Xyris, the Writhing StormXyris, the Writhing Storm | Art by Song Qijin

Do you like drawing cards? Of course you do, who doesn't like drawing cards! Just don't ask why I'm letting you draw all those cards, okay?

Welcome one and all to Fire and Ice, the data-driven series where I go over cards that are becoming more or less popular for different Commander decks, and talk about why they may be gaining or losing popularity. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data, and I'm super excited to jump into today's article!

EDHREC, of course, has a ton of data. In this series, we 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.

Today, we'll be focusing on everyone's favorite Snake Leviathan, Xyris, the Writhing StormXyris, the Writhing Storm! This commander has been the subject of tons of online discourse, seeing play as a hyper-budget leader and even as a fringe Bracket 5 commander. Xyris is certainly a unique card, so let's see which cards are becoming more and less popular with its pilots!

Xyris, the Writhing StormXyris, the Writhing Storm

What's Hot and What's Not for Xyris, the Writhing Storm

For , Xyris is a 3/5 flying creature with "drawlink," letting both us and our opponents draw cards equal to the amount of combat damage it deals to our opponents. In addition, Xyris lets us create a 1/1 SnakeSnake token every time an opponent draws a card (other than the first one they draw in each of their draw steps).

This commander provides us access to near-unparalleled card advantage and token production, getting out of hand for our opponents very quickly.

Among Xyris' most popular cards are Impact TremorsImpact Tremors (in 66% of decks), WindfallWindfall (in 61% of decks), and Shared AnimosityShared Animosity (in 41% of decks).

What's Fiery for Xyris Decks?

Harmonized CrescendoHarmonized Crescendo - Fire Score of 8.76

Distant MelodyDistant Melody-style effects that draw cards for specifically-typed creatures are quite popular in Xyris decks, given the high number of Snake tokens that we'll be creating. But, regrettably, most card draw spells cost mana. What a shame! Harmonized Crescendo, however, can be cast for free, at the small cost of tapping down a few of our creatures.

This deck may run a low number of creatures in its 99, but we'll usually have more than enough creature tokens on the board to cast this spell for free!

Springleaf ParadeSpringleaf Parade - Fire Score of 7.97

Xyris pilots already loved enchantments like Cryptolith RiteCryptolith Rite that allowed our Snake tokens to tap for mana, so this new enchantment is a natural fit. It's also extremely useful that the creature tokens created by Springleaf Parade have changeling, as that lets cards like the aforementioned Shared AnimosityShared Animosity (and the soon to be mentioned Three Tree CityThree Tree City) become even stronger.

Rimefire TorqueRimefire Torque - Fire Score of 6.65

This artifact is interesting, as there are very few decks that both have a lot of creatures of one type and cast a lot of instants and sorceries. The only other option that immediately springs to mind is Naban, Dean of IterationNaban, Dean of Iteration.

With all the Snake tokens we create, and all the Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune variants we cast, Rimefire Torque will be operating at maximum efficiency.

CounterspellCounterspell - Fire Score of 2.75

Many three-color decks have trouble creating the needed to cast good 'ole Counterspell. But, Xyris' -based color identity gives us access to great mana fixing and effects like Enduring VitalityEnduring Vitality, meaning we'll have the correct pips more often than not.

It's hard to beat the efficiency of this interactive spell, so I'm glad to see it finding a home in Xyris' 99.

Parallel LivesParallel Lives - Fire Score of 2.68

This four-mana enchantment speeds up our game plan, letting us flood the board with creature tokens quite fast. It's also nice to cast this the turn before casting our commander, allowing for an immediate boost to creature token production.

Other doubling enchantments, like Primal VigorPrimal Vigor, just aren't as useful in this list because we're not generating many +1/+1 counters.

Hexing SquelcherHexing Squelcher - Fire Score of 2.04

This Goblin Sorcerer is one of the best two-drops in recent memory. While the ward cost of two life it hands to our creatures is largely ignorable in our 40-life format, the on-the-stack protection it lends to all of our spells can be quite potent. This easily outclasses Spider-PunkSpider-Punk, another recently printed two-drop with a similar effect, and provides -based decks the protection they need from their playing friends.

If Hexing Squelcher lets us resolve a Forced FruitionForced Fruition, The Locust GodThe Locust God, or any other similarly impactful spell, it's done its job well.

Long River's PullLong River's Pull - Fire Score of 2.03

Most every deck wants countermagic. Long River's Pull is often ignored by decks in Bracket 3 and up, as giving an opponent a card is seen as too big of a drawback. But we've built our deck specifically around our opponents drawing excess cards! That makes this instant another, more synergistic, copy of Counterspell for our purposes.

Three Tree CityThree Tree City - Fire Score of 2.03

With all the Snakes we'll be flooding the battlefield with, Three Tree City will do a pretty good impression of Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle. This land can let us snowball one big turn into multiple huge turns down the line, even letting us chain multiple wheels together to close out a game with ease.

Giving a deck access to a ton of mana is usually a recipe for success.

What's Icy for Xyris Decks?

Rampant GrowthRampant Growth - Ice Score of -2.29

While two-mana, land-tutor ramp is often great for Commander decks, Xyris lists are filled with other impactful two-mana plays. We've got Razorkin NeedleheadRazorkin Needlehead, Kami of the Crescent MoonKami of the Crescent Moon, and Goblin BombardmentGoblin Bombardment, to name a few.

This spell isn't bad, it's just taking up a very important slot on our mana curve.

Temur Battle RageTemur Battle Rage - Ice Score of -2.27

If you've seen Salubrious Snail's video about "Buffs by Hans," you're likely familiar with this card. It can turn a simple, innocent-looking attack for some friendly card advantage into a game-ending play. But newer (and more expensive) versions of Xyris lists are more focused on synergy pieces than they are on buff spells, and that's likely caused this Tarkir-era spell to fall from favor.

Chaos WarpChaos Warp - Ice Score of -2.18

decks have access to some of the best interaction in the game. From An Offer You Can't RefuseAn Offer You Can't Refuse to Nature's ClaimNature's Claim, there's no shortage of effective ways to disrupt an opponent's plan. That makes running this three-mana removal spell, which has the potential to screw us over, very difficult to justify.

Chaos Warp is easier to find a home for in mono- decks.

Chasm SkulkerChasm Skulker - Ice Score of -2.01

There's a lot of card draw payoffs in this deck, and it's inevitable that some of them will get cut. Without a consistent way to sacrifice this Squid Horror, it's hard to get maximum value from it. It also starts out as a meager 1/1, making it vulnerable to opposing removal.

This creature is certainly not bad, it's just the unlucky cut from a deck full of great payoffs. I'd rather spend four mana on Purphoros, God of the ForgePurphoros, God of the Forge or Adrix and Nev, TwincastersAdrix and Nev, Twincasters to capitalize off of all the Snakes we'll make.

What's in a Xyris, the Writhing Storm Deck?

Here's a Xyris list I put together with all of its Fiery cards included and all of its Icy cards excluded.

Conclusion

commanders can feel a little bit too similar to each other sometimes. Looking at Animar, Soul of ElementsAnimar, Soul of Elements and Eshki, Temur's RoarEshki, Temur's Roar, it feels like Wizards prints one-note, creature-focused Temur commanders frequently. Xyris is a nice change of pace, and leads to some memorable gameplay. It's one of the more unique commanders out there.

But I want to know, what other commanders do you like in this color combination? Are you partial to Flubs, the FoolFlubs, the Fool? Are you a fan of Rashmi and RagavanRashmi and Ragavan? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll be back for a cEDH focused version of Fire and Ice next week!