<p><em>Blight Curse</em> is a new Commander preconstructed deck releasing with the set <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ecl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em></a>. What's in the deck, who are the commanders, and how can we upgrade it? Let's find out.</p>


<p>The <i>Blight Curse Lorwyn Eclipsed</i> Commander deck contains the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>1 Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil face commander with borderless art</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil featured commander with borderless art</li>
<li>98 Non-foil cards, including 10 new-to-Magic cards</li>
<li>10 Double-sided tokens and 1 punch-out counter card</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Auntie Ool, Cursewretch" href="#" target="_blank">Auntie Ool, Cursewretch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Auntie Ool, Cursewretch"></div></div>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaper, King No More" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaper, King No More</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Reaper, King No More"></div></div>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aberrant Return" href="#" target="_blank">Aberrant Return</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aberrant Return"></div></div>
<p>Six mana for the three best creatures in all graveyards? That's a pretty solid rate, despite the minor debuff of -1/-1 counters on each. That precludes returning anything with one toughness, but it's likely there'll be plenty of better options anyway.</p>
<p>Aberrant Return is one of the better reanimation spells printed lately, and it'll probably be played outside of <em>Blight Curse </em>in short order.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Tiller" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Tiller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Tiller"></div></div>
<p>With <em>Blight Curse </em>comes the return of the Scarecrow creature type, highlighted by The Reaper, King No More and including Dread Tiller. This deck's all about the -1/-1 counters synergy, so it's no surprise Dread Tiller fits into that plan like a very creepy glove.</p>
<p>This will be a sneaky good inclusion in the -1/-1 counters strategy, as free ramp is never not welcome.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eventide&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Eventide&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eventide&#039;s Shadow"></div></div>
<p>Eventide's Shadow has obvious utility here in <em>Blight Curse, </em>but it'll also be a great answer to planeswalkers, charge counters, and all manner of other things.</p>
<p>Five mana is a bit pricey for a sorcery that might be a dead draw a lot of the time, but when it works, it <em>works. </em>Also note that it doesn't target the things it removes counters from, so you can take counters from permanents with protection, hexproof, or shroud.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ferrafor, Young Yew" href="#" target="_blank">Ferrafor, Young Yew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ferrafor, Young Yew"></div></div>
<p>Seven mana is a lot, especially if it can't be guaranteed that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ferrafor, Young Yew" href="#" target="_blank">Ferrafor, Young Yew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will appear in a board state that'll make <em>any</em> Saprolings, let alone a bunch of them.</p>
<p>Ferrafor's activated ability, doubling counters on any one creature that has some, is certainly powerful, though. However, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorel of the Hull Clade" href="#" target="_blank">Vorel of the Hull Clade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> did it first, and arguably better.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Venerations" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Venerations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Venerations"></div></div>
<p>The <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/monarch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monarch mechanic</a> is one of the most fun things to introduce into a game of Commander, so new cards that feature it are a pleasure to see. Especially when it's attached to a pretty excellent card.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Venerations" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Venerations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> rewards players for retaining the crown by offering a free <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disentomb" href="#" target="_blank">Disentomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> every turn - a very powerful effect if there's a creature good at both entering the battlefield and leaving it via death.</p>
<p>Beyond that, the one life loss ping will make this card an immediate inclusion for a vast array of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a>-style lists out there.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oft-Nabbed Goat" href="#" target="_blank">Oft-Nabbed Goat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oft-Nabbed Goat"></div></div>
<p>The poor kid on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goatnapper" href="#" target="_blank">Goatnapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just can't catch a break, it seems.</p>
<p>It's designs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oft-Nabbed Goat" href="#" target="_blank">Oft-Nabbed Goat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that excite a certain subset of Commander players; it's unique, weird, and offers something never really seen before. As such, it's tough to predict just how popular it'll be, because those characteristics also might turn others away.</p>
<p>Still, in practice the Goat'll be charging up (or down, maybe) until it "goes off" to award the owner with a grip full of cards. And if that owner loses patience, those -1/-1 counters can be placed via more than just the built-in ability of the Goat itself in a deck like <em>Blight Curse</em>.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puca&#039;s Covenant" href="#" target="_blank">Puca&#039;s Covenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Puca&#039;s Covenant"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puca&#039;s Covenant" href="#" target="_blank">Puca&#039;s Covenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is solid in <em>Blight Curse, </em>but it'll be excellent in decks built around it. <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/hydras" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hydras</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/modular" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Modular</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/proliferate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proliferate</a>-themed decks, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuna, Grand Summoner" href="#" target="_blank">Yuna, Grand Summoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; you name it.</p>
<p>Note that it's a creature that has to die to trigger Puca's Covenant, but it doesn't have to be a creature that comes back, but rather any permanent. Maybe even <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/cheerios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheerios</a> lists would want to take on the Covenant.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sinister Gnarlbark" href="#" target="_blank">Sinister Gnarlbark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sinister Gnarlbark"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sinister Gnarlbark" href="#" target="_blank">Sinister Gnarlbark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't flashy, but it's certainly effective. In less focused lists, it'd be a liability, but here in <em>Blight Curse </em>the -1/-1 counters are just fuel.</p>
<p>Drawing extra cards in a Jund-colored deck is never going to be that difficult, so Sinister Gnarlbark might be overshadowed frequently in the grand scheme of things, but it's a great and interesting design for a new mechanic, nonetheless.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Village Pillagers" href="#" target="_blank">Village Pillagers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Village Pillagers"></div></div>
<p>With Village Pillagers, the keyword wither returns, and it's immediately pushed to an extreme. That one damage tossed to every creature opponents control when Village Pillagers comes into play is actually a -1/-1 counter thanks to wither, which forwards the goals of <em>Blight Curse </em>considerably.</p>
<p>And there's a whole other paragraph of text that allows the card to feed its owner Treasure tokens for every dead creature on the opponents' side.</p>
<p>This'll be a good one.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wickersmith&#039;s Tools" href="#" target="_blank">Wickersmith&#039;s Tools</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wickersmith&#039;s Tools"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of charge counters, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wickersmith&#039;s Tools" href="#" target="_blank">Wickersmith&#039;s Tools</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> converts every -1/-1 counter into a charge counter to be used, eventually, to make a bunch of 2/2 Scarecrow tokens. The speed at which <em>Blight Curse </em>can toss out -1/-1 counters means Wickersmith's Tools will be an army in a can in no time - if only there were a way to fit in the original <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reaper King" href="#" target="_blank">Reaper King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>...</p>


<p>When it comes to <em>Blight Curse, </em>it's pretty clear what the game plan is.</p>
<p>Players want to put -1/-1 counters on creatures. Those things can be their own creatures, or their opponents' creatures. That's pretty much the long and short of it. The deck's face commander and alternate commander both drive players directly into that narrow lane, though in slightly different ways.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Auntie Ool, Cursewretch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Reaper, King No More"></div></div>
<p>Where Auntie Ool provides a decision to make with each counter placement, the value of either choice is incremental. Neither option will win the game quickly, though if left unchecked, often Auntie Ool's the only engine needed to take over.</p>
<p>The Reaper, King No More, however, just wants to make friends. Any creature on the battlefield could be that new friend, as long as it dies with a -1/-1 counter on it. This will lean players more into the creature removal route, either by piling up those counters or by adding a single one then nuking it another way.</p>
<p>However, it's also worth noting that The Reaper can use those counters defensively by placing them on your own creatures to bring them back to life, should they die. Don't forget about the pesky "once per turn" caveat, although that can be on opponents' turns, as well.</p>
<p>But where do the -1/-1 counters come from in the first place?</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Scorpion God" href="#" target="_blank">The Scorpion God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carnifex Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Carnifex Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Banshee" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Banshee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Sun&#039;s Zenith" href="#" target="_blank">Black Sun&#039;s Zenith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grim Poppet" href="#" target="_blank">Grim Poppet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everlasting Torment" href="#" target="_blank">Everlasting Torment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Scorpion God"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carnifex Demon"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Banshee"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Sun&#039;s Zenith"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grim Poppet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Everlasting Torment"></div></div>
<p>Outside of the two commanders, <em>Blight Curse </em>provides plenty of ways to capitalize on all the counters being tossed around.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Tiller" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Tiller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dusk Urchins" href="#" target="_blank">Dusk Urchins</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons" href="#" target="_blank">Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flourishing Defenses" href="#" target="_blank">Flourishing Defenses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Tiller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dusk Urchins"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flourishing Defenses"></div></div>
<p>Beyond the core strategy, <em>Blight Curse </em>comes with plenty of ways to remove anything that can't be melted with -1/-1 counters.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Covenant" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Covenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chain Reaction" href="#" target="_blank">Chain Reaction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminate" href="#" target="_blank">Terminate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Covenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chain Reaction"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terminate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Assassin&#039;s Trophy"></div></div>
<p>One interesting tidbit is that surprisingly, long-time precon staple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is <em>not </em>in this list.</p>
<p>Lastly, there's also a sizable collection of cards centered around keeping up with card advantage, an issue decks like this often encounter. It's good to see that built into a preconstructed deck.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painful Truths" href="#" target="_blank">Painful Truths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonize" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Night&#039;s Whisper" href="#" target="_blank">Night&#039;s Whisper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eventide&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Eventide&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Painful Truths"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonize"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Night&#039;s Whisper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eventide&#039;s Shadow"></div></div>


<p>When scoping out <em>Blight Curse </em>over at <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/18744715/blight_curse_lorwyn_eclipsed_commander_deck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Archidekt</a>, it's interesting that the deck's listed as Bracket 4. Why?</p>
<p>Well, thanks to our friends at <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/2228-4994/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook</a>, we see that there's an infinite combo present, straight out of the box.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blowfly Infestation"></div></div>
<div id="2228-4994" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="2228-4994" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Hapatra%2C%20Vizier%20of%20Poisons%22%2C%22Blowfly%20Infestation%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%5D&id=2228-4994&color=BG&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe><br />
That's unusual for a precon, but not unprecedented.</p>
<p>As noted above, there are plenty of hoops one must jump through to fire off this infinite combo, but it's certainly doable. And there are payoffs already present in the list as well:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dread Tiller" href="#" target="_blank">Dread Tiller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl, Known Killer" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl, Known Killer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Scorpion God" href="#" target="_blank">The Scorpion God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Venerations" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Venerations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flourishing Defenses" href="#" target="_blank">Flourishing Defenses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wickersmith&#039;s Tools" href="#" target="_blank">Wickersmith&#039;s Tools</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dread Tiller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Massacre Girl, Known Killer"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Scorpion God"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wickersmith&#039;s Tools"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Venerations"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flourishing Defenses"></div></div>
<p>All the above cards care in some way about creatures you control dying with a -1/-1 counter on it as it goes. Just make sure greed doesn't take over and you draw your entire deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Scorpion God" href="#" target="_blank">The Scorpion God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>If one combo isn't enough, there's always <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, too.</p>
<p>Combos with Devoted Druid aren't exactly hard to come by, as Commander Spellbook shows. For <em>Blight Curse, </em>all it would take is adding a few of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hazel&#039;s Brewmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Hazel&#039;s Brewmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Bristly Bill, Spine Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tyvar, the Pummeler" href="#" target="_blank">Tyvar, the Pummeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quillspike" href="#" target="_blank">Quillspike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and many, many more.</p>


<p><em>Blight Curse </em>features a total of 39 lands, mostly there to provide the trio of colors. However, there are two lands included for the theme, which is appreciated.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nesting Grounds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ifnir Deadlands"></div></div>
<p>While those aren't the greatest options, it's still a preconstructed deck at the end of the day. And as with most precons, the first place to start when upgrading is usually going to be the land base.</p>
<p>The deck's mana rocks are also largely forgettable. We've got the usual suspects in Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Commander's Sphere, and that's about it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commander&#039;s Sphere"></div></div>
<p>There are plenty of creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Channeler Initiate" href="#" target="_blank">Channeler Initiate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ignoble Hierarch" href="#" target="_blank">Ignoble Hierarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to help with mana costs, however.</p>


<p>Many of the cards people wanted to see in the <em>Blight Curse </em>list are already in there, but there's always room for improvement.</p>
<p>Starting with five cards, what can we add to further the deck's synergy? And how far can the power level be pushed?</p>
<p>First of all, cards can't be added before others are removed, so which five cards are on the chopping block?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burning Curiosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chimil, the Inner Sun"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana, Death Wielder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Ifnir"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hoarder&#039;s Greed"></div></div>
<p>We're cutting two cards - <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana, Death Wielder" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana, Death Wielder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chimil, the Inner Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Chimil, the Inner Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - that are among the top five most expensive reprints in the list. And that's okay. Both are expensive to cast and while good, aren't as focused or impactful as other cards in those spots might be.</p>
<p>The former of those two, Liliana, is a curious inclusion anyway when considering the deck didn't also come with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Influence" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Influence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Five Additions on a Budget</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obelisk Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Generous Patron"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mahadi, Emporium Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whisper of the Dross"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contagion Engine"></div></div>
<h3>Five Additions With No Budget</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ozolith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crumbling Ashes"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="All Will Be One"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nest of Scarabs"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div>
<p>The non-budget list could be multiple times longer than these five cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maha, Its Feathers Night" href="#" target="_blank">Maha, Its Feathers Night</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Constrictor" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Constrictor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexing Squelcher" href="#" target="_blank">Hexing Squelcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - all of these would fit in just as nicely.</p>
<p>And for those wondering about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - if creatures you control have -1/-1 counters on them when they die, those counters can be stored on The Ozolith for future use, even to be placed on opponents' creatures at the beginning of combat on your turn.</p>
<p>It's all about synergy at the end of the day, and despite never having a dedicated Jund-colored <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> commander, there are still plenty of options in that trio of colors for -1/-1 shenanigans. One could even play a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harbinger of Night" href="#" target="_blank">Harbinger of Night</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if one were so inclined.</p>
<h3>Game Changers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bolas&#039;s Citadel"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldly Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska&#039;s Will"></div></div>
<p>If the goal is to stick to the synergistic game plan, <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a> are obviously excellent but do detract from our theme. None of the cards currently considered Game Changers have much to do with -1/-1 counters, unless you count tutors, which by definition <em>could </em>be -1/-1 counters cards, in a pinch.</p>
<p>If there's one significant weakness to <em>Blight Curse, </em>it's that it'll be mana-hungry, so there's no fault in going after the Game Changers that accelerate mana, either.</p>


<p>For both <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander </em>decks, the MSRP is listed at $49.99.</p>
<p><em>Blight Curse</em> comes in at an estimated contained value of around $330. If we remove the 12 new cards, which are currently in prerelease pricing and are subject to change, the value of the reprints alone becomes around $160.</p>
<p>The most expensive reprints in <em>Blight Curse</em> are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necroskitter" href="#" target="_blank">Necroskitter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chimil, the Inner Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Chimil, the Inner Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tree of Perdition" href="#" target="_blank">Tree of Perdition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flourishing Defenses" href="#" target="_blank">Flourishing Defenses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana, Death Wielder" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana, Death Wielder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necroskitter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chimil, the Inner Sun"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tree of Perdition"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flourishing Defenses"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana, Death Wielder"></div></div>


<p>For certain players, <em>Blight Curse </em>is a deck that was a long time coming. This is the first time Jund colors (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) had dedicated -1/-1 counters synergy in the command zone, and the two options presented here certainly don't disappoint.</p>
<p>Couple that with the suite of reprints that had to be included for a preconstructed deck built on this theme to function well, and you get a strong precon, and an early contender for precon deck of the year.</p>
<p><em>Blight Curse</em> gets an A.</p>


auntie ool

Blight Curse - Lorwyn Eclipsed Precon Guide