Scheming Strength by user3862132

Format: Commander

Commander: Raffine, Scheming Seer

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 41

Deck overview

This deck is an Esper tempo and reanimation strategy led by Raffine, Scheming Seer. The game plan opens with low-cost evasive creatures like Faerie Mastermind, Mausoleum Wanderer, and Bitterblossom to establish an early board presence. On turn 3, casting Raffine allows subsequent attacks to trigger the connive mechanic, drawing and discarding multiple cards each turn. This rapid looting filters the hand, sculpts interaction, and fills the graveyard with high-impact reanimation targets like Moonshaker Cavalry and Archfiend of Ifnir. The deck converts this graveyard setup into game-winning board states using low-cost recursion such as Reanimate and Animate Dead. Buffed by +1/+1 counters and massive team-wide pump effects, the deck delivers lethal flying combat damage while protecting its board with efficient interaction and phasing protection like Clever Concealment and Teferi's Protection.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
  • 1 Akroma's Will
  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Animate Dead
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Ifnir
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Ascend from Avernus
  • 1 Baleful Strix
  • 1 Bitterblossom
  • 1 Black Widow, Super Spy
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Cephalid Facetaker
  • 1 Clever Concealment
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Cyclonic Rift
  • 1 Dawn's Truce
  • 1 Demonic Counsel
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Faerie Mastermind
  • 1 Final Showdown
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Ghost Quarter
  • 1 Ghostly Pilferer
  • 1 Glen Elendra Guardian
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grave Researcher // Reanimate
  • 1 Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
  • 1 Grim Hireling
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Invasion of Amonkhet // Lazotep Convert
  • 3 Island
  • 1 Judge's Familiar
  • 1 Kinscaer Sentry
  • 1 Leader, Super-Genius
  • 1 Ledger Shredder
  • 1 Likeness Looter
  • 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • 1 March of Otherworldly Light
  • 1 March of Swirling Mist
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Matzalantli, the Great Door // The Core
  • 1 Mausoleum Wanderer
  • 1 Meticulous Archive
  • 1 Moonshaker Cavalry
  • 1 Moonsilver Key
  • 1 Morphic Pool
  • 1 Nexus of Fate
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Pollywog Prodigy
  • 1 Prairie Stream
  • 1 Priest of Fell Rites
  • 1 Raffine's Tower
  • 1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Recommission
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Reprieve
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Selfless Spirit
  • 1 Serra Ascendant
  • 1 Sevinne's Reclamation
  • 1 Shadowy Backstreet
  • 1 Silent Hallcreeper
  • 1 Snow-Covered Island
  • 3 Snow-Covered Plains
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul-Guide Lantern
  • 1 Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior
  • 1 Sunken Hollow
  • 1 Superior Spider-Man
  • 4 Swamp
  • 1 Swan Song
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Teferi's Ageless Insight
  • 1 Teferi's Protection
  • 1 Unburial Rites
  • 1 Undercity Sewers
  • 1 Underground River
  • 1 Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Wizard Class
  • 1 Wonder
  • 1 Wyrm's Crossing Patrol