At first glance, Phyrexia: All Will Be One set for Magic: The Gathering should be erupting with new meta-breaking commanders, but it's turned out to actually be more geared towards providing support cards for already established top-tier decks.
It doesn't mean that it's completely devoid of good commander cards, not at all, but they don't actually make up the strength of this set. Our selection of the best MtG cards from Phyrexia: All Will Be One for commander format includes some excellent combo pieces, as well as synergy boosters for some good old strategies.
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Unctus, Grand Metatect
Unctus is the new ultimate commander!
His combo with Aphetto Alchemist allows you to draw and discard as many cards as you want. Here's how it goes:
- Play Aphetto Alchemist.
- Play Jeweled Lotus.
- Cast Unctus, Grand Metatect.
- Pay 2 life to activate Unctus' last ability on Aphetto Alchemist.
- Tap and untap Aphetto Alchemist for infinite card draw.
In the end you can win the game with Thassa's Oracle or any other card that exploits empty library.
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Minor Misstep
Little spells can often do grand things. Minor Misstep has a huge potential in EDH, being able to counter such spells like Reanimate, Swan Song, Pact of Negation, Dispel, Dark Ritual, and even itself.
Blue decks will absolutely need one of these in case no other counterspell is available at the moment, or when your mana is too low for casting other more expensive counterspells.
It will definitely have an impact on the current meta, which is chock full of 0 and 1 mana spells.
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Synthesis Pod
Casting and making Syntheis Pod work could take a lot of time and set up. But if you get your deck right, you could use it to disrupt your opponent's entire gameplan by extracting the most important components from their deck.
It could be effectively used in Sen Triplets or Tasha, the Witch Queen lists that benefit from casting spells you don't own. But there could be other applications as well.
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Atraxa, Grand Unifier
There are two positive things about the new Atraxa commander card.
First, it allows players to sift through their library by simply putting Atraxa on the table (you don't need to attack and deal damage). Second, it reveals a brand-new type of card, simply known as "Battle".
Sure, Atraxa is hard to cast but so is many other commanders in EDH. If you like to play heavy creatures, then this one might be right up your alley.
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All Will Be One
The central thematic spell of the new set is a fantastic new combo piece, which can be synergized with a number of cards for infinite damage, including:
- The Red Terror
- War Elemental
- Talon of Pain
- Quest of Pure Flame
The best shell for this card would be the Naya list with Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor commander, since going the mono red route would be too problematic for tutoring those combo pieces.
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Vindictive Flamestoker
Here is a great Storm piece for Birgi, God of Storytelling and Eruth, Tormented Prophet. It can also be used in Izzet lists, but may very well be a bit too slow, although it actually depends on the list itself.
One of the most plausible applications of Vindictive Flamestoker in Izzet decks would be the one with Ovika, Enigma Goliath commander, which converts non-creature spells into hasty tokens.
You can also use it alongside Purphoros, God of the Forge and Sea Gate Restoration.
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Venerated Rotpriest
Although not a commander in itself, Venerated Rotpriest is the source of a number of lethal combos that utilize its Toxic ability.
One of the better combos requires Chain of Silence and ten sacrificed lands, which would put ten poison counters onto an opponent for lethal damage. But even a simple Proliferate deck would do well with Venerated Rotpriest on board quickly snatching one victory after another.
The two most popular Proliferate lists at this point would be Atraxa, Praetors' Voice and Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres.
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Ichormoon Gauntlet
Ichormoon Gauntlet is one of the wildest new cards in MtG. It allows planeswalkers to use two extra abilities, one of which is a free Proliferate, and the other one gives you an extra turn.
If you combine it with Teferi, Master of Time, you can Proliferate each turn, including your opponent's. This practically doubles all your counters, including poison for an even quicker victory in the new Toxic meta.
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Mercurial Spelldancer
Mercurial Spelldancer has a lot of things going on, but in EDH the most valuable would definitely be the first one, which says that this card can't be blocked.
It also has the vibes of Snapcaster Mage, but it will most likely end up in lists such as Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus; Anhelo, the Painter; and Venser, Corpse Puppet. Each of these would love attacking without being blocked!
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Skrelv's Hive
Here is Bitterblossom for white decks! Well, sort of. These tokens can't block.
Actually, both enchantments could be used in Orzhov lists with such commanders like Teysa Karlov or Marneus Calgar, which is recommended for an even wider army of tokens generated each turn. You can use Faeries to block, and Mites to attack.
Also, note that Bitterblossom costs $30 on the market, today while Skrelv's Hive hovers around $5 a pop.
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The Mycosynth Gardens
This land has a universal appeal for all colorless artifact-based lists in EDH, but it is currently eyed mostly by Graaz, Unstoppable Juggernaut players.
It can quickly become the copy of Sword of Forge and Frontier from the new set, or a copy of good old Thran Dynamo. The choice is yours, and this land can do it all as long as you have the required amount of mana to spare.
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Soulless Jailer
Here is another universal piece, but this time it is truly universal for all types of decks, and this time it is a graveyard hate piece.
Some players could say that there are other cheaper options, such as Grafdigger's Cage that costs only 1 mana, but Soulless Jailer is also a blocker and an artifact creature. It could play a much more important role in certain decks.
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Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
Although it isn't stated on the card itself, Tyvar is actually an Elf planeswalker, and Elves archetype would be the best place for this neat card in EDH.
Tyvar has an excellent synergy with Lathril, Blade of the Elves, an Elf commander that deals 10 damage by getting tapped. Tyvar's static ability allows you to tap Lathril instantly after being played, then tap her again by activating his first ability and effectively dealing 20 damage in a single turn.
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Neyali, Suns' Vanguard
Pretty much nobody will be surprised to see Neyali, Suns' Vanguard as a part of the well-established Boros Winota archetype in EDH. It is as if this card was specifically designed for that list.
Although it is a legendary creature, there is somewhat of a consensus among players that this card will never be a commander in itself, but only as a part of 99 in the Winota, Joiner of Forces' army of attackers.
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Skyhunter Strike Force
How about a buffed flying attacker that also buffs other attackers? It could be another addition to Boros Winota, or it could go straight into the Mardu Combat deck with Isshin, Two Heavens as One commander that triggers both Melee and Lieutenant abilities on Skyhunter Strike Force twice.
It isn't rocket science, just a brutally effective combat strategy that could win you many games after a certain set up.
That's all for the best 15 cards in MtG's Phyrexia: All Will Be One set. In addition to this list of the best Phyrexia: All Will Be One cards for commander, be sure to check out our other MtG guides and card lists here.
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Published: Feb 7, 2023 08:15 am