Hakbal Explore 7/16/2026 by GristleGran

Format: Commander

Commander: Hakbal of the Surging Soul

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 43

Deck overview

This deck is a Simic Merfolk tribal strategy led by Hakbal of the Surging Soul. It curves out with low-cost Merfolk creatures in the early turns, establishing a wide board presence before casting its commander on Turn 4. Once Hakbal of the Surging Soul enters the battlefield, its beginning-of-combat trigger causes every Merfolk to explore, generating massive card advantage by drawing lands and buffing creatures with +1/+1 counters. The deck accelerates mana by playing extra lands directly from hand, quickly out-valuing opponents. In the midgame, it transitions from resource generation to lethal pressure by deploying unblockable enablers like Herald of Secret Streams and Islandwalk lords paired with Harbinger of the Seas. Supporting spells provide protection against board wipes and spot removal, while backup engines like Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca ensure the deck can maintain momentum even if the commander is removed. It reliably finishes opponents around Turn 7 through overwhelming, evasive combat damage.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Aether Vial
  • 1 Alchemist's Refuge
  • 1 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
  • 1 Beast Within
  • 1 Benthic Biomancer
  • 1 Botanical Sanctum
  • 1 Branching Evolution
  • 1 Broken Bond
  • 1 Cenote Scout
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Decisive Denial
  • 1 Deeproot Elite
  • 1 Deeproot Historian
  • 1 Deeproot Pilgrimage
  • 1 Deeproot Waters
  • 1 Deeproot Wayfinder
  • 1 Dreamroot Cascade
  • 1 Elven Chorus
  • 1 Evolution Sage
  • 1 Explore
  • 1 Filter Out
  • 1 Forerunner of the Heralds
  • 5 Forest
  • 1 Growth Spiral
  • 1 Hakbal of the Surging Soul
  • 1 Harbinger of the Seas
  • 1 Herald of Secret Streams
  • 1 Herald's Horn
  • 1 Hinterland Harbor
  • 1 Inspiring Call
  • 13 Island
  • 1 Jadelight Ranger
  • 1 Jadelight Spelunker
  • 1 Karn's Bastion
  • 1 Kindred Discovery
  • 1 Kiora's Follower
  • 1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
  • 1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
  • 1 Lord of Atlantis
  • 1 Master of the Pearl Trident
  • 1 Merfolk Sovereign
  • 1 Merfolk Trickster
  • 1 Merrow Commerce
  • 1 Merrow Harbinger
  • 1 Merrow Reejerey
  • 1 Metallic Mimic
  • 1 Mist Dancer
  • 1 Mosswort Bridge
  • 1 Nicanzil, Current Conductor
  • 1 Oracle of Mul Daya
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 1 Rapid Hybridization
  • 1 Realmwalker
  • 1 Reflections of Littjara
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Roaming Throne
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Seafloor Oracle
  • 1 Seahunter
  • 1 Secluded Courtyard
  • 1 Silvergill Adept
  • 1 Simic Growth Chamber
  • 1 Singer of Swift Rivers
  • 1 Smell Fear
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Stonybrook Banneret
  • 1 Svyelun of Sea and Sky
  • 1 Swift Warden
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Temple of Mystery
  • 1 Temple of the False God
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Tishana's Tidebinder
  • 1 Topography Tracker
  • 1 True-Name Nemesis
  • 1 Twists and Turns // Mycoid Maze
  • 1 Unclaimed Territory
  • 1 Vanquisher's Banner
  • 1 Vineglimmer Snarl
  • 1 Vodalian Hexcatcher
  • 1 Waterlogged Grove
  • 1 Wave Goodbye
  • 1 World Shaper
  • 1 Yavimaya Coast