OphiomancerOphiomancer | Art by John Stanko

Hello, precon people! I'm back to continue the search for budget rares from previous sets, but in honor of precon month here on EDHREC, we're going to take a look at all the cards that were first printed in precons and select the best budget cards from them.

This is a giant list of cards, approximately 1600, so I'll do my best to keep this article to a reasonable size. Let's get right into it.

Command TowerCommand Tower ($0.36)

It's so obvious, it hurts.

Yes, Command Tower was a unique card printed in the very first precons, so technically it counts. If we're putting together a list of best budget cards, it's hard to exclude a land that enters untapped with no downside and fixes your mana for any color you'd want. Until Wizards prints one that is also every basic land type, the Tower ain't going anywhere.

Sevinne's ReclamationSevinne's Reclamation ($0.25)

Getting into the "real" cards, Sevinne's Reclamation remains unmatched for white reanimation spells.

You're almost guaranteed to go mana neutral, and maybe even mana positive should you get three 3-drops back from the graveyard, but the flexibility makes that less important.

So many of the most powerful cards in the format are permanents that cost three or less mana, or maybe it's just your commander that you'd rather not be taxed on. Either way, having a way to buy them back is a necessity in most decks.

Another quick note: the "cast from the graveyard" text is not limited to just flashback, and doing so copies the spell, not adds a target.

That can become relevant for a small subset of decks that care about copying spells, but also allows you to target the same thing twice if you suspect a counterspell from an opponent.

Cursed MirrorCursed Mirror ($1.70)

Cursed Mirror is a top highlight from Commander 2021, which was coupled with the released of the original Strixhaven set.

I just did a write up in a previous article, but I wanted to call it out again as being a way to squeeze extra value out of your ramp package.

OphiomancerOphiomancer ($0.75)

"I hate snakes, Chuck"

While I personally share the same view on Snakes as Indiana Jones, I do love this card. It's easily one of the most consistent sources of fodder for Aristocrats/sacrifice decks, and in the most important color for them as well. Some would say the best color in Magic.

Since it triggers on each player's upkeep, (assuming you don't already have a Snake) you can use any number of sacrifice outlets to kill off the tokens for value.

The deathtouch-ing tokens make excellent blockers to get through opposing combat steps, so if you can sacrifice a token on your opponent's end step, even better.

I remember when this card used to be over $10, and I'm glad it's so accessible now.

Loyal ApprenticeLoyal Apprentice ($0.23)

If this guy is the lieutenant, what does that make the Thopter? Wrong answers only in the comments please.

Loyal Apprentice is similar to Ophiomancer, albeit a bit harder to trigger just by virtue of needing your commander on the board. However, making a 1/1 flying haste when you do meet the condition can be abused in a few different ways.

Token doublers like Anointed ProcessionAnointed Procession or Stridehangar AutomatonStridehangar Automaton are an obvious choice, along with Impact TremorsImpact Tremors effects.

Maybe you just need a throwaway attacker, like I do in my Rose, Cutthroat RaiderRose, Cutthroat Raider deck.

Or a throwaway artifact for Ragost, Deft GastronautRagost, Deft Gastronaut. Arabella, Abandoned DollArabella, Abandoned Doll likes both bodies thanks to their small size.

If you're in a token deck that includes red and you aren't running this, I encourage finding a spot for your commander's new best helper.

Grasp of FateGrasp of Fate ($0.34)

Simple, yet satisfying.

Grasp of Fate is not the most exciting card on this list, but it does make the cut in many decks that can run it (not just enchantment decks) by nature of being card neutral with opponents.

Why is that important? Say for example you play a Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares to remove a threat. You used one card to deal with one opponent's one card. The other two opponents are now a card ahead of both of you.

Grasp of FateGrasp of Fate hits that magical three-for-one ratio that helps you keep pace against your opponents' 300 cards with your 100 cards.

Of course, if someone removes the Grasp, your opponents get their stuff back, but which opponent wants to help the other two out that badly? Then they'll be down even more resources!

Lethal SchemeLethal Scheme ($0.24)

Speaking of spot removal that can keep pace with your opponents...

The ceiling for this is a free removal spell at instant speed which adds a +1/+1 counter to four of your creatures and digs you four cards deeper into your deck. That is an insane amount of value for a single slot in the 99.

It gets better. You can be flexible if you have the mana and/or don't want to tap your creatures to pay for it.

If you're making use of the discard triggers or abusing the counters, you can get even more synergy from something you wanted to be playing anyway.

Check it out if you're trying to get some more value out of your spot removal.

Coveted JewelCoveted Jewel ($0.27)

The game within the game.

No, it's not ShahrazadShahrazad, it's way, way more fun. Monarch is an extremely popular multiplayer mechanic in Magic, and Coveted Jewel takes it to level two.

Instead of just getting an extra card at the end of your turn, the Jewel gets anyone that takes it three cards and three mana right away. An important distinction from the monarch is that the creature only needs to get by unblocked.

That means even if your opponent kills it before damage, it still grabs the Jewel back for your before it heads to the 'yard.

This adds an entirely new level of strategy and politics. Players can make deals about allowing creatures through to dig for an answer to a larger threat.

You can even build your deck knowing you have a higher density of evasive creatures, ensuring you get the Jewel back even if your opponents can't. If you're still running Dreamstone HedronDreamstone Hedron, it's time to upgrade.

Extravagant ReplicationExtravagant Replication ($0.35)

Weirdly, our first blue card.

Extravagant Replication encapsulates Commander as a format so perfectly: "I have this cool thing, and now I have another cool thing".

Even if you need to wait a full turn cycle, it brings all sorts of possibilities to the table, which I love for new and old players alike.

My personal favorite use for it is in Xavier SalXavier Sal, where this can create a token copy of a creature which Xavier can then populate. Commander is the format of fun, and here is example number one.

Meren of Clan Nel TothMeren of Clan Nel Toth ($0.81)

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of the top 50 most popular commanders on the site.

Meren came to us from Commander 2015, with a slew of other experience counter commanders. She is emblematic of Golgari () as a color pair, even beating out my beloved Frog HorrorFrog Horror.

A new player getting into reanimator as an archetype can easily understand how she works, and she gives immediate value by triggering on the end step, thus eliminating some of the feel bads that can plague other commanders.

So what to do with a Meren deck? Use green ramp to get her on the battlefield ASAP, and sacrifice effects to build up those experience counters.

Self-sacrificing creatures like Spore FrogSpore Frog or Sakura-Tribe ElderSakura-Tribe Elder shine brightest, since Meren can get them back for continous use.

Many of the other precon commanders have been left in dust-covered bulk bins, but Meren stands the test of time.

That's all for now, but if you've got a favorite precon card, be sure to drop it in the comments below. Precon month is going to be a fun one, so check in every day for more precon related content in celebration of the 15th anniversary of their original release! I'll be back with more budget content soon. See you next time!