CounterspellCounterspell | Art by Jason Chan

Welcome once again to Fire and Ice! This is the data-driven series where I go over cards that are becoming more or less popular for different Commander decks, and discuss why they may be gaining or losing popularity. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data, and I can't wait to jump into today's article!

We've got tons of data available on EDHREC. Here, we'll draw conclusions from that data about how certain commanders' decks have changed over time, give insight into how the format's players are thinking about new cards, and hopefully provide some tech for your favorite commander's list.

Last time, you helped us choose which commanders we'd focus on this week. You chose Minsc & Boo, Timeless HeroesMinsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes and Narset, Enlightened MasterNarset, Enlightened Master, two super powerful cards. Voja, Jaws of the ConclaveVoja, Jaws of the Conclave was the third option, but just wasn't as popular as Minsc, Boo, or Narset.

For now, though, let's get into today's edition of Fire and Ice and see what last edition's winners have in store!

Minsc & Boo, Timeless HeroesMinsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes

What's Hot and What's Not for Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes

One of the most powerful planeswalkers ever printed, Minsc & Boo pack a punch from the command zone. This deck focuses on creating huge creatures loaded up with +1/+1 counters, and flinging those creatures at its opponents.

Among the deck's most popular cards are FlingFling, in 46% of decks as another way to spread damage around, Unleash FuryUnleash Fury in 43% of decks as a way to amp up our creatures, and Halana and Alena, PartnersHalana and Alena, Partners in 55% of decks for even more +1/+1 counter generation.

What's Fiery for Minsc & Boo Decks?

Edge of Eternities gave pilots some sweet new tools, like TerrasymbiosisTerrasymbiosis, Loading ZoneLoading Zone, and OuroboroidOuroboroid. These cards have Fire Scores of 10.58, 6.06, and 4.77, respectively, all indicating huge popularity. They seem purpose built for a -based +1/+1 counters deck that doles out counters three at a time.

Sticking around at the Edge, Frenzied BalothFrenzied Baloth has a Fire Score of 3.20. This skirts around our opponents' pesky interactive spells, and a 3/2 body with trample and haste. This deck could not ask for more out of a two-drop.

And Pain for AllPain for All's got a Fire Score of 2.73. This is a neat removal spell, and a particularly potent one in a deck where our creatures' power matters so much.

Our last two hot cards are from Final Fantasy. The Earth CrystalThe Earth Crystal has been one of the most popular its cycle, and has a Fire Score of 5.22. This artifact is a slam dunk with our commander on the battlefield, and even discounts most of the nonland cards we're playing.

It'll make our last card, Jumbo CactuarJumbo Cactuar cheaper too. This big boy's got a Fire Score of 2.19, and can be an instant kill if we manage to attack with it. I'll admit that I was skeptical of this Plant when it was first revealed, but it seems to have found a nice home here.

What's Icy for Minsc & Boo Decks?

Both CultivateCultivate and Kodama's ReachKodama's Reach are dropping in popularity, with Ice Scores of -2.55 and -2.23, respectively. They're fine ramp spells, but not good enough for many modern Commander players' tastes. Especially in a deck with a commander that costs , ramping on turn two instead of turn three can let a pilot cast their commander a turn earlier.

Grumgully, the GenerousGrumgully, the Generous is our coldest card, with an Ice Score of -2.72. While this Goblin Shaman is a staple in many decks, paying three mana for this effect is a lot to ask for when cards like OuroboroidOuroboroid exist. Even though Throne of Eldraine was no slouch, it seems that recent sets are pushing the Camelot-based planes' cards out of some pilots' lists.

We also see two cards with +1/+1 counter synergies becoming less popular. Champion of LambholtChampion of Lambholt has an Ice Score of -2.28, likely because it's better to load a more immediately impactful creature up with counters than it is to saddle this Human Warrior with them for some team-wide evasion. I'd rather put counters on a Mossborn HydraMossborn Hydra, for example.

And, because we're typically loading a lot of counters on a few creatures, Rishkar, Peema RenegadeRishkar, Peema Renegade has an Ice Score of -2.11. This Elf is better when we spread counters around, which this deck doesn't tend to do often.

What's in a Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes Deck?

Here's a Minsc & Boo list with all of their hot cards and none of their cold cards:

Narset, Enlightened MasterNarset, Enlightened Master

What's Hot and What's Not for Narset, Enlightened Master

Narset is one of Commander's original spooky decks. After just one attack, she can let her pilot take infinite turns and win the game on the spot. She might cost , but can often lead to a victory on the spot if she resolves.

Extra turn spells like Nexus of FateNexus of Fate (in 44% of decks), and extra combat spells like Seize the DaySeize the Day (in 43% of decks) feature heavily alongside efficient interaction and card advantage.

This is a classic Jeskai deck, making excellent use of Commander's best cards. BrainstormBrainstorm, for example, is in 62% of Narset lists.

What's Fiery for Narset Decks?

Two cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm are Fiery for Narset decks. Mistrise VillageMistrise Village is our hottest card, with a Fire Score of 3.57. This is a nice include for Narset, given how important the deck's commander is to its game plan. This land can help us avoid counterspells easily, while also producing colored mana, making it one of the best utility lands we've seen printed recently.

Voice of VictoryVoice of Victory is here for a similar reason, and has a Fire Score of 2.08. It's imperative that Narset, and our subsequent extra turn spells, are allowed to resolve. Together, these two cards help ensure that happens.

Next up, we've got two powerful interactive spells. Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift has a Fire Score of 2.32, though I don't think it's actually very good in this deck. We can't pay its overload cost if we cast it off the top of our library with Narset, and we're not going to be creating enough mana to overload it ahead of schedule in most games. So, although it's a fantastic board wipe that most decks should be running, it's far from a perfect fit here.

An Offer You Can't RefuseAn Offer You Can't Refuse has a Fire Score of 2.68, and I've got no complaints about this one. It's a super efficient counterspell that can hit a wide range of our opponents' spells, so its popularity is more than warranted.

We've also got a pair of Fiery planeswalkers: Jace, Wielder of MysteriesJace, Wielder of Mysteries (Fire Score of 2.74) and Teferi, Time RavelerTeferi, Time Raveler (Fire Score of 2.13). Jace is a useful way to actually win the game after we take as many extra turns as we want. Plus, he's got some utility as a card advantage engine before that terminal step.

Teferi, on the other hand, is useful at all points of the game. "Threeferi," as he's often known, is fantastic at limiting our opponents' ability to interact with us at all stages of the game.

Our final two Fiery cards are both card advantage spells. BrainsurgeBrainsurge is a second, albeit slightly worse, version of BrainstormBrainstorm and has a Fire Score of 2.62. This card, much like the one-mana instant it's modelled after, lets us set the top of our library up for some big flips with Narset. That's one of the most powerful sequences for pilots of this deck.

Our next hot card is Ancestral RecallAncestral Recall. Oops, sorry, I meant Treasure CruiseTreasure Cruise. With a Fire Score of 2.05, this is a way to draw three cards for just . It's delve cost is often trivial in Commander, making it a fantastic include.

What's Icy for Narset Decks?

Let's start with our Icy board wipes. Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act, Promise of LoyaltyPromise of Loyalty, and Call Forth the TempestCall Forth the Tempest are all cold, with Ice Scores of and -2.72, -2.12, and -2.87, respectively. These are all great board wipes, and I'm not claiming that they've fallen out of favor with the broader Commander player base. But, because these cards will most often be accessed by being flipped off the top of our deck with Narset, they're not going to be as useful as more targeted removal will be.

If we're going for a win, we don't want to wipe our commander or value pieces off the battlefield. Especially when we can cast them for free, I'd rather cast reliable, non-sweeper removal, like Unexplained AbsenceUnexplained Absence. I will say that Call Forth The Tempest seems like a pretty good include, but it seems deckbuilders disagree with that sentiment.

Next up, let's talk about some spell slinging synergies. Passionate ArchaeologistPassionate Archaeologist (Ice Score of -2.32), Shark TyphoonShark Typhoon (Ice Score of -2.18), and Whirlwind of ThoughtWhirlwind of Thought (Ice Score of -2.41) are pretty good in generic Jeskai value piles, but aren't as strong in an all-in combo deck like this one. Narset lists tend to chain infinite turns together, making incremental engines like these less useful, and less popular.

Next up are three cards that help us out in the combat step. Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves has an Ice Score of -3.28, and I'd attribute its decline to it granting shroud in place of hexproof. It can be difficult to maximize Narset's effectiveness if we can't target her, and these decks tend to run very few other creatures to slap the boots onto in a pinch.

Aqueous FormAqueous Form and Silent ArbiterSilent Arbiter have Ice Scores of -2.92 and -2.27 respectively, and that's likely because they don't do much outside of combat. It's often better for these decks to run a removal spell in their place to dispatch any blockers that may be in Narset's way, instead of being unnecessarily proactive with these cards.

Approach of the Second SunApproach of the Second Sun is our next cold card, with an Ice Score of -3.71. This sorcery is tangential to our main path to victory. Even though it's a cool alternative win condition, it's likely more effective to replace it with an extra turn spell.

As long time readers of this series will know, I'm a Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower hater. Here, it has an Ice Score of -2.83. It's often included unnecessarily, with deckbuilders putting it in lists with minimal card draw because they feel like it. This land doesn't even make colored mana! I'm glad to see pilots, especially pilots of multicolored decks, shying away from it.

Our final two Icy cards areTeferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection (Ice Score of -2.72) and World At War (Ice Score of -2.41). Teferi's Protection is a great card, but it's possible that it's being replaced by lower-cost or free board protection. Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver, for example, has a similar effect but can save Narset from being removed even if we're tapped out.

As for World at War, I'd hazard a guess that extra turn spells are more fun to cast than extra combat spells. There's nothing quite like untapping, upkeeping, and drawing a new card.

What's in a Narset, Enlightened Master Deck?

Here's a Narset list with all of her Fiery cards included and all of her Icy cards excluded:

Conclusion

That's it for this week, folks! If you'd like to vote on our commanders for next time, feel free to respond to this poll:

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