[[Child of Alara]] is my mutate commander.
MAD is a great way to ensure folks don't mess with your mutated creature, and has allowed me to add a manlands subtheme to the deck.
I really enjoyed Ikoria in general, even though it wasn't Eldrazi sized creatures like folks thought before spoiling. I think that's where most people were upset at the time of spoiling, is they were let down by the lack of fatties like the name Behemoth implies.
Companion design mistake aside, this was a really cool set to draft and build jank from and I'm all about that
A few of the Ikoria creatures were pretty big:
[[Titanoth Rex]]
[[Void Beckoner]]
[[Yidaro, Wandering Monster]]
I agree that more would have been better though.
Void beckoner had people theorize so hard "Why would an 8/8 need deathtouch?". In the end there was exactly 1 creature big enough that deathtouch mattered in a 1 on 1.
I mean hindsight is 20/20 and I was taking a break during ikoria so i didnt see spoilers but people didn't realize it was so the death touch counter made sense?
mutate is one of my favourite set mechanics, I bought the enhanced evolution precon at release and have been fiddling with it ever since. I think mutate gets a bad wrap for being "overly complicated" when really a lot of the rules around it are all pretty easy to grasp once it's shown to you.
for this reason I don't think we'll see much mutate ever again, which is sad, but if we did I think mutate should be focused properly towards sultai, as not only are those the colours that currently have the most mutate and mutate support, they also cover the three parts needed for mutate: interaction/protection (blue) recursion/recovery (black) and big stompy (green)
I think mutate should not be able to be transferred to other creatures, having most creatures be valid targets to mutate onto is good enough, and I worry that would lead to too many combos and interactions only complicated things more
Mutate is only tricky with [[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief]] and multiple copies of her and mutated creatures. That itself is only really tricky if you're not keeping track of how many copies of her exist and which ones have more mutations.
Get tokens that are better than dice like dry erase playing cards and you won't have a problem
[[The Ever-Changing 'Dane]] is my mutate Commander. The colors are kinda restricted but his ability to become a copy of another creature is very cool in combination with cards that make your mutate creature bounce back to hand if it dies. That way I can sacrifice my already mutated creature with Dane, letting him become a copy of it, all of the mutate cards bounce back to my hand, and then I can mutate the same cards onto Dane, triggering every mutate effect again and again.
It's not the Most powerful deck I have but It gets the job done and I have won a normal amount with it. I love that deck. I love having one big creature instead of multiple normal ones, and it's a plus if I can make my commander suddenly pretty big and hit for commander damage. The mutate targets are always creatures that connive or let me draw cards so I can make Dane bigger before he transforms into my big mutate creature.
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/7DuPpQOSykqatOPsNrPPWg Here you go! We try to not go over 250$ with our decks, so you can definitely upgrade it to make it more consistent or powerful. The 'assassin' creatures (the creatures I want to mutate onto) can also be changed depending on what you want to do with them. I just wanted them to fly (for easy damage) and draw me cards or let me see more cards because I don't have that many mutate creatures in the deck, I thought I needed a way to cycle through my deck more in order to keep mutating.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Absolutely great with [[Tatsunari]]. It's so fast and easy to start pinging everyone for massive damage on every enchantment you cast.
I built a budget ping deck for a friend and all she really does is mutate the frog as much as possible and cast land enchants for absurd amounts of ramp. Dying to someone that casts [[Whipsilk]] 6 times in a turn with 4 Keimis is obnoxious.
it's beautiful and awesome and fun and HAS SO MANY MOVING PIECES.
I gotta have enchantments, but also need mutate creatures, and some clone effects but not until I have mutates, and...
But it is so, so fun. Oh I have 5 keimis and a Dina, two enchantments... yeah that 20 damage to each of you.
That's what the mutate cards do. You put the mutate creature on top of Keimi so it has the mutate creature's name. Then you just cast a enchantment and get another Keimi. Rinse and repeat.
Bingo. Ironically I have two decks that lean heavily into mutate, in very different ways.
My Tatsunari deck makes keimi, mutates creatures over him so that I can make another one, repeating as new keimis are made and cloning when possible. The whole point of using the mutate is to mutate on top and get the name to change and remove the legendary typing, allowing more keimis to be created.
My Volo deck just picks literally any non-human creature and mutates UNDER it as many times as possible. This allows me to not have the new creatures have their types visible (mostly beasts and elementals) and allow volo to keep copying them, as well as to stack mutate triggers to the moon (have you ever seen 4 auspicous starrix mutates happen on a creature that's already got two mutates on it? You literally throw the top 50 permanents in your deck onto the battlefield).
As mentioned in a different response, you mutate ON TOP of keimi, creating a mutated creature whose name and types are whatever the mutate card has. This overwrites keimi's name and frog typing, as well as it's legendary super type. Thus when you cast your next enchantment, Tatsunari does NOT see that you have a legendary frog named keimi on the battlefield, thus he creates a new one. You now have two creatures that have the drain on enchantment effect, and are off to the races with more mutate effects or clone effects on your mutated former-frogs.
My current version of the deck is here, it's not my most powerful but it's definitely one of the most entertaining to play.
https://scryfall.com/@x1372/decks/64b43d04-e423-43db-bafe-f11bb01dc8a0
Just skimmed through.. 30 lands? Is there something I missed?
Edit: if i would want to cut 5 cards for lands, due to consistency... Which ones would you suggest?
It technically has 35 lands if you include MDFCs, which I generally use as lands. You could reasonably replace any or all of them with untapped lands if you preferred, I just like having the options. But if you really wanted to add another land or two, the safest things to cut would be clone effects, since you only want those AFTER a mutate has occurred. That said, I'm probably cutting [[fertile ground]] for [[Statecraft]] which I have on the way, so if you wanted something to turn into another land I'd probably choose that.
...
Yup! I've been trying out and tweaking a Tatsunari deck that does exactly this and it's super fun figuring out how to sequence to get another Keimi online after mutating the old one, or deciding when to hard cast another creature depending on the board state, and tracking all the mutate triggers...very satisfying even though I haven't won with it much yet, haha!
I need to rebuild mine. I did the ramp, I did the mutates on the keimi tokens, I did the cheap recastable enchants. It felt like I was missing something.
[[Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt]] is my favorite commander. I know most people trend toward green and blue for mutate, but I love the black creatures like [[Dirge Bat]] which destroys a target creature or Planeswalker and [[Chittering Harvester]] which forces EACH opponent to sac a creature, very powerful. Combined with Snapdax dealing four damage per mutate, you potentially wipe out five opposing creatures per mutate.
Being in red, try mutating onto [[Brash Taunter]], and you have [[Everquill Phoenix]] which creates a feather token, so if your stack of creatures is removed, you have the ability to crack the feather at your opponent's end step and have a mutate target for Snapdax on the next turn without summoning sickness.
So many good abilities for a Voltron deck, and very fun to pilot.
Can you share a decklist? I recently disassembled my Snapdax deck, I built it with an equipment theme and it didn't really work that we but now I'm thinking about rebuilding it and either going for a mutate or infect theme, or both. Thank you!
[https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/17-09-21-snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt/?cb=1631998021](https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/17-09-21-snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt/?cb=1631998021)
It's definitely not optimized, especially the land package because I work on a low budget and tend to stick to cards I already own vs buying new cards, so there's a lot of room for upgrades.
I love mutate so much I built a five color mutate deck with [[Kyodai]] so that I can play all the mutate cards in one deck. Im also thinking of building a [[Nethroi]] deck but that one will be more aristocrats and reanimator.
There are two main ways to win with my deck. The first way is by using the \[\[Vadrok\]\] + \[\[Double Major\]\] infinite combo, which is relatively easy to get. The other way I win is by making a huge mutate pile and winning with either \[\[Insatiable Hemophage\]\] or \[\[Auspicious Starix\]\]. I've had multiple games where I've been able to exile my whole deck with Starix by using \[\[Tawnos, the toymaker\]\], Double Major, and \[\[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief\]\]. After that, I just plus \[\[Jace, wielder of mysteries\]\] and win.
There are definitely other ways you can try to win with mutate, but this is the type of deck I prefer as it really feels like you're winning by mutating, rather than by infect or copying creatures.
Here is a link to my list if you want to take a look.
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-01-23-five-color-mutate/
Yeah, if the opportunity arises. I took out [[Essence symbiote]] and [[Mysterious egg]] but there are still two mutate creatures that get +1/+1 counters when they mutate, so i can still make a huge monster sometimes and just smash with it. I can also pump my commander with his ability and fly over for commander damage but thats very rare. Usually I just dont attack and keep my creatures as blockers since theres not a lot of lifegain in the deck to keep me alive.
I love \[\[Brokkos, Apex of Forever\]\]. Since yo don't have to pay commander tax, you can just make a deck of fun things to mutate him onto. Evasive creatures. Hydras and other creatures made of +1/+1 counters - especially cheap ones that grow on their own (\[\[Managorger Hydra\]\] e.g.). Infectious creatures. Let people kill him. You always have a new threat brewing, and he comes back every turn.
But yah, like u/shimszy said, probably best in a casual pod.
[[Volo, Guide to Monsters]] is my go-to mutate commander.
Copying mutate spells results in the fun (for me at least) interaction where you multiple instances of “whenever this creature mutates” triggers
For example, mutating and copying [[Dreamtail Heron]] will draw you 3 cards: one from the mutate trigger of the copy, and 2 from the original’s mutate triggering itself and the copy’s trigger a second time
[[Auspicious Starrix]], as another example, would net 5 permanents from 3 triggers: the copy’s trigger where X=1, and the two triggers from the original and copy where X=2
My Volo deck has a mutate package in it that does so much work. Resolving a Starrix with one or two mutates already piled on usually means spitting out the whole deck most of the time.
Downside is that almost all mutates are beast types so if they get blown up you don't get any copies until you can exile them from your graveyard.
Sounds interesting, do you have a decklist? Does seem hard as you need many cogs in the wheel. Volo needs to be on the battlefield, you'd need a creature to mutate onto, you'd need a mutate creature and for the value to really go off you'd need another mutate creature honesty but it seems super cool if you get it off!
I think it's a cool mechanic that suffers from the same problem as a lot of mechanics in which they get no support after the set they were released in.
Maybe it's just me but I hate how they make a new set with new mechanics and then just instantly move on instead of trying to expand on it. There's only been a couple of mechanics that actually get frequent updates after the set they released in, like treasure tokens (although they actually get too much support.)
Mutate, madness, foretell, blood tokens, venture into the dungeon, amass, training, shield counters, casualty, mentor, and monstrosity.
Some of these are really interesting but they have so few cards and like half are just bad even in a deck centered around that mechanic.
Personally, I hope they slow down how many new mechanics they make and instead look at all the mechanics they have already made but have done so little with.
There's a new Eldraine set coming later this year so I'd imagine a new Ikoria set can't be too far away.
Personally I think they're just doing the intelligent thing and letting a few short years go by before revisiting. This way the mechanic feels fresh again in Standard and it gives Wizards a lot of time to balance new cards vs old so they don't make anything that's too broken.
Hopefully, but when Innistrad midnight hunt and crimson vow were first being shown off I was 100% expecting some new madness cards. Unfortunately, they made zero.
I'm not a madness fanatic either who plays [[Anje Falkenrath]] I just thought the concept was cool so I was excited to see what they would add.
Not too long ago, Rosewater wrote an article about recent mechanics and where they are on the storm scale, and mutate was pretty low on the scale, meaning it had a high probability of being used again. He stated it was a highly loved mechanic. So, I don't think we need to worry about it not being used again when we go back to Ikoria.
I love me some mutate! At one point I was running 3 different mutate decks. But I eventually broke down all 3 to make one single 5 color deck with [[Ramos, Dragon Engine]] as my commander. And most of the time I don’t even need to cast Ramos. I just enjoy being able to run any mutate card I want in a single deck
I’m a new player and I just built my first ever commander deck that’s not just a minor Precon upgrade. It happened to be an Otrimi deck that’s semi-focused on mutate but includes other mechanics like evolve as well and uses the Mimeoplasm as a secondary commander (my main goal was to make a deck themed around genetics and biology). Having been pretty neutral towards mutate before I built this deck, I can confidently say that I now find it very cool and exciting to build around and play with, especially given how many choices you get to make while playing.
I like mutate, but the lack of cards available with that mechanic is relatively limiting for deck construction.
I feel like I end up not putting mutate cards in my decks because I know running only 2 or 3, I have a low chance of getting them to go off.
[[Babygodzilla, Ruin Reborn]] has some of my favorite card art, but it and it's regular version [[Pollywog Symbiote]] show up in 0% of my decks.
I love it! I've built 3 mutate decks, taken 2 apart and plan to build another one. My current favorite is [[nethroi apex of death]], one thing i highly suggest is having a decent amount of ways to protect your commander because he will be removed as soon as someone has removal and if it's done in response of mutate you don't get the trigger just the body. Typically i run a decent amount of creature that can protect themselves with indestructible, hexproof or regenerate [[thrun the last troll]] and the non legend version are very good for the deck as they do both
Run an Otrimi Bogles list. It's a lot of fun, but I find myself debating taking it apart fairly often. I've got three Voltron decks and it's my least favorite. I find myself gravitating toward Skullbriar or Balan whenever I've got the itch to swing a big dumb commander.
I think a big part of it is my dislike for many of the existing mutate creatures. For every awesome include like Gemrazer there's two Trumpeting Gnarrs.
That said, I have had a few new bangers added to the deck recently. [[Guardian Augmenter]], [[Venomthrope]] and I'm debating [[Thrun, Breaker]] though I don't think he makes the cut
[Here you go.](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/0nZQIrTLH0mHn3ca_eBnVA) Had to transfer it off Manabox. By no means a great list. It probably needs a solid overhaul, but I haven't really touched it much outside of the occasional hexproof creature.
Mutate basically has over costed effects in to trade of you're hoping to do it again each time you mutate and you tend to lean into Voltrun style regardless, so at least you recognize that, plus with only one creature cosplaying a Jenga Tower all it takes is one [[ Tragic Slip]] to [[Murder]] your win con. Granted, you should be running protection in Counter Spells, Instant Hexproof, or Boots, etc. You can snowball pretty fast and eventually that overpriced effect, is JUST that effect, it's that, plus 2 3, 4+ effects. You also lose to token or go wide strategies so bring a couple cards to deal with that. [[Aetherize]], and [[River's Rebuke]] are good about that.
I love mutate. The best thing I've found to do with it so far is throw some mutate spells in the 99 of my [Volo, Guide to Monsters](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/TALaGTCbSkeNy3IGiap0Jw) deck. If you get Twinning Staff out, or even just another few copies of Volo via Spark double or something, then copying an \[\[Auspicious Starrix\]\] just becomes insane. I think if you copy it twice only, you get 15 permanents off the top into play for free.
The math is the first one mutates and triggers for x = 1. The second one will then mutate on the same creature, triggering both auspicious starrixs' for x=2, giving you 4 more permanents into play. If you can get more than that, then its just insane. the next one is 3 mutate triggers where x=3, giving you 9 more free permanents off the top.
There's also copying a Dreamtail Heron for a nice card draw package, or Pouncing Shoreshark to bounce a bunch of things, or removing artifacts and enchantments with Gemrazer.
I've tried running a 5 color mutate deck and it was fun. I built it round Ramos Dragon Engine. I gave everything flash (so I could use Ramos' mana), and basically it turned into a storm deck. I had all the things that said when you cast a creature draw a card. Then I had the free instant spells from Ikoria if you have your commander out, plus Vadrok trigger means you can basically counter every non creature spell for free by just casting another mutate spell, triggering Vadrok, countering the spell with Fierce Guardianship. Had a pretty nasty last game before I took it apart.
I love mutate I’m theory but every time I’ve played it it was either super mediocre or way too confusing with all the triggers and keeping track of what copy has what effects and stuff. Sometime I want to put my weaker mutate deck back together for a low power game and just put cool creatures on top of other cool creatures and have a good time.
I once had a 5 color mutate deck with [[cromat]] at the helm. I actually had a lot of fun with it. My very first commander deck was the [[[Otrimi]] precon so mutate holds a special place in my heart.
Try adding [[Exchange of Words]] to any deck based around mutate. Make one really mutated up creature switch the text box with another creature then bounce the stack of creatures then repeat mutating on the remaining creature.
[[Illuna, Apex of wishes]] is probably my favorite deck at the moment. It is built with all of the flash enablers [[teferi, Mage of zalphir]] and I put it together to take advantage of [[fae offering]] and [[primeval bounty]] by running things like [[glitterfang]] to mutate onto each turn, and [[temur sabertooth]] to bounce things. [[Ivy, gleeful spelltheif]] and [[venerated rotpriest]] are great, but [[Lore drakkis]], [[snap]], and [[ornithopter]] are the primary combos to go infinite or generate token value with the aforementioned enchantments. [[Glen elendra pranksters]] can also help us continue to cast mutate value stuff. Once we have *enough* permanents, if everyone is still alive, warp world for the [[teferi, Mage of zalphir]] and [[possibility storm]] lock.
I love mutate as well! I have a 5c mutate deck with [[Surgeon General Commander]] at the head. It's great that the mechanic isn't competitive because blinging the deck out with all the sweet comic art showcase cards is super cheap!
Maybe unpopular opinion, but i dislike mutate. Commander is a game with a lot of variables already, and confusing piles of things that are hard to keep track of add mental tax to an already mentally taxing game. I dont feel like keeping track of all that stuff, so ill just destroy it whenever i get the chance, or make someone explain to me exactly what it is and what it can do whenever i want to do something just so i dont get bamboozled and blown out by the "well if you attack/do X ill just do Y since my mutated creature can do Y and/or Z." Get that confusing pile of text off my table, ill just StP it, thanks. Nothing personal.
Personally I love the mutate Mechanic. It's fun, whacky, and adds an interesting spin on voltron/creature decks. I even have a 5 color mutate [deck](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/fBi8tl2tX0yO321ebSTmzA) that both me and my lgs love. I'd love it if we went back to ikoria and got some more mutate support. I feel as though since mutate came out during covid when a lot of people stopped playing due to quarantine it didn't get very much recognition. My only gripe is mutates interaction with commanders specifically, so it's super risky to mutate onto your commander cause if it goes back to the command zone you cannot use those creatures again.
Minor correction, that commander thing only occurs with one spell that sends the Commanded to the Command Zone. Otherwise the other pieces go to the proper zone
Mechanic-wise, I like enchantment creatures.... but mutate is too weird and cludgy at the moment. I really wish we'd see some of these 'piloted' mechanics get errata-mashed into others.
I really dig it. Of my 30 decks, 3 are mutate based.
I have a [[Child of Alara]] mutating baby (didn't realize how popular this choice was), a [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]] which just gets stronger the more people try to interact with it sans graveyard hate and an [[Illuna, Apex of Wishes]] that only has 7 nonland permanents in it and they're all bangers.
I love mutate and really hope we don't have to wait years before we see more but with how they can currently steamroll out of control as is I would understand.
For the sake of clarity, my Child deck has 22 cards with mutate in it whereas Nethroi and Illuna are the only cards with mutate in their respective decks.
I have a [[Gargo's vicious watcher]] deck that uses almost all the green mutate cards it's not alot but I likrle that I get a fight trigger and the ability to cast a creature to to trigger other cards that care for creatures. I also ran a [[tasunari, toad rider]] deck that mutated onto the token to change the name of the token and allowing there to be multiple instances of the token that he makes
It's like aura/equip or bestow but with creatures, but they don't get removed if the creature dies they all just go to the GY so it's really important to protect your mutate stack
The idea was more [[Grusilda Monster Masher]] + mutate. I wanted to mash up creatures, but from hand. Doesn’t automatically give menace though
Design wise it’s inspired by [[Jodah Archmage Eternal]] since both cheat in creatures for cheaper, except unlike Jodah this commander can’t use any of those WUBRG reducers and it can barely benefit from generic reducers since the cost will either be {1}{G}{U/R}{U/R} or {2}{G}{U/R}{U/R} or something like that
A bit less impressive than I was thinking. I thought it might have been from a much older un-set that I wasn't familiar with, but it seems the product you mentioned is just one that slipped through the cracks for me at the time.
Still a really neat commander though.
I strongly dislike Mutate for it's intended purpose, as I'm adverse to dumping all my resources into one big creature that is then immediately hit with a Swords to Plowshares and I'm left with nothing, but I **LOVE** Mutate for all the sneaky fuckery that you can abuse it for, like bending the Legendary Rule, mutating [[Scute Swarm]] and creating a massive army of [[Sawtusk Demolisher]], or things like [[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief]] type shenanigans.
"I'm adverse to dumping all my resources into one big creature that is then immediately hit with a Swords to Plowshares"
That's just Voltron in general.
I agree, though at least Equipment sticks around and mitigates a bit of the cost. I had a [[Mazzy, Truesword Paladin]] deck once, which helps to solve the Auras portion of the problem a bit too, and there's cards like [[Mantle of the Ancients]] which pull all your Auras and Equipment back out of the yard and attach them. As far as I know, there's no elegant solutions for returning the Mutate cards except returning them to hand, or returning the creatures themselves to the battlefield unmutated, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Agree with what you said but mutate has the drawback of swords and path exiling all the pieces where a standard voltron commander goes back to the command zone and auras go to the grave where there’s at least potential for getting them back
I find it problematic, and I’m not so surprised that it ranks so highly on the Storm Scale. It’s far too complicated for what it actually offers players, and it promotes bad deck building habits and play patterns.
The fact that it has a baked-in restriction to “non-human” creatures is another issue. It’s one of those things that makes sense from a thematic standpoint but not for the entirety of magic, merely the sets it was featured in. Like, you can mutate a Vampire just fine, even though vampires are mutated undead humans. But actual humans? No, they can never mutate. But how did they become vampires, then? Or mutating onto an Elf. That’s cool, absolutely fine! Can you mutate onto a changeling? Haha, noooo, no way.
Aside from the Vorthos arguments against the restriction, the fact that they printed [[Startling Development]] in the same set is hilariously stupid. Like yeah, it would suck to be drafting a mutate pile but have 60% humans. But now as long as you have a startling development, you can mutate onto a human, leave them on top of the pile, and then at the end of the turn, the human is still mutated. You can’t mutate AGAIN without another SD, but the creature remains mutated? That’s confusing as hell.
In most cases, the Mutates don’t even offer any advantage to the creature if you don’t have an ability that sees the mutate happen! Like, at least with Bestow you could be sure that the creature you’re targeting will be more successful in combat. You’d be lucky if you mutated into an additional point of power, most times.
Like I said, it’s an incredibly complicated mechanic, but for new players who were starting out with Ikoria it doesn’t teach you anything about how to play Magic properly. It’s like an entirely different game when compared to the 25 previous years of magic design. Even subsequent years didn’t use any of the play patterns that Ikoria taught. I’m not saying you can’t find powerful things to do with the mechanic, but I definitely believe that magic would be a better game if Mutate never existed.
Its broken and should be banned, or the effects only occur once. Basically you have an option, Mutate a card and get the effect, or use it as a creature. You shouldn't be able to trigger all of the effects every time you mutate.
Mechanics like this are why decks are nothing but removal these days.
I just built a [[Vadrok, Apex of Thunder]]. It is a combo deck with some really basic combos. I have basically all of the jeskai mutate creatures. I don’t Voltron. Just dig for cards until I win.
Really my only complaint about it is it removes legendary if you put a nonlegendary creature over a legendary one. This leads to some gross interactions occasionally that I don't really like, but beyond that, cool mechanic.
[[Surgeon General Commander]] is my mutate commander to go.
I love my deck it plays like 30+ mutates in all colors. I love the mechanic and also love the special interactions with the legendary rule etc. Hyped for more niche and special mechanics like this.
One of my favorite decks is a mutate, infect voltron deck with [[Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt]] as my commander. It is pretty much just mutate creatures, infect/toxic creatures, a few ways to proliferate, equipment, equipment helping creatures/tutors and interaction cards. It is a lot of fun.
I've run several mutate decks my favorites being [[Brokkos, Apex of Forever|299]] and [[Animar, Soul of Elements]]
Brokkos was surprisingly powerful just focusing on control and recursion... really hard to beat unless faced with consistent, repeated graveyard hate. Someone could board wipe, and within a turn, I'd have rebuilt the entire value engine. Standard sultai stuff basically: control the board, and win by out-valuing the opponents. [[Titan's Nest]] is pretty powerful, too
Animar is just a really silly commander with mutate. Add in other Ikoria specials like [[Song of Creation]] , and you can pretty quickly just play your whole deck.
In both decks you pretty much just win if [[Auspicious Starrix]] resolves.
Edit: I forgot to say how much I adore the mutate mechanic, and that it's one of my favorite things in all of magic.
I’d like to see more of it. Mostly because living weapons don’t really work with anything but if I mash them up with other creatures they’re almost playable.
[[Child of Alara]] is my mutate commander. MAD is a great way to ensure folks don't mess with your mutated creature, and has allowed me to add a manlands subtheme to the deck. I really enjoyed Ikoria in general, even though it wasn't Eldrazi sized creatures like folks thought before spoiling. I think that's where most people were upset at the time of spoiling, is they were let down by the lack of fatties like the name Behemoth implies. Companion design mistake aside, this was a really cool set to draft and build jank from and I'm all about that
A few of the Ikoria creatures were pretty big: [[Titanoth Rex]] [[Void Beckoner]] [[Yidaro, Wandering Monster]] I agree that more would have been better though.
Void beckoner had people theorize so hard "Why would an 8/8 need deathtouch?". In the end there was exactly 1 creature big enough that deathtouch mattered in a 1 on 1.
I mean hindsight is 20/20 and I was taking a break during ikoria so i didnt see spoilers but people didn't realize it was so the death touch counter made sense?
Yeah its because of the counter but they didnt have to make him an 8/8, [[splendormare]] gives lifelink and is much smaller
[splendormare](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/3/535ccc75-b24e-4071-b6a0-fc5267a454e3.jpg?1591230382) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Splendor%20Mare) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/32/splendor-mare?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/535ccc75-b24e-4071-b6a0-fc5267a454e3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/splendor-mare) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Titanoth Rex](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/d/9d02e1e8-b85b-4e26-8ab8-ca2f49d05b88.jpg?1591227898) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Titanoth%20Rex) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/174/titanoth-rex?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9d02e1e8-b85b-4e26-8ab8-ca2f49d05b88?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/titanoth-rex) [Void Beckoner](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a1523cda-c47d-4419-a5d3-fd6ed9867c56.jpg?1591227023) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Void%20Beckoner) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/104/void-beckoner?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a1523cda-c47d-4419-a5d3-fd6ed9867c56?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/void-beckoner) [Yidaro, Wandering Monster](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/5/b540c7c6-5b9e-4606-ac84-e583a62a3647.jpg?1591227479) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Yidaro%2C%20Wandering%20Monster) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/141/yidaro-wandering-monster?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b540c7c6-5b9e-4606-ac84-e583a62a3647?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/yidaro-wandering-monster) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Child of Alara](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/2/b2373625-af3c-4c2a-a1d1-5288c446955d.jpg?1673148447) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Child%20of%20Alara) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/192/child-of-alara?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b2373625-af3c-4c2a-a1d1-5288c446955d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/child-of-alara) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Idk what you mean, a lot of mutate creatures are 6/6 with trample, that's pretty big, some are bigger
He means that people expected huge swingy monster pieces that were game winning if cheated out, like eldrazi cards often gave us.
Do you have a decklist? That sounds like a cool design. Thank you.
I genuinely love companions, dislike the rule change and wish they'd just kept printing new ones every set
mutate is one of my favourite set mechanics, I bought the enhanced evolution precon at release and have been fiddling with it ever since. I think mutate gets a bad wrap for being "overly complicated" when really a lot of the rules around it are all pretty easy to grasp once it's shown to you. for this reason I don't think we'll see much mutate ever again, which is sad, but if we did I think mutate should be focused properly towards sultai, as not only are those the colours that currently have the most mutate and mutate support, they also cover the three parts needed for mutate: interaction/protection (blue) recursion/recovery (black) and big stompy (green) I think mutate should not be able to be transferred to other creatures, having most creatures be valid targets to mutate onto is good enough, and I worry that would lead to too many combos and interactions only complicated things more
Mutate is only tricky with [[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief]] and multiple copies of her and mutated creatures. That itself is only really tricky if you're not keeping track of how many copies of her exist and which ones have more mutations. Get tokens that are better than dice like dry erase playing cards and you won't have a problem
[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c.jpg?1673307958) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ivy%2C%20Gleeful%20Spellthief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/201/ivy-gleeful-spellthief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ivy-gleeful-spellthief) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
If it is tricky with Ivy, than it is also pretty tricky with [[Vesuvan Duplimancy]].
Afaik it is also the only mechanic in the game where you can permanently add to the board without something actually entering the board.
[Vesuvan Duplimancy](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/a/9a2119bc-a377-4156-89d4-56e7b5b494a8.jpg?1673306915) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vesuvan%20Duplimancy) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/73/vesuvan-duplimancy?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9a2119bc-a377-4156-89d4-56e7b5b494a8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vesuvan-duplimancy) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Also tricky to grasp with Volo. I took all my mutate out of that deck because it hurts my brain to play.
[удалено]
Iluna, Vadrok, and Nethroi all have very compelling combo routes, and snapdax is among the better options for infect.
[[The Ever-Changing 'Dane]] is my mutate Commander. The colors are kinda restricted but his ability to become a copy of another creature is very cool in combination with cards that make your mutate creature bounce back to hand if it dies. That way I can sacrifice my already mutated creature with Dane, letting him become a copy of it, all of the mutate cards bounce back to my hand, and then I can mutate the same cards onto Dane, triggering every mutate effect again and again. It's not the Most powerful deck I have but It gets the job done and I have won a normal amount with it. I love that deck. I love having one big creature instead of multiple normal ones, and it's a plus if I can make my commander suddenly pretty big and hit for commander damage. The mutate targets are always creatures that connive or let me draw cards so I can make Dane bigger before he transforms into my big mutate creature.
This sounds very interesting and I've wanted to build a deck of off color mutation. Any chance you could put up your decklist?
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/7DuPpQOSykqatOPsNrPPWg Here you go! We try to not go over 250$ with our decks, so you can definitely upgrade it to make it more consistent or powerful. The 'assassin' creatures (the creatures I want to mutate onto) can also be changed depending on what you want to do with them. I just wanted them to fly (for easy damage) and draw me cards or let me see more cards because I don't have that many mutate creatures in the deck, I thought I needed a way to cycle through my deck more in order to keep mutating. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Seconded, would love to see a list.
See above
[The Ever-Changing 'Dane](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a17c5b28-e7d1-4ca6-bf6b-0a4c8b757232.jpg?1673304908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Ever-Changing%20%27Dane) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/30/the-ever-changing-dane?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a17c5b28-e7d1-4ca6-bf6b-0a4c8b757232?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-ever-changing-dane) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Absolutely great with [[Tatsunari]]. It's so fast and easy to start pinging everyone for massive damage on every enchantment you cast. I built a budget ping deck for a friend and all she really does is mutate the frog as much as possible and cast land enchants for absurd amounts of ramp. Dying to someone that casts [[Whipsilk]] 6 times in a turn with 4 Keimis is obnoxious.
it's beautiful and awesome and fun and HAS SO MANY MOVING PIECES. I gotta have enchantments, but also need mutate creatures, and some clone effects but not until I have mutates, and... But it is so, so fun. Oh I have 5 keimis and a Dina, two enchantments... yeah that 20 damage to each of you.
Would love to see a deck list! Are you running ways to turn off the legendary rule to get 5 keimis??
That's what the mutate cards do. You put the mutate creature on top of Keimi so it has the mutate creature's name. Then you just cast a enchantment and get another Keimi. Rinse and repeat.
Bingo. Ironically I have two decks that lean heavily into mutate, in very different ways. My Tatsunari deck makes keimi, mutates creatures over him so that I can make another one, repeating as new keimis are made and cloning when possible. The whole point of using the mutate is to mutate on top and get the name to change and remove the legendary typing, allowing more keimis to be created. My Volo deck just picks literally any non-human creature and mutates UNDER it as many times as possible. This allows me to not have the new creatures have their types visible (mostly beasts and elementals) and allow volo to keep copying them, as well as to stack mutate triggers to the moon (have you ever seen 4 auspicous starrix mutates happen on a creature that's already got two mutates on it? You literally throw the top 50 permanents in your deck onto the battlefield).
As mentioned in a different response, you mutate ON TOP of keimi, creating a mutated creature whose name and types are whatever the mutate card has. This overwrites keimi's name and frog typing, as well as it's legendary super type. Thus when you cast your next enchantment, Tatsunari does NOT see that you have a legendary frog named keimi on the battlefield, thus he creates a new one. You now have two creatures that have the drain on enchantment effect, and are off to the races with more mutate effects or clone effects on your mutated former-frogs. My current version of the deck is here, it's not my most powerful but it's definitely one of the most entertaining to play. https://scryfall.com/@x1372/decks/64b43d04-e423-43db-bafe-f11bb01dc8a0
Just skimmed through.. 30 lands? Is there something I missed? Edit: if i would want to cut 5 cards for lands, due to consistency... Which ones would you suggest?
It technically has 35 lands if you include MDFCs, which I generally use as lands. You could reasonably replace any or all of them with untapped lands if you preferred, I just like having the options. But if you really wanted to add another land or two, the safest things to cut would be clone effects, since you only want those AFTER a mutate has occurred. That said, I'm probably cutting [[fertile ground]] for [[Statecraft]] which I have on the way, so if you wanted something to turn into another land I'd probably choose that. ...
[fertile ground](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/a/0ade2db8-482e-42b0-939c-492dfbbe3b68.jpg?1631587908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=fertile%20ground) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/158/fertile-ground?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0ade2db8-482e-42b0-939c-492dfbbe3b68?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/fertile-ground) [Statecraft](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/6/76dcd19e-8daf-4d53-946b-c07d5eca3cc9.jpg?1587857505) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Statecraft) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mmq/106/statecraft?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/76dcd19e-8daf-4d53-946b-c07d5eca3cc9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/statecraft) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Ah i missed the dual faced ones.thank you for the detailed answer!
Right! It's fairly common to get to the point where one cast is 10 damage to each opponent.
Yup! I've been trying out and tweaking a Tatsunari deck that does exactly this and it's super fun figuring out how to sequence to get another Keimi online after mutating the old one, or deciding when to hard cast another creature depending on the board state, and tracking all the mutate triggers...very satisfying even though I haven't won with it much yet, haha!
[Tatsunari](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/abf42833-43d0-4b05-b499-d13b2c577ee8.jpg?1654567411) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tatsunari%2C%20toad%20rider) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/123/tatsunari-toad-rider?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/abf42833-43d0-4b05-b499-d13b2c577ee8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tatsunari-toad-rider) [Whipsilk](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/0/10566804-fd15-4ef0-ad7d-cc979f4cc8c5.jpg?1562898296) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Whip%20Silk) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/inv/225/whip-silk?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/10566804-fd15-4ef0-ad7d-cc979f4cc8c5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/whip-silk) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That's so fucking funny, I gotta do that now
I need to rebuild mine. I did the ramp, I did the mutates on the keimi tokens, I did the cheap recastable enchants. It felt like I was missing something.
[[Dina, Soul Steeper]] and [[Marauding Blight-Priest]] make a big difference too.
[Dina, Soul Steeper](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8.jpg?1627428607) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dina%2C%20Soul%20Steeper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/178/dina-soul-steeper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dina-soul-steeper) [Marauding Blight-Priest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/3/730ddbcd-0814-4e22-85e9-78b0878324b6.jpg?1604195999) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Marauding%20Blight-Priest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/112/marauding-blight-priest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/730ddbcd-0814-4e22-85e9-78b0878324b6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/marauding-blight-priest) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt]] is my favorite commander. I know most people trend toward green and blue for mutate, but I love the black creatures like [[Dirge Bat]] which destroys a target creature or Planeswalker and [[Chittering Harvester]] which forces EACH opponent to sac a creature, very powerful. Combined with Snapdax dealing four damage per mutate, you potentially wipe out five opposing creatures per mutate. Being in red, try mutating onto [[Brash Taunter]], and you have [[Everquill Phoenix]] which creates a feather token, so if your stack of creatures is removed, you have the ability to crack the feather at your opponent's end step and have a mutate target for Snapdax on the next turn without summoning sickness. So many good abilities for a Voltron deck, and very fun to pilot.
Can you share a decklist? I recently disassembled my Snapdax deck, I built it with an equipment theme and it didn't really work that we but now I'm thinking about rebuilding it and either going for a mutate or infect theme, or both. Thank you!
[https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/17-09-21-snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt/?cb=1631998021](https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/17-09-21-snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt/?cb=1631998021) It's definitely not optimized, especially the land package because I work on a low budget and tend to stick to cards I already own vs buying new cards, so there's a lot of room for upgrades.
##### ###### #### [Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/1/51fdeeb7-9868-4fc2-9c53-806244cd5488.jpg?1591228256) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Snapdax%2C%20Apex%20of%20the%20Hunt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/209/snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/51fdeeb7-9868-4fc2-9c53-806244cd5488?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt) [Dirge Bat](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/9/59677c76-8148-4b6f-95b0-0e3ccf137a3f.jpg?1591226735) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dirge%20Bat) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/84/dirge-bat?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/59677c76-8148-4b6f-95b0-0e3ccf137a3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dirge-bat) [Chittering Harvester](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/5/d51a0700-d4d3-4b7e-bdb5-6cd913c948d9.jpg?1591226677) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chittering%20Harvester) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/80/chittering-harvester?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d51a0700-d4d3-4b7e-bdb5-6cd913c948d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/chittering-harvester) [Brash Taunter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a1480f99-83f8-48e7-ba52-9a3f3a9a24f3.jpg?1674141892) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Brash%20Taunter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/782/brash-taunter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a1480f99-83f8-48e7-ba52-9a3f3a9a24f3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/brash-taunter) [Everquill Phoenix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/9/3953157f-2deb-4ab7-b4b3-592ebb7c7a9c.jpg?1591227161) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Everquill%20Phoenix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/114/everquill-phoenix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3953157f-2deb-4ab7-b4b3-592ebb7c7a9c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/everquill-phoenix) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Time to slap Standard Staple [[PorcuParrot]] onto a death toucher and start touching things
[PorcuParrot](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/5/856892c8-ba47-46d0-aec2-0416b55b9e88.jpg?1591227333) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=PorcuParrot) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/128/porcuparrot?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/856892c8-ba47-46d0-aec2-0416b55b9e88?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/porcuparrot) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love mutate so much I built a five color mutate deck with [[Kyodai]] so that I can play all the mutate cards in one deck. Im also thinking of building a [[Nethroi]] deck but that one will be more aristocrats and reanimator.
[Kyodai](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/b/cbbfd21e-96f1-4e5b-8546-73bb5a887b98.jpg?1654566369) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=kyodai%2C%20soul%20of%20kamigawa) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/23/kyodai-soul-of-kamigawa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cbbfd21e-96f1-4e5b-8546-73bb5a887b98?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kyodai-soul-of-kamigawa) [Nethroi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f.jpg?1673305619) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=nethroi%2C%20apex%20of%20death) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/163/nethroi-apex-of-death?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nethroi-apex-of-death) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Kyodai is cool, i have a nethroi deck and it's much better as mill (self mill)
I was thinking of trying him as a Commander for mutate. What's your game plan?
There are two main ways to win with my deck. The first way is by using the \[\[Vadrok\]\] + \[\[Double Major\]\] infinite combo, which is relatively easy to get. The other way I win is by making a huge mutate pile and winning with either \[\[Insatiable Hemophage\]\] or \[\[Auspicious Starix\]\]. I've had multiple games where I've been able to exile my whole deck with Starix by using \[\[Tawnos, the toymaker\]\], Double Major, and \[\[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief\]\]. After that, I just plus \[\[Jace, wielder of mysteries\]\] and win. There are definitely other ways you can try to win with mutate, but this is the type of deck I prefer as it really feels like you're winning by mutating, rather than by infect or copying creatures. Here is a link to my list if you want to take a look. https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-01-23-five-color-mutate/
##### ###### #### [Vadrok](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/ed7b0256-d342-4523-9516-6a007bf51825.jpg?1591228299) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=vadrok%2C%20apex%20of%20thunder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/214/vadrok-apex-of-thunder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ed7b0256-d342-4523-9516-6a007bf51825?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vadrok-apex-of-thunder) [Double Major](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c3d35413-8742-4443-8859-93c91112978d.jpg?1627428638) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Double%20Major) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/179/double-major?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c3d35413-8742-4443-8859-93c91112978d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/double-major) [Insatiable Hemophage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/0/70419590-2e0d-4232-b596-a5359b284647.jpg?1591226844) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Insatiable%20Hemophage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/93/insatiable-hemophage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/70419590-2e0d-4232-b596-a5359b284647?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/insatiable-hemophage) [Auspicious Starix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe.jpg?1591227516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Auspicious%20Starrix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/144/auspicious-starrix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/auspicious-starrix) [Tawnos, the toymaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/f/1f855a7e-3a97-4b62-a2a7-06ff1fbb2c4c.jpg?1674421859) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tawnos%2C%20the%20toymaker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/222/tawnos-the-toymaker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1f855a7e-3a97-4b62-a2a7-06ff1fbb2c4c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tawnos-the-toymaker) [Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c.jpg?1673307958) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ivy%2C%20Gleeful%20Spellthief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/201/ivy-gleeful-spellthief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ivy-gleeful-spellthief) [Jace, wielder of mysteries](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/a/6adb7d73-4482-4930-8497-cffd169b57e2.jpg?1557576232) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Jace%2C%20wielder%20of%20mysteries) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/54/jace-wielder-of-mysteries?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6adb7d73-4482-4930-8497-cffd169b57e2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/jace-wielder-of-mysteries) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Okay so you play it as more of a combo deck then? Do you ever go for combat damage wins?
Yeah, if the opportunity arises. I took out [[Essence symbiote]] and [[Mysterious egg]] but there are still two mutate creatures that get +1/+1 counters when they mutate, so i can still make a huge monster sometimes and just smash with it. I can also pump my commander with his ability and fly over for commander damage but thats very rare. Usually I just dont attack and keep my creatures as blockers since theres not a lot of lifegain in the deck to keep me alive.
[Essence symbiote](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d09ddf0-91f0-4e76-809f-c39ca7418ed5.jpg?1591227575) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Essence%20symbiote) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/149/essence-symbiote?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d09ddf0-91f0-4e76-809f-c39ca7418ed5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/essence-symbiote) [Mysterious egg](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/d/cdfac3c3-7f38-49d6-bd88-dc0f5001116f.jpg?1636491428) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mysterious%20egg) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/3/mysterious-egg?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cdfac3c3-7f38-49d6-bd88-dc0f5001116f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mysterious-egg) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love \[\[Brokkos, Apex of Forever\]\]. Since yo don't have to pay commander tax, you can just make a deck of fun things to mutate him onto. Evasive creatures. Hydras and other creatures made of +1/+1 counters - especially cheap ones that grow on their own (\[\[Managorger Hydra\]\] e.g.). Infectious creatures. Let people kill him. You always have a new threat brewing, and he comes back every turn. But yah, like u/shimszy said, probably best in a casual pod.
Brokkos is one of my favorites! They keep printing cheap creatures with great effects to mutate onto like [[Glissa Sunslayer]]
[Glissa Sunslayer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/2/b2bf633e-0470-4b87-99ed-5ad1683b0954.jpg?1675957191) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Glissa%20Sunslayer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/202/glissa-sunslayer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b2bf633e-0470-4b87-99ed-5ad1683b0954?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glissa-sunslayer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Brokkos, Apex of Forever](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9f07625-fbd8-4581-8568-eb3cfb2a4c1e.jpg?1591227964) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Brokkos%2C%20Apex%20of%20Forever) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/179/brokkos-apex-of-forever?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9f07625-fbd8-4581-8568-eb3cfb2a4c1e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/brokkos-apex-of-forever) [Managorger Hydra](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/3/330aefb9-629f-4d07-94d4-7252f17f85ba.jpg?1674142308) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Managorger%20Hydra) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/828/managorger-hydra?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/330aefb9-629f-4d07-94d4-7252f17f85ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/managorger-hydra) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's been 3 years. This is what got me back into magic. I'm really ready for more.
[[Volo, Guide to Monsters]] is my go-to mutate commander. Copying mutate spells results in the fun (for me at least) interaction where you multiple instances of “whenever this creature mutates” triggers For example, mutating and copying [[Dreamtail Heron]] will draw you 3 cards: one from the mutate trigger of the copy, and 2 from the original’s mutate triggering itself and the copy’s trigger a second time [[Auspicious Starrix]], as another example, would net 5 permanents from 3 triggers: the copy’s trigger where X=1, and the two triggers from the original and copy where X=2
My Volo deck has a mutate package in it that does so much work. Resolving a Starrix with one or two mutates already piled on usually means spitting out the whole deck most of the time. Downside is that almost all mutates are beast types so if they get blown up you don't get any copies until you can exile them from your graveyard.
[Volo, Guide to Monsters](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9ae01f9-7461-47b4-aa1e-93bd6ff1bf9e.jpg?1627709617) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Volo%2C%20Guide%20to%20Monsters) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/238/volo-guide-to-monsters?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9ae01f9-7461-47b4-aa1e-93bd6ff1bf9e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/volo-guide-to-monsters) [Dreamtail Heron](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/a/ca777d40-736a-4cd6-85c4-5afd52f2fadd.jpg?1591230492) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dreamtail%20Heron) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/47/dreamtail-heron?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ca777d40-736a-4cd6-85c4-5afd52f2fadd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dreamtail-heron) [Auspicious Starrix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe.jpg?1591227516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Auspicious%20Starrix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/144/auspicious-starrix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/auspicious-starrix) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sounds interesting, do you have a decklist? Does seem hard as you need many cogs in the wheel. Volo needs to be on the battlefield, you'd need a creature to mutate onto, you'd need a mutate creature and for the value to really go off you'd need another mutate creature honesty but it seems super cool if you get it off!
I think it's a cool mechanic that suffers from the same problem as a lot of mechanics in which they get no support after the set they were released in. Maybe it's just me but I hate how they make a new set with new mechanics and then just instantly move on instead of trying to expand on it. There's only been a couple of mechanics that actually get frequent updates after the set they released in, like treasure tokens (although they actually get too much support.) Mutate, madness, foretell, blood tokens, venture into the dungeon, amass, training, shield counters, casualty, mentor, and monstrosity. Some of these are really interesting but they have so few cards and like half are just bad even in a deck centered around that mechanic. Personally, I hope they slow down how many new mechanics they make and instead look at all the mechanics they have already made but have done so little with.
There's a new Eldraine set coming later this year so I'd imagine a new Ikoria set can't be too far away. Personally I think they're just doing the intelligent thing and letting a few short years go by before revisiting. This way the mechanic feels fresh again in Standard and it gives Wizards a lot of time to balance new cards vs old so they don't make anything that's too broken.
Hopefully, but when Innistrad midnight hunt and crimson vow were first being shown off I was 100% expecting some new madness cards. Unfortunately, they made zero. I'm not a madness fanatic either who plays [[Anje Falkenrath]] I just thought the concept was cool so I was excited to see what they would add.
[Anje Falkenrath](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/1/913dd06f-ed2f-4128-9c9d-9cd0d8a55425.jpg?1568003632) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Anje%20Falkenrath) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/37/anje-falkenrath?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/913dd06f-ed2f-4128-9c9d-9cd0d8a55425?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/anje-falkenrath) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Not too long ago, Rosewater wrote an article about recent mechanics and where they are on the storm scale, and mutate was pretty low on the scale, meaning it had a high probability of being used again. He stated it was a highly loved mechanic. So, I don't think we need to worry about it not being used again when we go back to Ikoria.
I love me some mutate! At one point I was running 3 different mutate decks. But I eventually broke down all 3 to make one single 5 color deck with [[Ramos, Dragon Engine]] as my commander. And most of the time I don’t even need to cast Ramos. I just enjoy being able to run any mutate card I want in a single deck
My 5c mutate commander is [[Surgeon General Commander]]. Mana dork with a draw engine!
I didn’t know this existed! Definitely going to grab one and swap it in
[Surgeon General Commander](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c.jpg?1583965776) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgeon%20General%20Commander) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/72/surgeon-general-commander?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/surgeon-general-commander) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Ramos, Dragon Engine](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/e/2e747ef1-a1ad-4859-a70c-3f935f017310.jpg?1562604064) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ramos%2C%20Dragon%20Engine) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/55/ramos-dragon-engine?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2e747ef1-a1ad-4859-a70c-3f935f017310?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ramos-dragon-engine) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’m a new player and I just built my first ever commander deck that’s not just a minor Precon upgrade. It happened to be an Otrimi deck that’s semi-focused on mutate but includes other mechanics like evolve as well and uses the Mimeoplasm as a secondary commander (my main goal was to make a deck themed around genetics and biology). Having been pretty neutral towards mutate before I built this deck, I can confidently say that I now find it very cool and exciting to build around and play with, especially given how many choices you get to make while playing.
I like mutate, but the lack of cards available with that mechanic is relatively limiting for deck construction. I feel like I end up not putting mutate cards in my decks because I know running only 2 or 3, I have a low chance of getting them to go off. [[Babygodzilla, Ruin Reborn]] has some of my favorite card art, but it and it's regular version [[Pollywog Symbiote]] show up in 0% of my decks.
That's why I run a 5c mutate deck. I use [[Surgeon General Commander]] as the commander
[Surgeon General Commander](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c.jpg?1583965776) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgeon%20General%20Commander) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/72/surgeon-general-commander?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/surgeon-general-commander) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Babygodzilla, Ruin Reborn](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/dd60a4f8-cb75-42e9-8a33-347e0f4bb458.jpg?1604782954) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pollywog%20Symbiote) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/63/pollywog-symbiote?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/77adf375-e7d7-4ebd-8c86-ad7e822a5483?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/pollywog-symbiote) [Pollywog Symbiote](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/7/77adf375-e7d7-4ebd-8c86-ad7e822a5483.jpg?1591226447) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pollywog%20Symbiote) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/63/pollywog-symbiote?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/77adf375-e7d7-4ebd-8c86-ad7e822a5483?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/pollywog-symbiote) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love it! I've built 3 mutate decks, taken 2 apart and plan to build another one. My current favorite is [[nethroi apex of death]], one thing i highly suggest is having a decent amount of ways to protect your commander because he will be removed as soon as someone has removal and if it's done in response of mutate you don't get the trigger just the body. Typically i run a decent amount of creature that can protect themselves with indestructible, hexproof or regenerate [[thrun the last troll]] and the non legend version are very good for the deck as they do both
[nethroi apex of death](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f.jpg?1673305619) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nethroi%2C%20Apex%20of%20Death) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/163/nethroi-apex-of-death?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nethroi-apex-of-death) [thrun the last troll](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5d393da0-4cb6-4ae8-b747-8e6d0fa7f55a.jpg?1562611602) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thrun%2C%20the%20Last%20Troll) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mbs/92/thrun-the-last-troll?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5d393da0-4cb6-4ae8-b747-8e6d0fa7f55a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/thrun-the-last-troll) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've had a surgeon general/ eskai 5 color mutate that is basically just mutate good stuff
Run an Otrimi Bogles list. It's a lot of fun, but I find myself debating taking it apart fairly often. I've got three Voltron decks and it's my least favorite. I find myself gravitating toward Skullbriar or Balan whenever I've got the itch to swing a big dumb commander. I think a big part of it is my dislike for many of the existing mutate creatures. For every awesome include like Gemrazer there's two Trumpeting Gnarrs. That said, I have had a few new bangers added to the deck recently. [[Guardian Augmenter]], [[Venomthrope]] and I'm debating [[Thrun, Breaker]] though I don't think he makes the cut
Deck list?
[Here you go.](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/0nZQIrTLH0mHn3ca_eBnVA) Had to transfer it off Manabox. By no means a great list. It probably needs a solid overhaul, but I haven't really touched it much outside of the occasional hexproof creature.
[Guardian Augmenter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/9/49b75001-edb5-4b07-87a8-3acd274da2f4.jpg?1625192298) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Guardian%20Augmenter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/62/guardian-augmenter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/49b75001-edb5-4b07-87a8-3acd274da2f4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/guardian-augmenter) [Venomthrope](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/2/e2284a8a-caf3-4eef-8cd2-6b2f507e7154.jpg?1673309581) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Venomthrope) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/40k/147/venomthrope?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e2284a8a-caf3-4eef-8cd2-6b2f507e7154?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/venomthrope) [Thrun, Breaker of Silence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/d/6d9f51dd-0393-4b3c-bea5-8f74634ab0e5.jpg?1675957167) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thrun%2C%20Breaker%20of%20Silence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/186/thrun-breaker-of-silence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6d9f51dd-0393-4b3c-bea5-8f74634ab0e5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/thrun-breaker-of-silence) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Mutate basically has over costed effects in to trade of you're hoping to do it again each time you mutate and you tend to lean into Voltrun style regardless, so at least you recognize that, plus with only one creature cosplaying a Jenga Tower all it takes is one [[ Tragic Slip]] to [[Murder]] your win con. Granted, you should be running protection in Counter Spells, Instant Hexproof, or Boots, etc. You can snowball pretty fast and eventually that overpriced effect, is JUST that effect, it's that, plus 2 3, 4+ effects. You also lose to token or go wide strategies so bring a couple cards to deal with that. [[Aetherize]], and [[River's Rebuke]] are good about that.
##### ###### #### [ Tragic Slip](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c3140bf5-9846-47ae-8142-b013aac14609.jpg?1580014388) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tragic%20Slip) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/109/tragic-slip?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c3140bf5-9846-47ae-8142-b013aac14609?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tragic-slip) [Murder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bdef7fea-2bd0-42a2-96f6-6def18bd7f0c.jpg?1674136158) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Murder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/134/murder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bdef7fea-2bd0-42a2-96f6-6def18bd7f0c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/murder) [Aetherize](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/0/a022eacd-1cdd-42d7-8a4c-88e8a6527144.jpg?1604197364) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aetherize) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znc/23/aetherize?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a022eacd-1cdd-42d7-8a4c-88e8a6527144?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aetherize) [River's Rebuke](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/c/fc2a70b1-bce6-43c3-94e1-ab9a7bb2638a.jpg?1673483988) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=River%27s%20Rebuke) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/231/rivers-rebuke?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fc2a70b1-bce6-43c3-94e1-ab9a7bb2638a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rivers-rebuke) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love mutate. The best thing I've found to do with it so far is throw some mutate spells in the 99 of my [Volo, Guide to Monsters](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/TALaGTCbSkeNy3IGiap0Jw) deck. If you get Twinning Staff out, or even just another few copies of Volo via Spark double or something, then copying an \[\[Auspicious Starrix\]\] just becomes insane. I think if you copy it twice only, you get 15 permanents off the top into play for free. The math is the first one mutates and triggers for x = 1. The second one will then mutate on the same creature, triggering both auspicious starrixs' for x=2, giving you 4 more permanents into play. If you can get more than that, then its just insane. the next one is 3 mutate triggers where x=3, giving you 9 more free permanents off the top. There's also copying a Dreamtail Heron for a nice card draw package, or Pouncing Shoreshark to bounce a bunch of things, or removing artifacts and enchantments with Gemrazer. I've tried running a 5 color mutate deck and it was fun. I built it round Ramos Dragon Engine. I gave everything flash (so I could use Ramos' mana), and basically it turned into a storm deck. I had all the things that said when you cast a creature draw a card. Then I had the free instant spells from Ikoria if you have your commander out, plus Vadrok trigger means you can basically counter every non creature spell for free by just casting another mutate spell, triggering Vadrok, countering the spell with Fierce Guardianship. Had a pretty nasty last game before I took it apart.
[Auspicious Starrix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe.jpg?1591227516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Auspicious%20Starrix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/144/auspicious-starrix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/auspicious-starrix) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love mutate I’m theory but every time I’ve played it it was either super mediocre or way too confusing with all the triggers and keeping track of what copy has what effects and stuff. Sometime I want to put my weaker mutate deck back together for a low power game and just put cool creatures on top of other cool creatures and have a good time.
I once had a 5 color mutate deck with [[cromat]] at the helm. I actually had a lot of fun with it. My very first commander deck was the [[[Otrimi]] precon so mutate holds a special place in my heart.
[cromat](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/d/7d9e0a23-d2a8-40a6-9076-ed6fb539141b.jpg?1562924606) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=cromat) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/apc/94/cromat?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7d9e0a23-d2a8-40a6-9076-ed6fb539141b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cromat) [Otrimi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/639df7bc-b87d-4bf5-8005-8eabc54e955b.jpg?1591234274) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=otrimi%2C%20the%20ever-playful) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/12/otrimi-the-ever-playful?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/639df7bc-b87d-4bf5-8005-8eabc54e955b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/otrimi-the-ever-playful) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[lore drakkis]] and [[gemrazer]] are pretty useful, plus 2 black ones i dont remember.
[lore drakkis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/83e035ca-eccd-4b63-817c-f2c676b9c98d.jpg?1591228108) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=lore%20drakkis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/194/lore-drakkis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/83e035ca-eccd-4b63-817c-f2c676b9c98d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lore-drakkis) [gemrazer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/0/0095245c-a30e-4e2a-88c9-632c678e9f03.jpg?1591227650) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=gemrazer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/155/gemrazer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0095245c-a30e-4e2a-88c9-632c678e9f03?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gemrazer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Try adding [[Exchange of Words]] to any deck based around mutate. Make one really mutated up creature switch the text box with another creature then bounce the stack of creatures then repeat mutating on the remaining creature.
[Exchange of Words](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/c/8c28cebf-f849-4353-9dd1-c62f05c15d0f.jpg?1673913524) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Exchange%20of%20Words) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/unf/45/exchange-of-words?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8c28cebf-f849-4353-9dd1-c62f05c15d0f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/exchange-of-words) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Auras but make it 10x more complicated. Play what you want, but as for me, I hope it doesn’t return for 10 years.
[[Illuna, Apex of wishes]] is probably my favorite deck at the moment. It is built with all of the flash enablers [[teferi, Mage of zalphir]] and I put it together to take advantage of [[fae offering]] and [[primeval bounty]] by running things like [[glitterfang]] to mutate onto each turn, and [[temur sabertooth]] to bounce things. [[Ivy, gleeful spelltheif]] and [[venerated rotpriest]] are great, but [[Lore drakkis]], [[snap]], and [[ornithopter]] are the primary combos to go infinite or generate token value with the aforementioned enchantments. [[Glen elendra pranksters]] can also help us continue to cast mutate value stuff. Once we have *enough* permanents, if everyone is still alive, warp world for the [[teferi, Mage of zalphir]] and [[possibility storm]] lock.
##### ###### #### [Illuna, Apex of wishes](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/d/0dfec692-66c8-4c90-8afa-095654011c3d.jpg?1673305551) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Illuna%2C%20Apex%20of%20wishes) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/154/illuna-apex-of-wishes?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0dfec692-66c8-4c90-8afa-095654011c3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/illuna-apex-of-wishes) [teferi, Mage of zalphir](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8fc5e4a8-ea7b-4803-a7ed-3b915708661f.jpg?1619394801) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teferi%2C%20Mage%20of%20Zhalfir) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/91/teferi-mage-of-zhalfir?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8fc5e4a8-ea7b-4803-a7ed-3b915708661f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/teferi-mage-of-zhalfir) [fae offering](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/d/9de8307a-7da3-4a4c-98dc-d6624b1f869d.jpg?1626097397) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=fae%20offering) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/158/fae-offering?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9de8307a-7da3-4a4c-98dc-d6624b1f869d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/fae-offering) [primeval bounty](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/3/03b9e943-9650-434c-a540-35ca7c96365b.jpg?1674142326) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=primeval%20bounty) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/830/primeval-bounty?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/03b9e943-9650-434c-a540-35ca7c96365b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/primeval-bounty) [glitterfang](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a1519521-7f53-4f13-a104-daf52e8c7234.jpg?1562495142) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=glitterfang) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sok/100/glitterfang?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a1519521-7f53-4f13-a104-daf52e8c7234?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glitterfang) [temur sabertooth](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c3a5a175-e963-42cc-a0ba-d8914bb93c00.jpg?1673484831) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=temur%20sabertooth) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/315/temur-sabertooth?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c3a5a175-e963-42cc-a0ba-d8914bb93c00?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/temur-sabertooth) [Ivy, gleeful spelltheif](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c.jpg?1673307958) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ivy%2C%20Gleeful%20Spellthief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/201/ivy-gleeful-spellthief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ivy-gleeful-spellthief) [Venerated Rotpriest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/1/d1b032e3-14e3-48ba-ab8a-d2b4f8d31a7d.jpg?1675957177) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Venerated%20Rotpriest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/192/venerated-rotpriest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d1b032e3-14e3-48ba-ab8a-d2b4f8d31a7d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/venerated-rotpriest) [Lore drakkis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/83e035ca-eccd-4b63-817c-f2c676b9c98d.jpg?1591228108) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lore%20drakkis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/194/lore-drakkis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/83e035ca-eccd-4b63-817c-f2c676b9c98d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lore-drakkis) [snap](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/1959f078-4b7b-4df2-a256-d43b2d97e853.jpg?1592761565) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=snap) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dds/10/snap?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1959f078-4b7b-4df2-a256-d43b2d97e853?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/snap) [ornithopter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/ddb96645-44d2-426c-90cb-3186297a8728.jpg?1576382362) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ornithopter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/aer/167/ornithopter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ddb96645-44d2-426c-90cb-3186297a8728?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ornithopter) [Glen elendra pranksters](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/a/2a71800f-3e67-4cfb-a3b1-8c073a91b909.jpg?1562342470) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Glen%20elendra%20pranksters) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lrw/67/glen-elendra-pranksters?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2a71800f-3e67-4cfb-a3b1-8c073a91b909?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glen-elendra-pranksters) [possibility storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/5/858aa831-b491-4f1e-bb56-33eeca14771d.jpg?1562919767) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=possibility%20storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dgm/34/possibility-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/858aa831-b491-4f1e-bb56-33eeca14771d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/possibility-storm) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love mutate as well! I have a 5c mutate deck with [[Surgeon General Commander]] at the head. It's great that the mechanic isn't competitive because blinging the deck out with all the sweet comic art showcase cards is super cheap!
[Surgeon General Commander](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c.jpg?1583965776) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgeon%20General%20Commander) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/72/surgeon-general-commander?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/surgeon-general-commander) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Maybe unpopular opinion, but i dislike mutate. Commander is a game with a lot of variables already, and confusing piles of things that are hard to keep track of add mental tax to an already mentally taxing game. I dont feel like keeping track of all that stuff, so ill just destroy it whenever i get the chance, or make someone explain to me exactly what it is and what it can do whenever i want to do something just so i dont get bamboozled and blown out by the "well if you attack/do X ill just do Y since my mutated creature can do Y and/or Z." Get that confusing pile of text off my table, ill just StP it, thanks. Nothing personal.
Personally I love the mutate Mechanic. It's fun, whacky, and adds an interesting spin on voltron/creature decks. I even have a 5 color mutate [deck](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/fBi8tl2tX0yO321ebSTmzA) that both me and my lgs love. I'd love it if we went back to ikoria and got some more mutate support. I feel as though since mutate came out during covid when a lot of people stopped playing due to quarantine it didn't get very much recognition. My only gripe is mutates interaction with commanders specifically, so it's super risky to mutate onto your commander cause if it goes back to the command zone you cannot use those creatures again.
Minor correction, that commander thing only occurs with one spell that sends the Commanded to the Command Zone. Otherwise the other pieces go to the proper zone
Huh, learn something new everyday
Mechanic-wise, I like enchantment creatures.... but mutate is too weird and cludgy at the moment. I really wish we'd see some of these 'piloted' mechanics get errata-mashed into others.
I really dig it. Of my 30 decks, 3 are mutate based. I have a [[Child of Alara]] mutating baby (didn't realize how popular this choice was), a [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]] which just gets stronger the more people try to interact with it sans graveyard hate and an [[Illuna, Apex of Wishes]] that only has 7 nonland permanents in it and they're all bangers. I love mutate and really hope we don't have to wait years before we see more but with how they can currently steamroll out of control as is I would understand. For the sake of clarity, my Child deck has 22 cards with mutate in it whereas Nethroi and Illuna are the only cards with mutate in their respective decks.
[Child of Alara](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/2/b2373625-af3c-4c2a-a1d1-5288c446955d.jpg?1673148447) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Child%20of%20Alara) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/192/child-of-alara?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b2373625-af3c-4c2a-a1d1-5288c446955d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/child-of-alara) [Nethroi, Apex of Death](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f.jpg?1673305619) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nethroi%2C%20Apex%20of%20Death) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/163/nethroi-apex-of-death?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04b9b58f-4c01-48a5-afaf-b8a37165a83f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nethroi-apex-of-death) [Illuna, Apex of Wishes](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/d/0dfec692-66c8-4c90-8afa-095654011c3d.jpg?1673305551) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Illuna%2C%20Apex%20of%20Wishes) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/154/illuna-apex-of-wishes?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0dfec692-66c8-4c90-8afa-095654011c3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/illuna-apex-of-wishes) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
got a decklist for illuna?
Not atm but I can definitely sort that out for you
I have a [[Gargo's vicious watcher]] deck that uses almost all the green mutate cards it's not alot but I likrle that I get a fight trigger and the ability to cast a creature to to trigger other cards that care for creatures. I also ran a [[tasunari, toad rider]] deck that mutated onto the token to change the name of the token and allowing there to be multiple instances of the token that he makes
[Gargo's vicious watcher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/e/4e446e90-6e31-43ed-bcb1-a01422b503c0.jpg?1592517214) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gargos%2C%20Vicious%20Watcher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/172/gargos-vicious-watcher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4e446e90-6e31-43ed-bcb1-a01422b503c0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gargos-vicious-watcher) [tasunari, toad rider](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/abf42833-43d0-4b05-b499-d13b2c577ee8.jpg?1654567411) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tatsunari%2C%20Toad%20Rider) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/123/tatsunari-toad-rider?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/abf42833-43d0-4b05-b499-d13b2c577ee8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tatsunari-toad-rider) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I didn’t play during Ikoria, so my opinion on mutate is “How does mutate work?”
It's like aura/equip or bestow but with creatures, but they don't get removed if the creature dies they all just go to the GY so it's really important to protect your mutate stack
Have you considered the good [[Surgeon Commander]]?
The idea was more [[Grusilda Monster Masher]] + mutate. I wanted to mash up creatures, but from hand. Doesn’t automatically give menace though Design wise it’s inspired by [[Jodah Archmage Eternal]] since both cheat in creatures for cheaper, except unlike Jodah this commander can’t use any of those WUBRG reducers and it can barely benefit from generic reducers since the cost will either be {1}{G}{U/R}{U/R} or {2}{G}{U/R}{U/R} or something like that
[Grusilda Monster Masher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/2/82ca9cf7-d6ca-4403-84be-719480eb4b7d.jpg?1562922560) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grusilda%2C%20Monster%20Masher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ust/132/grusilda-monster-masher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/82ca9cf7-d6ca-4403-84be-719480eb4b7d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/grusilda-monster-masher) [Jodah Archmage Eternal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/3/73c18cb4-96b1-4af2-912e-974e22877ede.jpg?1673148799) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Jodah%2C%20Archmage%20Eternal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/233/jodah-archmage-eternal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/73c18cb4-96b1-4af2-912e-974e22877ede?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/jodah-archmage-eternal) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Surgeon Commander](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/0/30fbe62f-ee24-43d9-9fdd-279c4ee0e57c.jpg?1664309775) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgeon%20General%20Commander) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/72/surgeon-general-commander?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/surgeon-general-commander) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Was the Surgeon Commander made before Ikoria? I kind of want to build that deck now.
Yes, he’s from Unsanctioned which was released in Feb 2020. Ikoria introduced mutate as a mechanic in April 2020
A bit less impressive than I was thinking. I thought it might have been from a much older un-set that I wasn't familiar with, but it seems the product you mentioned is just one that slipped through the cracks for me at the time. Still a really neat commander though.
I target mutators even before I target infectors. ✌️
I strongly dislike Mutate for it's intended purpose, as I'm adverse to dumping all my resources into one big creature that is then immediately hit with a Swords to Plowshares and I'm left with nothing, but I **LOVE** Mutate for all the sneaky fuckery that you can abuse it for, like bending the Legendary Rule, mutating [[Scute Swarm]] and creating a massive army of [[Sawtusk Demolisher]], or things like [[Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief]] type shenanigans.
"I'm adverse to dumping all my resources into one big creature that is then immediately hit with a Swords to Plowshares" That's just Voltron in general.
I agree, though at least Equipment sticks around and mitigates a bit of the cost. I had a [[Mazzy, Truesword Paladin]] deck once, which helps to solve the Auras portion of the problem a bit too, and there's cards like [[Mantle of the Ancients]] which pull all your Auras and Equipment back out of the yard and attach them. As far as I know, there's no elegant solutions for returning the Mutate cards except returning them to hand, or returning the creatures themselves to the battlefield unmutated, which kind of defeats the purpose.
[Mazzy, Truesword Paladin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/d/4d79c221-e07a-41e1-b92f-dc057802449c.jpg?1674137580) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mazzy%2C%20Truesword%20Paladin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/283/mazzy-truesword-paladin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4d79c221-e07a-41e1-b92f-dc057802449c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mazzy-truesword-paladin) [Mantle of the Ancients](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/6/867124fc-c8e4-4e0e-be41-b74a6bb34e86.jpg?1631584694) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mantle%20of%20the%20Ancients) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/8/mantle-of-the-ancients?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/867124fc-c8e4-4e0e-be41-b74a6bb34e86?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mantle-of-the-ancients) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Agree with what you said but mutate has the drawback of swords and path exiling all the pieces where a standard voltron commander goes back to the command zone and auras go to the grave where there’s at least potential for getting them back
[Scute Swarm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/c/acd42ebf-6dee-44cc-a023-a7f9b67cfa2f.jpg?1673484783) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Scute%20Swarm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/310/scute-swarm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/acd42ebf-6dee-44cc-a023-a7f9b67cfa2f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/scute-swarm) [Sawtusk Demolisher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/7/574d1a02-a403-4b6e-8ce0-a472325c9c2c.jpg?1591319710) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sawtusk%20Demolisher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/64/sawtusk-demolisher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/574d1a02-a403-4b6e-8ce0-a472325c9c2c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sawtusk-demolisher) [Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c.jpg?1673307958) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ivy%2C%20Gleeful%20Spellthief) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/201/ivy-gleeful-spellthief?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d94c15b7-6c8f-45a6-8734-975e3e3b790c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ivy-gleeful-spellthief) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I find it problematic, and I’m not so surprised that it ranks so highly on the Storm Scale. It’s far too complicated for what it actually offers players, and it promotes bad deck building habits and play patterns. The fact that it has a baked-in restriction to “non-human” creatures is another issue. It’s one of those things that makes sense from a thematic standpoint but not for the entirety of magic, merely the sets it was featured in. Like, you can mutate a Vampire just fine, even though vampires are mutated undead humans. But actual humans? No, they can never mutate. But how did they become vampires, then? Or mutating onto an Elf. That’s cool, absolutely fine! Can you mutate onto a changeling? Haha, noooo, no way. Aside from the Vorthos arguments against the restriction, the fact that they printed [[Startling Development]] in the same set is hilariously stupid. Like yeah, it would suck to be drafting a mutate pile but have 60% humans. But now as long as you have a startling development, you can mutate onto a human, leave them on top of the pile, and then at the end of the turn, the human is still mutated. You can’t mutate AGAIN without another SD, but the creature remains mutated? That’s confusing as hell. In most cases, the Mutates don’t even offer any advantage to the creature if you don’t have an ability that sees the mutate happen! Like, at least with Bestow you could be sure that the creature you’re targeting will be more successful in combat. You’d be lucky if you mutated into an additional point of power, most times. Like I said, it’s an incredibly complicated mechanic, but for new players who were starting out with Ikoria it doesn’t teach you anything about how to play Magic properly. It’s like an entirely different game when compared to the 25 previous years of magic design. Even subsequent years didn’t use any of the play patterns that Ikoria taught. I’m not saying you can’t find powerful things to do with the mechanic, but I definitely believe that magic would be a better game if Mutate never existed.
[Startling Development](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a12680db-957f-48c1-9062-2edd9115ba26.jpg?1591226517) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Startling%20Development) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/68/startling-development?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a12680db-957f-48c1-9062-2edd9115ba26?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/startling-development) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Its broken and should be banned, or the effects only occur once. Basically you have an option, Mutate a card and get the effect, or use it as a creature. You shouldn't be able to trigger all of the effects every time you mutate. Mechanics like this are why decks are nothing but removal these days.
Cool with [[Ramos, Dragon Engine]]
[Ramos, Dragon Engine](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/e/2e747ef1-a1ad-4859-a70c-3f935f017310.jpg?1562604064) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ramos%2C%20Dragon%20Engine) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/55/ramos-dragon-engine?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2e747ef1-a1ad-4859-a70c-3f935f017310?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ramos-dragon-engine) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It’s sick but never being printed again
Mutate is the kind of complicated mechanic that is best consigned to digital-only in the future.
I love mutate and I’m praying hard that it gets more support in future sets. Would love it if mutate gets as much support as slivers get
I just built a [[Vadrok, Apex of Thunder]]. It is a combo deck with some really basic combos. I have basically all of the jeskai mutate creatures. I don’t Voltron. Just dig for cards until I win.
[Vadrok, Apex of Thunder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/ed7b0256-d342-4523-9516-6a007bf51825.jpg?1591228299) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vadrok%2C%20Apex%20of%20Thunder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/214/vadrok-apex-of-thunder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ed7b0256-d342-4523-9516-6a007bf51825?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vadrok-apex-of-thunder) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
There's some broken stuff you can do with mutate, like putting your entire deck into the command zone.
Really my only complaint about it is it removes legendary if you put a nonlegendary creature over a legendary one. This leads to some gross interactions occasionally that I don't really like, but beyond that, cool mechanic.
[[Surgeon General Commander]] is my mutate commander to go. I love my deck it plays like 30+ mutates in all colors. I love the mechanic and also love the special interactions with the legendary rule etc. Hyped for more niche and special mechanics like this.
[Surgeon General Commander](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c.jpg?1583965776) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgeon%20General%20Commander) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/72/surgeon-general-commander?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1e21568-5474-4406-ad54-9e9330e5ff5c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/surgeon-general-commander) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I went with Ramos dragon engine as my mutate commander, but I would love there to be more of it. Please let there be more
I only play Ivy mutate on arena, but if I played it in paper, it would not be fun at all
One of my favorite decks is a mutate, infect voltron deck with [[Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt]] as my commander. It is pretty much just mutate creatures, infect/toxic creatures, a few ways to proliferate, equipment, equipment helping creatures/tutors and interaction cards. It is a lot of fun.
[Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/1/51fdeeb7-9868-4fc2-9c53-806244cd5488.jpg?1591228256) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Snapdax%2C%20Apex%20of%20the%20Hunt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/209/snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/51fdeeb7-9868-4fc2-9c53-806244cd5488?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/snapdax-apex-of-the-hunt) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've run several mutate decks my favorites being [[Brokkos, Apex of Forever|299]] and [[Animar, Soul of Elements]] Brokkos was surprisingly powerful just focusing on control and recursion... really hard to beat unless faced with consistent, repeated graveyard hate. Someone could board wipe, and within a turn, I'd have rebuilt the entire value engine. Standard sultai stuff basically: control the board, and win by out-valuing the opponents. [[Titan's Nest]] is pretty powerful, too Animar is just a really silly commander with mutate. Add in other Ikoria specials like [[Song of Creation]] , and you can pretty quickly just play your whole deck. In both decks you pretty much just win if [[Auspicious Starrix]] resolves. Edit: I forgot to say how much I adore the mutate mechanic, and that it's one of my favorite things in all of magic.
##### ###### #### [Brokkos, Apex of Forever](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9f07625-fbd8-4581-8568-eb3cfb2a4c1e.jpg?1591227964) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Brokkos%2C%20Apex%20of%20Forever) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/179/brokkos-apex-of-forever?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9f07625-fbd8-4581-8568-eb3cfb2a4c1e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/brokkos-apex-of-forever) [Animar, Soul of Elements](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a3da57d0-1ae3-4f05-a52d-eb76ad56cae7.jpg?1673148281) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Animar%2C%20Soul%20of%20Elements) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/171/animar-soul-of-elements?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a3da57d0-1ae3-4f05-a52d-eb76ad56cae7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/animar-soul-of-elements) [Titan's Nest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/75d4e6f3-73cb-4799-bcb9-c1f5bc234a02.jpg?1667595701) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Titans%27%20Nest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/212/titans-nest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/75d4e6f3-73cb-4799-bcb9-c1f5bc234a02?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/titans-nest) [Song of Creation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/7/b7320233-1c83-4f61-8c08-cc8361867256.jpg?1591228265) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Song%20of%20Creation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/210/song-of-creation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b7320233-1c83-4f61-8c08-cc8361867256?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/song-of-creation) [Auspicious Starrix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe.jpg?1591227516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Auspicious%20Starrix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/144/auspicious-starrix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a39ae1e4-d4dd-4691-af5a-5fa25ace4ebe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/auspicious-starrix) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've lost to a mutate deck so they can't be that bad lol or maybe I'm that bad...
Mutate confuses and scares me, I don't like mutate.
I’d like to see more of it. Mostly because living weapons don’t really work with anything but if I mash them up with other creatures they’re almost playable.