ChillChill | Art by Greg Simanson

Welcome to Fire and Ice! For those of you who are new here, this is EDHREC's data-driven series where I go over cards that are becoming more or less popular for different Commander decks, and talk about why they may be gaining or losing popularity. We'll draw conclusions from that data about how certain commanders' decks have changed over time, give insight into how the format's players are thinking about new cards, and hopefully provide some tech for your favorite commander's list.

I'm Julia, your Duchess of Data, and I'm super excited to jump into today's article!

We're focusing on some of the format's most popular commanders, and today we're looking at a unique Eldrazi card: Azlask, the Swelling ScourgeAzlask, the Swelling Scourge! This creature is #109 on our site, with over 12,000 decks built with it at the helm.

Azlask, the Swelling ScourgeAzlask, the Swelling Scourge

What's Hot and What's Not for Azlask, the Swelling Scourge

Azlask is a unique commander, caring about Eldrazi tokens instead of the bigger, scarier monsters. Eldrazi SpawnEldrazi Spawns and Eldrazi ScionEldrazi Scions are cute (definitely not horrifying), so it makes sense that this Eldrazi commander has become so popular.

Among the Scourge's most popular cards are Glaring FleshrakerGlaring Fleshraker (in 83% of decks for token production), Meren of Clan Nel TothMeren of Clan Nel Toth (in 64% of decks for experience counter shenanigans), and Echoes of EternityEchoes of Eternity (in 62% of decks for some trigger doubling nonsense).

What's Fiery for Azlask Decks?

Atreus, Impulsive SonAtreus, Impulsive Son - Fire Score of 6.97

This recently printed card is only in 88 Azlask lists, but its a very strong include. Azlask can produce lots of experience counters, making Atreus a potent card advantage engine. If we invest every turn, he can draw us dozens of cards over the course of a game.

Basking BroodscaleBasking Broodscale - Fire Score of 2.80

Part of an infamous combo with Sadistic GleeSadistic Glee, Basking Broodscale is the latest in a long line of broken Eldrazi. While we don't have a ton of +1/+1 counter synergy in this deck, this creature's combo potential has likely contributed significantly to its popularity.

Malevolent RumbleMalevolent Rumble - Fire Score of 2.80

An improved copy of Commune with the GodsCommune with the Gods that also makes an Eldrazi Spawn? Sign me up. This is a card to cast in the early game, providing ramp, card selection, and a relevant creature token. It's not a dead draw in the late game either, due to its ability to replace itself in hand easily.

This sorcery is fantastic, and is one of the best commons printed in Modern Horizons 3 (which says a lot)!

FarseekFarseek - Fire Score of 2.55

Five-color decks like this one are always in need of efficient mana fixing and mana ramp, and Farseek provides both. Higher power versions of Azlask can use this sorcery to fetch typed dual lands, further increasing the effectiveness of an already great sorcery.

Veiled AscensionVeiled Ascension - Fire Score of 2.21

This card seems like a confusing inclusion at first. But, after giving it some thought, I think this enchantment is in the 77 Azlask decks that are themed around morphs, disguises, and manifests. Face-down creatures are colorless, meaning their deaths can give us experience counters.

Azlask decks built with this theme are far from optimal, but it's a unique take on this somewhat straightforward commander.

Parallel LivesParallel Lives - Fire Score of 2.09

Most Azlask decks focus on making tons of Spawns and Scions, which are almost always tokens (ignoring the existence of Elder SpawnElder Spawn). This enchantment kicks our token-focused game plan into overdrive, and is a great way to power up an otherwise middling Azlask deck.

Catacomb SifterCatacomb Sifter - Fire Score of 2.04

This is an excellent card, and it feels tailor-made for this deck. This Drone makes a Scion when it enters, and lets us scry one whenever another creature we control dies. We love the typing on the creature token it creates on ETB, and will benefit greatly from the card selection it'll provide in our sacrifice-heavy game plan.

I think this card should see more play in lots of Aristocrats decks, but Catacomb Sifter is a perfect fit for Azlask.

What's Icy for Azlask Decks?

Eye of UginEye of Ugin - Ice Score of -2.80

This land is fantastic, especially because almost every Eldrazi spell is colorless thanks to devoid. But, this is a five-color deck. Most pilots want their lands to help actually cast their spells, not just discount them. While this legendary land is still a good fit for Azlask, it's not a great one when the mana demands of its cards are considered more fully.

Emrakul's MessengerEmrakul's Messenger - Ice Score of -2.70

I love Emrakul's Messenger, and I'm a big fan of the second-draw-matters theme overall. But this Faerie Rogue isn't very well-suited for this particular deck. We aren't overly concerned with drawing multiple cards per turn consistently, so we won't be getting too many Spawn tokens from this creature.

Abstruse AppropriationAbstruse Appropriation - Ice Score of -2.43

This Utter EndUtter End variant is interesting, but it's still an overly expensive removal spell at the end of the day. If I'm paying four mana for a removal spell, I want it to remove multiple permanents. My mind immediately goes to Unexplained AbsenceUnexplained Absence and DecimateDecimate. I'd rather have either of those spells than Abstruse Appropriation.

Minthara, Merciless SoulMinthara, Merciless Soul - Ice Score of -2.45

Minthara can provide a relevant buff to our tokens in the mid- and late-game, and can even protect herself from opposing removal spells. But Azlask has a better anthem built into its activated ability, meaning Minthara's slot in the 99 can be safely given away.

It That Heralds the EndIt That Heralds the End - Ice Score of -2.37

There's only four spells in the average Azlask deck on EDHREC that would have their cost reduced by this creature, making its first ability somewhat irrelevant. This creature's second ability, the anthem, just isn't good enough to justify a slot in our deck. While It That Heralds the End isn't a bad card, it's meant for a different type of Eldrazi deck.

Heroic InterventionHeroic Intervention - Ice Score of -2.26

Heroic Intervention is one of Commander's best protection spells, saving our board from almost any sort of removal for just . I suspect its decline in popularity is because Azlask's activated ability provides indestructibility to our Spawns and Scions. When we've got on-demand protection in the command zone, who needs Heroic Intervention?

Urza's MineUrza's Mine, Urza's Power PlantUrza's Power Plant, and Urza's TowerUrza's Tower - Ice Scores of -2.15

The Tron lands! When all three of these cards are on the battlefield together, they can provide a ton of for us to work with. Unfortunately, this is a five-color deck. That means we need our lands to produce varied colors of mana, and can't afford to have many colorless lands. If we're going to include a land that doesn't make colored mana, it had better have some utility by itself.

These lands are very weak when they're not together, which has likely led to them being taken out of decks in frustration.

Ugin's BindingUgin's Binding - Ice Score of -2.09

Again, the average Azlask deck on EDHREC only has four colorless spells with a mana value of seven or greater. That means that this instant is essentially a three mana bounce spell that sits in the graveyard and disappoints us throughout the game. Ugin's Binding performs much better in a different sort of Eldrazi list, one that has more high cost spells.

What's in an Azlask, the Swelling Scourge Commander Deck?

Here's a sample Azlask list. It's got all of his Fiery cards, and none of his Icy cards.

Conclusion

Azlask and Ulalek, Fused AtrocityUlalek, Fused Atrocity give Commander players some interesting options for five-color Eldrazi lists. But are those lists healthy for the format? Are they fun to play against?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and I'll see you all soon for more Fire and Ice!