Obscura Operation | Precon Upgrade Guide | MTG | Commander | EDH | Budget | Cut-Rate Commander

[@GrazzetMTG]

See below for the complete list of upgrades and let me know in the comments which commanders from Streets of New Capenna you want to see future builds for! Creatures Daring Saboteur >>> Grateful Apparition Ghostly Pilferer >>> Thrummingbird Inkfathom Witch >>> Skyship Plunderer Graveblade Marauder >>> Oona's Blackguard Nadir Kraken >>> Hypnotic Specter Chasm Skulker >>> Nightveil Specter Champion of Wits >>> Blizzard Specter Cephalid Facetaker >>> Guul Draz Specter Identity Thief >>> Shimian Specter Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer >>> Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion Alela, Artful Provocateur >>> Rankle, Master of Pranks Whirler Rogue >>> Midnight Pathlighter Misfortune Teller >>> Kheru Mind-Eater Skyway Robber >>> Fiend of the Shadows Aerial Extortionist >>> Dazzling Sphinx Daxos of Meletis >>> Dimir Cutpurse Custodi Lich >>> Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar Archon of Coronation >>> Necropolis Regent Sun Titan >>> Demon of Wailing Agonies Jailbreak >>> Zareth San, the Trickster Treasure Cruise >>> Isperia the Inscrutable Nightmare Unmaking >>> Medomai the Ageless Instants Change of Plans >>> Arcane Denial Commit // Memory >>> Counterspell Obscura Confluence >>> Dromar's Charm Utter End >>> Despark Enchantments In Too Deep >>> Duelist's Heritage Life Insurance >>> True Conviction Profane Command >>> Rogue Class Stolen Identity >>> Reconnaissance Mission Artifacts Mask of the Schemer >>> Bident of Thassa Ash Barrens >>> Rogue's Gloves Esper Panorama >>> Mask of Memory Commander's Sphere >>> Prying Blade Currency Converter >>> Goldvein Pick Lethal Scheme >>> Brass Knuckles Lands Temple of Silence >>> Caves of Koilos Creeping Tar Pit >>> Shineshadow Snarl Obscura Storefront >>> Access Tunnel

[@ullew.9037]

awesome video, thx so far! do you also have a list, what cards i should cut for the more expensive Cards? thank you in advance and keep going with that Upgrade videos, it helps me alot!

[@MHardcore]

I’ve watched 5-7 of these videos for this deck from different KZbinrs. You may be the only one who actually shows the cards that you are taking out & the cards they are being replaced. Everyone else has way more adds then drops (some don’t even show the cards they cut). Great Job! Thanks

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you're enjoying the builds and thanks for the feedback!

[@flyingelvistx3194]

Yes I came back to this video because that reason. Good vid my guy

[@GrazzetMTG]

@@flyingelvistx3194 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PBlot1]

Yours are the best precon upgrade videos I've seen. I like how you go through each card in the original deck, giving your reason for keeping or replacing it; educational for new players and helpful for others to make their own adjustments if they disagree with your reasoning on a particular card. Your breakdown at the end is very helpful as well. I wish you good luck in growing the channel, I'll keep watching!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Thank you for your kind words and feedback! I've been working hard to "perfect" the precon upgrades to differ enough from the regular episodes and I'm happy to hear that folks are enjoying it! Much appreciated!

[@chrishogan9143]

"...In Too Deep is 'going under'..." perfection.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Happy someone caught that!

[@billdoetsch]

I chuckled at this too! - although, if you had switched out 41 cards instead of 39 you'd have another pre-con pun!

[@chiuka0]

Nice decktech! I liked how this deck is dependent of creatures, even though it doesn't have red/green on it

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you enjoyed it! And what you said is true, Esper usually does control so its nice to see it in a more creature oriented build.

[@Quiron1985]

best upgrade video I've seen. Great stuff! Ledge Shredder, Sword equipments (fire and ice, feast and famine, ...), and Hatred for example all go really well in this deck too.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you think so! Regarding the Swords of X and X - ironcially they are kind of a non-bo with our own commander - since most of them won't actually allow Kamiz to target them with her Unblockablility/Double Strike. They are still great cards, just less good because of that interaction. Ledge Shredder is a solid evasive boddy to drop ealry and Hatred is always a good way to get folks our of nowhere - so I can certainly see both of those being solid additions to the build!

[@Quiron1985]

@@GrazzetMTG well, that's a good thing to point out, since Kamiz cant traget those creatures because of the protection of colors they give them. That's a good point I overlooked. (and some other videos that recommend them). They are still pretty decent in the deck, because it does work quite well without the commander. Well, time to tinker a bit and replace them ;). Thx for reacting bros.

[@tylersmith5449]

This video was exemplary!!! Please do more. Unbelievable, this was a true Previn upgrade. I tip my hat off to you!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Happy to hear you enjoyed it! The next batch of precon upgrades from Battle for Balur's Gate will be kicking of on 6/11 so look forward to the 4 for them dropping in the next few weeks!

[@zoorielgarcia3191]

Graveblade mar actually has helped me a lot so far. I know it doesn’t fit the strategy but if you have a play group with mill commanders it does wonders. I love flipped the table more than once by just taking him out at the right moment with opious spike and 19+ creatures in my deck with graveblade at a 15/18 double strike unblockablendue to a land tap ability

[@ohthatpie]

Would love to see a jinnie fay deck list. Also wanted to say while I'm down here I genuinely believe you're one of the best deck builders for magic on the platform I'm new to magic and you've helped me build a few decks. I also think the videos are good quality easy to understand and having prices under every card along with side and upgrades at the end makes my life way easier. Thanks alot!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Thank you for the kind words! Its always good to hear that my builds have helped someone new to the format! Jinnie Fay, Jetmir's Second would certainly be a fun build around to do a token themed Cat/Dog build! We'll definitely need to add her in a future poll.

[@ohthatpie]

@@GrazzetMTG ya of course keep up the great work 👍

[@HeffeFrank]

I love the way you present this and break it down, much appreciated

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@maxhutchinson6425]

Your upgrade guides are the best by far I’ve seen!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you're enjoying them and thanks for the kind words!

[@Camgotay]

I’m a new player thanks for making these very helpful

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you like them!

[@MasonBurnheart]

Thoughts on a few card that may be good to add? Virtus The Veiled - Double strike takes someone from 40 -> 10 on Turn 4 with Kamiz. Consuming Aberration + Evasion could be a 1 hit kill in combo with Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker which also combos with double strike Raven Guild Master - Double Strike = Exile 20 cards from players library. Silas Renn, Seeker Adept - With 17 artifacts he can get 2 back per turn which could be very helpful Master of Predicaments - Possibility of getting 2 free cards when he does damage w/ double strike Elixir of Immortality - Good for putting your grave back in your deck. Bone Dancer - Potential to use a removal spell and steal a creature

[@GrazzetMTG]

Solid suggestions! Master of Predicaments made the short list but ended up falling off since the effect was a tad to unreliable for my taste (still a good include if you like to gamble). And I never even heard of Bone Dancer, which definitely would have warranted consideration if I had known about it. Thanks!

[@basicgiraffology3709]

I have to make the argument for Ghostly Pilferer and the mask that gives Connive X. Ghostly pilferer gives you a draw for every commander being cast, every cascade or cast from grave/exile. The mask I haven't really tested in a game but getting to connive for the amount of damage you dealt with the equipped creature is REALLY nice. Also, the mana costs for all of these cards seems...difficult. I feel like this list leaves us tapped out rather than having interaction. Overall, I saw a few good additions for my own deck, THANKS!!!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Fair points. Ghostly Pilferer just has never done enough for me in my own games, so perhaps it's personal bias. And can see the argument for Mask of the Schemer since it provides another on damage effect and can help up set up our hands/graves fairly well. The mana costs didn't seem to have a significant impact in testing but there are a few multi-pip costs here and there and can "brick" us we get unlucky - which may be an argument for cutting those if that is happening to you frequently. Thanks for the Feedback!

[@basicgiraffology3709]

@@GrazzetMTG No problem! Again, this seems like a great upgrade list and I have already started to look into adding some of the cards. I went with a rogue tribal list, so I have a couple of rogue tricks. That ooona's honor guard is top of my list for additions tho!

[@abisadeonasanwo2789]

Got a list to share? Looking for inspiration!

[@vidavalente3637]

I did cut Ghostly Pilferer without testing and because of your comment I'm gonna give it a try! Thanks!

[@SpikyAsian]

Another amazing video. I can't believe I missed this.

[@RylanMichaelPardo]

Great video. I'm personally thinking about building this commander around an infect theme.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you enjoyed the build! Infect would certainly work here, but be careful since it will certainly paint a target on your back once the table realizes what you're up to.

[@imanujakku]

Tainted Strike is a pretty nasty gotcha infect card that most ppl can’t see coming.

[@jamesblacklord8372]

Love some of your choices for upgrades for this deck. I have been looking for ideas on how to make this deck better and some of your choices. I will certainly integrate some of your choices into the upgrades I make for this deck.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you agree with some of my picks and happy to hear you'll be integrating them in your own build! Best of luck with them!

[@roborob6033]

I would keep aerial extortionist for the anti exile, graveyard and Commander card draw, but I'll have to play a few games since I just got this deck.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Fair - its not a bad but it just didn't do enough for me in testing (my opponents would already have their commander in play by the time it came down and its removal was more of an inconvenience that a actual solution), Still, your results may vary, so test it out and see how it goes!

[@roborob6033]

Teferi's Ageless insight also is good with conive for the extra card.

[@DadPeakes]

Which cards would you replace for the expensive cards that you showed at the end?

[@JyrrSol]

Soltari visionary is also good consideration. Practically unblockable body with enchantment removal on connect ain't nothing to scoff at.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Good suggestion! Enchantment Removal is a bit more Niche than artifact or creature removal but its still a very good thing to have access to and Shadow is probably even a better form of evasion than flying. Definitely worth considering.

[@zulkhaireesulaiman8575]

Hi there! what can I replace Wand of Orcus, Thada Adel and Cephalid COnstable with?

[@Liamish95]

With the new cards that have been released since this video, what changed would you make to the additions?

[@jamesblacklord8372]

Small suggestion for a good upgrade for this deck would be to remove one of the Thriving Land's and replace with Raffine's Tower. Sure it comes in tapped but all the Thriving Lands do but Raffine's Tower gives you access to all 3 colours of the commanders over just one or two that you need.

[@GrazzetMTG]

I agree, which is why I included it in the upgrades (sadly it was a bit too pricey to put in the main build). If you have the cash, I would certainly add it in now, because I can only see these going up in price once supply starts to dwindle.

[@oscarchavez9323]

I have one question, what happens when skyway robber cast an artifact from exile, it creates a copy of the artifact? And when the artifact is destroyed it go to the greveyard or is exiled?

[@shesgard37]

This is a cool deck. And great upgrade guide format

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback on the formatting! I think this one will be the one we'll be sticking with for future precons (maybe even other non-precon related content if we have time).

[@vidavalente3637]

Great video guide! Thanks!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@Greenlover1717]

Awesome I upgraded mine with specters discard and infect proliferate

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you enjoyed it! Specters are always a fine addition to strip more of our opponents resources away but infect is personally a bit too mean for me (unless I'm going all in on it and the table is fine with it).

[@Greenlover1717]

Yes I have a soft spot for infect this is gonna be a one every other game deck or when someone get mean 😂

[@adrianrobles8622]

Vorpal Sword would be nuts in this deck

[@GrazzetMTG]

I tried it and honestly it was not as good as I expected it to be. Its not bad by any means but it does require a lot of mana to turn on and if anyone see's it onboard you better bet they'll be saving removal for the target when you try and equip it. Still, maybe it was just my games because if there is a home for it, this would be it.

[@jamesblacklord8372]

@@GrazzetMTG Good point. Plus the cost for its key ability requires such a big windup your opponents will see it coming and may try to gang up on you if they are able to do so. Plus it would have to effectively take two turns to land if you have the mana to go full bore with it. Considering that it would be mid to late game to and you would almost be better off on trying to keep your opponents off balance with other creatures.

[@varunaan]

For the Nightveil specter inclusion would Thief of sanity be a better option? Or is the filling opponents graveyard and inability to play lands not worth the trouble? Or was it a budget decision?

[@GrazzetMTG]

Both made the build (since Thief of Sanity came in the precon) but of the 2, Thief of Sanity is probably the better option since it lets us cast the spell we exile without the need to fix the mana, but Nightveil Specter does help us make our land drops and we have enough treasure generation to help us cast spells outside of our colors - making them both worth running in mu opinion. Hope that helps!

[@varunaan]

@@GrazzetMTG ah didn't realise it was already in the precon!

[@INKI_teh_Rogue]

...Why does the last syllable of every sentence you say have exactly the same cadence?

[@GrazzetMTG]

Its just the way I talk (lots of folks tell me I have a very monotone speaking pattern)

[@crovax1375]

I think that Raven Guildmaster would be good in this deck

[@GrazzetMTG]

I can see it being a solid include if we were to take build in a more mill focused direction - since there are quite a few creatures that mill on damage as well. Good Suggestion!

[@thewerewizard6721]

Do you think raffiene could fit in this deck?

[@GrazzetMTG]

I think Raffine, Scheming Seer could be added but would not get a lot of millage in this version of the build, since we removed the reanimation and graveyard focused cards - which is primarily what Raffine would be good at setting up.

[@vidavalente3637]

Stormscape Familiar overperformed in my deck, being a cheap evasive creature to get in with equipments while also lowering the cost of half my spells.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Good suggestion! I honestly forgot that Stormscape Familiar existed and can easily be swapped in by cutting a rock or other mana source.

[@coopercaviness6256]

Wouldn’t shimian specter not work very well in edh with each card being unique?

[@GrazzetMTG]

Fair point, but it still rips a card our of an opponents deck and lets you go through our opponents entire deck to see what their running so it is still worth running (in my opinion).

[@DanHovann]

Wonderful job. I originally had a Dimir Saboteur deck helmed by Vela, but this lass takes it all to the next level and then some with white. I agree with most of your changes/keeps, and its good to see white being represented fully with the sphinxes. I'd say the only change I would make to my list to yours is the inclusion of life-shredding effects. Raving Dead, Virtus, and Scytheclaw all have made my list, as each and every one of them can shave a life total by half. To top it off, Wound Reflection is there to seal the deal.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the build! Adding in some additional life halving effects would certainly give this build more "teeth" but for that I decided I would either commit to it fully or just leave what was in the deck and go for a more "control/value" build instead. In this case I went for the latter but the life shredding cards are still a great addition to the build if you want to go in that direction. Great suggestions!

[@Eisenwulf666]

I would like to see a deck built around Jolene,the plunder queen. Maybe something where artifacts matters. That said, do whatever you want good sir, will watch it anyway

[@GrazzetMTG]

Jolene is definitely a interesting commander, since we haven't really had a Gruul Treasure commander before.

[@BraveLittlePixel]

HARD disagree on the 'An Offer You Can't Refuse', it's just a significantly worse 'Negate', and at that, a much worse Counterspell. Why for 1 mana would I give my opponent TWO Treasure Tokens? I'd rather spend the 1 extra for Negate and not give my opponent 2 free mana to cast another spell after their first was countered. It's just a terrible card and since you opened with that as a keeper I'm not sure I can really trust the usefulness of the rest of the video. Also your recommendation later for Isperia the Inscrutable, why? If the earlier cards are focused on hand destruction, how at all are you going to be able to combo this effect in a way that even if your opponents have cards in hand, that you'll even know what any of them could be, with very few hand revealing cards. It would be useful on it's second attack once you force a reveal, so it's quite slow, and you only get something in your hand. I'd rather on a 2 turn attack gamble at least get something on the field for free with an entirely different, and possibly cheaper card. Or just even 'Archpriest of Shadows', which Gives Backup 1 with Deathtouch, and returns a graveyard creature to the battlefield. Once you summon it at 6 mana, there's a good chance you'll have something in there.

[@MasonBurnheart]

Thoughts on throwing in a Dauthi Voidwalker?

[@GrazzetMTG]

Dauthi Voidwalker is a very solid card that ironically doesn't get much use out of our commander (the extra damage by granting it double strike is nice but its built in damage effect can only be used once anyway) but is a great from of graveyard hate and gets us a free spell too - which fits nicely into the gameplan if we have the budget to add it in.

[@GSWAR100]

​@@GrazzetMTGidk if this aged well or not

[@adamrivera195]

Why are you not keeping the connive equipment?

[@GrazzetMTG]

The reason is that it is not as good as it could be in this build - since we don't have a whole lot of graveyard focused card to take advantage of the graveyard setup it provides. The extra +1/+1 counters is nice, but we have better on damage triggers that can make better use of our unblockable/evasive creatures in my opinion. Hope that helps explain my reasoning!

[@FakesFromStateFarm]

@@GrazzetMTG Fair, I’ve tried to have discard payoffs like archfiend ifnir, even though he draws a crap ton of hate. Also it’s pretty amazing card filtering for a low cost considering multiple uses.

[@GrazzetMTG]

@@FakesFromStateFarm True. I can see Connive working here, but I think it really shines in decks like Madness or Reanimator that can make better use of it.

[@deronhood9373]

do double strike work that way

[@GrazzetMTG]

Yes, if a creature has a on damage effect, both the first strike and normal damage proc separately - allowing that trigger to proc twice (unless it is specifically limited to once per turn). Hope that clears things up!

[@Galchoo1]

Hmmmm... It's an amazing deck as always and it WILL get tested, but...I don't know man... It's been seeming sus lately. It's almost like there's an imposter among us. Jokes about conspiring space beans aside... which of the three commanders I suggested do you like the most - Lizzie Fey the Pet Keeper, Xander the War Criminal, or Riveteer Bullies the Riveteer Bullies? Am I forgetting something... oh yeah, day 268 of waiting for the face reveal!

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you enjoyed the build and thanks for the support as usual! Among Us memes aside - Jinnie Fay, Xander, and The Beamtown Bullies are all good build arounds, but the one I'm most excited about would be The Beamtown Bullies - Their ability to summon creatures on our opponents field is unique for me to pass up!

[@Galchoo1]

@@GrazzetMTG Oh shit, it was BEAMTOWN Bullies, sonuva...

[@kendojunson7971]

I agree with most of these changes except mask of the schemer. Does too much work in my opinion. I've won 3 games already because of that card. Also, great video!

[@kendojunson7971]

I haven't had a chance to try him yet but I think Hopeful Initiate can also do some work in this deck. He will generally have access to counters to use for his ability.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Glad you enjoyed it! Mask of the Schemer didn't give me good enough results in my testing but hey, if it works for you, that's what's important.

[@GrazzetMTG]

Hopeful Initiate I'm less keen on since the build as is doesn't have the greatest +1/+1 counter generation, but I can se it doing some with with some slight tweaks (like keeping Mask of the Schemer and other sources of connive in to get additional counters)

[@kendojunson7971]

@@GrazzetMTG Probably gonna play this afternoon if hopeful initiate puts in any work I'll let you know! Thanks for the replies.

[@ant7433]

I put in a few other ninjas and it feels like this deck becomes more stealing other ppls cards 🤣

[@GrazzetMTG]

True, you can go all in on the "steal your cards" theme and it can end up being pretty solid. The fact the Kamiz gives that unblockable to your ninja's is pretty good for them after all, since most of them don't have evasion outside of ninjutsu to get in.

[@ant7433]

@@GrazzetMTG the evil in me realized I can play scheming symmetry, pray they tutor for their best card, and use fallen shinobi or nashi to instantly steal it :)