Table of Contents
"Everybody but me—CHARGE!" - Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
The Mardu Horde are all about raiding. Living out in the rocky wastes of Tarkir, it is a necessity to survive. Each member lives by the warrior's code.
“To conquer is to eat
To rule is to bleed
Victory or Death”
This is a good summary of Mardu ({W}{B}{R}), both as the Clan and meta with how the colour combination fits into Magic.
Magic The Gathering: Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Mardu Surge Commander Deck
£37.95
£44.99
Description Tarkir faces a full-scale draconic assault, pitting clan against clan and all of civilization against a maelstrom of wings, claws, and fire. Choose one of five clans and discover your favourite way to play, then master the fearsome Dragonstorms… read more
The Face Commander
Mardu as a whole in Magic usually is about small aggressive creatures combined with sacrifice/death values. Something that is summed up with the face Commander of Mardu Surge: Zurgo Stormrender.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/10/zurgo-stormrender
Mobilise 1 creates you an attacking, temporary 1/1 creature that provides a sacrifice trigger at the beginning of the next end step.
This gives you either a card to draw or drains your opponent's life total. Both of which are great options.
The Alternative Commander
I definitely think Zurgo is the better of the two commanders but Neriv, Crackling Vanguard is no slouch.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/6/neriv-crackling-vanguard
This spirit dragon actually has synergy with the face commander, unlike the other Tarkir: Dragonstorm decks. It creates more tokens and then lets you “draw” cards.
This isn’t trying to lead you in a different direction from the face commander. Zurgo doesn’t care what token it is, as long as it's a creature token. So get that token stack ready and prepare the horde!
In case you don’t know what this is all about, getting some good upgrades to the Madru Surge Precon. But let’s not have a [[Massive Raid]] on your wallet. I only have £10 for all the budget upgrades. So let's get to it.
Upgrade 1
IN: Dollmaker's Shop // Porcelain Gallery
https://scryfall.com/card/dsk/4/dollmakers-shop-porcelain-gallery
OUT: Loyal Apprentice
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/222/loyal-apprentice
My first upgrade is a pretty straight forward swap. Loyal Apprentice for Dollmaker's Shop // Porcelain Gallery.
I am cutting Loyal Apprentice as it only makes one [[Thopter]] token per turn and as it requires your commander out.
If you want the Dollmaker's Shop it's only a 2 drop, just like Loyal Apprentice. This only makes 1/1 creature tokens as well, but it's also a [[Toy]] which is a rare token, so will help with [[Neriv, Crackling Vanguard]] triggers. It’s useful to have this flexibility in the early game.
It requires you to attack with a creature, but this is an aggro deck, so that's what you are doing. Unlike Loyal Apprentice, it doesn’t need your commander out to generate tokens.
While the [[Thopter]] tokens do have haste and flying, letting you get chip damage in, I prefer the Porcelain Gallery half of the card. It buffs all of your token (and non-token) creatures.
This will be one of your finishers. Unlocking this room when you have an army of tokens will just let you end the game with overwhelming power.
Upgrade 2
IN: Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/198/elas-il-kor-sadistic-pilgrim
OUT: Lingering Souls
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/123/lingering-souls
I'm cutting Lingering Souls. While it’s a cheap and efficient way to make spirit tokens, that is it. The ceiling of this card is pretty low. It's 5 mana possibly over multiple turns for four 1/1 flying [[Spirit]] tokens.
It's an ok card and I can see why it was included. Every deck needs the playmaker cards, the ones that set you up. But this is a precon, so it has more of these than necessary and I want to make upgrades. So I added a higher potential card.
Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim is another card that is basically two cards combined. It’s [[Soul Warden]] and [[Zulaport Cutthroat]] together. It’s able to gain you life when any creature enters for you. That includes tokens.
When one of your creatures dies you get to drain your opponents, adding to the effect from [[Zurgo Stormrender]].
There are more versions of both of these cards but if you want to put more in, I would opt for the cards that trigger on creature death. Cards like [[Blood Artist]] etc.
I went with Elas il-Kor as you get the best of both worlds. But having more death triggers will only speed up the game. I would have added more but I only have 10 slots to upgrade and want to highlight different aspects of the deck.
Upgrade 3
IN: Elder Arthur Maxson
https://scryfall.com/card/pip/102/elder-arthur-maxson
Elder Arthur Maxson adds another free sacrifice outlet to go with some of the ones already in the deck, like [[Viscera Seer and Yahenni, Undying Partisan]].
Elder Arthur allows you to choose which part of [[Zurgo Stormrender]] you want, a card to draw or a life to drain. This option depends on when the token leaves.
Having an instant speed and free sacrifice outlet is key. You no longer rely on your opponents to block and kill your tokens for the card draw. Also you can still have the token deal damage and draw the card.
Combat is broken down into the following phases:
Beginning of combat
Declare attackers
Declare blockers
Combat damage
End of combat.
Normally in Magic, we skip over a lot of these, particularly ‘the beginning of combat’ phase. Most players move straight to declaring attackers. Also again after damage is done, the ‘end of combat’ phase usually skipped straight to the second main phase.
It’s worth noting that players do receive priority in each of these steps. So you basically get two instances of priority after the combat damage is done to sacrifice your tokens to draw with Zurgo.
Creatures are considered to be attacking from the ‘beginning of combat’ phase up to the start of the second main phase. Elder Arthur can be activated specifically on the ‘end of combat’ phase after damage has been dealt to sacrifice creatures still considered to be attacking. This allows you to draw a card on Zurgo’s trigger.
The other reason I chose Elder Arthur Maxson is because creature tokens you control have Training (Whenever a creature token you control attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on that token).
This allows you to buff all your tokens if you attack with a bigger creature. You only need one creature that is bigger to buff your entire token army. Leading by example. This is a big ability. If I wanted another sacrifice outlet there are plenty of good and cheap ones. [[Goblin Bombardment]] for example.
OUT: Sun Titan
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/133/sun-titan
I am cutting Sun Titan, as my build of Mardu Surge only has 14 targets. I haven't included the artifacts, as most of these are mana rocks. They aren't as likely to be available in the graveyard to be brought back.
While having the recursion from Sun Titan is nice, it just doesn't seem to fit. It doesn't work with the token plan.
Upgrade 4
IN: Assemble the Legion
https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/163/assemble-the-legion
OUT: Beetleback Chief
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/205/beetleback-chief
This is another easy swap. Token maker for token maker.
Beetleback Chief is the one coming out. While pretty efficient as a four mana 2/2 creature that comes with two 1/1 Goblin tokens, that's all it is. A one time effect. Without blink, you don't get more tokens.
That's why I'm putting in Assemble the Legion. It’s slower but if left in a longer drawn out game, it's an exponential growth token generator.
We are aiming for bracket 2 or 3, so this is a reasonable trade off for a card that can take over a game by itself if left alone.
Upgrade 5
IN: Horn of Gondor
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/240/horn-of-gondor
Horn of Gondor is another card that can just run away with the game. This one is similar to [[Assemble the Legion]], being able to make an exponential amount of tokens. But Horn is cheaper, as it’s {3} to cast.
The downside is also having to pay {3} to activate it and that it only makes tokens based on the number of humans you control. But to help you get started it comes with a 1/1 [[Human Soldier]] token.
There are also a number of humans and other human token makers in the deck already, allowing you to make more on the initial activation.
[[Krenko, Mob Boss]] was another card I considered for this slot. This has a similar ability but requires goblins instead. Which there are less of in the deck. While Krenko is free to activate, it's a creature ability. So you can't activate it on the first turn and it is more vulnerable to removal compared to artifacts like Horn of Gondor.
OUT: Shadow Summoning
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/101/shadow-summoning
Making room is Shadow Summoning. This is like the other ones I have removed. It is just a simple one time token maker, making two [[Spirit]] tokens.
I would rather have higher variance with Horn of Gondor. While the floor (worse case) for the card is similar, the ceiling (upper limit) is way higher for Horn of Gondor.
Upgrade 6
IN: Elspeth, Sun's Champion
https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/62/elspeth-suns-champion
OUT: Release Dogs
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/127/release-the-dogs
I'm cutting Release the Dogs for the same reason as [[Shadow Summoning]] above, so I won't go into it.
In its place I'm putting Elspeth, Sun's Champion. While you are paying more mana for less tokens (6 mana for three tokens vs 4 mana for four tokens with Release the Dogs), you are paying for flexibility and for repeatable tokens.
The repeatability might be questionable, as planeswalkers are traditionally vulnerable to attack, though Elspeth has a better chance of living as you have so many tokens.
Flexibility comes from the planeswalker abilities. Elspeth has some good loyalty abilities. +1 gives you three tokens, but the -3 ability is the reason I chose Elspeth, Sun's Champion over any of the other token generating planeswalkers. It destroys all creatures with power 4 or more power.
Most creatures in this deck have 3 power or less, hence most of your creatures are going to live. Hopefully you can then protect Elspeth until the next turn when you can start to make tokens for even more blockers.
If you ever manage to get to the ultimate (-7) chances are that you’ll win the game, as any good ultimate should do. That being said, I don't evaluate planeswalkers by the ultimate, as in EDH it's unlikely to live that long.
Upgrade 7
IN: Echoing Assault
https://scryfall.com/card/blc/24/echoing-assault
OUT: Blade of Selves
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/313/blade-of-selves
I am cutting Blade of Selves. I feel like this is a trap card. It looks like a great card, being able to get extra temporary copies of your creatures.
I just think it needs to be a very specific sort of deck. You can put it on any creature to get value, but for me it's a waste. As you try to push higher in the bracket system, the more you need each card to get maximum value.
The first problem is you need Blade of Selves on a non legendary creature. Otherwise you run into the Legend rule where you can only control one of a named legendary card.
Secondly you need the equipped creature to have a decent effect. Usually this comes in the form of an enters ability so you can get immediate value.
Lastly, while not a full requirement, Blade of Selves wants an expendable creature. This is because you need to be able to attack with the equipped creature. Unless it has some form of evasion, you are going to need to attack into blockers.
One deck that can effectively use Blade of Selves is [[Hare Apparent]]. This is because they have a great enters trigger, work better in multiples and are expendable (because you can run as many in your deck as you want).
Unfortunately there isn't anything like that in Mardu Surge. The better targets are Legendary and the rest are enablers that you don't want to risk in combat.
If the numbers were switched on the card, i.e. it was {4} to cast and {2} to equip, it would make the cost of using on less desirable targets easier. But having to pay {4} to equip is a steep cost.
For a replacement I have picked Echoing Assault. This gives a reasonable impression of Blade of Selves. It gives you a token copy of an attacking non token creature, all without having to constantly equip it.
This does come with only one copy that is attacking that player, so you can't spread the love. But Echoing Assault also has a static ability which gives your token creatures menace.
This could be the final push you need to finish off a game. Otherwise it's just evasion with no downsides.
Upgrade 8/9
IN: Securitron Squadron + Warleader's Call
https://scryfall.com/card/pip/23/securitron-squadron
https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/242/warleaders-call
The next additions are a pair. First is Securitron Squadron. Not only is this a unique named token for the alternative commander, it's also a way to get a scaling anthem effect for your tokens. It's also a mini army in a can, as you can repeatedly pay for the Squad {3} ability.
The neat part to Securitron Squadron Squad ability is its effect works on the newly created tokens.
If you pay for Squad three times, you will make three token copies. These will each see each other enter and be able to put three +1/+1 counters on each.
You also get a fourth +1/+1 counter from the original copy. So you would end up with the original copy as a 2/2 then you would get three token copies as 6/6 creatures.
The second card I am adding is Warleader's Call. While it is a financially expensive card (nearly ⅓ of my budget), it's a very good card. It gives +1/+1 to your creatures and deals damage to your opponents when your creature enters.
I did think of adding similar cards like [[Intangible Virtue]] or [[Dictate of Heliod]], but Warleader's Call is not just a buff. It's also [[Impact Tremors]]. It combines two effects into one card, making your choice of the 99 more efficient.
OUT: Grenzo, Havoc Raiser + Mindblade Render
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/216/grenzo-havoc-raiser
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/187/mindblade-rende
The cut pair are Grenzo, Havoc Raiser and Twilight Drover.
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is a good card for a token deck. It was a harder cut for me. But the way I'm seeing this deck, and I could be wrong, is that it isn't a traditional token deck.
While you want to make tokens, you also want to sacrifice them for value. So we might not actually have an army of them to get the triggers from Grenzo.
The other card I'm cutting is Mindblade Render. It gives card draw. I don't like cutting card draw normally, but Mindblade Render is too limited.
I would much prefer a [[Phyrexian Arena]] in this situation. It has the same amount of card draw and loss of life without the stipulation.
It would be different if Mindblade Render could draw multiple cards a turn, but it doesn't matter if you hit one or three of your opponents. You only get one card.
The other problem is it requires a warrior to connect. There are only six cards that are either warriors or make warrior tokens. That's including Mindblade Render. While one of those is the commander. It still limits its value, as you need to connect. I would be more inclined to keep this if Zurgo didn't already have inbuilt card draw.
Upgrade 10
IN: Rose Room Treasurer
https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/51/rose-room-treasurer
OUT: Goldlust Triad
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/34/goldlust-triad
My final cut is one of the new cards, Goldlust Triad. It's not the worst card but it has a low ceiling. It is a 5 mana 4/3 creature that can attack each player and possibly make [[Treasure]] tokens. It’s good, but it doesn't have quite the same power as my swap. Rose Room Treasurer.
Rose Room Treasurer can reliably make [[Treasure]] every turn by just having a creature enter. This includes creature tokens.
Bonus; if you have multiple creatures enter at the same time, Alliance will trigger for each of them. This also turns into a win condition if you manage to trigger it a 3rd time, as you can just start shooting players for massive damage. Alternatively you can point it at problem creatures or planeswalkers as well.
Final Thoughts
I think Mardu Surge is a nice take on a token deck. It's not just trying to vomit out as many tokens as quickly as possible and then fold to well timed board wipes.
This has built-in card draw from the commander, [[Zurgo Stormrender]], while also having the drain life ability as a win con.
Zurgo very much reminds me of [[Caesar, Legion's Emperor]]. It has the token generation, card draw and the win con all wrapped up into one card in the Command zone.
This also has the best synergy between the alternative commander and the face commander from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm commander decks.
I will point out that there is a very easy set of upgrades if you aren't on a budget. These are the token doubler effects like [[Anointed Procession]]. While you don't get access to the green one there, is a new one with [[Elspeth, Storm Slayer]], so look out for that if you're cracking packs. You can also find some more non-budget options shown below.
Hopefully I will see you in another blog. Just remember to have fun and good luck!
PS. The total cost of the budget upgrades above was less than 10 GBP at the time of writing.
Non-budget Upgrades
Looking for even more upgrades? Try these 10 cards that didn't meet our budget requirement, but synergise with this deck:
https://scryfall.com/card/blc/21/agate-instigator
https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/165/grave-pact
https://scryfall.com/card/40k/112/commissar-severina-raine
https://scryfall.com/card/blc/9/jacked-rabbit
https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/208/pitiless-plunderer
https://scryfall.com/card/blb/6/caretakers-talent
https://scryfall.com/card/cmd/72/attrition
https://scryfall.com/card/moc/17/nesting-dovehawk
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/95/mirkwood-bats
https://scryfall.com/card/lci/223/anim-pakal-thousandth-moon
Looking to pick up some Magic: The Gathering? Shop booster boxes, commander decks and all things MTG right here at Gathering Games.SHOP MAGIC: THE GATHERING
