<p><em>Wretched Ranks </em>is a new beginner Commander preconstructed deck associated with <em>Foundations </em>and released Oct. 2, 2026. What's in the deck, who are the commanders, and is it a good buy?</p>
<p>Let's find out.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/foundationscommanderheaderZOMBIES.png

<p>The <i>Wretched Ranks</i> Commander deck contains the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>1 Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil face commander with borderless art</li>
<li>99 Non-foil cards</li>
<li>10 Non-foil double-sided tokens</li>
<li>1 Reference card</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghoulcaller Gisa|FDC|6" href="#" target="_blank">Ghoulcaller Gisa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghoulcaller Gisa|FDC|6"></div></div>
<p>I'll preface by saying this: our commander won't be coming down early with that mana value of five, but she does have a cool ability. We pay one, and sacrifice a creature, then we get Zombies equal to the sacrificed creature's power. So, if we sacrifice a 2/2 to her ability, we get not one, but two Zombies for our trouble. Her 3/4 stat line is not too shabby, either. Note, however, that her activated ability requires us to turn her sideways (i.e. tapping), so we can only do the ability once per turn (unless she can untap). Her lack of protective abilities like hexproof (can't be the target of stuff our opponents control) makes her a real target.</p>


<h3>Shiny Reprints from the Grave</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Withering Torment|FDC|134"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet|FDC|108"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undead Warchief|FDC|131"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Torment|FDC|134" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Torment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: I find it surprising that this got reprinted because past precons came with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the past (and we're in mono-black, so why not both?). Torment, being an instant instead of a sorcery, plus losing only two life, is a huge deal.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet|FDC|108" href="#" target="_blank">Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: He's actually a neat choice. He keeps graveyard decks honest by removing their creatures when they die, and we get a Zombie for it. This is especially good if there's a board wipe, because that will trigger for all of your opponents' creatures, effectively letting us rebuild our board. Neat!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Warchief|FDC|131" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Warchief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: I'll admit I was shocked when I learned of this reprint (and the next one, too). This card carried a hefty price tag for a reason. Not only does it make our Zombies slightly cheaper, it gives them a +2/+1 buff, two abilities that are really good for four mana. Remember that board wipe, when Kalitas made all of those Zombies? They're now 4/3s, ready to do some damage.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noxious Ghoul|FDC|120" href="#" target="_blank">Noxious Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Speaking of board wipes, the more Zombies we put into play, the stronger this card's effect becomes. Giving creatures -1/-1 gets around indestructible, which is a valuable tool to have access to. Yes, it does cost five mana, but Gisa is likely going to be up and running when you use her ability. She will die from the effect, but so will most of the board if you sacrifice the right creature.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of the Undead|FDC|112" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of the Undead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: One of those cards we call a "Lord" (comes from the ancient, outdated creature type Lord, a creature that gives a buff to creatures of the same type), this is one of the more valuable ones for Zombies. We're likely never going to attack with this, which is good because we can use the activated ability to get a Zombie from our graveyard back to our hand.</p>


<p>Do you know how in all those zombie movies, all the zombies are slow, then they speed up at the scent (or sight) of flesh? That's basically the game plan here. We're going to be a bit slow starting up, but then we overwhelm the board with a critical mass of Zombies. Also, don't be afraid to sacrifice our creatures for an effect: we're in the color most likely to get them back, and in the color best suited to take advantage of sacrificing said creatures. In short, we're working with a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/zombies/mono-black">Zombie</a> deck with a side dish of sacrifice (or what we call <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats">Aristocrats</a>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carrion Feeder|FDC|88"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Army of the Damned|FDC|85"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, First of Locthwain|FDC|86"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder|FDC|88" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: A free sacrifice outlet is always the first thing to look out for (more on that in the Upgrades section). Yes, this won't be able to block, but it can get big quite quickly. A good way to utilize the effect is to sacrifice a creature that's about to die, be it in combat or removal spell, or especially if it's about to get exiled. Keep it well-fed, and it'll be a big attacker later on. It'll also fuel some other effects in the deck, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Reaper|FDC|114" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which draws us a card if we do use the Feeder's ability.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain|FDC|86" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: With all of the Zombies coming in, Ayara will drain out opponents for quite a lot. Bonus is that she triggers it on entry, even though she's not a Zombie. We shouldn't attack with her because we can tap her to sacrifice a black creature to draw a card. Again, useful in the cases I mentioned above. Note that the creatures coming in have to be black (not relevant to the precon, but it will be for upgrades) to get her effect. A <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> casting cost is rough, but not in this deck, where we can easily cast her.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Army of the Damned|FDC|85" href="#" target="_blank">Army of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Now <em>that</em><em>'s</em> a horde. Thirteen Zombies is a lot, but like I said with the game plan, it'll take a full turn before we can utilize this army of tokens. Our opponents will likely be scrambling to find a board wipe to answer it. Throw in something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undead Warchief|FDC|131" href="#" target="_blank">Undead Warchief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and you could end the game. Note that this can be cast once more from our graveyard (because it'll be exiled afterward), so we can effectively cast this card twice.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oversold Cemetery|FDC|122"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gravecrawler|FDC|104"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptbreaker|FDC|94"></div></div>
<p>As expected from a beginner-level precon, there are no real combos to be found here. That said, there's plenty of neat tricks and synergies we can pull off here.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery|FDC|122" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This has some uses. For one, we can keep looping <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel|FDC|105" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by sacrificing it to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder|FDC|88" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Then, provided we have four or more creatures in our graveyard, we can return the Merchant to our hand with the Cemetery's ability to play it again. This is what we call an "engine," where we can get value from doing the same thing over and over. This one is a bit slow, but it does teach us about them. Watch our for graveyard exile effects, though.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler|FDC|104" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Continuing our theme of engines, this creature is a centerpiece to a lot of them. Sacrifice it to our commander each turn for Zombies, sacrifice it and recast it from the yard to trigger Ayara for however much mana as we have, get a bunch of tokens from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diregraf Colossus|FDC|96" href="#" target="_blank">Diregraf Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Headless Rider|FDC|106" href="#" target="_blank">Headless Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and so many more. When playing this deck, be on the lookout for more ways to benefit from looping this card. Just note you will need ways to sacrifice it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder|FDC|88" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best one, because it's free.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptbreaker|FDC|94" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: If we time it right (perhaps on the end step before our turn), we can discard a card to get a token through the ability, then return it to our hand the following turn if we have something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of the Undead|FDC|112" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of the Undead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Also, if a board wipe were to happen while we have a bunch of untapped Zombies, we can tap them to draw cards in response, meaning we get something out of them before they inevitably die.</li>
</ul>


<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bontu&#039;s Monument|FDC|247"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Infernal Idol|FDC|266"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Castle Locthwain|FDC|299"></div></div>
<p>Some lands and mana rocks (artifacts that ramp us) can go a long way for us. Here's some notable ones:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bontu&#039;s Monument|FDC|247" href="#" target="_blank">Bontu&#039;s Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Not a mana rock, <em>per se</em>, but the cost reduction will go a long way to help cast cards in this deck. In addition, each black creature we cast will make each opponent lose 1 life while we gain 1. Say, what was it I said about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler|FDC|104" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the previous section?</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Idol|FDC|266" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Idol</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: It's a simple mana rock that we can cash in later for two cards, but we lose 2 life. Important lesson to learn here: your life total is a resource when in black. The only life point that matters is your last one. And yes, our graveyard, too, is a resource, acting as a "second hand."</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Castle Locthwain|FDC|299" href="#" target="_blank">Castle Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Getting this land in untapped is easy enough, but don't get greedy with that activated ability. The more cards we have, the more punishing the effect will be on us. It's best to use it when the number of cards in hand are low.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog|FDC|296" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: The premier graveyard removal card in black, getting rid of an entire graveyard can ruin someone's day (even our own, if used against us). Entire strategies can center around the graveyard, and taking that away from them will set them back. Such power for the small price of entering tapped.</li>
</ul>


<p>So, what will be the best way to upgrade this precon? First, we should cut a few cards. Here's the first five I'd recommend.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moan of the Unhallowed|FDC|116" href="#" target="_blank">Moan of the Unhallowed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Army of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Army of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but weaker. Plus, four mana (or seven, if casting it from the graveyard) for a pair of Zombie tokens is not the best rate. Go big or go home.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commander&#039;s Sphere|FDC|250" href="#" target="_blank">Commander&#039;s Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Yes, you'll see me rag this card quite a bit. Back when it was released in 2014, it was a big deal. Nowadays, we can do much better for three mana.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marchesa&#039;s Decree|FDC|113" href="#" target="_blank">Marchesa&#039;s Decree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Monarch is fun, but the effect does nothing for our deck. Don't worry, there is a monarch card that is a Zombie. We'll get to that below.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Infernal Idol|FDC|266" href="#" target="_blank">Infernal Idol</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Like the Sphere above, we can do better, even with that bit of card draw.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bad Moon|FDC|87" href="#" target="_blank">Bad Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: We will encounter other decks that use black, and this will buff their creatures too. We need asymmetrical effects, not symmetrical.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moan of the Unhallowed|FDC|116"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marchesa&#039;s Decree|FDC|113"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bad Moon|FDC|87"></div></div>
<p>Next, we have five cards we can add on a budget, coming in at no more than $5.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Custodi Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Custodi Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Our new monarch card, plus it forces an opponent to sacrifice a creature. Just don't target the player with so many tokens that they can sac one and laugh off the trigger.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Familiar? Black has a lot of trouble dealing with enchantments, and this is one of the only ways to do so.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zombie Apocalypse" href="#" target="_blank">Zombie Apocalypse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: See that big pile of Zombies in our graveyard? Now, put them back into the battlefield, and <em>voila</em>, we have a board!</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: For a measly one mana, we get three, allowing us to jump way ahead of the curve for one turn. Great for powering out a card that costs a lot.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Victimize" href="#" target="_blank">Victimize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: We can sacrifice one of our many tokens to get back two much better creatures from our graveyard for the small cost of three mana. Great way to help build your board.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Custodi Lich"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feed the Swarm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zombie Apocalypse"></div></div>
<p>Instead, if you're swimming in coffers filled with money, here are five cards you can add instead.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jet Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Jet Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: For two mana, every black card we cast costs one fewer generic mana. This speeds up the game plan significantly, and allow us to get our Zombies our faster than we normally would.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: For a mere one mana, we can bring any creature back from our graveyard (in this deck, preferably a Zombie), but we lose life equal to the mana value of that creature. Choose wisely.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana, Dreadhorde General" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana, Dreadhorde General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: That first minus ability is a doozy, letting us soften up our opponents. We also get to draw cards if our creatures (including tokens) bite the dust, and the plus ability nets us a Zombie token. Lots to love here.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mikaeus, the Unhallowed" href="#" target="_blank">Mikaeus, the Unhallowed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Suddenly, those Zombies our opponents tried to kill come straight back, slightly stronger than before. He's also a Zombie, too, so he benefits from all of our synergies there.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warren Soultrader" href="#" target="_blank">Warren Soultrader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: For a small price, we can turn those measly Zombie tokens into ramp, so we can do more stuff later on.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jet Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana, Dreadhorde General"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warren Soultrader"></div></div>
<p>If you wish to seek out more power, like other black mages, then here's what you can do to make the jump into Bracket 3. I would begin with adding a few tutors. Two of our Game Changers happen to be the best of the best in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We'll be using these to bring together some combos (more on that in a moment). Our third Game Changer, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, lets us use our life total to cast stuff from the top of our library. Don't sleep on the activated ability, which can end the game outright if life totals are low enough.</p>
<p>As for the combos, we'll want <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> so we can combo with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sacrifice it to the Altar to get one black mana, then use that mana to cast the Zombie from our graveyard, then rinse and repeat. With the right payoff, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can win the game! Go onto <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/">Commander Spellbook</a>, which is bound to have more combos waiting for you to discover. For faster mana, look no further than cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which adds a black mana for each Swamp we have. That's a lot of mana!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bolas&#039;s Citadel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Tutor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Altar"></div></div>


<p>This is a great buy for the new player who wants to use every possible resource and loves a template to start doing some combos down the line. Not so much an experienced player, who will likely use a different commander for the job. But, hey, if they're missing some Zombie pieces found in the precon (or need a base to work with), this is a nice start, though they should be consider buying singles if the number of cards they need is too few. There are also a lot of surprising reprints here, ensuring the value is high.</p>
<p>For the newer players, I'd give this deck a B/B+, but for experienced players, a B-. The reprints go a long way to buoy the grade for the latter group</p>


Wretched Ranks - Foundations Precon Guide

<p><em>Calling All Angels </em>is a new beginner Commander preconstructed deck associated with <em>Foundations </em>and released Oct. 2, 2026. What's in the deck, who are the commanders, and is it a good buy?</p>
<p>Let's find out.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/foundationscommanderheaderANGELS.png

<p>The <i>Calling All Angels</i> Commander deck contains the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>1 Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck</li>
<li>1 Traditional foil face commander with borderless art</li>
<li>99 Non-foil cards</li>
<li>10 Non-foil double-sided tokens</li>
<li>1 Reference card</li>
<li>1 Deck box</li>
</ul>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope|FDC|4" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giada, Font of Hope|FDC|4"></div></div>
<p>Giada enters the battlefield early in the game, providing us with the mana (by tapping her, so turn the card sideways) we need to help casting our big Angels. In addition, her first ability will trigger for each Angel that enters while she's out. This means our creatures will eventually get huge, and we can attack to take the win.</p>
<p>Like lots of other Angels, Giada can fly, but what really carries her card outside of her abilities is vigilance. We can use her to attack someone, then use the mana ability later in the turn (which, to note, can only be used to cast our Angel spells).</p>
<p>Giada so happens to be <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/angels">the most popular Angel commander</a> we have available (as of time of writing), so there's little worry about anything better than her. The fact that she can be cast early means that we're more likely to cast her over and over again.</p>


<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Norn&#039;s Choirmaster|FDC|41" href="#" target="_blank">Norn&#039;s Choirmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Norn&#039;s Choirmaster|FDC|41"></div></div>
<p>In the context of this deck, our commander entering or attacking means that we can get even more counters, making our creatures bigger. Those counters will be aplenty, so there's plenty of counters to proliferate. Before this precon, it had been carrying a bit of a high price tag, so it's nice to see it here.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Court of Grace|FDC|21" href="#" target="_blank">Court of Grace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Court of Grace|FDC|21"></div></div>
<p>Monarch is such a fun mechanic in that it forces games to go faster, with less worry about attacking. As a bonus for being the monarch, we get a free Angel token (and a Soldier token if we're not), so it adds to our Angel synergies while rewarding us for keeping that crown on our heads.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="War Room|FDC|317" href="#" target="_blank">War Room</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="War Room|FDC|317"></div></div>
<p>If there's something mono-white is infamous for, it's a lack of ramp and card draw. War Room (and a favorite of mine, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tome of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Tome of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) will go a long way to help us keep our hand stocked up. These two teach us that colorless sources are sometimes the best way to fill in the gaps a color has.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archangel of Tithes|FDC|17" href="#" target="_blank">Archangel of Tithes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archangel of Tithes|FDC|17"></div></div>
<p>Costing triple of one color is normally rough, but mono-color decks can handle it. In this case, this creature can either make it difficult to attack us or block. The best way to improve the creature is to give it vigilance to ensure it'll be more difficult for us to be attacked.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exemplar of Light|FDC|28" href="#" target="_blank">Exemplar of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exemplar of Light|FDC|28"></div></div>
<p>While it's the most recent card in our list, it also teaches us of the various themes that can intersect each other. Angel decks are known to have a good amount of incidental life gain, which gives the Exemplar counters, and we get a card for that. No life gain? Then that's what our commander is for: a shortcut to draw that card.</p>


<p>The plan with this deck is to get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out early, so we can start casting our Angels, then using Giada to bolster them with +1/+1 counters and start attacking opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starnheim Aspirant|FDC|51"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lyra Dawnbringer|FDC|38"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reya Dawnbringer|FDC|42"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starnheim Aspirant|FDC|51" href="#" target="_blank">Starnheim Aspirant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While Giada helps us pay costs for Angels, she can only give us one mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starnheim Aspirant" href="#" target="_blank">Starnheim Aspirant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides greater reach, making our Angels cost two fewer generic mana. The catch is that she only reduces the generic mana cost, not the color pips (something Giada helps with). It also comes down early, so we can get that discount, assuming we draw into it. This is one benefit of having Giada in the command zone: she's always there, provided we have the mana to cast her.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lyra Dawnbringer|FDC|38" href="#" target="_blank">Lyra Dawnbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: One of our better Angels in the deck. For five mana, she comes with an assortment of valuable keywords on top of a 5/5 stat line. She also improves the stats of other Angels we have and gives them lifelink, allowing us to stay in the game longer (unless commander damage is involved). She acts as one of our mid-game Angels, meaning she can be cast earlier than some of our more heavy-costed creatures.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reya Dawnbringer|FDC|42" href="#" target="_blank">Reya Dawnbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: One of those aforementioned expensive Angels, Reya isn't going to be punching someone anytime soon. That said, the real value lies in her ability, allowing us to return a fallen Angel from our graveyard to the battlefield. One cheeky way to dodge the commander tax is to put our commander in said graveyard if she dies, then we can bring her back on our next upkeep. Two things to note here: our commander will have summoning sickness, and it'll only delay bringing back much bigger targets as well.</p>


<p>There are no real combos in the list, as this deck is aimed at newer players (be it to the game or to Commander). That said, there are a few synergies here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exemplar of Light|FDC|28"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade|FDC|47"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald of War|FDC|34"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exemplar of Light|FDC|28" href="#" target="_blank">Exemplar of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: I mentioned how <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (our commander) interacts with Exemplar. It'll get a counter from Giada on entry, drawing us a card. Also, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lyra Dawnbringer" href="#" target="_blank">Lyra Dawnbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out, Exemplar will get lifelink, allowing us to draw a card when it deals (combat) damage.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade|FDC|47" href="#" target="_blank">Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Another big Angel, but with some nifty uses. We can cheat the casting cost with her alternate cost, but the real synergy is casting a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of Judgment" href="#" target="_blank">Day of Judgment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This will protect all of our big flyers, but not Sephara herself, so she will die, but the rest of our board won't. We can always pull her out of the graveyard with certain effects.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald of War|FDC|34" href="#" target="_blank">Herald of War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Another cost reducer, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starnheim Aspirant" href="#" target="_blank">Starnheim Aspirant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> earlier, but this actually grows with more +1/+1 counters on the Herald. With Giada in play, we can cast this first with one or two Angels, putting counters on the Herald, meaning we don't have to attack to start dropping more of them (but let's be honest, we're still going to attack with it anyway, as it will be big).</p>


<p>A few lands and mana rocks (artifacts that give us mana) in this list are worth noting as well, starting with the latter.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patchwork Banner|FDC|279"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seraph Sanctuary|FDC|313"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patchwork Banner|FDC|279" href="#" target="_blank">Patchwork Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: While it does give us one mana, it also buffs our creatures of any type we choose by +1/+1 (we're choosing Angels here). It doesn't mean much, considering our creatures are already a considerable size, but that small buff can make a difference. Even one of something can make a huge difference in a game, and the Banner's no different.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heraldic Banner|FDC|263" href="#" target="_blank">Heraldic Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: However, if you want to take a more aggressive approach, this particular banner will do. We lose giving our creatures a point of toughness, but we choose a color instead of a creature type, meaning all of our white creatures get the boost.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonders&#039; Enclave|FDC|297" href="#" target="_blank">Bonders&#039; Enclave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="War Room" href="#" target="_blank">War Room</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before it, we get card draw on a land. Don't be afraid to utilize colorless sources for ramp and draw when you need them, because not every color covers these things (this applies to removal, too). On the plus side, since our Angels will have a power of four or greater, we can draw a card here. It'll be very likely that we do.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seraph Sanctuary|FDC|313" href="#" target="_blank">Seraph Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Gaining one life when it comes in or when an Angel enters doesn't do a lot, but what it does do is trigger cards that benefit from life gain, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exemplar of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Exemplar of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vanguard Seraph" href="#" target="_blank">Vanguard Seraph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When looking to upgrade the deck, be on the look out for such effects.</p>


<h3>The First Five Cuts</h3>
<p>Speaking of upgrades, there's always room to upgrade each precon, and this one is no different. To begin our journey to upgrade the deck, here's some cards I'd suggest cutting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Linvala, the Preserver|FDC|37"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exorcise|FDC|29"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunblast Angel|FDC|52"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Linvala, the Preserver|FDC|37" href="#" target="_blank">Linvala, the Preserver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: We'd have to be seriously behind for us to maximize her potential, and for six mana, that's asking a bit much. On that note, there is another, much better version of Linvala we're going to add. I'll get to her in a few moments.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invoke the Divine|FDC|36" href="#" target="_blank">Invoke the Divine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: There are much better effects for similar mana cost, including ones that exile, meaning the troublesome artifact or enchantment is gone for the rest of the game.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunblast Angel|FDC|52" href="#" target="_blank">Sunblast Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: I count four board wipes in the precon, which I feel is too much. Besides, she's the worst one because she only hits tapped creatures, and for six mana, we can do better.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commander&#039;s Sphere" href="#" target="_blank">Commander&#039;s Sphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: There's better ramp out there, even among artifacts. Sacrificing it to draw a card is nice, but it's not doing much lifting here.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exorcise" href="#" target="_blank">Exorcise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Again, there's better removal out there. Also, this is a sorcery, which is not ideal (removal spells are at their best if they're instants).</p>
<h3>Budget Upgrades</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valkyrie Harbinger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serra the Benevolent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigarda&#039;s Vanguard"></div></div>
<p>Below are five cards I'd add if I were upgrading these on a budget (Up to $5 at time of writing).</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: I grouped these two together because they fulfill the same function: better removal. Path will permanently get rid of a troublesome creature, but your opponent gets to put a basic land from their library onto the battlefield tapped. That's okay, because it's better than being trampled by some indestructible creature. Meanwhile, the Gift will get rid of any permanent, and the 3/3 your opponent will get is a lot easier to deal with, especially with our bigger creatures.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valkyrie Harbinger" href="#" target="_blank">Valkyrie Harbinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: We're going to be gaining life, and we make an Angel token once we hit that threshold. Even better is that she's a four-power creature with lifelink, so she can trigger that ability by herself. For a similar effect, you could also run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but the token won't have vigilance.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serra the Benevolent" href="#" target="_blank">Serra the Benevolent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: The lone planeswalker we're adding actually works with our Angels, giving them an easy buff. Meanwhile, the second ability gets us a token similar to what the above Valkyrie is making. The final ability, if we can get there (planeswalkers are prime targets that draw opponents' attention), ensures that we never die so as long as we have a creature in play. Note that this doesn't protect us against loss of life, so be careful.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sigarda&#039;s Vanguard" href="#" target="_blank">Sigarda&#039;s Vanguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Don't let this quirky Angel fool you. She has flash, meaning we can cast her any time, and we get her trigger when she comes in or attacks. Giving double strike to three different creatures with different powers (like, for example, a creature that has 2, 3, or 4 power respectively) is sure to scare the daylights out of an unprepared opponent. However, five mana is a lot to hold up, so be mindful of that.</p>
<h3>Luxury Upgrades</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archangel of Thune"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pearl Medallion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avacyn, Angel of Hope"></div></div>
<p>Now, if you've got money growing on trees, then these five cards are worth looking into.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archangel of Thune" href="#" target="_blank">Archangel of Thune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Remember when I said to look out for cards that trigger on life gain? This is what I meant. Even a single point of life means our board gets huge, especially if it's in rapid succession. Our board will grow very big, very fast under her influence.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pearl Medallion" href="#" target="_blank">Pearl Medallion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Ensuring that all of our white spells cost one less generic mana is stellar, and all for two mana as well.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resplendent Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Resplendent Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Like I said above with Valkyrie Harbinger, we can make more Angels with flying and vigilance, but that's not all. While both (and Angelic Accord) trigger on each end step, Resplendent Angel can pump herself with the activated ability, and give herself lifelink, ensuring that we get her end step trigger. Even better if our commander put enough counters on her.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avacyn, Angel of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Avacyn, Angel of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Eight mana is a lot, but Avacyn's very worth it. She's indestructible, so "destroy" effect and damage can't send her away, but she grants that to every permanent we control, too. All with a 8/8 flying and vigilance package. One of the best upgrades you can make.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: A cost reducer and a chance to draw a card if we reveal an Angel on our upkeep is not a bad rate. This helps with the two things white tends to struggle with: ramp and draw.</p>
<h3>Going into Bracket 3</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farewell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smothering Tithe"></div></div>
<p>Perhaps you want much faster games, and play under Bracket 3 instead? Here's some advice I can give you.</p>
<p>For Game Changers, I'd look into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which shields our entire board (and ourselves) for a turn. Perfect to stop a lethal attack or to protect from a board wipe. To help with ramping, we can always run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which will give us a lot of treasures over time. Lastly, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which wipes out literally everything on board, but note that this hits us as well, so time it right.</p>
<p>To go faster, we'll want to cut out a lot of the more expensive cards and shoot for a lower curve. The Linvala I mentioned, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Linvala, Keeper of Silence" href="#" target="_blank">Linvala, Keeper of Silence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good example of this. Low-costing Angels are at a premium, so I'd be focusing on adding those. Perhaps run some Changelings, too (since they act as every creature type).</p>


<p>To conclude our tour of the precon, this is a pretty good buy for a new player, offering a straightforward strategy as a gateway into the game (or the format). For an experienced player looking for a template for an Angel deck, this precon isn't a bad place to begin. All this on top of the reprint value being pretty good for the $29.99 asking price (do not pay markups!).</p>
<p>I'd give this deck a B+/A-. There are some obvious holes, but they're easily patched. This is still a really good starting point for an Angels deck, and likely our best for a long time.</p>


foundations commander

Wretched Ranks - Foundations Precon Guide

Calling All Angels - Foundations Precon Guide