Magic: The Gathering's return to Strixhaven brings five new Commander preconstructed decks, each designed around one of the game's in-game colleges. The quality across the board is notably strong, but some rise above the rest.
Each deck ships with identical physical components: a 100-card deck, cardboard deckbox, and strategy insert. Notably absent is the Collector Booster sample that came in earlier precon releases.
Starting at the bottom, Prismari Artistry attempts a Red/Blue spellslinger approach that transforms your biggest spells into Elemental token creatures. The concept isn't particularly fresh, and the deck leans heavily on its Commander, Rootha, to function properly. Without it, the engine sputters. Still, specific cards in the list merit attention for those interested in upgrading their collection.
Quandrix Unlimited lands at number four despite being genuinely fun to pilot. The deck's Commander, Zimone, Infinite Analyst, powers up whenever you cast a spell with X in its mana cost, then reduces future X spell costs based on accumulated counters. With 27 X-spells in the deck, Zimone becomes a formidable engine by mid-game. The Green/Blue pairing works smoothly and includes quality reprints like Ozolith, the Shattered Spire and Primordial Hydra.
Lorehold Spirit claims third place as a Red/White deck centered on making Spirit tokens by pulling cards from your graveyard. Led by Planeswalker Quintorius, History Chaser, the deck executes its strategy cleanly and efficiently. The reprint selection is particularly strong here, featuring multiple cards players want in their collections.
Witherbloom Pestilence occupies the number two spot with a Green/Black sacrifice theme. The deck packs 39 creatures ready to be sacrificed at opportune moments, fueling other threats while maintaining a rock-solid mana base. It's cohesive out of the box, though it falls just short of the top pick.
Silverquill Influence takes the crown with a goading strategy that remains refreshingly uncommon in Black/White. The deck floods the board with Auras and Enchantments that force opponents to attack each other while you control the chaos from the sidelines. Solid creatures back up the strategy when you need to take the offense. The deck has become scarce at retail, with resale prices climbing past $85, a sign of both market demand and competitive viability.
Author Emily Chen: "Silverquill's goad theme is the standout innovation here, and it justifies the hype despite the sticker shock."
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