<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://cristibalanescu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christi Balanescu</a></em></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was recently introduced by the Jund (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/world-shaper" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>World Shaper</em> Commander precon</a> and challenges what the Commander Format Panel (<a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/introducing-the-commander-format-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CFP</a>) means when they say "No Mass Land Denial (MLD) for Brackets 1-3."</p>
<p>Until now, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon|LEA|2" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obliterate|INV|156" href="#" target="_blank">Obliterate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have been premier examples for what land destruction meant and subsequently what wasn't desired for Brackets 1-3.</p>
<p>Land destruction on its own wasn't enough to encapsulate just what the CFP had in mind when it came to explaining which playstyles they wanted reserved for higher Brackets, and so they broadened the term into Mass Land Denial to include stax strategies.</p>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stasis|LEA|80" href="#" target="_blank">Stasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger|NPH|127" href="#" target="_blank">Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that explicitly seek to deny opponents access to basic and fundamental resources could now be included alongside land destruction spells under a single umbrella.</p>
<p>But this design philosophy has been focusing on instances where MLD is very "all-or-nothing." That's to say, players that seek to engage with MLD seek cards that are all encompassing, unrestricted. No one is running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or its many variants by accident; MLD is intentionally built into a deck.</p>
<p>So what makes Planetary Annihilation so different?</p>
<h2>How Planetary Annihilation Changes MLD</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bend or Break|INV|137"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Static Orb|TMP|310"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tangle Wire|NEM|139"></div></div>
<p>Denying your opponents Treasure generation with, say, a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manglehorn" href="#" target="_blank">Manglehorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or sweeping everyone's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves|LEA|210" href="#" target="_blank">mana dorks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge|C13|96" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not MLD.</p>
<p>Yes, it denies a lot of resources your opponents have spent the game building, but it's fundamentally different than running a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mycosynth Lattice|DST|130" href="#" target="_blank">Mycosynth Lattice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator|WAR|1" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lock.</p>
<p>Your opponents <em>should</em> expect to be interacted with to some degree to prevent them from winning, but for Brackets 1-3, there's a social aspect that <em>must</em> be recognized before a game begins. Anyone can run enough MLD to win the game outright, but winning is not the singular goal of a Brackets 1-3 game.</p>
<p>A Bracket 1-3 Commander game seeks to allow players to explore their decks to varying degrees, but MLD often outright denies players this opportunity. This is where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stands out.</p>
<p>Where MLD cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cataclysm|EXO|3" href="#" target="_blank">Cataclysm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trinisphere|DST|154" href="#" target="_blank">Trinisphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are devastating on their own, let alone easily exploitable in the right deck to act as one-sided stax pieces, Planetary Annihilation asks players to reset the game to a reasonable six lands instead.</p>
<p>That's it. No need to touch your nonbasic lands or scoop because your three-color aggro deck now must survive on a single <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Command Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Command Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Odds are this spell is being resolved around turn 5-6 anyways, so it's likely that you won't need to touch any of your lands.</p>
<p>Even if this spell is resolved late game when everyone has fetched and ramped as much as they can, six lands is still a respectable amount of lands to build back from, especially considering no one's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring|LEA|269" href="#" target="_blank">mana rocks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were harmed in the making.</p>
<p>Additionally, this spell really desires to be played one way or another. Either you would like to reduce everyone to six lands <em>or</em> deal six damage to each creature.</p>
<p>It's very rare someone would be willing to play a bunch of dorks just to ramp into a board wipe. And if they ramp with rocks instead? Who cares? Everyone has fewer than six lands, anyways.</p>
<h2>MLD as a Means of Playing Catch-Up</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer&#039;s Map|C21|12"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Land Tax|LEG|26"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weathered Wayfarer|ONS|59"></div></div>
<p>Planetary Annihilation is very clearly an easy answer for players to answer a slower hand/deck, similar to how the three cards above seek to level the playing field through white's signature "find land if opponent has more land" clause.</p>
<p>Any deck that can run green is automatically at an advantage with land fetching, which is something some decks can't compete with outright. Other colors, like white and red, sometimes rely on green's acceleration in order to function.</p>
<p>Your opponent's Simic (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) <em>landfall</em> deck that's three lands ahead to your Azorius (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) Vehicles deck will forever be ahead of your curve. This is doubly-so if you receive a single <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast|RTR|111" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Ever thought that MLD was the answer to slowing them down? Kind of, but kind of not. Sure, you could build a Bracket 4 deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon|LEA|2" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and sit happily with your many mana rocks, but I guarantee that the lands-matters deck will only need a turn or two before they have rebuilt everything Armageddon destroyed.</p>
<p>Now what if instead of Armageddon you ran <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Your opponent has used the majority of their land-fetching cards to create an unholy amount of 4/4 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampaging Baloths|ZEN|178" href="#" target="_blank">beasts</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or 1/1 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm|ZNR|203" href="#" target="_blank">insects</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Now you can wipe their mass of tokens <em>and</em> slow them down a bit without rationalizing your two other opponents as collateral. Sure, the Simic deck could try and find a few more lands or draw some more cards, but they're now wide open and have three opponents with ample room to stop them.</p>
<p>This space of allowing players the chance to catch up to those who have had faster starts to Commander games is where more design space ought to be explored.</p>
<p>Granting players the ability to take a growing or established battlefield and rewinding it to a reduced yet enjoyable state is the Goldilocks of Bracket 1-3 "MLD."</p>
<h2>How Should Precons Explore "MLD"?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angel of Despair|GPT|101"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashen Rider|THS|187"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Woodfall Primus|NCC|322"></div></div>
<p>For starters, I would argue that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and cards like it not be classified as Mass Land Denial spells. Shocker, I know. But it's important to appropriately distinguish Planetary Annihilation from actual MLD cards that should never be near a precon.</p>
<p>MLD should be clarified explicitly to include the intent to engage in MLD. Cards and strategies that actively seek to deny players access to such fundamentals like access to lands should not be what precons promote.</p>
<p>However, just because a precon shouldn't run MLD doesn't bar precons from running premium point removal. A precon that runs multiple <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within|NPH|103" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects can still be a precon and engage with a soft MLD design philosophy.</p>
<p>Imagine a precon that centers around creating copies of creatures, specifically creatures that trigger on entering. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terastodon|WWK|115" href="#" target="_blank">Terastodon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be a safe inclusion for such a precon while exploring this concept of soft MLD.</p>
<p>In fact, there's no reason a new player <em>has</em> to choose lands as their targets. It's a new player, chances are they'll try and blow up everyone's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring|LEA|269" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before they even consider lands as legal targets.</p>
<p>Giving new players the ability to safely explore MLD is an important learning experience. They should have the ability to remove their opponent's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion|WAR|248" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nesting Grounds|C20|71" href="#" target="_blank">Nesting Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if need be.</p>
<p>There's no need to go overboard; a precon has no reason to create a reliable/repeatable means of blowing up lands. But more precons with more cards exploring new ways to remove threats in an opponent's land pile ought to be encouraged.</p>
<h2>Yes, Precons Should Destroy (Some) Lands</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beast Within|NPH|103"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chaos Warp|CMD|114"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eye of Nowhere|CHK|59"></div></div>
<p>Commander is best when every player can meaningfully engage in a game, letting their decks perform at their best and "doing the thing." Four players giving each other the ability to express themselves within a stack of some cardboard is what precons ought to strive for.</p>
<p>That being said, precons are not <em>just</em> for fun. They are undoubtedly tailored with enfranchised players in mind. It's only a matter of time before the next Standard set's Commander precon includes the latest and greatest utility land.</p>
<p>When such a time comes, it's only fair for each and every deck to have some means of dealing with lands that have been traditionally untouchable. More cards like Planetary Annihilation will enable for more interaction and thus a healthier game experience.</p>
<p>Traditional MLD can stay MLD, there's not a calling for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Moon|DRK|58" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to be available at Bracket 2. But what if WoTC started making Blood Moon <em>into</em> something precon friendly?</p>
<p>Something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ultima, Origin of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Ultima, Origin of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may be worth dabbling with as a secondary Commander in a future precon, or perhaps a spin on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure Nabber" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure Nabber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that temporarily swipes nonbasic lands.</p>
<p>How do you feel about designs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Do you think that exploring a soft kind of MLD in precons is inappropriate? What are some other ways you would test the bounds of MLD?</p>
<p>I hope that this article is helpful in exploring what MLD is and how we as players can use it to teach newer players, but I'd love to hear from you and what your thoughts may be. Tune in next time to continue this deep dive in the Bracket system and more Commander Philosophy!</p>


What Planetary Annihilation Means For Commander Precons

<p><em>World Shaper</em> is a new Commander preconstructed deck releasing with the set <em>Edge of Eternities</em>. What's in the deck, who are the commanders, and how can we upgrade it? Let's find out.</p>


<p>The World Shaper Edge of Eternities 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 or punch-out counters</li>
<li>World Shaper contains 10 double-sided tokens</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd" href="#" target="_blank">Szarel, Genesis Shepherd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd"></div></div>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed"></div></div>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baloth Prime" href="#" target="_blank">Baloth Prime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baloth Prime"></div></div>
<p>A 10/10 four only four mana, there's the drawback that Baloth Prime takes awhile to awaken from its stun counter-induced slumber. However, it still impacts the board significantly even before it wakes up, allowing for the creation of a 4/4 Beast for each land we sacrifice. It even comes with its own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-esque ability to allow for a sacrifice outlet.</p>
<p>Baloth Prime is never going to be a bad draw in this precon, and custom-made decks will make this card even more devastating.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eumidian Hatchery" href="#" target="_blank">Eumidian Hatchery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eumidian Hatchery"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of sacrificing lands, the World Shaper precon also gifts players a land that willingly jumps onto the altar. Eumidian Hatchery rewards repeated tapping, and the one life paid each time is a pittance when it's cashed in for an army of 1/1 bugs in the late game.</p>
<p>Commander rewards players for using cards that accrue passive value, and Eumidian Hatchery is a prime example of that.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eumidian Wastewaker" href="#" target="_blank">Eumidian Wastewaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eumidian Wastewaker"></div></div>
<p>Eumidian Wastewaker might seem like an annoyingly symmetrical resource drainer, but in the right deck, that symmetry will be easily exploited. <em>World Shaper</em> is in a lot of ways one such deck, but this Insect Cleric will be more at home in decks that lean more into the discard aspect. And the eight-mana encore ability is just gravy.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evendo Brushrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Evendo Brushrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evendo Brushrazer"></div></div>
<p>There are a few caveats with Evendo Brushrazer: it only counts <em>non</em>token permanents sacrificed, and the card advantage is in the form of the very red top-of-library exile instead of straight draw. But for three mana, there are worse things.</p>
<p>Especially since on top of all that, it's got a once-per-turn <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squandered Resources" href="#" target="_blank">Squandered Resources</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stapled to it.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exploration Broodship" href="#" target="_blank">Exploration Broodship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exploration Broodship"></div></div>
<p>Our first Spacecraft, Exploration Broodship lives up to its namesake by allowing for the doubling-up of land drops each turn, provided it's been stationed at 3+.</p>
<p>That's an additional hoop to jump through than just playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exploration" href="#" target="_blank">Exploration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but Exploration can't eventually turn into a 4/4 flyer that essentially gives all your permanents retrace.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Festering Thicket" href="#" target="_blank">Festering Thicket</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Festering Thicket"></div></div>
<p>If the rest of the new cards are dessert, Festering Thicket (and fellow new land <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vernal Fen" href="#" target="_blank">Vernal Fen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) are eating our vegetables.</p>
<p>While not particularly exciting on their own, it's nice to see outstanding cycles of multicolor lands being completed, and a cycling land like Festering Thicket is particularly synergistic in World Shaper.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Horizon Explorer" href="#" target="_blank">Horizon Explorer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Horizon Explorer"></div></div>
<p>The line of text "Lands you control enter untapped" would have been even more exciting if it wasn't <em>just </em>used on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it's still very cool, nonetheless - especially in a deck like <em>World Shaper</em> that features so many lands that by default enter the battlefield tapped.</p>
<p>Also, getting upward of three Landers a turn, which are essentially <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s that enable sacrifice triggers, makes Horizon Explorer a contender for best new card in <em>Edge of Eternities Commander. </em></p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planetary Annihilation"></div></div>
<p>Planetary Annihilation is essentially a worse <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wildfire" href="#" target="_blank">Wildfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burning of Xinye" href="#" target="_blank">Burning of Xinye</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the sense that it allows players to keep a minimum of six lands, instead of likely dropping them lower than that. But land destruction is still land destruction, and Planetary Annihilation will be the center of many Bracket and Rule Zero discussions when it comes to World Shaper.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, it's a good (but not great) card and perfectly fine in a precon/Bracket 2.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scouring Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scouring Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scouring Swarm"></div></div>
<p>Scouring Swarm is very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that people either love or hate depending on their outlook re: exponential math. It's arguably worse, since it's harder in a vacuum to get lands into the graveyard than it is to simply put them onto the battlefield, but adding flying to the equation means the power level difference between the two swarms is a lot closer than it seems.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vernal Fen" href="#" target="_blank">Vernal Fen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vernal Fen"></div></div>
<p>Like Festering Thicket is doing with the two-color cycling lands, Vernal Fen is doing with the "tango" lands. We're seeing the completion of a cycle, so players who were fans of this particular land group will be pleased that every color combination is finally represented.</p>


<p>With <em>World Shaper</em>, our goal is to move lands from zone to zone, accruing value with every step. We want triggers to go off when a land enters the battlefield, is sacrificed, is in the graveyard, or is exiled. Ideally all of the above with the same land.</p>
<p>To help with that goal, the precon includes a whopping 42 lands in the 99, likely more than most players are used to playing in their own custom decks that aren't <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling the Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling the Pilgrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and 99 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s.</p>
<p>Many of those 42 lands come with their own sacrifice abilities, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fabled Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Fabled Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myriad Landscape" href="#" target="_blank">Myriad Landscape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabaretti Courtyard" href="#" target="_blank">Cabaretti Courtyard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which certainly helps out our strategy.</p>
<p>If there's one aspect of our aim to create a never-ending carousel of lands coming and going, it's adequate land-sacrifice outlets. We've got a few, but we could probably make due with more.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fabled Passage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myriad Landscape"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabaretti Courtyard"></div></div>
<p>The land game is our central focus, so many of the cards that allow us to extract value from it do so passively, including our commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd" href="#" target="_blank">Szarel, Genesis Shepherd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baloth Prime" href="#" target="_blank">Baloth Prime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Juri, Master of the Revue" href="#" target="_blank">Juri, Master of the Revue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> act as the payoff of our land dance.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baloth Prime"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Juri, Master of the Revue"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King"></div></div>
<p>It might take a while to get our engine set up, which is why <em>World Shaper</em> plays more like a mid-range deck - our focus is on dominating turns 4+, which is why we've got plenty of removal, including multiple board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaze of Granite" href="#" target="_blank">Gaze of Granite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planetary Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Planetary Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gaze of Granite"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planetary Annihilation"></div></div>


<p>Like most modern Commander precons, <em>World Shaper</em>'s all about that synergy. A total of 41 out of 58 nonland cards care about lands in some way or another.</p>
<p>Unlike most modern Commander precons, however, this one technically includes an infinite combo, courtesy of the interaction between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gitrog Monster" href="#" target="_blank">The Gitrog Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dakmor Salvage" href="#" target="_blank">Dakmor Salvage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>I'll let our friends at Commander Spellbook explain:</p>
<div id="250-779" 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="250-779" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22The%20Gitrog%20Monster%22%2C%22Dakmor%20Salvage%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20self-discard%20triggers%22%5D&id=250-779&color=BG&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe><br />
Admittedly, it's pretty niche as far as usefulness goes, but someone, somewhere will fire up the <em>World Shaper</em> precon and use this combo to tell a very memorable story.</p>


<p>As mentioned, almost half of <em>World Shaper</em> is lands. That said, surprisingly few provide utility outside of mana fixing. We've got our new bug-making land <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eumidian Hatchery" href="#" target="_blank">Eumidian Hatchery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as old stalwarts <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Escape Tunnel" href="#" target="_blank">Escape Tunnel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but every other land is here to either make mana or go find a different land that makes mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eumidian Hatchery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bojuka Bog"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Escape Tunnel"></div></div>
<p>As for mana rocks, a deck with 42 lands isn't going to play a ton of artifact ramp, but as usual we've got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to help out.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div>


<p>So you snagged a copy of <em>World Shaper</em> and want to soup it up a bit. Starting with five cards, what should be added? 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="Formless Genesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Escape to the Wilds"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worldsoul&#039;s Rage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Uurg, Spawn of Turg"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div></div>
<p>These five cards are either redundant or are worse at their job than their replacements.</p>
<p>We're axing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldsoul&#039;s Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Worldsoul&#039;s Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Escape to the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Escape to the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> due to the fact that they're costly sorceries that might not do enough to create a big swing at their mana value. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Formless Genesis" href="#" target="_blank">Formless Genesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good card, but much better in environments that can utilize the changeling tokens more than simply being bodies, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Uurg, Spawn of Turg" href="#" target="_blank">Uurg, Spawn of Turg</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while fun to say, doesn't provide enough value to justify a slot in the deck.</p>
<p>And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while a format staple, is worse than a land in a deck that cares so much about lands.</p>
<p><strong>Five Additions on a Budget</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuran Orb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nahiri&#039;s Lithoforming"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakura-Tribe Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evolution Witness"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Retreat to Kazandu"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is likely self-explanatory, but it's probably one of the best land-sacrifice outlets there is, and a glaring omission in <em>World Shaper</em>. Same with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which synergizes with our commander as well as several other cards in the list.</p>
<p>And yes, we're removing one X-spell and adding another in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri&#039;s Lithoforming" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri&#039;s Lithoforming</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we're getting a ton more value out of the land sacrifice as well as the added land drops.</p>
<p><strong>Five Additions with No Budget</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ouroboroid"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Constant Mists"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scapeshift"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crucible of Worlds"></div></div>
<p>Land-based strategies tend to be a bit impactful on the wallet, but if budget isn't a consideration, there are plenty of options to take <em>World Shaper</em> to the moon. If we want to lean into our commander's +1/+1 ability, we want to make sure the bug gets its share too, which is where <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ouroboroid" href="#" target="_blank">Ouroboroid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> come in.</p>
<p>As for the other three cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Constant Mists" href="#" target="_blank">Constant Mists</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scapeshift" href="#" target="_blank">Scapeshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> kick our land sacrifice into overdrive, though admittedly for the latter, for Scapeshift to truly be great, we'd need to improve our lands as well. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crucible of Worlds" href="#" target="_blank">Crucible of Worlds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exactly what it says on the tin, and enables a ton of combos as well, should we want to go that route.</p>
<p><strong>Game Changers</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crop Rotation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Field of the Dead"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glacial Chasm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Tutor"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braids, Cabal Minion"></div></div>
<p>There are plenty of generically powerful <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a> to be added, but there are also a few that synergize with World Shaper very well: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crop Rotation" href="#" target="_blank">Crop Rotation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glacial Chasm" href="#" target="_blank">Glacial Chasm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all do exactly what the deck wants.</p>
<p>As for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Cabal Minion" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Cabal Minion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>... why not?</p>


<p>Most of the <em>World Shaper</em> deck is geared toward lands. But there are plenty of interesting possibilities for strategies under the "lands" umbrella. With Szarel, there's an entirely different deck with a focus on +1/+1 counters, and one that will likely see plenty of interest as the precon makes its way into people's hands.</p>
<p>However, the deck also provides players with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The legendary Spacecraft is much more laser-focused on lands and nothing else. It's that 8+ station ability that is most intriguing, forcing every opponent to lose two life for each land sacrificed. That might be worthy of a deck on its own:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Hearthhull," site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hearthhull, the Worldseed
[/Commander]
[Land]
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Fabled Passage
*9 Forest
*1 High Market
*1 Lair of the Hydra
*4 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Riveteers Overlook
*1 Savage Lands
*1 Stomping Ground
*6 Swamp
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Twisted Landscape
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Wasteland
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*1 Ziatora&#039;s Proving Ground
[/Land]
[Creature]
*1 Ashaya, Soul of the Wild
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Blossoming Tortoise
*1 Horizon Explorer
*1 Ignoble Hierarch
*1 Kamahl, Heart of Krosa
*1 Raggadragga, Goreguts Boss
*1 Ramunap Excavator
*1 Sek&#039;Kuar, Deathkeeper
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 The Gitrog Monster
*1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
*1 World Shaper
*1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
*1 Yedora, Grave Gardener
*1 Ygra, Eater of All
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Living Lands
*1 Natural Emergence
*1 Nature&#039;s Revolt
*1 Night of Souls&#039; Betrayal
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantment]
[Artifact]
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Crucible of Worlds
*1 Kormus Bell
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Spawning Pit
*1 Zuran Orb
[/Artifact]
[Instant]
*1 Abrupt Decay
*1 Artifact Mutation
*1 Beast Within
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Golgari Charm
*1 Harrow
*1 Kamahl&#039;s Will
*1 Make Obsolete
*1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
*1 Natural Affinity
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Roiling Regrowth
*1 Tragic Slip
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*1 Awaken the Woods
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Damnation
*1 Ezuri&#039;s Predation
*1 Farseek
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Rude Awakening
*1 Splendid Reclamation
*1 Sylvan Awakening
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorcery]"></span></div>
<p>It's a lot easier to sacrifice lands if they're also creatures thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kormus Bell" href="#" target="_blank">Kormus Bell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Lands" href="#" target="_blank">Living Lands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the other spells. And if we're turning all lands into creatures, we might as well take advantage of that with plenty of ways to derail the game by virtue of mass land destruction.</p>
<p>That said, this deck is squarely Bracket 4, though it contains no Game Changers. It does, however, contain a ton of combos, including this one:</p>
<div id="233-575-714-2034" 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="233-575-714-2034" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Yedora%2C%20Grave%20Gardener%22%2C%22Ashnod's%20Altar%22%2C%22Urborg%2C%20Tomb%20of%20Yawgmoth%22%2C%22Kormus%20Bell%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20landfall%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%5D&id=233-575-714-2034&color=G&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>


<p>For both <em>Edge of Eternities Commander </em>decks, the MSRP is listed at $44.99.</p>
<p><em>World Shaper</em> comes in at an estimated contained value of around $240. However, that estimate is inflated by prerelease hype centered around the 12 new cards. If we remove the new cards, the value of the reprints becomes around $90.</p>
<p>The most expensive reprints in <em>World Shaper</em> are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oracle of Mul Daya" href="#" target="_blank">Oracle of Mul Daya</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moraug, Fury of Akoum" href="#" target="_blank">Moraug, Fury of Akoum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fabled Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Fabled Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Arisen Nightmare" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Arisen Nightmare</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oracle of Mul Daya"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moraug, Fury of Akoum"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fabled Passage"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braids, Arisen Nightmare"></div></div>


<p>Factoring in the deck's synergy, fun factor, value, and new cards, <em>World Shaper</em> is a very solid precon and one that won't disappoint when it comes to fun out of the box as well as upgrade potential.</p>
<p><em>World Shaper</em> gets a B+.</p>


World Shaper - Edge of Eternities Precon Guide

Adapting the Abzan Armor Precon for Different Commander Brackets

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>On the evening of Thursday, May 8th, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy/posts/pfbid02T3VmsH45Nimu25H198i2wFv1t9DzafUQKwTcPvobfVXNCsSrhHtiJXyqcLVZ4e12l">the official Facebook account for <em>Final Fantasy</em></a> revealed the remaining two alternative commanders for their Commander precons. Yuna, Grand Summoner is part of the Counter Blitz deck, which features characters from <em>Final Fantasy X</em>. Graha Tia, Scion Reborn is the alternate commander of the Scions &amp; Spellcraft deck, showcasing the characters of <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>.</p>
<h2>Yuna, Grand Summoner</h2>
<p>One of the main characters of <em>FFX</em> and the love interest of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidus, Yuna&#039;s Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Tidus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Yuna is an extremely vital figure in the <em>FFX</em> canon. A summoner, Yuna can conjure beings known as "aeons" to aid in combat. She is also a proficient White Mage, using healing magic to act as a support role in the game and its sequel.</p>
<div id="attachment_152073" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152073" class="wp-image-152073" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png" alt="Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the &quot;Counter Blitz&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152073" class="wp-caption-text">Yuna, Grand Summoner, a new card from within the "Counter Blitz" precon for <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>In the context of Commander, Yuna acts as a pseudo version of <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>, but rather than the counters of the dead creature retaining their classification, Yuna effectively converts them into +1/+1 counters for another creature. What's more, Yuna is a mana-producing creature that puts +1/+1 counters on the creature that mana is spent on. In that way, she seems to do a bang-up job in somewhat imitating <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, her showcase borderless version can be seen below!</p>
<div id="attachment_152074" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152074" class="wp-image-152074" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png" alt="The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/borderless-yuna-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152074" class="wp-caption-text">The borderless showcase version of Yuna, Grand Summoner. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<h2>G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn</h2>
<p>G'raha Tia, also known as the "Crystal Exarch," is a major character in <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>. He is a member of the protagonist's party and a member of the Miqo'te race in the game's setting. He is playful and eccentric, and, in the context of the MMO setting of <em>FFXIV</em>, can play the role of a Paladin, White Mage, or Black Mage. Versatile!</p>
<div id="attachment_152075" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-152075" class="wp-image-152075" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png" alt="G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the &quot;Scions &amp; Spellcraft&quot; precon for Final Fantasy. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix" width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia.png 700w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/graha-tia-215x300.png 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-152075" class="wp-caption-text">G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn, a new card from within the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon for <em>Final Fantasy</em>. Image credits: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</p></div>
<p>In the context of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, G'raha Tia is a token generator with lifelink. His second ability appears to synergize somewhat with the face commander of the "Scions &amp; Spellcraft" precon, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but only just. However, the existence of a 1/1 colorless Hero token seems interesting. Usually, nonartifact creature tokens have a color associated with them. Is this indicative of something greater?</p>
<h2>Final Days Before the <em>Final Fantasy</em> Panel</h2>
<p>These two precon commander alternatives are pretty interesting. We look forward to seeing what else comes of the set and decks! If you're also interested, the panel at PAX East will be livestreamed on Twitch on Saturday, May 10th, from noon to 2 pm Eastern!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, how do you feel about these reveals? Are you excited to test out any <em>Final Fantasy</em> commanders? Sound off below!</p>


Final Fantasy Precons' Yuna And G'raha Tia Officially Revealed

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/pascalquidault">Pascal Quidault</a></h6>
<h1>Weird Science!</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Assaultron Dominator"></div></div>
<p>Welcome back lone wanderers, couriers, chosen ones and sole survivors to the last article in our Fallout Lore series. I’m Joshua, also known as PrinceofBieltan on the internet and I’ll be your guide to the final deck in the <em>Universes Beyond:</em> <em>Fallout</em> release… Science!</p>
<p>If this is your first time seeing an article like this, I have good news, there are three more for you to enjoy based on the precon decks! You can read those as you like:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-fallout-hail-caesar/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview">Hail, Caesar</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-universes-beyond-fallout-scrappy-survivors/">Scrappy Survivors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-lore-of-fallout-mutant-menace/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview">Mutant Menace</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Many <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> players like to upgrade their decks with cards from Universes Beyond sets while remaining at loss for what the card actually is, or the meaning it evokes. This series aims to illuminate you on what the world of <em>Fallout</em> is like, so let’s not waste energy and dive in.</p>
<p>Technology is one of the key cornerstones of the <em>Fallout</em> setting, set in a timeline divergent from our own and characterized by atomic futurism. There’s signature technology like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pip-Boy 3000" href="#" target="_blank">Pip-Boy 3000</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mister Gutsy" href="#" target="_blank">Mister Gutsy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> robot and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nuka-Nuke Launcher" href="#" target="_blank">Nuka-Nuke Launcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the previous decks we’ve looked at. With Science! We’ll be exploring some of the finest minds of the setting, taking a look at what humanity actually did with all that atomic power they invented.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pip-Boy 3000"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mister Gutsy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nuka-Nuke Launcher"></div></div>
<p>It’s worth noting here that with the Science! Preconstructed Commander deck we have our first dedicated energy deck for commanders. This is exciting enough, it’s a mechanic that we haven’t seen for around eight years since the days of <em>Kaladesh</em> and <em>Aether Revolt</em>. You’ll find a lot of these cards do fun things with energy and this is a wonderful way for the mechanic to be reintroduced to Commander before it’s return in the upcoming <em>Modern Horizons 3</em>.</p>
<h2>More like RADison Li</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dr. Madison Li"></div></div>
<p>Let’s kick things off with our face commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Madison Li" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Madison Li</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the legendary creature who helms this deck, she’s a little more subtle than the backup commander we’ll get to it later. Madison appears first in the game <em>Fallout 3</em>, as someone integral to the growth of the player character. She’s a brilliant multidisciplinary scientist, with the noble endeavor of making the Capital Wasteland, the game’s setting safer for all those who live within it. She aims to do this through Project Purity, a scientific undertaking spanning decades with the eventual aim of providing renewable clean water to the citizens of the wasteland.</p>
<p>Madison’s intellect and dedication are integral to the success of the survivors and factions like the Brotherhood of Steel, who she aligns herself with for a time. Her time working with the Brotherhood of Steel is spent on something big. Reviving and repairing an old piece of pre-war technology that could be the turning point in the Brotherhood of Steel’s battle for the freedom of the Capital Wasteland. With that, let’s move on to our backup commander and the fruit of Madison’s labor.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Struggle for Project Purity"></div></div>
<h2>For Democracy!</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liberty Prime, Recharged"></div></div>
<p>If I had a nickel for every time Wizards of the Coast had put out a Commander deck with an awesome robot backup commander then I’d have two nickels (though, it’s strange that it’s happened twice). Joining the ranks of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shorikai, Genesis Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Shorikai, Genesis Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as backup commanders who are very likely to see more play than the face commander on rule of cool, we introduce <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creation of the United States army constructed in the days before the Great War that created the <em>Fallout</em> setting. Discovered in the years following the nuclear fallout below the Pentagon by the Brotherhood of Steel, this awesome weapon of destruction became the patriotic labor of the Brotherhood for many years; its power systems damaged in the years following the Great War. The ultimate collaboration between the Brotherhood of Steel and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Madison Li" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Madison Li</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> resulted in Liberty Prime’s power issues remedied and the unit once again able to deploy in battle against the Brotherhood’s sworn enemies, the Enclave.</p>
<p>Once we know the story of how <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> came to be, the card makes much more sense. While this robot towers above many buildings in game it requires colossal amounts of energy to power. You’ll spend a lot of time amassing the energy required to power up this behemoth before you take full advantage of it during your games. Once you do manage to start up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, your enemies will crumble before the forces of democracy. Which is non negotiable by the way.</p>
<h2>Respect Your Elders</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elder Owyn Lyons"></div></div>
<p>Owyn Lyons sits at the head of the East Coast Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel during the time of <em>Fallout 3</em>. Lyons was tasked with scouring the Capital Wasteland for advanced technology left behind by the United States army that could have survived the nuclear fallout. There’s no surprise that his card is focused around the acquisition of technology allowing you to return artifacts from your graveyard to your hand whenever he enters the battlefield or dies.</p>
<p>Lyons’ discovery of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and cooperation with Madison Li make him a key piece in the Fallout story and the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Struggle for Project Purity" href="#" target="_blank">Struggle for Project Purity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>I Am Iron Man</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="T-45 Power Armor"></div></div>
<p>The Brotherhood of Steel are one of the main factions appearing at least partially in every <em>Fallout</em> game. They are an order of knights who follow a strict heraldry and teachings of a codex (If I had a nickel for every <em>Universes Beyond</em> IP faction who… alright, you get my drift).</p>
<p>One of the most iconic pieces of <em>Fallout’s</em> design is Power Armor, with the T-45 model being perhaps the most famous. Unlike <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liberty Prime, Recharged" href="#" target="_blank">Liberty Prime, Recharged</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armory Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Armory Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who are depicted wearing Power Armor aren’t robots. But like Liberty Prime these hulking suits require constant supplies of energy to power, as well as specialized training to move in. They turn the wearer into a nigh invincible human tank, capable of battling even the strongest super mutant. Power Armor is as much a part of <em>Fallout’s</em> branding as Vault Boy, and you’ll be able to get your hands on this epic Equipment within the Science! deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armory Paladin"></div></div>
<p>Considering the energy it will take to power it, it’s quite unlikely this will be a card you’ll be splashing into all your decks. It’s a cool card that’s filled with history though, and historic technology is exactly what the Brotherhood of Steel are about.</p>
<h2>Slick Valentine</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nick Valentine, Private Eye"></div></div>
<p>Detective Nick Valentine would fit right in on the plane of Ravnica it seems, now that everyone in <em>Murders at Karlov Manor</em> has become a detective (He’s even got the hat). Where you’re more likely to see Nick Valentine is in the game<em> Fallout 4</em> where he operates out of his own detective agency in the heart of the Commonwealth, Diamond City.</p>
<p>Nick is one of the companions that can accompany the player character in the game, and he can be quite an integral one in some sections. He’s a Synth as well as a detective, and the autonomy and life of Synths is very central to the story of<em> Fallout 4</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Synth Infiltrator"></div></div>
<p>With his slick talking and old-school noir vibes, Nick became a favorite amongst players and we think he’ll do the same in commander. His slick spy moves can only be blocked by other artifact creatures, perfect for getting by unnoticed if you’re attacking the right player.</p>
<p>Each other artifact creature dying leaves behind a Clue, allowing you to piece together pieces of the puzzle and gain knowledge through card advantage. Much like the mysteries Nick can solve in the video game, though we’re going to keep the plot of <em>Fallout 4</em> a mystery ourselves should this article series have enticed you to check out the video games (Which, we’d absolutely recommend by the way).</p>
<h2>This is Galaxy News Radio, Signing Out.</h2>
<p>It’s been a huge undertaking, talking about the <em>Fallout</em> Commander decks we've covered plenty of legendary characters and iconic Equipment, but that's still not all. There’s still plenty more that makes the <em>Fallout</em> set awesome. There’ll be some more content on our site where you’ll get to learn all the more about perks, vaults and bobbleheads but this is where our coverage of some of the key players and themes of the <em>Fallout</em> setting comes to a close.</p>
<p>We’d like to learn from you too though, did you learn a thing or two reading this series? Did it help you understand and become more keen to look at <em>Universes Beyond</em> products? As the face of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> changes it looks like we should have more and more <em>Universes Beyond</em> as time goes on. The flavor of <em>Magic</em> will forever be in flux it seems.</p>
<p>Aside from exposure to new universes you might enjoy, there are a lot more benefits to be had. With <em>Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings</em> selling record numbers for Hasbro, we can assume that a lot of new players picked up <em>Magic</em> for the first time and that translates to a lot of new faces down at the local game store.</p>
<p>If you’d like to share your thoughts on <em>Universes Beyond</em>, please do so in the comments below. If this was the first article you read, do go back and take a look at some of the others. If you want to discuss ghouls, super mutants or Nuka Cola you can do so with me on <a href="https://twitter.com/PrinceofBielTan">Twitter</a> here and on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0BZvcpmLomA-z0FLjqM8A">Youtube</a> here.</p>
<p>I’ll see you in the next universe, where we’ll likely be trading in our Nuka-Nuke Launchers for Hidden Blades. We’ll never stop playing cards and having fun though. Take care.</p>


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Adapting the Abzan Armor Precon for Different Commander Brackets

Final Fantasy Precons' Yuna And G'raha Tia Officially Revealed

The Lore of Fallout: Science!

Precon Primer - Paradox Power