MTG: Lost and Found – ‘Lost Caverns of Ixalan’ Commander Deck Review
Dinosaurs, Pirates, and Merfolk, oh my! The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander decks are full of new power cards and old favorites.
It’s prerelease week for the brand new Magic set, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and MTG fans are suitably hyped. The set returns us to the fan-favorite plane of Ixalan. Ancient Aztec civilization meets conquistador vampires, ruthless pirates, and perhaps best of all…dinosaurs.
As with all new releases, there’s also a suite of fabulous Commander decks, each revolving around one of the primary factions in Ixalan. Alongside some incredible new cards, these decks are shelling out some monster reprints, making these some of the best value buys to date. Now that the decklists have been fully revealed, we can do a quick review of each one, and… they’re really something. Whatever style of play you like, one of these decks will probably cover what you like.
Ahoy Mateys
The seas are a dangerous place, and that’s especially true on Ixalan. In addition to the massive sea creatures that patrol the depths, the surface is ruled by the pirates. Mightiest amongst them is Admiral Beckett Brass, a strong and imposing captain who demands loyalty from her crew even after death.
The deck she captains does the same; her Grixis Pirates go to the graveyard and come back even stronger. There are plenty of ways to get them there; discard, mill, or death. However, Pirates won’t stay in your ‘yard for long. Once they’re back, your opponent will wish they’d just walked the plank.
Blood Rites
Vampires have always been one of the most powerful creature types in Magic. Whether you prefer your vampires in the Orzhov or Mardu flavor, they always seem to have the nastiest tricks up their sleeve. This deck is no exception. The Orzhov crusaders, led by the dark disciple Clavileno, bring the glory of Aclazotz to the surface dwellers. Combining some powerful reprints with some nasty new Vampire warriors, this deck will unleash a horde of undead monsters worthy of the dark god of blood.
Explorers of the Deep
When it comes to land and creature buffs, Simic has always had a stranglehold on the top spot. Explorers of the Deep turns all that up to eleven, giving you a veritable tidal wave of powerful Merfolk to drown your opponents.
The Merfolk Scout Hakbal leads the charge, digging out lands and buffing himself while his army of fishfolk prepares to unleash the tide. Once you’ve sufficiently buffed your fighters, you can give them evasion, buff them even more, or just win with Simic Ascendancy. However you play, the tides will always be on your side.
Veloci-Ramp-Tor
Now the moment we’ve all been waiting for; the Dinosaur deck! Veloci-Ramp-Tor does not disappoint, giving us a few powerful friends from the past alongside deadly new Dinosaur critters. Led by the aptly-named Pantlaza, Sun-Favored, this deck wants to get your Dinos out and get them fighting right away. The more you have, the more you can dig out of your deck with the discover keyword. Plus, in these Naya colors, you’ll overwhelm your opponent with lands and creatures in no time and still have plenty left for yourself.
You can check out the decklists here. Which one will you be picking up?
