Shared Commander deck
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - community staples
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar · U · 100 cards · 35 lands
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Bracket 3 - UpgradedCommander 1Creatures 41Instants 9Artifacts 9Enchantments 5Lands 35
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Strategy
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar leads a deck built from the cards players most often run with it, putting +1/+1 counters on things and growing them out of range. The list holds 12 ramp pieces, 11 pieces of targeted interaction, 3 board wipes and 18 sources of card draw, at an average mana value of 2.47.
Early: Use the early turns on mana. Solemn Simulacrum and the rest of the 12 ramp pieces are what let the deck cast Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar on curve and keep casting after it.
Mid: Once the commander is down, the deck wants to be doing two things at once: advancing its own board and answering everyone else's. Siren Stormtamer is the first answer you will usually reach for, and Bident of Thassa keeps the hand full while you do it.
Late: Hold Aetherize for the turn the table gets ahead of you - with 3 in the deck you can afford to use one early and still have an answer later. At 2.47 average mana value the top end is cheap, so expect to deploy several spells a turn.
Win conditions: Wins by growing a threat past what the table can answer and connecting with it.
- Slither Blade - Core to the plan
- Triton Shorestalker - Core to the plan
- Bident of Thassa - Card draw
- Faerie Seer - Core to the plan
- Reconnaissance Mission - Card draw
- Coastal Piracy - Card draw
- Siren Stormtamer - Interaction
- Silent Hallcreeper - Card draw
~$399.51
estimated to build this deck
Commander (1)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
Legendary Creature — Horror
Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, you may return it to its owner's hand.
Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, draw a card.
Creatures (41)
Triton Shorestalker
Creature — Merfolk Rogue
$0.31
This creature can't be blocked.
Faerie Seer
Creature — Faerie Wizard
$0.35
Flying
When this creature enters, scry 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom and the rest on top in any order.)
Siren Stormtamer
Creature — Siren Pirate Wizard
$0.32
Flying
{U}, Sacrifice this creature: Counter target spell or ability that targets you or a creature you control.
Silent Hallcreeper
Enchantment Creature — Horror
$1.1
This creature can't be blocked.
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, choose one that hasn't been chosen —
• Put two +1/+1 counters on this creature.
• Draw a card.
• This creature becomes a copy of another target creature you control.
Mist-Cloaked Herald
Creature — Merfolk Warrior
$0.26
This creature can't be blocked.
Thieving Skydiver
Creature — Merfolk Rogue
$0.24
Kicker {X}. X can't be 0. (You may pay an additional {X} as you cast this spell.)
Flying
When this creature enters, if it was kicked, gain control of target artifact with mana value X or less. If that artifact is an Equipment, attach it to this creature.
Enduring Curiosity
Enchantment Creature — Cat Glimmer
$6.9
Flash
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
When Enduring Curiosity dies, if it was a creature, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. It's an enchantment. (It's not a creature.)
Psychosis Crawler
Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Horror
$0.77
Psychosis Crawler's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
Whenever you draw a card, each opponent loses 1 life.
Chasm Skulker
Creature — Squid Horror
$0.31
Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
When this creature dies, create X 1/1 blue Squid creature tokens with islandwalk, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on this creature. (They can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
Invisible Stalker
Creature — Human Rogue
$0.69
Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)
This creature can't be blocked.
Barrin, Tolarian Archmage
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.3
When Barrin enters, return up to one other target creature or planeswalker to its owner's hand.
At the beginning of your end step, if a permanent was put into your hand from the battlefield this turn, draw a card.
Cloud of Faeries
Creature — Faerie
$0.34
Flying
When this creature enters, untap up to two lands.
Cycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Thousand-Faced Shadow
Creature — Human Ninja
$2.2
Ninjutsu {2}{U}{U} ({2}{U}{U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Flying
When this creature enters from your hand, if it's attacking, create a token that's a copy of another target attacking creature. The token enters tapped and attacking.
Scourge of Fleets
Creature — Kraken
$0.46
When this creature enters, return each creature your opponents control with toughness X or less to its owner's hand, where X is the number of Islands you control.
Mischievous Mystic
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.28
Flying
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, create a 1/1 blue Faerie creature token with flying.
Aether Channeler
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.33
When this creature enters, choose one —
• Create a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying.
• Return another target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
• Draw a card.
Spectral Sailor
Creature — Spirit Pirate
$0.11
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Flying
{3}{U}: Draw a card.
Ghostly Pilferer
Creature — Spirit Rogue
$1.93
Whenever this creature becomes untapped, you may pay {2}. If you do, draw a card.
Whenever an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand, draw a card.
Discard a card: This creature can't be blocked this turn.
Dour Port-Mage
Creature — Frog Wizard
$2.92
Whenever one or more other creatures you control leave the battlefield without dying, draw a card.
{1}{U}, {T}: Return another target creature you control to its owner's hand.
Mistblade Shinobi
Creature — Human Ninja
$0.82
Ninjutsu {U} ({U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may return target creature that player controls to its owner's hand.
Gudul Lurker
Creature — Salamander
$0.41
This creature can't be blocked.
Megamorph {U} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Triskaidekaphile
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.68
You have no maximum hand size.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have exactly thirteen cards in your hand, you win the game.
{3}{U}: Draw a card.
Hullbreaker Horror
Creature — Kraken Horror
$5.72
Flash
This spell can't be countered.
Whenever you cast a spell, choose up to one —
• Return target spell you don't control to its owner's hand.
• Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
Solemn Simulacrum
Artifact Creature — Golem
$0.27
When this creature enters, you may search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
When this creature dies, you may draw a card.
Emrakul's Messenger
Creature — Eldrazi Faerie Rogue
$0.29
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Flying
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, create a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token with "Sacrifice this token: Add {C}."
Defiler of Dreams
Creature — Phyrexian Sphinx
$0.52
Flying
As an additional cost to cast blue permanent spells, you may pay 2 life. Those spells cost {U} less to cast if you paid life this way. This effect reduces only the amount of blue mana you pay.
Whenever you cast a blue permanent spell, draw a card.
Archaeomancer
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.28
When this creature enters, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Faerie Mastermind
Creature — Faerie Rogue
$11.47
Flash
Flying
Whenever an opponent draws their second card each turn, you draw a card.
{3}{U}: Each player draws a card.
Shoreline Looter
Creature — Rat Rogue
$0.33
This creature can't be blocked.
Threshold — Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card. Then discard a card unless there are seven or more cards in your graveyard.
Venser, Shaper Savant
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.33
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
When Venser enters, return target spell or permanent to its owner's hand.
Prosperous Thief
Creature — Human Ninja
$0.17
Ninjutsu {1}{U} ({1}{U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever one or more Ninja or Rogue creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Creature — Human Ninja
$1.35
Ninjutsu {1}{U} ({1}{U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
Faerie Vandal
Creature — Faerie Rogue
$0.22
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Flying
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
Silver Raven
Artifact Creature — Bird
$0.24
Flying
When this creature enters, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel
Legendary Creature — Siren Pirate
$2.27
Flash
Flying
Whenever Malcolm deals combat damage to a player, put a chorus counter on it. Draw a card, then discard a card. If there are four or more chorus counters on Malcolm, you may cast the discarded card without paying its mana cost.
Azure Beastbinder
Creature — Rat Rogue
$0.49
Vigilance
This creature can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or greater.
Whenever this creature attacks, up to one target artifact, creature, or planeswalker an opponent controls loses all abilities until your next turn. If it's a creature, it also has base power and toughness 2/2 until your next turn.
Vnwxt, Verbose Host
Legendary Creature — Homunculus
$0.39
Start your engines! (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life. Max speed is 4.)
You have no maximum hand size.
Max speed — If you would draw a card, draw two cards instead.
Mercurial Spelldancer
Creature — Phyrexian Rogue
$0.37
This creature can't be blocked.
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put an oil counter on this creature.
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may remove two oil counters from it. If you do, when you next cast an instant or sorcery spell this turn, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Nadir Kraken
Creature — Kraken
$0.32
Whenever you draw a card, you may pay {1}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and create a 1/1 blue Tentacle creature token.
Twenty-Toed Toad
Creature — Frog Wizard
$6.52
Your maximum hand size is twenty.
Whenever you attack with two or more creatures, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and draw a card.
Whenever this creature attacks, you win the game if there are twenty or more counters on it or you have twenty or more cards in hand.
Instants (9)
Pongify
Instant
$2
Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Ape creature token.
Rapid Hybridization
Instant
$0.81
Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated. That creature's controller creates a 3/3 green Frog Lizard creature token.
Cyclonic Rift
Instant
$30.27
Return target nonland permanent you don't control to its owner's hand.
Overload {6}{U} (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change "target" in its text to "each.")
Fierce Guardianship
Instant
$63.56
If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.
Counter target noncreature spell.
High Tide
Instant
$0.81
Until end of turn, whenever a player taps an Island for mana, that player adds an additional {U}.
Mana Drain
Instant
$51.22
Counter target spell. At the beginning of your next main phase, add an amount of {C} equal to that spell's mana value.
Artifacts (9)
Bident of Thassa
Legendary Enchantment Artifact
$0.4
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
{1}{U}, {T}: Creatures your opponents control attack this turn if able.
Sword of the Animist
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
$2.41
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, you may search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Equip {2}
Wayfarer's Bauble
Artifact
$0.3
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Explorer's Scope
Artifact — Equipment
$0.15
Whenever equipped creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.
Equip {1} ({1}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Sword of Hearth and Home
Artifact — Equipment
$16.71
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from green and from white.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, exile up to one target creature you own, then search your library for a basic land card. Put both cards onto the battlefield under your control, then shuffle.
Equip {2}
Arcane Signet
Artifact
$0.42
{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.
Enchantments (5)
Reconnaissance Mission
Enchantment
$0.33
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
Cycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Coastal Piracy
Enchantment
$0.31
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to an opponent, you may draw a card.
Wizard Class
Enchantment — Class
$3.35
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.)
You have no maximum hand size.
{2}{U}: Level 2
When this Class becomes level 2, draw two cards.
{4}{U}: Level 3
Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
Rhystic Study
Enchantment
$67.53
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may draw a card unless that player pays {1}.
Imprisoned in the Moon
Enchantment — Aura
$0.31
Enchant creature, land, or planeswalker
Enchanted permanent is a colorless land with "{T}: Add {C}" and loses all other card types and abilities.
Lands (35)
Mystic Sanctuary
Land — Island
$1.11
({T}: Add {U}.)
This land enters tapped unless you control three or more other Islands.
When this land enters untapped, you may put target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard on top of your library.
Rogue's Passage
Land
$0.39
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}, {T}: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.
Otawara, Soaring City
Legendary Land
$26.49
{T}: Add {U}.
Channel — {3}{U}, Discard this card: Return target artifact, creature, enchantment, or planeswalker to its owner's hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Legendary Land
$53.08
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}: Choose a color. Add an amount of mana of that color equal to your devotion to that color. (Your devotion to a color is the number of mana symbols of that color in the mana costs of permanents you control.)
Castle Vantress
Land
$0.35
This land enters tapped unless you control an Island.
{T}: Add {U}.
{2}{U}{U}, {T}: Scry 2.
Lonely Sandbar
Land
$0.17
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {U}.
Cycling {U} ({U}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Halimar Depths
Land
$0.35
This land enters tapped.
When this land enters, look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
{T}: Add {U}.
Terrain Generator
Land
$1.29
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}: You may put a basic land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped.
Scavenger Grounds
Land — Desert
$0.29
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice a Desert: Exile all graveyards.
War Room
Land
$5.32
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}, {T}, Pay life equal to the number of colors in your commanders' color identity: Draw a card.
Access Tunnel
Land
$0.35
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}, {T}: Target creature with power 3 or less can't be blocked this turn.
Basic lands: 23 Island
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