Are Changelings on the Rise in Commander?
With
Within the lore of Lorwyn, changelings are intrinsically tied to a mysterious subterranean grotto known as Velis Vel. Changelings also inhabit a mysterious and fabled space in game design, allowing for a wide variety of interactions across formats and especially in Commander. Here I will be looking at potentially underexplored options for the most flexible of creatures.
Atogs
Atogatog
This odd creature, with an odd creature type, simultaneously has tremendous nostalgia and very few creatures in its type. Despite format staples of the past like
This is a unique commander featuring an old card frame and bizarre art. The art alone insists that it be made into a commander, albeit feasible only through shapeshifting friends or ignoring the textbox on the commander altogether.
Although only seeing print in
This is an interesting intersection of nostalgia, collectability, rarity, and a fancy commander in an atypical design space. I would be surprised to not see movement in the coming year, with how few would need to leave the marketplace in order to signal an uptrend.
| Atogatog |
Dragons
Mox Jasper
Mox Jasper has recently been identified by our site as a card that’s stabilizing. At face value it presents two significant features: a zero-mana Mox, and a typal requirement. The popularity of Dragons is not one to be ignored, and that alone will be a considerable part of the driving force behind the value of this card in the long term.
Changelings however tend to have less intensive mana values, ultimately making this Mox most flexible in a space shared with the most flexible of creature types, giving it potential in a much wider variety of decks outside of Dragon typal.
Standard and Pioneer also may potentially be able to utilize some of these synergies alongside cards like
Perhaps the most notable attribute of Mox Jasper is its mana value. Zero-mana artifacts have a long history of being featured in powerful strategies, and this card is no exception. It occupies a space that’s shared with few other cards,
Legendary creatures are significantly more abundant than cheap Dragons, but additional changelings will mitigate part of this, and I expect pricing trends to follow suit. As
| Mox Jasper | ||
| Mox Jasper (Showcase) |
Druids
Gilt-Leaf Archdruid
Likely the most polarizing card in today's list, Gilt-Leaf Archdruid stands as one of the most powerful mono-green Druids in Magic. An easy way to upset or force a concession from players in your pod, while also just being a good creature to have in play. I’m not necessarily recommending this card for you, your pod, or even your community, but it is worth noting the raw power attached to this single creature.
Only seeing print in its original
Seton, Krosan Protector
Druids are a viable typal strategy in Commander, although the options for synergistic commanders are limited. Seton, Krosan Protector is the reigning champion of the archetype. As with most of the cards on today’s list, creature types with limited options stand to make significant gains from additional changelings. Moving forward, both Seton, as well as Gilt-Leaf Archdruid, are likely to gain relevant enablers from the Shapeshifters found in Lorwyn Eclipsed.
Seton has only one printing, giving it the potential for uptrend. Foil printings are notably in short supply, and likely undervalued as their current price point. TCGPlayer currently shows nineteen listings, predominantly under $70.
| Gilt-Leaf Archdruid | ||
| Gilt-Leaf Archdruid | ||
| Seton, Krosan Protector |
Party Time! (Cleric, Rogue, Warrior, Wizard)
Typically when dealing with a typal strategy you have one, or maybe two creature types to focus on.
Perhaps the greatest advancement from more of these amorphous menaces isn’t found in any one creature type, or even in these powerful commanders that utilize two creature types, but in the superior flexibility and redundancy offered to the party mechanic.
With the recent printing of the Final Fantasy Scene Boxes we received four new potential commanders that all seek to form a full party. These all look to simultaneously control a Cleric, a Rogue, a Warrior, and a Wizard, so that the true potential of their effects can be realized. This can be done by traditionally casting or controlling one of each type, although having access to all four types at any one time is difficult. Cards like
The addition of these recent commanders, their fantastic art, as well as lore from the Final Fantasy franchise in combination with additional changelings could easily fuel a resurgence of exploration into archetypes built around establishing and maintaining a full party.
Few cards reward a slew of changelings or a well established party more than
| The Destined Warrior (Borderless) | ||
| The Destined White Mage (Borderless) | ||
| The Destined Thief (Borderless) | ||
| The Destined Black Mage (Borderless) | ||
| Burakos, Party Leader | ||
| Stonework Packbeast | ||
| Coveted Prize |
Conclusion
The appeal of Lorwyn Eclipsed’s amorphous inhabitants and the outlandish creativity and consistency they enable are both rare treats. From the most obscure typal strategies to consistency in existing archetypes, the addition of more changelings can only ensure one thing: shenanigans.
Read More:
Bill Bingham
Bill Bingham has spent the past decade in the throws of competitive play, travelling, and managing a collection. With expansive knowledge and deep ties to the community, he looks to share this insight. In his time away from the game, he is utilizing these problem solving skills, learning, creating, or cooking.
