Art by Darius Zablockis
Saved commander deck
The Thing
Cast cheap noncreature spells to reliably trigger The Thing's counter generation, then attack and pay {R}{G}{W}{U} to double counters across your board for massive trample swings.
Prompt: The Thing commander deck
Commander
1 cards
The Thing
{5}{G}Legendary Creature — Human Hero
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10 cards
Sol Ring
{1}Artifact
Essential mana acceleration and a cheap noncreature trigger.
Arcane Signet
{2}Artifact
Fixes all four colors needed for The Thing's attack ability.
Fellwar Stone
{2}Artifact
Low-cost noncreature ramp that provides multicolor mana.
Chromatic Lantern
{3}Artifact
Ensures all four colors are available to activate the doubling ability.
Kodama's Reach
{2}{G}Sorcery — Arcane
Sorcery ramp spell that smooths colors and fuels noncreature triggers.
Nature's Lore
{1}{G}Sorcery
Efficient two-mana ramp that brings a dual land into play untapped.
Three Visits
{1}{G}Sorcery
Two-mana green ramp sorcery to trigger pre-combat requirements.
Smothering Tithe
{3}{W}Enchantment
Generates continuous treasure tokens to easily pay four-color activation costs.
Card Draw
9 cards
Rhystic Study
{2}{U}Enchantment
Noncreature enchantment offering constant card advantage and trigger potential.
Sylvan Library
{1}{G}Enchantment
Cheap noncreature enchantment that sculpts draws every turn.
Esper Sentinel
{W}Artifact Creature — Human Soldier
Draws cards when opponents cast noncreatures and scales with +1/+1 counters.
Ponder
{U}Sorcery
One-mana noncreature cantrip to guarantee pre-combat trigger on demand.
Preordain
{U}Sorcery
Cheap cantrip to dig for resources and satisfy the noncreature condition.
Brainstorm
{U}Instant
Instant-speed card selection that can be held or cast before combat.
Inspiring Call
{2}{G}Instant
Draws cards equal to modified creatures and grants indestructible.
Rishkar's Expertise
{4}{G}{G}Sorcery
Draws massive cards based on The Thing's power and casts a free spell.
Return of the Wildspeaker
{4}{G}Instant
Instant-speed burst draw based on commander power or a team pump.
Removal
10 cards
Swords to Plowshares
{W}Instant
Premier single-mana removal spell that triggers pre-combat requirements.
Cyclonic Rift
{1}{U}Instant
One-sided noncreature board wipe to clear blockers for The Thing.
Dovin's Veto
{W}{U}Instant
Uncounterable protection against opposing noncreature threats and board wipes.
Fierce Guardianship
{2}{U}Instant
Free counterspell to protect The Thing while commander is on field.
Threats/Wincons
22 cards
All Will Be One
{3}{R}{R}Enchantment
Deals massive direct damage whenever counters are put or doubled on permanents.
Managorger Hydra
{2}{G}Creature — Hydra
Gains counters on every spell cast and gets exponentially larger with doubling.
Forgotten Ancient
{3}{G}Creature — Elemental
Rapidly accumulates +1/+1 counters to spread across your creatures.
Kalonian Hydra
{3}{G}{G}Creature — Hydra
Doubles +1/+1 counters on all your attacking creatures alongside The Thing.
Vorel of the Hull Clade
{1}{G}{U}Legendary Creature — Human Merfolk
Doubles counters on artifacts, creatures, or lands.
Toothy, Imaginary Friend
{3}{U}Legendary Creature — Illusion
Gains counters on card draws and draws immense cards when leaving the battlefield.
Chasm Skulker
{2}{U}Creature — Squid Horror
Grows with card draws and floods the board with Squid tokens upon death.
Herald of Secret Streams
{3}{U}Creature — Merfolk Warrior
Gives creatures with +1/+1 counters unblockable to bypass token walls.
Kiora, Master of the Depths
{2}{G}{U}Legendary Planeswalker — Kiora
Planeswalker that ramps, digs for creatures, and can be doubled into ultimate.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
{4}{W}{W}Legendary Planeswalker — Elspeth
Creates tokens, wipes large opposing threats, and loyalty can be doubled.
The Ozolith
{1}Legendary Artifact
Preserves all counters if The Thing or other creatures are removed.
Cathars' Crusade
{3}{W}{W}Enchantment
Puts +1/+1 counters on all creatures whenever a creature enters.
Kami of Whispered Hopes
{2}{G}Creature — Spirit
Increases counter placement and taps for mana equal to its power.
Gyre Sage
{1}{G}Creature — Elf Druid
Grows with evolve and generates huge amounts of green mana.
Incubation Druid
{1}{G}Creature — Elf Druid
Mana dork that taps for three mana of any color once adapted.
Faeburrow Elder
{1}{G}{W}Creature — Treefolk Druid
Taps for multiple colors and grows larger with multicolor board presence.
Basking Broodscale
{1}{G}Creature — Eldrazi Lizard
Creates Eldrazi Spawn tokens and ramps when +1/+1 counters are put on it.
Shalai, Voice of Plenty
{3}{W}Legendary Creature — Angel
Gives hexproof to team and has a repeatable team +1/+1 counter pump.
Tamiyo, Field Researcher
{1}{G}{W}{U}Legendary Planeswalker — Tamiyo
Provides card draw, tap-down control, and loyalty counters to double.
Akroma's Will
{3}{W}Instant
Finisher spell giving double strike, flying, indestructible, and lifelink.
Court of Garenbrig
{1}{G}{G}Enchantment
Monarch enchantment that consistently puts and doubles +1/+1 counters on your team.
Railway Brawler
{3}{G}{G}Creature — Rhino Warrior
Plots easily as a noncreature action and doubles creature power upon entry via counters.
Utility
10 cards
Teferi's Protection
{2}{W}Instant
The ultimate defensive noncreature spell to phase out and protect the board.
Heroic Intervention
{1}{G}Instant
Two-mana noncreature protection granting hexproof and indestructible.
Boros Charm
{R}{W}Instant
Protects permanents, grants double strike to The Thing, or burns.
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Gives haste to The Thing to attack and double counters immediately.
Swiftfoot Boots
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Provides hexproof and haste while counting as a noncreature spell.
Hardened Scales
{G}Enchantment
Cheap noncreature enchantment that increases counters placed on permanents.
Branching Evolution
{2}{G}Enchantment
Doubles +1/+1 counters placed on permanents, compounding The Thing's growth.
Doubling Season
{4}{G}Enchantment
Doubles both counters and tokens, synergizing perfectly with all deck mechanics.
Primal Vigor
{4}{G}Enchantment
Additional doubling effect for counters and tokens.
Simic Ascendancy
{G}{U}Enchantment
Noncreature enchantment that stores growth counters and provides an alternate win condition.
