( Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist| Donato Giancola)

Introduction

Today's Under the Radar column marks a fun milestone. Back in August of last year, we analyzed Pashalik MonsPashalik Mons, an underloved mono-red Goblin who has lived his whole life in Krenko'sKrenko's shadow.

A month later, we assessed Apothecary WhiteApothecary White, a mono-white Food commander, who is maybe more of a chef than an apothecary, but is still pretty great.

At the start of 2025, we took a look at Old One EyeOld One Eye, a monstrous mono-green Tyranid. A fortnight ago, we reviewed Drana, Liberator of MalakirDrana, Liberator of Malakir an aggressive mono-black Vampire who can build a board wider than Dracula can sweep his cowl.

Do you know what that means? Since this week's article is about the mono-blue Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist, we will have written an article covering every individual color. Lots of monocolor commanders tend to fall beneath the 500-deck mark needed to be included in this series, which is honestly a shame.

It makes sense since players are wary that they'll lose access to important tools if they can only use one color. Mono-red players have very few tools, outside of Chaos WarpChaos Warp, to deal with enchantments, mono-green players can struggle for reliable creature removal and mono-white's card drawing woes are infamous, if a bit overstated.

Still, if you've never played with a monocolor commander, you're missing out. For every limitation it places on your deck building, it also opens up a new door, enabling niche cards that might not see play in more colorful decks. Caged SunCaged Sun, Throne of EldraineThrone of Eldraine, and a bunch of great devotion effects are at their best in single-color lists.

Today, we'll explore how a mono-blue Spellslinger deck works. The 269 Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist decks that already exist, not to mention the plethora of other mono-blue instant and sorcery oriented commanders like Lier, Disciple of the DrownedLier, Disciple of the Drowned, Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest EpochOjer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch, and Baral, Chief of ComplianceBaral, Chief of Compliance show that blue is more than capable of having a good time without needing red to back it up. Let's dive in.

Fractal Tactics

Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist decks win by flooding the board with Fractal tokens, and overwhelming opponents with massive masses of math monsters.

Fractals are the signature tokens of Quandrix College at Strixhaven University, where Deena teaches. Fractal tokens are 0/0 by default, but any card that makes a Fractal also causes it to enter with a certain number of +1/+1 counters.

In Deekah's case, she makes a Fractal whenever her controller casts an instant or sorcery and it comes into play with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the mana value of the spell that generated it.

To get the most out of Deekah, you'll want to load up your deck with as many instants and sorceries as you can. High mana value, high impact spells are particularly great since they make the biggest Fractals and have the most powerful effects.

That's not to say that there's no room for smaller Spellslinger staples like ConsiderConsider and OptOpt though, since those will help you access your more powerful cards, while also generating usable blockers.

This deck's strategy is reliant on the commander being in play, so it's a good idea to run a CounterspellCounterspell or two, along with some protection effects to keep Deekah safe.

Since Deekah creates a token whenever a spell is either cast or copied there's also potential to go down a Storm route. If you can build your storm count up, and then play Mind's DesireMind's Desire you'll soon have an abundance of 6/6 Fractals ready to fight for you.

You'll also want to include plenty of cards that proliferate. Proliferate is an ability that allows you to put additional counters on cards that already have counters on them. In Deekah's case, Proliferate spells provide a useful way of buffing up your Fractal tokens. Proliferate effects on instants and sorceries work especially well.

Deekah's ability generates a Fractal token whenever a card is copied or cast, meaning that it will activate before the instant or sorcery with proliferate finishes resolving.

So if you cast Contentious PlanContentious Plan the token will be generated with two +1/+1 counters, and it will then gain an additional counter, alongside every other creature with a +1/+1 counter that you choose.

Now that we've talked about the deck in theory, let's take a look at a list.

Deekah's Average Deck

At the moment (as of 03/10/2024) there are 269 DeekahDeekah decks registered on EDHREC. The finest mathematical magicians of Quandrix College programmed the Average Deck function to go through each of these decks, and then to generate a new list incorporating cards that appear repeatedly in many of them. Let's have a look...

You know that you're looking at a spellsligner deck when 36 out of the 99 cards it contains are either instants or sorceries. On that front, this average decklist definitely got the memo.

Some Spellslinger decks fall into a trap where they include too many cards like The Mirari ConjectureThe Mirari Conjecture, Ral, Izzet ViceroyRal, Izzet Viceroy MirariMirari which care about instants and sorceries but aren't instants, and sorceries themselves. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case here. With only 5 enchantments and 11 artifacts, many of which are mana rocks, this list keeps itself pretty lean.

Every creature here serves a relevant purpose, either supporting the Spellslinger strategy, or supporting your fractals by providing an effect that benefits creatures with +1/+1 counters on them, or creatures that are tokens.

Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift is a $50 card, making it single handedly more than 20% of the total value of this $230 deck. Cyclonic Rift is one of the most iconic and powerful blue spells of all time, as indicated by its place on the game changer's list. You'll have to determine whether that's a price that you're willing to pay for this kind of power.

Outside of the rift, Primal AmuletPrimal Amulet typically costs just over $10, while Narset's ReversalNarset's Reversal and Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus are just under the $10 mark. There are also a few $5 cards like Inexorable TideInexorable Tide, Mnemonic DelugeMnemonic Deluge, Sapphire MedallionSapphire Medallion.

As average deck lists go, I'm pretty impressed with this one. It's not perfect, and we're about to start tinkering with it, but this is definitely an effective baseline to build from...

5 Cards to Keep

Herald of Secret StreamsHerald of Secret Streams

Herald of Secret Streams

Currently in 54% of decks.

The Fractal tokens generated by DeekahDeekah can get pretty big, but unless you grant them some form of evasion they are just going to end up getting chump blocked forever.

As evasion goes, there's nothing better than being unblockable, and Herald of Secret StreamsHerald of Secret Streams ensures that all of your tokens will be able to slip right past your opponents' blockers for as long as it remains alive.

This card functions sort of like a permanent version of Deekah'sDeekah's ability that doesn't need to be activated repeatedly for each of your creatures. If none of the other players at the table have an answer for this card, it could herald the end of the game pretty promptly.

Octavia, Living ThesisOctavia, Living Thesis

Octavia, Living Thesis

Currently in 36% of decks.

The newly revealed Doc Ock, Evil InventorDoc Ock, Evil Inventor isn't the only academic octopus in MTG. Given that this a Spellslinger deck, you should have no trouble at all getting eight instants or sorceries into your graveyard in order to get the eight mana discount on Octavia, Living ThesisOctavia, Living Thesis. Once Octavia is in play, they are a formidable threat, thanks to their 8/8 statline and their Ward effect making them incredibly frustrating to remove.

Not only that, but they also provide a massive bonus to all of your Fractal tokens. Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery, Octavia makes the base stats of any creature in play 8/8. Since your Fractal tokens are 0/0s by default, this is a truly massive buff that can help you bring about the end game.

High TideHigh Tide

High Tide

Currently in 58% of decks.

Every mono-blue deck out there wants to run a copy of High TideHigh Tide, and Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist is no different. This card effectively doubles your mana for a turn. This allows you to cast your big spells like Swarm IntelligenceSwarm Intelligence and SpelltwineSpelltwine much earlier than you would normally be able to.

You can also sink this mana into Deekah's effect and make a whole bunch of your tokens unblockable for the turn. When the tide is high will your opponents be able to hold on? Or are you going to end up number one?

Ripples of PotentialRipples of Potential

Ripples of Potential

Currently in 31% of decks.

With decks that go really wide like this one, it's important to be able to keep your board safe. Ripples of PotentialRipples of Potential phase all of your cards with +1/+1 counters out, keeping them about as safe as can be while preserving the counters they have accumulated.

Not only that, this card provides this powerful protection for only two mana, and it proliferates as well ensuring that all of your Fractal tokens will be even stronger when they return to play. This is an incredible protection option that fits into this deck perfectly, its potential is practically unlimited.

Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication

Irenicus's Vile Duplication

Currently in 26% of decks.

With one DeekahDeekah in play, you get a token whenever you cast or copy a spell. With two Deekahs hanging around, you'll get twice as many tokens and be able to flood the board with Fractals before anyone has the chance to stop you.

Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication is one of the best cloning spells for Commander, especially for decks built around the effects of their commander like this one. This card will accelerate your game plan in a way that will be truly vile to your opponents.

5 Cards to Cut

Steady ProgressSteady Progress

Steady Progress

Currently in 38% of decks.

While we've already discussed how proliferate effects are great in this deck, Steady ProgressSteady Progress doesn't quite have the power level to cut it. Spending three mana to draw a single card just isn't worth it.

Steady ProgressSteady Progress is much worse than Experimental AuguryExperimental Augury, Tezzeret's GambitTezzeret's Gambit and Contentious PlanContentious Plan all of which are already in the deck. Just like the Vedalken in the artwork should have stayed away from the glistening oil, you need to keep away from this card.

ArchaeomancerArchaeomancer

Archaeomancer

Currently in 28% of decks.

Just like Steady ProgressSteady Progress, ArchaeomancerArchaeomancer is another card that provides a useful effect but is just too costly to be worth it. Even if you don't want to shell out $15 for a Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage there are plenty of superior alternatives to Archaeomancer.

With Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist in play, cards like Call to MindCall to Mind, Said // DoneSaid // Done, and Pull from the DeepPull from the Deep will all generate Fractal tokens with higher stats than the 2/2 Archaeomancer.

Not only that, but since all of these cards are either instants or sorceries they will trigger a multitude of payoffs like Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus, Talrand, Sky SummonerTalrand, Sky Summoner, and Jace's SanctumJace's Sanctum.

Chrome Host SeedsharkChrome Host Seedshark

Chrome Host Seedshark

Currently in 33% of decks.

There are plenty of decks where Chrome Host SeedsharkChrome Host Seedshark can be a powerful card, here though it just feels redundant. The effect this card provides is sort of just a broader, but worse version of the effect provided by your commander. You have to jump through the added hoop of paying whenever you want to turn the Incubator tokens this flying Shark generates into creatures.

That's two mana that you could have invested into a big spell, or used to cast a few small ones. When you're piloting this deck, you'll have more tokens than you know what to do with, a few more that you need to get out of bed before you can use them won't help you.

Murmuring MysticMurmuring Mystic

Murmuring Mystic

Currently in 31% of decks.

Just like Chrome Host SeedsharkChrome Host Seedshark, Murmuring MysticMurmuring Mystic generates tokens but just can't compare to the token output that Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist provides. The four mana that you spend on Murmuring MysticMurmuring Mystic doesn't give you a very relevant body, and while the 1/1 Bird tokens are nice, the deck doesn't possess enough ways to pump them to make them impactful. As token generators go, Shark TyphoonShark Typhoon and Talrand, Sky SummonerTalrand, Sky Summoner are both much more useful.

Sky DiamondSky Diamond

Sky Diamond

Currently in 44% of decks.

Mono-blue isn't known for being able to ramp out and get access to mana quickly, but even so, there are plenty of better alternatives to Sky DiamondSky Diamond. Misleading SignpostMisleading Signpost enters play untapped, and lets you redirect attacks aimed towards you, Midnight ClockMidnight Clock provides a huge amount of card draw, and Sapphire MedallionSapphire Medallion provides a discount that far outweighs the lone blue mana that Sky Diamond generates. Keep these diamonds out of your deck.

5 Cards to Add

Quantum MisalignmentQuantum Misalignment

Quantum Misalignment

Currently in 2% of decks.

Earlier on I wrote about how Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication is great in this deck, because it lets you double your DeekahDeekah. Quantum MisalignmentQuantum Misalignment is even better since it permits you to triple the number of Fractal Theorists you can have out at once.

This card has the Rebound ability meaning that once it has been cast it goes into exile and then casts itself again for free during your next upkeep.

Just by itself, this five-mana spell provides 21/21 worth of stats, spread out over 5 bodies. That's two additional copies of Deekah, plus three 5/5 fractal tokens (the second time this spell resolves, there will hopefully be two Deekha's in play to see it go off and thus generate two tokens).

That's not even mentioning how, from then on, you'll be getting three Fractals every time you cast a spell. Contrary to its name, this card aligns perfectly with the strategy Deekah is going for.

Storm of SarumanStorm of Saruman

Storm of Saruman

Currently in 4% of decks.

Given that this is a Spellslinger deck, focused on instants and sorceries, an enchantment needs to be pretty powerful to justify its place here. Fortunately, Storm of SarumanStorm of Saruman more than earns its keep. Storm of SarumanStorm of Saruman copies the second spell you cast during any given turn, so long as you sequence things so that your second spell is always a big one you'll not only be getting two copies of an awesome effect like Flow of KnowledgeFlow of Knowledge or Solve the EquationSolve the Equation, but you'll also get twice as many Fractals.

RadstormRadstorm

Radstorm

Currently in 11% of decks.

True to its name, RadstormRadstorm is a "Storm" card, that copies itself for every spell you've cast prior to it during your turn. While this deck isn't a full-on storm deck, it does have plenty of components that can build up your storm count very quickly.

There are plenty of one-mana cantrips like OptOpt, BrainstormBrainstorm, and PonderPonder to get the ball rolling, not to mention Frantic SearchFrantic Search which is mana-neutral to cast.

If you kick off the turn with a few of these spells and then either draw into Radstorm, or else already have it ready to go in your hand, then you will see the number, and strength, of all of your Fractals quickly spiral out of control.

Since DeekahDeekah triggers whenever she sees a spell either get cast or copied, she'll trigger for every single iteration of Radstorm that goes off.

This means that you'll much a huge flood of 4/4 fractals, each of which will grow even bigger thanks to the proliferate effect on Radstorm. This card really is rad.

Wave GoodbyeWave Goodbye

Wave Goodbye

Currently in 7% of decks.

This may be the most powerful pun-based bounce spell in the game. This card opens up the board, ready for you to send an avalanche of Fractals in for the kill. This card isn't quite a Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift, since any players running +1/+1 counter themed strategies may pull through unscathed, and you'll also be bouncing back your own commander unless you've given her a counter. Nevertheless, you'll likely have more than one opponent waving goodbye to their board when you cast this.

Reverse the PolarityReverse the Polarity

Reverse the Polarity

Currently in 5% of decks.

Not to be confused with Reverse PolarityReverse Polarity, an artifact hate card/Viking thirst trap from Antiquities. Reverse the PolarityReverse the Polarity is both a great counterspell and a potential game-ender once you've built up a big board of Fractals. This card's ability to counter all other spells prevents the entire stack from resolving.

So if one opponent casts Wrath of GodWrath of God to destroy all of your tokens, and then someone follows it up by attempting to vanish from the game for a round with Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection you can ruin both of their plans.

It's the ability to make all of your creatures unblockable for a turn which makes this card great in a DeekahDeekah deck.

his will afford you the ability to swing through with your massive board of fractals without having to worry about their lack of trample or your opponents' blockers.

There may also be some fringe cases where this card's ability to switch the power and toughness of every creature in play will be useful, you can really punish all of the Caelorna, Coral TyrantCaelorna, Coral Tyrant players out there. For the most part though, you'll be using this card for its first and final effects.

Conclusion

One thing that's interesting about Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist is that she's in the 99 of 22611 decks, despite commanding only 269 herself.

While many commanders appear in the 99 far more frequently than they appear in the command zone, Deekah leads barely over 1% of the total number of decks that she shows up in.

This puts her in a club alongside Adriana, Captain of the GuardAdriana, Captain of the Guard, Codsworth, Handy HelperCodsworth, Handy Helper, and many others as a legendary creature who gets invited to plenty of parties but very rarely hosts them.

There are several reasons why Deekah's general popularity hasn't resulted in her taking off as a commander. Partially it's because of her relatively high mana value.

As Commander becomes increasingly quick, many players want a low-cost card in their command zone so that they can get their game plan online quickly. Partially it's because Deekah is a Spellslinger commander, and that's a niche that is already pretty crowded.

Finally, we can't forget the aversion to monocolor decks that we've already discussed. Commanders like Veyran, Voice of DualityVeyran, Voice of Duality,Stella Lee, Wild CardStella Lee, Wild Card, and Mizzix of the IzmagnusMizzix of the Izmagnus are cheaper than Deekah, occupy a similar niche and grant access to a whole additional slice of the color pie.

Deekah can do one incredible thing that none of these other commanders can though. Her ability to assemble an entire hoard of tokens single handedly is frankly fantastic.

All Spellslinger decks have an inherent tension between the need to establish a board presence to remain in the game, and the need to run enough instants and sorceries to keep the wheels spinning. Deekah's ability to generate bodies simply by casting spells resolves this problem gracefully.

This brings us back to the central purpose of this series. Every single commander out there, however many reasons there may be not to build them on paper, can provide something unique and awesome. There's still plenty of room to experiment and expand when working with this fractal theorist.

Ben Macready

Ben is a freelance writer from the UK. He's has been playing Magic since he was 8 years old, back when he thought Enormous Baloth was the best card in the game. You can find more Magic content from him on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@macreadymusings