Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator | Art by Tuan Duong Chu

One of the most popular archetypes in Commander is the strategy of building up your board with +1/+1 counters. I've been a big fan of this kind of gameplay myself, having several decks dedicated to that theme in my own collection. So when I first saw Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator I was very intrigued.

Combining mana generation and token creation all together on one counter loving Frog makes for a very interesting design.

So, join me Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as I cover a budget deck built around Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator that you can pick up for about $30 (using TCGPlayer pricing.)

What Does Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator Bring to the Table?

Hailing from the math loving college of Quandrix, Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator is here to build up both counters and Fractals on your board. Increment helps get the engine going, since you add a +1/+1 counter to this commander when you cast bigger and bigger spells. Which Berta can help with, since you'll add one mana of any color whenever one or more counters get piled on this legend.

As I put this deck together, I made it as focused as possible on building up your board in order to generate that mana advantage, which in turn adds extra punching power to your team.

So, let's take a look at the deck and what makes it tick... but first, we need to take a slight detour into what's not in this list.

Sorry, No Infinites This Time

A lot of the chatter online about this commander was around the card Intruder AlarmIntruder Alarm. Since you can make X equal zero with Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator's ability, you can make a 0/0 token, which triggers the Alarm and untaps all creatures, including Berta, who can start this process all over again.

Pair that with a creature like Ivy Lane DenizenIvy Lane Denizen, which is included in the deck, and you can generate infinite mana by targeting your commander with those counters.

Even though this is a cheap interaction, I didn't want to include it in the deck, because I aimed for Bracket 2 (Core) for this build. However, if you're looking to level the deck up, it's good to know about this combo!

Building Counters on Berta

• Roaring EarthRoaring Earth: This enchantment basically turns your commander into a Lotus CobraLotus Cobra, since every time a land hits your board you can put a counter on Berta, making a mana of any color. Plus, discarding this lets you animate a land if you need it.
• Zimone, Paradox SculptorZimone, Paradox Sculptor: What would a Quandrix deck be without the star student of their college? Zimone is great for adding more counters to your board, whether that be two at a time, or doubling some pivotal targets.
• Forgotten AncientForgotten Ancient: Here's an all-time classic for building up counters in order to pass them around. Now as a reminder, since moving those counters will happen on your upkeep, you'll need to use the mana made by Berta at instant speed, but there's a lot of good outlets for that in the deck.

• Ivy Lane DenizenIvy Lane Denizen: As previously mentioned, this card could be an infinite combo piece, but in this deck it's simply here to throw a counter on Berta whenever a green creature hits your board.
• Scurry of SquirrelsScurry of Squirrels: Here's a card that I swear I've never seen before, but it stood out to me while building the deck. This can create a wide board of attacking Squirrells, all focused on throwing counters at your commander.
• Duskshell CrawlerDuskshell Crawler Not only does this pass a +1/+1 counter over to Berta, it can also give trample to your team of big threats, which isn't bad for only two mana.

Synergistic Card Advantage

• Fathom MageFathom Mage: This creature brings the classic evolve mechanic into the mix, which is like implement, but for Millennials. Since there's a lot of ways to add counters to your board, there's a good chance that you'll be able to draw cards off of this Mage multiple times during a turn.
• High ScoreHigh Score: Here's an enchantment that offers a lot of power to the deck. Getting this down the turn before Berta is great, and then it even starts drawing you a card at the end of turn once your engine is online.
• Combat TutorialCombat Tutorial: Now here's an example of a common putting in work when paired with the right commander. Three mana to draw two, put a counter on Berta, and then add another mana is pretty nice if you ask me.

• Mind into MatterMind into Matter: A new card from Secrets of Strixhaven has hit the list. This budget rare can be a mana sink that refills your hand, and lets you cheat something into play, which are all things that this deck wants to do.
• Hydroid KrasisHydroid Krasis: Here's a creature that I try to add to any deck that it can slot into. Playing a huge flying trampler that draws you cards and gains you life just feels great every time it resolves.
• Thassa's InterventionThassa's Intervention: This actually fills two slots in this deck, being card advantage as well as interaction. Digging deep into your deck is always beneficial, but pairing that with a way to possibly stop your opponents' schemes is just good value.

Since Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator has the ability to add mana whenever counters are added to them, you may be caught in spots where you don't have anything to spend it on. So, having a few one-mana cantrips can be useful to ensure it doesn't go to waste.

ConsiderConsider and OptOpt offer you a way to sculpt the top of your library, before drawing a card, and Charge ThroughCharge Through replaces itself while also giving trample to a large member of your team.

Mana Ramp

• Gyre SageGyre Sage: This is a great creature that you can get down early and can continue to grow as the game goes on. So as your plan progresses, you're adding even more mana, which sort of reminds me of a new card...
• Topiary LecturerTopiary Lecturer Ah yes, this Elf from the latest set is sort of like the Gyre Sage for Zoomers. Even though this costs one more to cast, it has the added upside of being able to tap for mana even before it has any counters on it, since it simply adds green based off of its power.
• Jiang Yanggu, WildcrafterJiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter: Giving your board of counter-having creatures the ability to tap for mana can make for an explosive turn. Especially since you can catch people off guard when, all of a sudden, you have a team of mana dorks on your side of the field.

• Prishe's WanderingsPrishe's Wanderings: Here's another common that has found a great home in the deck, because adding a counter to your commander makes this feel like it only costs two mana. Also, as a note, I did add a Town to the deck just for this card.
• Growth SpiralGrowth Spiral: Instant-speed spells are very important for this list, so being able to draw a card and throw a land into play in order to utilize some of Berta's mana will help the deck perform as smoothly as possible.
• Animist's AwakeningAnimist's Awakening: As you can tell, X spells are very useful for this deck. They're outlets to utilize your floating mana, as well as a way to grow your commander's counters as the game goes on.

Protection & Interaction

Protecting your board is very important in this list, since you don't want all those counters you've built to just go away. Biosynthic BurstBiosynthic Burst adds a +1/+1 counter, gives trample and indestructible to something, as well as untaps it, which is useful for Berta's token making ability.

Inspiring CallInspiring Call can protect your entire board while drawing you some cards, and Plaxcaster FroglingPlaxcaster Frogling allows you to continually hand out shroud to your key value pieces.

When it comes to interaction, having spells that add counters while also letting you effect the board is a great combination. Origin of MetalbendingOrigin of Metalbending can get rid of a troublesome artifact or enchantment, plus it can also save your commander.

Longstalk BrawlLongstalk Brawl deals out a counter, as well as a Fish and a fight, while Repulsive MutationRepulsive Mutation can add some counters to the board, all while stopping a spell from one of your opponents.

Berta, Wise Extrapolator Commander Deck List

Final Thoughts on Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator

Well, there you have it, my list for Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator that you can pick up for about $30. This deck is a whole lot of fun, and includes several new cards from Secrets of Strixhaven. So if you want a home for a lot of those new spells, this is a great commander to pair them with.

If you're looking for more budget content from me, you can find it right here on EDHREC as well as on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where it's my goal to help make Magic more accessible for everyone.