hanshardmeier
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Commander
Size: 100Salt sum: 41.71
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Teval, the Balanced Scale
Flying
Whenever Teval attacks, mill three cards. Then you may return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, create a 2/2 black Zombie Druid creature token.
Whenever Teval attacks, mill three cards. Then you may return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, create a 2/2 black Zombie Druid creature token.
Legendary Creature - Dragon Spirit
Commander
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Nezahal, Primal Tide
This spell can't be countered.
You have no maximum hand size.
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, draw a card.
Discard three cards: Exile Nezahal. Return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
You have no maximum hand size.
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, draw a card.
Discard three cards: Exile Nezahal. Return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Legendary Creature - Elder Dinosaur
The Gitrog Monster
Deathtouch
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice The Gitrog Monster unless you sacrifice a land.
You may play an additional land on each of your turns.
Whenever one or more land cards are put into your graveyard from anywhere, draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice The Gitrog Monster unless you sacrifice a land.
You may play an additional land on each of your turns.
Whenever one or more land cards are put into your graveyard from anywhere, draw a card.
Legendary Creature - Horror Frog
Zimone and Dina
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
, Sacrifice another creature: Draw a card. You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped. If you control eight or more lands, repeat this process once.
, Sacrifice another creature: Draw a card. You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped. If you control eight or more lands, repeat this process once.
Legendary Creature - Human Dryad
Card Advantage
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Braids, Arisen Nightmare
At the beginning of your end step, you may sacrifice an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker. If you do, each opponent may sacrifice a permanent of their choice that shares a card type with it. For each opponent who doesn't, that player loses 2 life and you draw a card.
Legendary Creature - Nightmare
Disrupt - Mass
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Archdruid's Charm
Choose one —
• Search your library for a creature or land card and reveal it. Put it onto the battlefield tapped if it's a land card. Otherwise, put it into your hand. Then shuffle.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. It deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control.
• Exile target artifact or enchantment.
• Search your library for a creature or land card and reveal it. Put it onto the battlefield tapped if it's a land card. Otherwise, put it into your hand. Then shuffle.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. It deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control.
• Exile target artifact or enchantment.
Instant
Awaken the Honored Dead
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Destroy target nonland permanent.
II — Mill three cards.
III — You may discard a card. When you do, return target creature or land card from your graveyard to your hand.
I — Destroy target nonland permanent.
II — Mill three cards.
III — You may discard a card. When you do, return target creature or land card from your graveyard to your hand.
Enchantment - Saga
Disrupt - Targeted
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Six
Reach
Whenever Six attacks, mill three cards. You may put a land card from among them into your hand.
During your turn, nonland permanent cards in your graveyard have retrace. (You may cast permanent cards from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying their other costs.)
Whenever Six attacks, mill three cards. You may put a land card from among them into your hand.
During your turn, nonland permanent cards in your graveyard have retrace. (You may cast permanent cards from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying their other costs.)
Legendary Creature - Treefolk
Enabler - Mill - Land
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Kodama of the East Tree
Reach
Whenever another permanent you control enters, if it wasn't put onto the battlefield with this ability, you may put a permanent card with equal or lesser mana value from your hand onto the battlefield.
Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)
Whenever another permanent you control enters, if it wasn't put onto the battlefield with this ability, you may put a permanent card with equal or lesser mana value from your hand onto the battlefield.
Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)
Legendary Creature - Spirit
Enhancer - Support
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Ba Sing Se
This land enters tapped unless you control a basic land.
: Add .
, : Earthbend 2. Activate only as a sorcery. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)
: Add .
, : Earthbend 2. Activate only as a sorcery. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)
Land
Demolition Field
: Add .
, , Sacrifice this land: Destroy target nonbasic land an opponent controls. That land's controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle. You may search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
, , Sacrifice this land: Destroy target nonbasic land an opponent controls. That land's controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle. You may search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Land
Glacial Chasm
Cumulative upkeep—Pay 2 life. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
When this land enters, sacrifice a land.
Creatures you control can't attack.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you.
When this land enters, sacrifice a land.
Creatures you control can't attack.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you.
Land
Land
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Mightform Harmonizer
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, double the power of target creature you control until end of turn.
Warp (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
Warp (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
Creature - Druid Insect
PayOff - Landfall - Others
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Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer
Protection from planeswalkers and from Wizards
Greensleeves's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a 3/3 green Badger creature token.
Greensleeves's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a 3/3 green Badger creature token.
Legendary Creature - Elemental Sorcerer
Springheart Nantuko
Bestow
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may pay if this permanent is attached to a creature you control. If you do, create a token that's a copy of that creature. If you didn't create a token this way, create a 1/1 green Insect creature token.
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may pay if this permanent is attached to a creature you control. If you do, create a token that's a copy of that creature. If you didn't create a token this way, create a 1/1 green Insect creature token.
Creature Enchantment - Monk Insect
PayOff - Landfall - Tokens
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Sandman, Shifting Scoundrel
Sandman's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.
Sandman can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
: Return this card and target land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Sandman can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
: Return this card and target land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Legendary Creature - Elemental Villain Sand
PayOff - LandMatter - Size
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The Scarab God
At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses X life and you scry X, where X is the number of Zombies you control.
: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie.
When The Scarab God dies, return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie.
When The Scarab God dies, return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
Legendary Creature - God
PayOff - Recursion
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Fanatic of Rhonas
: Add .
Ferocious — : Add . Activate only if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Eternalize (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie Snake Druid with no mana cost. Eternalize only as a sorcery.)
Ferocious — : Add . Activate only if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Eternalize (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie Snake Druid with no mana cost. Eternalize only as a sorcery.)
Creature - Druid Snake
Tireless Provisioner
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a Food token or a Treasure token. (Food is an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life." Treasure is an artifact with ", Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Creature - Elf Scout
Ramp
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Sideboard
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Deck Info
Deck stats
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Description
{"ops":[{"insert":"Overview:"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n[[Teval, the Balanced Scale]] leads a Sultai landfall deck focused on returning lands from the graveyard, and generating value from numerous landfall triggers. The primary game plan involves playing multiple lands per turn to create Zombie tokens, draw cards, and develop a wide board, eventually winning through combat with [[Craterhoof Behemoth]], overwhelming token armies from [[Avenger of Zendikar]] and [[Scute Swarm]] or using any of the 40+ combos. \n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Personal restrictions"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"No tutors (except for land ramp tutors)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Flavorful (Theme: Decay Nature): Max 1-2 artifacts"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Core Pre-Game Details"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTarget Bracket: \t\t\t\tHIGH 3 \n\nAvg Game Length: \t\t\t6.2 turns ("},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderbracket.app/bracket"},"insert":"Bracket Analyzer"},{"insert":")\nCRISPI: \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5.5 ("},{"attributes":{"link":"https://deckcheck.co/app/builder/GjL0G0y3KE"},"insert":"Deckcheck"},{"insert":")\nCommand Salt Level: \t6.9 - Focused Casual ("},{"attributes":{"link":" https://www.commandersalt.com/details/deck/cc838fa330669d0bc347deffd5aaa65c"},"insert":"Commandersalt"},{"insert":")\nScrycheck:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7.7 +/- 0.3 ("},{"attributes":{"link":"https://scrycheck.com/deck/8fc6887e2a34c6fa"},"insert":"Scrycheck"},{"insert":")\nCombos:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 34 ("},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/find-my-combos/?deckUrl=https%3A%2F%2Farchidekt.com%2Fdecks%2F21121805%2Fteval_the_balanced_scale_40_landfall_combos"},"insert":"Command Spellbook)"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Primer:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Primer"},{"insert":" Teval works as an exceptional landfall commander because it acts as a [[Hedron Crab]], [[Crucible of Worlds]], and [[Exploration]] engine in the command zone. This allows you to:\nReuse self-sacrificing lands like [[Polluted Delta]] or [[Brokers Hideout]]."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pay commander tax efficiently, allowing you to prioritize utility over excessive protection spells."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Mitigate flood by discarding land cards to your graveyard to be recurred later."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Generate a Zombie army as a natural byproduct of your engine"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Core Strategy"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ramp Early:"},{"insert":" Play mana dorks or utilize land-fetching sorceries like [[Nature's Lore]], [[Three Visits]], and [[Sakura-Tribe Elder]]."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Setup:"},{"insert":" Use mill or self-sacrificing lands to fill your graveyard with lands."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Engine Deployment:"},{"insert":" Cast Teval to mill and return lands, triggering landfall abilities and creating Zombie tokens (typically by turn 3 or 4)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Value Payoffs:"},{"insert":" Deploy cards such as [[Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait]], [[Tireless Provisioner]], and [[Ancient Greenwarden]] to draw cards and generate resources."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Recursion:"},{"insert":" Loop land cards from the graveyard with [[Icetill Explorer]] to sustain triggers."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Win Conditions:"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Overrun: [[Craterhoof Behemoth]] overrun and all your tokens generated"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Big Creatures: [[Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar]] will be huge and could one/two shoot anyone"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Combo: Any combo line with [[Ob Nixilis, the Fallen]]"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nCombo lines:\n[[Kodama of the East Tree]] Lines"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[[Kodama of the East Tree]] + <Bounce land> + <Landfall token generator>"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"<Landfall token generator> = [[Bloodghast]] / [[Springheart Nantuko]] /[[Tireless Provisioner]] / [[Rampaging Baloths]] / [[Scute Swarm]] / [[Field of the Dead]] / [[Curse of the Restless Dead]] /etc..."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"<Bounce land> = [[Simic Growth Chamber]] / [[Golgari Rot Farm]] / [[Dimir Aqueduct]] / etc..."},{"attributes":{"indent":2,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[[Retreat to Coralhelm]] Lines"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[[Retreat to Coralhelm]] + [[Wight of the Reliquary]] + <Landfall token generator> (See 1.a.i)"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[[Retreat to Coralhelm]] + [[Zimone and Dina]] + <Bounce land> (See. 1.a.ii) + <Landfall token generator> (See 1.a.i)"},{"attributes":{"indent":1,"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mulligan Priorities:"},{"insert":"\nHands with 2-3 lands"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A ramp spell"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A landfall payoff or card draw engine."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Weaknesses:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Critical"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Graveyard Hate:"},{"insert":" Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void shuts off recursion, landfall triggers from the graveyard, and combos involving Dakmor Salvage."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Land Destruction:"},{"insert":" Nonbasic land hate (Blood Moon) or mass land destruction (Armageddon) cripples the mana engine and landfall strategy. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Moderate"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stack Interaction:"},{"insert":" The deck has minimal counterspells, making its combos vulnerable to instant-speed removal or counters."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fast Aggro:"},{"insert":" The deck can be slow to set up; aggressive decks can pressure life totals before combos assemble. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Minor"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tax Effects:"},{"insert":" Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Sphere of Resistance slow down the many low-CMC ramp spells."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nNotable exclusions:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[[Hedron Crab]] - We don't need too much mill. One self-sacrificing land is enough."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nDiscussing reasoning for Choice: Teval Landfall/Combo"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Teval"},{"insert":" is a highly versatile commander that can be optimized in several ways. Below is my rationale for selecting a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Landfall Combo/Value"},{"insert":" build over other common archetypes:\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"1. Reanimator"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTeval’s self-milling and natural ramp synergize well with reanimation. However, I opted against a dedicated Reanimator build because Teval thrives on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"incremental, multi-creature reanimation"},{"insert":" rather than \"cheating out\" a single massive threat.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The \"Clunky\" Factor:"},{"insert":" Traditional reanimation is often an \"A-B-C\" strategy ([[Entomb]] → Big Creature → [[Reanimate]]), which can feel inconsistent."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Social Meta:"},{"insert":" In Bracket 3, a dedicated reanimation deck often draws immediate aggression (the \"feast or famine\" effect). I wanted a build that feels more consistent while still utilizing the graveyard."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2. Aristocrats"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTeval's free token generation provides a strong foundation for an Aristocrats strategy. Ultimately, I moved away from this because:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Color Support:"},{"insert":" Aristocrats truly shine with "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"White"},{"insert":" for key payoff pieces; Green doesn't provide enough unique support for this archetype in this specific shell."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Power Level:"},{"insert":" Including high-tier loops like [[Gravecrawler]] + [[Phyrexian Altar]] would likely push the deck into "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bracket 4"},{"insert":". I wanted a combo element that felt unique to the Golgari/Sultai identity without losing the value Green provides."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3. Zombie Tribal"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nI strongly considered a flavor-heavy Zombie Tribal build featuring [[The Scarab God]]. While flavorful, the lack of White (for cards like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"[[Wayward Servant]]"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"[[Varina, Lich Queen]]"},{"insert":") made the tribe feel underpowered in these colors. Additionally, I already pilot a tribal deck and wanted to explore a different mechanical space for this project.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"4. Big Mana"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis was my second choice. The prospect of casting a massive [[Doppelgang]] or [[Exsanguinate]]—facilitated by tokens tapping for mana via [[Insidious Roots]]—is very appealing. It provides a solid defensive line while you set up for a game-ending turn. However, I chose the Landfall/Combo route because it allows for a more proactive and intricate use of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"graveyard as a resource"},{"insert":", rather than just a mana-generation engine.\n"}]}