How it grades
Fundamentals 78/100. Plays like +1/+1 counters and Tokens.
This reads as +1/+1 counters · Tokens, built around Heroes in a Half Shell. 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 land count (39 lands. About 41 fits this curve for +1/+1 counters); the first thing to tighten is commander synergy: Only 26 of 60 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want Turtle, +1/+1 counter, card-draw support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Tokens; from EDHREC).
- A+Mana reliability
- A+Land count
- A+Mana curve
- A+Ramp
- ACard draw
- A+Interaction
- B-Commander synergy
- AWin conditions
- B+Card quality
- A+Legality & size
Where it falls short
- B-Commander synergyOnly 26 of 60 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want Turtle, +1/+1 counter, card-draw support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Tokens; from EDHREC).
- B+Card qualityMedian EDHREC rank #7,277
Strong on mana reliability, land count, mana curve, ramp, card draw, interaction, win conditions and legality & size.
92 cards graded: A- 3, B+ 28, B 47, B- 9, C+ 5. The command zone is the plan, so it isn't graded.
Upgrades
Made together, they take Turtle Power! from B to A.
Kappa Cannoneer5U$0.40
In place of Roadkill Rodney: weakest slot in the deck (51/100)
Your commanders need 2 more Turtles before that engine runs. Pays off your artifact engine (13 producers). Fuels your +1/+1 counter payoffs (7 in deck).
Slash, Reptile Rampager3RR$0.73
In place of Electric Seaweed: weakest slot in the deck (52/100)
Pays off your token engine (6 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (23 producers). Is a Turtle for your commanders' plan.
Michelangelo, Mutant BFF2GG$0.25
In place of Tempestra, Dame of Games: weakest slot in the deck (52/100)
Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (22 producers). Fits the commander's plan. Your commanders need 2 more Turtles before that engine runs.
Leonardo, Cutting Edge1W$0.79
In place of Double Jump // Flying Kick: weakest slot in the deck (52/100)
Pays off your lifegain engine (6 producers). Your commanders need 2 more Turtles before that engine runs. Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (22 producers).
Raphael, Tough Turtle1R$0.14
In place of Mole Module: weakest slot in the deck (52/100)
Your commanders need 2 more Turtles before that engine runs. Pays off your token engine (6 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (23 producers).
Evolution Witness2G$0.28
In place of Here Comes a New Hero!: weakest slot in the deck (54/100)
Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan. Top-5% staple by play data. EDHREC +1/+1 counters staple.
Inspiring Call2G$0.39
In place of Fast Forward: weakest slot in the deck (55/100)
Fits the token build players run with your commanders. Pays off your token engine (6 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (23 producers).
Forgotten Ancient3G$0.38
In place of Super Combo: weakest slot in the deck (55/100)
Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (22 producers). Fuels your +1/+1 counter payoffs (7 in deck). Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan.
Evolution Sage2G$3.22
In place of Swift Demise: weakest slot in the deck (56/100)
Pays off your land engine (8 producers). Pays off your +1/+1 counter engine (22 producers). Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan.
Champion of Lambholt1GG$4.79
In place of Special Move: conditional removal: dead against some boards (56/100)
Pays off your token engine (6 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (23 producers). Pays off the commanders' +1/+1 counter plan.
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 30
- B+
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- C+
- C+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- C+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
Instants 6
- B-
- B-
- B-
- B-
- C+
- B
Sorceries 10
- B-
- B-
- B-
- B-
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- A-
- B+
Artifacts 9
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C+
- B+
- B
- A-
- A-
Enchantments 5
- B+
- B
- B+
- B+
- B
Lands 39
- B-
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B
- B×2
- B×2
- B×2
- B×2
- B×4
Prices are current market estimates, not what the sealed product costs. Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast.