Breaking Down the Counter Intelligence Precon Battle Fleet

<p><em>Counter Intelligence</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 <em>Counter Intelligence</em> <em>Edge of Eternities</em> <em>Commander</em> 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>6 Double-sided tokens and 4 punch-out counters</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kilo, Apogee Mind"></div></div>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspirit, Flagship Vessel" href="#" target="_blank">Inspirit, Flagship Vessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inspirit, Flagship Vessel"></div></div>


<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Depthshaker Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Depthshaker Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Depthshaker Titan"></div></div>
<p>Starting off our look at the deck's new cards with a bang is Depthshaper Titan, a seven-mana 5/5 red Robot. Clearly a win condition for <em>Counter Intelligence, </em>the Titan animates any or all (your choice) noncreature artifacts you've got for one glorious attack step - the downside of which is that they'll not be sticking around once they've been mobilized.</p>
<p>However, with all the keywords the Titan also bestows on the newly-awakened army, it's likely the game won't last beyond the attack step anyway.</p>
<p>Depthshaker Titan will immediately find a home in decks that like to amass Treasures, Clues, or any other type of artifact tokens.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glittering Massif" href="#" target="_blank">Glittering Massif</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glittering Massif"></div></div>
<p>As seen with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/world-shaper-edge-of-eternities-precon-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>World Shaper </em>precon</a>, <em>Edge of Eternities Commander </em>brings to the table new color pairs of both the cycling lands and the "tango" lands, with Glittering Massif representing the former. They're definitely great to have as budget options for two-color lands.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insight Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Insight Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insight Engine"></div></div>
<p>A more proactive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Unbound" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Unbound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Insight Engine doesn't take very long to surpass many card drawing alternatives.</p>
<p>It'll cost five mana to draw the first card, but with proliferate and other ways to increase the frequency of charge counters being placed on it, Insight Engine swiftly becomes a preeminent option for card advantage. Even without ways to add extra charge counters, Insight Engine will be looked at very favorably by any deck playing blue.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Long-Range Sensor" href="#" target="_blank">Long-Range Sensor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Long-Range Sensor"></div></div>
<p>It's another charge counter-accruing artifact that provides card advantage, but Long-Range Sensor does so in a much more red way.</p>
<p>Ideally, Long-Range Sensor gets three charge counters per each of your turns, so you'll be able to activate its ability three times every two attack steps. That's three (mostly) free spells, which is a pretty sweet deal, especially if the deck Long-Range Scanner is in can take advantage of discover, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald" href="#" target="_blank">Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moxite Refinery" href="#" target="_blank">Moxite Refinery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moxite Refinery"></div></div>
<p>It's a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cranked up beyond maximum capacity. Moxite Refinery will enable all sorts of counter shenanigans; in <em>Counter Intelligence, </em>we're likely moving charge counters from one thing to another, but in decks built around Moxite Refinery's effect, we can go much further.</p>
<p>Convert cumulative upkeep counters to keep your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Soulgorger" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Soulgorger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> around. Keep triggering the best chapters of the Saga creatures from <em>Final Fantasy, </em>like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Upset the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mathas, Fiend Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Mathas, Fiend Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> player by constantly removing bounty counters from your creatures. The options are endless.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patrolling Peacemaker" href="#" target="_blank">Patrolling Peacemaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patrolling Peacemaker"></div></div>
<p>Proliferate is a very powerful ability in the right deck, and <em>Counter Intelligence </em>is absolutely the right deck to take advantage of a card like Patrolling Peacemaker.</p>
<p>Even if there's nothing else to proliferate, Patrolling Peacemaker itself can get bigger and bigger for every crime committed by an opponent. And remember - you don't even need to be the victim of the crime for Patrolling Peacemaker to trigger.</p>
<p>Arguably, a card like Patrolling Peacemaker gets better as the power level and skill of the opponents increases, as they're more likely to be playing targeted removal and disruption.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Summit" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Summit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radiant Summit"></div></div>
<p>The second of our two new two-color lands, those with red/white decks needing cheaper options for their landbase need look no further than Radiant Summit.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solar Array" href="#" target="_blank">Solar Array</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solar Array"></div></div>
<p>Solar Array is a three-mana artifact that encourages as many different colors as possible in order to jump-start charge counter production.</p>
<p>Sunburst has been around since <em>Fifth Dawn, </em>but outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pentad Prism" href="#" target="_blank">Pentad Prism</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Engineered Explosives" href="#" target="_blank">Engineered Explosives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hasn't really been seen much at Commander tables. That'll change with Solar Array, as providing sunburst to any artifact will create plenty of interesting scenarios.</p>
<p>Just ask <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lux Artillery" href="#" target="_blank">Lux Artillery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (also in the deck), which did so specifically to artifact creatures. Solar Array is much, much better than that.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge Conductor" href="#" target="_blank">Surge Conductor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surge Conductor"></div></div>
<p>Another new proliferator, Surge Conductor is going to be the bane of many Commander games moving forward. Decks that can utilize Surge Conductor won't be able to help but abuse it, and it's likely we'll see it alongside oppressive planeswalkers before long.</p>
<p>Plus, it didn't take long for players to figure out that if you pair it with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magistrate&#039;s Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Magistrate&#039;s Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Statue" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you've cooked up infinite turns.</p>
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Surge Conductor is immediately a kill-on-sight card, as no good will come from one sticking around on the opposite side of the table.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Uthros Research Craft" href="#" target="_blank">Uthros Research Craft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Uthros Research Craft"></div></div>
<p>Lastly, we've got a new Spacecraft; a three-mana artifact that starts impacting the board at station 3+. Once it hits three or more charge counters on it, you're already in business as it provides significant card advantage. The 12+ tier is just gravy, allowing the thing to take off and hit hard, assuming all those artifacts you've cast are still around.</p>
<p>Likely, Uthros Research Craft is <em>Counter Intelligence's </em>best target for <em>removing </em>counters via Moxite Refinery, as getting it to 12+ turns it into a creature, which might be more vulnerable to removal.</p>


<p>With <em>Counter Intelligence, </em>we're charging up.</p>
<p>Nearly every card in the deck is a cog comprising the well-oiled machine we're looking to construct on the battlefield, focused on artifacts in general, and counters specifically, whether they're of the +1/+1 or charge variety.</p>
<p>Of charge counters, various cards make use of the feature for various ends. Some create mana, make tokens, or draw cards, some bombard opposing permanents, and one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Reactor" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Reactor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, straight up wins the game if left unchecked.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golem Foundry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lux Cannon"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titan Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insight Engine"></div></div>
<p>Many of these artifacts either charge up slowly or don't have a built-in way to add more charge counters once they're in play. That's where our deep bench of support cards come into play. Including our commander, nine cards feature the keyword proliferate, so as long as we're able to get a singular counter on one of our permanents, we can build momentum.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Experimental Augury"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ripples of Potential"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrummingbird"></div></div>
<p>We've also got other ways to boost the number of counters on things, further fueling the engine that is <em>Counter Intelligence</em>:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resourceful Defense"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deepglow Skate"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moxite Refinery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coretapper"></div></div>
<p>It's not going to happen instantly, however, so players piloting <em>Counter Intelligence </em>need to be prepared to protect their investment. Luckily, the deck also features a bit of removal, though the absence of any countermagic outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">Swan Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is interesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dispatch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chain Reaction"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fumigate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Organic Extinction"></div></div>


<p>Unlike with <em>World Shaper, </em><em>Counter Intelligence </em>doesn't come built-in with any combos in the 99. That's not to say it wouldn't be extremely easy to add a few with a card swap here or there.</p>
<p>Artifact-based decks are known for their easier-to-achieve-than-usual synergy, and <em>Counter Intelligence </em>makes full use of the theme by including plenty of synergistic options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emry, Lurker of the Loch" href="#" target="_blank">Emry, Lurker of the Loch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chrome Host Seedshark" href="#" target="_blank">Chrome Host Seedshark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - those three creatures, along with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrummingbird" href="#" target="_blank">Thrummingbird</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are the only non-artifact creatures in the deck out of 25 total.</p>
<p>In fact, of the 100 total cards of <em>Counter Intelligence, </em>45 are artifacts, nearly half the entire deck.</p>
<p>If we <em>wanted </em>to increase our combo number, we could add cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aura of Dominion" href="#" target="_blank">Aura of Dominion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magistrate&#039;s Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Magistrate&#039;s Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Filigree Sages" href="#" target="_blank">Filigree Sages</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And that's just to start.</p>
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<p><em>Counter Intelligence </em>features a total of 40 lands, most of which are present for their color-providing abilities. However, there are a pair of notable exceptions:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn&#039;s Bastion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mycosynth Gardens"></div></div>
<p>Preconstructed decks tend not to have many utility lands, so it's nice that <em>Counter Intelligence </em>provides both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" 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="The Mycosynth Gardens" href="#" target="_blank">The Mycosynth Gardens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, two lands that fit perfectly into the deck's game plan.</p>
<p>Other notable lands include the various artifact lands in the deck's colors, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seat of the Synod" href="#" target="_blank">Seat of the Synod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rustvale Bridge" href="#" target="_blank">Rustvale Bridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, further upping the count of artifact permanents for cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thought Monitor" href="#" target="_blank">Thought Monitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wake the Past" href="#" target="_blank">Wake the Past</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As for mana rocks, there are plenty of options. Outside of the usual <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> 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>, there are several additional ways to make mana that fit the theme of the deck:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Astral Cornucopia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empowered Autogenerator"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Everflowing Chalice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pentad Prism"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Solar Array"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystalline Crawler"></div></div>
<p>And that's not even mentioning the multiple cards in the 99 of <em>Counter Intelligence </em>that don't <em>add </em>mana, technically, but instead reduce the cost of our artifacts - which, again, is 39 of the deck's 60 nonland cards:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloud Key"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enthusiastic Mechanaut"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<p>You're ready to charge up <em>Counter Intelligence </em>with a few card swaps, but don't know where to begin? 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="Mindless Automaton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enthusiastic Mechanaut"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mountain"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chrome Host Seedshark"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wake the Past"></div></div>
<p>Yes, we're cutting a Mountain; the deck runs 40 lands, multiple mana rocks, and other cost reducers. As constructed, <em>Counter Intelligence </em>has 31 cards that can create red mana, but only 12 pips of red across all casting costs. We can afford to shed a Mountain.</p>
<p>As for the other cards, they're not <em>bad, </em>per se, but we're trying to increase efficiency here, and there are better options.</p>
<p><strong>Five Additions on a Budget</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flux Channeler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cayth, Famed Mechanist"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clock of Omens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Forge"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unctus, Grand Metatect"></div></div>
<p><strong>Five Additions with No Budget</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Filigree Vector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Esper Sentinel"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magistrate&#039;s Scepter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Conduit"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Simulacrum Synthesizer"></div></div>
<p>There are many, many options we can consider adding, as the generically powerful "artifacts" theme is one of the best-supported strategies in the format.</p>
<p>Whether they're budget-concious additions or they're cards that come with a heftier pricetag, we could swap things in and out all day. However, we just want to do what <em>Core Intelligence </em>is already doing, but even more efficiently.</p>
<p><strong>Game Changers</strong></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Tomb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Vault"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enlightened Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study"></div></div>
<p>We've got options when it comes to generically powerful <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>.</p>
<p>Also, we <em>could </em>put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into the list, but any deck with an Urza becomes an Urza deck, and <em>Counter Intelligence </em>is more interesting than that.</p>


<p>When it comes to changing the archetype of <em>Counter Intelligence, </em>there are multiple routes we can go. We can lean more into +1/+1 counters, focusing on modular creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbound Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbound Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or we can double down on charge counters by adding cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adaptive Training Post" href="#" target="_blank">Adaptive Training Post</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vexing Puzzlebox" href="#" target="_blank">Vexing Puzzlebox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umezawa&#039;s Jitte" href="#" target="_blank">Umezawa&#039;s Jitte</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both those cards would point us in diverging directions.</p>
<p>We could also go into infect<em>. </em></p>
<p>But there's one path we could take once we remember that yes, we <em>can </em>proliferate energy counters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Counter" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Inspirit, Flagship Vessel
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Alibou, Ancient Witness
*1 Assaultron Dominator
*1 Blaster Hulk
*1 Crystalline Crawler
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Deepglow Skate
*1 Dr. Madison Li
*1 Enthusiastic Mechanaut
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Filigree Vector
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Kappa Cannoneer
*1 Kilo, Apogee Mind
*1 Patrolling Peacemaker
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Razorfield Rhino
*1 Roil Cartographer
*1 Satya, Aetherflux Genius
*1 Sentry Bot
*1 Sphinx of the Revelation
*1 Steel Overseer
*1 Surge Conductor
*1 Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus
*1 Thrummingbird
[/Creature]
[Sorcery]
*1 Organic Extinction
*1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Gambit
*1 Wheel of Potential
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*1 Aether Refinery
*1 Aetherflux Conduit
*1 Aetherworks Marvel
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Automated Assembly Line
*1 Cloud Key
*1 Conversion Apparatus
*1 Darksteel Reactor
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Gavel of the Righteous
*1 Golem Foundry
*1 Gonti&#039;s Aether Heart
*1 Insight Engine
*1 Izzet Generatorium
*1 Long-Range Sensor
*1 Lux Artillery
*1 Moxite Refinery
*1 Pentad Prism
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Stone Idol Generator
*1 Titan Forge
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Aether Hub
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Great Furnace
*1 HELIOS One
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*3 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*2 Mountain
*1 Mystic Monastery
*2 Plains
*1 Radiant Summit
*1 Razortide Bridge
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Silverbluff Bridge
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
[/Land]
[Instant]
*1 Dispatch
*1 Electrosiphon
*1 Glimmer of Genius
*1 Ripples of Potential
*1 Rush of Inspiration // Crackling Falls
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Swan Song
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thirst for Knowledge
*1 Tune the Narrative
[/Instant]
[Enchantment]
*1 Aether Revolt
*1 All Will Be One
*1 Resourceful Defense
*1 Vault 112: Sadistic Simulation
[/Enchantment]"></span></div>
<p>This deck is less a complete rebuild and more of a retooling, adding the energy counter cards that would be interesting and work well with the bulk of <em>Counter Intelligence. </em>As a result, we're still in Bracket 2 territory.</p>


<p>For both <em>Edge of Eternities Commander </em>decks, the MSRP is listed at $44.99.</p>
<p><em>Counter Intelligence</em> comes in at an estimated contained value of around $290. If we remove the 12 new cards, which are currently in prerelease pricing and are subject to fall, the value of the reprints alone becomes around $129.</p>
<p>The most expensive reprints in <em>Counter Intelligence</em> are:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">Swan Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ripples of Potential" href="#" target="_blank">Ripples of Potential</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Reactor" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Reactor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyberdrive Awakener"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swan Song"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ripples of Potential"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Reactor"></div></div>


<p>There's not much to criticize when it comes to <em>Counter Intelligence. </em>The new cards are fantastic, the reprints are solid, and the deck is constructed in a way where none of the cards seem like filler. And one of the best parts is that both commander options don't feel necessary for the deck to function, but rather synergize with the strategy as a whole.</p>
<p><em>Counter Intelligence</em> gets an A.</p>


Counter Intelligence - Edge of Eternities Precon Guide

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><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> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDaniel+Ljunggren%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Ljunggren</a></em></p>
<p>It's simple: lands matter. Whether we're on the plane of Dominaria or suddenly finding ourselves in space near the edge of the Blind Eternities, lands matter. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lucky for us, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> seems to agree with one of the new precons coming in <em>Edge of Eternities</em>.</span> Not only do we have a new creature to talk about, but we also have an entirely new subtype of card that can be used as our commander.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed"></div></div>
<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">My name's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/nicholas-lucchesi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nick,</a> and today on <em>Tech The Deck</em>, we're being introduced to <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>. What's in store for a deck helmed by a massive Jund Spacecraft, and how do we maximize all that this card has to offer?</span></p>
<h2>What Does Hearthull, the Worldseed Do?</h2>
<p>The <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">first thing we need to examine with this<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, as well as many new cards from <em>Edge of Eternities,</em></span> is the new Spacecraft subtype</span>. As of right now, there aren't a massive number of <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Aspacecraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spacecraft</a> in the game, but if I were a betting man, I would say this won't be the last time we see them.</p>
<p>All Spacecraft, and even some other cards, in the set have the Station ability, which is a simple twist on a few different abilities we've seen in the past: Crew and Saddle. For <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> specifically, we have two different numbers that we're trying to hit.</p>
<p>Hearthhull's station ability reads:</p>
<p>Tap another creature you control; Put charge counters equal to its power on this Spacecraft. Station only as a sorcery. It's an artifact creature at 8+.</p>
<p>Once we've reached this threshold, we now have a 6/7 with flying, vigilance, and haste with two separate abilities. But this card has tricks up its sleeve even before we get this far.</p>
<p>Once we get two charge counters on Hearthhull, it gains an ability allowing us to sacrifice a land, draw two cards, and play an additional land this turn. This is a powerful and key feature of our deck.</p>
<p>Once we max out the charge counters on every land we sacrifice, we lose each opponent two life. With the space-faring version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord Windgrace" href="#" target="_blank">Lord Windgrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at our disposal, how does our deck work, and what tricks might we have in deep space?</p>
<h2>Sacrificing for Value</h2>
<p>This deck wants to do one thing above all else, and that is sacrifice lands for value. While the game designers at WOTC might regret the decision, they're still responsible for creating fetch lands and the numerous weaker follow-up versions.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wooded Foothills"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Riveteers Overlook"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Cave"></div></div>
<p>We run plenty of lands in this deck that can put themselves into the graveyard and fix our mana as the game goes on. We also have lands that put themselves into the graveyard not for mana fixing, but for other kinds of value.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scavenger Grounds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wasteland"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Command Beacon"></div></div>
<p>Graveyard hate, land hate, and a way to deal with the hate that Hearthhull will draw once the other players catch on to us being the problem - the deck might not be flush with any one of these effects, but we hope to be able to use any of our lands multiple times in a game if needed.</p>
<p>Lastly, while not lands themselves, the deck runs some, less-than-popular cards to sacrifice our lands. <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> is in just over <a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/squandered-resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1% of decks</a>, and is shrouded in infamy thanks to a notorious cheater from the early days of competitive magic. Nevertheless, it's wildly strong by allowing us to double up the mana produced by every land we have.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overlaid Terrain" href="#" target="_blank">Overlaid Terrain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> looks at the 1% play rate above and laughs. With a whopping <a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/overlaid-terrain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">0.05%</a> this card may have been waiting for a chance to break out, and Hearthhull might be the commander to do it. It's possibly the definition of high risk, high reward, and as the flavor text on Jund 60-card staple, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Confidant|RAV|81" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Confidant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reads, Greatness, at any cost.</p>
<p>Funny quips and percentages aside, most commander players are intimately familiar with what could be considered the best card in the deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuran Orb"></div></div>
<p>The card costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-0" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> mana, can keep us alive, and can put our entire land base into the graveyard without wasting a single resource.</p>
<h2>Now What</h2>
<p>So, what's the point of sacrificing all of our lands outside of our commander? Why are we worrying so much about getting cards into the graveyard? To bring them all back, that's why.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crucible of Worlds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramunap Excavator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Walk-In Closet // Forgotten Cellar"></div></div>
<p>Once the lands go into the graveyard, we can use them and many other cards in our deck to bring them right back out. Whether they're coming back thanks to <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>, and the first station ability, or a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, if this deck hits the point of playing 3-5 lands a turn, we are unstoppable.</p>
<p>There's also a variety of cards in the deck to help us lower life totals thanks to our lands: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tannuk, Memorial Ensign" href="#" target="_blank">Tannuk, Memorial Ensign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tunneling Geopede" href="#" target="_blank">Tunneling Geopede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><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="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> keep our hand nice and full with card draw.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Titania, Protector of Argoth" href="#" target="_blank">Titania, Protector of Argoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omnath, Locus of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Omnath, Locus of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> find themselves here in yet another Lands Matter deck, but why fix something that isn't broken?</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Retreat to Hagra" href="#" target="_blank">Retreat to Hagra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut Exploration" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut Exploration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> bring along additional ways for us to win the game, thanks to the damage they can do.</p>
<h2>All at Once</h2>
<p>While sometimes necessary, what we want to pull off is a massive sacrifice of lands after we charge up Hearthhull. Outside of <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>, the next best way to toss our lands is the classic card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scapeshift" href="#" target="_blank">Scapeshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Combine this with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spelunking" href="#" target="_blank">Spelunking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tiller Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Tiller Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amulet of Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Amulet of Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and we don't even have to worry about lands coming in tapped.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spelunking"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tiller Engine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Amulet of Vigor"></div></div>
<p>While not as good as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scapeshift" href="#" target="_blank">Scapeshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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> can do a good impression in a pinch.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Famished Worldsire" href="#" target="_blank">Famished Worldsire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite new cards from <em>Edge of Eternities</em>, not only because it fits perfectly into this strategy, but something about the words "Devour land 3" makes me chuckle.</p>
<p>Finally, playing one land at a time out of the graveyard is excellent, and even doing this multiple times in a turn will keep this deck humming. But thanks to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splendid Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Splendid Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lumra, Bellow of the Woods" href="#" target="_blank">Lumra, Bellow of the Woods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Will of the Sultai" href="#" target="_blank">Will of the Sultai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can bring all those lands back to cast spells or continue to lower life totals with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iridescent Vinelasher" href="#" target="_blank">Iridescent Vinelasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geode Rager" href="#" target="_blank">Geode Rager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splendid Reclamation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lumra, Bellow of the Woods"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Will of the Sultai"></div></div>
<h2>A Bit of Spice</h2>
<p>Lands Matter decks tend to be pretty cookie-cutter, but that doesn't mean there's nothing special going on. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evolution Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Evolution Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can allow us to get to the 2+ station ability right away and turbo us along to the 8+ ability thanks to proliferation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hugs, Grisly Guardian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shaman&#039;s Trance"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hugs, Grisly Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Hugs, Grisly Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be surprisingly dangerous with enough mana pumped into him, and is yet another way for us to play additional lands.</p>
<p>But nothing is spicier than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shaman&#039;s Trance" href="#" target="_blank">Shaman&#039;s Trance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, found for this deck by typing the correct sequence of words into Scryfall and thinking that it might be nice to use another player's <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> or to stop a flashbacked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Past in Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Past in Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Wrap Up</h2>
<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I am beyond excited that we seem to have a banger of a "<em>Magic</em>" set coming out soon, and <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> has made me reconsider putting a Lands Matter deck back together. This commander is both fun and frightening, given the strength of the strategy and the power of this card individually. It will draw a lot of hate, so if you're piloting it, be prepared to pick your spots and don't always run the cards out at the earliest opportunity.</span></p>
<p>Are you excited to get to your stations? Do you want to explore what the outskirts of the universe have to offer? Or maybe, like me, you're just excited that Tezzeret is back. Let me know over at <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/nicnax96.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nicnax96</a> and keep an eye out for all the other <em>Edge of Eternities</em> content coming down the pipe. As always, I have been Nick, and this has once again been <em>Tech The Deck</em>. Liftoff in 10...9...8.</p>
<h2>Hearthull, the Worldseed Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tech The Deck -Hearthhull, the Worldseed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Hearthhull, the Worldseed
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aftermath Analyst
*1 Ancient Greenwarden
*1 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
*1 Baloth Prime
*1 Courser of Kruphix
*1 Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Famished Worldsire
*1 Geode Rager
*1 Hugs, Grisly Guardian
*1 Iridescent Vinelasher
*1 Korvold, Fae-Cursed King
*1 Lotus Cobra
*1 Lumra, Bellow of the Woods
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Nissa, Resurgent Animist
*1 Omnath, Locus of Rage
*1 Oracle of Mul Daya
*1 Ramunap Excavator
*1 Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
*1 The Gitrog Monster
*1 Tiller Engine
*1 Tireless Provisioner
*1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
*1 Tunneling Geopede
*1 Wayward Swordtooth
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Amulet of Vigor
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Crucible of Worlds
*1 Exploration Broodship
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Zuran Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Constant Mists
*1 Crop Rotation
*1 Harrow
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Shaman&#039;s Trance
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Awaken the Woods
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Life from the Loam
*1 Nahiri&#039;s Lithoforming
*1 Pillage the Bog
*1 Scapeshift
*1 Splendid Reclamation
*1 Will of the Sultai
*1 Worldsoul&#039;s Rage
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Case of the Locked Hothouse
*1 Concordant Crossroads
*1 Exploration
*1 Overlaid Terrain
*1 Retreat to Hagra
*1 Spelunking
*1 Squandered Resources
*1 Valakut Exploration
*1 Walk-In Closet // Forgotten Cellar
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Cabaretti Courtyard
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Commercial District
*1 Eumidian Hatchery
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Festering Thicket
*1 Field of the Dead
*2 Forest
*1 Glacial Chasm
*1 Horizon of Progress
*1 Lotus Field
*1 Maestros Theater
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Misty Rainforest
*2 Mountain
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Riveteers Overlook
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Swamp
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Vernal Fen
*1 Wasteland
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Ziatora&#039;s Proving Ground
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Hearthhull, the Worldseed Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><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> | Art by <a href="http://www.matthew-stewart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Stewart</a></em></p>
<p>Lands is one of my favorite strategies in Commander. Something about the idea about taking a pile of the most commonly disregarded card type and weaponizing it against unsuspecting opponents just tickles my fancy. When <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> was revealed, from <em>Edge of Eternities</em>, I knew I had to cover it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd"></div></div>
<p>A <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> that sits in the command zone and gives you access to 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>) cards is simply too sweet for this lands player to resist. In this deck tech, I'll tackle <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> and find out if this commander can meet my sky-high expectations.</p>
<h2>What Does Szarel, Genesis Shepherd Do?</h2>
<p><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> is a 2/5 Insect Druid for five mana that grants the ability to play lands from the graveyard. That's not all, though! Whenever you sacrifice a nontoken permanent, Szarel puts a number of +1/+1 counters equal to its power onto a creature.</p>
<p>The standout interaction with this card is fetchlands, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wooded Foothills" href="#" target="_blank">Wooded Foothills</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodstained Mire" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodstained Mire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can be sacrificed to trigger Szarel and then played from the graveyard to repeat the process.</p>
<p>Szarel is going to play very similarly to other lands commanders, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Necrobloom" href="#" target="_blank">The Necrobloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radha, Heart of Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Radha, Heart of Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/60-to-100-turning-legacy-lands-into-a-commander-deck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I wrote about</a> a while ago!). The combos that these decks look to assemble, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the play patterns of using effects that recur lands from the graveyard paired with effects that grant additional land plays each turn are all pretty much the same.</p>
<p>The variations come in the form of different color restrictions and each commander serving a different role in that engine. The thing that makes Szarel, Genesis Shepherd stand out is that its the only commander that plays the role of a <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> from the command zone.</p>
<p>If I had to place <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> into a definitive category, I'd call it a land-based aggro deck. This deck's plan is sticking Szarel on the board and stacking up counters on our creatures while playing multiple fetchlands from the graveyard each turn. Then, land-based combos and <em>Landfall</em> payoffs provide solid backup plans.</p>
<p>I'm incredibly excited to delve into this one.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Szarel, Genesis Shepherd</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Halana and Alena, Partners"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa Lockhart"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scythecat Cub"></div></div>
<p>Since Szarel can't put +1/+1 counters on itself, it'll be critical to build a board of creatures that can maximize the benefit from Szarel's counters.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halana and Alena, Partners" href="#" target="_blank">Halana and Alena, Partners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the first card that popped into my mind when Szarel was spoiled. It's perfect. You sacrifice a land, put Szarel's counters onto Halana and Alena, then at the beginning of combat Halana and Alena grows Szarel's power so your creatures can receive even more counters next turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scythecat Cub" href="#" target="_blank">Scythecat Cub</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> create a similar engine with Szarel as well. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scythecat Cub" href="#" target="_blank">Scythecat Cub</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa Lockhart" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa Lockhart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both creatures with trample that can become lethal threats on a turn that you play multiple fetchlands.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azusa, Lost but Seeking"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Gitrog Monster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Life from the Loam"></div></div>
<p>One of my favorite parts of building around a given lands commander is getting to construct an engine that covers the functions that the commander can't.</p>
<p>Szarel is just the <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> effect, so the 99 will need to cover the other functions, like additional land plays. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and many cards like her are here to cover that. Recurring one fetchland every turn with Szarel's ability is a decent floor, but recurring two, three, or potentially even more than that each turn is where the real power is.</p>
<p><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> provides an extra land play, a card draw engine, and a sacrifice outlet for lands that can't sacrifice themselves. That sacrifice outlet is also critical to maximize other forms of recursion, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Channeling a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boseiju, Who Endures" href="#" target="_blank">Boseiju, Who Endures</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or cycling a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheltered Thicket" href="#" target="_blank">Sheltered Thicket</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, replaying it with Szarel's ability, then sacrificing it to <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 picking it back up with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to repeat the process is precisely the kind of incremental value I'm looking for in a lands deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Field of the Dead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boseiju, Who Endures"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Saga"></div></div>
<p>The most important part of every lands deck is the lands! There are so many subtle interactions and tiny details in the mana base that fully explaining everything would take up more than one article, but I'll highlight a few that I think are important.</p>
<p><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> can generate an absurd amount of tokens in a single turn when this deck's engine is firing on all cylinders. The Zombie tokens it generates are also excellent targets for Szarel's +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Saga" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Saga</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another token producer that's also able to tutor zero- and one-mana artifacts. I've included a small suite of targets to grab with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Saga" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Saga</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s third chapter ability, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lavaspur Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Lavaspur Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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>, to ensure that the card has enough to do in games where you end up playing it multiple times.</p>
<h2>How Does This Szarel, Genesis Shepherd Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Depths"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska, Thrice Reborn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Xenagos, God of Revels"></div></div>
<p>The primary win condition for this deck is getting into the red zone with giant creatures. Going tall is much faster than going wide in a deck that can stack up +1/+1 counters on creatures with trample as much as this deck can.</p>
<p>The token that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes presents a fast clock that can swing in for lethal damage very quickly, especially when paired with additional pump effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska, Thrice Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska, Thrice Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xenagos, God of Revels" href="#" target="_blank">Xenagos, God of Revels</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, the real beauty of this deck is that literally any creature can become big enough to kill someone.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Titania, Protector of Argoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scute Swarm"></div></div>
<p>This deck isn't lacking options to go wide either! <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> in particular is known for getting out of hand quickly. Grindy games where lots of removal gets pointed at my biggest threats will often come down to several thousand Scute Swarm tokens finishing the job. I'm normally reluctant to include cards like Scute Swarm due to the logistical difficulties of representing board states with 3,000 tokens, but in this case I decided the upside was worth the potential inconvenience.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Strip Mine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wasteland"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summer Bloom"></div></div>
<p>Finally, if all else fails, there's always the win condition of extinguishing your opponents' will to continue playing.</p>
<p>This deck is better than any other at recurring <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strip Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Strip Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I freely admit, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strip Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Strip Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> locks are a guilty pleasure of mine and that definitely had an impact on my excitement to build Szarel. It may not be for every play group, but at the "anything goes" types of tables I play at, there is nothing I love more than firing off <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> after Wasteland at my opponents' unsuspecting lands.</p>
<p>Admittedly, I think this deck is likely winning via other means too quickly for this to come up, but the option makes me feel confident about the deck's capacity in longer games.</p>
<h2>Szarel, Genesis Shepherd Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Szaresl" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Szarel, Genesis Shepherd
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Barren Moor
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Commercial District
*1 Dark Depths
*1 Field of the Dead
*1 Forest
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Mountain
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Shifting Woodland
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Snow-Covered Forest
*1 Snow-Covered Mountain
*1 Snow-Covered Swamp
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Swamp
*1 Thespian&#039;s Stage
*1 Tranquil Thicket
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Wasteland
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*1 Ziatora&#039;s Proving Ground
[/Lands]
[Creatures]
*1 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
*1 Bristly Bill, Spine Sower
*1 Courser of Kruphix
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Dryad Arbor
*1 Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
*1 Elvish Reclaimer
*1 Gladiolus Amicitia
*1 Halana and Alena, Partners
*1 Ignoble Hierarch
*1 Loot, Exuberant Explorer
*1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
*1 Oracle of Mul Daya
*1 Ramunap Excavator
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Scythecat Cub
*1 Shigeki, Jukai Visionary
*1 Six
*1 Sowing Mycospawn
*1 Sylvan Safekeeper
*1 Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
*1 The Gitrog Monster
*1 Tifa Lockhart
*1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
*1 Wight of the Reliquary
*1 Xenagos, God of Revels
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Abrupt Decay
*1 Chord of Calling
*1 Crop Rotation
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Realms Uncharted
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Casualties of War
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Gamble
*1 Green Sun&#039;s Zenith
*1 Life from the Loam
*1 Malevolent Rumble
*1 Molten Collapse
*1 Summer Bloom
*1 Sylvan Scrying
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Expedition Map
*1 Horn of Greed
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Ozolith
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Grist, the Hunger Tide
*1 Jeska, Thrice Reborn
*1 Lord Windgrace
*1 Minsc &amp; Boo, Timeless Heroes
*1 Wrenn and Seven
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Exploration
*1 Roaring Earth
*1 Spelunking
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck is an absolute blast. Going forward, <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> will be my automatic recommendation to anyone looking to build a land-centric strategy in Commander. I'd tentatively place this deck in Bracket 3 (Upgraded) with the caveat that cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strip Mine" href="#" target="_blank">Strip Mine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not fly at every table and is something I'd recommend discussing with tables ahead of time.</p>
<p>As always, each play group is different.</p>


edge of eternities precon

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Counter Intelligence - Edge of Eternities Precon Guide

Hearthhull, the Worldseed Commander Deck Tech

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd Deck Tech