Proxy Power Up: Blood Rites Precon Upgrade Guide (Calvileno, First of the Blessed)

January 23, 2024

Welcome, esteemed conquerors of the Ixalan frontier!

In this edition of Proxy Power Up, where we’re delving into the heart of adventure with the Blood Rites commander precon deck. Leading this quest for untold treasures is the formidable Clavileno, First of the Blessed—a vampire conquistador with an insatiable thirst for exploration!

Straight out of the box, the Blood Rites deck exudes power, but even the most formidable vampires seek to enhance their dominion. Join us as we navigate the uncharted territories of Ixalan, spotlighting 9 cards that may not perfectly align with the deck’s theme and strategy. Fear not, we’ll also unveil the 9 cards from our “Blood Rites Proxy Precon Upgrade Pack,” destined to amplify your commander experience and lead your vampire conquistadors to new heights of power. Sharpen your fangs and ready your blades, for a thrilling journey of conquest and plunder awaits!

Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose: Vito is a must-include in any “life gain / Life drain” deck. Even without the combos that Vito enables, he serves as a powerful way to finish off opponents even through a board stall.

Veinwitch Coven: Another excellent life gain payoff that gives you a way to get back all your vampires you may have lost to enable Clavileno’s effect.

Captivating Vampire: I love Captivating Vampire as a lord for this deck. Not only does it pump the team, including your 4/3 vampire demon tokens from Clavileno, but it also lets you steal your opponent’s threats in the mid to late-game.

Queen’s Bay Paladin: The fact that this is an ETB instead of an attack trigger is great. It is basically a reanimation effect on a vampire. On theme. Great synergy.

Beseech the Mirror: Not only is this a powerful tutor, but it also synergizes as an enabler for Clavileno’s ability by paying the “bargain” cost. I LOVE this card in this deck.

Phyrexian Altar: A deck that actively wants to sacrifice its creatures? Phyrexian alter is usually an excellent fit and this deck is no exception.

Skullclamp: *Copy and Paste reasoning for Phyrexian Altar*

Roaming Throne: Now THIS is a commander staple. Introduced in the Lost Caverns of Ixalan mina set, Roaming Throne has since become an auto-include in just about every typal deck. Throw this in and have some seriously fun turns. You can thank us later.

Anguished Unmaking: An efficient removal spell that hits almost everything. 10/10.

Village Rites: I like blood rites. With our upgrades, there simply just isn’t space for another one of these effects.

Temple of the False God: There are VERY few (if any) decks that I’d be happy to run Temple of the False God. And with a relatively cheap mana curve and sac outlets that generate mana, we can probably get away with 36 lands here.

Kindred Boon: This can be powerful, however, it is only powerful in SUUUUPER slow games and that’s not fun for anyone. Plus the potential to get blown out by this by mass bounce and exile effects makes it an easy cut.

Mind Stone: Mind Stone is another card I don’t mind in casual/low-powered games. That said, after our upgrades, Mind Stone simply doesn’t make the cut.

Falkenrath Noble: This card is a case study on the MASSIVE difference in power and playability between cards that say “target player” vs “each opponent”.

Return to Dust: Another card that I don’t hate in low-powered matchups. After our upgrades, there’s no room for “meh” cards like Return to Dust.

Sanctum Seeker: Even though Sanctum Seeker does hit “each opponent”, it’s too slow and telegraphed to close out unexpecting opponents. If you have a board big enough for this to be a true threat, it would be RARE for it to see your next combat phase.

Vona, Butcher of Magan: Am I the only one that says “Megan” like Josh from Drake and Josh when reading this card? Maybe I’m just weird (I am), but Vona is just too slow to consistently make an impact.

Sorin, Lord of Innistrad: As you probably already know, for a planeswalker to be viable in commander, it needs to be REALLY good and/or make an immediate impact on the board. I feel like Sorin will most commonly be 4-mana for a +1/+0 anthem emblem and then not see another untap step.

For affordable mana base upgrades for this deck, make sure to check out our land packs HERE.

Pick up our Blood Rites Precon Upgrade Pack HERE.

Proxy Power Up: Explorers of the Deep Precon Upgrade Guide (Hakbal of the Surging Soul)

January 23, 2024

Prepare to immerse yourselves in a special edition of Proxy Power Up, where we’re about to embark on a journey to upgrade the Explorers of the Deep commander precon deck. Our chosen guide for this subaquatic expedition is the powerful merfolk scout, Hakbal of the Surging Soul!

As we unlock the secrets hidden within the lost caverns of Ixalan, the deck reveals its innate power. Yet, every seasoned explorer understands that the depths hold untold wonders waiting to be discovered. Join us as we navigate through the uncharted waters, identifying 9 cards that may need a substitute to harmonize better with the deck’s merfolk theme and subterranean “explore” strategy. Dive into the abyss with anticipation as we unveil the 9 cards from our “Explorers of the Deep Proxy Precon Upgrade Pack,” destined to elevate your commander experience with this deck! Ready your fins, explorers, for an enchanting journey awaits beneath the waves!

Tishana’s Tidebinder: A new addition from the Lost Caverns of Ixalan main set, Tishana’s Tidebinder is an excellent instant-speed answer to your opponent’s most powerful abilities + it is a merfolk. Perfect!

Burgeoning: With all the “exploring” in this deck, you’ll constantly find yourself with a handful of extra lands waiting to be played. Burgeoning is a perfect way to get those down ASAP to quickly ramp into some huge plays.

Jadelight Spelunker: Another gem from the Lost Cavern of Ixalan main set. I’m always a fan of cards that scale no matter what point of the game you are in + this is a great enabler for your explore and +1/+1 counter payoffs.

Titan of Littjara: A new staple for just about any creature-heavy typal deck with access to blue, Titan of Littjara is a great addition to this deck.

Chord of Calling: Another spell that can scale with the situation of the game, Chord of Calling helps you find the exact piece you need at the perfect time. This being instant speed, allowing you to cast it on your opponent’s end step is NASTY.

Lord of Atlantis: Lord of Atlantis is EVERYTHING you want in a lord. Cheap with a powerful effect that not only pumps the team, but also gives pseudo-evasion to your merfolk. Easy include.

Thrasios, Triton Hero: A cheap, thematic way to help filter your explores. 10/10.

Deeproot Pilgrimage: The “one or more” stipulation on this cards holds it back a bit, however, this card coming down in the early game is a powerful, yet unassuming, way to quickly take over the board with merfolk.

For the Ancestors: A great card to re-stock you had with Merfolk + you can play this later for its flashback cost to bring in the underwater reinforcements one more time after you run out of gas.

Aetherize: These cards always seem better in theory than they are in an actual game. Leaving four mana untapped for the CHANCE that your opponent takes a HUGE swing just at you is a big risk. If they don’t, you may have wasted an entire turn cycle. Not a fan.

Curse of the Swine: This keeps gutting re-printed in commander decks as a “board wipe”. That said, this card can get WAY too expensive to truly “clear” the board of all threats. There are much more efficient options out there.

Commit //Memory: Sometimes having two mediocre cards staples together can make one great card. This is not one of those instances.

Simic Signet: I have never been a huge fan of the signets unless you have artifact synergies. With access to green, we have MUCH better ramp options.

Quandrix Command: I am typically a fan of the flexibility that modal spells provide, however, Quandrix Command JUST misses the mark for me. This one was a slightly tough cut so feel free to keep it if you feel so inclined.

Merfolk Cave-Diver: This card simply doesn’t do enough. A few extra points of unlockable damage here and there might start to add up, but I just don’t see this being more powerful than our upgrades.

Merfolk Skydiver: At first look, Merfolk Skydiver appears to do everything we want in this deck. It’s a merfolk that adds a counter and can proliferate all our other counters in the late-game. Even with all of that going for it, I think it is simply too slow to be a reliable closer.

Tishana, Voice of Thunder: Tishana is an over-costed, chunky creature with no evasion that does to EVERYTHING. “But it can draw a TON of cards”, you might say. Sure it can. But we have LOTS of ways to efficiently draw cards in this deck. Easy cut.

Commander’s Sphere: For me to play a 3-mana mana rock, it needs to have some strong synergies with my deck’s theme. This does not. Again, with access to green, we don’t need to rely as heavily on artifact ramp.

For affordable mana base upgrades for this deck, make sure to check out our land packs HERE.

Pick up our Explorers of the Deep Precon Upgrade Pack HERE.

Proxy Power Up: Ahoy Mateys Precon Upgrade Guide (Admiral Brass Unsinkable)

January 23, 2024

Ahoy, fellow sailors of the Commander seas! Welcome aboard this special edition of Proxy Power Up, where we’ll be setting sail to upgrade the Ahoy Mateys commander precon deck, captained by the legendary Captain Brass, Unsinkable.

Straight out of the box, the deck is a force to be reckoned with, however, there are a few cards that might not perfectly align with the deck’s theme or strategy. Join us as we chart a course through the sea of possibilities, identifying 9 cards that we’d swap out and revealing the 9 cards from our “Ahoy Mateys Proxy Precon Upgrade Pack” that will take your deck to new horizons. Get ready to hoist the anchor and embark on a thrilling journey to enhance your Ahoy Mateys commander experience!

Dockside Extortionist: While Dockside Extortionist is a no-brainer in almost any deck with red in it, this deck is a perfect home for the popular goblin pirate. A powerful pirate that can create INSANE amounts of treasures? We’re in.

Phyrexian Tower: With a sacrifice sub-theme in this deck (and reanimation being a great payoff), Phyrexian Tower is a great way to use your small bodies to ramp & then get them back later!

Cavern of Souls: A staple for just about any typal deck!

Pirated Copy: A pirate pun stapled to a pretty powerful clone effect? Another straightforward inclusion!

Revel in Riches: I’m always a fan of pulling off alternate win-cons and Revel in Riches might be my favorite. Stacking up a pile of treasure tokes (especially these pirate-themed ones) on your way to a win is insanely satisfying!

Raise the Palisade: This has become another great staple in just about all typal decks with access to blue mana. Essentially a one-sided board reset!

Treasure Vault: A late-game mana sink to help you get your Revel in Riches win or simply ramp you into some simply MASSIVE plays to close out the game.

Kindred Discovery: Similar to Raise the Pallisade, if you are playing a creature-heavy Typal deck, the card advantage you get from Kindred Discovery makes it too hard to pass up.

Breeches, Eager Pillager: With a semi-wide board of pirates, Breeches helps you get your attacks through a board stall while also netting you some me card advantage and a treasure! Not too bad on a 3/3 for 3 with First Strike.

Daring Saboteur: This is simply too much mana for two unlockable damage and a loot. Too slow in commander without other “deals damage” payoffs on the board.

Zara, Renegade Recruiter: I had to make some hard cuts from this deck, and this was one of them. This effect is super fun a flavorful, but there’s a high likelihood that this just misses or hits something small + you don’t get to keep the creature. If this had haste, it would been a keep.

Spectral Sailor: If you have some early-game payoffs for evasive pirates, this could be good combined with the late-game mana sink to draw a card. That said, in commander this is too small/clunky. With our upgrades, we’re doing much more fun and powerful things than this.

King Narfi’s Betrayal: This sort of plays into the self-mill theme of the deck. That said, it just doesn’t do enough for me to consider keeping it over more powerful options.

Fathom Fleet Captain: The ceiling for this cad is just WAY too low to play it when the floor is SO low. More often than not, you will draw this late-game and won’t be able to attack with it. Even when you do, an additional 2/2 pirate isn’t game-changing.

Dire Fleet Ravager: In modern-day commander, a 4/4 with menace and deathtouch for 4 better have a pretty powerful effect to be playable. This is not it.

Prismari Command: I’m always a fan of modal spells in any format. That said, this doesn’t do enough for me to consider it over some of our upgrades.

Commander’s Sphere: For me to play a 3-mana mana rock, it needs to have some strong synergies with my deck’s theme. This does not. We’ll have PLENTY of treasures to help us ramp. Easy cut.

Don Andres, the Renegade: This was a difficult cut. Not because it is powerful in this deck, but because it is a SUPER fun card. That said, this needs to have its own deck built around it Who’s down for a Grixis “steal your stuff” deck?

For affordable mana base upgrades for this deck, make sure to check out our land packs HERE.

Pick up our Ahoy Mateys Precon Upgrade Pack HERE.

Proxy Power Up: Veloci-Ramp-Tor Precon Upgrade Guide (Pantlaza)

January 16, 2024

In this issue of Proxy Power Up, we’ll be taking a look at the EXTREMELY popular Veloci-ramp-tor precon commander deck led by Pantlaza, Sun-Favored. If you were one of the lucky ones that was able to snag this pre-con deck before it sold out just about everywhere – congrats! For good reason, this deck has been highly sought after and difficult to find.

Out of the box, it is already extremely powerful. That said, as is the case with most precon decks, there are a handful of cards that don’t fully fit the deck’s theme or strategy. Let’s take a look at 9 cards we would swap out and the 9 cards from our Veloci-Ramp-Tor Precon Uprade Pack that we would replace them with.

Veloci-Ramp-Tor Commander Precon Upgrade Guide Pantlaza

The Skullspore Nexus: The Skullspore Nexus can end up being REALLY cheap in the mid to late game and gives you a nice way to start finishing off opponents by doubling up the size of your big, tramping dinos! This is also really nice board wipe insurance.

Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant: This will quickly become your favorite card in the deck. Playing a hand full of big dinosaurs for “free” is about as fun as it sounds! Combine this with a haste-enabler and this becomes a sweet finisher.

Bonehoard Dracosaur: At first read, this card seems really strong. After a few games with it, I can say that it is even better than it reads. Bonehoard Dracosaur is not only a good-sized flyer with first strike, but the real power comes from the additional card selection + quick accumulation of 3/1 dinos and treasures to keep ramping into your HUGE game-ending spells!

Guardian Project: A commader staple in just about any creature-based commander deck, Guardian Project is right at home in the Veloci-Ramp-Tor precon as well.

Huatli, Poet of Unity // Roar of the Fifth People: Huatli, Warrior poet is definitely a card that you actively want to transform as the front side doesn’t pack much of a punch. That said, the “Roar of the Fifth People” saga on the back of this card can be game-ending and snowballs REALLY quickly!

Polyraptor: THIS is a payoff for all your enrage enablers. Get your copy tokens ready!

Gishath, Sun’s Avatar: Okay… THIS might become your favorite card in the deck. Haste means that this insanely powerful (and fun) effect can come out of nowhere and flood your board with dinosaurs!

Intrepid Paleontologist: A solid mana dork that helps you ramp early & then provides some recursion in the late-game, making the intrepid paleontologist a SOLID include.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness: Not only do you get the “Etali effect” as an ETB instead of an attack trigger with this version of Etali, but the back side of this card (Etali, Primal Sickness) is a quick way to close out opponents with poison counters!

Pick up our Veloci-Ramp-Tor (Pantlaza) Proxy Precon Upgrade Pack HERE.

Earthshaker Dreadmaw: Colossal Dreadmaw 2.0. Memes aside, there are much better bodies for 6-mana. While the upside of drawing multiple cards could be nice, there are more consistent options for card draw available.

Savage Stomp: This is a slow, conditional removal/fight spell that you can only cast at sorcery speed. The upside isn’t high enough for the possibility of getting blown out while casting this.

Itzquinth, Firstborn of Gishath: Itzquinth, while cute, just doesn’t get it done in commander. This has been a really solid draft card for me in limited, however, the body is too small & the removal is far too conditional to be a powerful and consistent option.

Ixalli’s Lorekeeper: This deck has PLENTY of ramp (hence the name Veloci-RAMP-tor). And conditional ramp/mana fixing on an easily removable is never great. There are plenty of better options to ramp up to your big, splashy creatures!

Majestic Heliopterus: Giving one of your big Dinos flying could be a useful way to push damage through, however, there are much more efficient ways to give your large creatures evasion and/or trample to help close out games. Plus your opponents can see this coming from a mile away. At 4 mana, this is an easy cut.

Zetalpa, Primal Dawn: Zetalpa has basically become WOTC’s unofficial mascot for any commander precon that contains white. While it IS an expensive Dino, there are lots of options for more fun and powerful dinosaurs to play.

Raging Swordtooth: Raging Swordtooth may be a decent way to trigger your creature’s “enrage” effects, however, the upside isn’t worth the floor of this simply being a 5/5 for 5 with Trample.

Raging Reisaur: Similar to Raging Swordtooth, Raging Regisaur’s ceiling is a way to trigger enrage abilities on multiple turns, however, the floor on this one is an even less impressive vanilla 4/4 for 4.

Plains: Yes, I know that suggesting removing a land from a precon might be a hot take, but 39 lands in a ramp deck is simply WAY too many. In fact, with some minor upgrades to the mana base, you could probably get away with multiple cuts here. #sorrynotsorry

For affordable mana base upgrades, make sure to check out our land packs HERE.

Pick up our Veloci-Ramp-Tor (Pantlaza) Proxy Precon Upgrade Pack HERE.