Call for Backup "Upgrade" by Hidewrath

Format: Commander

Commander: Shalai and Hallar

Bracket: 3

Deck overview

This deck is a synergistic Naya +1/+1 counters build helmed by Shalai and Hallar. The primary strategy is to weaponize the placement of counters, converting every +1/+1 counter placed on a creature into direct damage to opponents. The deck functions as a "burn-on-rails" engine, utilizing creatures like The Red Terror and War Elemental to create infinite or near-infinite damage loops that end the game on the spot. Beyond these combos, the deck leverages a "Backup" subtheme and high-value counter-doublers like Kalonian Hydra and Bright-Palm, Soul Awakener to pressure life totals through both combat and non-combat damage. The commander is the central pivot point, acting as the primary payoff and combo piece in the command zone. While it can win through traditional combat via trample enablers like Pridemalkin and Brawn, it is most lethal when exploiting its triggered ability to bypass blockers entirely.

Decklist (100 cards)

• 1 Abzan Battle Priest
• 1 Abzan Falconer
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Armorcraft Judge
• 1 Brawn
• 1 Bretagard Stronghold
• 1 Bright-Palm, Soul Awakener
• 1 Canopy Vista
• 1 Champion of Lambholt
• 1 Cinder Glade
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Commander's Sphere
• 1 Conclave Mentor
• 1 Conclave Sledge-Captain
• 1 Constable of the Realm
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Death-Greeter's Champion
• 1 Dromoka's Command
• 1 Dusk Legion Duelist
• 1 Elite Scaleguard
• 1 Emergent Woodwurm
• 1 Enduring Scalelord
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Exotic Orchard
• 1 Felidar Retreat
• 1 Fertilid
• 1 Field of Ruin
• 1 Flameshadow Conjuring
• 6 Forest
• 1 Forgotten Ancient
• 1 Fortified Village
• 1 Fractured Powerstone
• 1 Furycalm Snarl
• 1 Game Trail
• 1 Gavony Township
• 1 Generous Gift
• 1 Genesis Hydra
• 1 Good-Fortune Unicorn
• 1 Guardian Scalelord
• 1 Gyre Sage
• 1 Hamza, Guardian of Arashin
• 1 Hardened Scales
• 1 Heaven // Earth
• 1 High Sentinels of Arashin
• 1 Hindervines
• 1 Ichor Elixir
• 1 Incubation Druid
• 1 Inscription of Abundance
• 1 Inspiring Call
• 1 Jungle Shrine
• 1 Juniper Order Ranger
• 1 Kalonian Hydra
• 1 Kessig Wolf Run
• 1 Kodama's Reach
• 1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
• 1 Krosan Verge
• 1 Llanowar Reborn
• 1 Managorger Hydra
• 1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
• 1 Mindless Automaton
• 1 Mirror-Style Master
• 1 Mossfire Valley
• 1 Mosswort Bridge
• 2 Mountain
• 1 Path of Ancestry
• 1 Path of the Pyromancer
• 5 Plains
• 1 Pridemalkin
• 1 Restoration Angel
• 1 Return to Nature
• 1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
• 1 Rogue's Passage
• 1 Semester's End
• 1 Shalai and Hallar
• 1 Slurrk, All-Ingesting
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Strionic Resonator
• 1 Sungrass Prairie
• 1 Sunscorch Regent
• 1 Swords to Plowshares
• 1 Temple of Abandon
• 1 Temple of Plenty
• 1 Temple of Triumph
• 1 Temple of the False God
• 1 Terramorphic Expanse
• 1 The Red Terror
• 1 Together Forever
• 1 Uncivil Unrest
• 1 War Elemental
• 1 Wood Elves