If you’re planning on picking up one of the new Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Commander pre-con decks for your next game night, then you can do much worse than the mystifying Quandrix Unlimited green and blue deck.
We already have a good idea of what mechanics the deck will rely on, even if we don’t yet have a complete deck list. If you’re keen on buffing creatures via +1/+1 counters and casting X-spells for maximum value, then this is the Strixhaven College pre-con for you.
Quandrix Unlimited Deck List
While the full Quandrix Unlimited deck list is not yet available, we know a few of the cards that will feature, and we’ll keep this list updated once we hit spoiler season.
We’re expecting the full deck lists to be revealed in late-March to early-April.
|
Card Name |
Card Type |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Zimone, Infinite Analyst |
Legendary Creature |
1 Green, 1 Blue + 1 Colorless |
|
Sol Ring |
Artifact |
2 Colorless |
|
Arcane Signet |
Artifact |
2 Colorless |
|
Talisman of Curiosity |
Artifact |
2 Colorless |
Magic: The Gathering – Secrets Of Strixhaven Commander Deck Guide
The mystical colleges of Magic: The Gathering return in five new Commander decks, each with its own unique play style and stylish leader.
Commander Breakdown
The Commander for the Quandrix Unlimited deck is Zimone, Infinite Analyst, which is quite a text-heavy card, but you need to understand the nuances of Zimone’s abilities before you rush into a match.
Whenever you cast your first spell with an X cost each turn, it costs one less mana for each +1/+1 counter that is on Zimone, Infinite Analyst.
Also, whenever you cast your first X cost spell for the first time each turn, you put two +1/+1 counters on Zimone, Infinite Analyst.
Early signs suggest this may be a very broken card, as it’s entirely self-sufficient but gets even more powerful when you focus your counter creation on it, which will lead to the cost-reduction aspect getting out of hand very quickly, and before long, you’ll have huge X spells hitting the board and changing games in an instant.
Deck Strategy & Themes
The two main mechanics within this deck are very clear. You’ll be placing a lot of +1/+1 counters on your creatures, and you’ll be casting X-cost spells to have the biggest impact possible.
Both of these mechanics are present on the deck Commander, Zimone, but she only places counters on herself, so you’ll need to find other ways to start buffing your other creatures.
X-spells are also quite wide-ranging, and you’ll need to cherry-pick your moment to cast each one for the most impact. This could be anything from creating tokens to dealing damage to opponents’ creatures.
You might get tempted to just cast X-spells for max value, but you’re much better off assessing each situation and only casting what you need for any given situation.
Upgrades
We’re not short of ways to increase the +1/+1 counter output in this deck, but some of the most impactful changes are likely to be if you can identify some big X-spells to include.
As we don’t yet have the full deck list, some of our upgrade picks may end up in the Quandrix Unlimited deck as reprints, in which case we’ll return and update the list.
Nissa, Steward Of Elements
It’s not often that we recommend a planeswalker as an upgrade, but Nissa, Steward of Elements is actually an X-spell, with her total number of loyalty counters when she enters play being determined by X.
If you can safely cast her with an X value of at least seven, then you can activate her -6 ability straight away, which takes two of your lands and untaps them, turns them into 5/5 elemental creatures with flying and haste. They’re also still lands.
This means you can turn what is a fairly costly cast into ten damage towards your opponents in one fell swoop. Nissa’s other abilities let you either scry twice (+1 ability) or look at the top card of your library and put it on the battlefield if it is a land or a creature with a converted mana cost that is less than the total loyalty counters on Nissa (0 ability).
Repulsive Mutation
This instant spell not only acts as a way to get a huge number of +1/+1 counters onto a creature, but also counters one of your opponents’ spells.
When casting Repulsive Mutation, this X-spell places X +1/+1 counters on a target creature you control, then counters a target spell unless your opponent pays mana equal to the greatest power among creatures you control.
This means if you can power up a creature you control to something ridiculous like 12/12, then your opponent’s spell will be countered unless they can pay an additional 12 mana.
Zimone, Paradox Sculptor
As has been the case with most of the Secrets of Strixhaven Commander pre-con decks, there is another version of the Commander that you would do well to consider as an upgrade.
In this case, it’s Zimone, Paradox Sculptor, a card that puts a +1/+1 counter on up to two target creatures you control at the start of your upkeep.
For the cost of one blue and one green mana, as well as tapping Zimone, Paradox Sculptor, you may also double the number of counters of each kind on up to two target creatures or artifacts you control.
Hydroid Krasis
This creature spell merges both mechanics from this very well, as it is an X-spell that, when cast, lets you gain half of X as life, rounded down, and draw cards equal to half of X, also rounded down.
Hydroid Krasis then also enters with X +1/+1 counters on it, and it has flying and trample.
Magic: The Gathering Secrets Of Strixhaven – Prismari Artistry Commander Deck Breakdown
We’re taking a closer look at the Prismari Artistry MTG Commander Deck to break down its themes and potential upgrades.
