The Most Powerful Phyrexian Praetors | Power Tier List | EDH | MTG | Magic: the Gathering

The Commander's Quarters is your Magic the Gathering source that helps you Command Your Budget! Today Mitch goes over The Most Powerful Phyrexian Praetors with the Ultimate Power Tier List!
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[@Zyzres]

Just saying, elesh norn grand cenobite is basically the only praetor seeing play in cedh.. it really has the power to end games. Sure new Jin has decks build around it but literally every stax list has elesh in it as just a game ender. Old vorinclex, Jin and Sheoldred all have good effects but like it does nothing if someone has a removal spell, at the very least elesh wiped the board of 2 toughness creatures.

[@qwormuli77]

Mitch buys into the 'white bad' meme a bit too harshly 'till this day for him to ever consider it objectively. Which is ironic, as only Jin NewTaxias could challenge either of the white praetors for the top spot (with old Vorinclex stax or new Sheoldred having any real chance of coming close), with the new Norn being easily the strongest of all of these. Prolly not ban worthy, but still strongest. Then again, this is his subjective list, so what can we say?

[@astuteanansi4935]

Considering her purely as a commander, I kind of agree she's high C or low B tier at best. Yes, her effect is back-breaking, but she is extremely mana-hungry in a color that's not great at ramping. In the 99 though, it's a different story

[@devin5297]

I’d love to see another version of this video, but ranking them in the 99. I’ve seen them far more frequently in the 99 than as commander

[@Fishmeaker]

The new Vorinclex is at least A tier! Mono green can be incredible fast and when a planeswalker like Nissa insta ult, it is basicly over.

[@jstewartfilm]

Every time I cast him, it’s game over.

[@zachroberts9584]

New Elesh Stax is BRUTAL. I played against a proxy version of the deck the other day, I could see her reaching CEDH

[@Nhouyengah]

I agree she seems super strong, now white just needs a clear win con and she will be cEDH for sure

[@olivierdebilde4292]

The new Elesh Norn is better than it seems, imo. The Command Zone proved how disgusting she can be.

[@napalmcannon2513]

Man Urabrask has always been shafted in M:TG

[@daylan8817]

So do you just rip off other channels that release the same content?

[@codeangel]

Oh i clicked on the video for a phyrexian waifu tier list... anyway

[@MrBrunogiachetti]

Yall forgetting Atraxa

[@EleusinianDionysus]

It would be great if you learnt how to talk like a human

[@jacobnordquist3448]

Vorinclex in C tier, WHAT. He sees decent amount of play as a commander with super jerk decks. I'd switch him and old sheoldred in a heart beat.

[@qwormuli77]

Old Shelly is pretty bad winmore in most cases, even in the 99 and not just at the helm. The effect is strong, but not protective at all and really slow to take effect on such an expensive body. It's not used a lot in more experienced tables for a reason and I'd argue most of the times she _is_ included is a mistake, unless for sentimental reasons ofc.

[@danielsniff6405]

Plus he's a 6/6 with trample and haste in a color that can easily ramp him out early, and the amount of counter support in just monogreen is staggering. He is definitely one of the most consistently good praetors if you're playing them as the commander, definitely atleast better than old sheoldred, and probably better than the new one too if I'm being honest.

[@astuteanansi4935]

Agreed. Old Sheoldred's effect is not worth the massive amounts of mana spent on her. At the point where she hits the board, her sacrifice effect does nothing against most decks unless they're *really* heavy voltron, and her reanimation is strong, but not "I spent 7 mana on this, now you just wait until I untap" strong. Meanwhile Raider just lets you immediately dump all your lands into play with Nissa and good luck losing from there. And that's just *one* thing he can do.

[@PaulGiles]

Elesh Norn for life. All hail the Mother of Machines!

[@shrdn2960]

Simp.

[@EnRandomSten]

PRAISE BE THE OMNISSIAH!! ETERNAL IS THE RULE OF THE MACHINE GOD!! THE FLESH IS WE- oh wait, wrong IP my bad

[@bruisedfrog]

@@EnRandomSten the Void Dragon sends it's regards

[@DrukenReaps]

@@bruisedfrog rofl

[@timaeusdelpueblosecretodel6801]

@@EnRandomSten There is a funny little guy in my computer.

[@justbecausemc2757]

IMO, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is the strongest of the old praetors in edh. I think only new Elesh Norn, new Sheoldred, and new Vorinclex can compete with her. Edit: I didn't realize this was an "as commander" tierlist. Kind of an important distinction.

[@eichiboy95]

Only changes I would make is putting Sheoldred the apocalypse in S and the the new Vorinclex in B or A

[@TheMorbidHobo]

would be great if nurabrask gave an impulse draw every time you drew, and forced all your opponents to exclusively impulse draw.

[@jasonkorf7700]

Poor Urabrask's cards are so bad that Mitch can't be bothered to pronounce their name correctly, lol jk.

[@TheMorbidHobo]

Vorinclex monstrous raider is totally broken if built right. It sometimes being bad with certain cards your opponents might run is not a good enough reason to drop it so far down the list-- not to mention it's in the best color.

[@Indy-the-soup]

Bro's tryna call vorinclex D tier while it can turn 1 ultimate planeswalkers, like oops just had Nissa etb, guess I just search my library for every forest and have an extra 20+mana for the rest of the game or ill just grab every elf and go off with ivy lane denizen doing two counters every etb which you then put on vorinclex who has trample and just win. You could also drop vivien and say trample, vigilance, Indestructible, and +2 +2 on everything till the end of the game or garruk can do a whole bunch of 6/6s. More or less just take it out immediately if you don't want to lose.

[@Grimkahn1901]

You really don't have good threat assessment with these guys as commanders do you? I've played against Elesh Norn decks and one turn alone can be devastating for your opponents. As for vorinclex, the new one is very brutal and easy to build right. And it's in green, you know, the color of RAMP!!!

[@williamgressman4001]

Please, can people stop complaining about mono white. Mono white - arguably wasn't - is definitely not the worst color. Just because it might not have things that you or most people enjoy playing doesn't mean it is not powerful. By removing its weaknesses in areas while leaving its strengths we are only encouraging power creep, its okay for a color to be bad a certain things. I play mono white and many other commander decks that include white, and they are quite fun in my opinion, but wizards constantly power creeping the game is neither fun nor good for the long term stability of the format.

[@Kyoti00]

I'm guessing that you've never played against a good Norn deck, otherwise you would have her in the A or S tier. She is Omega if you are playing against a token creature deck.

[@chainsawstriker2173]

I think new elesh norn should be higher. The amount of etbs that are in monowhite that you can abuse heavily outweigh any potential downside of canceling out your opponents such as bounce lands

[@omarmuniz1497]

An if it's in the 99 it gets better.

[@hithropyro9051]

Personally I'd rank new shieldred significantly higher. I'd argue she's s tier. For the simple fact that I'm like the other predators even if you play nothing else the rest of the game you can still theoretically win with just her.

[@TheShadowace535]

Vorinclex is in C tier until you drop Nissa and a 30+ land drop in a single turn.

[@HollowIchigoKurosaki]

I think New Urabrask could be annoying at casual table. Competitively yeah he’s pretty bad. Glad to see my boy Jin get that S tier spot though. I built an artifact deck around him that I think is pretty good.

[@tbc02]

15:28 "Unless you have a deck focusing on ETBs, you're gonna be fine." I'm not sure either way on whether new Elish Norn should be banned, but the argument of "she's only a problem commander if the deck is built around her" is so weird - aren't you only going to be playing her as a commander if you're building your deck around her? Isn't that true for almost all commander decks? Just a weird take

[@TheMorbidHobo]

I believe he meant as long as the oppenents decks aren't focusing on ETBs, the oppenents will be fine.

[@MetalPheonix]

In the 99, I'd probably stick Elesh Norn (both), a lot higher, Sheoldred New, probably also might squeak up a little thanks to the deck archetype that is best known as Nekusar. Urabrask, probably stays at the bottom in both incarnations. I think that Gix might be just slightly higher than your tier, like, at the top of the C and just barely at the bottom of B. I think it might be interesting to see how the Legendary Phyrexians stack up. theres 37 of them, and some of the old cards that have been eratta'd to being Phyrexians are wild. (And you can dunk on Morinfen and Gallowbraid instead of Urabrask.)

[@KingMsb112]

As someone who uses Urabrask in a few of my decks and used him as a commander i would definitely disagree with it being a D tier commander. He works great especially if you go with low cost creatures that you want to die like devils and goblins and also great for bur decks that have creatures that just tap to do damage. He also can help stop people from creating 30 tokens to block as well since they will be tapped at first you still get a chance to deal with the player before they are fully used. He is better in the 99 though especially in a dragon deck I will admit. But as someone who uses all of the Praetors the OG Urabrask definitely should be at least B tier wouldn’t put him higher or lower than that.

[@jonathonskogman8337]

I get the white comments but this video shows that mitch has never observed anyone playing mono white Ao Cedh lol what has some nuts now, just needs the right pilot.

[@Zyzres]

A fellow Ao player amen. I just finished buying the rest of my Ao Cedh list. Loving it

[@Thel00thNinja]

Jin Core Augur is basically just a better Urbrask Heretic, assuming you don't want to keep your friends.

[@Kthron]

New Urabrask is being undervalued here, so many combo/removal/counter/interactions won't be useful on 1st draw with him on the field

[@gnarlkill1]

You can't say something isn't strong because it's "weak to removal", everything is weak to removal. That's a logical fallacy. But I enjoy your other points about not every deck is running a bunch of EBT's. Also, Blink decks aren't super popular.

[@TJ_PH]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but if my opponent has new Elesh ans I have Satoru Umezawa. If I ninjutsu a phage the untouchable, lose the game trigger won't trigger? Also, Game Knights showed what mono-white new Elesh would go wild!

[@baconsir1159]

Everyone always WAAAAY overrates Core Augur imo. It’s a TEN drop that basically doesn’t impact the board at all and lets every player but one play their entire turn before taking their hand. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it do more than fuck one player and draw cards, which is absolutely not worth 10 mana

[@firestar5810]

I couldn't disagree more with new Elish Norn not being S-Rank. It is incredibly easy to build around with a lot of support in its color. There's a lot of broken etb effects in mono-white and it shuts down a lot of 2 for 1 removal, and quite a few etb win cons. Command Zone did an all praetor game where it basically took over the show. Not to mention this praetor would be perfect in the 99 of any etb strategies.

[@zonimi]

You are judging them as commanders but I've always seen them better as part of the 99. If you front those cards as your commanders you will probably find yourself being a target. Popping them out of the 99 can be much more devastating. Easy to cheat out and you aren't "showing your hand" so they aren't prepared for it.

[@bepisdoge4692]

It may not be possible, but I’m going to raise 500$ by the end of the month for the sole purpose of buying every phyrexia pack I could find. Wish me luck friends

[@alicesaxon601]

While i think all the praetors function better as part of the 99, i think both elesh norns and sheoldred whispering one are too low. I think JG Core Auger should be lower at least one tier because its so much many and your opponents see it coming a mile away. Urabrask is right where he belongs unfortunately, as do both Vorinclexs

[@trentreffner5699]

Urabrask getting the short end up the stick because that's what you get for going against the progress of Phyrexia :D He needs to stop letting the living flesh go free and join the other preators in dominating and converting them.

[@masterloot3904]

Helm of the host on sheoldred the apocalypse with sculpting steel copying helm of the host :|........help me those two artifacts in any of those praetor decks is terrifying

[@josephafrica23]

This list is going to age real bad once MOM comes out and becomes commander legal. such disrespect towards Elesh Norn.

[@martinstary8442]

Elesh Norn Mother of Machines B-tier ??? REALY??? - It 's EASY S-tier

[@orgazmo686971]

Looking at the rankings, I feel like you haven't built these commanders.

[@adrianovieirademelo9775]

All legendary praetors must be in S tier. Mamacita Elesh 😍

[@karoldzupa2177]

Original Elesh Norn a "C"???? ru on drugs m8?

[@sukuruchan]

well this needs a update after Phyrexia all is one :D

[@jslrnzrbntn]

Need an update since they have 3 each as of today

[@Noisius]

Sheoldred best

[@sineadgaming69]

The new urabrask is much better in 60 card formats. I have a boros control deck focused around urabrask and drannith magistrate, when theyre both on the field it completely shuts opponents down.

[@jasonkorf7700]

Currently, it doesn't even see play in the 60 card formats either. New Urabrask unfortunately is disappointing compared to all the other Praetors.

[@sineadgaming69]

@@jasonkorf7700 yeah he's not great on his own but there are some fun combos you can use with him, enjoyable card to play imo

[@Branflakes-lq6wq]

the original elesh should be way higher

[@noahboes5585]

Nah nah New Elesh S tier easilyyyy

[@tommynyheim4353]

What a joke this list is..

[@rood6422]

1st

[@PaulGiles]

1 minute too late

[@leonixioussora4066]

Hold on while I grab my soapbox (Skip to the bottom for the video-relevant portion of the comment)...The only reason people say that white is the weakest color is because of Social Contracts. Take those away, and White is in the tope 3 strongest colors in Casual Commander, I dare anyone to prove me wrong via a match. Playing Mono-White isn't an "inherent disadvantage" in non-cEDH anymore, hasn't been in a few years. I used to play an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite deck back in the day and was able to drop her turn 3-4 consistently, wiping most of my opponent's boards in the process and keeping my opponents from playing a large amount of there small, utility, creatures. I know that Staxy cards are a feel bad at most tables, and I understand that. OG Elesh is a Staxy card. It also caused such a problem in my metas a few years back that a lot of people still take into account going against a random OG Elesh when building decks, I kid you not. With that being said, I will agree with most of your rankings. I do think that OG Urbrask deserves to be in at least C Rank. Built right, and he outpaces a lot of decks (Mono-Red Dragons for example). I believe OG Jin doesn't deserve that high of a rank anymore. Id say OG Jin is probably closer to a C or a D Rank because of how many Infinite Hand Size cards are in magic now, and how many people run those in decks. Plus, blue doen't have as much ramp as other colors, so getting to that amount PLUS a little more for a counter spell VS 3 other players? The game could be over by that point, and drawing 7 after emptying all/most of your mana pool for a round most likely wont win you the game right away. Odds are too that OG Jin, or the player, wont be around anymore. Otherwise, I see most of these being about right, maybe New Sheldred is S Rank because of Value VS Mana cost.

[@alulvlx]

Hand of the predators, ajani sleeper agent emblem, vornclex monstrous raider, and new elesh norn... Play one creature with infect Target opponent has now 12 poison counters

[@grahamhunter2472]

For anyone thinking Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines belongs in B tier, go watch the game knights episode "Hail Phyrexia". Elesh is at least A tier but pushing S tier with the huge amounts of etb support white has seen over the last year.

[@232Skull]

i have to disagree with the new urabrask's verdict. there are a decent nuumber of cards that do stuff when you play from exile nowadays. not to mention if you get him out early by either a bit of mana ramping or a ritual he definitely screws up your opponent's plans

[@electricangel3161]

Guessing before watching: S - Kami Jin, New Elesh, Domi Sheold A - Kaldheim Vorin, Old Jin, Old Elesh, Old Sheold B - Old Vorin, Cap 'Brask C - Old 'Brask D - I don't think any of them are bad enough to make it this low 🤣

[@cyruslupercal9493]

Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor is just so evil, lol. "Here is so card draw, now fight each other for it." 🤣

[@baconsir1159]

No way is new Vorinclex worse than old Sheoldred, and saying Grand Cenobite is worse than OG Sheoldred is a joke

[@jstewartfilm]

The new Urabrask is certainly not as good as the other new praetors but he’s pretty good in a game. Basically double car draw in red and everyone else has to play or lose, plus you know what they’re casting. Very nice!

[@baconsir1159]

It’s not double card draw in red, it’s 5 CMC Phyrexian Arena on a creature in red. Slightly worse than that in most cases because it’s impulse.

[@sirpercivalblakeney9957]

Panharmonimom

[@courtneygoodrich1410]

I don’t see how being mono white is a huge disadvantage anymore.. so many more ways to draw cards now

[@koboldsinatrenchcoat6551]

Still waiting for a Phyrexian kobold but, until then, all hail the grand mother that is Elesh Norn!

[@jefbessey551]

All hail Norn

[@dakotasnow5008]

Jin gitaxias core auger is highly under played it's effect is absolutely crippling for your opponents

[@Cosmis5]

C-tier should have been empty. Sorry Urabrask 🤣

[@PulseTriangle]

The fact more of these aren't in S or at least A just shows how crazy the power creep has gotten

[@LoganB591]

I feel like new Elesh Norn should’ve placed higher, but that’s just me. Turns off things like landfall, stops dumb life gain shenanigans (soul sister effects), and a bunch of other stuff, while doubling all this for you. Just my two cents tho

[@Nhouyengah]

Elesh Norn MoM will be broken, there are tons of combos you can pull off, and the torpor orb part simply shut down many different commanders. White just needs a real win condition other than life gain/aetherflux and this deck will be insanely good imo

[@jeremyschocken7092]

Make a debate video with Commander Void

[@Jeldert]

Praetor annoying/salt rating

[@savagestoltz]

How do we feel about the term "downthem" for the opposite of an anthem effect like elesh norn?

[@qwormuli77]

How about "unthem"?

[@kiraxbara456blitz6]

How practical is a 5 color phyrexian praetor deck?

[@Nhouyengah]

One day I'll try to build one for the memes but I don't think it'll be any good...

[@kiraxbara456blitz6]

​@@Nhouyengah ok. Update. It is only good as a quick swing for game

[@uttpiew]

If this video is not exclusively about Phyrexian Praetors, I would include Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Grand Arbiter Augustin IV to the list. There are also five uncommon enchantment creatures from Born of the Gods set, the Archetype cycle. They all share the Praeter-like design.

[@xSharingon]

Why no atraxa 😢

[@jasonkorf7700]

Not a praetor.