which is just champing at the bit for its damage to be doubled!</p>
<h3>Soul's Fire</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul&#039;s Fire"></div></div>
<p>Next up, we have a spell that's similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but lets you keep your creature around. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows one of your Wizards to deal damage equal to its power to any target. When played in conjunction with the flip side of <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can deal a big chunk of damage to anything! Think of that with either of our last two cards on the list, and that's a way to wipe one of your foes out of the game completely, at instant speed.</p>
<h3>Chandra's Ignition</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandra&#039;s Ignition"></div></div>
<p>One of the most impactful spells on the entire list is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not only is this spell a board wipe, but when paired with a large Wizard, it could take your opponents' life totals down to single digits; all while clearing the way for your last remaining threat to swing through freely and deal another major blow. This card is a staple in our format, so be sure to snatch one up just in case that price starts to climb higher and higher.</p>
<h3>Surge to Victory</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surge to Victory"></div></div>
<p>We're closing things out this week with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge to Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Surge to Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, basically an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overrun" href="#" target="_blank">Overrun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in this deck. Giving your board a buff to their power based on the mana value of the spell you exile is great for a big swing, especially since those 0/1 Wizard tokens can finally enter into combat. Then, you get to cast a copy of that spell when your creatures hit a player, which just adds insult to injury! Imagine casting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over and over again after a big combat? That's brutal.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>Well, there you have it: fourteen cards for under $14 to help get you started on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuja, Genome Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Kuja, Genome Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. I know the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set is still almost a month away, but grabbing these cards for a low price now will help you in the long run.</p>
<p>Let me know what you thought of this list in the comments below. Also, if Kuja scared you as a kid as well, let me know and we can support each other during this scary time. Thank you everyone for reading this far, and I'll see you next week!</p>


wizards

Wizards in Commander

The Best Wizard Combos in Commander

Building Kuja, Genome Sorcerer on A Budget - Fourteen Cards Under $14

From the Brim to the Trim - Slinging Budgets and Tossing Opponents

Recross the Paths - Build a Wizard Deck with Yorion, Sky Nomad

Elven Council - Precon Primer