While there has been a bit of controversy regarding the mana base and monetary value of the new Commander Masters pre-con decks, one thing must be said. They all play pretty well! At the absolute top of the stack is the first colorless Commander pre-con Eldrazi Unbound. It’s a thoughtfully crafted deck that simply works out of the box. First let’s look at the deck’s structure and how it works. Then we’ll talk about the most valuable payoffs and finally some of the easiest upgrades you can make.
Nothing is Accidental…
Everybody knows that Eldrazi means big huge monsters that cost a ton of mana. But with 38 land and 25 other cards at three or less mana, almost two thirds of the deck is low or no cost. Furthermore, the deck features many cards like
Stonecoil Serpent
Stonecoil Serpent
Reach, trample, protection from multicolored
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
or
Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate
Omarthis, Ghostfire Initiate
Omarthis enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Whenever you put one or more +1/+1 counters on another colorless creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Omarthis.
When Omarthis dies, manifest a number of cards from the top of your library equal to the number of counters on it.
that allow you to play them early or late as their mana value scales. Not only that, but these creatures in particular are either hard to kill or give you a pretty good payoff when they die.
This makes you resilient to aggression early on so you can continue to develop your board. Historically speaking, most Eldrazi decks are relatively naked in the early game and simply have mana rocks but no protection. This means you can get pretty beaten up by the entire table. Not only does Eldrazi Unbound not have that problem but it also includes this additional scaling element. A turn seven mana rock is generally not that great but a huge Omarthis, Serpent or Walker is a decent draw when it goes late. There’s also another really compelling reason.
But What About Cascade Anti-Synergy?
Zhulodok, Void Gorger
Zhulodok, Void Gorger
Colorless spells you cast from your hand with mana value 7 or greater have "Cascade, cascade." (When you cast one, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order. Then do it again.)
is definitely in the conversation for best colorless commander. While
Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Kozilek, the Great Distortion
When you cast this spell, if you have fewer than seven cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
Menace
Discard a card with mana value X: Counter target spell with mana value X.
is massively popular according to EDHREC, it’s ten mana. If the board understands how powerful this card is they should punish you, heavily, for playing this commander. The worst part? Because your early turns are playing mana rocks you simply don’t have much you can do about it. Therefore, every attack trigger and combat damage trigger is entirely free against you. Artifact removal stalls your commander and table should definitely be stalling your commander which hurts the deck.
Other colorless commanders either favor a more Artifact heavy strategy or cost just as much mana or more. Zhulodok, though, can go into either type of deck and is a bargain at only six mana. Because it has seven power, it’s protected by
Not of This World
Not of This World
Counter target spell or ability that targets a permanent you control.
This spell costs {7} less to cast if it targets a spell or ability that targets a creature you control with power 7 or greater.
and of course what commander deck doesn’t run
Lightning Greaves
Lightning Greaves
Equipped creature has haste and shroud. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)
Equip {0}
? Protecting Zhulodok is critical to gaining the maximum value from your double Cascades as it sets up the rest of the deck for success.
Now, Cascading into mana rocks isn’t very good but will eventually get you advantage. Cascading into X spells is even worse. Why, then, does it make sense to have at least a few of these X spells in the deck? Simple, you need to have a critical mass of spells that are seven or more mana and you also need a way to go over the top and Cascade into spells that are even larger. Variable cost spells let you gain that extra value later while also giving you something to play in the first few turns of the game.
Think about how poor your opening hand would be if you had 15 or 20 colorless spells that cost seven or more in your deck. You really don’t want to be drawing too many high casting cost cards early on. Having X cost cards in the deck is a risk/reward ratio. Competitive players hate risk and variance but you’re playing a Cascading commander; it does risk and variance!
Additionally cards like
Abstruse Archaic
Abstruse Archaic
Vigilance
{1}, {T}: Copy target activated or triggered ability you control from a colorless source. You may choose new targets for the copy. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)
reward you further but only if you have a Cascade trigger to copy. In that case the math is very simple, having an extra chance at starting a Cascade chain is worth more than having one more bad Cascade possibility. Furthermore,
Mystic Forge
Mystic Forge
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
You may cast artifact spells and colorless spells from the top of your library.
{T}, Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library.
allows you to know if, at least, the top card of your library is safe so you’re not always counting on the heart of the cards to dictate your fate. Zhulodok is well supported in this deck.
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Board Wipes and Comeback Cards
Historically, Eldrazi decks had
All Is Dust
All Is Dust
Each player sacrifices all permanents they control that are one or more colors.
with an option of playing
Oblivion Stone
Oblivion Stone
{4}, {T}: Put a fate counter on target permanent.
{5}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Destroy each nonland permanent without a fate counter on it, then remove all fate counters from all permanents.
and much later
Perilous Vault
Perilous Vault
{5}, {T}, Exile this artifact: Exile all nonland permanents.
but not too many better options. Furthermore both the Stone and Vault killed all your own rocks so that wasn’t great. Calamity gives you another wipe that keeps your mana base intact and also exiles hard to remove creatures while hitting planeswalkers as well.
Then there’s the powerhouse
Desecrate Reality
Desecrate Reality
For each opponent, exile up to one target permanent that player controls with an even mana value. (Zero is even.)
Adamant — If at least three colorless mana was spent to cast this spell, return a permanent card with an odd mana value from your graveyard to the battlefield.
. It’s hard for this card to miss and it’s always going to be Adamant. Keep in mind as an Instant, you can return a Creature to play while you’re being attacked as a surprise blocker making this card up to a four for one. But if you returned, say,
Meteor Golem
Meteor Golem
When this creature enters, destroy target nonland permanent an opponent controls.
and killed a small attacker that could bump it to an incredible five for one! This card is almost as good as a board wipe and can give you tremendous comeback potential.
In any case, the deck has plenty of sources of removal.
Maybe a bit Overhyped, but Still fun!
Twelve mana is an awful lot of mana. While it’s nice that Rise cannot be countered, it can be returned to hand, exiled or the worst yet, it can be
Deflecting Swat
Deflecting Swat
If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.
You may choose new targets for target spell or ability.
so that someone else draws the cards and destroys a permanent. Sure, you do still get the extra turn but it feels awful.
Did I already mention that twelve mana is a lot? With X mana spells you can potentially cast this off Cascade but it’s much more likely it ends up on the bottom of your deck from a Cascade trigger or two, and then you can never find it by the time you do have that much mana. Overall my personal experiences with this card have been on the lower end. I can see the potential, it’s an obviously powerful card, but it does require an extreme amount of mana and most games are generally decided before then. Because of all the effects it has, Rise can give you a bit of comeback potential but it’s much less likely than the other cards available.
Now if you do have access to pricey cards like
Grim Monolith
Grim Monolith
This artifact doesn't untap during your untap step.
{T}: Add {C}{C}{C}.
{4}: Untap this artifact.
and
Mana Crypt
Mana Crypt
At the beginning of your upkeep, flip a coin. If you lose the flip, this artifact deals 3 damage to you.
{T}: Add {C}{C}.
, this gives you a much better chance of casting Rise or
Darksteel Monolith
Darksteel Monolith
Indestructible
Once each turn, you may pay {0} rather than pay the mana cost for a colorless spell you cast from your hand.
fairly early and in that case it’s back breaking. With the mana base in the deck as is, it’s a bit of an ask.
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The Free-est Upgrades
For just a couple of dollars it’s hard to think of a better upgrade than
Expedition Map
Expedition Map
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Search your library for a land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
. It can always fetch a variety of two mana lands that are already in the deck or if you’re lucky enough to already own an
Eye of Ugin
Eye of Ugin
Colorless Eldrazi spells you cast cost {2} less to cast.
{7}, {T}: Search your library for a colorless creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
you could alternatively get that. It also helps you complete the Urza lands set which is a boost of up to four extra mana.
Another nice upgrade that’s less than one dollar is
Moonsilver Key
Moonsilver Key
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Search your library for an artifact card with a mana ability or a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
. At the worst it can get you
Sol Ring
Sol Ring
{T}: Add {C}{C}.
. In a pinch it can fetch up
Unstable Obelisk
Unstable Obelisk
{T}: Add {C}.
{7}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Destroy target permanent.
for colorless removal. Ideally, you can go grab
Forsaken Monument
Forsaken Monument
Colorless creatures you control get +2/+2.
Whenever you tap a permanent for {C}, add an additional {C}.
Whenever you cast a colorless spell, you gain 2 life.
and start pulling ahead quickly. It’s a versatile card that is effectively a low cost mana rock but one with way more utility.
Zhalfirin Void
Zhalfirin Void
When this land enters, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
{T}: Add {C}.
,
Crystal Grotto
Crystal Grotto
When this land enters, scry 1.
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}, {T}: Add one mana of any color.
and
The Grey Havens
The Grey Havens
When The Grey Havens enters, scry 1.
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}: Add one mana of any color among legendary creature cards in your graveyard.
are almost strictly better than the
Wastes
Wastes
{T}: Add {C}.
they replace and they can help you significantly both early for card selection and late for Cascade selection. They take up absolutely zero space in the deck and monetarily speaking are pennies. Certainly a card like
Ancient Tomb
Ancient Tomb
{T}: Add {C}{C}. This land deals 2 damage to you.
is very strong for the deck but it’s pricey.
Here’s the part where I mention adding more Eldrazi to an Eldrazi deck… It goes without saying that Eldrazi Unbound is happy to accommodate more beings from the beyond! However, what’s your budget and are you paying attention to ratios? If you’re trying to get the most out of Cascade, maybe a
Strionic Resonator
Strionic Resonator
{2}, {T}: Copy target triggered ability you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. (A triggered ability uses the words "when," "whenever," or "at.")
just makes more sense than adding in something that costs ten mana. With an unlimited budget, you definitely want more Eldrazi heavy hitters in place of a few questionable choices like
Scaretiller
Scaretiller
Whenever this creature becomes tapped, choose one —
• You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped.
• Return target land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
and
Suspicious Bookcase
Suspicious Bookcase
Defender
{3}, {T}: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.
. Of all the Eldrazi to add it may be surprising but
Conduit of Ruin
Conduit of Ruin
When you cast this spell, you may search your library for a colorless creature card with mana value 7 or greater, reveal it, then shuffle and put that card on top.
The first creature spell you cast each turn costs {2} less to cast.
should be your first choice as it helps set up your next turn, is cheap enough to cast early, and gives you a crazy late game option to auto Cascade into anything with the right sequencing.
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Better, Stronger, “Funner”
Right out of the box Eldrazi Unbound plays well and needs nothing while delivering a unique play experience if you’ve never piloted a colorless deck. Monetarily speaking, it delivers as well with a good base of reprints and interesting brand new cards. You should have no trouble playing on an even footing at a table with other pre-cons and with just a few adjustments you can easily ratchet up the power level.
Speaking of power level, if you’re purely about power then it is pretty tough to beat
Kozilek the Great Distortion
Kozilek the Great Distortion
When you cast this spell, if you have fewer than seven cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
Menace
Discard a card with mana value X: Counter target spell with mana value X.
as the commander. That is why some might say it’s overplayed as a colorless commander and it lacks in flavor that only a double Cascading replacement can provide. Still, make no mistake, the deck is good and you will not regret picking it up.