Zada artifact in your pocket, or are Shao just happy to see me? by kingoftherhoads

Format: Commander

Commander: Shao Jun

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 37

Deck overview

This deck is an Izzet artifact-spellslinger archetype led by Shao Jun. The strategy blends cheap noncreature spells with token-generating engines like Third Path Iconoclast and Storm-Kiln Artist. By casting low-cost cantrips, the deck rapidly generates artifact tokens such as Thopters, Soldiers, and Treasures. It then weaponizes these tokens through Shao Jun's Rope Dart ability to deal direct, unblockable damage to every opponent simultaneously. Redundant burn permanents like Reckless Fireweaver, Firebrand Archer, and Fiery Inscription accelerate the clock, turning every spell cast and token entry into widespread life loss. The deck maintains momentum through high-velocity card draw engines including Archmage Emeritus, Shimmer Dragon, and Skullclamp, while a dense package of cheap countermagic and removal protects its board state and disrupts opposing wins.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adric, Mathematical Genius
  • 1 Aqueous Form
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archmage Emeritus
  • 1 Big Score
  • 1 Blooming Blast
  • 1 Brainstorm
  • 1 Brass's Tunnel-Grinder // Tecutlan, the Searing Rift
  • 1 Cascade Bluffs
  • 1 Chaos Warp
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Coruscation Mage
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Curse of Opulence
  • 1 Cursed Mirror
  • 1 Darksteel Citadel
  • 1 Daze
  • 1 Desolate Lighthouse
  • 1 Disdainful Stroke
  • 1 Dispel
  • 1 Everflowing Chalice
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Expedite
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Fiery Inscription
  • 1 Fiery Islet
  • 1 Firebrand Archer
  • 1 Fomori Vault
  • 1 Frantic Search
  • 1 Frostboil Snarl
  • 1 Genesis Chamber
  • 1 Goldvein Pick
  • 1 Heaven Sent
  • 1 Impolite Entrance
  • 11 Island
  • 1 Izzet Signet
  • 1 Keep Safe
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Might of the Meek
  • 1 Mind Stone
  • 1 Mizzium Mortars
  • 9 Mountain
  • 1 Muse Seeker
  • 1 Mutavault
  • 1 Mystic Sanctuary
  • 1 Negate
  • 1 Opt
  • 1 Ornithopter
  • 1 Ornithopter of Paradise
  • 1 Phyrexian Metamorph
  • 1 Ponder
  • 1 Pongify
  • 1 Prismari Command
  • 1 Rapid Hybridization
  • 1 Reckless Fireweaver
  • 1 Refocus
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Resculpt
  • 1 Sai, Master Thopterist
  • 1 Seat of the Synod
  • 1 Shao Jun
  • 1 Shimmer Dragon
  • 1 Shivan Reef
  • 1 Shore Up
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Slip Through Space
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Springleaf Drum
  • 1 Steam Vents
  • 1 Storm-Kiln Artist
  • 1 Stormcarved Coast
  • 1 Stubborn Denial
  • 1 Sulfur Falls
  • 1 Sunshot Militia
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 The Lonely Mountain
  • 1 Third Path Iconoclast
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Unified Will
  • 1 Veyran, Voice of Duality
  • 1 Weftstalker Ardent
  • 1 Zada, Hedron Grinder