Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer | Art by Chris Rahn

Flying in from the swamplands of the Strixhaven campus is the dean of the goth healers of the plane, Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer. This commander is currently leading the pack as the most popular legend to build around from the latest set, so I wanted to jump in with a budget brew for this Elder Dragon.

Join me, Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as I cover a powerful budget 99 that you can pick up for about $45 (or $60, if you need to purchase Witherbloom as well).

What Does Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer Bring to the Table?

As previously mentioned, this commander has exploded in popularity, all thanks to three words: affinity for creatures. Both Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer and all your instants and sorceries gain the ability to be cast for a whole lot less, based on how many creatures you have in play.

With that in mind, you'll see that this deck is jam packed with ways to flood the board with bodies, and big spells that are perfect for having their costs reduced. So, let's get right into it by looking at a few powerful cards that make up the top end of this deck.

Big Splashy Spells for Witherbloom

• In Garruk's WakeIn Garruk's Wake: When it comes to powerful effects that feel broken when their price is reduced, this has to be at the top of the list. Destroying everyone else's team for only two mana sets you up for clear attacks with your wide board of creatures.
• Ezuri's PredationEzuri's Predation: Here's a card that can also clear the board, while reducing your costs even more, since it loads up your battlefield with those big Beast tokens once the dust settles.
• Szat's WillSzat's Will: Getting rid of your opponents' most powerful creatures, while making a team of Thrulls at instant speed, is such a powerful thing to do, especially for as little as one mana.

• Return of the WildspeakerReturn of the Wildspeaker: This card is incredibly versatile in this list. Yes, it could draw you five cards with your commander, however it can also pump up your entire board of non-Humans in order to close out a game.
• Overwhelming StampedeOverwhelming Stampede: When it comes to finishers, this is an all-time classic. If you have your commander out, this'll give out +5/+5 and trample to your board, for just two mana.
• ExsanguinateExsanguinate: Back in the day, this was my favorite way to close out a game, and it's great in this list. It can make for some truly unbeatable moments, where you bring everyone else's life down to single digits, all while padding your own.

Build Up the Board

• Arasta of the Endless WebArasta of the Endless Web: This legend can be a board in a box. Creating a Spider every time an opponent casts an instant or sorcery makes it so you're consistently benefiting off of anyone else's success.
• Quina, Qu GourmetQuina, Qu Gourmet: As you fill your board with tokens, Quina will be giving you an additional Frog to add to the mix. That'll ensure you're supercharging all of the token makers in this deck, which gets you one step closer to landing Witherbloom and some big spells as early as possible.
• Twitching DollTwitching Doll: Here's an example of a great mana dork for this list, since it lowers your costs while tapping for mana. Eventually, it can be sacrificed in order to release that huge influx of Spiders to the board... Gross!

• Brightcap BadgerBrightcap Badger: This creature is one of the best cards in the deck, since it's both an instant and a way to make additional mana dorks as the game goes on.
• Nest InvaderNest Invader: Here's two friends for the price of one, which helps get your commander out even faster, making this a small but mighty common for the list.
• Rootcast ApprenticeshipRootcast Apprenticeship: Modality is always important in a Spellslinger deck, and this card definitely offers that. Counters, tokens, and a little bit of removal all on one text box.

Refilling Your Hand

• StargazeStargaze: When it comes to refilling your hand, this is one of my all-time favorites. Since you dig twice X cards deep with this spell, there's a good chance you'll find exactly what you need after it resolves - if your board is big enough, of course.
• Rishkar's ExpertiseRishkar's Expertise: Lowering the cost of this sorcery is huge, since you'll draw a good number of cards, while still casting something with mana value five or less from your hand for free.
• Shamanic RevelationShamanic Revelation: The goal of this deck is to go wide, which sets you up to benefit greatly from this spell. Drawing a card for each creature you control and gaining a little bit of life is the type of thing that could save you the game when you need it the most.

• Audience with TrostaniAudience with Trostani: Here's a card that really needs to be in the right home to perform well, and this is a great example of that. Since you're making a lot of tokens and not really worried about them all matching, you'll be in a good spot to draw several cards off of this bulk rare.
• Ancient CravingAncient Craving: With the new Bloodline RecollectorBloodline Recollector being spoiled recently, here's a way to cast that Ancestral Craving a few months early. A one-mana draw-three sounds pretty nice to me.
• Outrageous RobberyOutrageous Robbery: While this deck is very powerful, you're still only in two colors - but that's where this card comes in. Stealing a big chunk of an opponent's library at instant speed will give you access to some spicy spells outside of your color combo that you'll get to cast for far cheaper than anyone else.

My Favorite Little Tech Pieces

Before we take a look at the entire list, I wanted to highlight a few fun cards that seem unassuming, but can pack a punch. Defend the RiderDefend the Rider protects your commander, but it could also add to your creature count. Rotten ReunionRotten Reunion brings some graveyard hate to the list, as well as a couple Zombie tokens along the way, and Khalni GardenKhalni Garden offers up a Plant for simply hitting play.

All of these cards are small but mighty in a deck like this, pushing your game plan forward without asking too much in return.

Witherbloom, the Balancer Commander Deck List

Final Thoughts on Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer

So, there you have it, a budget 99 built around Witherbloom, the BalancerWitherbloom, the Balancer for about $45. This commander has already taken the format by storm, so hopefully this list helped give you some fun ideas for building a strong deck, without breaking the bank.

If you're looking for more budget content from me, you can find it right here on EDHREC as well as on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where I do everything I can to make Magic more accessible for everyone.