Welcome to the Eldrazi Incursion Upgrade Guide! This guide helps you unlock the full potential of your preconstructed deck, transforming it into a formidable force on the battlefield with strategic upgrades and optimizations.
Overview of the Eldrazi Incursion Preconstructed Deck
The Eldrazi Incursion preconstructed deck is one of the four Commander decks released in Modern Horizons 3, centered around the terrifying commander Ulalek, Fused Atrocity. This 5-color deck revolves around the iconic Eldrazi tribe, combining their unique abilities with a mix of artifacts, creatures, and lands to create a formidable board presence. The deck emphasizes synergy, leveraging Eldrazi tokens and high-impact creatures to overwhelm opponents. Its initial composition includes a balance of aggressive strategies and utility cards, making it a solid foundation for players looking to embrace the Eldrazi’s otherworldly power. While it performs well out of the box, there are opportunities to enhance its consistency and power level through targeted upgrades, ensuring it remains competitive in Commander formats.
Importance of Upgrading for Competitive Play
Upgrading the Eldrazi Incursion deck is crucial for competitive play, as it enhances the deck’s consistency, power, and adaptability. While the preconstructed version is strong, competitive formats demand optimized strategies and high-impact cards. Upgrading allows you to address weaknesses, such as mana inefficiency and lackluster card draw, while incorporating powerful Eldrazi staples and synergistic combos. These improvements ensure the deck can withstand and outperform more refined opponents. Additionally, upgrades like premium mana rocks and board wipes provide the necessary tools to control the game flow. By investing in key cards, you elevate the deck from a casual build to a competitive force, capable of dominating in high-stakes matches. This guide will help you identify essential upgrades to maximize your deck’s potential and secure victories in competitive play.
Understanding the Commander: Ulalek, Fused Atrocity
Ulalek, Fused Atrocity, the commander of the Eldrazi Incursion deck, is a terrifying amalgamation of Ulamog and Kozilek, embodying the raw power and unpredictability of the Eldrazi. With a mana cost of 2 colorless and 2 generic, Ulalek is relatively easy to cast, making it a versatile and accessible commander. Its ability to cast creatures at instant speed (flash) and generate Eldrazi Spawn tokens upon entering the battlefield makes it a formidable force early in the game. Additionally, Ulalek’s annihilator ability forces opponents to sacrifice permanents, disrupting their plans and creating openings for aggressive plays. This commander’s unique blend of evasion, token generation, and disruption makes it a central piece of the deck’s strategy, enabling both explosive starts and late-game dominance. Understanding Ulalek’s strengths is key to building a cohesive and powerful Eldrazi Incursion deck.
Understanding the Eldrazi Incursion Precon Deck
The Eldrazi Incursion preconstructed deck is a powerful Commander offering centered around Ulalek, Fused Atrocity, featuring a mix of Eldrazi creatures and synergistic cards designed for explosive plays and token generation.
Initial Deck Composition and Strategy
The Eldrazi Incursion preconstructed deck is built around a 5-color strategy, focusing on ramping into powerful Eldrazi creatures and leveraging token generation for explosive plays. The deck includes 30 creatures, 14 artifacts, and a robust land base, with Ulalek, Fused Atrocity, as its commander. Key synergies revolve around Spawnwrithe and other token-generating Eldrazi to fuel cost reductions and enable game-ending plays. The initial strategy emphasizes early-game ramp using artifacts like Sol Ring and Arcane Signet, followed by mid-game deployment of high-impact Eldrazi such as Emrakul, Kozilek, and Ulamog. The deck also incorporates card draw and removal to maintain momentum. While the precon is competitive out of the box, its potential can be further unlocked through targeted upgrades to enhance consistency, power, and synergy.
Identifying Weaknesses in the Precon Build
While the Eldrazi Incursion precon is a solid foundation, it has several areas that hinder its competitive potential. One major weakness is its reliance on artifact-based ramp, which can be vulnerable to artifact destruction. Additionally, the deck lacks consistent card draw, making it difficult to recover from board wipes or maintain pressure. Some card choices, such as underperforming creatures and spells, dilute the deck’s overall efficiency. The mana base, while functional, could benefit from more dual lands and fetches to improve consistency. Furthermore, the deck’s vulnerability to interaction, such as counterspells and removal, can disrupt its game plan. Addressing these issues is crucial to elevating the deck’s performance and ensuring it can compete in more demanding metas.
Key Eldrazi Synergies to Leverage
The Eldrazi Incursion deck thrives on synergies that amplify its aggressive, token-generating strategy. One of the most powerful interactions is the ability to generate and sacrifice Eldrazi Spawn tokens, which can be used to fuel mana-intensive spells or activate abilities like Eldrazi Obligator. Additionally, cards like Thought-Knot Seer and Flayer of the Hatebound create a deadly combination, allowing you to disrupt opponents while generating value. The deck also benefits from cost-reduction effects, such as those provided by Darksteel Monolith, enabling you to cast high-cost Eldrazi threats earlier. Leveraging the Flash mechanic with cards like Eldrazi Displacer and Bentheon, the Faerie Queen allows for surprise plays and enhances the deck’s tempo. Finally, combining token generation with card draw effects ensures consistent pressure and adaptability, making the Eldrazi Incursion a formidable force on the battlefield.
Mana Base and Land Count Analysis
Evaluating the mana base of the Eldrazi Incursion precon is crucial for optimizing its performance. The deck includes a mix of basic and dual lands, but it lacks the consistency needed for competitive play. Budget-friendly upgrades like Sol Ring and Arcane Signet can significantly improve mana ramp and fixing. For premium builds, adding fetch lands like Flooded Strand and Windswept Heath enhances land search and mana stability. Additionally, Castle Garenbrig and Gaea’s Cradle provide powerful synergies with Eldrazi creatures. The precon’s land count of 38 is adequate, but upgrading to 39-40 lands ensures smoother mana development. Prioritizing lands with multiple color-fixing capabilities and adding artifact-based ramp will make the deck more reliable and explosive. Balancing budget and premium options is key to creating a robust mana base that supports the deck’s aggressive strategy.
Upgrading Strategies for Eldrazi Incursion
Optimize your deck by adding powerful Eldrazi staples, enhancing synergies, and improving card draw and removal. Focus on key upgrades to maximize efficiency and competitive potential.
Identifying Cards to Cut for Optimization
To enhance your Eldrazi Incursion deck, it’s crucial to identify and remove underperforming cards. Consider cutting generic creatures like Conduit of Ruin and Eldrazi Obligator, as they lack synergy with the deck’s core strategy. Replace inefficient removal spells like Reality Shift with more reliable options. Cards that don’t support the Flash strategy or fail to trigger Eldrazi synergies should also be evaluated. For example, Endless One and Thought-Knot Seer are strong individually but may not fit if they don’t align with your overall game plan. Prioritize cutting cards that don’t contribute to ramping, card draw, or protecting your big plays. This trimming ensures your deck remains focused and maximizes its competitive potential.
Adding Powerful Eldrazi Staples
Enhance your Eldrazi Incursion deck by incorporating iconic Eldrazi staples that amplify its power and synergy. Cards like Emrakul, the Promised End, Kozilek, the Great Distortion, and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger are game-changers, offering massive threats and unique abilities. Include Rise of the Eldrazi to accelerate your game plan and generate tokens. Flayer of Loyalties and Darksteel Monolith provide consistent mana generation and card advantage. These additions not only strengthen your deck’s overall strategy but also enhance its thematic consistency. By integrating these powerful staples, you create a more formidable and competitive Eldrazi Incursion deck capable of dominating the battlefield.
Incorporating Synergistic Card Combos
Incorporating synergistic card combos is crucial for maximizing the Eldrazi Incursion deck’s potential. Pair Flayer of Loyalties with token-generating cards like Eldrazi Spawn to create an engine for card draw and mana generation. Combine Darksteel Monolith with high-cost Eldrazi like Emrakul, the Promised End to enable early casting of powerful threats. Utilize Rise of the Eldrazi alongside token producers to flood the board with creatures. Additionally, cards like Conduit of Ruin can tutor for key Eldrazi, while Thought-Knot Seer disrupts opponents and triggers synergies. These combos enhance the deck’s consistency and power, creating a cohesive strategy that leverages the unique strengths of the Eldrazi. By focusing on these interactions, you can build a more resilient and aggressive deck capable of overwhelming opponents.
Enhancing the Mana Ramp and Fixing
Enhancing mana ramp and fixing is essential for ensuring the Eldrazi Incursion deck runs smoothly. Cards like Darksteel Monolith provide a reliable source of colorless mana, enabling early plays of high-cost Eldrazi. Conduit of Ruin not only ramps but also tutors for key Eldrazi, streamlining your strategy. Adding utility lands like Wastes and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth improves mana fixing, allowing you to cast spells of any color. Cavern of Souls ensures you can deploy creatures without interruption, while Expedition Map fetches critical lands like Temple of the False God or Gaea’s Cradle. These additions accelerate your game plan, reduce color issues, and provide consistency. By upgrading your mana base, you’ll be able to cast your powerful Eldrazi threats earlier and more reliably, giving you a significant advantage in competitive play.
Improving Card Draw and Tutor Effects
Improving card draw and tutor effects is crucial for maintaining momentum in the Eldrazi Incursion deck. Cards like Conduit of Ruin and Flayer of Loyalties provide consistent card advantage, while Skemfar Shadowsage enables repeatable tutoring for key Eldrazi threats. Conduit of Ruin not only ramps mana but also searches for essential Eldrazi, ensuring you find your game-enders; Flayer of Loyalties offers a powerful draw engine, synergizing with Eldrazi tokens. Additionally, Skemfar Shadowsage allows you to recur important creatures, enhancing resilience. These upgrades ensure you maintain card parity and consistently deploy your most impactful spells. By integrating these cards, you’ll improve the deck’s consistency and ability to adapt to various game states, making it more formidable in competitive play while staying true to the Eldrazi theme.
Upgrading the Board Wipe and Removal Suite
Upgrading the board wipe and removal suite in the Eldrazi Incursion deck is essential for handling threats and clearing the way for your massive creatures. All Is Dust is a premium addition, offering a one-sided board wipe that spares your Eldrazi, making it a game-changing inclusion. For budget-friendly options, Spatial Contortion provides versatile removal at a low cost, while Dismember offers efficient creature removal. Additionally, cards like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger and Kozilek, Butcher of Truth include built-in removal effects, enhancing your deck’s versatility. These upgrades ensure you can protect your board and eliminate opponents’ defenses, allowing your Eldrazi to dominate unopposed. By bolstering your removal and wipe options, you’ll improve the deck’s resilience and offensive capabilities, making it more competitive in any matchup.
Budget vs. Premium Upgrades
Budget options like Spatial Contortion and Dismember offer efficient removal, while premium cards such as All Is Dust and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger provide superior power and flexibility.
Budget-Friendly Upgrades for Beginners
Upgrading your Eldrazi Incursion deck doesn’t have to break the bank. Budget-friendly options like Spatial Contortion and Dismember provide efficient removal, while Eldrazi Obligator and Thought-Knot Seer enhance your deck’s synergy and disruption capabilities. These cards are accessible and can be found in the precon deck or through affordable singles. Additionally, Blast Zone offers versatile land destruction, and Cavern of Souls ensures your creatures can’t be countered, both at a lower cost. These upgrades improve consistency and power without requiring rare or expensive cards. They’re perfect for beginners looking to enhance their deck’s performance while staying within a budget. Start with these affordable additions to make your Eldrazi Incursion deck more competitive and fun to play.
Premium Card Options for Competitive Play
For competitive play, premium cards like Rise of the Eldrazi and Flayer of Loyalties significantly enhance your deck’s power. Rise of the Eldrazi provides card draw and triggers Eldrazi abilities, while Flayer of Loyalties disrupts opponents and generates value. Darksteel Monolith is another staple, offering mana acceleration and protection for your big plays. These high-impact cards are essential for elevating your deck to a competitive level. Additionally, cards like Warping Wail and Eye of Ugin further support the Eldrazi strategy by enabling flash and reducing spell costs. While these options are pricey, they are crucial for serious players aiming to dominate in high-stakes games. Investing in these premium cards ensures your Eldrazi Incursion deck becomes a formidable force in any Commander meta.
High-Impact Cards for Mid-Budget Players
Mid-budget players can significantly enhance their Eldrazi Incursion deck with cards like Warping Wail, Eye of Ugin, and Thought-Knot Seer. These cards offer substantial value without breaking the bank. Warping Wail supports the flash strategy and provides versatility, while Eye of Ugin reduces the cost of Eldrazi spells and enables game-ending plays. Thought-Knot Seer is a budget-friendly staple that disrupts opponents and triggers synergies. Additionally, Endless One and Conduit of Ruin are excellent mid-tier additions, offering consistent threats and ramp potential. These cards strike a balance between affordability and power, making them ideal for players looking to upgrade without a premium budget. They enhance the deck’s overall performance while staying within financial limits, ensuring a competitive edge in casual and mid-stakes games.
Comparing Upgrade Paths for Different Budgets
Upgrading the Eldrazi Incursion deck can be tailored to fit various budgets, ensuring accessibility for all players. For budget-conscious players, focus on affordable staples like Warping Wail and Thought-Knot Seer, which provide essential utility and synergy. Mid-budget players can invest in cards like Eye of Ugin and Endless One, offering significant power without premium costs. Those with larger budgets can opt for high-impact cards like Mana Crypt and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, which elevate the deck to competitive levels. Each budget path maintains the deck’s core strategy while scaling its power. By prioritizing upgrades that align with your spending capacity, you can progressively enhance your Eldrazi Incursion deck’s performance without compromising its thematic integrity or gameplay consistency.
Advanced Tips for Optimizing Eldrazi Incursion
Master the Flash strategy, optimize mana efficiency, and leverage Eldrazi tokens effectively. Protect your big plays with counterspells and enhance synergy between creatures for maximum impact and consistency.
Mastering the Flash Strategy with Eldrazi
Mastering the Flash strategy with Eldrazi is a game-changer, enabling you to surprise opponents with sudden, powerful plays. Utilize cards like Winding Canyons or Mystic Sanctuary to flash in creatures at instant speed, catching foes off guard. This approach is particularly potent with high-impact Eldrazi like Ulalek, Fused Atrocity or Emrakul, the Promised End, allowing you to deploy them unexpectedly for devastating effect. Pair these with mana rocks like Simian Spirit Guide or Chalice of the Void to accelerate your game plan. Flash also synergizes with cards like Thought-Knot Seer, enabling you to disrupt opponents while setting up your board. By combining these elements, you create a formidable, unpredictable strategy that keeps opponents on their heels and accelerates your path to victory.
Optimizing Mana Efficiency in the Deck
Optimizing mana efficiency is crucial for the Eldrazi Incursion deck, as it relies on casting high-cost, powerful creatures. Incorporate mana rocks like Darksteel Monolith and Sol Ring to accelerate your mana production. Cards like Arcane Signet and Mana Crypt provide consistent, colorless mana, essential for Eldrazi’s colorless costs. Utilize Skemfar Shadowsage to generate extra mana from Eldrazi tokens, enhancing your ramp capabilities. Additionally, consider Everflowing Chalice for scalable mana generation. These additions ensure you can cast your most impactful creatures on time, maintaining momentum and pressuring opponents early. By streamlining your mana base and incorporating these staples, you’ll enhance the deck’s overall performance and consistency, making it a formidable force in any Commander meta.
Leveraging Eldrazi Tokens Effectively
Eldrazi tokens are a cornerstone of the Eldrazi Incursion deck, offering versatile utility and enhancing your overall strategy. Cards like Eldrazi Spawn and Eye of Ugin generate tokens, which can be sacrificed to fuel powerful abilities or cast spells at a reduced cost. Utilize Skemfar Shadowsage to convert tokens into mana, accelerating your game plan. Additionally, Flayer of Loyalties and Rise of the Eldrazi synergize perfectly with tokens, creating a snowball effect. Sacrifice tokens to activate abilities like Annihilator or to cast high-cost Eldrazi creatures. Tokens also enable strategies like Flash, allowing you to deploy game-ending threats unexpectedly. By maximizing token generation and utilization, you can create a relentless offensive and defensive engine, making your deck far more formidable and fun to play.
Protecting Your Big Plays from Interaction
Protecting your high-impact Eldrazi creatures and spells from interaction is crucial for maintaining momentum. Consider adding counterspells like Heroic Intervention or Arcane Denial to neutralize opponents’ removal attempts. Cards like Flayer of Loyalties and Rise of the Eldrazi also provide built-in protection by triggering abilities that counteract interaction. Additionally, include creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects, such as Selfless Squire, to shield your big plays temporarily. Leveraging the Flash strategy allows you to play creatures at instant speed, catching opponents off guard. Pair this with mana acceleration tools like Sol Ring or Arcane Signet to ensure you can cast your spells before opponents can react. Budget-friendly options like Damping Sphere can also slow down opponents’ mana development, giving you an edge. By combining these strategies, you can safeguard your game-changing plays and secure victory more consistently.
The Eldrazi Incursion deck offers immense potential with strategic upgrades, synergies, and optimizations. Experiment with new cards, adapt to metas, and embrace the cosmic horror of the Eldrazi.
Summarizing the Key Upgrades and Changes
The Eldrazi Incursion deck has been significantly enhanced through targeted upgrades, focusing on synergy and power. Key additions include powerful Eldrazi staples like Rise of the Eldrazi and Flayer of Loyalties, which amplify the deck’s core strategy. Budget-friendly options like Sol Ring and Arcane Signet improve mana ramp, while premium cards such as Darksteel Monolith and Winding Canyons elevate performance. Cards like Damnation and Counterspell bolster removal and protection. Several weaker cards from the precon have been replaced to streamline the deck, ensuring a more focused and lethal gameplay experience. These upgrades not only enhance consistency but also leverage the Eldrazi’s unique abilities, making the deck a formidable force in Commander formats.
Final Tips for Piloting the Upgraded Deck
Mastering the Eldrazi Incursion deck requires a balance of aggression and strategy. Focus on leveraging the flash mechanic to surprise opponents with powerful plays, especially at the end of their turn. Eldrazi tokens are invaluable for both offensive and defensive purposes, so prioritize generating and utilizing them effectively. Protecting your high-impact creatures with counterspells or defensive lands is crucial to prevent opponents from disrupting your game plan. Additionally, timing your board wipes and removal spells wisely can clear the way for unstoppable attacks. Always be mindful of mana efficiency, as the Eldrazi rely heavily on it to dominate the battlefield. Finally, adapt your strategy based on the metagame and opponent archetypes to maximize your deck’s potential. With practice, the Eldrazi Incursion deck becomes a relentless force capable of overwhelming even the toughest opponents.
Encouragement to Experiment and Adapt
Embrace the Eldrazi Incursion deck as a canvas for creativity and growth. Experiment with different card combinations and strategies to discover what works best for your playstyle. Whether you’re on a budget or investing in premium upgrades, there’s always room to refine and adapt. Don’t be afraid to try new synergies or swap out underperforming cards—every change is an opportunity to enhance your deck’s consistency and power. As you pilot the deck, pay attention to your opponents’ strategies and adjust your approach accordingly. The Eldrazi are versatile, so leverage their unique abilities to outmaneuver foes. Most importantly, enjoy the journey of improvement and the thrill of unleashing these cosmic horrors on the battlefield. With patience and practice, your Eldrazi Incursion deck will become a formidable force in any Commander format.
Appendix: Additional Resources
Explore additional resources to enhance your Eldrazi Incursion deck-building journey, including EDHREC, Archidekt, and The Command Zone for inspiration, deck lists, and expert advice.
Recommended Websites for Further Reading
For deeper insights and inspiration, explore these recommended websites:
- EDHREC: A comprehensive database for Commander deck-building, offering detailed card recommendations and popular deck lists.
- Archidekt: A modern deck builder tool that allows you to visualize and optimize your Eldrazi Incursion deck with ease.
- The Command Zone: A valuable resource for Commander strategy, featuring guides, podcasts, and upgrade tips.
- TCGplayer and Card Kingdom: Excellent platforms for finding and purchasing cards to upgrade your deck.
- MTGGoldfish: Provides meta insights and deck guides to help you stay competitive.
- Reddit Communities: r/EDH and r/MTGFinance offer community-driven advice and market tips.
These resources will help you refine your Eldrazi Incursion deck and stay updated on the latest strategies.
Community Deck Lists and Inspiration
Exploring community deck lists is a great way to gain inspiration and refine your Eldrazi Incursion build. Websites like Archidekt and Moxfield host a variety of user-submitted decks, showcasing creative strategies and upgrades. You can also find inspiration on platforms like untapped.gg and EDHREC, where players share their favorite card combinations and optimizations. Many deck builders focus on enhancing the Flash strategy, incorporating powerful Eldrazi staples, and improving mana efficiency. Additionally, forums like Reddit’s r/EDH and MTG Subreddit offer valuable discussions and feedback from experienced players. By reviewing these resources, you can discover new synergies, identify overlooked cards, and adapt proven strategies to elevate your deck’s performance. Community inspiration is a powerful tool for refining your Eldrazi Incursion deck into a unique and formidable force.