Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean | Art by Lie Setiawan

Greetings, mono-green enthusiasts and Quandrix mages. It's time we return to Strixhaven University, Arcavios' school of magic. Secrets of Strixhaven (SOS) contains several qualities that made Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX) memorable, including Mystical Archive cards and enemy-colored lands. And have you seen the incredible artwork on the Japanese Mystical Archive cards?

In addition to the main set, SOS offers five distinct Commander preconstructed decks. The Commander precons also feature multiple new-to-MTG cards, such as Defacing DuskmageDefacing Duskmage, Naktamun LorespinnerNaktamun Lorespinner, and Yavimaya BloomsageYavimaya Bloomsage.

One new card that piqued my interest is Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean. You may know Nev from the card Adrix and Nev, TwincastersAdrix and Nev, Twincasters. Nev is designed to support the Quandrix Unlimited Commander precon and lead its own deck. Let's dive deeper into the synergies of Nev at the helm of an X Spells Commander deck.

What Does Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean Do?

Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean is a 2/2 legendary Merfolk Wizard with two counters-focused abilities. First, Nev grants trample to all creatures you control with counters on them. Second, whenever you cast your first spell with in its mana cost each turn, Nev receives X +1/+1 counters. Note that X instant spells like Tyvar's StandTyvar's Stand and SilkguardSilkguard do exist, so Nev's trigger can happen on other players' turns.

Similar to Nev, Emil, Vastlands RoamerEmil, Vastlands Roamer is a legendary Elf Druid from SOS that gives trample to creatures you control with +1/+1 counters. Although Emil's trample-granting ability is restricted to +1/+1 counters, it does benefit Nev and any Fractal creature tokens it creates.

Emil also synergizes with Paradox ZoneParadox Zone, Sequence EngineSequence Engine, and other Fractal-producing cards.

Maester SeymourMaester Seymour is another alternative to Nev. Instead of receiving +1/+1 counters when casting spells, Maester Seymour gets them when activating its monstrosity ability. Moreover, powering up Maester Seymour increases the number of +1/+1 counters it distributes to one of your creatures at the beginning of combat on your turn. If you're looking for a non-X spells version of Nev, perhaps Maester Seymour will suffice.

Key Cards for Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean

X Creature Spells

Green contains a plethora of X-cost creature cards, especially Hydras. Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra is a Hydra that enters with +1/+1 counters to distribute, plus the ability of Hardened ScalesHardened Scales. Vastwood HydraVastwood Hydra works differently as its death trigger gives away +1/+1 counters to other creatures you control.

You'll want to disperse +1/+1 counters to aggressive Hydras like Goldvein HydraGoldvein Hydra, Primordial HydraPrimordial Hydra, and Hungering HydraHungering Hydra. Goldvein Hydra possesses haste, trample, reach, and a death trigger that showers you in Treasure tokens. Further, Primordial Hydra and Hungering Hydra can push through defenses by growing in size.

There's plenty of other useful Hydras in the 99 hungry for +1/+1 counters.

In addition to Hydras, two notable Oozes are ready for battle. Casting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Mutagen Man, Living OozeMutagen Man, Living Ooze for merely five mana makes it a 2/3 trampler with three Mutagen tokens ready to activate. In turn, Benevolent Hydra and Hardened Scales can double the +1/+1 counters from Mutagen tokens created by Mutagen Man.

Kinetic OozeKinetic Ooze rewards you based on the amount of mana spent to cast it. You'll get to destroy an artifact or enchantment, draw a card, and double the +1/+1 counters on your other creatures, depending on X's value.

Furthermore, Kinetic Ooze's ability provides flexibility on when to cast it. For instance, paying for it can destroy an opponent's Sol RingSol Ring or SkullclampSkullclamp, while eliminates Rhystic StudyRhystic Study or Rhythm of the WildRhythm of the Wild. Casting multiple X spell Hydras and Oozes will send Nev's stats sky high.

+1/+1 Counters Support

You can't always sink tons of mana into each X creature spell. As such, it's vital to run +1/+1 support cards like Tale of Katara and TophTale of Katara and Toph and High ScoreHigh Score.

Tale of Katara and Toph triggers when attacking with almost any of your creatures and pairs nicely with Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra, Hardened ScalesHardened Scales, and High ScoreHigh Score. Additionally, High Score gives you an extra card by controlling the creature with the greatest power. Those extra +1/+1 counters stack up when triggering the aforementioned enchantments' abilities a few times.

While earning incremental +1/+1 counters is useful, you can double +1/+1 counters placed on creatures with other support cards.

Both Branching EvolutionBranching Evolution and Loading ZoneLoading Zone serve the same purpose of growing your creatures' sizes. A comparable enchantment synergizing with X Spells decks is Unbound FlourishingUnbound Flourishing. With Unbound Flourishing under your control, each X creature spell also enters with twice the number of +1/+1 counters.

Further, Tyvar's StandTyvar's Stand and SilkguardSilkguard get copied by Unbound Flourishing. Branching Evolution, Loading Zone, and Unbound Flourishing are all stellar enchantments you'll want to draw each game.

There's actually a green Equipment card capable of doubling +1/+1 counters. Fractal Harness doubles +1/+1 counters when its equipped creature attacks and can come into play attached to a Fractal creature token. For this deck, I suggest prioritizing Fractal Harness over honorable mentions Level UpLevel Up and Hydra's GrowthHydra's Growth, since Fractal Harness stays on the battlefield if its equipped creature perishes.

Card Draw

You're bound to deplete your hand when casting threats and support cards. Fortunately, green provides access to a suite of card draw spells and abilities.

The deck list below contains a slew of card-drawing Commander staples, including The Great HengeThe Great Henge, Beast WhispererBeast Whisperer, and Garruk's UprisingGarruk's Uprising. Even so, there are two enchantments worth bringing to your attention.

Tribute to the World Tree's casting cost hindrance isn't an issue for mono-green decks. Also, drawing cards is easily achievable since most of your creatures can enter as 3/3s or larger with enough mana available. If your mana is limited, you can grow smaller creatures with Tribute to the World Tree's +1/+1 counters distribution.

On the flipside is TerrasymbiosisTerrasymbiosis. You may draw cards from Terrasymbiosis only once per turn, but you get to decide when that happens. Ideally, you'll want to draw cards when resolving a massive X creature spell such as Voracious HydraVoracious Hydra or Stonecoil SerpentStonecoil Serpent. Just ensure you don't skip too many Terrasymbiosis triggers and completely miss a card-drawing opportunity.

How Does Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean Win?

Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean and its motley crew have a few routes to victory.

Commander Damage

Nev's built-in trample and growth abilities can turn it into a real threat. You can quickly make Nev a 10/10 with reach and trample by bestowing it with a six-mana Nyxborn HydraNyxborn Hydra. Moreover, Branching EvolutionBranching Evolution, Loading ZoneLoading Zone, and Unbound FlourishingUnbound Flourishing help push Nev's power high enough to deal lethal commander damage in one combat phase.

In case your opponents try to remove Nev, a timely Gaea's GiftGaea's Gift or Collective ResistanceCollective Resistance can keep it alive and attacking.

Combat Damage

Speaking of attacking, you can send multiple ginormous creatures toward opponents. Hormagaunt HordeHormagaunt Horde, Endless OneEndless One, and Feral HydraFeral Hydra all have the aptitude to become menacing behemoths. Mix in Nev's trample-granting ability to create a successful game plan.

What happens when Nev isn't on the battlefield to push damage through blockers? Well, you have Sphere GridSphere Grid and Garruk's UprisingGarruk's Uprising as backups. Sphere Grid provides trample, reach, and the chance for your creatures to earn +1/+1 counters. Garruk's Uprising serves the same purpose, swapping reach and +1/+1 counters for card draw.

As long as Nev, Sphere Grid, or Garruk's Uprising are on the battlefield, you shouldn't have a problem trampling over the opposition.

If you somehow struggle casting and building gigantic creatures, you can lean on Unnatural GrowthUnnatural Growth. Your opponents may tremble in fear when all of your creatures have their power and toughness doubled each combat.

Indirect Damage

Board stalls can and do occur in Commander. That's why this deck list includes a few ways to win outside of combat.

Ram ThroughRam Through may seem out of place, but it does serve a purpose. As an instant removal spell, Ram Through can knock out an opponent's creature before a Heroic InterventionHeroic Intervention resolves or a Darksteel PlateDarksteel Plate gets equipped. In addition, if Ram Through targets a creature you control with trample, then any excess damage is dealt to the opposing creature's controller. Nev's trample-giving turns practically all of your creatures into a lethal damage dealer with Ram Through.

When your opponents' life totals are low enough, casting HurricaneHurricane may knock them out of the game. You may also opt to remove flyers from the battlefield as Hurricane, and the functionally similar Squall LineSquall Line, damage creatures with flying and players.

Fear not if your life total is too low to cast Hurricane or Squall Line since Hidden HideoutHidden Hideout can save the day. Actually, Hidden Hideout’s lifelink-granting ability might be the best-kept secret in the deck.

Nev, the Practical Dean Commander Deck List

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