Kilo, Apogee MindKilo, Apogee Mind | Art by Tuan Duong Chu

If you picked up the Counter Intelligence precon, then I'm assuming you've already asked yourself an important question: "Which commander should I run at the helm of this deck?"

Well, if you chose Kilo, Apogee MindKilo, Apogee Mind then you probably got hit with another tough one, like "What cards should I add to the 99 to best support my new robotic friend?"

That's where I come in! My name is Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, and today I'm going over 14 cards for under $14 that you can pick up to get this deck more suited for Kilo in the command zone.

Be warned, because this new legend has already built up quite the reputation in the short time it's been on the scene, to avoid any unwarranted aggression that might come your way, here's an example for a Rule Zero speech you can give to the rest of the table before you start a new game.

"Hello, I'm going to play my upgraded Counter Intelligence precon with Kilo in the command zone. It does not go infinite. It does not have infect. Please do not kill me first, I just want to play with a silly little Robot..."

I hope that helps! Now, without further ado, here is my list of budget cards to highlight Kilo's best qualities. Plus, at the end of the list, I'll give my recommendations for what cards to cut in order to make room for these new additions.

Counters

Recon Craft Theta

Kicking off our list, we have a Vehicle that can help with tapping your commander, adds counters to the board, and even proliferates. Recon Craft ThetaRecon Craft Theta is everything this upgraded deck is looking for and can come down perfectly on curve the turn after you cast Kilo.

Reckoner Bankbuster

Keeping with Vehicles, we have Reckoner BankbusterReckoner Bankbuster. This enters with three charge counters already on it and brings card draw, mana ramp, and creature tokens to the mix - all that as early as turn two.

Voyager Glidecar

Turn one plays are always coveted in Commander, and Voyager GlidecarVoyager Glidecar is an amazing one-drop in this upgraded deck. When it hits the board, you scry 1, which helps smooth out your second turn’s draw. Plus, it gets a counter with that tap ability, and we know Kilo loves to see that!

Arcbound Shikari

Modular is a strong effect in this type of deck, which made Arcbound ShikariArcbound Shikari feel like an absolute all-star for this list. Hitting the board and giving out counters to all your artifact creatures means that you'll have plenty of targets to proliferate moving forward.

Jhoira, Ageless Innovator

If you're wondering how you're going to cast all these artifacts, well that’s where Jhoira, Ageless InnovatorJhoira, Ageless Innovator comes in. Tapping her once will get you those two counters, which you can then grow more and more as the game goes on, which can make for some explosive late game plays.

Four Knocks

Keeping your hand full in a deck like this will be important, which is why Four KnocksFour Knocks can be a sneakily good card in the 99. Usually, this enchantment will go away after only giving you a few draws, but when you can continually add time counters to it, you’ll be getting that extra draw at the start of your turn as long as you need.

Lost in the Maze

Proliferating counters on your permanents is great, but what if you did it to your opponents' threats as well? Lost in the MazeLost in the Maze comes down at flash speed and puts stun counters on your foes' best creatures. Plus, it also gives your tapped creatures hexproof, which your commander will be thankful for.

Tapping & Untapping

Speaking of turning Kilo sideways, our next section is all about tapping and untapping your commander to ensure your main game plan is moving as smoothly as possible.

Springleaf Drum

One of the cleanest ways to get Kilo tapped is with Springleaf DrumSpringleaf Drum, which can come down early and add a bit more ramp to the deck. Tapping this and your commander to get a mana, and add counters to whatever you please, is the type of synergy that will keep this engine rolling.

Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset

Now, if you’re looking to untap your commander, then Teferi, Who Slows the SunsetTeferi, Who Slows the Sunset is what you need. His +1 ability is an absolute powerhouse for your game plan, untapping an artifact (like Kilo), another creature, and a land are all great. When you consider you can tap down your opponents' permanents as well, that's just added value.

Survivors' Encampment

Including a way to tap your commander in your mana base is a great way to ensure you'll always have that proliferate effect at your disposal. Survivors' EncampmentSurvivors' Encampment comes into play untapped and makes you a colorless mana, which isn’t too bad in this artifact-heavy deck.

The real highlight here is that you can tap Kilo to make a mana of any color; which helps this land pull double duty for you.

Manifold Key

Up next, we have the classic untapper, Manifold KeyManifold Key. Spending only one mana to get Kilo ready to tap all over again is a great rate. Plus, that ability to make a creature unblockable shouldn’t be overlooked, since you could use that in a pinch to push damage through.

Belisarius Cawl

Coming to us from the Warhammer universe, Belisarius CawlBelisarius Cawl adds some great additional effects when it taps your commander. First, you can make a creature token by tapping two artifacts, but it can also help draw you one of the best artifacts off the top of your library with its second ability.

Weatherlight

A similar effect as our last entry is the iconic WeatherlightWeatherlight. Crew 3 means that Kilo is perfect for jumping behind this flying ship’s wheel. Then, when it hits one of your opponents, you can get a historic permanent into your hand.

This deck might have the possibility of spinning its wheels, so having a big flyer to punch through damage while fueling your engine is incredibly valuable.

Unctus, Grand Metatect

Now, we’ve talked about a lot of ways to tap creatures in this deck, which means that Unctus, Grand MetatectUnctus, Grand Metatect will end up accruing you a whole lot of value as the game goes on. Drawing and then discarding whenever you tap your commander helps you sculpt your hand into exactly what you need, while also giving your artifact creatures a little buff in the process.

Cards That Didn't Make the Cut

Now, with any precon upgrade, some cuts have to be made. As you look over these cards, feel free to agree or disagree with some of my choices, because at the end of the day, this is your deck, and you get to make the call.

If some of these cards still speak to you, then feel free to keep them in the deck. After all, Commander is about self-expression.

In Closing

So, there you have it, 14 cards for under $14 that you can pick up for Kilo, Apogee MindKilo, Apogee Mind in this precon's command zone. Let me know your thoughts of my additions or cuts in the comments below!

Also, if you already have too much Edge of Eternities bulk on your hands, check out the recent editions of my series Bulk Up, where I cover the best commons & uncommons from the set (click here for Part 1, and here for Part 2).