Nearly Identical - Commander Liara Portyr or Neyali?

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir</a> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/simondominic">Simon Dominic</a>)</h6>
Hello friends! And welcome back to EDHREC for another Scrap Trawlers precon Upgrade Guide. I’m Andy, and today I’m seeing if I can amp up the Cavalry Charge precon from March of the Machine for just a few bucks.
As you may have seen in my primer for Cavalry Charge, I’m really happy with the deck right out of the box. Seriously, very few notes. As far as precons go, this one, as the kids say, slaps. So where can we go to improve it?
I’m gonna upgrade a couple of lands, give the deck a few anthem effects, and make sure our commander is hitting opponents more often for that sweet recursion triggered effect.
And for all you big spenders out there, stay tuned to the end, because we’re gonna look at some pricey cards to upgrade the list as well.
<h2>In Charge of the Charge</h2>
This deck is led by <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir</a>. He’s a 4/3 white, blue, and black Human Knight with flying and first strike, and he brings a Knight back from our graveyard whenever he connects with an opponent’s face. Oh, also Eminence. Holy crap, we got Eminence again! Sidar’s ability, whether he’s on the field or in the zone, lets you loot (draw a card and discard a card) whenever you attack with Knights. 
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir"></div></div>
Here’s the original decklist:
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Cavalry Charge Precon" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acclaimed Contender
*1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
*1 Arvad the Cursed
*1 Aryel, Knight of Windgrace
*1 Corpse Knight
*1 Elenda and Azor
*1 Ethersworn Adjudicator
*1 Exsanguinator Cavalry
*1 Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight
*1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
*1 Herald of Hoofbeats
*1 Hero of Bladehold
*1 Josu Vess, Lich Knight
*1 Knight Exemplar
*1 Knight of the Last Breath
*1 Knight of the White Orchid
*1 Knights of the Black Rose
*1 Liliana&#039;s Standard Bearer
*1 Locthwain Lancer
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Order of Midnight // Alter Fate
*1 Silverwing Squadron
*1 Smitten Swordmaster // Curry Favor
*1 Syr Elenora, the Discerning
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Valiant Knight
*1 Vodalian Wave-Knight
*1 Vona, Butcher of Magan
*1 Wintermoor Commander
*1 Worthy Knight
*1 Xerex Strobe-Knight
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Mantle
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Fractured Powerstone
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Ichor Elixir
*1 Maul of the Skyclaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Sigiled Sword of Valeron
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Chivalric Alliance
*1 Knights&#039; Charge
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Despark
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Pull from Tomorrow
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Fell the Mighty
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Path of the Enigma
*1 Promise of Loyalty
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Time Wipe
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Island
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Sunken Hollow
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 Thriving Isle
*1 Thriving Moor
[/Lands]"></div>

The alternate commander for this deck is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elenda and Azor" href="#" target="_blank">Elenda and Azor</a>. While I dig this pair for a slower game, I’m far more interested in seeing what we can do to make this deck punch even harder with Sidar in the lead.
<h2>Battlefield Promotion</h2>
With any commander that has a “when it deals combat damage to an opponent” effect, you’re going to get the most mileage by giving your commander more abilities. Namely, trample, double strike, and unblockable (how is this not a keyword?).
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword Coast Sailor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flaming Fist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folk Hero"></div></div>
I’ve enlisted a couple of Backgrounds for this upgrade, because Backgrounds are always fun to add when you have a commander that wants to attack. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword Coast Sailor" href="#" target="_blank">Sword Coast Sailor</a> ensures that we’re hitting faces every attack, barring any removal effects. And <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flaming Fist" href="#" target="_blank">Flaming Fist</a> gives our commander double strike. Because what’s better than triggering Sidar once? You guessed it. It’s twice. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duelist’s Heritage" href="#" target="_blank">Duelist’s Heritage</a> has entered the fray for the same reason.
Since this is a creature type-focused deck, we can lean into that with another Background, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Folk Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Folk Hero</a>, which will give us a lot of extra card draw for just two mana.
We can also use this focus to upgrade our land base a bit, with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unclaimed Territory" href="#" target="_blank">Unclaimed Territory</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Secluded Courtyard" href="#" target="_blank">Secluded Courtyard</a>. These take the place of two lands that enter tapped, speeding us along on our merry way.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyhunter Strike Force"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marshal of Zhalfir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crippling Fear"></div></div>
I’m also adding two powerful and cheap Knights to the deck, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyhunter Strike Force" href="#" target="_blank">Skyhunter Strike Force</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marshal of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Marshal of Zhalfir</a>. And while we’re making our Knights bigger, we’re also gonna make everything else smaller to move in for that alpha strike, with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crippling Fear" href="#" target="_blank">Crippling Fear</a>.
Dishonorable Discharge
Alright, cards go in, cards must come out. We’ve added nine cards, so let’s see what we’re dropping.
The easiest place to start was the lands. I’ve never been a big fan of lands with counters, because I like to stack my lands and the counters just make it messy. So to make room for <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Secluded Courtyard" href="#" target="_blank">Secluded Courtyard</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unclaimed Territory" href="#" target="_blank">Unclaimed Territory</a>, I’m taking out <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thriving Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Thriving Isle</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thriving Moor" href="#" target="_blank">Thriving Moor</a>. So now I’ll be thriving more. Get it? Please, hold your applause to the end.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syr Elenora, the Discerning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path of the Enigma"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maul of the Skyclaves"></div></div>
The deck had an abundance of card advantage, which wasn’t totally necessary with Sidar’s Eminence ability. So out goes <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Painful Truths" href="#" target="_blank">Painful Truths</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of the Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Path of the Enigma</a>, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pull from Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Pull from Tomorrow</a>, and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Elenora, the Discerning" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Elenora, the Discerning</a>. As much as I didn’t want to cut any Knights, Elenora just didn’t do enough to justify the five mana cost. 
A couple of Equipment were in the precon that seem superfluous, so they’re getting axed. <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maul of the Skyclaves" href="#" target="_blank">Maul of the Skyclaves</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigiled Sword of Valeron" href="#" target="_blank">Sigiled Sword of Valeron</a> are both too expensive to equip, and really don’t add enough value.
Last to fall is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fell the Mighty" href="#" target="_blank">Fell the Mighty</a>. Precons these days tend to have too many board wipes, which just drag out the game. By replacing this with <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crippling Fear" href="#" target="_blank">Crippling Fear</a>, I’m moving the game forward rather than resetting.
<h2>Extravagant Knights</h2>
Okay big spenders, it’s your time to open those wallets.
Spending big money on creature type-focused decks is incredibly easy, because a lot of the best cards are in such high demand. Take <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavern of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Cavern of Souls</a>, for example, which is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unclaimed Territory" href="#" target="_blank">Unclaimed Territory</a> on steroids.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cavern of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza’s Incubator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Door of Destinies"></div></div>
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza’s Incubator" href="#" target="_blank">Urza’s Incubator</a> will make your Knights cheaper, while <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Door of Destinies" href="#" target="_blank">Door of Destinies</a> will make them much more threatening. And <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a> will draw you more cards than you’ll ever need with all the Knights you’re gonna turn sideways.
Sadly missing from the precon is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinsbaile Cavalier" href="#" target="_blank">Kinsbaile Cavalier</a>, which gives all your Knights double strike. I know the deck already has some high value reprints, but…come on. A real missed opportunity.
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invasion of New Phyrexia" href="#" target="_blank">Invasion of New Phyrexia</a> is a lot of fun here, as the front side gives us Knight tokens, while the back is a Teferi that pumps and protects our Knights for his -2.
<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma’s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma’s Will</a> is a solid, but pricey, inclusion for any aggro deck. We’ve also got <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vexilus Praetor" href="#" target="_blank">Vexilus Praetor</a>, which, while not a Knight, does a great job of helping Sidar punch some faces. Also from Warhammer 40K is <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="And They Shall Know No Fear" href="#" target="_blank">And They Shall Know No Fear</a>.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invasion of New Phyrexia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma’s Will"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="And They Shall Know No Fear"></div></div>
And last, with all the creatures going to graveyards, <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a> is a fun way to borrow other people’s toys for a while.
<h2>Knight and Day</h2>
Here’s the final upgraded decklist:
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Cavalry Charge Upgrade" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acclaimed Contender
*1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
*1 Arvad the Cursed
*1 Aryel, Knight of Windgrace
*1 Corpse Knight
*1 Elenda and Azor
*1 Ethersworn Adjudicator
*1 Exsanguinator Cavalry
*1 Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight
*1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
*1 Herald of Hoofbeats
*1 Hero of Bladehold
*1 Josu Vess, Lich Knight
*1 Knight Exemplar
*1 Knight of the Last Breath
*1 Knight of the White Orchid
*1 Knights of the Black Rose
*1 Liliana&#039;s Standard Bearer
*1 Locthwain Lancer
*1 Marshal of Zhalfir
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Order of Midnight // Alter Fate
*1 Silverwing Squadron
*1 Skyhunter Strike Force
*1 Smitten Swordmaster // Curry Favor
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Valiant Knight
*1 Vodalian Wave-Knight
*1 Vona, Butcher of Magan
*1 Wintermoor Commander
*1 Worthy Knight
*1 Xerex Strobe-Knight
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Chivalric Alliance
*1 Duelist&#039;s Heritage
*1 Flaming Fist
*1 Folk Hero
*1 Knights&#039; Charge
*1 Sword Coast Sailor
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Crippling Fear
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Promise of Loyalty
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Time Wipe
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Conjurer&#039;s Mantle
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Fractured Powerstone
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Ichor Elixir
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Despark
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Island
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Shineshadow Snarl
*1 Sunken Hollow
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Temple of the False God
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Thriving Heath
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]"></div>

It’s amazing what a few cards and a few bucks can do to improve a precon. We upgraded nine cards for just $6. With those new cards we sped up the mana base, pumped up our Knights, and made Sidar’s triggered ability more frequent. All in all, a nice improvement to an already great deck.
Make sure to check back for more precon guides from us Scrap Trawlers. You can also check out our budget content over on <a href="https://t.co/IhjXcrVDY9">Twitch</a> and <a href="https://t.co/LA160SUixH">YouTube</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/ScrapTrawlers">Twitter</a>. 
Until next time, remember to budget…before you buy it.

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Nearly Identical - Commander Liara Portyr or Neyali?

Cavalry Charge - Upgrade Guide