How it grades
Fundamentals 80/100. Plays like Aristocrats.
This reads as Aristocrats, built around Nalia de'Arnise. Turn creatures dying into a win: sacrifice fodder on demand, drain the table with death triggers, and grind value from every body. The deck barely fears wipes; it profits from them. Watch the fodder-to-payoff ratio: outlets and drains do nothing without a steady stream of bodies. Its strongest fundamental is land count (37 lands. About 39 fits this curve for Aristocrats); the first thing to tighten is commander synergy: Only 29 of 62 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want +1/+1 counter, party support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Party, Lifegain; from EDHREC).
- B+Mana reliability
- A+Land count
- A+Mana curve
- B+Ramp
- A-Card draw
- A+Interaction
- BCommander synergy
- AWin conditions
- B+Card quality
- A+Legality & size
Where it falls short
- B+Mana reliability87% of your spells arrive on time. Eight-and-a-Half-Tails is the riskiest: its W cost is heavy for this mana base, so expect it several turns late.
- B+Ramp8 ramp effects (want 10+ for this curve for Aristocrats).
- BCommander synergyOnly 29 of 62 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want +1/+1 counter, party support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Party, Lifegain; from EDHREC).
- B+Card qualityMedian EDHREC rank #4,588
Strong on land count, mana curve, card draw, interaction, win conditions and legality & size.
87 cards graded: A- 7, B+ 24, B 47, B- 5, C+ 3, C 1. The command zone is the plan, so it isn't graded.
Upgrades
Made together, they take Party Time from B to A.
Mentor of the Meek2W$4.81
In place of Mindblade Render: weakest slot in the deck (66/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 9 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers). Works with the commander directly.
Marionette Apprentice1B$2.06
In place of Order of Whiteclay: weakest slot in the deck (50/100)
Pays off your artifact engine (7 producers). Fuels your token payoffs (9 in deck). Top-5% staple by play data.
Ophiomancer2B$1.19
In place of Magus of the Balance: weakest slot in the deck (53/100)
Fits the commander's plan. EDHREC Aristocrats staple. Fuels your token payoffs (9 in deck).
Elas il-Kor, Sadistic PilgrimWB$3.55
In place of Solemn Recruit: weakest slot in the deck (53/100)
Pays off your token engine (8 producers). Fits the lifegain build players run with your commanders. Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers).
Soul WardenW$3.16
In place of Calculating Lich: weakest slot in the deck (54/100)
Pays off your token engine (8 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers). Fits the lifegain build players run with your commanders.
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar1WW$2.84
In place of Valiant Changeling: weakest slot in the deck (56/100)
Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers). Fuels your token payoffs (9 in deck). Works with the commander directly.
Soul's AttendantW$7.27
In place of Solemn Doomguide: weakest slot in the deck (58/100)
Pays off your token engine (8 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers). Fits the lifegain build players run with your commanders.
Voice of Victory1W$20.34
In place of Glorious Protector: weakest slot in the deck (61/100)
Fuels your token payoffs (9 in deck). Works with the commander directly. Top-5% staple by play data.
Puresteel PaladinWW$2.40
In place of Corpse Augur: weakest slot in the deck (68/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 9 of 10+). Pays off your artifact engine (7 producers). Works with the commander directly.
Cathars' Crusade3WW$9.48
In place of Dire Fleet Ravager: weakest slot in the deck (61/100)
Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan. Pays off your token engine (8 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (31 producers).
Save a copy to try them. The editor's Improve list has these and more, with the swaps one click each.
Decklist
Commander 1
Creatures 44
- B
- B
- B-
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- C+
- B
- B
- C+
- B+
- C+
- B
- B
- B
- B-
- B
- B
- A-
- B+
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- A-
- B-
- B
- B+
- B
- A-
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B-
Instants 3
- B+
- B+
- B+
Sorceries 5
- B+
- B+
- B
- B
- B
Artifacts 7
- B+
- A-
- B+
- A-
- A-
- B+
- B
Enchantments 3
- B+
- B+
- A-
Lands 37
- B
- B
- B-
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B
- C
- B
- B×3
- B×3
- B×2
- B×2
- B×3
- B×3
- B×2
- B×2
Prices are current market estimates, not what the sealed product costs. Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast.