Ninjutsu your way to Victory with Satoru Umezawa

Want these upgrades without breaking the bank? Click HERE to pick up our Satoru Umezawa Commander Starter Pack.

Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format has taken the world by storm with its blend of multiplayer chaos, unique deck-building strategies, and iconic commanders. One such commander, Satoru Umezawa, brings a fascinating ninjutsu twist into the format, letting you sneak massive, game-changing creatures onto the battlefield. However, officially obtaining such powerful cards comes with some pretty steep price increases, which makes proxies all the more attractive to newcomers and veterans alike who only want a taste of such powerful cards without the attached price tag.

The following is a detailed rundown of a 10-card Magic: The Gathering proxy package, with Satoru Umezawa as commander, joined by a few of the most synergistic, powerful, and iconic creatures that will fit into his playstyle like a glove.

Satoru Umezawa

Satoru Umezawa certainly allows for all creatures to have the ninjutsu ability in your hand. With its strong effect in such a powerful card, you’ll be able to swap in some of the most terrifying creatures in the game at a fraction of the mana cost. Satoru Umezawa’s alternate art is not only a great centerpiece for an aesthetically pleasing deck but also a pass key to one of the unique ways to play high-cost creature. Because of his ability, you will be able to sidestep the high costs of your creatures and build explosive plays that can shake the entire table.

2. Toxrill, the Corrosive

Toxrill, the Corrosive is probably one of the most hazardous critters to ever exist in the format of Commander. This slug horror passively takes away opponents’ creature strength by placing -1/-1 counters at each end step on all creatures you don’t control. Satoru Umezawa can unleash Toxrill to ninjutsu onto the battlefield, catching opponents off guard and decimating their creature base in record time. The official version from Toxrill is pretty pricey, so a proxy of it lets you try its synergies with Satoru without investing much in the beginning.

3. Archon of Cruelty

Archon of Cruelty is part of most reanimator and control lists due to his incredibly oppressive enter-the-battlefield and attack triggers that give an abruptly heavy beating to the opponent: creature sacrifice, card discard, life loss on their side, card draw, life gain on your side. Flash Archon of Cruelty onto the battlefield with Ninjutsu, disrupting your opponents’ board presence while gaining huge advantages for yourself. Since the official price of it is highly pricey, a proxy is an affordable way to play this powerhouse.

4. Void Winnower

Void Winnower is unique in that opponents can’t play even mana cost spells with it on the field, and it can turn off half of their cards. Satoru’s ninjutsu brings in the Void Winnower unexpectedly, cleaving off key pieces of your opponent’s strategy. This creature is very effective in multiplayer, but its high mana cost is rather prohibitive for some decks. With a proxy, you are able to test the power of Void Winnower without the high cost to your deck.

5. Blightsteel Colossus

Packed with trample, infect, and indestructible, this is one of those cards that opponents fear greatly. A single hit from this huge artifact creature can be lethal. In fact, outside of some higher-end combos, it’s arguably the most terrifying creature in all of Commander. Where ninjutsu allows you to circumvent this card’s huge mana cost, with Blightsteel Colossus in your hand, Satoru can be a real game-ender. The official version is pretty expensive since it sees such a high demand, but having a proxy keeps the price of adding this finisher into your deck pretty reasonable.

6. Lord of the Void

This flying demon exiles the top seven cards of an opponent’s library whenever it deals combat damage to a player, and allows you to put a creature from those exiled cards onto the battlefield under your control. You’ll be able to bring out Lord of the Void well before your opponents expect you to with Ninjutsu, allowing you to gain control of the board with their creatures. Prying open so many doors, versatility is the word of the day with Lord of the Void, who can make an impact in many a Satoru build.

7. Archfiend of Despair

Archfiend of Despair will be a great addition to direct damage/control decks, doubling the damage dealt to opponents while they cannot gain life. This could prove quite lethal for an opponent when Satoru can ninja in Archfiend of Despair on their end step, setting up a lethal from your next turn. The official version is pretty pricey, but it has enough synergy with Satoru that a proxy will definitely be worth testing in your deck.

8. Rune-Scarred Demon

Rune-Scarred Demon is a flying 6/6 with a Demonic Tutor effect, which lets you find any card you might be searching for. This flexibility makes it an excellent ninja target that will help enable you to tutor up crucial pieces of your strategy. The official price of the card is not through the roof, but proxies remain a more budget-friendly option for Commander players needing access to its tutoring power.

9. Nezahal, Primal Tide

Nezahal, Primal Tide has card draw with the added benefit of near-immunity to removal via its self-exiling ability. It’s just one tough draw engine, keeps your hand full, and dodges removal when it has to. Having a cost-saving option to get Nezahal onto the battlefield through ninjutsu adds flexibility to your deck, with a lower official price that makes him one of the more affordable cards in this bundle.

10. Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant

Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant is easily one of the most disrupting cards to hit the format-hard counter to an opponent’s spell once each turn and copy your spells. This Phyrexian Praetor really hits from out of nowhere thanks to Ninjutsu. An opponent isn’t ready for it, and you get to immediately establish board dominance. While he is not as pricey as some other highly sought-after Commander staples, proxies do remain a budget-friendly alternative for those looking to experience the oppressive power of Jin-Gitaxias.

Why a Proxy Bundle?

Proxies are a great way to get into Commander without having to commit to buying cards for your deck that may be hard to acquire. With proxies, you can try out cards and strategies and test the various power cards like Blightsteel Colossus or Archfiend of Despair in your Satoru Umezawa deck before actually purchasing the cards.

Conclusion

This 10-card Commander starter bundle, headlined by Satoru Umezawa as your commander, is an affordable jump into the powerful play of ninjutsu and high-cost creatures. Proxies provide a budget-friendly means to experience the synergy, playability, and devastating power these cards bring to the Commander format. Whether you’re a new player building your first deck or a seasoned Commander fan looking for new strategies to try out, this bundle brings iconic threats to your table without a prohibitive price tag.

Do you want these upgrades without breaking the bank? Click HERE to pick up our Endless Punishment Precon Proxy Upgrade Pack.

How to Choose the Best MTG Proxies for Your Commander Deck

Building a powerful Commander deck can be costly since with the rising price of many staples. For this reason, many MTG players use proxies as a way to enjoy all the functionalities of their deck without the hefty price tag. The truth is however, not all proxies are created equal. High-quality proxies are crucial for an authentic play experience and making sure your cards hold up game-after game. In this post, we’ll show you how to select high-quality MTG proxies for your Commander deck and make the most of your investment.

1. High-Resolution Artwork

With MTG Proxies, the big difference in a terrible one and a great one comes down to the artwork. A high-res image, representative of the original card will give that professional look and feel you need from your proxies. When selecting proxies, make sure the artwork is crisp and clear, and that the details have been replicated from the original card. Here at theproxyforge.com, we produce high-quality proxies, with your favorite cards in beautiful and reimagined artwork!

2. Durability of Card Stock

Notable card stock is crucial because proxies that need to withstand constant play without wearing out. Low-quality proxies will use thin, flimsy paper that can wear out rather quickly. Quality proxies should be printed on sturdy, thick cardstock. Much like real MTG cards, they need to shuffle well, won’t bend easily, and just feel right in your hand. When browsing through proxy shops, look for customer reviews or product descriptions that bring up points about how durable the card is.

3. Color Matching is Everything

MTG cards possess exact shades and hues, difficult to perfectly mimic. A high-quality proxy should match the colors of an official card, from mana symbols down to hues of the artwork. If colors are not matched properly, this could make a card look wrong, ruining the aesthetic of a deck. Reputable proxy stores pay attention to color matching so your proxies seamlessly fit with your official cards throughout a game.

4. Accurate Text and Font

The most important thing in MTG card design is the font and text used for the card names, abilities, and flavor text. Proxies from a good set should contain exactly the same fonts and text positioning as on an original MTG card. It is a guarantee that your proxies at first sight will look like real cards and will be comfortable to read while playing. At theproxyforge.com, we make sure that our proxies are matching the original text and formatting for a realistic look.

5. Consider Customization Options

Perhaps one of the best things about proxies is the chance to customize one’s cards. Many high-end proxy shops do offer custom art options for those times when you want to make your Commander deck your very own. You can use fan art, alternative card designs, or even design a theme for the whole deck. Custom proxies are ways through which you can make your deck unique and your game more fun, and here at theproxyforge.com, we do just that! Ensure that the store where you are buying them from offers custom options and high-resolution printing of such designs.

6. Look for Reviews and Reputation

When purchasing high-quality MTG Proxies, one has to choose an appropriate store. Check customer reviews and feedback that describe the quality of the product. Reputable stores pride themselves on their sturdiness and design, and players rely on them. Check the feedback about print quality, card stock, estimated shipping times, and customer service before buying.

7. Price vs. Quality Evaluation

While proxies are a more affordable alternative to buying real cards, one needs to balance price with quality. Very cheap proxies could save on cash, but wear and tear faster forcing you to replace them sooner than you’d like. Good-quality proxies can be more expensive than others but they’re well worth it, offering a far better experience from really cheap proxies. You get good value from proxies when you invest in reasonably priced high-quality ones.

8. Playability Test

Before committing to a full set of proxies, it’s a good idea to test a few cards for playability. You want proxies that shuffle well with your deck, resist damage during gameplay, and don’t feel noticeably different than your official cards. That becomes especially important in Commander, where decks are 100 cards and require frequent shuffling. Start with a small order to test the proxies and how they would hold during gameplay before adding more to your collection.

Conclusion

Investing in good-quality MTG proxies for your Commander deck ensures monetary prudence while having fun building your deck. If you are looking for really realistic cards, think of high-resolution art, durable card stock, color accuracy, and personalization options for your proxies. At theproxyforge.com you’ll be able to get yourself MTG proxies that are truly premium, such that they easily integrate into your existing collection and survive regular play. Head down to our store and search through to find the perfect proxies for your Commander deck!

Check out our selection of high-quality custom art mtg proxies HERE.