This is Absolutely Brutal! | Lord Xander, the Collector | Streets of New Capenna Spoilers | MTG

The Commander's Quarters is your Magic the Gathering source that helps you Command Your Budget! This Commander is Absolutely Brutal! Lord Xander, the Collector is a new exciting Spoiler from Streets of New Capenna!
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[@crovax1375]

Lord Xander isn't greedy. He just wants his half! 😎

[@BeholdDog5341]

Lord Xander is just Thanos

[@ShikiRen]

He even takes the smaller half!

[@frankthetank520]

I'm getting custom sleeves for this deck. It's Bernie Mac in bad Santa saying half!

[@zacharyjoy8724]

@@frankthetank520 Beat me to it!

[@xgxwills2857]

This is a commander that you absolutely need countermagic up to cast because it is most certainly getting countered or swords to plowshares the second it happens.

[@SweetManaT]

Fine if it gets countered. Reanimate packages are great for this guy.

[@williambarnes5023]

You aren''t going to be able to swords it faster than I can sac it. :D

[@darwin_viera]

you can play teferi (the blue legendary ,and thrix,tidal barracuda)

[@FixerFour]

Brutal as a commander, sure, but absolutely gross off a Sneak Attack.

[@elsanto2401]

this is the way

[@DiabloTommaso]

Or reanimated

[@drunkenwhaler6890]

i was thinking this as well. sneak attack, reanimation/recursion, and multiple combat/turns to just devastate with him.

[@astrydtysver5871]

that was the first place my mind went. EW!

[@92bagder]

and blink effects

[@NishantrP]

Finally, the grixis mill commander I needed

[@NishantrP]

@@bend5963 yes! I need to pick up a copy of her, she's great

[@simonkuccera8399]

With Syr Konrad in play you just need to attack once to hit everybody for lethal… or at least a ton, thats kinda gross…

[@chumblago]

I know the initial cast cost is high, but with how incredibly strong those effects are and how easily exploitable it is, I'm still blown away that there is no additional cost to use any of the effects. It's super disruptive for basically free.

[@poutinemcflurry3544]

The meanest part about this commander is forcing your opponent to count all the cards in their deck, and then count half the cards in their deck

[@merlindester244]

I have a friend who uses traumatize a lot. I find it much easier to count the number of cards on the field, in your graveyard, and in your hand, then subtract that from a hundred to get the library size.

[@GeekWithMeat]

U just count the cards in your hand / field subtract it from 99 EZ

[@poutinemcflurry3544]

@@merlindester244 That is something I never thought of doing. If an effect like this ever comes up in a game, I will find this comment and thank you for saving a lot of my time.

[@williambarnes5023]

When I have to deal with this effect, I take my library and cut it in half by hand, and set the two halves next to each other and then add cards from one to the other until they're the same height and thus hold the same number of cards.

[@prollybee]

pick up the deck, and take turns flipping one card off the top into the yard, and setting the bottom card back down in your library. last card always goes to library

[@drewlusc9773]

Hey Mitch! I actually have other ways to abuse this card. One of my ideas was using Helm of the Host for Xander getting the off his ability multiple times, then using Shapeshifters to copy the token version since they aren't legendary. Another way to utilize him is in the 99 of Marchesa, the Black Rose since you're gonna wanna be attacking with him and repeat the process of sacrificing him and making him re-enter off her effect since he would have the counters from dethrone. Also using Ashiok, Dream Render to remove cards in opponent's graveyards in case you end up with a pod of graveyard reliant decks.

[@MayBeSomething]

I have always believed that the Monarch is a fun mechanic. Now if only there was 2 enchantments that make you the monarch, 1 of them milling opponents, the other forcing discards, in these colours, that came out in Commander Legends...

[@harleybaker4684]

If only

[@babablacksheep506]

So if this is how the Maestro’s Don is like, can’t imagine what the other 4 Dons are going to be

[@crovax1375]

At least two other ones are spoiled at this point and they're pretty strong too

[@zacharybecker8228]

the other 2 shown not as crazy as this one the cat guy is just go wide lord

[@DracoX-hz3tu]

@@zacharybecker8228 he's also a stupidly good lord, not hard to get to 9 creatures and have +3/+0, vigilance trample and double strike

[@zacharybecker8228]

@@DracoX-hz3tu im not the biggest fan of only power increase on lords the keywords r good at least its a change of pace for naya normally its big stompy creatures

[@astuteanansi4935]

@@DracoX-hz3tu Raffine is the one I just don't get, it feels like there are a bunch of things going on at once and none of them are really make sense together? You want to be going wide, but your payoff is going tall, and also looting a whole bunch of cards, in colors that don't really normally do looting? I'm just not sure what the strategy here is

[@nathanorwick3671]

Don't forget Mirror Box can help you keep the tokens for attack triggers so you can get all three in a single turn. Even if its diminishing returns the fact you get to target a player, not just the one you're attacking, helps a lot in that case

[@dudemaister18]

Blade of Selves + This commander You're never playing with that group again

[@christiang1779]

He will get absolutely brutal in a Marchesa, the black rose deck, too. You can get one etb, ltb and attack trigger on each of your turns!

[@Teeleer]

Add anger to the deck and you can attack right away, possibly killing two opponents in one turn if you have Bruvac and strionic resonator. If you have Morophon out you can reduce the cost by 3, Animar by 4 if set up

[@zacharyjoy8724]

Thank you! I so rarely see anyone use the graveyard incarnations, like Anger, so you bringing it up has made my day. As a green player, I personally enjoy pairing Anger with Brawn.

[@GoodRogue]

A friendly reminder that Blade of Selves is a printed card that gives you two copies of Xander every time you attack that also immediately become sacrificed due to Legend Rule. They enter the battlefield attacking, so you won't get two more launches of Traumatize, although I doubt you need that on top of two more triggers of both ability one and ability three.

[@Ragejaw]

Been wanting to build a grixis control,mill, card discard deck for awhile now and this seems like a great commander for it. My only big worry is the cost is actually 7+ 2 or 3 because you'll definitely need to hold up mana for countermagic, or blink, or death recursion because he will be a instant target.

[@atk9989]

3 medallions, and 3 monuments to make it cheaper

[@elonex777]

@@atk9989 Medaillon maybe, monument I would definitely prefer 2cmc mana rock. I guess this deck would need an absurd amount of mana rock like 10-15 to play Xander early with lot of mana and also 10 counterspells. That reduces the possibilities for others cards.s

[@danmorgan7775]

You would without a doubt run Syr Konrad in the 99. I could see people finding this an oppressive commander but at least it's a 7 drop.

[@OfficialMaddeck]

The cool thing is that you can choose 3 routes with this deck, or attempt a Insane Hybrid build around him.

[@facepalmjesus1608]

This creature loves Blood on the Snow

[@tristanrobinson6650]

This and nekusar are why grixis is my favorite three color combo!!!

[@coldtruth9431]

Crimson vow under performs. Now there’s a vampire family “Maestro” in SoNC. Coincidence? I think not. May be some synergies coming

[@lordmimir3099]

Might have to add him to my Marchesa, the Black Rose deck

[@DrummerRF]

I had a great combo with myojin of the grim betrayal. You get all the creatures milled during that turn if Xander attacks. Also fun with stuff like maddening cacophony

[@LadyTsunade777]

Also remember Lithoform Engine as another Strionic Resonator, which can also copy your commander as you cast it. And extra combat cards for the middle ability. Should also probably include some graveyard hate like Bojuka Bog and Agent of Erebos if you're going to focus on the middle ability, just so you aren't powering your opponents' graveyard based strategies like Meren.

[@theotherguy4478]

Dauthi Voidwalker and Leyline of the Void will go very well with the mill aspect of the commander. Syr Conrad will work well with all three aspects of the commander if the exile aspect isn't added.

[@levrapport2033]

(not digging through comments to see if others already said this) I think you're REALLY undervaluing his mill ability. Discard has diminishing returns and even the sac ability will lead to the frustrating situation where no one else can do anything while you slowly take out each person. Now the mill, that will QUICKLY take people out, especially considering this commander is red - you'll have access to both haste effects AND extra attack phase abilities. Throw in blue for counter spells to protect him/other effects and extra turns, as well as black/red having ramp (not green level, but still), I do agree that this guy will be brutal!

[@SOSSWA]

Duskmantle Guildmage is amazing with his mill ability

[@jedstanaland2897]

You can also use Thassa and two red instants that give target creature haste then returns then to your hand. You would need a reliable way to get him back out and there are two Artifacts for that one is Dragon arch, the other cryptic gateway. And if you have omnipotence in play you would be able to play him immediately after you bounced him back to your hand. There are a few more combinations that you can easily use duplicate him multiple times when you attack.

[@debumbivandebumbo3570]

The problem with grixis is the same as always, the ramp

[@atk9989]

Medallions, monuments, and rocks

[@joyboy1734]

Ever heard of man's rocks bud

[@jlawsl]

I am just glad the last effect is non-land. Last thing I want to see is a repeatable Annihilator death trigger. Its still rough for decks that play lots of non-token permanents or rely on mana rocks. Emptying a person's hand and mill could get annoying. There are plenty of cheap blue blink effects and red multi-combat effects that could bring a person's deck down from 20-25 cards in one blink or one extra combat. As long as there isn't any graveyard exiling onboard, Kozilek and Ulamog would definitely have homes against a deck with this guy in it as would graveyard play and token replacement effects that allow you to maintain permanent count. Without any of that on board or an immediate answer, this card is pretty powerful.

[@aceundead4750]

I saw Xander on twitter last night, i wasnt sure if the text was real, but apparently it is.

[@chancevanwinkle2514]

Tergrid + making copies of Xander = target opponent flips table 😂

[@jonathankhanh8840]

LMAO for real!

[@alucarddracula7]

The first thought I had when I saw this card was Blade of Selves. I have one in my Sakashima deck, but I wouldn’t place it in the Xander deck I will build. I plan on keeping that on the cheap. One thought I did have though was Mimic Vat. Not for the commander, as that is too risky, but for Clones. Throw a clone card in there and for three mana you can send out another Xander bomb.

[@graxal8076]

Blade of selves, mirror box… that is all Mask of many faces… Pull it off with grand architect pila-pala combo…

[@minipet_ejo9115]

I'll play it from my hand with Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord. Waiting for a while now for a strong Vampire to show up. Seems like a good fit.

[@anriasi6333]

There are a lot of other strong vampires

[@davidmaryatt8297]

Waiting for a while now for a strong vampire to show up? Do you even Vampire? Plenty of strong vampires already. Granted, I wouldn't have this guy as my commander, being 7mv and in no ramp colors...

[@irisnegro]

@@davidmaryatt8297 Rituals, rocks and mana dorks, the drawback is that it looks scary and could paint a target on your head.

[@anriasi6333]

@@davidmaryatt8297 exactly what I'm saying like bloodvial purveyor, stromkirk captain and cordial vampire just to name a few

[@davidmaryatt8297]

@@anriasi6333 right! I've won many games with an unchecked Sanctum Seeker 🤣

[@duckstuffer2152]

I've actually been struggling to make a good Grixis deck that matches my play style, but this card definitely peaks my interest.

[@johnnoreau3570]

Have you tried Nekusar? My favorite commander for grixis. Plus with blue red black you’ve got tons of removal and counter at your exposal

[@duckstuffer2152]

I feel like playing Nekusar would put an instant target on my back because everyone knows just how dumb it can be. Plus I try to avoid playing overtly popular commanders.

[@johnnoreau3570]

@@duckstuffer2152 I feel that. I’m the only nekusar player really in my local store and my playgroup so I don’t understand how popular he really is. And I can attest to the instant target. It happens but if you can play politics well enough sometimes you can get away with it. For example. I was able to convince my table to draw 20 with minds aglow then next turn after everyone discarded I used rise of the dark realms for all their creatures. Just need to know how to read the table and when to play threats.

[@duckstuffer2152]

@@johnnoreau3570 okay that's pretty spicy. My current wheels deck is Xyris, but I usually have decent luck with it because it's playing around group hug. Which also helps because I don't need to play politics as hard.

[@johnnoreau3570]

@@duckstuffer2152 I like group hugging with nekusar. I always like to ask “who wants to draw cards?” Before playing things like font of mythos, prophet of kruphix, or any other drawing card 🤣 then sneak in nekusar a turn later or play enough artifacts for molten psyche. Couple ways to get around being instant target. Can’t be instant targeted if you kill everyone else 💀🤣

[@eight_eyes3186]

So real quick, exiling the tokens does not cause the death triggers to go off. And unless you have something like mirror gallery or mirror box they’re exiled instantly so you can’t even get the attack trigger.

[@JustforKikX]

Yeah, if I ever see this at a table I'm focusing that player down first. Holding up all my counters for him too.

[@davenelmes9520]

With a name like yours it seems like destiny that *you* should be the one playing him! ;)

[@JustforKikX]

@@davenelmes9520 You'd think, but I'm not THAT mean. :p

[@Heavymetalhunk]

God of Fright and Mirror March gonna love Xander haha new favorite combo!

[@KVGKQuake]

If you can find space for him, this just goes in every Marchesa, the Black Rose

[@SquIDGAmiG62]

One card that would be even more brutal in this deck. "Tergrid, God Of Fright"

[@zolli21]

OMFG....I don't know you and I now kinda hate you for bringing that up.

[@SquIDGAmiG62]

@@zolli21 that's fair. Although I wouldn't play it. It's not my preferred style of play. But I do know that it would suck quite a bit to go up against.

[@zolli21]

@@SquIDGAmiG62 All this tells me is that O got 7 turns to smoke someone before that card comes out.

[@SquIDGAmiG62]

@@zolli21 there are quite a few time clocks in the format so it will just be added to the kill on sight list like most other cards that essentially makes a countdown.

[@andrewpickett722]

I've got a fun deck around him, had a few rage quitters to say the least 🤣🤣 Burn/Heal/Mill/Xander with a couple combo pieces set on the field for some domino effect is very fun. Near OTK with the right cards

[@jozezalokar4916]

Insta ress spell (return after deat efects) a sack outlet and prince of thralls on board = with every xander death you get half their permanents :D

[@morrius0757]

As a Commander, I'm not interested in it, but in the 99 where it can be easily cheated out or reanimated, I love it!

[@irisnegro]

You just need to cast it once from the command zone, protect* it with a sac outlet, and let it go to the graveyard, after that you can reanimate it for cheap.

[@atk9989]

@@irisnegro plus even if it gets exiled from grave it just goes back to the command zone, so they can't even permanently remove it as a commander.

[@auraaetherbladesigma6939]

Mill is back, Back again! 🎶

[@gr1zz375]

definitely throwing this in my nekusar deck

[@MxPinky]

Glad to see you agree with lord Xander he is a brutal one

[@edwardowens5948]

Couldn't you use Panharminicon to get double trigger as well on his ETB?

[@perinthia6829]

Yes it is an etb, but it wouldn't be their entire hand tho, it would he half, then half of whats left so 75% of their hand roughly

[@adamdunn9219]

Iv always liked grixis vampires more then Mardu ones. Turns out there's tons of vamps in this shard with decent etb's, I'm thinking of focusing him on etb abuse with vampire sub theme, not cedh by any means but strong

[@azazelgrigori9244]

Could use Hellkite Courser. When it attacks, you play with commander without paying it's mana cost, and then it attacks. Basically, each turn, you trigger first two effects.

[@dantemalick2872]

Hellkite courser is an etb not on attack

[@luckyrichardson1677]

Dude, you missed Blade of Selves. 2 drop artifact. Equipped creature has myriad. Equip 4. This would trigger at least 2 of the 3 things because attack and dies trigger*assuming legendary rule doesn't matter due to mirror.

[@letthewookieew1n]

I was building a Crosis, the Purger deck...but I decided that Lord Xander MIIIIIGHT be better.

[@pajoulrod]

I'm waiting to see this in a Marchesa, Black Rose deck

[@leonfriedemann9151]

That was my first thought. Feels as evil as toxril in muldrotha or even worse.

[@XxDevilsTrapxX367]

I have him coming with a full demon tribal and the swords to protect him once I get him out. This decks is built on the middle ability. As I have a player in our group who let's just say wants to only play 10min at a time and makes playing with him not fun.

[@scienceguy8888]

Xander and Tergrid is going to be absolutely brutal. Xander and Tinybones is going to be painful. Xander and... you know what, I'm just going to build the deck

[@eriknell7515]

Man I'm glad I'm not in your meta 😅😅😅

[@ShredAimlessly92]

Thank god he’s in black and blue so I can run all the counter Magic possible. Remove-on-sight in the MTG dictionary is just THIS GUY.

[@das2s4s]

I am surprised blade of selves was not mentioned, that makes the attack trigger both the ETb and Death triggers.

[@EzAzAbc]

I combined this commander with the newest horror deck plus the top 10 milling cards 👌

[@dwpetrak]

Ahh the Noble tribal commander I have been waiting for

[@orionhoover9457]

I just built grixis with thrax but this will be a better replacement for the concept I'm working on Side note: you can make this a deal maker/ maker of the archenemy using thassa from beyond death

[@johnnoreau3570]

Thrax was ny first ever attempt at building a commander deck. Later on found Nekusar and he’s been my favorite since

[@nathanbrehm1085]

Consuming aberration and Phenax, God for ultimate mill with this too. And I will always say Strionic resonator is one of my favorite cards.

[@ggR3fleXx]

i think as a 99 it would work wonders with a simple sneak attack, it comes into the field it can attack and dies all in 1 for just 1 red mana

[@didupaytheone2678]

Cant wait to build this deck..deck looks sweet ..

[@TrollinGear]

It's finally time to whip out the mill deck 😀

[@trevorkroon2163]

The ETB on dies triggers are realistically the only scary ones. Yeah his attack trigger+Bruvac can instantly kill someone, but realistically, without that combo it wont do much. Plus, plenty of decks in commander have graveyard matters or recursion effects somewhere. Is he powerful? Certainly. Is he ridiculous? Nah. Seven mana seems pretty well costed to me.

[@frankthetank520]

Holy crap I'm going to use this for sure I'm also going to copy those triggers I'm also going to make non legendary copies of him holy crap

[@erichughes5050]

Looks like a good addition to my Sedris reanimator deck. Either get the one off discard and mill or keep him around if I have closet or other stuff up.

[@TonyScimeca]

This seems like a fun card to build around with Malakir rebirth effects. The dies trigger feels the strongest to me

[@jessesandburg]

Kenrith's transformation or a pinpoint removal is absolutely needed the second this thing touches the board.

[@sirnique]

Oh this is going in Marchesa the Black Rose

[@gaminggeckos4388]

It's Half Off Oscar, from Half Off Emporium! Opponent's hand too full? Cut it in half! Opponent's library too large? Cut it in half! Opponent's board state too cluttered? Cut it in half!

[@gaddocknz2476]

Are we overlooking Tergrid as a lieutenant for this deck.

[@JohnShire387]

This card seems fun with Blade of Selves.

[@bryantay2184]

exiling does not trigger the death trigger, because the commander clearly says When Lord Xander dies.

[@raydelmartinez2905]

This guy is BFF with Tergrid God of Salt.

[@BloodLegaZ]

Thank goodness this isn't in colors that can either create tokens copies with haste or otherwise to abuse with this ability, or reanimate repeatedly, or cheat out of the hand after a bounce with something like ninjutsu that would allow another etb....we are so screwed.

[@garra277]

I'd TOTTALLY make copies of him, getting additional discard and sacrificing would be crazy, let alone if you wanted to keep the copies like with spark double or mirror box!

[@Omega_Orion]

Unfortunately he doesn't fit Aurelia but Combat Celebrant and other extra combat tech makes this a threat, because if you have a small board you don't want to lose it by blocking, and if you have a big board you don't want to lose half of it by killing him. I'm glad it's not deals combat damage, because you could just attack an open player and mill someone else who's a bigger threat with a harder to touch board

[@OmegaMTG]

I have a non combat mill deck already but this might be a good extra combat step mill commander.

[@jedisith3864]

Extra attack phases, clones and sac/animate loops. That's like three super fun ways to pull some hijinks in edh add a commander who has payoffs to bring with them? Fuckin beauty!!

[@dreamwolf7302]

Sakashima, Mirror Box, Soul Foundry, and Vermin Gorger...

[@nanya524]

Ninjas in standard have a new toy.

[@dylanwilliams5072]

Port Razer and Syr Conrad on field can kill everyone with this commander

[@phyrexianjudgement]

Interesting attack then fling

[@aaronandrew7347]

Blade of selves just found a new home.

[@MarioTruax]

Tegrid before the commander hits the battlefield?

[@SchwartzMai]

forgot "blade of selves".... get all three triggers at the same time... and a copy of it for each player????

[@rteishe]

Laughs in Harmonic Prodigy...

[@timmyg316]

He seems good with Olivia crimson bride

[@ethanboyd2981]

Can't forget Tergrid, God of Fright.

[@justinstreeter5068]

I would put it with kess wheels mill archfiend of depravity along with others maybe tergrid if not banned.

[@rickxhoshinji]

Marvel’s The Collector as a commander deck

[@Tyranix97]

Animate dead + Xander & Clone || Sneak Attack. Enjoy!

[@cookingcommander]

what about blade of selves?.... get the etb, the attack trigger and you sacrifice for death trigger....

[@davenelmes9520]

You don't get the attack trigger since the token copies are already attacking. Multiple etb and death though is still nice!

[@egoish6762]

If he'd been slightly better costed, 7 is a big ask when they've been pushing 2, 3 and 4 cmc commanders for so long. His effects are strong but they could have been toned down and still been great, if he'd been a 4 or 5 mana discard 2, mill 20 and sacrifice half non land perm he would have bedn super good

[@stetsonclark8348]

thoughts on using mimic vat to cut Xanders cost after the first cast?

[@jandshaulingandremoval9438]

So I'm new to commander but very interested in this could you send me a decklist I could use that I could play

[@jlateralus21]

I think I might attempt to convert my Mirko Vosk mill deck into this. Just ignore red and play it as U/B mill/discard deck.

[@hunterhendrix5246]

With twinflame wouldn't it have to be copie target creature the copie is not legendary?

[@MrNemitri]

If an opponent has only one card in hand, they discard nothing, it's still an interesting commander for reanimation

[@raydelmartinez2905]

Imagine a blink deck around this card.

[@qubingjianshen8210]

Don't forget Blood for Bones, that way you get to trigger both its death trigger and its ETB.

[@zacharybecker8228]

also clones doesnt matter if it violates the legendary rule cus ull get the death trigger

[@andrewpickett722]

And yes with Bruvac and Xander, opponent remains with 1 card in the deck. I've gotten turned around on and lost with that 1 card remaining next turn 🤣🤣