Table of Contents
Izzet a new deck? Yes, it is. Prismari Artistry is the blue-red Commander deck from Secrets of Strixhaven. Prismari mages focus on the artistic side of magic, using the elements to express themselves and their emotions. Their motto is, “Express yourself with the elements.”
This is my upgrade blog for the deck. So, if you are a struggling artist with no money, this blog is for you. I am looking at 10 upgrades for less than £10, but let’s have a look at who’s leading this deck.
product::magic-the-gathering-secrets-of-strixhaven-prismari-artistry-commander-deck
The Commanders
Prismari Artistry is the blue-red Commander deck, and going with what Izzet does best is [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]].
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/8/rootha-mastering-the-moment
Go big or go home is the essence of Rootha, creating a creature equal to the greatest mana value among the instants and sorceries you played before combat. Notably, this is mana value and not how much you actually paid, hint hint for the upgrades.
[[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]] is a simple effect, but it is a payoff for doing what you already want to do anyway.
The alternative commander for Prismari Artistry is [[Muddle, the Ever-Changing]].
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/5/muddle-the-ever-changing
Another Izzet otter... well, maybe, as it is also a Shapeshifter. It can copy one of your other creatures, which is useful if you have some strong non-legendaries to copy. This deck does have some, but not enough for me to want to switch over to Muddle.
Gaining Myriad will let you get some additional token copies, if they can survive combat. It gets pretty nuts if you copy a [[Curiosity Crafter]]. If both of your Myriad copies connect, that is eight cards drawn just from them.
But let’s get into the upgrades.
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Budget Upgrades
Upgrade 1/2
IN: Metallurgic Summonings + Shark Typhoon
https://scryfall.com/card/c21/122/metallurgic-summonings
https://scryfall.com/card/dsc/127/shark-typhoon
My first two upgrades do a similar impression of [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]], creating tokens from casting spells. Both of these are enchantments instead, and they also trigger for every instant and sorcery, not just the biggest one you cast.
[[Shark Typhoon]] is not just limited to instants and sorceries either, but any noncreature spell. It creates an X/X Flying Shark equal to that spell’s mana value. It is basically a build-your-own Sharknado. It even has cycling, so you can make a single shark if you really just need a card instead.
The other card is [[Metallurgic Summonings]]. This creates X/X Constructs equal to the mana value of your instant or sorcery. You trade the flying and haste that [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]] tokens have for getting a token from every spell instead.
[[Metallurgic Summonings]] also has an activated ability for {3}{U}{U}, exiling it to return all instant and sorcery cards from your graveyard to your hand. You do need six or more artifacts to do this, but between the tokens and your regular artifacts, that should be fine.
OUT: Prismari Charm + Throes of Chaos
https://scryfall.com/card/sos/211/prismari-charm
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/257/throes-of-chaos
My first cut is [[Prismari Charm]]. While it does feel bad to remove the named charm from the deck, it just does not fit. We are wanting to cast big spells, and Prismari Charm only costs two. That makes it slightly overcosted for any of the effects on offer.
While flexibility is great in Commander, and it does help reduce dead cards, Prismari Charm’s effects are not spectacular. It reminds me of [[Electrolyze]], although [[Electrolyze]] does the first two modes together. I feel like the bounce or draw mode from Prismari Charm is going to be the most used, but bounce is normally one mana and can be very situational. Again, I want this to be a big-mana deck for triggering [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]].
I am also cutting [[Throes of Chaos]] for a similar reason. It is a four-mana spell that can get you a spell costing three or less. Prismari Artistry does not care about the number of spells cast, just what the biggest one is. The hits off it are not even that great either. Some of them are removal that might not have a good target, and even worse, you could hit [[Arcane Denial]].
If we cared more about the quality of spells, or had a much higher quality of hits, [[Throes of Chaos]] might have stayed. But as it is, the juice is not worth the squeeze.
Upgrade 3
IN: Sorcerous Squall
https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/504/sorcerous-squall
OUT: Dance with Calamity
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/243/dance-with-calamity
I will talk about this next change together, as the cards are similar in comparison.
I will start with [[Dance with Calamity]]. This is a big-spell deck, and 13 mana is actually quite low here. You are likely to only get one or two spells from it, as you can quite easily flip two expensive spells and then have [[Dance with Calamity]] do nothing else. It is a gamble, so I guess it depends on how much you like to roll the dice.
The average mana value of the deck, without lands, is 4.3. I prefer this card more in a traditional storm deck with lots of smaller spells, where you care about quantity and can get five to seven little effects off it instead.
I much prefer the guaranteed hit from [[Sorcerous Squall]], as well as the fact that it has Delve. This lets you play a big spell without actually paying the full amount of mana, while it still counts for the full amount with [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]].
You are guaranteed to get a hit if your opponent has something in their graveyard. With the mill from the spell, you could always upgrade into something better, but you still know the minimum of what you are getting. If you really like the gambling aspect, you can always target someone with decent spells but nothing amazing in the graveyard, then hope to hit something stronger from the mill.
Upgrade 4/5
IN: Full Throttle + Overpowering Attack
https://scryfall.com/card/dft/127/full-throttle
https://scryfall.com/card/acr/37/overpowering-attack
My next two additions are paired because they are both extra combat spells. Additional combats work well with how [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]] is worded: “At the beginning of combat on your turn.” The beginning of combat is a step we get again whenever we get an additional combat phase, so we will make another token each time.
[[Overpowering Attack]] is another spell with a discount. We are not running any Assassins, so we can only get the discount from Rootha attacking. Even without that, though, five mana to untap all the creatures that attacked and gain an extra combat is not bad. It beat out the other options because of the Freerunning discount and the real cost of the card.
But you know what is better than one combat for four mana? Six mana for two combats. [[Full Throttle]] is an underplayed card for its effect. If you have any big creatures, this will just let you finish games. In Prismari Artistry, we will get a minimum of two additional 6/6 attacks to hit people with.
One thing to note with extra combats is that damage on creatures is not reset. So if you attack with a 6/6 and an opponent blocks with a 3/3, on an additional attack it will only take three more damage to kill your 6/6.
OUT: Twinflame + Harmonic Prodigy
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/258/twinflame
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/123/harmonic-prodigy
I am cutting [[Twinflame]] and [[Harmonic Prodigy]]. [[Twinflame]] has combos with [[Dualcaster Mage]], but we are not running that. While we can spend more mana on Twinflame via the Strive mechanic, it does not alter the mana value, which will always be three.
Copying a creature is nice, but we do not have that many creatures we really want to copy, at least not for three mana and then trying to cast another spell to get a payoff. It is why I was even debating cutting [[Muddle, the Ever-Changing]]. The difference is that Muddle lets you spread that value over multiple turns by casting Muddle first, then your follow-up spell on the next turn.
[[Harmonic Prodigy]] is a weird one in this deck. There are only nine Wizards or Shamans in the default list, including Harmonic Prodigy itself. [[Inspired Skypainter]] and [[Rootha, Mercurial Artist]] do not work with it either. Inspired Skypainter is because you cannot be prepared twice, and another two of the creatures only have Prowess or Prowess-like effects.
So [[Harmonic Prodigy]] does not have much here to help trigger, which is why I think it is such a strange inclusion. It does not even work with either of the new commanders, which would at least have helped justify it.
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Upgrade 6
IN: Ashling, Rekindled // Ashling, Rimebound
https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/124/ashling-rekindled-ashling-rimebound
[[Ashling, Rekindled // Ashling, Rimebound]] is my next swap, and it is exactly what we want. It gives us card selection when we have bad cards in hand, and then, when we find a card we do want, [[Ashling, Rimebound]] helps give us the mana to cast it.
If you have Ashling on the Rimebound side, you get both the mana and the option to flip it back to the Rekindled side to get another rummage effect (discard and draw). That is a lot of value from one card in a deck that wants to keep the spells flowing.
OUT: Mirrorwing Dragon
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/249/mirrorwing-dragon
Coming out is [[Mirrorwing Dragon]]. This is just a pure liability. We do not even have anything especially good that can target it. While [[Resculpt]] has the chance to upgrade some of our tokens, I am aiming for those tokens to be bigger than 4/4 anyway.
[[Chaos Warp]] is extra spicy, but I am not looking to point limited removal at our own creature in the hope of flipping into something better, especially as this is not a permanent-based deck.
Then there is the fact that [[Mirrorwing Dragon]] also works for your opponents. If they have any single-target buffs, they can just target Mirrorwing Dragon and suddenly buff their entire team with it. That is far too much risk for me.
Upgrade 7
IN: Magnus the Red
https://scryfall.com/card/40k/131/magnus-the-red
Time for my money card: [[Magnus the Red]]. This had better have a big effect, and it absolutely does. It is a super discounter.
“Unearthly Power — Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost less to cast for each creature token you control.”
That means all of your tokens help discount your future big spells. And if you do not have any yet, do not worry, because Magnus has that covered too.
“Blade of Magnus — Whenever Magnus the Red deals combat damage to a player, create a 3/3 red Spawn creature token.”
So it has built-in token generation as well, and flying helps Magnus connect in combat. It is exactly the kind of card this deck wants.
OUT: Rionya, Fire Dancer
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/252/rionya-fire-dancer
[[Rionya, Fire Dancer]] is the swap. Again, this is a quantity-of-spells-matter card, which is the direction I am moving Prismari Artistry away from.
So we are paying five mana for something that does nothing on its own, then getting a copy of a single creature. If we are lucky, we might get a second. [[Muddle, the Ever-Changing]] is different, as it keeps Myriad, so you will automatically get more copies from it.
Upgrade 8
IN: Brass's Bounty
https://scryfall.com/card/fdn/190/brasss-bounty
[[Brass's Bounty]] is normally a card I cut, as it is usually seven mana just to make some Treasure. You generally need eight or more lands for it to actually make mana, so at that point, why not just cast the other spell instead? And if you are trying to use it as mana storage, there are better options.
But Prismari Artistry is built different because of [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]]. While paying seven mana for seven Treasures is normally pointless, the important part here is that you cast a seven-mana spell. That means we also get the Elemental from Rootha, and that makes this card much more appealing here than it normally would be.
OUT: Rootha, Mercurial Artist
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/329/rootha-mercurial-artist
I am cutting the alternative Rootha, [[Rootha, Mercurial Artist]]. This is because I see this deck tapping out for its spells most of the time. [[Rootha, Mercurial Artist]] takes two more mana to copy a spell, and it also returns itself to your hand, so if you want to copy again, you then need to spend five mana to replay it.
That means you are often taking a turn off from casting your big spells just to get Rootha back into play, and that is not where I want to be with this build.
Upgrade 9
IN: Mizzix's Mastery
https://scryfall.com/card/c15/29/mizzixs-mastery
If you are wanting to double up on spells, [[Mizzix's Mastery]] is a much better option. This is because it actually casts the spell. So once you have cast your big spell, on the next turn you can cast it again and get another big trigger from [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]].
Then, if you have eight mana, you can overload [[Mizzix's Mastery]] and cast all of your instants and sorceries from the graveyard. That can get very silly very quickly.
OUT: Creative Technique
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/241/creative-technique
[[Creative Technique]] is another gamble card. It might be more boring, but I prefer predictability, which is why I am changing it for [[Mizzix's Mastery]]. With Mastery, you know exactly which card you are going to cast.
[[Creative Technique]] can hit something big, but it can also hit a small card like [[Arcane Signet]]. Demonstrate helps by giving you a second copy, but it also lets someone else do it too.
If you changed the deck more to have consistently bigger hits, then I would be happier with [[Creative Technique]]. But as it is, it is a liability. There are only 14 cards that cost six or more, and one of those is [[Blasphemous Act]], which is a card you might not even want to cast.
Upgrade 10
IN: Volcanic Vision
https://scryfall.com/card/c21/182/volcanic-vision
I much prefer [[Volcanic Vision]] as my final swap. While it costs two more mana than [[Volcanic Torrent]], you have far more control over how much damage it deals. Instead of counting previous spells, all you have to do is return a card with the right mana value.
As [[Volcanic Vision]] also only damages your opponents’ creatures, it is easy enough to return a card with a higher mana value than the amount of damage you need. Incidentally, you also get back your spell, so you can cast it again and get yet another trigger from [[Rootha, Mastering the Moment]].
OUT: Volcanic Torrent
https://scryfall.com/card/soc/260/volcanic-torrent
[[Volcanic Torrent]] is my final cut. I do not usually like cutting removal, but this card is particularly weak, at least in this deck. I see Prismari Artistry as a one, maybe two, spells-a-turn deck, so [[Volcanic Torrent]] is very limited in how much damage it will actually do.
It is good against a token deck, but so is [[Pyroclasm]] for way less mana. The better part of [[Volcanic Torrent]] is that it only hits your opponents’ creatures, but that is not enough to keep it.
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Non-budget Upgrades
These cards were outside the budget for this article, but they fit the deck extremely well and are worth considering if you’re happy to spend a little more:
https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/509/call-forth-the-tempest
https://scryfall.com/card/ddn/30/fury-of-the-horde
https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/236/insurrection
https://scryfall.com/card/who/52/quantum-misalignment
https://scryfall.com/card/frf/55/temporal-trespass
https://scryfall.com/card/roe/172/world-at-war
https://scryfall.com/card/clb/78/irenicuss-vile-duplication
https://scryfall.com/card/sos/120/improvisation-capstone
https://scryfall.com/card/lci/153/hit-the-mother-lode
https://scryfall.com/card/fdn/30/archmage-of-runes
Final Thoughts
Big spells for a big payoff. Go big or go home. Which is why I have one final card to talk about: [[Breath of Fury]].
I did not include this one because it will push the deck into bracket 4, as it is a one-card combo with [[Rootha, Mercurial Artist]]. It does have a couple of prerequisites, but it can let you take infinite combats.
The first prerequisite is that you have cast a spell to trigger Rootha and make a token. The other is having another creature that is able to connect with a player. You enchant that creature with [[Breath of Fury]], then when you move to combat, you make a Rootha token and attack with both.
[[Breath of Fury]] then triggers, saving the creature, which is why you cannot put it on [[Rootha, Mercurial Artist]]. You then move it to the new Rootha token. Now you have another combat, where you will make another token, so you can start the cycle again. That gives you infinite combats until your opponents are dead.
The only other difficulty is that your opponents cannot have blockers big enough to stop the loop.
For the deck overall, it does need some setup, but if you get to the late game, you will be able to outvalue everyone with the free tokens.
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PS. All the card prices were under budget at the time of writing, but the dynamic price might have changed since.
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