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Zaxara, Exemplify Winning *Primer*

Commander / EDH Bracket 4 Budget BUG (Sultai) Combo Control Infinite Combo

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Land (38)

Artifact (9)

Enchantment (4)

Instant (18)

Creature (12)

Commander (1)

Commander: Zaxara, the Exemplary

Sorcery (14)

Planeswalker (4)

Sideboard

Creature (1)

Instant (1)

Maybeboard

Creature (4)

Sorcery (3)

Piloting Zaxara, The Exemplary:

As soon as I saw this card in the commander precon card list for Commander 2020 Deck - Enhanced Evolution I was in love. Zaxara, the Exemplary being a 4cmc commander and my first commander deck in Sultai colors. I mean who doesn't want an infinite mana combo access right in the command zone, just enchant it with Freed from the Real or Pemmin's Aura. I already have a habit of brewing decks to win by decking yourself and winning with Thassa's Oracle and Jace, Wielder of Mysteries and doing that with various ways as displayed in my Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain, Zur the Enchanter *f-etch*, and my The Scarab God decks.

I replaced the commander of the precon deck and upgraded cards to my liking. I am a fan of disruptive and interactive play so my Blue staples are going to be a big factor in this deck, along with my mana ramp and tutors. Essentially you can play by yourself not even hitting anyone for a lick of damage and win. Some may hate this, some may love it. I have a nasty Skullbriar, the Walking Grave or Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin decks for my bloodthirsty urges.

I see big plans updating this deck over time as I play it and fine tuning it for the best possible play within my budget means.

There are several ways to gain access to infinite Mana.

  1. The main way: Zaxara, the Exemplary in play + Freed from the Real, or Pemmin's Aura. Simple as that. Make sure you have outlets for mana or you will be susceptible to removal. However, Pemmin's also has built in protection till end of turn so it can protect your commander only the turn you activate it.

  2. Optional route for infinite mana: Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy in play + any Mana dork that taps for any color Birds of Paradise, Paradise Druid + creature must be enchanted with Freed from the Real, or Pemmin's Aura.

Cards to use to tutor: Chord of Calling, Muddle the Mixture, Mystical Tutor, Demonic Tutor, Diabolic Tutor, Fabricate, Kodama's Reach, Merchant Scroll, Drift of Phantasms, Spellseeker , Blue Sun's Zenith

Card draw: Thassa's Intervention, Hydroid Krasis, Gretchen Titchwillow, Spectral Sailor, Mystic Remora, Rhystic Study, Silver Scrutiny, Preordain, Night's Whisper, Finale of Revelation, Pull from Tomorrow, Growth Spiral, Brainstorm

Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy this badass will pull all your non-human creatures out of the deck onto the battlefield if you have access to infinite mana. Which is game ending since you have 3 creatures that will just either mill everyone or draw your whole deck. Kinnan is an absolute unit. You can alternatively use Gretchen Titchwillow, or Spectral Sailor with infinite mana to draw everything out.

Many ways to win the game. The simplest way is this:

  1. Demonic Consultation deck yourself, then play Thassa's Oracle be sure to have some sort of protection from instant responses, or just have Tidal Barracuda in play lol. Simply watch your opponents cry as they have no response. Take that filthy blue control players... Wait, we are pretty much the same thing oops. This is the main thing we are going for. You do not need infinite mana to win. Just the this main two card combo.

Other ways to win with access to infinite Mana:

  1. Cast Torment of Hailfire. Watch everyone suffer in defeat.

  2. With infinite mana, having your deck in your hand 99% guarantees the win. Pull from Tomorrow, Finale of Revelation, Silver Scrutiny Blue Sun's Zenith

  3. Using Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy to filter creatures onto the battlefield such as Ambassador Laquatus, Gretchen Titchwillow, Spectral Sailor, Genesis Hydra, Hydroid Krasis, Spellseeker.
    Having any of these creatures will facilitate a win in some way. Getting you what you need to win the game.

  4. Thassa's Intervention will let you pull the exact two cards you need to end the game with a win.
  5. If you have Midnight Clock in play, as a last resort just dump mana into it till you trigger it. Then hopefully you get something in your new hand to win with or tutor with.

Here lists all removal spells:

Beast Within, Chain of Vapor, Deadly Rollick, Oko, Thief of Crowns, Krosan Grip, Simic Charm mainly prioritize its use to give your permanents hexproof until end of turn. Super amazing when its the game winning turn and no one can do anything about it.

Here lists all counterspells:

Counterspell, Dispel, Muddle the Mixture, Mental Misstep, Negate, Swan Song, Thassa's Intervention, Keep Safe Keep safe is an amazing card.

Protect Your commander or game winning creature with these:

Swiftfoot Boots, Pemmin's Aura works too but gives it shroud so you can no longer interact with the creature till end of turn keep that in mind.

Freed from the Real / Pemmin's Aura Key combo piece for infinite mana. It is a 2 card infinite mana combo with the commander, which is lovely.

Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy This guy. All I can say is that even without infinite mana, having all your nonland permanents pump for an additional one of its produced mana is amazing. With infinite mana though, he turns the whole game upside down and wins instantly for you by effectively pulling one of win-con related creatures dumping mana into their instant speed effects.

Demonic Consultation and Thassa's Oracle Exile, play, win. Repeat next game. Nothing much else to say.

7/29/2025 Working on playtesting by removing the excess mana rocks. Wondering if there really is a thing as too much ramp. Will be replacing with more card draw. Potential cards to remove: Simic Signet Dimir Signet Fellwar Stone

A Big thank you for anyone who upvotes this deck and understands its true combo beauty. Sure we can do all sorts of X spells and beat people up with humongous Hydras, but is that really what Zaxara is begging us to do. She yearns for infinite combo shenanigans.

Suggestions

Updates Add

Upgrades after getting roasted so hard — Sept. 16, 2025
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Adding Maybeboard into current 100s list.

Removing cards:

Buried Ruin Opulent Palace Basic land for fetch lands Chain of vapor Chord of Calling Zagoth Crystal Dimir Signet Simic Signet

Changes — July 29, 2025
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Update — June 25, 2025
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Updated after Mana Crypt Ban — Sept. 27, 2024
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Casual

97% Competitive