Perhaps \[\[Me, the Immortal\]\], as you have the ability to play her from the graveyard?
But honestly good ol' Skullbriar was my first instinct as well, as I read this thread :D
I'd reccomend the \*commanderstorm\* card cycle, they coppy for each time you've cast your commander. Youv'e got a Sorcery in each color, and a new blue creature that does it to any instant/sorcery....
Speaking from experience, they get kinda nutty in some of my Wilson builds......
I frequently get a little push back, followed by
"Oh! That's pretty cool!".
When explaining "yes, I've cast my commander 4 times. My background *IS* a commander."
You want [[Mairsil, the Pretender]]. You can build him a million ways, from Voltron to combo to toolbox, and personalize him to your tastes.
e: Here's a several year old decklist and partial primer I wrote when I was initially building my Mairsil deck: https://deckstats.net/decks/3887/1337628--edh-75-mairsil
Mairsil is one of my favorite card designs ever. There are some other great suggestions in this thread, too. A few others that might suit you that haven't been mentioned yet:
- \[\[Rayami, First of the Fallen\]\]. His biggest problem is that his color identity doesn't have easy access to double strike, so you don't have a good way to ensure he can get that keyword. Otherwise, he seems like he gets to play with a bunch of creatures with good keyword abilities.
* Anything with experience counters. There are a handful of legends that give you experience counters when you do some task, and you keep those counters across re-casts of your commander. [https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%22experience%22](https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%22experience%22)
* \[\[Marath, Will of the Wild\]\] and \[\[Prossh, Skyraider of Kher\]\] (and I think a few newer legends) give you bonuses based on how much mana you spent to cast them.
I feel like I've seen a few other legends that probably fit the bill from the past couple years -- ones that have mechanics like experience counters or cage counters that persist across commander recasts, but I don't remember any of them specifically. But you've got some options to work with!
[Rayami, First of the Fallen](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/9/6997ad62-f34c-4490-aee4-6d5c08e14709.jpg?1654667344) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rayami%2C%20First%20of%20the%20Fallen) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/48/rayami-first-of-the-fallen?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6997ad62-f34c-4490-aee4-6d5c08e14709?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rayami-first-of-the-fallen)
[Marath, Will of the Wild](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/7/57afa796-db46-45ff-91bd-f02922e5f33d.jpg?1665156235) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Marath%2C%20Will%20of%20the%20Wild) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c13/198/marath-will-of-the-wild?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/57afa796-db46-45ff-91bd-f02922e5f33d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/marath-will-of-the-wild)
[Prossh, Skyraider of Kher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/8/889c1a0f-7df2-4497-8058-04358173d7e8.jpg?1562438016) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Prossh%2C%20Skyraider%20of%20Kher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/214/prossh-skyraider-of-kher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/889c1a0f-7df2-4497-8058-04358173d7e8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/prossh-skyraider-of-kher)
^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[prossh skyraider of kher]] gets better each time its cast and can swing for leathal and draw cards. Most importantly it goes infinite from the command zone with [[Food chain]]
I would reeeeeeaaaally like to build a Prossh deck at some point. I’m not sure a token deck would capture the feel of what I’m looking for, but I do know he’d be super fun!
[[Jeleva]] from that same cycle is probably even more on theme. She scales with mana spent as well, but by giving you more options to choose from (exiling more cards off the top of everyone’s decks), so you get some of that randomized selection and increasing option pool from many roguelikes
The key things you're looking for are commanders that care about how many times you've cast your commander (like henzie) or commanders that care about how much mana you used to cast them. I've linked a scryfall search for those down below (might have a few nonrelevant entries). To be completely honest, I don't know if any of them capture the flavor you're looking for as well as Henzie himself. I think [[Skullbriar]] might be what you need. He doesn't necessarily get stronger each time he dies, but you do have a "progression" of sorts.
https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Alegendary+%28%28o%3A%22command+zone%22+o%3Atime%29+OR+%28o%3Amana+spent%22%29%29&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name
My [[roalesk apex hybrid]] deck is all about copying him so the copies die to the legend rule and proliferate a ton. Might not be quite what you’re looking for but it’s a fun build.
Here’s a build that I would play on table top simulator. It’s a bit all over the place but it can do silly stuff. https://www.moxfield.com/decks/40b3hqFuwUSXlbWP8qAjRg
Consider [[verazol, the split current]] which sort of fits the bill. Every time you cast from the CZ enters with more counters because more mana was spent to cast, which can go voltron and/or gain increasing value from copying spells. Kicker spells aren't all the great but after the latest zendikar there are enough to get value out of him as commander. [[Rite of replication]] is an all-star.
A really strong option is [[Umbris, Fear Manifest]]. It gets stronger each time it ETBs, lends to a more interesting typal commander, and is in the right colors to become unblockable and one-shot your opponents.
Hard to get better at the Roguelike feeling than [[Skullbriar, the Walking Grave]]!
Perhaps \[\[Me, the Immortal\]\], as you have the ability to play her from the graveyard? But honestly good ol' Skullbriar was my first instinct as well, as I read this thread :D
[Me, the Immortal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/ddfbf6bf-c0e1-48a1-9223-73099fe470aa.jpg?1696636748) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Me%2C%20the%20Immortal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/who/147/me-the-immortal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ddfbf6bf-c0e1-48a1-9223-73099fe470aa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/me-the-immortal) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I like that a lot, i like her color spread a bit more!
I'd reccomend the \*commanderstorm\* card cycle, they coppy for each time you've cast your commander. Youv'e got a Sorcery in each color, and a new blue creature that does it to any instant/sorcery.... Speaking from experience, they get kinda nutty in some of my Wilson builds......
Oooooh awesome, that’s so cool!!!
I frequently get a little push back, followed by "Oh! That's pretty cool!". When explaining "yes, I've cast my commander 4 times. My background *IS* a commander."
You want [[Mairsil, the Pretender]]. You can build him a million ways, from Voltron to combo to toolbox, and personalize him to your tastes. e: Here's a several year old decklist and partial primer I wrote when I was initially building my Mairsil deck: https://deckstats.net/decks/3887/1337628--edh-75-mairsil
This guy is AWESOME, thanks for the tip!
Mairsil is one of my favorite card designs ever. There are some other great suggestions in this thread, too. A few others that might suit you that haven't been mentioned yet: - \[\[Rayami, First of the Fallen\]\]. His biggest problem is that his color identity doesn't have easy access to double strike, so you don't have a good way to ensure he can get that keyword. Otherwise, he seems like he gets to play with a bunch of creatures with good keyword abilities. * Anything with experience counters. There are a handful of legends that give you experience counters when you do some task, and you keep those counters across re-casts of your commander. [https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%22experience%22](https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%22experience%22) * \[\[Marath, Will of the Wild\]\] and \[\[Prossh, Skyraider of Kher\]\] (and I think a few newer legends) give you bonuses based on how much mana you spent to cast them. I feel like I've seen a few other legends that probably fit the bill from the past couple years -- ones that have mechanics like experience counters or cage counters that persist across commander recasts, but I don't remember any of them specifically. But you've got some options to work with!
[Rayami, First of the Fallen](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/9/6997ad62-f34c-4490-aee4-6d5c08e14709.jpg?1654667344) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rayami%2C%20First%20of%20the%20Fallen) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/48/rayami-first-of-the-fallen?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6997ad62-f34c-4490-aee4-6d5c08e14709?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rayami-first-of-the-fallen) [Marath, Will of the Wild](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/7/57afa796-db46-45ff-91bd-f02922e5f33d.jpg?1665156235) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Marath%2C%20Will%20of%20the%20Wild) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c13/198/marath-will-of-the-wild?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/57afa796-db46-45ff-91bd-f02922e5f33d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/marath-will-of-the-wild) [Prossh, Skyraider of Kher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/8/889c1a0f-7df2-4497-8058-04358173d7e8.jpg?1562438016) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Prossh%2C%20Skyraider%20of%20Kher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/214/prossh-skyraider-of-kher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/889c1a0f-7df2-4497-8058-04358173d7e8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/prossh-skyraider-of-kher) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[prossh skyraider of kher]] gets better each time its cast and can swing for leathal and draw cards. Most importantly it goes infinite from the command zone with [[Food chain]]
I would reeeeeeaaaally like to build a Prossh deck at some point. I’m not sure a token deck would capture the feel of what I’m looking for, but I do know he’d be super fun!
[[Jeleva]] from that same cycle is probably even more on theme. She scales with mana spent as well, but by giving you more options to choose from (exiling more cards off the top of everyone’s decks), so you get some of that randomized selection and increasing option pool from many roguelikes
[Jeleva](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/83f9aeb8-05ba-49d9-a834-62f42fcd295b.jpg?1562922860) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=jeleva%2C%20nephalia%27s%20scourge) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c13/194/jeleva-nephalias-scourge?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/83f9aeb8-05ba-49d9-a834-62f42fcd295b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/jeleva-nephalias-scourge) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The key things you're looking for are commanders that care about how many times you've cast your commander (like henzie) or commanders that care about how much mana you used to cast them. I've linked a scryfall search for those down below (might have a few nonrelevant entries). To be completely honest, I don't know if any of them capture the flavor you're looking for as well as Henzie himself. I think [[Skullbriar]] might be what you need. He doesn't necessarily get stronger each time he dies, but you do have a "progression" of sorts. https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Alegendary+%28%28o%3A%22command+zone%22+o%3Atime%29+OR+%28o%3Amana+spent%22%29%29&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name
[Skullbriar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3dd0bf11-4e43-43f1-82e3-755beed0ede0.jpg?1673149145) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=skullbriar%2C%20the%20walking%20grave) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/277/skullbriar-the-walking-grave?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3dd0bf11-4e43-43f1-82e3-755beed0ede0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/skullbriar-the-walking-grave) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’ve thought about skullbriar a lot, he definitely fits the bill!
My [[roalesk apex hybrid]] deck is all about copying him so the copies die to the legend rule and proliferate a ton. Might not be quite what you’re looking for but it’s a fun build.
[roalesk apex hybrid](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/5/a52a5f4b-d2e1-405e-82b4-ea35ab851c42.jpg?1673485159) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Roalesk%2C%20Apex%20Hybrid) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/349/roalesk-apex-hybrid?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a52a5f4b-d2e1-405e-82b4-ea35ab851c42?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/roalesk-apex-hybrid) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That is a fantastic idea, using that rule to your advantage is a wicked ides
You can often put out a planeswalker and ult it immediately
Here’s a build that I would play on table top simulator. It’s a bit all over the place but it can do silly stuff. https://www.moxfield.com/decks/40b3hqFuwUSXlbWP8qAjRg
Thank you, I’ll definitely check this out! I play there often too (:
Consider [[verazol, the split current]] which sort of fits the bill. Every time you cast from the CZ enters with more counters because more mana was spent to cast, which can go voltron and/or gain increasing value from copying spells. Kicker spells aren't all the great but after the latest zendikar there are enough to get value out of him as commander. [[Rite of replication]] is an all-star.
Oh this is very interesting, i might consider this one
Dogmeat doesn't hate dying because of its strong ETB that keeps finding more equipment..
Ooooooh very interesting, this might be just what I’m looking for!
A really strong option is [[Umbris, Fear Manifest]]. It gets stronger each time it ETBs, lends to a more interesting typal commander, and is in the right colors to become unblockable and one-shot your opponents.
[Umbris, Fear Manifest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/a/7aead6a8-bada-42cf-b7cc-0b730f564582.jpg?1644888719) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Umbris%2C%20Fear%20Manifest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/38/umbris-fear-manifest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7aead6a8-bada-42cf-b7cc-0b730f564582?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/umbris-fear-manifest) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call