Art by Simon Dominic
Commander deckBGU
Zaxara, the Exemplary
Cast powerful Hydra creatures and X-spells to build an overwhelming board state of massive threat tokens while utilizing infinite mana combos with Freed from the Real or Pemmin's Aura to finish games with massive Torment of Hailfire or Exsanguinate casts.
Asked for“zaxara, the exemplary deck, focused on hydra tribal, bracket 4”
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 · 62 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
1Zaxara, the Exemplary
1BGULegendary Creature — Nightmare Hydra
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
12
Elementalist's Palette
3Artifact
Ramps specifically for X-spells and grows over time
Card Draw
10
Pull from Tomorrow
XUUInstant
X-spell card draw that generates a Hydra token with Zaxara
Finale of Revelation
XUUSorcery
Massive X-spell draw engine that unleashes full hand sizes
Greater Good
2GGEnchantment
Sacrifice outlet to convert high-power Hydras into massive draws
Garruk's Uprising
2GEnchantment
Draws on entry for high-power Hydras and gives trample
Removal
10
Tear Asunder
1GInstant
Exiles artifacts, enchantments, or any nonland card when kicked
Threats/Wincons
22
Gargos, Vicious Watcher
3GGGLegendary Creature — Hydra
Hydra lord that heavily discounts all Hydra spells
Kalonian Hydra
3GGCreature — Hydra
Doubles +1/+1 counters on your entire army when attacking
Primordial Hydra
XGGCreature — Hydra
X-cost Hydra that doubles its own counters every turn
Voracious Hydra
XGGCreature — Hydra
X-cost Hydra offering double counters or creature fight removal
Hungering Hydra
XGCreature — Hydra
Grows larger whenever it takes damage and can't be chump blocked
Steelbane Hydra
XGGCreature — Turtle Hydra
X-cost Hydra that doubles as repeatable artifact/enchantment removal
Hooded Hydra
XGGCreature — Snake Hydra
Leaves behind a swarm of Snakes when destroyed
Genesis Hydra
XGGCreature — Plant Hydra
X-cost Hydra that cheats additional permanents into play
Vastwood Hydra
XGGCreature — Hydra
Distributes its counters to other creatures upon death
Hydroid Krasis
XGUCreature — Jellyfish Hydra Beast
Flying/trample X-Hydra that gains life and draws cards on cast
Goldvein Hydra
XGCreature — Hydra
Hasty trampler that yields mass Treasure tokens upon death
Managorger Hydra
2GCreature — Hydra
Grows rapidly from all spells cast by any player
Heroes' Bane
3GGCreature — Hydra
Activated ability exponentially doubles its own power
Polukranos, World Eater
2GGLegendary Creature — Hydra
Monstrosity X ability functions as a massive creature wipe
Torment of Hailfire
XBBSorcery
Devastating X-spell win condition with infinite mana
Finale of Devastation
XGGSorcery
X-spell tutor that grants haste and enormous pump
Walking Ballista
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Instant win condition with infinite mana
Utility
8
Freed from the Real
2UEnchantment — Aura
Generates infinite mana combined with Zaxara
Pemmin's Aura
1UUEnchantment — Aura
Generates infinite mana with Zaxara and offers protection
Unbound Flourishing
2GEnchantment
Doubles X values and counter output for X spells and Hydras
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste and protection to key creatures
Demonic Tutor
1BSorcery
Searches for combo pieces or situationally crucial spells
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
Protects your entire board from wipe or destruction spells
