<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/nezt">Néstor Ossandón Leal</a></em></p>
<p>The unexpected wave of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mtg-commander-deck-techs"><em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em></a> spoilers that dropped after the little mishap with some <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> prerelease kits has hit, and there are a lot of legends to look at! As usual, there are a handful of cool blue cards that have caught my eye, and I'll be taking my shot at one of them here. In this deck tech, I'm going to tackle <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and hopefully build a really sweet blink deck!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conjurer&#039;s Closet"></div></div>
<p>Don and Leo, Problem Solvers is a five-mana 4/6 <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/azorius">Azorius</a> (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander with vigilance. The real money is in this commander's only ability: at the begging of its controller's end step, Don &amp; Leo exile and return up to one artifact and up to one creature. This Turtle duo is basically two <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yorion, Sky Nomad"></div></div>
<p>This commander very closely resembles one of my all-time favorites, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yorion, Sky Nomad" href="#" target="_blank">Yorion, Sky Nomad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Blinking two permanents instead of potentially my entire board is a little weaker, but Don &amp; Leo make up for it by not requiring any maintenance to keep the engine running turn to turn. Where a Yorion deck is compelled to play blink spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloudshift" href="#" target="_blank">Cloudshift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to keep the blink train moving, Don &amp; Leo simply work every turn without having to provide any additional input.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<h3>The Artifacts</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryogen Relic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Circuit Mender"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clay-Fired Bricks"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryogen Relic" href="#" target="_blank">Cryogen Relic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is far and away the best artifact in this deck. It comes down, draws a card, gets blinked and draws one more on the way out, and then it draws one more when it comes back. Casting this artifact with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play is essentially an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Recall" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Recall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The other artifacts I've included follow a similar pattern: cheap and easy to generate a ton of extra cards off of over the course of a long game.</p>
<h3>The Creatures</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agent of Treachery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anticausal Vestige"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Riptide Gearhulk"></div></div>
<p>The most powerful enters triggers in this deck have been reserved for the creatures. At the lower end of the mana curve, cheap creatures with enters triggers that draw a card or find a land are perfectly fine. At the higher end, this deck's most explosive plays are waiting for the turn where I hit five, six, or seven mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent of Treachery" href="#" target="_blank">Agent of Treachery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is among the most oppressive, coming down and stealing the most powerful permanent on the board. Then, it'll get blinked, hopefully multiple times, before the end of the turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anticausal Vestige" href="#" target="_blank">Anticausal Vestige</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a sweet warp creature that, in the later stages of the game, can cheat in a couple high-cost permanents. Notably, both Anticausal Vestige and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quantum Riddler" href="#" target="_blank">Quantum Riddler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be blinked to avoid being exiled by warp at end of turn. Simply stack the beginning of end step triggers such that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>' triggered ability resolves first.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riptide Gearhulk" href="#" target="_blank">Riptide Gearhulk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the most potent piece of removal in the deck. It comes down, tucks three nonland permanents into their owners' decks. When being blinked repeatedly, this Construct can generate insurmountable card advantage very quickly. While not fantastic against opposing creatures with their own powerful enters triggers, stacking all of the opponents' best cards onto the top of their library will very quickly render their decks inert as it gets more and more difficult for them to draw answers to the game state through being forced to redraw cards they've already played.</p>
<h3>Amplification</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola Rhul"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Preston, the Vanisher"></div></div>
<p>I like to think of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a value piñata that I get to beat removal and card draw out of. Amplifiers are cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: they take whatever "the thing" a deck is doing and helps the deck do it even harder. In this case, Y'shtola provides an extra blink and an extra end step to get even more value from every turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preston, the Vanisher" href="#" target="_blank">Preston, the Vanisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes copies of creatures as they get blinked. This is nearly functionally identical to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but Preston comes with a little removal engine built in. Plus, all those tokens make for great blockers!</p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers" href="#" target="_blank">Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Deck Win the Game?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moonshaker Cavalry"></div></div>
<p>When looking to win through combat, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonshaker Cavalry" href="#" target="_blank">Moonshaker Cavalry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serves as a white <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It isn't mana-efficient, and it isn't my preferred method to end a game, but Moonshaker Cavalry's presence in the deck offers a source of inevitability, something that's very important in these slow value-based decks.</p>
<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of the Brood" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of the Brood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>
<p>With the number of flicker effects in this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altar of the Brood" href="#" target="_blank">Altar of the Brood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an additional source of inevitability. This is a win condition that I initially underestimated, as the mill can really add up in long games where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eerie Interlude" href="#" target="_blank">Eerie Interlude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> loops get involved.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Simulacrum Synthesizer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div></div>
<p>Making a bunch of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Construct" href="#" target="_blank">Construct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simulacrum Synthesizer" href="#" target="_blank">Simulacrum Synthesizer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is my favorite, and possibly the fastest, route to victory I've included. The Construct tokens grow really quickly, and Simulacrum Synthesizer is incredibly resilient against board wipes, making this a great way to apply a lot of pressure really quickly without fizzling out in the face of removal.</p>
<h2>Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Don and Leo" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aether Channeler
*1 Agent of Treachery
*1 Anticausal Vestige
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Circuit Mender
*1 Dour Port-Mage
*1 Helpful Hunter
*1 Invasion Reinforcements
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Moonshaker Cavalry
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Preston, the Vanisher
*1 Quantum Riddler
*1 Reflector Mage
*1 Resolute Reinforcements
*1 Riptide Gearhulk
*1 Skyclave Apparition
*1 Solitude
*1 Soulherder
*1 Spirited Companion
*1 Stonehorn Dignitary
*1 Subtlety
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Tax Collector
*1 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
*1 Urza, Lord High Artificer
*1 Wall of Omens
*1 Watcher for Tomorrow
*1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow
*1 Y&#039;shtola Rhul
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of the Brood
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Archaeomancer&#039;s Map
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Clay-Fired Bricks // Cosmium Kiln
*1 Coveted Jewel
*1 Cryogen Relic
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Instant Ramen
*1 Lembas
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Pre-War Formalwear
*1 Prophetic Prism
*1 Simulacrum Synthesizer
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 The Mightstone and Weakstone
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Commandeer
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Flare of Fortitude
*1 Flusterstorm
*1 Misdirection
*1 Orim&#039;s Chant
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Morningtide&#039;s Light
*1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Agna Qel&#039;a
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Command Tower
*1 Demolition Field
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*7 Island
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Mystic Gate
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*6 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Seachrome Coast
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Sunken Citadel
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yorion, Sky Nomad"></div></div>
<p>This deck was a fantastic excuse to delve back into the Azorius blink decks I spent a lot of time refining when I first got into Commander. I terrorized people with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yorion, Sky Nomad" href="#" target="_blank">Yorion, Sky Nomad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in every format from Commander to Standard and Brawl. If the rules allowed, I'd go up to 120 cards in this Don &amp; Leo, Problem Solvers build to put Yorion in the companion zone! Alas, the rules of Commander are unfavorable for my beloved sky noodle. It's really saddening, especially now that Yorion has also been banned from Modern as well, that there are increasingly few good places for everyone's favorite Bird Serpent.</p>
<p>This deck is intended for the lower end of <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets">Bracket</a> 3 (Upgraded). While it meets all the eligibility requirements for Bracket 2 (Core), I'd be very hesitant to take a deck that can create oppressive removal engines. It'd be nearly impossible to dial back the most compelling aspects of the deck in a way that would make it Bracket-2-friendly.</p>
<p>Don &amp; Leo are the second commander from <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> I've covered so far, with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/michelangelo-on-the-scene-deck-tech">first one</a> being all the way back in October 2025! I'm looking forward to reading about what I missed in the comments, and I'm hoping we can all get back to reveling in the warm feelings that <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> brought about for a while before Turtles season in is full swing!</p>


Blinking Artifacts in Commander With Don &#038; Leo, Problem Solvers

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Key Art | image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Viacom</em></p>
<p>This past weekend, during the <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> Prerelease event, some of you may have seen the presence of strange promo cards lurking in your kits. A day into this very bizarre occurrence, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coast-addresses-leaked-cards-during-prerelease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we covered the leaks</a> in a very roundabout way, as is the nature of our policy on doing so. However, this Wednesday, January 21st, Wizards of the Coast confirmed in a statement that this set of leaks was entirely a mistake, and entirely on them.</p>
<p>Thus, we can finally discuss them in greater depth and detail. <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> has apparently successfully infiltrated <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>!</p>
<p>As such, we have a journalistic duty to cover exactly what Wizards' statement is about and how it might affect things in the future. So read on while we do precisely that.</p>
<h2>Wizards of the Coast's Statement</h2>
<p>On January 21st, Blake Rasmussen of Wizards of the Coast published <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/on-turtles-faeries-and-the-lorwyn-eclipsed-prerelease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an article</a> stating the following (with some <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> cards interspersed to add a bit of levity to the piece):</p>
<blockquote><p>This past weekend, your love of Lorwyn was wildly evident. We loved seeing all of your posts about pulls, packed local game stores, sweet decks (especially the Merfolk ones), and all-around enjoyment of this world and set. There's a good chance your joy sparked one of the best-attended, most beloved, and certainly among the most memorable Prerelease weekends we've ever held. You all seem to really love <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em>, and we couldn't be happier that you do. The weekend was almost perfect. Almost.</p>
<p>We, like you, were a bit shell shocked to discover that a small but noticeable number of players received foil rares and mythic rares from the upcoming <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> set. It was in no way planned or part of any kind of promotion. It seems like most of you had a blast, even with some non-<em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> cards sneaking their way onto your battlefields, and fun is fun as far as we're concerned.</p>
<p>But this still wasn't exactly the type of fun we had intended. [...]</p></blockquote>
<h2>Wizards' Fixes for These Unexpected Previews</h2>
<p>The article continues to detail the issues of this unexpected infiltration, and how Wizards of the Coast plans to address it in the month-plus leading up to the official <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> set release.</p>
<p>For one thing, Wizards seems to have... Well, allegedly <em>something</em> planned for later. This "something" relates to allowing <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> to have some more time in the spotlight, although the article does not state what it will be.</p>
<p>Beyond this, the preview season will undoubtedly be affected by this leak, although by Wizards' own admission, it's on them. There are still many common and uncommon cards, as well as plenty of supplemental cards, to reveal, according to Blake, so that's fun at least!</p>
<p>Finally, in the wake of the entirety of the rare and mythic rare suite of the <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> set leaking, Wizards has put up all of the leaked cards on their <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/card-image-gallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Card Image Gallery</a> for the set. You can also already see those on <a href="http://scryfall.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scryfall</a>, if that's where you prefer to see them.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>So now, let's open the floor to you, dear readers! How does the prospect of additional time enjoying <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> sound to you? Also, how do you think Wizards of the Coast is handling this rigmarole of a premature preview season for <em>TMNT</em>? Is this kind of thing a cause for alarm for you? (<em>TMNT</em> releases on my birthday, March 6th, so I'm personally still rather hyped.) Sound off in the comments below!</p>


turtles

Blinking Artifacts in Commander With Don & Leo, Problem Solvers

Wizards of the Coast Issues Statement on Turtles Eclipsing Lorwyn

Five Creature Types That Need More Support for Commander

Too-Specific Top 10 - Pack Think Revisited