<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.cynthia-sheppard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cynthia Sheppard</a></em></p>
<p>This week on <em>Precon Remastered</em>, where we remake old precons into something that would go toe-to-toe with today's releases, we're taking on one of the most notorious preconstructed Commander decks of all time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thraximundar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nekusar, the Mindrazer"></div></div>
<p>Yup, we're talking about <em>that</em> precon. <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/mind-seize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mind Seize</em></a> earned its infamy off the back of one card: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True-Name Nemesis" href="#" target="_blank">True-Name Nemesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (henceforth known as TNN). The new card became an all-star in Eternal formats (read: Legacy and/or Vintage), and took them by storm.</p>
<p>eBay listings were selling the entire deck except TNN. The precon was sold out everywhere, and was absurdly marked up. Back then, it caused an absolute uproar, and was eventually heard. The precon had been printed more frequently, driving down the price, and TNN was eventually reprinted at least once or twice.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the obvious choice to run this precon. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nekusar, the Mindrazer" href="#" target="_blank">Nekusar, the Mindrazer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is exceptionally strong, but it doesn't do much here. And as much as I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thraximundar" href="#" target="_blank">Thraximundar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, he's just sitting there, menacingly.</p>
<h2>The Rules of <em>Precon Remastered</em></h2>
<p>Here are our rules for remastering precons:</p>
<ol>
<li>The value of the deck cannot exceed $120. This will apply to the reprints only, which gets to my first personal quirk.</li>
<li>Every card unique to the original precon stays in the deck. All those new cards that get released with precons remain in the list.</li>
<li>The land package should closely reflect what we get in precons these days (and, in my humble opinion, they're actually pretty good).</li>
<li>For at least until 2020, we're not tied to a particular set, so we're free to choose whatever we want. You can be assured I have ideas for 2020 and beyond, though.</li>
<li><em>Universes Beyond</em> cards are not added. No exceptions, unless they have a in-universe variant.</li>
</ol>
<p>With that out of the way, let's take a good look at what the <em>Mind Seize</em> precon looked like originally.</p>
<h2>Original <em>Mind Seize</em> Precon Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mind Seize - Commander 2013" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Augur of Bolas
*1 Baleful Force
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Charmbreaker Devils
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Echo Mage
*1 Fog Bank
*1 Guard Gomazoa
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Jace&#039;s Archivist
*1 Mnemonic Wall
*1 Nekusar, the Mindrazer
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Nivix Guildmage
*1 Terra Ravager
*1 Thraximundar
*1 True-Name Nemesis
*1 Uyo, Silent Prophet
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
*1 Viseling
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Annihilate
*1 Crosis&#039;s Charm
*1 Dismiss
*1 Grixis Charm
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Gambit
*1 Opportunity
*1 Soul Manipulation
*1 Starstorm
*1 Sudden Spoiling
*1 Vision Skeins
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Army of the Damned
*1 Cruel Ultimatum
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Fissure Vent
*1 Incendiary Command
*1 Infest
*1 Molten Disaster
*1 Phthisis
*1 Prosperity
*1 Skyscribing
*1 Strategic Planning
*1 Tempt with Reflections
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Armillary Sphere
*1 Eye of Doom
*1 Mirari
*1 Obelisk of Grixis
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Temple Bell
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Arcane Melee
*1 Curse of Chaos
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Price of Knowledge
*1 Propaganda
*1 Spiteful Visions
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Akoum Refuge
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Dimir Guildgate
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Grixis Panorama
*9 Island
*1 Izzet Boilerworks
*1 Izzet Guildgate
*1 Molten Slagheap
*5 Mountain
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Rakdos Guildgate
*1 Rupture Spire
*8 Swamp
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Urza&#039;s Factory
*1 Vivid Creek
*1 Vivid Marsh
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><em>Mind Seize</em>? More Like <em>Mind Split</em></h2>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, we can see that she needs us to run a ton of big, splashy spells that she can cast easily. Here's the problem: Because of each <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/c13" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander 2013</em></a> precon having an identity crisis, the deck is split between trying to make Jeleva work and some support for the other commanders.</p>
<p>What we'll need to do is streamline the deck so that it's more focused. Worse still, Jeleva has to attack to get her trigger, and the precon doesn't provide many ways to protect her, let alone give her haste.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiteful Visions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="True-Name Nemesis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cruel Ultimatum"></div></div>
<p>Also, there are 22 instants and sorceries in the deck, which is not an ideal number here. Amongst them are a few X-costing spells that don't work with our commander at all (because X will be zero when cast with Jeleva's ability). The main priority, on top of protecting Jeleva and sorting out that mana base, is to bump those numbers up. 22 is such a rookie number, after all.</p>
<p>The new cards don't really support our strategy all that much, but we unfortunately have to keep them in. For instance, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terra Ravager" href="#" target="_blank">Terra Ravager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mainly belongs in a more aggressive deck, while the three Curses have more niche applications.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eye of Doom" href="#" target="_blank">Eye of Doom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a much slower, inverted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hooded Horror" href="#" target="_blank">Hooded Horror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would've been much better if it were cheaper to cast. Even then, it's still better off elsewhere.</p>
<h2><em>Mind Seize </em>Remastered</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mind Seize Remastered" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Brainsurge
*1 Crosis&#039;s Charm
*1 Evacuation
*1 Grixis Charm
*1 Illusionist&#039;s Gambit
*1 Magma Opus
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Return the Favor
*1 Sudden Spoiling
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Aminatou&#039;s Augury
*1 Army of the Damned
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Blatant Thievery
*1 Clone Legion
*1 Cruel Ultimatum
*1 Decree of Pain
*1 Diabolic Vision
*1 Dream Harvest
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Hit the Mother Lode
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Serum Visions
*1 Spelltwine
*1 Tempt with Reflections
*1 Volcanic Vision
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brainstone
*1 Eye of Doom
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Archmage Emeritus
*1 Baleful Force
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Diviner Spirit
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Harmonic Prodigy
*1 Hooded Horror
*1 Nekusar, the Mindrazer
*1 Nightscape Familiar
*1 Nivix Guildmage
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Terra Ravager
*1 Thraximundar
*1 True-Name Nemesis
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Chaos
*1 Curse of Inertia
*1 Curse of Shallow Graves
*1 Price of Knowledge
*1 Propaganda
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*7 Island
*7 Mountain
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Riptide Laboratory
*1 Scorched Geyser
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*1 Sunken Hollow
*7 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Talk About a Glow-Up</h2>
<p>Now, if you ask me, that looks much better! I've upped the instant/sorcery count on top of cutting the X-spells. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aminatou&#039;s Augury" href="#" target="_blank">Aminatou&#039;s Augury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> now grace our lineup. I kept some of the better hits from the stock list because at least they can still work here.</p>
<p>But now, amongst them, we have more ways to protect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return the Favor" href="#" target="_blank">Return the Favor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can also copy spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evacuation" href="#" target="_blank">Evacuation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> bounces the board, and works with our commander because then, if you had ran out of cards to cast with her ability, we can reset her ability! The bad news is that she'll hit each player for four cards, but it's still something. The same goes with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Laboratory" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Laboratory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return the Favor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evacuation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise of the Dark Realms"></div></div>
<p>On top of better lands and ramp, I threw in both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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> to ensure that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is protected, and can attack the turn she enters. We also have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstone" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which functions like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (also in the new 99). We also have a few other spells like it, so be sure to use those before dropping Jeleva to ensure we always hit a target. Superior options would be great if you've got the money, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensei&#039;s Divining Top" href="#" target="_blank">Sensei&#039;s Divining Top</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonic Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonic Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double up on both of Jeleva's effects, making it especially potent here.</p>
<h2>A Scourge No More</h2>
<p>In a way, it's a bit of a shame that Jeleva fell off into obscurity, because she's capable of some big plays, so here's hoping I was able to revamp (hehe) some interest in her. I guess that's power creep for you. Anyway, tune in next time when we stumble upon our next entry in my other series with yet another typal commander.</p>


mind seize precon

Remastering the Mind Seize Precon