Table of Contents
Let's make some noise and [[Wake the Dead]]. It's time for the Sultai Arisen commander deck upgrade.
Magic The Gathering: Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Sultai Arisen 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 Alternative Commander
The Professor from Tolarian Community College has already released an upgrade guide, as he was the one to release the spoilers/full list for the deck. However it was done based on the alternative Commander, Teval, the Balanced Scale.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/8/teval-the-balanced-scale
I would agree that this is probably the better option as it seems to be the stronger of the two commanders and also has more cards that can combo.
Although the Professor upgrades aren't on a budget. Where all of mine are. To be a [[Cheap Ass]], as I only have £10 to get 10 new cards in. This is done so you can pick up the precon and get a cheap power spike without breaking the bank.
The Face Commander
Somewhere else I will differ from Prof's list, is that I will stick with the Face Commander. So it's Kotis, Sibsig Champion for me.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/5/kotis-sibsig-champion
Instead of focusing on a landfall deck or the go wide token idea from Teval, I will focus on bringing creatures back from the graveyard.
As Kotis does get bigger from this you can do some shenanigans with unblockable, letting you get some wins via commander damage. I'm not going to focus on that. I want to get deeper with the more unique effect - letting the cards effectively have the Escape mechanic:
Escape (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost)
This is exactly what Kotis does. Now let's get into the upgrades.
Upgrade 1
IN: Golgari Grave-Troll
https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/144/golgari-grave-troll
Golgari Grave-Troll is restricted in Vintage and banned in Modern. Even after a brief unban it was re-banned as it was deemed too powerful again.
While it is a 0/0, it enters with the counters and is able to regenerate by removing them. This gives you a decent sized body that's hard to remove. But that isn't why this card is banned.
Although it gives it flexibility in Commander, the reason why it is banned is the Dredge ability. This is the largest dredge on a card. The next best is [[Stinkweed Imp]] with Dredge 5.
It lets you replace a draw effect by milling 6 cards and returning Grave-Troll to your hand. The mill effect is the reason why I'm including this card. It fuels the graveyard and builds it into a second hand with [[Kotis, Sibsig Champion]] able to bring back your creatures.
OUT: Necropolis Fiend
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/190/necropolis-fiend
I am cutting Necropolis Fiend, because this is the exact opposite effect. Delve lets you exile cards to reduce the cost of the card. While useful, we want cards in the graveyard to use Kotis’s ability.
While I don't like cutting interaction, as Necropolis Fiend is removal, I think it is too expensive. You have to pay mana equal to the toughness of the creature you want to kill and exile that many cards. You might not even have enough cards to exile, depending on how much you use Kotis’s ability.
Upgrade 2
IN: Fauna Shaman
https://scryfall.com/card/bro/179/fauna-shaman
Fauna Shaman is a strong 2 mana creature. It’s a balanced version of [[Survival of the Fittest]].
Survival is obviously better as it can be activated the turn you play it and as many times as you have mana. But that is why it's a Game Changer. The Game Changers are a list of powerful cards that, as the name suggests, change the game. These are defined by Wizards and factor into the bracket system.
[[Survival of the Fittest]] is also on the reserved list, so it won't be reprinted and thus also commands a steep price of $170/£130/€155.
Fauna Shaman is obviously a worse card. It takes a turn to activate and can only be used once per turn as you need to tap it. But with the price difference, it's hard to argue against.
Being able to get the right creature when you need it is a powerful effect that shouldn't be underestimated.
Having tutor effects makes your deck more consistent. It's why there are so many on the Game Changer list. Fauna Shaman lets you trade any creature into any other, even a [[Skull Prophet]]. Wait, you can't as I cut it…
OUT: Skull Prophet
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/304/skull-prophet
Skull Prophet is my next cut. I can see arguments to keeping it in. It's just not that exciting to me. It’s a mana dork that costs 2. I would rather have them at 1 mana to be able to skip to 3 mana turn two. Also the ability that mills is sub par. It's trying to do both things, but sucks at both.
Upgrade 3/4
IN: Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius + Gravebreaker Lamia
https://scryfall.com/card/otj/201/doc-aurlock-grizzled-genius
https://scryfall.com/card/thb/98/gravebreaker-lamia
My next two inclusions have similar effects. They discount the cost for casting from the graveyard. These cards are Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius and Gravebreaker Lamia.
Doc Aurlock is the simpler of the two, as for this deck it just discounts by {2} for any cards cast from the graveyard. That will include the ones being cast with Kotis’ ability.
Gravebreaker Lamia has the same ability just only discounting by {1}. But it also a tutor, as it searches for a card that can be placed into the graveyard. I we pick a creature, then of course we can bring it back via [[Kotis, Sibsig Champion]].
OUT: Steward of the Harvest + Floral Evoker
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/48/steward-of-the-harvest
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/46/floral-evoker
As we are playing with [[Kotis, Sibsig Champion]] instead [[Teval, the Balanced Scale]], we don't care for the Landfall matters cards.
Which is why I'm cutting Floral Evoker and Steward of the Harvest. Both are great and exciting new cards, but in the wrong deck if we are building around Kotis.
Floral Evoker is useful if we mill through lands that we require. But at the cost of discarding creatures, I don't think it's worth it. While we can recast the creatures with Kotis, I would rather cast it normally first and cast it again as a backup.
Steward of the Harvest, for me, is the more interesting of the two. When I first saw it my mind went to combo lines with it.
You can play it fair and exile lands to turn your creatures into mana dorks.
If you want to get a little spicy you can include lands like [[Scorched Ruins]], [[Lotus Vale]] or [[Lotus Field]]. The two lotus lands will let you get 3 mana of any colour.
While [[Scorched Ruins]] is the most mana without other requirements, you can go with some even more spicy lands like [[Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx]] and the like, but these require more of a deck building requirement.
For a combo line you need to exile [[Griffin Canyon]] and [[Mutavault]]. This allows you, via [[Mutavault]], to turn all your creatures into shapeshifters with every creature type. Then you can use [[Griffin Canyon]] to untap themselves as they are now Griffins thanks to [[Mutavault]].
Each time you do, they get bigger. So for 1 mana you can have infinitely large creatures. If you don't have any spare mana, each of your creatures can also tap for mana, so half of your creatures can be infinitely big.
The deck does include [[Griffin Canyon]] but it doesn't have any Griffins in so it doesn’t do anything. As it also doesn’t include any way to get that creature type. It is a nice reprint though as it is an old card and probably harder to find now.
Upgrade 5
IN: Insidious Roots
https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/208/insidious-roots
Insidious Roots works for both commanders, though arguably better for [[Teval, the Balanced Scale]].
It doesn't care why the creature left the graveyard to get you the [[Plant]] tokens. As Teval also makes tokens, both tokens can be tapped for mana via Insidious Roots.
It also works for Kotis. You can either use his ability to bring back a creature to trigger Insidious Roots, or you could Delve a creature away with something like [[Treasure Cruise]], which is in the deck.
Also if you can keep the [[Plant]] tokens around they will slowly grow into an ever growing army. Both in power and number of bodies. Every time you trigger it, you get a new [[Plant]] token and get to put +1/+1 counters on them.
OUT: Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/192/ob-nixilis-the-fallen
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen is another Landfall creature. It synergises more with the alt commander, which is why I'm cutting it. Ob Nixilis can be a win con in a Landfall deck as it creates a large creature and deals 3 damage.
But that's the problem. You need Landfall. Hence why I have cut it.
Notably, it is a valuable card as it was only reprinted as part of the List and in Iconic Masters.
Upgrade 6
IN: Tormod, the Desecrator
https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/155/tormod-the-desecrator
I am adding in Tormod, the Desecrator. This is just value for playing the deck, as it generates Zombie creature tokens.
This isn't one of the complex cards, just extra value for doing what you were already going to do.
OUT: Hedron Crab
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/155/hedron-crab
Hedron Crab is the last Landfall card I'm cutting. This one however does work in the deck; it's just weak. It's a 0/3 with it's only us coming from the landfall ability.
This is normally used in mill decks as an easy and reputable source of mill. Mill in Commander is notoriously difficult as you are swapping 40 damage to each opponent for around 70-80 cards to kill each. This is normally without any help from your opponents, as unlike damage they don’t often help with milling.
With the Sultai Arisen deck, we are milling our own deck. The problem with Hedron Crab is it's reliant on consistent land drops, and even then it only mills 3 per turn.
Upgrade 7
IN: Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/202/hogaak-arisen-necropolis
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis is another card that is banned in Modern for being too good. While you can't spend mana to cast it has Convoke and Delve. It forces you to cast it for free.
This one might not be the most optional card to add. The reason why I have is to have another way to enable your payoff cards if Kotis is being kept off the battlefield. Because Hogaak can be cast from the graveyard.
This being attached to an 8/8 trampler gives you a hard to remove, large, beat stick to swing around.
OUT: Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/263/multani-yavimayas-avatar
I am swapping this for a different beat stick. Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar. While Multani can be bigger than Hogaak, it isn't cast from the graveyard. So it will only trigger some effects as you return it to your hand.
This combined with the cost of having to bounce two of your lands to your hand sealed the deal to swap it out.
Upgrade 8
IN: Ripples of Undeath
https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/107/ripples-of-undeath
OUT: Forbidden Alchemy
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/152/forbidden-alchemy
Ripples of Undeath feels like a straight upgrade to Forbidden Alchemy. I think it also shows the power creep we have been seeing in the Morden Horizon sets and more Modern sets in general.
Ripples of Undeath is a stronger version. While you do have to keep paying if you want the card back, I think this is a worthwhile trade. It effectively costs the same for the initial card, as Ripples is 2 mana and requires you to pay an additional {1} and 3 life if you want to return one.
Forbidden Alchemy costs 3 mana and is an Instant, so you do have to wait an additional turn like you would with Ripples. The problem comes with it being a one time effect. Well, it has Flashback, so you can do it again. But that costs 7 mana.
Upgrade 9
IN: Syr Konrad, the Grim
https://scryfall.com/card/eld/107/syr-konrad-the-grim
The next swap is for a win con that streamlines how you win. Syr Konrad, the Grim. The static ability is what it’s here for. This is passive, meaning you can play Syr Konrad and forget about him, while still getting all the triggers.
It's great that it doesn't care how the creature card goes to the graveyard. It also triggers for creatures leaving it. So we get to double dip and get extra triggers when using [[Kotis, Sibsig Champion]] to bring creatures back.
This can also be turned into a full combo with [[Mindcrank]], as this will keep milling your opponents every time a creature gets milled. So with a normal distribution of cards it's likely to be able to keep milling creatures until they are all dead.
OUT: Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/293/jarad-golgari-lich-lord
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord is the one being removed. This can be a large threat, but Sultai Arisien isn't a traditional graveyard deck. It cares more about cards entering and leaving the graveyard. Less so in having a large graveyard. The main reason to use Jarad, is the ability
“{1}{B}{G}, Sacrifice another creature: Each opponent loses life equal to the sacrificed creature's power.”
This allows you to throw your creatures at your opponents for direct damage. While this can chunk your opponents, it also requires 3 mana to activate every time, restricting what else you can do on a turn.
Upgrade 10
IN: Secrets of the Dead
https://scryfall.com/card/dka/48/secrets-of-the-dead
Secrets of the Dead is my final addition. This is extra value for doing what you want to do. Every time you cast with Kotis, it will give you extra card draw. There isn’t anything else to say, but drawing cards is good in Magic.
OUT: The Mycotyrant
https://scryfall.com/card/lci/235/the-mycotyrant
Coming out is The Mycotyrant. I can see this card being good, but it also takes a lot of work to get going. Unlike [[Secrets of the Dead]].
You need it out on the battlefield and then mill yourself. If you manage to do this, the payoff is a number of 1/1 that can’t even block.
While this deck is built to get the most out of the triggers, I think it's a lot of extra work for not the best payoff. If we were using the token synergies then I can see this staying, but as we are on the Kotis plan I am cutting it.
Final Thoughts
Sultai Arisen has a lot of good cards packed into it. While I do think the alternative commander [[Teval, the Balanced Scale]] is the stronger of the two, I think the deck isn't built to fully support it.
Going for a rebuild with Teval as the commander will make a strong deck. [[Kotis, Sibsig Champion]] as commander gives us some interesting options to use, while also providing an ever growing body to protect or get in damage.
The deck has some solid reprints in it such as [[Dauthi Voidwalker]] and [[Life from the Loam]]. So the value of the deck isn’t bad as a pick up.
I think it needs a bit more than my 10 upgrades and probably a couple of non budget options, like I have shown below, to truly reach its potential. But when it does you have a strong deck. One where your creatures are going to be a pain to deal with.
That's it for this blog. Until next time, good luck and have fun.
PS. The budget upgrades were valued below 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/usg/149/planar-void
https://scryfall.com/card/thb/229/uro-titan-of-natures-wrath
https://scryfall.com/card/inr/238/the-gitrog-monster
https://scryfall.com/card/vow/132/toxrill-the-corrosive
https://scryfall.com/card/snc/46/ledger-shredder
https://scryfall.com/card/mor/124/gilt-leaf-archdruid
https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/146/birthing-ritual
https://scryfall.com/card/inr/202/hermit-druid
https://scryfall.com/card/ody/267/seton-krosan-protector
https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/199/psychic-frog
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