The 2021 Standard rotation for Magic: The Gathering comes to an end with the upcoming launch of Innistrad: Crimson Vow. Although this is the usual time where Standard Decks are upgraded to their pinnacle, it’s an entirely different story when it comes to Commander Decks. For those who have just started their journey into the realm of Commander format with Coven Counters & Undead Unleashed, fret not. In this article, we will provide you with some simple and budget upgrades for those two decks based on cards available in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt & the upcoming Crimson Vow.
Coven Counters
DECKLIST
Creature (39)
1 Leinore, Autumn Sovereign
1 Kyler, Sigardian Emissary
1 Moorland Rescuer
1 Sigarda’s Vanguard
1 Stalwart Pathlighter
1 Wall of Mourning
1 Heronblade Elite
1 Kurbis, Harvest Celebrant
1 Sigardian Zealot
1 Somberwald Beastmaster
1 Angel of Glory’s Rise
1 Bastion Protector
1 Custodi Soulbinders
1 Dearly Departed
1 Herald of War
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
1 Odric, Master Tactician
1 Riders of Gavony
1 Victory’s Envoy
1 Champion of Lambholt
1 Gyre Sage
1 Kessig Cagebreakers
1 Somberwald Sage
1 Verdurous Gearhulk
1 Wild Beastmaster
1 Heron’s Grace Champion
1 Sigarda, Heron’s Grace
1 Dawnhart Wardens
1 Abzan Falconer
1 Ainok Bond-Kin
1 Elite Scaleguard
1 Orzhov Advokist
1 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
1 Eternal Witness
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Enduring Scalelord
1 Juniper Order Ranger
1 Trostani’s Summoner
Sorcery (8)
1 Celestial Judgment
1 Celebrate the Harvest
1 Cleansing Nova
1 Hour of Reckoning
1 Shamanic Revelation
1 Bestial Menace
1 Biogenic Upgrade
1 Growth Spasm
Instant (6)
1 Ruinous Intrusion
1 Unbreakable Formation
1 Return to Dust
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Beast Within
1 Inspiring Call
Artifact (6)
1 Lifecrafter’s Bestiary
1 Moonsilver Key
1 Arcane Signet
1 Sol Ring
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Talisman of Unity
Enchantment (4)
1 Curse of Conformity
1 Curse of Clinging Webs
1 Citadel Siege
1 Death’s Presence
Land (37)
1 Canopy Vista
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Fortified Village
1 Sungrass Prairie
1 Temple of Plenty
1 Blighted Woodland
1 Command Tower
1 Krosan Verge
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Path of Ancestry
1 Rogue’s Passage
1 Selesnya Sanctuary
1 Temple of the False God
12 Forest
12 Plains
Coven Counters is your run of the mill aggro deck in general. It’s a no brainer beatdown deck, focusing on board presence, ramping up the +1/+1 counters and utilizing the Coven mechanic to increase threat against your opponents. While veterans may find it to be too straightforward for their liking, it’s great for beginners to pilot.
The main and thematic Commander for this deck is Leinore, Autumn Sovereign. While her abilities are nothing to shout about, she fits the deck perfectly as the catalyst required to get the engine running. As a Commander, she’s readily available for more +1/+1 counters, and with the right conditions, she’s a draw engine as well. The secondary commander Kyler, Sigardian Emissary is a great card by itself. He gets stronger for every Human you cast, and he boosts them at the same time.
The deck itself is filled with all sorts of creatures that work well with +1/+1 counters, but those by themselves will not be sufficient to bring home a win. Sigarda, Heron’s Grace provides your Humans with survivability while Odric, Master Tactician makes sure that the damages go through. Removals such as Swords to Plowshares, Beast Within, Cleansing Nova, Hour of Reckoning and Return to Dust help in controlling the board presence. Enchantments such as Death’s Presence will help to keep the ball rolling should your creatures get picked off by opposing removals.
Budget Upgrades
Coven Counters is a well-balanced deck in general, but there are certain cards that can be replaced to further improve its performance. Below is a list of replacements or upgrades that I would recommend
- Replace Temple of the False God and Exotic Orchard with these choices
- Stirring Wildwood – An affordable utility land when extra firepower is needed.
- Gavony Township – A staple for +1/+1 Counters.
- Blossoming Sands, Arctic Treeline, Scattered Groves, Overgrown Farmland, Sunpetal Grove, Temple Garden, Wooded Bastion, Windswept Heath and Horizon Canopy – These are all Selesnya Coloured Lands. Blossoming Sands and Arctic Treeline are budget-friendly options while some of the rest can be affordable.
- Replace Celebrate the Harvest & Bestial Menace with these choices. Bestial Menace may present the board with 3 more creatures but it doesn’t synergize well with the theme and Celebrate the Harvest depends too much on board presence.
- Death’s Presence – Death’s Presence is an enchantment that retains your creature’s value through +X/+X counters being applied to another creature.
- Collective Effort – This sorcery spell complements this deck from many angles as it provides two removals and pumps your creatures at a mere cost of 2W and 1 tapped creature per option.
- Rampant Growth, Cultivate & Kodama’s Reach – These three are budget-friendly staple land search spells for all green decks.
- Hour of Reckoning is a situationally good board wipe but it doesn’t serve any purpose in this deck. Replace it with Doomskar or Wrath of God.
These cards from the upcoming Crimson Vow make a good addition to the deck as well.
The end goal for these budget upgrades is to smoothen the synergy in this deck and increase the survivability of the deck while building up board presence. The original setup may be balanced but the choices available can be ineffective in many situations. In order to bring out the hidden potential in Coven Counters, some upgrades may be needed, and the upgrades can be budget-friendly!
Check-in tomorrow for our budget-friendly Undead Unleash guides.
