As many players know, a game of casual Commander can go for a really long time. In extreme scenarios, with multiple board wipes played, it’s not uncommon for precon-level Commander to go for hours. Thanks to this, it’s natural for Commander decks to run tons of card draw so they don’t run out of steam late game. This, in turn, makes cards that shut down card draw, like Uba Mask, insanely powerful in MTG Commander.
MTG Uba Mask
Without additional support, Uba Mask basically turns any card drawn into an Impulse Draw, forcing players to use their drawn cards before the turn ends. Besides turning off instant speed tap-out card advantage spells in control decks, this can also shut down Commanders like Korvold, Fae-Cursed King that continually draw a flurry of cards.
Even if your opponents aren’t playing heavy draw Commanders, Uba Mask can create a lot of havoc when used with symmetrical draw spells. Suddenly, your Windfall and other wheel effects just strip the table of their hand. You’ll be able to play a few cards from exile, but more often than not, your opponents will lose most of the cards that they draw. That said, since Uba Mask is symmetrical, your opponents can also do this to you.
Luckily, there are a fair few cost reduction cards that can help you tip the Impulse drawing in your favor. Commanders like Prosper, Tome Bound and Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius will reduce the casting cost of everything you cast off of Uba Mask. The new Secrets of Strixhaven Advanced Reconstruction can absolutely excel here, giving you a flat cost Reduction of 2 on Level 3, while Impulse Drawing an extra card each turn.
The only downside to these cost reduction spells is that there aren’t enough of them to go around. Fortunately, cards like Passionate Archeologist, and Pia Nalar, Consul of Revival can open up other ways to get extra value from your Uba Mask casts. Having an empty hand also gives you a chance to use cards like Flubs, the Fool and Null Brooch while avoiding their downsides.
Locking Your Opponents Down
While wheeling with Uba Mask is mean enough, you can go a step further in particularly pesky pods. Since Uba Mask puts any drawn card into exile, Drannith Magistrate can essentially lock them out of the game. If your opponents cannot remove this card immediately, they won’t be able to play anything that they draw. Even Commanders will be locked down, since they aren’t cast from your hand.
Sadly, since he locks down Commanders, Drannith Magistrate is not only a Game Changer, but quite popular in EDH. Thanks to this, it’s equally likely an opponent could do this lock to you. Should this happen, cards that add cards to your hand instead of drawing them, like Stock Up and Dig Through Time, can help you find answers.
While this is the only hard lock available with Uba Mask, there are some other combos that can be absolutely devastating. Soulless Jailer, for example, can lock the table down from playing drawn noncreature spells, while Avatar’s Wrath can essentially function as a Time Walk.
Expensive, but Worthwhile
If you’re looking to synergize with your exile already, Uba Mask can progress your game plan while seriously screwing with your opponents. Despite this, a lot of Commanders that excel with the card, like Prosper and Flubs, barely play the card at all. The card is still mildly popular in Commander, however, seeing play in about 12000 decks.
Considering this, it’s shocking that some of the best Commanders for Uba Mask don’t play it more often. This may have something to do with Uba Mask’s $9 price point, but these synergies make using the card well worth the entry fee. This card is only available as a rare in Champions of Kamigawa, so many players may not be aware it exists. Considering that Uba Mask can seriously screw over the majority of card draw engines, this artifact is easily worth trying.
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