Hydra by Ace71289

Format: Commander

Commander: Zaxara, the Exemplary

Bracket: 2

DeckCheck Threat Index: 26

Deck overview

Zaxara, the Exemplary leads a Sultai midrange strategy combining Hydra tribal themes with compounding +1/+1 counter synergies. The early turns focus on establishing mana through land ramp and mana rocks, paving the way for Zaxara on Turn 4. Once Zaxara is active, every X-spell cast adds double the board presence by generating a twin Hydra token alongside the main threat. The midgame rapidly multiplies counter totals using amplifiers like Branching Evolution, Corpsejack Menace, and The Earth Crystal, while draw engines such as Garruk's Uprising maintain resource velocity. Massive threats like Primordial Hydra, Kalonian Hydra, and Hydra Omnivore form an overwhelming combat wave by Turn 6. Evasion from trample enablers and Herald of Secret Streams allows the deck to close the game across sequential combat steps by Turn 8. Although lacking stack interaction and susceptible to exile sweepers, the deck delivers powerful stompy redundancy.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Apex Devastator
  • 1 Astarion's Thirst
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Branching Evolution
  • 1 Briar Hydra
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Commander's Sphere
  • 1 Corpsejack Menace
  • 1 Cultivate
  • 1 Death's Presence
  • 1 Drown in Ichor
  • 1 Emerald Medallion
  • 1 Eternal Thirst
  • 1 Evolution Sage
  • 1 Fog
  • 19 Forest
  • 1 Forgotten Ancient
  • 1 Gaea's Gift
  • 1 Gargos, Vicious Watcher
  • 1 Garruk's Uprising
  • 1 Gilded Lotus
  • 1 Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager
  • 1 Hardened Scales
  • 1 Herald of Secret Streams
  • 1 Heroes' Bane
  • 1 Hydra Broodmaster
  • 1 Hydra Omnivore
  • 1 Hydra Trainer
  • 1 Hydra's Growth
  • 1 Innkeeper's Talent
  • 1 Inspiring Call
  • 1 Ironscale Hydra
  • 3 Island
  • 1 Kalonian Hydra
  • 1 Karn's Bastion
  • 1 Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner
  • 1 Kodama's Reach
  • 1 Lair of the Hydra
  • 1 Lifeblood Hydra
  • 1 Managorger Hydra
  • 1 Mistcutter Hydra
  • 1 Mortuary Mire
  • 1 Nature's Lore
  • 1 Necroblossom Snarl
  • 1 Nyx Lotus
  • 1 Nyxborn Hydra
  • 1 Opal Palace
  • 1 Opulent Palace
  • 1 Oran-Rief Hydra
  • 1 Oran-Rief Ooze
  • 1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
  • 1 Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
  • 1 Primordial Hydra
  • 1 Putrefy
  • 1 Rampant Rejuvenator
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Renata, Called to the Hunt
  • 1 Retribution of the Ancients
  • 1 Rhonas's Monument
  • 1 Riveteers Overlook
  • 1 Roaring Earth
  • 1 Scale the Heights
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Steelbane Hydra
  • 1 Stocking the Pantry
  • 1 Stonecoil Serpent
  • 2 Swamp
  • 1 The Earth Crystal
  • 1 Thirsting Roots
  • 1 Titanic Brawl
  • 1 Twilight Mire
  • 1 Undying Malice
  • 1 Unnatural Restoration
  • 1 Vastwood Hydra
  • 1 Voracious Hydra
  • 1 Warden of the Grove
  • 1 Whiptongue Hydra
  • 1 Wildwood Scourge
  • 1 Zaxara, the Exemplary