Shared Commander deck
Venser, Shaper Savant - community staples
Venser, Shaper Savant · U · 100 cards · 38 lands
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Bracket 3 - UpgradedCommander 1Creatures 39Instants 12Sorceries 1Artifacts 7Enchantments 2Lands 38
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Strategy
Venser, Shaper Savant leads a deck built from the cards players most often run with it. The list holds 12 ramp pieces, 9 pieces of targeted interaction, 2 board wipes and 9 sources of card draw, at an average mana value of 3.28.
Early: Use the early turns on mana. High Tide and the rest of the 12 ramp pieces are what let the deck cast Venser, Shaper Savant 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. Aether Channeler is the first answer you will usually reach for, and Dour Port-Mage keeps the hand full while you do it.
Late: Hold Cyclonic Rift for the turn the table gets ahead of you - with 2 in the deck you can afford to use one early and still have an answer later. At 3.28 average mana value the top end is middling, which means most turns hold two spells.
Win conditions: Wins through the commander and the strongest threats the colours offer, backed by real interaction.
- Naban, Dean of Iteration - Core to the plan
- Archaeomancer - Core to the plan
- Panharmonicon - Core to the plan
- Ghostly Flicker - Core to the plan
- Peregrine Drake - Core to the plan
- Deadeye Navigator - Core to the plan
- Aether Channeler - Interaction
- Displace - Core to the plan
~$498.16
estimated to build this deck
Commander (1)
Venser, Shaper Savant
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
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.
Creatures (39)
Naban, Dean of Iteration
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.33
If a Wizard you control entering causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
Archaeomancer
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.28
When this creature enters, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Peregrine Drake
Creature — Drake
$0.24
Flying
When this creature enters, untap up to five lands.
Deadeye Navigator
Creature — Spirit
$2.64
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.)
As long as Deadeye Navigator is paired with another creature, each of those creatures has "{1}{U}: Exile this creature, then return it to the battlefield under your control."
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.
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.
Displacer Kitten
Creature — Cat Beast
$26.45
Avoidance — Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, exile up to one target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
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.
Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.34
Tap an untapped Wizard you control: Draw a card.
Starfield Vocalist
Creature — Human Bard
$1.3
If a permanent entering the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
Warp {1}{U} (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
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.
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
Legendary Enchantment Creature — God
$26.61
Indestructible
As long as your devotion to blue is less than five, Thassa isn't a creature.
At the beginning of your end step, exile up to one other target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.
{3}{U}: Tap another target creature.
Snapcaster Mage
Creature — Human Wizard
$14.95
Flash
When this creature enters, target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost. (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
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.
Spellseeker
Creature — Human Wizard
$16.47
When this creature enters, you may search your library for an instant or sorcery card with mana value 2 or less, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.71
Flash
Creature cards you own that aren't on the battlefield have flash.
Each opponent can cast spells only any time they could cast a sorcery.
Archmage Emeritus
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.56
Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, draw a card.
Mulldrifter
Creature — Elemental
$0.29
Flying
When this creature enters, draw two cards.
Evoke {2}{U} (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters.)
Phyrexian Metamorph
Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Shapeshifter
$2.1
({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.)
You may have this creature enter as a copy of any artifact or creature on the battlefield, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
Naru Meha, Master Wizard
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$1.04
Flash
When Naru Meha enters, copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Other Wizards you control get +1/+1.
Baral, Chief of Compliance
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$3.24
Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
Whenever a spell or ability you control counters a spell, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
Tishana's Tidebinder
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
$2.26
Flash
When this creature enters, counter up to one target activated or triggered ability. If an ability of an artifact, creature, or planeswalker is countered this way, that permanent loses all abilities for as long as this creature remains on the battlefield. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)
Stonybrook Banneret
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
$0.27
Islandwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)
Merfolk spells and Wizard spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
Laboratory Maniac
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.45
If you would draw a card while your library has no cards in it, you win the game instead.
Archmage of Echoes
Creature — Faerie Wizard
$15.02
Flying, ward {2}
Whenever you cast a Faerie or Wizard permanent spell, copy it. (The copy becomes a token.)
Trophy Mage
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.55
When this creature enters, you may search your library for an artifact card with mana value 3, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Wizard
$0.41
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, create a 2/2 blue Drake creature token with flying.
Clever Impersonator
Creature — Shapeshifter
$2.56
You may have this creature enter as a copy of any nonland permanent on the battlefield.
Vedalken Aethermage
Creature — Vedalken Wizard
$0.46
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
When this creature enters, return target Sliver to its owner's hand.
Wizardcycling {3} ({3}, Discard this card: Search your library for a Wizard card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.)
Tidespout Tyrant
Creature — Djinn
$1.43
Flying
Whenever you cast a spell, return target permanent to its owner's hand.
Trinket Mage
Creature — Human Wizard
$0.31
When this creature enters, you may search your library for an artifact card with mana value 1 or less, reveal that card, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Consecrated Sphinx
Creature — Sphinx
$25.58
Flying
Whenever an opponent draws a card, you may draw two cards.
Glen Elendra Archmage
Creature — Faerie Wizard
$10.02
Flying
{U}, Sacrifice this creature: Counter target noncreature spell.
Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
Gadwick, the Wizened
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$0.37
When Gadwick enters, draw X cards.
Whenever you cast a blue spell, tap target nonland permanent an opponent controls.
Shipwreck Dowser
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
$0.1
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
When this creature enters, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
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.)
Wavebreak Hippocamp
Enchantment Creature — Horse Fish
$0.6
Whenever you cast your first spell during each opponent's turn, draw a card.
Agent of Treachery
Creature — Human Rogue
$3.77
When this creature enters, gain control of target permanent.
At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more permanents you don't own, draw three cards.
Orvar, the All-Form
Legendary Creature — Shapeshifter
$3.16
Changeling
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, if it targets one or more other permanents you control, create a token that's a copy of one of those permanents.
When a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard this card, create a token that's a copy of target permanent.
Instants (12)
Ghostly Flicker
Instant
$1.11
Exile two target artifacts, creatures, and/or lands you control, then return those cards to the battlefield under your control.
Displace
Instant
$0.36
Exile up to two target creatures you control, then return those cards to the battlefield under their owner's control.
Brainstorm
Instant
$1.27
Draw three cards, then put two cards from your hand on top of your library in any order.
High Tide
Instant
$0.81
Until end of turn, whenever a player taps an Island for mana, that player adds an additional {U}.
Snap
Instant
$3.36
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Untap up to two lands.
Essence Flux
Instant
$1.37
Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. If it's a Spirit, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
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.")
Mystical Tutor
Instant
$14.99
Search your library for an instant or sorcery card, reveal it, then shuffle and put that card on top.
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.
Mana Sculpt
Instant
$0.77
Counter target spell. If you control a Wizard, add an amount of {C} equal to the amount of mana spent to cast that spell at the beginning of your next main phase.
Sorceries (1)
Ponder
Sorcery
$1.77
Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. You may shuffle.
Draw a card.
Artifacts (7)
Panharmonicon
Artifact
$5.65
If an artifact or creature entering causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
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.
Arcane Signet
Artifact
$0.42
{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.
Fellwar Stone
Artifact
$0.9
{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.
Enchantments (2)
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 (38)
Riptide Laboratory
Land
$0.64
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}{U}, {T}: Return target Wizard you control to its owner's hand.
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.
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.
Castle Vantress
Land
$0.35
This land enters tapped unless you control an Island.
{T}: Add {U}.
{2}{U}{U}, {T}: Scry 2.
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.)
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}.
Tolaria West
Land
$0.48
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {U}.
Transmute {1}{U}{U} ({1}{U}{U}, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with mana value 0, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. Transmute only as a sorcery.)
Academy Ruins
Legendary Land
$5.19
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}{U}, {T}: Put target artifact card from your graveyard on top of your library.
Urza's Saga
Enchantment Land — Urza's Saga
$36.03
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — This Saga gains "{T}: Add {C}."
II — This Saga gains "{2}, {T}: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with 'This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.'"
III — Search your library for an artifact card with mana cost {0} or {1}, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Lonely Sandbar
Land
$0.17
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {U}.
Cycling {U} ({U}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Arcane Lighthouse
Land
$1.76
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}, {T}: Until end of turn, creatures your opponents control lose hexproof and shroud and can't have hexproof or shroud.
Basic lands: 26 Island
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