To put it lightly, Modern Horizons 3 has an awful lot of Eldrazi cards. Boasting more spaghetti-based abominations than an Olive Garden, Eldrazi is undoubtedly the set’s defining theme. As if there weren’t enough of these creatures and Kindred spells already, Modern Horizons 3 has even more up its sleeves. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of Eldrazi in the Eldrazi Incursion Commander deck.
Like all the Commander decks for Modern Horizons 3, Eldrazi Incursion contains fifteen brand-new dedicated Commander cards. As if that wasn’t enough newness already, this deck also contains a handful of new main set cards. With a smorgasbord of reprints holding everything together, this deck is jam-packed with both content and value.
As a note, before we dive into things, the Eldrazi Incursion deck was spoiled in Japanese by Hareruya Media. Due to this, reading the cards may be somewhat difficult unless you’re fluent in Japanese. Thankfully, we’ll be providing translations of all the cards so it’s not just a cavalcade of nice art and stats.
Ulalek, Fused Atrocity
To kick things off, let’s take another look at the face Commander for the Eldrazi Incursion deck. While they may not have the most compelling stats, it’s safe to say that Ulalek is absolutely nutty. Not only do they give you the full WUBRG color identity, but they can copy your spells, and abilities too!
While this copying ability does come at a marginal cost, it’s well worth the price considering what you get. Since Eldrazi spells are usually expensive heavy hitters, getting a copy for just two mana is insane value. Whether you’re coping Writhing Chrysalis for ramp or Flayer of Loyalties for damage, Ulalek enables it all.
Azlask, the Swelling Scourge
If copying spells isn’t up your alley for some strange reason, Azlask, the Swelling Scourge offers a compelling alternative strategy. Utilizing Experience Counters, Azlask can turn your go-wide board into substantial threats. While this doesn’t feel very Eldrazi at heart, this ability isn’t to be dismissed at all.
Provided enough of your colorless creatures have died, Azlask can turn your board into a game-ending threat. Even without a substantial buff, giving every creature you control Indestructible and Annihilator 1 for WUBRG is insane. When you add in a potentially huge buff on top of this, Azlask is a seriously scary threat.
While we have seen the full decklist now, it’s unclear how powerful Azlask, the Swelling Scourge will be in Eldrazi Incursion. Even if they’re not the best here, thankfully, MTG players can easily brew an entire deck around them.
Angelic Aberration
Creature – Eldrazi Angel
Devoid
Flying, Vigilance
When ~ enters the battlefield, sacrifice any number of creatures with base power or toughness 1 or less. Create that many 4/4 colorless Eldrazi Angel creature tokens with flying and vigilance.
If you want your itty bitty tokens to suddenly become a lot more powerful, Angelic Abberation is the card for you. Regardless of the buffs they have, this Eldrazi Angel lets you turn Eldrazi Scions and Spawn into actual threats. Since each of these new Eldrazi Angel tokens has Flying, opponents will be in for some serious beatdowns.
Beyond just replacing your tokens and weak creatures with Eldrazi Angels, Angelic Aberration could be a unique sacrifice engine. In the right deck, Angelic Aberration could sacrifice and replace your entire board, making Blood Artist very happy. Admittedly, while interesting, this niche use won’t be that effective in Eldrazi Unbound, since Eldrazi Spawn and Scion tokens can already sacrifice themselves.
All in all, Angelic Aberration seems to work wonders with the go-wide design of Azlask, the Swelling Scourge. Should you have a robust board of small creatures and tokens, Angelic Aberration can provide serious value. When coupled alongside Doubling Season, this effect will literally be twice as scary.
Eldritch Immunity
Kindred Instant – Eldrazi
Target creature you control gains protection from each color until end of turn.
Overload {4}{C}
Eldritch Immunity is a very simple, but very effective card. For just one mana, you can give a creature protection. Alternatively, by paying the Overload cost, you can give all creatures you control the same protection for the turn. Like many cards with Overload, the added utility makes Eldritch Immunity a great low-risk inclusion in many decks.
Outside of Eldrazi Incursion, Eldritch Immunity will likely see a lot of play in Commander. While they do require colorless mana, rather than generic mana, they’re nonetheless easily accessible and provide great protection. Sure, this protection might not keep you safe from absolutely everything, but colorless removal isn’t all too common.
Twins of Discord
Creature – Eldrazi
Whenever you attack, choose odd or even. Creatures with mana value of that quality can’t block this turn.
Each other colorless creature you control has bloodthirst 2. (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
If I had a nickel for every set of Eldrazi twins, I’d have two nickels. This isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice. Memes and names aside, Twins of Discord has very little to do with Desolation Twin. Rather than offering two substantial threats for the price of one, Twins of Discord is just a utility value engine.
So long as they keep attacking, Twins of Discord can provide buffs while keeping opponents from blocking properly. While the latter of these effects won’t work all the time, it can be potentially devastating against the right opponent. As for Bloodthirst, this ability is obviously useful, but Eldrazi creatures are no slouches when it comes to stats. Thanks to this, Bloodthirst will likely just be an added bonus rather than Twins of Discord’s main purpose.
Benthic Oddity
Creature – Eldrazi Serpent
Devoid
When you cast this spell, for each opponent, choose a creature that player controls. Create a token that’s a copy of one of those creatures with power equal to the total power of those creatures and toughness equal to the total toughness of those creatures, except it’s a colorless Eldrazi creature.
As you might expect from their name, Benthic Oddity is a rather strange MTG card. In essence, Benthic Oddity fuses up to three creatures together to create one truly monstrous threat. Boasting the stats of the chosen creatures, alongside the abilities of one, this token is potentially insane for seven mana.
For better or worse, Benthic Oddity does depend on what your opponents have out on their board. Thanks to this, you’ll likely only want to play Benthic Oddity in the mid-to-late game so you get maximum value. That being said since Benthic Oddity is a 7/8 for seven on their own, they’ll always offer compelling stats.
Eldrazi Confluence
Instant
Choose three. You may choose the same mode more than once.
- Target creature gets +3/-3 until end of turn.
- Exile target nonland permanent, then return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner’s control.
- Create a 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature token with “Sacrifice this creature: Add {C}.”
Like MTG’s other Confluence spells, Mana Confluence excluded, Eldrazi Confluence offers a lot of options. Whether you want buffs, removal, flicker effects, or ramp, Eldrazi Confluence can do it all. Since you get to choose an effect three times, you can even do all these abilities if you like.
Costing only four mana, it’s safe to say that Eldrazi Confluence has a lot of utility. Regardless of the board state or stage of the game you’re in, Eldrazi Confluence should do something useful. That being said, none of its modes are individually that powerful, so they may require some finagling.
Spawnbed Protector
Creature – Eldrazi
At the beginning of your end step, return up to one target Eldrazi creature card from your graveyard to your hand. Create two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens with “Sacrifice this creature: Add {C}.”
While they’re not exactly cheap, Spawnbed Protector is a great utility piece to have lingering on your board. Offering consistent reanimation to your hand, alongside generating Eldrazi Scion tokens, Spawnbed Protector can quickly pay for themselves. So long as they hang around for long enough, the value they provide can be incredibly lucrative.
Thankfully, while they will be a target for removal, Spawnbed Protector can at least protect themselves. As a 6/8, this hulking Eldrazi should be able to win a fair few fights or swing in for decent damage. Doing this, however, probably isn’t advisable as any extra risk could result in this card’s untimely demise.
Ulamog’s Dreadsire
Creature – Eldrazi
Vigilance
Ward—Sacrifice a permanent with mana value 1 or greater.
{T}: Create a 10/10 colorless Eldrazi creature token.
If I had a nickel for every Eldrazi that created 10/10 tokens, I’d have two nickels. This isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice. Even more weirdly, we’re drawing comparisons to Desolation Twin once again and not just for their name this time.
Much like Desolation Twin, Ulamog’s Dreadsire is a 10/10 for 10 that can almost instantly create another 10/10. While this is already a great value proposition, Ulamog’s Dreadsire can keep making these tokens turn after turn. If that isn’t enough, playing Ulamog’s Dreadsire alongside Intruder Alarm can get you infinite 10/10 tokens!
As if an army of 10/10’s somehow isn’t enough, Ulamog’s Dreadsire also has Ward to give it some added protection. Sadly, while it’s a useful bonus, this is likely going to keep Ulamog’s Dreadsire protected for long. Since it’s too dangerous to be left alive, opponents will likely pay this Ward cost at their earliest opportunity.
Snapping Voidcraw
Creature – Eldrazi Turtle
Devoid
{T}: add {C}{C}.
{3}{C}, {T}: Draw a card.
While they’re not the cheapest mana dork in MTG, Snapping Voidcraw is nonetheless effective. Capable of tapping for two colorless mana, this card should help you reach your threats faster. Considering the high-cost threats on offer in Eldrazi Incursion, getting to them faster is undoubtedly a good thing.
On top of offering some decent ramp, Snapping Voidcraw can also draw your cards. While it’s unlikely you’ll be activating this every turn, it’s nonetheless a great sink for excess mana. Thanks to this ability, hopefully, Snapping Voidcraw won’t be a disappointment should you find it later on in a game.
Chittering Dispatcher
Creature – Eldrazi Drone
Devoid
Myriad
When ~ leaves the battlefield, create a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token with “Sacrifice this creature: Add {C}.”
If it wasn’t for one all-important word, Chittering Dispatcher would be a pretty terrible MTG card. Thankfully, the keyword Myriad does exist, and it’s fundamental to making this card special. When activated, you can get up to three token copies of Chittering Dispatcher, which means three Eldrazi Spawn tokens.
Unfortunately, to activate Myriad, you must attack with Chittering Dispatcher. Since they’re only a 2/3 this is quite a risky venture with little guarantee of survival. Technically, since you can choose who you attack in Commander there is some potential, but it’s not all too likely.
Ultimately, while Chittering Dispatcher could be a decent ramp engine if left unchallenged, you’ll rarely get repeat value. Instead, this card is likely just going to trade for three Eldrazi Spawn tokens on the turn after it is played. If you get anything more than that, count yourself lucky.
Bismuth Mindrender
Creature – Eldrazi
Devoid
Menace
Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles cards from the top of their library until they exile a nonland card. You may cast that card by paying life equal to the spell’s mana value rather than paying its mana cost.
While you may get hurt in the process, Bismuth Mindrender has the potential to steal a major threat from your opponent. Given Commander decks are typically full of these, Bismuth Mindrender seems like a great card for four mana. That being said, you are leaving your fate to chance which is always a risk.
Despite the lack of guarantee that you’ll find a game-ending threat, Bizmuth Mindrender should be worth it nonetheless. Thanks to Commander favoring higher power and mana costs, chances are you’ll find something costly. While this may hurt you in the short term, denying your opponent this threat while playing it yourself, for free, is always worthwhile.
Mutated Cultist
Creature – Eldrazi Horror
Devoid
When you cast this spell, remove all counters from up to one target permanent or opponent. The next spell you cast this turn costs {1} less to cast for each counter removed this way.
Deathtouch
In theory, Mutated Cultist offers an interesting way to use your existing resources. Should you have a lot of +1/+1 counters, you can exchange them for an equal amount of cost reduction. Since this triggers anytime you cast a spell, the utility Mutated Cultist provides should be plentiful and effective.
While trading out +1/+1 counters is a likely scenario, Mutated Cultist has some amazing synergies for players to utilize. For example, Mutated Cultist will let you purge Dark Depths of counters and then cast Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger for free. Alternatively, with a properly primed The Millennium Calendar you’ll have more cost reduction than you’d ever need.
Selective Obliteration
Sorcery
Each player chooses a color. Then exile each permanent unless it’s colorless or it’s only the color the controller chose.
Selective Obliteration is a potentially useless board wipe. Since every player gets to pick a color to protect, this board wipe can theoretically do nothing at all. That may be the case, at least, if you’re playing three mono-colored opponents.
For better or worse, mono-colored Commander decks are hardly the norm, so this worst-case scenario shouldn’t happen. Instead, many opponents will be lucky if they can protect just a handful of their own creatures by choosing wisely. Even if this happens, you should be left untouched, as Selective Obliteration doesn’t affect colorless permanents.
Inversion Behemoth
Creature – Eldrazi
At the beginning of combat on your turn, switch the power and toughness of each of any number of target creatures until end of turn.
Against the right deck, Inversion Behemoth is an utterly devastating MTG card. If your opponent has a wall of zero toughness cards, Inversion Behemoth just makes them dead. Even if you can’t attain this unlikely ideal, Inversion Behemoth is more than capable of sowing chaos across the board.
By inverting the starts of any chosen creatures, Inversion Behemoth can completely ruin an opponent’s day. Any safe blocks they had been lining up could become a lot riskier, while your own creatures become deadlier. Ultimately, the real usefulness of Inversion Behemoth will vary wildly depending on the board, but they nonetheless look like fun.
Hideous Taskmaster
Last but not least, for the new cards in Eldrazi Incursion, at least, we have Hideous Taskmaster. Revealed during the Debut Stream for Modern Horizons 3, Hideous Taskmaster isn’t exactly new, but they are rather powerful. If you ever wished Act of Treason was even more punishing, Hideous Taskmaster is the card for you.
While it does come at quite a cost, Hideous Taskmaster temporarily steals a card and gives it Haste and Annihilator 1. On top of this, this single card will let you steal not just one, but potentially three creatures. Since all these cards get Annihilator, aiming them all at one opponent is utterly devastating.
Much like many of the biggest and baddest Eldrazi, Hideous Taskmaster gets even more powerful when copied. Whether this happens via Roaming Throne or Ulalek, Fused Atrocity, the results are the same; devastation.
A Reasonable Round of Reprints
Now all the new cards are out of the way, it’s high time we talk about some of the reprints in the Eldrazi Incursion deck. Thankfully, there are a lot of fantastic reprints crammed inside this deck, continuing Modern Horizon 3’s theme.
Out of all the reprints stuffed inside Eldrazi Incursion, Eldrazi Conscription is the best of the bunch. Selling for around $12 on average, this staple enchantment has been long overdue a reprint outside of The List. As welcome as this reprint is, however, it may not bring the price down thanks to increased interest in Eldrazi.
Just behind Eldrazi Conscription, Eldrazi Monument and Morophon, the Boundless are the next most expensive cards. Selling for around $10 a piece, these cards are both Commander staples, seeing play far outside Eldrazi decks. The same is true for Forsaken Monument, however, this card is only worth around $4.50.
On top of the litany of Eldrazi cards being reprinted, Eldrazi Incursion also includes a surprisingly compelling land base. While they’re not all that expensive, the entire ten-card cycle of pain lands can be found in this deck. Within this cycle, prices range heavily, with Adarkar Wastes costing $8 while Caves of Koilos costs just $0.50.
Unfortunately, while there is a lot to love about the reprints in Eldrazi Incursion, there are some misses. For starters, this deck doesn’t include any Eldrazi Titans, which is hardly ideal considering their price. Sadly, due to the increased interest from Eldrazi Incursion, these already high prices may spike even higher.
An All-Around Good Time
While we’ve yet to get our hands on Eldrazi Incursion, this deck looks like a lot of fun. Admittedly I would say that as Eldrazi is one of my favorite archetypes, but the new cards look genuinely great. On top of these, the assortment of reprints should have this deck playing fairly well right out of the box.
As always, Eldrazi Incursion could do with a few upgrades to really make it shine. With a better mana base and an Eldrazi Titan or two, this deck will become seriously scary. Until then, Eldrazi Incursion still seems to be a very compelling preconstructed Commander deck that we can’t wait to play.
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