One of the cool things about the Duel Commander format is how incredibly diverse it is. While some strategies are definitely more competitive than others, tons of high-powered legends are available.
The Relic Fest main event in France put this idea on full display, with a variety of unique archetypes putting up strong results. One of the coolest decks in the event, built around Lonis, Cryptozoologist, made it all the way to top 32 out of 923 players!
Comboing Off with Lonis
Lonis, Cryptozoologist can generate a ton of value in this deck through its Clue generation. Whether you crack those Clues manually or funnel them into this Snake’s activated ability, it’s easy to pull ahead on resources once things get rolling.
To get things started, this deck plays a boatload of cheap mana dorks like
Arbor Elf
Arbor Elf
{T}: Untap target Forest.
and
Elvish Mystic
Elvish Mystic
{T}: Add {G}.
. These cards pair perfectly with
Badgermole Cub
Badgermole Cub
When this creature enters, earthbend 1. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)
Whenever you tap a creature for mana, add an additional {G}.
, whose mana generation makes it easier to add to the board and trigger Lonis multiple times a turn.
As the Clues start flowing,
Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
Tokens you control have "{T}: Add {G}."
Choose a Background (You can have a Background as a second commander.)
and
Urza, Lord High Artificer
Urza, Lord High Artificer
When Urza enters, create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with "This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control."
Tap an untapped artifact you control: Add {U}.
{5}: Shuffle your library, then exile the top card. Until end of turn, you may play that card without paying its mana cost.
let you tap those excess artifacts for even more mana. If you line up
Academy Manufactor
Academy Manufactor
If you would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token, instead create one of each.
, you can absolutely flood the board with tokens to tap.
At minimum, you can funnel all this mana into cracking those Clues, spinning Urza, or casting beefier creatures like
Quantum Riddler
Quantum Riddler
Flying
When this creature enters, draw a card.
As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, if you would draw one or more cards, you draw that many cards plus one instead.
Warp {1}{U}
. Either way, the card advantage gives you a pretty good chance of finding one of your many creature tutors, like
Formidable Speaker
Formidable Speaker
When this creature enters, you may discard a card. If you do, search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
{1}, {T}: Untap another target permanent.
or
Nature’s Rhythm
Nature’s Rhythm
Search your library for a creature card with mana value X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Harmonize {X}{G}{G}{G}{G} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its harmonize cost. You may tap a creature you control to reduce that cost by an amount of generic mana equal to its power. Then exile this spell.)
.
These can help you find
Shrieking Drake
Shrieking Drake
Flying
When this creature enters, return a creature you control to its owner's hand.
, your primary combo piece. With Drake and either Urza or Manufactor, you can repeatedly cast, bounce, and replay Drake to make infinite Clues with Lonis.
If you have both Urza and Manufactor in play, this process will also net you infinite mana. You can even accomplish a similar task with
Earthcraft
Earthcraft
Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap target basic land.
and a basic Forest enchanted with
Utopia Sprawl
Utopia Sprawl
Enchant Forest
As this Aura enters, choose a color.
Whenever enchanted Forest is tapped for mana, its controller adds an additional one mana of the chosen color.
.
With infinite mana and infinite Clues, you’re all set to draw your deck and play out a boatload of creatures. Even if you can’t win the game immediately, the combination of
Opposition
Opposition
Tap an untapped creature you control: Tap target artifact, creature, or land.
and some counterspells as backup should let you win the following turn.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Simic
Thanks to its multitude of creature tutors, this deck is extremely consistent and punishes decks that lack interaction. Lonis shells are fully capable of racing White Weenie or
Brigid, Clachan’s Heart
Brigid, Clachan’s Heart
Whenever this creature enters or transforms into Brigid, Clachan's Heart, create a 1/1 green and white Kithkin creature token.
At the beginning of your first main phase, you may pay {G}. If you do, transform Brigid.
decks with their combo draws.
Because Lonis also doubles as a card advantage engine, this deck can grind with
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}.)
{2}{G/U}{G/U}: Mill two cards, then return a nonland card of an opponent's choice from your graveyard to your hand.
, and other reactive decks. Even if your Commander gets killed right away, it’s efficient enough to recast, especially given how easily this deck generates mana.
Slower decks also risk getting locked out by Opposition, which can be tutored with
Pia, Aether Ascetic
Pia, Aether Ascetic
When Pia enters, you may discard a card. If you do, search your library for an enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
. Add in
Harbinger of the Seas
Harbinger of the Seas
Nonbasic lands are Islands.
to demolish greedy manabases, and you’ve got a solid mix of hate cards that can steal games themselves.
As versatile as Lonis decks are, though, the lack of removal in Simic can be problematic. Even with your combo potential in mind,
Tifa Lockhart
Tifa Lockhart
Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, double Tifa Lockhart's power until end of turn.
strategies can assemble a blazing-fast Trample kill that your puny blockers can’t stop.
Getting hit by a turn two
Drannith Magistrate
Drannith Magistrate
Your opponents can't cast spells from anywhere other than their hands.
on the draw before you play Lonis is also an easy way to lose a game. You do have outs like
Unable to Scream
Unable to Scream
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature loses all abilities and is a Toy artifact creature with base power and toughness 0/2 in addition to its other types.
As long as enchanted creature is face down, it can't be turned face up.
, but you won’t always find them in a timely manner.
If that weren’t enough, you also have to worry about
Torpor Orb
Torpor Orb
Creatures entering don't cause abilities to trigger.
and
Doorkeeper Thrull
Doorkeeper Thrull
Flash
Flying
Artifacts and creatures entering don't cause abilities to trigger.
completely shutting down your Clue production. These cards are staples of
Phlage, Titan of Fire’s Fury
Phlage, Titan of Fire’s Fury
When Phlage enters, sacrifice it unless it escaped.
Whenever Phlage enters or attacks, it deals 3 damage to any target and you gain 3 life.
Escape—{R}{R}{W}{W}, Exile five other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.)
decks, and you’ll need to watch for them at all times.
Ultimately, it’s understandable why Lonis isn’t a top-tier Duel Commander deck given its variety of weaknesses. Nonetheless, finishing top 32 in a 932-player event is no easy feat, and it may go to show this Commander deserves more respect.
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