The release of Final Fantasy MTG has gotten everybody talking about Sagas. Sagas can have a very powerful effect on any Commander game, and some of the new Summons from Final Fantasy MTG generate a ton of value over time.
Given the hype surrounding the card type, we decided it would be cool to see how the newer designs stack up against the old. So today, we’re going to go over what we believe to be the best MTG Sagas in Commander.
This list showcases a nice mix of different Sagas that feature an array of unique abilities. If you’re looking to add some sweet enchantments to your next EDH deck, consider giving these cards a try.
11: The Kami War
Kicking things off, we have The Kami War. This Saga can have a massive impact on the game if left unchecked. It serves as solid interaction when it enters, forces each opponent in a multiplayer format to discard a card with chapter II, then transforms into a big flier that generates card advantage when it attacks.
It’s hard to go wrong with The Kami War, though you obviously need to be playing a five-color deck to want this effect. While this is a great inclusion in a Tom Bombadil deck, the fact that it only sees play in a small subset of Commander decks makes it hard to put it any higher on the list.
10: The Mending of Dominaria
Next, we have The Mending of Dominaria. The Mending of Dominaria offers a ton of value in the right deck. In order to maximize it, you really want other effects that mill over cards. This not only gives you better creature selection from the first two chapters but means the third chapter will be that much more impactful.
The third chapter has the potential to ramp you significantly. Decks built around Commanders such as Lord Windgrace should be able to make great use of this Saga. The Mending of Dominaria is a bit narrower than some other options on this list, though, which explains why it’s down at number 10.
9: Elspeth Conquers Death
At five mana, Elspeth Conquers Death more than makes up for its cost through the useful effects it provides. First of all, Elspeth Conquers Death exiles a permanent with mana value three or greater, by turn five in a game of Commander there should be no shortage of targets to exile with this effect.
Next, Elspeth Conquers Death makes all of your opponent’s noncreature spells cost two more until your next turn, setting their plans back. Finally, Elspeth Conquers Death returns a creature or Planeswalker from your graveyard to play.
The first and third chapters specifically just provide a decent amount of value out of a five-drop. The upside isn’t quite as high as with The Mending of Dominaria, but Elspeth Conquers Death is consistent and reliable.
8: Summon: Primal Odin
Summon: Primal Odin is the first of the new Final Fantasy MTG Sagas on this list, and it’s quite a scary card. Getting to remove a creature with chapter I is nice, though the real reward rests with chapter II.
Alongside any way to grant evasion, Summon: Primal Odin becomes a must answer threat for the opponent you’re attacking. The final chapter then gives you some additional value before you lose your creature for good.
This card is a solid inclusion in any Saga deck, and is particularly strong with Sidar, Jabari of Zhalfir at the helm, ready to resurrect your Knight Saga on a whim.
7: There and Back Again
At number seven, we have a card that gives most of its mileage with the final chapter. There and Back Again has a minimal effect on the game with its first two chapters. Once you get to chapter III, all hell breaks loose.
A 6/6 flier with Haste is just scary enough that your opponents will want to deal with it. If they do, you get a whopping 14 Treasure tokens that don’t even enter tapped. You should have plenty of ways to utilize this excess mana in a format like Commander.
The Dragon token pairs well with sacrifice outlets, guaranteeing you’ll get your Treasures without having to worry about exile-based removal. Given that you still need There and Back Again to stick around until chapter III to get your payoff and you don’t get much value up front, it’s hard to put this card any higher than seven.
6. Summon: Bahamut
Our number six spot goes to another Final Fantasy Saga creature in the form of Summon: Bahamut. At nine mana, the cost associated with this card is immense. The good news is that the effect the Saga provides is awesome.
Getting to blow up two opposing permanents in the first two turns is strong, all while roaming the skies with a 9/9 flier. Chapter III gives you some card advantage, and if you make it to chapter IV, your opponents risk losing a ton of life all at once. This has the potential to be a game-winning effect if you’re in a big board stall.
Decks that are capable of cheating Summon: Bahamut into play in some capacity, like those built around Anikthea, Hand of Erebos, are elite homes for this card. The only thing hurting Summon: Bahamut is its mana cost, so if you can get around somehow, you’re in great shape.
5: The Cruelty of Gix
The Cruelty of Gix is a discard effect, a tutor, and a reanimation spell all wrapped up in a single package. First of all, this card lets you look at a single opponent’s hand and choose a card for them to discard. You’ll want to pick an opponent you feel will have a good creature to get rid of, go for the player piloting a stomping green deck if you can.
The card then lets you fetch any card from your deck at the cost of three life. The life loss isn’t much of a concern in a format like Commander. Finally, The Cruelty of Gix lets you put a creature card from any graveyard into play under your control. If you got lucky with the discard effect earlier, you may be able to snatch a Ghalta, Primal Hunger from that green Stompy player’s graveyard.
Remember that The Cruelty of Gix has Read Ahead so you can skip straight to its tutoring or reanimation effect if you would like. This can ensure you get solid value out of the Saga before it gets nabbed by enchantment removal.
4: The Eldest Reborn
While this card may seem underwhelming compared to The Cruelty of Gix, the sheer amount of value it provides in Multiplayer games makes it, arguably, a better card in the context of Commander.
First of all, The Eldest Reborn forces every opponent to sacrifice a creature or Planeswalker. In a typical four player game that means that this lone card can destroy three others. The Eldest Reborn then makes each opponent discard a card.
Finally, The Eldest Reborn allows you to return a Creature or Planeswalker from any graveyard into play under your control. Just like with The Cruelty of Gix, you can return a card sent to the graveyard by one of the previous steps of this Saga.
No individual effect on The Eldest Reborn is overwhelmingly amazing. However, when you add everything up, the card more than pulls its weight.
3: Binding the Old Gods
Much like with Elspeth Conquers Death, Binding the Old Gods has two specific chapters that make the card a solid inclusion in a wide variety of decks. Getting to destroy any nonland permanent gives you a ton of flexibility right off the bat.
From there, Binding the Old Gods acts as a ramp spell with its next chapter. The third chapter may be nothing special. Nonetheless, getting excellent disruption and ramp all for the low price of four mana makes Binding the Old Gods one of the most popular Sagas in Commander, hence why it’s so high on the list.
2: Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
This isn’t the first of our top 10 lists to feature Fable of the Mirror-Breaker and it certainly won’t be the last.
For three mana, this card does a lot! The first chapter of this Saga creates a 2/2 Goblin token, which creates a treasure token whenever it attacks. Chapter two enables you to discard up to two cards to draw the same amount. Finally, the Saga transforms into a 2/2 Goblin with a copying ability that calls back to Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker.
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker remains a strong card for Constructed and Commander play alike. The fact that you get two strong threats out of the deal means it’s very difficult for the opponents to answer the whole package in a profitable way.
Of course, if you get to start copying creatures with powerful triggered abilities turn after turn, you’ll run away with the game in no time. This card asks so little of you and provides so much advantage. Still, it doesn’t quite crack the top spot in our rankings.
1: Urza’s Saga
Our final spot, unsurprisingly, goes to Urza’s Saga. Urza’s Saga is one of the strongest cards from Modern Horizons 2, an exceedingly powerful set.
As a land, the opportunity cost for playing Urza’s Saga is extremely low. Meanwhile, the upside of creating two big Constructs and tutoring up any number of potent artifacts is incredibly high. Whether you’re tutoring up your Sol Ring or something else altogether like The Ozolith or Shadowspear this is an invaluable effect to have around.
The reality is, it will take a lot for Urza’s Saga to ever get topped in any “best Sagas” rankings. Its $44 price tag accurately reflects its value, and barring the card getting banned in various Constructed formats, it will almost certainly maintain a rather high price point.
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