The Quandrix Unlimited Commander deck contains the following:

• 1 Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck
• 1 Traditional foil face commander with borderless art
• 1 Traditional foil featured commander with borderless art
• 98 Non-foil cards, including 10 new-to-Magic cards
• 10 Double-sided tokens
• 1 Reference card
• 1 Deck box

Zimone, Infinite AnalystZimone, Infinite Analyst

Zimone's here to do Quandrix things, which also align pretty well with Simic things.

The blue/green color combo is often joked about as being a bit one-dimensional, which is ironic considering Quandrix's penchant for infinity.

While Zimone, Infinite Analyst doesn't do a ton to break out of that mold, there's enough going on with the card to foster an interesting deck.

Zimone's a 0/4 Human Wizard for three mana, but it won't likely stay 0/4 for long. The first spell you cast a spell with X in its mana cost each turn gets Zimone two +1/+1 counters. Ideally you're able to trigger this the same turn you cast Zimone, so it's worth sandbagging your commander a bit in order to get immediate value.

That's only half the card, though. The other ability states that the first spell you cast each turn with X in its mana cost gets a discount for each of those +1/+1 counters on Zimone. The first X spell that Zimone sees won't get that discount (unless it somehow came into play with counters, a scenario that's entirely possible in Quandrix Unlimited), but subsequent ones will get cheaper and cheaper, which in practice means the X gets bigger and bigger.

Maybe not quite to infinity, but never say never.

With 27 X spells in the deck, Zimone can snowball very quickly and will likely be a prime removal target for opponents once they realize what's going on.

Primo, the UnboundedPrimo, the Unbounded

Along with Zimone comes Primo, the Unbounded, a 0/0 Fractal Wolf with trample. Obviously its 0/0 stat line will be augmented immediately, and that's exactly what happens; Primo's got an X in that casting cost, and comes into play with twice X +1/+1 counters. With three other mana alongside, that means for four total mana, Primo's a 2/2, and for five, it's a 4/4. And so on.

Primo's base power of zero is important, as the card loves creatures with a goose egg. Whenever one or more creatures you control with base power zero deal combat damage to a player, you create a 0/0 Fractal token, and give it a number of +1/+1 counters equal to damage dealt.

So by itself, if Primo is a 2/2 and connects with an opponent's face, it makes another 2/2. Then next turn, if both connect, Primo makes a 4/4. And so on. There's a theme here.

Primo works well with Zimone, providing massive tokens as Zimone gets larger and larger thanks to the X spells you're casting. But as a commander, Primo is much more interesting and open-ended. A deck dedicated to Primo could take a number of different paths, from Defender decks to Plant token decks to a weird build that targets your own creatures with stuff like Serendib SorcererSerendib Sorcerer and Island of Wak-WakIsland of Wak-Wak.

Not all these strategies will be good, but they'll be fun.

Kinetic OozeKinetic Ooze

Ooze enjoyers are thrilled to see a new Ooze (news?), especially one that's pretty good. For X and a , you'll get a 0/0 with X +1/+1 counters on it - standard fare for boneless creatures.

When Kinetic Ooze enters, you get to nuke any target artifact or enchantment with mana value X or less. If X is five or more, you also draw a card. And if X is even higher, like 10 or more, specifically, you also get to double all +1/+1 counters on any number of other target creatures. Kinetic Ooze can't double its own counters, but that's probably not a deal breaker.

Even if X is five, that's a 5/5 creature, a removal of a threat, and a card drawn. Not bad value for six mana.

Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean

Nev returns with a new card, no longer teaming up with Adrix. Adrix and Nev, TwincastersAdrix and Nev, Twincasters is quite the card though, so how does Nev do as a solo act?

For three mana, you're getting a 2/2 Merfolk Wizard that grants trample to all creatures you control that have counters of any kind. Also, whenever you cast your first spell with X in its mana cost each turn, as you'll be doing quite often in Quandrix Unlimited, Nev itself gets X +1/+1 counters.

It won't take many X spells to make Nev a formidable attacker.

Owlin SpiralmancerOwlin Spiralmancer

Four mana gets you a 3/4 flying, vigilant Bird Wizard, which is already a pretty solid stat line.

But you're not playing Owlin Spiralmancer for the stat line, you're playing it for its ability. Whenever you cast your first spell each turn with X in its mana cost, copy it. That's pretty nuts in a deck like this one, where so much effort is devoted to casting X spells.

In practice, Owlin Spiralmancer functions as a way to feel less bad spending an entire turn sinking every resource you've got into a singular X. One of this strategy's biggest weaknesses is a tactically employed counterspell from an opponent, but if you're copying that massive X spell on cast, it's a lot harder to stop.

Any blue deck dedicated to X spells will immediately make room for this Bird Wizard.

Striding ShotcallerStriding Shotcaller

An 0/4 Troll Druid for two mana, Striding Shotcaller is one of two prepared creatures in Quandrix Unlimited. It prepares Run the Play, a sorcery for that puts a +1/+1 counter on each of X target creatures, and those creatures get flying until end of turn. Plus, as a little treat, you also draw a card.

To prepare Striding Shotcaller, it just requires a creature you control to deal combat damage to a player. Which, of course, is easier when the card itself gives your creatures flying. Oh, and it has reach, too.

A downside of a deck focused on X spells is that you'll often find yourself holding onto them in order to get the maximum impact of funneling everything you've got into the X. But with Striding Shotcaller, you've got a repeatable X spell at your disposal.

Yavimaya BloomsageYavimaya Bloomsage

Now it's time for the other prepared creature in Quandrix Unlimited, Yavimaya Bloomsage. This one brings with it a spell that's literally banned in Commander.

A 2/2 Dryad Druid for three mana, Yavimaya Bloomsage has a ChannelChannel in its pocket. If you've ever had the privilege of casting a Channel, you know that this is a card worth paying attention to. Just dream of the values for X you can achieve with a Channel.

Yavimaya Bloomsage doesn't enter prepared, though, and it's a little tough to achieve that state. At the beginning of your end step, you put a +1/+1 counter onto a creature you control, and if that creature's power is seven or greater after that counter, then Yavimaya Bloomsage is prepared.

You need another creature, and it has to be big. Good thing this deck's commander works so well with it, huh?

Beyond Quandrix Unlimited, Yavimaya Bloomsage will see a lot of play, because again, Channel.

Brass InfiniscopeBrass Infiniscope

The deck's sole new artifact comes in the form of Brass Infiniscope. For four mana, you're getting a mana rock custom-built for X spell decks. Tap it for two colorless mana, and when you next cast a spell with X, draw a card and gain life equal to half of X.

Seems fine, sure. But note that those two conditions are not connected. You can use that two colorless for anything, and later in the turn, casting an X spell, whether you used that two colorless mana or not, will still trigger the card draw and life gain. That might not be frequently relevant, as you're probably tapping Brass Infiniscope to help pay for X anyway, but it is worth keeping in mind.

Expansion AlgorithmExpansion Algorithm

It's hard to get more distilled than Expansion Algorithm. As is often the case with useful keywords, they go through a period of being attached to myriad conditions and iterations before a card comes along that simply says, "Do that thing."

Expansion Algorithm says do that thing, and that thing is proliferate. Specifically, you do it X times, with the card itself running you X and . Proliferate as a mechanic is very powerful, but never by itself. It's not exactly a win-more mechanic, but it'll never dig you out of a hole.

That said, Expansion Algorithm will likely replace other, more complicated proliferate spells in a number of decks.

Nexus MentalityNexus Mentality

To get ahead in life, you just have to have that Nexus mindset.

A four-mana instant, Nexus Mentality provides you with two modes. In some cases, you'll pick one, but most of the time, you're looking to pick both by controlling your commander when this is cast.

As for the modes themselves, you either move all counters from one target nonland permanent to another one you control, or you remove all counters from target nonland permanent you control and draw a card for each counter removed. Or, again, both.

Dark DepthsDark Depths enjoyers are lamenting the "nonland" part of these modes, but that doesn't mean Nexus Mentality is to be ignored. In most scenarios, cashing in a bunch of counters to draw cards is going to be the better option, but if you've got something that loves seeing counters placed on it, like Kami of Whispered HopesKami of Whispered Hopes or the noticeably absent Evolution WitnessEvolution Witness, then you win either way.

Or, again, both ways.

Lattice LibraryLattice Library

For and , Lattice Library enters with X study counters on it. Pretty typical library fare.

When Lattice Library enters or whenever you cast the first X spell of the turn, make a 0/0 Fractal token with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to Lattice Library's study counters. Less typical library fare.

Providing a free creature token with every X spell cast is pretty solid, and Lattice Library itself makes a great target for Expansion Algorithm's proliferation explosion. It may not be better than the other green Library enchantmentgreen Library enchantment, but few cards are.

Turbulent WildernessTurbulent Wilderness

As with all five Secrets of Strixhaven decks, Quandrix Unlimited has its own color-relevant "Turbulent" land, with Turbulent Wilderness.

It's got basic land types, which is always nice to see on a new land, and the condition for entering untapped - if opponents have eight or more lands collectively - isn't hard to achieve. With no ramp, that'll happen on turn three if you didn't go first or second in the game, or turn four if you did.

As far as dual lands go, they aren't immediate must-haves, but they're still pretty good. And interestingly, they get better as the quality of opponents' decks increases.

With Quandrix Unlimited, we want to follow Zimone's lead, and that means X spells and +1/+1 counters, with both seeing their numbers get larger and larger.

As mentioned before, the deck contains 27 X spells (28 if you count Run the Play, Striding Shotcaller's prepared spell), so it's likely that you'll never be wanting for an X spell to trigger the cards that care about such things.

As for what those cards are, there are a few:

• Lattice LibraryLattice Library
• Nev, the Practical DeanNev, the Practical Dean
• Owlin SpiralmancerOwlin Spiralmancer

Then there are the cards that, like Zimone, help facilitate the casting of X spells:

• Brass InfiniscopeBrass Infiniscope
• Elementalist's PaletteElementalist's Palette
• Troyan, Gutsy ExplorerTroyan, Gutsy Explorer
• Unbound FlourishingUnbound Flourishing

Really, though, all these X spells are in service of the other strategy, and that's amassing as many +1/+1 counters onto your creatures as you possibly can. With an absence of game-breaking X spells like Finale of DevastationFinale of Devastation or Genesis WaveGenesis Wave, the goal is to incrementally increase our creatures' threat level.

First, we have ways to speed up the process of creating +1/+1 counters:

• Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra
• Forgotten AncientForgotten Ancient
• Kami of Whispered HopesKami of Whispered Hopes
• Tanazir QuandrixTanazir Quandrix
• Ozolith, the Shattered SpireOzolith, the Shattered Spire
• Hardened ScalesHardened Scales

It's nice to have these in play before going ham on creating +1/+1 counters, but they're not necessary. If anything, they tend to attract attention in form of removal, which actually plays into your hand considering the real threats are, well, threats:

• Hangarback WalkerHangarback Walker
• Hydroid KrasisHydroid Krasis
• Lifeblood HydraLifeblood Hydra
• Primordial HydraPrimordial Hydra
• Stonecoil SerpentStonecoil Serpent

These are all excellent cards to focus +1/+1 counters on, but realistically we want to use Zimone for that as best we can, since the discount those counters provide to X spells is the engine that this deck needs to function well. There's a reason that cards like Guardian AugmenterGuardian Augmenter, Tyvar's StandTyvar's Stand, and SilkguardSilkguard are in the 99; Zimone is crucial to the deck's performance and protecting it is key.

And sometimes, the best defense is a good suite of removal, so thankfully Quandrix Unlimited packs plenty in that regard. In addition to the usual Rapid HybridizationRapid Hybridization and Beast WithinBeast Within that we're accustomed to in blue/green decks, there are also options that lean into the deck's themes and are thus more interesting:

• Primal MightPrimal Might
• Decisive DenialDecisive Denial
• Perplexing TestPerplexing Test
• Zimone's HypothesisZimone's Hypothesis

Despite the deck's commander having the word "infinite" in its name, there are no established combos in Quandrix Unlimited. That said, if we want to truly embody the spirit of Quandrix, it wouldn't take much effort to include some.

Since Kami of Whispered HopesKami of Whispered Hopes is in the list already, all you'd have to do is add a Freed from the RealFreed from the Real or Pemmin's AuraPemmin's Aura (or Crab UmbraCrab Umbra, or Sword of the ParunsSword of the Paruns...) to the mix to create infinite colored mana:

And since there's already Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist in the deck, you can make use of that magecraft ability to produce a combo with Chain of AcidChain of Acid that creates infinite creature tokens - as long as you also have an indestructible permanent in play. Like, say, one targeted with Tyvar's StandTyvar's Stand?

Like the other Secrets of Strixhaven decks, Quandrix Unlimited has plenty of lands. 37 of them, to be exact. That's pretty understandable for a deck that focuses on maximizing the value of X as often as possible.

And as you'd expect, most of those lands are here to create colored mana as needed, but there are still a few utility lands that found their way in:

• Alchemist's RefugeAlchemist's Refuge
• Oran-Rief, the VastwoodOran-Rief, the Vastwood
• Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower
• Rogue's PassageRogue's Passage

Reliquary Tower is an interesting choice. While it's certainly possible that the deck will draw you enough cards to need a reprieve from maximum hand size, it's often the case that Reliquary Tower is worse than a simple basic land the majority of the time.

As for mana rocks, Arcane SignetArcane Signet and Sol RingSol Ring are here, as usual, but there are some more intriguing choices that fit into the deck's theme:

• Astral CornucopiaAstral Cornucopia
• Brass InfiniscopeBrass Infiniscope
• Elementalist's PaletteElementalist's Palette

Mana rocks that do stuff are sure nice to see, even if they're not overwhelmingly powerful. In a lot of scenarios, you'll be much happier to draw an Elementalist's Palette than an Arcane Signet.

Currently, if you were to purchase Quandrix Unlimited piecemeal as singles, it would cost approximately $240. That makes the $49.99 MSRP of the deck a bit more palatable.

However, as with all new releases, that price is inflated somewhat by the new cards, the prices for which haven't quite settled yet. If we remove the prices of the 12 new cards, we're left with a total cost of singles of around $116. Still a good deal.

That new total is driven by a few very interesting reprints:

• Unbound FlourishingUnbound Flourishing
• Ozolith, the Shattered SpireOzolith, the Shattered Spire
• Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra
• Primordial HydraPrimordial Hydra
• Three VisitsThree Visits

These five cards are welcome reprints - especially Unbound Flourishing - but after these, the drop-off in value is steep.

The combination of X spell shenanigans and +1/+1 synergy is going to speak to a certain subset of players, and as a result, there'll be people out there who think Quandrix Unlimited is the best preconstructed deck printed in quite some time.

While it is good, the strategy is somewhat linear and a bit too reliant on its featured commander to really kick into a higher gear, and there'll be games where you'll fuss about with low values of X until you realize the game's passed you by.

That fact, coupled with the somewhat lacking collection of needed reprints, means Quandrix Unlimited scores a B-.

Looking to upgrade your Quandrix Unlimited precon? Check out our Upgrade Guide here.