Art by Charles Chaisson
Commander deckGU
Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
Tap and untap Lieutenant Sulu repeatedly with vehicles, tap abilities, and untap engines to trigger explore, stacking +1/+1 counters and drawing lands before swinging in unblockable.
Asked for“Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu commander deck”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 61 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
2GLegendary Creature — Human Pilot
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Paradise Mantle
0Artifact — Equipment
Allows Sulu to tap for mana immediately and explore
Kami of Whispered Hopes
2GCreature — Spirit
Amplifies counters and taps for massive mana based on power
Cryptolith Rite
1GEnchantment
Lets Sulu and utility creatures tap for mana at will
Card Draw
10
Fathom Mage
2GUCreature — Human Wizard
Draws cards whenever Sulu or others provide +1/+1 counters
Danny Pink
3ULegendary Creature — Human Soldier Advisor
Draws a card whenever a creature gets a counter each turn
Inspiring Call
2GInstant
Draws cards off creatures with counters and provides protection
Rishkar's Expertise
4GGSorcery
Draws equal to Sulu's huge power and gives a free spell
Return of the Wildspeaker
4GInstant
Draws cards based on Sulu's power or acts as an overrun
Removal
10
Imprisoned in the Moon
2UEnchantment — Aura
Neutralizes problem commanders and lands
Threats/Wincons
23
The Ozolith
1Legendary Artifact
Retains all explore counters if creatures leave the board
Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
1GLegendary Artifact
Adds extra counters and can animate into a threat
Simic Ascendancy
GUEnchantment
Alternate win condition fueled by rapid explore counters
Chasm Skulker
2UCreature — Squid Horror
Grows with card draw and leaves behind squid army
Forgotten Ancient
3GCreature — Elemental
Amasses counters and distributes them to Sulu
Master Biomancer
2GUCreature — Elf Wizard
Pumps all subsequent creatures entering play
Walking Ballista
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Converts counters into direct damage removal or win condition
Hangarback Walker
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Counter sponge that floats a thopter army
Herald of Secret Streams
3UCreature — Merfolk Warrior
Gives all creatures with counters unblockable
Wildgrowth Walker
1GCreature — Elemental
Huge lifegain and counter growth from explore triggers
Nicanzil, Current Conductor
GULegendary Creature — Merfolk Scout
Explores further and ramps lands explored into hand
Jadelight Spelunker
XGCreature — Merfolk Scout
Scalable creature that explores multiple times upon entry
Blackblade Reforged
2Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Turns explore-acquired lands into lethal commander damage
Smuggler's Copter
2Artifact — Vehicle
Tap enabler for Sulu via crew that also loots
Reckoner Bankbuster
2Artifact — Vehicle
Crew vehicle that taps Sulu while providing card advantage
Cultivator's Caravan
3Artifact — Vehicle
Mana rock and vehicle that taps Sulu without attacking
Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
4GULegendary Creature — Serpent
Capitalizes heavily on lands put into hand by explore
Tatyova, Benthic Druid
3GULegendary Creature — Merfolk Druid
Draws cards and gains life off explored lands
Avenger of Zendikar
5GGCreature — Elemental
Massive board presence scaling with explored lands
Utility
8
Springleaf Drum
1Artifact
Enables instant tapping of Sulu to trigger explore safely
Opposition
2UUEnchantment
Taps Sulu to explore while locking down opponent permanents
Kiora's Follower
GUCreature — Merfolk
Untaps Sulu to allow multiple explore triggers per turn
Murkfiend Liege
2GUGUGUCreature — Horror
Buffs Simic creatures and untaps them on every upkeep
Seedborn Muse
3GGCreature — Spirit
Untaps Sulu every turn to exploit tap abilities repeatedly
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
Board protection against wipes and targeted removal
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Haste and shroud to enable immediate tapping
