Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce | Art by Nia Kovalevski

Over the years, Bears have become a much-beloved creature type for many Magic players, me included. Their history in the game reaches all the way back to Alpha with Grizzly BearsGrizzly Bears, and has been a mainstay in newer sets ever since. Now, with our return to Middle-earth, we're getting another major influx of decks centered around these cuddly killers, thanks to Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce.

So, join me, Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as I cover a full budget 99 centered around this new legend that you can pick up for about $45 (using TCGplayer pricing). That's not including the price of this commander, since this Bear has become incredibly sought after, so hopefully you recently pulled it in a booster! With all of that out of the way, let's jump right into it by meeting the shapeshifting leader of this deck.

What Does Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce Bring to the Table?

The commander of this deck is an absolute powerhouse, offering up card advantage and a few ways to apply pressure when you move to combat. Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce buffs up your Bears, hands out trample counters, and draws you two cards a turn for simply filling up your board with Bears. All of those things combine to make for a very resilient deck that's ready to close games with some major punching power.

As I built this 99, I was constantly impressed by mono-green's ability to create a formidable board, and support typal strategies. The amount of ramp, card advantage and of course Bears I was able to cram into this one was a lot of fun. With the latter in mind, let's take a look at a few of the format's usual go-to options for leading a Bear typal list, and how they work within the 99 this time around.

Key Bears

• Ayula, Queen Among BearsAyula, Queen Among Bears: Of course, we had to include the Queen in this list. Not only does Ayula buff up your creatures, but it also offers up some removal for simply deploying your Bears.
• Goreclaw, Terror of Qal SismaGoreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma: Even though this creature type is known for being 2/2's, there are still plenty of high-powered threats in this list that would love to be cast for cheaper. Plus, the +1/+1 and trample this legend offers is just another way to help you close out a game.
• Wilson, Refined GrizzlyWilson, Refined Grizzly: If you like keywords, then this legend is for you! Since there are so many ways to build up the power of your creatures in this deck, Wilson will be swinging in for a lot of damage from as early as turn two.

Synergistic Ramp

• The Earth KingThe Earth King: While this Noble might not be a Bear, he does bring his best friend Bosco to the party when he enters. Plus, the land ramp it offers up is insane, since there's a good chance you could pull a big chunk of the basics out of your deck turn after turn.
• Studious First-YearStudious First-Year: Here's a newer fan-favorite member of this creature type. This is one of the best turn-one plays for this list, since it not only gives you the option to cast Rampant GrowthRampant Growth, but it also sits on the field, which adds to your Bear count right away.
• Mutable ExplorerMutable Explorer: Sure, this might not look like a Bear, but it gets to join the team thanks to having changeling. On top of that, it hits play and makes you a land token, which can be animated into being a creature itself in a pinch.

• Firdoch CoreFirdoch Core: Here's another tricky inclusion in the list, because when Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce is checking for Bears on your board, it doesn't specify that they have to be creatures. Which means that this mana rock can assist with getting you to that magic number of three by the time you cast your commander.
• Rhonas's MonumentRhonas's Monument: This artifact offers up both a cost reduction, as well as a targeted buff and trample when you deploy more Bears, which's a great payoff for simply doing what this deck is asking you to do.
• Progenitor's IconProgenitor's Icon: Since there's a good amount of ramp in this deck, including a mana rock like this can help keep the deck more unpredictable. Now, if you pass the turn with this untapped, it can either help you cast another spell, or allow you to flash in a Bear out of nowhere.

Card Advantage

• RealmwalkerRealmwalker: Long-time readers of mine will know that I love cards that let you look at the top of your library, and this is one of the best to ever do it. Having this in play puts you in a spot where your hand size is basically increased by one, and on top of that, it adds to your Bear count!
• Gathering StoneGathering Stone: Recently, I've been brewing a lot of typal decks, and this artifact has made it into most of them. It offers up top-deck manipulation, card advantage and a mana reduction all in one textbox.
• Evercoat UrsineEvercoat Ursine: Attaching the ability to deploy two cards for free onto a giant 6/5 trampler is just what this deck likes to see. Plus, once you have your commander out, the buff it hands out makes it all the more likely that this Ursine can break through your opponents' defenses.

• Garruk's UprisingGarruk's Uprising: Here's an absolute classic for any green beat-down deck. Even though your commander can pass around trample, having it as a blanket effect is useful for extra redundancy. Plus, the card draw it offers is powerful, since it can help you get a replacement card every time you deploy a new Bear.
• Hunter's InsightHunter's Insight: As you can see, there's a lot of ways to help big creatures punch through in this deck, which's where this spell shines. I've used this card to great effect over the years, especially when you can go wide with larger creatures, since all it takes is one beater getting through to help refill your hand.
• Return of the WildspeakerReturn of the Wildspeaker: Drawing a new grip with this card at instant speed always feels great, but if you already have a hand full of options, buffing up your board during a pivotal attack can just help you close out a game.

Removal & Protection

• Chomping ChangelingChomping Changeling: When it comes to building a typal deck in green, I'm constantly reaching for this silly little guy to throw into the 99. It hits play, deals with a problematic artifact or enchantment, and does its best impression of a Bear to add to your army.
• Ram ThroughRam Through: I remember when this card first came out, and how it broke some former concepts of the color pie; and I've always loved it for that. As you build up your team, this can remove an enemy's key creature, while also dealing a bunch of damage to someone's face.
• Kenrith's TransformationKenrith's Transformation: Nullifying someone's commander with this spell is always great, since you can shut down someone's entire game plan. Plus, because it turns it into a 3/3, any of your creatures with power four or greater can still trample over during combat.

• Origin of MetalbendingOrigin of Metalbending: Here's a card that sits in both the removal and protection category. It preforms well when you're ahead, behind, and everything in-between; this is truly one of my favorite bulk cards to build with from last year.
• Snakeskin VeilSnakeskin Veil: Holding up only a single mana in order to save a key creature like your commander is not too big of an ask, especially when you get to grow Beorn with a counter, and assist it with punching through with even more damage the next time it swings.
• Wrap in VigorWrap in Vigor: Regenerating your entire team is a classic way to save yourself from a board wipe, but it can also just simply save one of your creatures if someone tries to destroy it with targeted removal.

The Finishers

While End-Raze ForerunnersEnd-Raze Forerunners might not be a Bear itself, once you move to combat, you can just throw a trample counter on it, in order to become a Bear; which also gives it that +2/+2 buff from your commander. Finally, we have OverrunOverrun and Overwhelming StampedeOverwhelming Stampede, two classic game ending pump spells that'll put in a lot of work for this deck, and help lead you toward some wins.

The Full Deck List

My Final Thoughts on Beorn

Well, there you have it, my take on a budget 99 built around Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce that you can pick up for about $45. I really do love this deck, so if you've been looking for a monocolored beat down list to add to your arsenal, this could be right for you!

That's it for me today, but you can find more of my budget content right here on EDHREC, as well as on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where I do everything I can to make Magic more accessible for everyone.