Ahoy, me hearties. Your EDHREC precon guru is back, and he’s drinking all your rum (this one’s my favorite).

In our Precon Review of Ahoy Mateys, the Grixis Pirates deck from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, we saw that this deck is already in good shape to be an aggro/recursion powerhouse. So today we’re just beefing it up a bit and tossing the flotsam overboard.

We’ll break our upgrades up into two parts: budget (~$5 or less) and non-budget ($5 or more).

Old Salt

To recap, this deck is led by Admiral Brass, UnsinkableAdmiral Brass, Unsinkable, a 3/3 Human Pirate that mills you for four when she enters the battlefield. At the beginning of each of your combat steps, you can grab a Pirate from your graveyard and bring it back to the field as a 4/4 with a Finality counter and haste. 

Our first mate is Don Andres, the RenegadeDon Andres, the Renegade, a 4/3 Vampire Pirate that bestows gifts to creatures you control but don’t own, and gives you Treasures when you cast a spell you don’t own.

Here’s the original decklist:

Carousers and Seadogs

In our Precon Review, we noted that the deck doesn’t provide any ways to remove the Finality counters. So our upgrades will start there. 

Nesting GroundsNesting Grounds is our best addition here, since it doesn’t really take up a card slot. The drawback is that it’s sorcery speed, so you can’t activate it during combat, which is when the creature will come back with the counter. So just hope your creature doesn’t die before you get back to your main phase.

For instant-speed counter removal, let’s add Power ConduitPower Conduit. We’ve got no use for charge counters, but +1/+1 counters are always appreciated. Last we’ll add Heartless ActHeartless Act, which is a very fine modal spell. I couldn’t find room in the upgrade for them, but ClockspinningClockspinning and Fate TransferFate Transfer are also solid options. I particularly like Fate Transfer as a way to deal with an opponent’s creature that’s about to get looped back and forth from the grave (think Gray Merchant of AsphodelGray Merchant of Asphodel).

This is a Pirate deck, so let’s add some Pirates too. Breeches, Eager PillagerBreeches, Eager Pillager does so many good things, especially if you can get all three modes each turn. 71% of decks are adding the little guy. Coastline MaraudersCoastline Marauders becomes much better when it’s a 4/4, but in a pinch can be multiplied with its Encore ability. The drawback to that is that it’s in exile and can’t be brought back by Brass. Forerunner of the CoalitionForerunner of the Coalition fetches up our best Pirate, and drains large amounts of life from our opponents on attacks. And Dire Fleet NeckbreakerDire Fleet Neckbreaker is going to do great work in this aggro list.

For some extra recursion, let’s bring Haunting VoyageHaunting Voyage aboard. Brass is just one creature per turn, and sometimes we might need more, especially after a board wipe. Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault gives us as many extra combats as we can afford. And Kindred DiscoveryKindred Discovery is the best card draw engine we could ask for.

Here are the cards sinking to Davy Jones’ Locker: Arm-Mounted AnchorArm-Mounted Anchor, Blood MoneyBlood Money, Captain Lannery StormCaptain Lannery Storm, Dire Fleet RavagerDire Fleet Ravager, Don Andres, the RenegadeDon Andres, the Renegade, Kari Zev, Skyship RaiderKari Zev, Skyship Raider, King Narfi’s BetrayalKing Narfi’s Betrayal, Lethal SchemeLethal Scheme, Rogue’s PassageRogue’s Passage, Vanquisher’s BannerVanquisher’s Banner.

Yes, I’m taking Don Andres out. I decided not to focus the upgrade on larceny, and he just doesn’t do enough without more theft in the deck.

Here’s the budget upgraded decklist:

Buried Treasure

Here be the real treasures. Let’s bring Revel in RichesRevel in Riches and Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist on board, for ramp and the possible alternate win-con. 

Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat gives us a bit of extra protection, while Coat of ArmsCoat of Arms makes our Pirate army insurmountable. Rise of the Dark RealmsRise of the Dark Realms fills up our board with the undead, and Pirated CopyPirated Copy does exactly what its name suggests. 

Last is Roaming ThroneRoaming Throne. Yes, I’ve added it to all of these upgrades. Yes, it’s that good.

These cards are getting marooned: Bident of ThassaBident of Thassa, Coastline MaraudersCoastline Marauders, Commander’s SphereCommander’s Sphere, Dire Fleet DaredevilDire Fleet Daredevil, Haunting VoyageHaunting Voyage, Rakdos CharmRakdos Charm, and Timestream NavigatorTimestream Navigator.

Here’s the non-budget upgraded decklist:

X Marks the Spot

We’ve come to the end of our Upgrade Guides for Lost Caverns of Ixalan! What did you all think of these four decks? Personally, I’d be happy if Wizards doesn’t do anymore full-typal sets for a long time. They get a bit repetitive. Thankfully, Murders at Karlov Manor seems to be going in a different direction.

See you next time for some murder mystery precon puzzles.

Read More:

Veloci-Ramp-Tor Upgrade Guide

Blood Rites - Precon Review

Andy Zupke

Andy's been playing Magic on and off since Fallen Empires. He loves to travel, drink, eat, and spend time with family and friends.