Zaxara, the Exemplary
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- Commander
- Zaxara, the Exemplary
- Cards
- 100
- Current value
- $320.92
- Grade
- B
How it grades
Fundamentals 80/100. Plays like +1/+1 counters and Voltron.
This reads as +1/+1 counters · Voltron, built around Zaxara, the Exemplary. Every creature is a mana sink for growth: counters snowball across the board, doublers turn increments into avalanches, and payoffs convert size into evasion, draw, or the kill. The deck's weakness is exponential dependence: protect the doublers and watch out for clean board resets. Its strongest fundamental is mana curve (63% of spells cost ≤2, 2% cost 6+); the first thing to tighten is land count: 36 lands. About 32 fits this curve for +1/+1 counters, with Gargos' discount counted.
- BMana reliability
- BLand count
- A+Mana curve
- A+Ramp
- B+Card draw
- AInteraction
- BCommander synergy
- A+Win conditions
- A+Card quality
- A+Legality & size
Where it falls short
- BMana reliability79% of your spells arrive on time. Blue Sun's Zenith is the riskiest: its U cost is heavy for this mana base, so expect it several turns late.
- BLand count36 lands. About 32 fits this curve for +1/+1 counters, with Gargos' discount counted.
- B+Card draw8 draw effects (want 10+ for +1/+1 counters).
- BCommander synergyOnly 30 of 63 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want token, go-wide, +1/+1 counter support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Tokens; from EDHREC).
Strong on mana curve, ramp, interaction, win conditions, card quality and legality & size.
84 cards graded: A 3, A- 8, B+ 35, B 33, B- 5. The command zone is the plan, so it isn't graded.
Upgrades
Made together, they take Zaxara, the Exemplary from B to A-.
Fathom Mage2GU$0.82
In place of Brass Infiniscope: expensive for ramp: the help arrives late (61/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 8 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (8 producers).
Champion of Lambholt1GG$4.81
In place of Profane Command: its B cost is heavy for this mana base; expect it several turns late (54/100)
Pays off the commanders' token plan. Top-5% staple by play data. EDHREC +1/+1 counters staple.
Shamanic Revelation3GG$1.53
In place of Mind Spring: weakest slot in the deck (67/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 8 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Pays off the commanders' token plan.
Elemental Bond2G$4.95
In place of Pull from Tomorrow: weakest slot in the deck (71/100)
Pays off the commanders' go-wide plan. Fills the draw gap (you're at 8 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers).
Tribute to the World TreeGGG$15.22
In place of The Goose Mother: weakest slot in the deck (73/100)
Fuels your +1/+1 counter payoffs (6 in deck). Fills the draw gap (you're at 8 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers).
Craterhoof Behemoth5GGG$24.73
In place of Blue Sun's Zenith: its U cost is heavy for this mana base; expect it several turns late (57/100)
Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Pays off the commanders' token plan. Top-5% staple by play data.
Banner of Kinship5$8.09
In place of Erebos's Intervention: weakest slot in the deck (58/100)
Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Pays off the commanders' token plan. Top-5% staple by play data.
Forgotten Ancient3G$0.35
In place of Torment of Hailfire: its B cost is heavy for this mana base; expect it several turns late (58/100)
Fuels your go-wide payoffs (4 in deck). Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan. Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (8 producers).
Evolution Witness2G$0.27
In place of Exsanguinate: its B cost is heavy for this mana base; expect it several turns late (59/100)
Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (8 producers). Fuels your go-wide payoffs (4 in deck). Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan.
The Great Henge7GG$65.59
In place of Finale of Revelation: weakest slot in the deck (74/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 8 of 10+). Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (8 producers). Fuels your +1/+1 counter payoffs (6 in deck).
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 24
- B+
- B
- B+
- A-
- B+
- B+
- B+
- A-
- A
- B+
- A-
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- A
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
Instants 11
- A-
- B-
- B
- B+
- B-
- B+
- A
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
Sorceries 13
- B
- B+
- B
- B-
- B+
- A-
- B+
- B
- B+
- B-
- B+
- B-
- B
Artifacts 7
- B+
- B
- B
- A-
- B+
- A-
- B+
Enchantments 8
- B+
- B+
- B+
- A-
- B+
- B
- B+
- B+
Lands 36
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B×9
- B
- B×5
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B×4
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B+
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