Hakbal, Explorers of the Deep by SolviKaaber

Format: Commander

Commander: Hakbal of the Surging Soul

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 38

Deck overview

This Simic deck leverages Hakbal of the Surging Soul to command an aggressive Merfolk kindred strategy centered around the explore mechanic. Early turns deploy efficient Merfolk that curve into Hakbal on Turn 3 or 4. Once Hakbal enters the battlefield, every combat step triggers mass explore across the entire Merfolk army, filtering draws, putting lands directly into hand, and placing +1/+1 counters on creatures. Hakbal's attack trigger accelerates mana by dropping additional lands onto the battlefield or drawing cards. The deck scales into the midgame with synergistic token generators, lord buffs, and +1/+1 counter multipliers such as Topography Tracker and Deeproot Elite. Evasion enablers like islandwalk, trample, and unblockable effects allow the growing swarm to punch through opposing defenses, closing out games via overwhelming combat damage around Turn 8.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Abjure
  • 1 Aetherize
  • 1 Alchemist's Refuge
  • 1 Aquitect's Will
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Attuma, Atlantean Warlord
  • 1 Benthic Biomancer
  • 1 Bident of Thassa
  • 1 Bygone Marvels
  • 1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Deepfathom Echo
  • 1 Deeproot Elite
  • 1 Deeproot Historian
  • 1 Deeproot Pilgrimage
  • 1 Deeproot Waters
  • 1 Disruptor of Currents
  • 1 Distant Melody
  • 1 Dreamroot Cascade
  • 1 Evolution Sage
  • 1 Explore
  • 1 Flooded Grove
  • 1 Forerunner of the Heralds
  • 6 Forest
  • 1 Gaea's Skyfolk
  • 1 Growth Spiral
  • 1 Hakbal of the Surging Soul
  • 1 Harbinger of the Tides
  • 1 Harmonized Crescendo
  • 1 Hinterland Harbor
  • 1 Inspiring Call
  • 14 Island
  • 1 Jadelight Ranger
  • 1 Karn's Bastion
  • 1 Kiora's Follower
  • 1 Kodama's Reach
  • 1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
  • 1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Merfolk Cave-Diver
  • 1 Merfolk Looter
  • 1 Merfolk Mistbinder
  • 1 Merfolk Skydiver
  • 1 Merfolk Sovereign
  • 1 Merrow Reejerey
  • 1 Metallic Mimic
  • 1 Mist-Cloaked Herald
  • 1 Mosswort Bridge
  • 1 Negate
  • 1 Nicanzil, Current Conductor
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 1 Path of Discovery
  • 1 Realmwalker
  • 1 Rishadan Dockhand
  • 1 River Sneak
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Seafloor Oracle
  • 1 Secluded Courtyard
  • 1 Simic Growth Chamber
  • 1 Simic Signet
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spell Pierce
  • 1 Spreading Seas
  • 1 Stonybrook Banneret
  • 1 Summon: Leviathan
  • 1 Super Intelligence
  • 1 Surgespanner
  • 1 Svyelun of Sea and Sky
  • 1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
  • 1 Tempest Caller
  • 1 Temple of Mystery
  • 1 Thieving Skydiver
  • 1 Tishana's Tidebinder
  • 1 Topography Tracker
  • 1 Tributary Instructor
  • 1 Twists and Turns // Mycoid Maze
  • 1 Unclaimed Territory
  • 1 Vineglimmer Snarl
  • 1 Wildgrowth Walker
  • 1 Yavimaya Coast
  • 1 Zegana, Utopian Speaker