Many many years ago, when I was still young and the sun burned slightly less red, I was tasked with hosting a great banquet to celebrate the lord of the house's return from war. It was to be a grand celebration full of festivities, laughter, and joy. All of our lord's family and friends from near and far were slated to attend and no expense was to be spared. Dancers from Milan, singers from Venice, chefs all the way from Syracuse came for this momentous occasion. We had magicians, fire eaters, and acrobats, lion tamers and sword-swallowers too! We shipped in wines, cheeses, ales, meats, cakes, fruits, vegetables, and other foods from all around Europe and beyond. But when the day for the banquet finally came, we still weren't prepared.

The new **Prepared** mechanic in Magic the Gathering's **Secrets of Strixhaven** (SOS) is one of the most exciting and fresh innovations in card design in recent memory. Reminiscent to mechanics like Omen and Adventure, the prepared ability gives a player more options and more spells per card in their deck. To celebrate SOS and to explore these new Prepared cards, I felt like it would be fun to sort them into a tier list.

## Metrics for Determining Good vs Bad

There are four questions to ask when ranking Prepared spells:

1. How good is the creature?
2. How good is the prepared spell?
3. How easy is it to prepare the spell?
4. How hard is it to re-prepare the spell?

Depending on how well a card ranks in those four categories will determine how good the card actually is. I personally view these cards from a commander player's perspective and this is, of course, my opinion. So if you have any cards you think are better or worse than I ranked them, please let me know in the comments below. This ranking list includes all of the prepared creatures in both the main set and the commander decks for Secrets of Strixhaven.

Now, without further ado, let's commence with the ranking from worst to best!

## F Tier

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-76,MTG-SOS-72,MTG-SOS-19" />

Cards like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-76" title="Cheerful Osteomancer" />, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-72" title="Adventurous Eater" />, and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-19" title="Honorbound Page" /> are cards that fall into the draft chaff category. They are under-statted creatures, with weak cantrips, and can only be re-prepared by flickering them. The only plus side is they are prepared when they enter, but in this case their one use spells might only be useful in draft or maybe pauper.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-56,MTG-SOS-131" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-56" title="Landscape Painter" /> and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-131" title="Strife Scholar" /> fall into this category for similar reasons but might be even worse than the previous two because their prepared spells cost so much mana.

## D Tier

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-152,MTG-SOS-68,MTG-SOS-98,MTG-SOS-40,MTG-SOS-122" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-152" title="Infirmary Healer" /> almost made it into F tier, but it passes the stat test and Stream of Life can be useful late-game. It's not great, but could have some use in a low power deck. It could even be an alright addition to a cat deck if one is looking for half decent cats. Similarly, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-68" title="Spellbook Seeker" /> could function alright in a bird deck. Having the option to loot two cards for one mana is a good one to have.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-98" title="Scathing Shadelock" /> barely passes the stat test and its ability to re-prepare easily is nice, however, if this were a 7/6 with deathtouch for six mana, one wouldn't have to keep paying <BlogMana text="{1}" /> every turn to buff it. Further, if Venomous Words was an instant, the card would be much more nuanced and useful. There can be some niches where this card is good but it isn't quite strong enough to be in C tier.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-40" title="Campus Composer" /> costs too much mana for what you get and so does its sorcery Aqueous Aria.

The final D tier card is <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-122" title="Maelstrom Artisan" />. It's a weak creature with haste that immediately puts a target on you in commander. If you want to commit land destruction, there are more effective cards out there, and in casual commander this mines too much salt to be worth it.

## C Tier

This is the tier for cards that are still not great, but still not terrible.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-12,MTG-SOS-109,MTG-SOS-117" />

First up, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-12" title="Elite Interceptor" /> is low enough mana, for an overstated body, that has an ok tap/card draw spell. Probably not fantastic in commander but it could be ok in some human decks. It's a somewhat better version of Thraben Inspector too so any deck that runs that card might like this card as well.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-109" title="Blazing Firesinger" /> is not a good creature, and in spite of it not being able to be re-prepared, it has a really good spell stapled to it. Seething Song is a fantastic impulse ramp spell in a color that doesn't have great options for ramp. Six mana total to get a 2/3 and five mana back isn't too bad. Plus, if you find a way to copy Seething Song, suddenly this becomes absolutely worth it.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-117" title="Goblin Glasswright" /> is here for similar reasons as Blazing Firesinger. Red ramp is good. The creature isn't terrible. If it were any better it'd be in a higher tier.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-126,MTG-SOS-46,MTG-SOS-88" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-126" title="Pigment Wrangler" /> has a good spell stapled to it, especially in a spell-slinger set. Plus a 4/4 with flying for five mana isn't terrible either. This could be alright in some commander decks. I would rank this one higher but it takes too much mana to get this to do something cool. If Pigment Wrangler cost less mana for a slightly worse creature, the card would be much better.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-46" title="Encouraging Aviator" /> is easy to re-prepare and granting evasion can be useful. This might go well in a Choco, Seeker of Paradise deck, because it could give chocobos flying. It just isn't very powerful though.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-88" title="Leech Collector" /> is also easy to re-prepare, and slowly draining the board for one mana isn't terrible either. This card isn't strong but it seems somewhat usable.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-170,MTG-SOS-237" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-170" title="Abigale, Poet Laureate" /> can be prepared easily but her spell isn't great for what you pay for it. This could be interesting to build around but I don't think it is very strong. Two mana for her prepared spell is a bit too steep for what it gives. The final C tier card on this list is <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-237" title="Tam, Observant Sequencer" />. Like the previous three, Tam can be easily re-prepared. She also has an alright spell. This seems like a fun pauper commander but in traditional commander, there are so many more explosive cards in Simic.

## B Tier

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-223,MTG-SOS-198,MTG-SOS-199" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-223" title="Sanar, Unfinished Genius" /> is a two mana Izzet commander that can easily make treasure tokens. If there's one thing that commander players learn quickly, it's that you can't trust an Izzet player with mana. Sanar also has a tutor attached to him. This card is a functional commander on its own and it could also work well in the 99 of a spell-slinger deck.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-198" title="Kirol, History Buff" /> is over-statted, easy to prepare, and has a spell that works well for a voltron strat. This card seems like it could be a fun and unique commander to build around as well. It's not the best commander but it looks like an enjoyable commander that most people probably won't run.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-199" title="Lluwen, Exchange Student" /> is primarily in B tier because of the ability to exile a card from your graveyard. This ability has a healthy amount of combo potential. Commanders like Tormod, the Desecrator and Teval, the Balanced Scale love cards like this. Lluwen's spell is passable but the ability to exile as many selective cards from your graveyard at sorcery speed is superb in the right deck.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-33,MTG-SOC-18,MTG-SOC-50" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-33" title="Spiritcall Enthusiast" /> is perfect for a cat deck. It's easy to prepare if you make tokens and its spell is good for strategies that just want to hit people in the faces. Overall a good card for the 99 with passable stats.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-18" title="Dirgur Focusmage" /> has a great passive ability of reducing the cost of instants and sorceries. It has a good spell attached to it. Plus, it's not too hard to prepare. This is a solid card to slot into any spellslinger deck that can fit it.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-50" title="Striding Shotcaller" /> is great for counters decks. The opportunity to grant repeated evasion for your big creatures can be very strong in decks that care about counters. The biggest downside to this card is it is quite dependent on you having a board state to make use of it. This might enable wins but it doesn't win on its own.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-23,MTG-SOC-29,MTG-SOS-85" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-23" title="Joined Researchers" /> shine particularly in pods of three or more. Having Secret Rendezvous on a stick can be a solid way to politic your way into having friends at the commander table. Plus a 2/2 for two with first strike isn't bad at all.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-29" title="Stensian Sanguinist" /> might be a little tricky at times to prepare but the ability to just give deathtouch to a creature can be very strong. The Exsanguinate stapled to it is definitely a late game option so it can be awkward getting this out turn two but it is a solid spell if you have the mana for it.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-85" title="Grave Researcher" /> would be higher on this list if it entered prepared. The fact that you have to wait until your upkeep to prepare such a powerful spell means this will be a target. If you get the ability to cast Reanimate, it will likely be worth it, but you might be better off just running spells like Zombify in certain games. Grave Researcher is still really good, just not quite A tier.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOC-49,MTG-SOS-145" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-49" title="Lorehold Archivist" /> is not hard to prepare and re-prepare, it has good stats for a first striker, and its spell is super cool. For a Boros deck that has any graveyard focus, this card is superb. This is in B tier for the same reasons the previous card is. Admittedly, Grave Researcher is better than Lorehold Archivist, but it might not be the removal magnet that Grave Researcher is simply because of how powerful Reanimate is.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-145" title="Emeritus of Abundance" /> is unfortunately not in A tier because Regrowth isn't super useful and having to attack while having many lands already basically means this card is only good mid to late game, depending on how well you've ramped. It has good stats and can be re-prepared but doesn't seem super great. Honestly, this one might be closer to B tier but it can be strong in certain situations. If this card even had a spell like Giant Growth, it would have been so much more.

## A Tier

This is the most populated tier in this list. So many wonderful and versatile cards were created to debut the Prepared mechanic in Secrets of Strixhaven.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-113,MTG-SOS-13" />

First up, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-113" title="Emeritus of Conflict" /> and <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-13" title="Emeritus of Truce" /> are all good cards with good stats and classic spells. If Emeritus of Conflict was easier to prepare, it would be ranked higher. This goes in a spell slinger deck but it seems more niche than any of the other emeriti. Emeritus of Truce comes with one of the best removal spells in the game. If it was easier to re-prepare other than by flickering it, then this would be ranked higher as well.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-322,MTG-SOC-48,MTG-SOC-45" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-322" title="Skycoach Conductor" /> is perfect for flicker decks. It cannot flicker itself, but anything that flickers creatures when it enters will immediately re-prepare this. Plus, always being able to flicker a creature at instant speed can be a very powerful option to have. Because this one specially goes in flicker decks, this is the only one that enters prepared that I would classify as easy to re-prepare.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-48" title="Inspired Skypainter" /> is a 2/2 for two mana with flying. Its spell is a solid way to copy creatures and is easy to re-prepare. Also, because it can target itself, if you find a way to get infinite mana in Izzet, you could make infinite copies of itself with haste. Overall a stellar card.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-45" title="Defacing Duskmage" /> is a good boy who makes for a great blocker. The fact that his spell hurts everyone and draws you cards all while being fairly easy to prepare solidifies this dapper doggo as an A tier friend!

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOC-94,MTG-SOS-52,MTG-SOS-55" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-94" title="Eccentric Pestfinder" /> is a 5/5 with trample for four mana. His spell isn't the best but it is a nice option. It's also a spell that becomes prepared whenever you gain life, so it's not really hard to prepare in Golgari colors. It's basically an S tier creature with a B tier spell so this one averages out to A tier.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-52" title="Harmonized Trio" /> is nice to have in any deck that makes tokens and runs blue. It's also a merfolk so putting this in a merfolk specific deck could also work really well. Being able to recast Brainstorm is a nice little card draw engine. Further, any deck that cares about card draw triggers would love to include this card in the 99.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-55" title="Jadzi, Steward of Fate" /> would make for an alright commander if you could get the mana to make her Oracle's Gift really pop off. Jadzi is hard to re-prepare but if you cast her prepared spell for a lot of mana, she alone could build you a huge army. I prefer her in the 99 but she would be an interesting commander to build around. Her ETB looting is also nice but I don't think it matters too much in the strategies that would build around Jadzi. If I were to build around her, the deck would be about ramping to afford a big version of Jadzi's spell.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-27,MTG-SOS-329,MTG-SOC-44" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-27" title="Quill-Blade Laureate" /> is a more humble spell than Jadzi. Honestly, a creature with doublestrike that can give another creature doublestrike is great to have. If it could be re-prepared it would likely rank higher but overall, for the mana you pay, it is a good card.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-329" title="Scheming Silvertongue" /> is fantastic. The fact that it can contribute to its own preparing is wonderful. Sign in Blood is a classic spell and it goes in any deck that runs a healthy amount of swamps. Being able to recur Sign in Blood is so good and all you really have to do is keep gaining that two life back.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-44" title="Yavimaya Bloomsage" /> has Channel stapled to it. The only reason this isn't in S tier is because preparing it might take some effort and mana. If this came in prepared it would be a different story. Channel is very strong and could easily make this creature a target for removal. The free +1/+1 counter at your end step is a nice bonus though. I'm glad this exists but it likely won't be breaking games because of how much effort and time it takes to get Channel online.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-166,MTG-SOS-162" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-166" title="Vastlands Scavenger" /> is over-statted for what you pay for it plus it has a green reanimation spell attached to it. The only reason this isn't in S tier is it is hard to re-prepare but beyond that it has everything you want in a prepared card.

The final A tier prepared creature is quite obviously, <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-162" title="Studious First-Year" />. Does it have good stats? Not really. Can it be re-prepared? Not easily. But is it a bear that can ramp? Yes. Now by my own metrics this should be closer to C or B tier but I love this bear and this is my list so Studious First-Year is clearly A tier. The only reason it isn't in S tier is it isn't a 2/2 bear... but I guess you can't win 'em all.

## S Tier

Naturally, this is where the best of the best reside. Everything about these cards just work.

### <BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-13" size="lg" />

Our first S tier selection is <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-13" title="Eiganjo Dynastorian" />. As a creature itself, it is nothing super special, but having a Replenish that can also be recurred is just so strong. It is not hard to prepare and re-prepare and any enchantment heavy deck would love to slot this in.

### <BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-33" size="lg" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-33" title="Naktamun Lorespinner" /> is a reusable Wheel of Fortune on a 3/3 Jackal Wizard. If you burn through cards quickly, this is very easy to keep re-preparing too. This goes in decks with a lot of low CMC spells and wants to cast all of them fast.

### <BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-80" size="lg" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-80" title="Emeritus of Woe" /> enters prepared and isn't hard to re-prepare. Getting the ability to recur Demonic Tutor of all things will likely get this thing killed but it is just so strong if you get it to work. Also the creature is only four mana for a 5/4 so that's fairly solid.

### <BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-45" size="lg" />

Our final S tier pick among prepared cards is <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-45" title="Emeritus of Ideation" />. This one was spoiled early because one of the Power Nine is printed on it. **Ancestral Recall** is an outstanding draw spell. Because this creature enters prepared and can be re-prepared by exiling cards from your graveyard, this Emeritus is just so strong. All of that and it is a flying 5/5 with ward two, of course it is S tier. It's not as good as just Ancestral Recall but I do love the creativity and the work around to get one of the Power Nine back into current Magic. This card doesn't seem strong enough to need to be banned, all while being fantastic in commander.

## The Full Tier List

<BlogTierList
 S="MTG-SOC-13,MTG-SOC-33,MTG-SOS-80,MTG-SOS-45"
 A="MTG-SOS-113,MTG-SOS-13,MTG-SOS-322,MTG-SOC-48,MTG-SOC-45,MTG-SOC-94,MTG-SOS-52,MTG-SOS-55,MTG-SOS-27,MTG-SOS-329,MTG-SOC-44,MTG-SOS-166,MTG-SOS-162"
 B="MTG-SOS-223,MTG-SOS-198,MTG-SOS-199,MTG-SOS-33,MTG-SOC-18,MTG-SOC-50,MTG-SOS-23,MTG-SOC-29,MTG-SOS-85,MTG-SOC-49,MTG-SOS-145"
 C="MTG-SOS-12,MTG-SOS-109,MTG-SOS-117,MTG-SOS-126,MTG-SOS-46,MTG-SOS-88,MTG-SOS-170,MTG-SOS-237"
 D="MTG-SOS-152,MTG-SOS-68,MTG-SOS-98,MTG-SOS-40,MTG-SOS-122"
 F="MTG-SOS-76,MTG-SOS-72,MTG-SOS-19,MTG-SOS-56,MTG-SOS-131"
/>

If you made it this far, thank you for your continued support of ManyTCG. We really appreciate you being here. If you have any thoughts on this list, please share them in the comments. Did I rank something too harshly or too leniently? Do you now feel more **prepared** to build decks around Secrets of Strixhaven cards? Do the trolls in Strixhaven have a hard time eating with those obnoxious tusks in the way? Please tell me; I need to know.

Ranking Every Prepared Card in Secrets of Strixhaven: A Tier List

## Free Spells Forever — No, Seriously

Imagine this: you cast a single spell, and for the rest of the game, you get a free copy of it every single turn. No extra mana. No conditions. Just value, dripping from the sky, turn after turn, until someone scoops or the game ends.

That's **Paradigm**, the marquee new mechanic from Secrets of Strixhaven, and it sounds absolutely busted — because, well, it kind of is. But here's the twist: Magic already tried this exact idea twenty-one years ago. It was called **Epic**, and it was one of the worst mechanics the game has ever printed.

So what changed? Everything that mattered.

## A Brief History of Terrible Ideas

Let's rewind to 2005. Saviors of Kamigawa — the third set in the original Kamigawa block and widely regarded as one of Magic's weakest expansions — introduced a cycle of five mythic-feeling rares (before mythic rarity even existed) with the keyword **Epic**.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOK-9,MTG-SOK-119,MTG-SOK-129" />

The pitch was compelling: cast one of these spells, and you get a free copy at the beginning of every upkeep for the rest of the game. Sounds incredible, right?

Here's the catch. The full rules text of Epic reads:

> _"For the rest of the game, you can't cast spells. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, copy this spell except for its epic ability."_

Read that first sentence again. **For the rest of the game, you can't cast spells.**

Not "you can't cast other sorceries." Not "you skip your draw step." You literally cannot cast another spell for the remainder of the game. No removal. No answers. No combat tricks. Nothing. You lock yourself into a single repeating effect and pray it's enough.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOK-83,MTG-PLST-SOK-36" />

In a talk at MagicCon: Vegas in 2024, head designer Mark Rosewater ranked Epic as the **8th worst mechanic** in Magic's entire history. The idea of "what if a spell was so powerful it was the last thing you ever cast" was genuinely interesting as a design question. But in practice, voluntarily giving up the ability to interact with the game is a terrible deal in almost every scenario.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOK-9" title="Enduring Ideal" /> was the only one that saw real competitive play, and even that required building your entire deck around it with cards like <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOK-9" title="Enduring Ideal" /> tutoring up a prison lock of enchantments. The other four? Bulk bin legends.

## Enter Paradigm: Epic Without the Self-Destruct Button

Fast forward to April 2026. Secrets of Strixhaven introduces **Paradigm** — and if you squint, it looks a lot like Epic. A cycle of five mythic sorceries, one in each color, each with a repeating effect that triggers every turn.

But Wizards learned their lesson. Here's how Paradigm actually works:

> _"Then exile this spell. After you first resolve a spell with this name, you may cast a copy of it from exile without paying its mana cost at the beginning of each of your first main phases."_

Three critical differences from Epic:

1. **You can still cast spells.** This is the big one. Paradigm doesn't lock you out of anything. You just... get a free spell on top of whatever else you're doing.
2. **It's a "may" ability.** Don't want to cast it this turn? Skip it. Epic forced the copy whether you wanted it or not.
3. **It triggers on your first main phase, not upkeep.** This means you can sequence it with instants or other abilities allowing for more flexibility.

In other words, Paradigm keeps everything that made Epic conceptually exciting — the fantasy of a spell so powerful it echoes through the rest of the game — and removes the one thing that made it unplayable.

## The Paradigm Five

All five Paradigm cards are mythic rare sorceries with the **Lesson** subtype. Let's break them down.

### Improvisation Capstone

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-120" size="lg" />
 

**The Splashiest One.** At seven mana, Improvisation Capstone exiles cards from the top of your library until you hit a total mana value of 4 or more, then lets you cast any of those spells for free. Every turn. Forever.

This is a repeatable Cascade effect without the restriction of "costs less than this spell." You could flip into a board wipe, a planeswalker, and a mana rock — all in one trigger. The variance is real, but the ceiling is astronomical. In Commander, where your deck is packed with powerful spells, this card is going to end games.

### Decorum Dissertation

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-292" size="lg" />
 

**The Quiet Monster.** Five mana to draw two cards and drain 2 life, then repeat it for free every turn. That's a **Phyrexian Arena that draws two** — and it can target any player, including your opponents in a pinch.

This is the Paradigm card that doesn't look scary until you've been sitting across from it for four turns and your opponent is up eight cards while you're down 8 life. In Commander, this is an auto-include in any black deck that can resolve it.

### Germination Practicum

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-149" size="lg" />
 

**The Snowball.** Five mana to put two +1/+1 counters on every creature you control. Then do it again next turn. And the turn after that.

In a go-wide deck, this is absolutely ridiculous. Three turns after casting this, every creature you control has +6/+6 in counters. Token decks, Elf decks, Selesnya armies — anything that puts bodies on the board turns this card into a ticking clock that your opponents have to answer immediately or lose.

### Restoration Seminar

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-290" size="lg" />
 

**The Inevitability Engine.** Seven mana to reanimate any nonland permanent from your graveyard, repeating every turn. This isn't just creatures — it's planeswalkers, artifacts, enchantments. Anything.

Destroyed your best permanent? It's back next turn. And the turn after that. And forever. In a deck with self-mill and a stacked graveyard, Restoration Seminar means your opponents can never permanently deal with your threats. It's the white Paradigm card, and it might be the most fundamentally powerful of the five.

### Echocasting Symposium

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-291" size="lg" />
 

**The Clone Factory.** Six mana to create a token copy of a creature you control, then do it again every turn. With the right target — say, a creature with a powerful ETB — this becomes an engine that churns out value indefinitely.

Copy your <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-291" title="Echocasting Symposium" />'s best creature every turn. Clone your opponents' threats by copying your own clones. In a blink or ETB-focused Commander deck, this card is going to generate absurd amounts of value.

## Why the Lesson Subtype Matters

Here's a detail that's easy to miss: all five Paradigm cards are **Lessons**. That's the subtype from the original Strixhaven that gets tutored by cards with the **Learn** keyword.

This means any card with Learn — from the original Strixhaven set — can fetch a Paradigm card from your sideboard in formats where that's legal, or from outside the game in casual Commander. Cards like Pop Quiz, Igneous Inspiration, and Professor of Symbology suddenly have a much more powerful ceiling when they're fetching a repeatable free spell instead of a one-shot lesson.

It's a subtle connection between the two Strixhaven sets, and it gives Paradigm cards utility that goes beyond just hardcasting them.

## The Cast-From-Exile Connection

Here's where Paradigm gets truly degenerate. The Paradigm trigger has you **cast a copy from exile**. That's not just flavor text — that's a rules-relevant distinction that matters for a whole category of cards that trigger when you cast spells from exile.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-HBG-186,MTG-CLB-641,MTG-SLD-2496" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-HBG-186" title="Nalfeshnee" /> is the big one. This demon reads: "Whenever you cast a spell from exile, **copy it**." That means every Paradigm trigger is now doubled. Your free Improvisation Capstone? You get two of them. Your free Restoration Seminar? Two reanimation triggers. Every single turn.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-641" title="Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald" /> creates a 2/2 Wolf token whenever you cast a spell from exile. So your free Paradigm cast every turn comes with a free Wolf. It's not flashy, but it's consistent — and consistency wins Commander games.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SLD-2496" title="Prosper, Tome-Bound" /> creates a Treasure token whenever you cast a spell from exile. Free mana every turn on top of your free spell? Prosper was already one of the most popular commanders in the format, and Paradigm gives him even more fuel.

### More Cast-From-Exile Payoffs

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-AFC-305,MTG-CLB-633" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-AFC-305" title="Wild-Magic Sorcerer" /> gives the first spell you cast from exile each turn **Cascade**. So your free Paradigm spell cascades into another free spell. It's free spells all the way down.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-CLB-633" title="Passionate Archaeologist" /> makes your commander deal damage equal to the mana value of any spell you cast from exile. With a 5-7 mana Paradigm card triggering every turn, that's a steady clock that adds up fast.

## Copy the Trigger, Not the Spell

One more rules interaction worth knowing: the Paradigm ability creates a **triggered ability** at the beginning of your first main phase. That means cards that copy triggered abilities can double your Paradigm.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-M14-224,MTG-NCC-383" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-M14-224" title="Strionic Resonator" /> can copy the Paradigm trigger for just 2 mana, giving you two free copies of the spell that turn. If you're resolving Improvisation Capstone twice per turn for free... yeah, that game isn't going long.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-NCC-383" title="Twinning Staff" /> copies the first spell you copy each turn. Since Paradigm creates a copy, Twinning Staff gives you a second one for free. Two Restoration Seminars per turn with zero mana investment is the kind of value that makes Commander players weep.

## Paradigm vs. Epic: The Final Report Card

| | Epic (2005) | Paradigm (2026) |
| ------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Free spell every turn** | Yes | Yes |
| **Can still cast other spells** | No | Yes |
| **Optional** | No | Yes |
| **Timing** | Upkeep | First main phase |
| **Subtype synergy** | None | Lesson |
| **Cast-from-exile synergy** | No (copies, not casts) | Yes (casts from exile) |
| **Playable** | 1 out of 5 | Probably 5 out of 5 |

Epic asked a fascinating question and gave a terrible answer. Paradigm asks the same question — _what if a spell echoed forever?_ — and actually delivers on the fantasy.

Twenty-one years later, the glow-up is complete.

## Which Paradigm Card Should You Chase?

If you're cracking Secrets of Strixhaven packs, here's our quick take:

- **Best in Commander:** Restoration Seminar and Improvisation Capstone. Repeatable reanimation and free cascades are the definition of Commander value.
- **Most Underrated:** Decorum Dissertation. Double Phyrexian Arena every turn is quietly one of the best draw engines in black.
- **Most Fun:** Echocasting Symposium. Clone shenanigans are always entertaining, and doing it for free every turn is hilarious.
- **Best in 60-Card Formats:** Germination Practicum has the most potential in aggressive Standard and Pioneer decks that can go wide early.

## The Lesson Learned

It took Wizards twenty-one years, one of Mark Rosewater's "worst mechanics" admissions, and a return trip to Magic's most beloved university — but they finally cracked the code on repeatable free spells.

Paradigm is everything Epic wanted to be: a mechanic that makes you feel like you've cast the most important spell of the game, without punishing you for doing it. If you're building any Commander deck that touches these colors, at least one Paradigm card deserves a slot.

The real question is: how long until someone puts all five in the same deck?

Tell us which Paradigm card you're most excited to build around in the comments below!

Paradigm Is the Glow-Up Epic Deserved: Magic's Worst Mechanic Gets a Second Chance

## The Best Commander Precons Wizards Has Ever Made?

**Secrets of Strixhaven** releases on April 24th, 2026, and alongside the main set, Wizards is dropping five Commander precon decks - one for each Strixhaven college. These aren't your typical precons stuffed with draft chaff. Every single deck is packed with high-value reprints, powerful new commanders, and genuinely interesting strategies right out of the box.

The total estimated value across all five decks is over **$850**, with the cheapest deck still clocking in around $134. At $49.99 MSRP each, the math speaks for itself. Let's break down every deck so you can figure out which ones deserve a spot in your collection.

## 1. Silverquill Influence (White/Black) - ~$214 Estimated Value

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-4" size="lg" />
 

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-4" title="Killian, Decisive Mentor" />** leads the Silverquill precon with an enchantment-based control strategy that's unlike anything we've seen in a precon before. When enchantments enter the battlefield under your control, Killian goads target creature - forcing your opponents to attack each other while you build your board. When those enchanted creatures swing, you draw cards. It's a brilliant mix of pillowfort and politics.

**Alternate Commander:** <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-9" title="Scriv, the Obligator" /> takes the political angle even further, letting you tax opponents for attacking you while rewarding you for enchanting their creatures.

**Key Reprints:**
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-153" title="Land Tax" /> - The $40+ enchantment that ensures you never miss a land drop. Reprinting this in a precon is absurd value.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-316" title="Inkshield" /> - The Strixhaven original that turns a big attack into an army of Inklings. Still a Commander staple.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-298" title="Breena, the Demagogue" /> - Another Silverquill legend that draws cards and grows your creatures when opponents attack each other.

This deck's $214 estimated value is the highest of the five, and that's largely thanks to Land Tax and a deep roster of Orzhov staples. If you buy only one deck, this is the one.

<BlogProductCard title="Silverquill Influence Commander Deck" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/7/6/76b6c35a-bb92-4ad3-8f85-88b9bafc6266.jpg?1775939632" description="Enchantment-based goad and control led by Killian, Decisive Mentor. Includes premium reprints like Land Tax, Inkshield, and Breena, the Demagogue. The highest value precon in the set." link="https://amzn.to/4cwpKyu" />

## 2. Prismari Artistry (Blue/Red) - ~$165 Estimated Value

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-8" size="lg" />
 

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-8" title="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" />** rewards you for casting big instants and sorceries by creating X/X Elemental tokens with flying and haste, where X equals the mana value of the biggest spell you cast that turn. Drop a 7-mana haymaker and get a 7/7 flyer for free. Every. Turn.

**Alternate Commander:** <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-5" title="Muddle, the Ever-Changing" /> is a shapeshifter that copies the best creature on the battlefield whenever you cast an instant or sorcery. In a spell-heavy deck, you're constantly cloning threats.

**Key Reprints:**
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-114" title="Faerie Mastermind" /> - The flash flyer that draws you cards whenever opponents draw extra cards. A multi-format all-star.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-245" title="Goldspan Dragon" /> - The treasure-generating dragon that dominated Standard. Still one of the best 5-drops in Commander.

The Izzet spellslinger archetype is always popular, and Rootha gives it a fresh angle by converting your big spells into a massive aerial army.

<BlogProductCard title="Prismari Artistry Commander Deck" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/a/5/a5b3dbb2-c090-4118-9e47-56c16202572c.jpg?1775939664" description="Big spells meet big tokens with Rootha at the helm. Cast powerful instants and sorceries to create matching Elemental tokens with flying and haste. Includes Faerie Mastermind and Goldspan Dragon." link="https://amzn.to/3OrpM2i" />

## 3. Witherbloom Pestilence (Black/Green) - ~$134 Estimated Value

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-1" size="lg" />
 

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-1" title="Dina, Essence Brewer" />** is an aristocrats commander with a counters twist. She draws cards when you sacrifice creatures and can sacrifice creatures herself to gain life and distribute +1/+1 counters. The sacrifice-to-grow loop gives Witherbloom a uniquely aggressive angle on a typically grindy archetype.

**Alternate Commander:** <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-3" title="Gorma, the Gullet" /> goes all-in on the sacrifice theme, growing larger every time a creature dies and threatening to one-shot opponents with commander damage.

**Key Reprints:**
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-294" title="Assassin's Trophy" /> - The best removal spell in Golgari. Hits anything for just two mana.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-210" title="Bloodghast" /> - The recursive vampire that comes back from the graveyard every time you play a land. Perfect sacrifice fodder.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-233" title="Zulaport Cutthroat" /> - The classic drain effect that punishes opponents every time one of your creatures dies.

While this deck has the lowest estimated value of the five, $134 for a $50 deck is still exceptional, and the synergies are tight enough that it plays well right out of the box.

<BlogProductCard title="Witherbloom Pestilence Commander Deck" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/9/f/9fe237b8-c02c-41ea-9fc4-b771b91d2157.jpg?1775939611" description="Classic aristocrats strategy with a +1/+1 counters twist, led by Dina, Essence Brewer. Sacrifice creatures for value while growing your board. Packed with staples like Assassin's Trophy, Bloodghast, and Zulaport Cutthroat." link="https://amzn.to/4mpypqK" />

## 4. Lorehold Spirit (White/Red) - ~$189 Estimated Value

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-7" size="lg" />
 

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-7" title="Quintorius, History Chaser" />** is the headliner of this set's precons - he's a **planeswalker that can be your commander**. Yes, a planeswalker commander in a precon. His +1 creates 3/2 Spirit tokens whenever cards leave your graveyard, and his -4 gives all your Spirits double strike and vigilance for the turn. The graveyard-matters theme in Boros is still relatively fresh territory, and Quintorius nails it.

**Alternate Commander:** <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-2" title="Excava, the Risen Past" /> doubles down on the graveyard theme, reanimating artifacts and small creatures from your graveyard whenever Spirits enter the battlefield.

**Key Reprints:**
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-345" title="Currency Converter" /> - The artifact that dominated multiple formats. Turns your discards into treasure and provides card filtering.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-110" title="Moonshaker Cavalry" /> - The mythic finisher that gives all your creatures flying and a massive power boost. Game-ending with a board full of Spirits.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-368" title="Emeria, the Sky Ruin" /> - A land that reanimates creatures for free once you have seven or more Plains. Free value every turn.

The planeswalker commander angle alone makes this deck a collector's item, and the $189 value ensures you're getting your money's worth on top of that.

<BlogProductCard title="Lorehold Spirit Commander Deck" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/0/7/0742f19d-179c-43c4-ab95-4160c56b4384.jpg?1775939656" description="Features a planeswalker commander in Quintorius, History Chaser - a first for precon decks. Build a Spirit army from your graveyard and overwhelm opponents. Includes Currency Converter, Moonshaker Cavalry, and Emeria, the Sky Ruin." link="https://amzn.to/4dH8Krm" />

## 5. Quandrix Unlimited (Blue/Green) - ~$150 Estimated Value

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOC-10" size="lg" />
 

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-10" title="Zimone, Infinite Analyst" />** is a snowball engine. She reduces the cost of your X-spells by the number of counters on her, and she gains counters whenever you cast X-spells. Cast a few cheap X-spells early, and before long Zimone is making your Hydras and card-draw spells practically free. The feedback loop is addictive.

**Alternate Commander:** <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-6" title="Primo, the Unbounded" /> takes a different angle, growing massive whenever you put counters on other creatures and trampling over anything in his way.

**Key Reprints:**
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-126" title="Unbound Flourishing" /> - Doubles your X-spells. In a Zimone deck, this is absolutely backbreaking.
- <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-272" title="Hardened Scales" /> - The one-mana enchantment that makes every +1/+1 counter twice as effective. A perfect fit for the deck's strategy.

Simic X-spell decks have always been fun, and Zimone gives the archetype a commander that actually gets cheaper over time instead of costing more. The deck rewards you for doing what it already wants to do.

<BlogProductCard title="Quandrix Unlimited Commander Deck" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/6/0/605afac4-d2e5-4e68-97d2-3ac2ead5f3a9.jpg?1775939679" description="X-spell snowball engine led by Zimone, Infinite Analyst. Your spells get cheaper as Zimone grows, creating an addictive feedback loop. Includes Unbound Flourishing and Hardened Scales for maximum counter synergy." link="https://amzn.to/424z9Iq" />

## Which Deck Should You Buy?

Here's the quick comparison:

| Deck | Colors | Strategy | Est. Value | Standout Reprint |
|------|--------|----------|-----------|-----------------|
| **Silverquill Influence** | W/B | Enchantment Goad | ~$214 | Land Tax |
| **Lorehold Spirit** | W/R | Graveyard Spirits | ~$189 | Currency Converter |
| **Prismari Artistry** | U/R | Big Spells + Tokens | ~$165 | Faerie Mastermind |
| **Quandrix Unlimited** | U/G | X-Spell Snowball | ~$150 | Unbound Flourishing |
| **Witherbloom Pestilence** | B/G | Aristocrats + Counters | ~$134 | Assassin's Trophy |

**Best for value:** Silverquill Influence, and it's not close. Land Tax alone is worth the price of admission.

**Best for fun:** Lorehold Spirit. A planeswalker commander that makes Spirit tokens from your graveyard? That's the kind of unique gameplay you can't get from other precons.

**Best for upgrading:** Quandrix Unlimited. The X-spell archetype has deep support in Simic, and Zimone's cost-reduction ability scales beautifully with upgrades.

## Grab the Bundle and Save

If you're planning to pick up multiple decks (or all five), the bundle deal saves you about $10 compared to buying them individually.

<BlogProductCard title="Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Bundle (All 5 Decks)" image="https://images.manytcg.com/mtg-images/art_crop/front/7/6/76b6c35a-bb92-4ad3-8f85-88b9bafc6266.jpg?1775939632" description="All five Secrets of Strixhaven Commander precon decks in one bundle. Over $850 in estimated card value across all five decks, with powerful new commanders and premium reprints in every box." link="https://amzn.to/41ySO3b" buttonText="Preorder Bundle on Amazon" />

## Final Thoughts

These Secrets of Strixhaven precons set a new bar for Commander preconstructed decks. Every deck is playable out of the box, packed with staple reprints, and built around commanders that feel genuinely fresh. Whether you're a new player looking for your first Commander deck or a veteran hunting for value reprints, there's something here for everyone.

The decks release on **April 24th, 2026** alongside the main Secrets of Strixhaven set. Preorder prices are already at MSRP or below, so if any of these caught your eye, now is the time to lock in your order before they sell out.

Which precon are you picking up? Let us know in the comments below!

All 5 Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Precons: The Best Value Wizards Has Ever Released

## School Is Back in Session

**Secrets of Strixhaven** drops on April 24th and it's shaping up to be one of the most exciting sets of 2026. The original Strixhaven gave us the beloved Mystical Archive and a university setting brimming with spellslinger energy. This time around, Wizards is cranking the dial to eleven with five Elder Dragons that each hand out absurd keywords, a wild new mechanic called **Prepared**, and a Mystical Archive that includes some of the most powerful spells in Magic's history.

Whether you're a Commander player eyeing the precons, a Standard grinder looking for new tools, or someone who just wants to crack packs at prerelease, let's break down everything that matters.

## The Five Elder Dragons

The headliners of Secrets of Strixhaven are five mythic Elder Dragons, one for each college. Each one grants a powerful keyword to all your instant and sorcery spells. Yes, you read that right. All of them.

### Lorehold, the Historian

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-201" size="lg" />
 

The Boros dragon enters at 5 mana with flying and haste, which is already a solid rate. But the real text is this: **every instant and sorcery in your hand gains Miracle 2**. Draw a <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-14" title="Cyclonic Rift" /> off the top? Miracle it for 2. That's the kind of interaction that makes Commander tables groan. Lorehold also lets you discard a card on each opponent's upkeep, keeping your hand cycling and your miracle triggers live.

### Prismari, the Inspiration

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-212" size="lg" />
 

Seven mana is a lot, but Prismari gives every instant and sorcery you cast **Storm**. Let that sink in. You cast three spells before your removal spell? That removal spell now resolves four times. The ward cost of "pay 5 life" makes opponents think twice about pointing removal at it. If this dragon survives a turn cycle in Commander, the game is probably over.

### Quandrix, the Proof

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-218" size="lg" />
 

The Simic entry costs 6 and arrives with flying, trample, and **Cascade**. But it doesn't stop there — your instant and sorcery spells also gain cascade. Every spell you cast becomes a two-for-one at minimum. Quandrix turns even your cantrips into value engines and is going to be an absolute house in Commander where the card pool is deep enough to make cascade consistently hit gas.

### Silverquill, the Disputant

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-226" size="lg" />
 

The cheapest of the five at just 4 mana, Silverquill gives every instant and sorcery **Casualty 1**. In a deck that creates tokens — and Orzhov is great at that — every spell you cast becomes a free copy. Flying and vigilance mean Silverquill is also a solid attacker and blocker while it fuels your engine. This might quietly be the most constructed-playable of the bunch.

### Witherbloom, the Balancer

<BlogCard cardId="MTG-SOS-245" size="lg" />
 

Eight mana looks intimidating until you read **Affinity for creatures**. In a go-wide Golgari deck, this can easily cost 3 or 4 mana. Flying and deathtouch make it a terrifying blocker and attacker, and giving all your spells affinity for creatures means your removal and card draw become absurdly cheap. In Commander with a board full of tokens, you're casting spells for pennies.

## The Prepared Mechanic

**Prepared** is the marquee new mechanic and it's unlike anything we've seen before. Creatures with Prepared carry a spell on the right half of the card. When the creature _"becomes prepared"_, a copy of that spell appears in exile and you can cast it following normal timing rules. Casting the spell unprepares the creature.

Think of it like a creature that comes with a free spell strapped to its back. Some creatures enter prepared automatically, while others require you to meet a condition first.

### Prepared Cards to Watch

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-325,MTG-SOS-332,MTG-SOS-45" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-325" title="Grave Researcher" /> is one of the most talked-about Prepared cards. It surveil 1's on your upkeep and becomes prepared when you have three or more creatures in the graveyard — letting you cast a free Reanimate effect repeatedly. In any graveyard-focused deck, this card is going to do disgusting things.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-332" title="Emeritus of Conflict" /> is a 2-mana creature with first strike that becomes prepared whenever you cast your third spell each turn. In a spellslinger shell, you're getting a free spell attached to an aggressive body almost every turn.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-45" title="Emeritus of Ideation" /> is the mythic blue entry at 5 mana with flying and ward {2}. It enters prepared and can re-prepare itself by exiling eight cards from your graveyard when it attacks. A repeatable spell engine on a hard-to-remove flyer? Sign me up.

### More Prepared All-Stars

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-55,MTG-SOS-170,MTG-SOS-198" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-55" title="Jadzi, Steward of Fate" /> enters prepared and draws/discards two on entry, giving you both card selection and a spell to cast.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-170" title="Abigale, Poet Laureate" /> is a flying legendary that becomes prepared whenever you cast a creature spell. In a creature-heavy deck, you'll have a steady stream of free spells.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-198" title="Kirol, History Buff" /> becomes prepared whenever cards leave your graveyard, pairing perfectly with flashback and delve effects.

## Beyond Prepared: The Other New Mechanics

Secrets of Strixhaven isn't a one-trick pony. Each college gets its own mechanic alongside the set-wide Prepared.

**Paradigm** is the other headline addition. Sorceries with Paradigm exile themselves on resolution, then let you cast a free copy at the beginning of each of your first main phases going forward. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-294" title="Improvisation Capstone" /> is the mythic Paradigm card that exiles cards from the top of your library and lets you cast them for free... every single turn.

**Opus** (Prismari) triggers whenever you cast an instant or sorcery, with a bonus effect if you spent 5+ mana. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-180" title="Colorstorm Stallion" /> creates a copy of itself when you cast big spells.

**Increment** (Quandrix) puts +1/+1 counters on creatures when you spend more mana than their power/toughness. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-175" title="Berta, Wise Extrapolator" /> adds mana whenever it gets counters and can dump them into a giant X-spell.

**Repartee** (Silverquill) triggers when you target a creature with a spell. <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-348" title="Conciliator's Duelist" /> blinks creatures whenever you aim a spell at something.

**Infusion** (Witherbloom) cares about whether you've gained life this turn. **Flashback** returns for Lorehold. And **Converge** rewards you for casting with multiple colors of mana.

## The Mystical Archive Is Stacked

Just like the original Strixhaven, every Play Booster pack contains a **Mystical Archive** card. This bonus sheet features iconic instants and sorceries with gorgeous new art, and this time the hits are massive.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOA-19,MTG-SOA-35,MTG-SOA-14" />

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-19" title="Force of Will" />** and **<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-35" title="Vampiric Tutor" />** headline the mythic slots. These are two of the most powerful spells in Magic's history and getting them in new Mystical Archive frames is going to be a collector's dream.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOA-18,MTG-SOA-48,MTG-SOA-59" />

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-18" title="Flusterstorm" />** is a multi-format all-star that's always in demand. **<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-48" title="Subterranean Tremors" />** is a red board wipe that scales beautifully. And **<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-59" title="Triumph of the Hordes" />** is the Overrun that ends Commander games on the spot — infect damage doesn't play around.

Each Mystical Archive card also comes in a special Japanese alternate art variant, continuing the tradition that made the original Archive cards some of the most sought-after printings in Magic.

## Commander Precons: Five Decks, Five Strategies

Secrets of Strixhaven features the largest Commander release of the year with five preconstructed decks. Here's the quick rundown.

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOC-7,MTG-SOC-8,MTG-SOC-4,MTG-SOC-10,MTG-SOC-1" />

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-7" title="Quintorius, History Chaser" />** (Boros) is a planeswalker that can be your commander. He creates 3/2 Spirit tokens when cards leave your graveyard and his -4 gives your spirits double strike and vigilance. Graveyard synergies in Boros have never been this smooth.

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-8" title="Rootha, Mastering the Moment" />** (Izzet) creates X/X flying haste Elemental tokens sized to the biggest instant or sorcery you've cast that turn. Cast a 7-mana spell? Here's a 7/7 flyer with haste. Every. Turn.

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-4" title="Killian, Decisive Mentor" />** (Orzhov) goads creatures when enchantments enter and draws cards when enchanted creatures attack. A fresh take on the Auras archetype that plays both offense and defense.

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-10" title="Zimone, Infinite Analyst" />** (Simic) reduces X-spell costs by the number of counters on her, and puts counters on herself when you cast X-spells. The snowball potential is real — she gets cheaper and bigger every turn.

**<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOC-1" title="Dina, Essence Brewer" />** (Golgari) draws cards when you sacrifice creatures and can sacrifice them to gain life and distribute +1/+1 counters. Classic aristocrats with a counters twist.

## Other Cards to Watch

A few more standouts that deserve a mention:

<BlogCards cardIds="MTG-SOS-97,MTG-SOS-214,MTG-SOS-1,MTG-SOS-246" />

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-97" title="Ral Zarek, Guest Lecturer" /> is one of two planeswalkers in the set. At just 3 mana he's efficient, with surveil 2 on his +1, hand disruption on -1, and reanimation on -2. His ultimate? Flip five coins and your opponent skips that many turns. Classic Ral.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-214" title="Professor Dellian Fel" /> is the other planeswalker — a 4-mana Orzhov walker that gains life, draws cards, destroys creatures, and ultimates into "whenever you gain life, target opponent loses that much life." In a lifegain shell, that emblem is game-ending.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-1" title="The Dawning Archaic" /> is a 10-mana mythic Avatar that costs less for each instant/sorcery in your graveyard. When it attacks, you cast a spell from your graveyard for free. In a deck that fills the graveyard quickly, this can come down for 3-4 mana and start casting haymakers immediately.

<BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOS-246" title="Zaffai and the Tempests" /> lets you cast one instant or sorcery from your hand for free each turn. No conditions, no hoops. Just free spells.

## What to Watch for at Prerelease

If you're heading to prerelease on April 24th, here are a few tips:

- **Prepared creatures are two-for-ones.** Prioritize them in Limited — you're getting a body and a spell.
- **Paradigm cards snowball fast.** If your opponent resolves a Paradigm sorcery and you don't have an answer, the free copies every turn will bury you.
- **Increment creatures reward going big.** If you're in Simic, don't be afraid to spend more mana than you need to — your creatures will grow.
- **The Mystical Archive cards are real.** Unlike some bonus sheets, these are playable in Limited. Getting a <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-14" title="Cyclonic Rift" display="inline flow-root" /> or <BlogCardLink cardId="MTG-SOA-59" title="Triumph of the Hordes" display="inline flow-root" /> in your sealed pool is going to feel incredible.

## Final Thoughts

Secrets of Strixhaven is doing something bold. Instead of playing it safe with a nostalgia trip, it's building on the original set's identity and pushing spellslinger themes into genuinely new territory. The Elder Dragons each granting a keyword to all your spells is the kind of design that makes you want to immediately start brewing. The Prepared mechanic is elegant and flavorful. And the Mystical Archive is as good as it's ever been.

Whether you're building a Prismari Storm Commander deck or just cracking packs for those Mystical Archive pulls, April 24th can't come soon enough.

Tell us which Elder Dragon you're most excited to build around in the comments below!

Browse Blog Posts

Ranking Every Prepared Card in Secrets of Strixhaven: A Tier List

Paradigm Is the Glow-Up Epic Deserved: Magic's Worst Mechanic Gets a Second Chance

All 5 Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Precons: The Best Value Wizards Has Ever Released

School Is Back in Session: Everything You Need to Know About Secrets of Strixhaven