Zur
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[[Zur the Enchanter]] is a powerhouse commander in cEDH, blending the control and tempo archetypes with consistent access to powerful enchantments. This deck leverages Zur's ability to tutor key enchantments directly onto the battlefield, building overwhelming card advantage or assembling layered win conditions. It thrives in interactive, midrange, and grindy pods while retaining the ability to pivot quickly to a game-ending combo.
Whether you're looking for a deck that offers flexible gameplay, rewards skillful piloting, or dominates with efficient card engines, Zur provides a unique and engaging experience in cEDH.
Why Play Zur the Enchanter?
Strengths
Unparalleled Card Advantage: Consistent access to cards like [[Rhystic Study]] and [[Necropotence]] makes it difficult for opponents to keep up.
Flexible Win Conditions: Zur supports multiple win lines, including [[Thassa's Oracle]] combos and [[Ad Nauseam]]-based strategies.
Resilient to Disruption: A high density of interaction and the ability to adapt to changing board states.
Tutorable Toolbox: Zur can fetch specific enchantments to answer threats or accelerate toward a win.
Weaknesses
Stax Matchups: Struggles against Stax-heavy pods, especially when early draw engines are disrupted.
Complex Lines: Winning often requires sequencing multiple steps with tight resource management.
Dependent on Zur: Many lines of play rely on Zur being in play and surviving.
Game Plan
Primary Strategy: Leveraging Card Advantage
Zur is at its best when piloting games through card advantage. The primary goal is to establish powerful engines like [[Rhystic Study]], [[Mystic Remora]], or [[Necropotence]] early. These draw engines provide the resources needed to outpace opponents, control the board, and assemble a win condition.
Early Game: Mulligan aggressively for fast mana, card draw, or tutors to find your engines.
Mid Game: Transition into controlling the table by accumulating cards and disrupting opponents' plans.
Late Game: Use your overwhelming resources to secure a win with one of the deck's layered combos.
Matchup Strategies
Versus Stax
Prioritize getting [[Grasp of Fate]] or [[Touch the Spirit Realm]] into play through Zur to remove problematic Stax pieces.
[[Toxic Deluge]] and [[Cyclonic Rift]] are essential for clearing the board.
If possible, slip under the Stax player by accelerating Zur and establishing card draw engines before they stabilize.
Versus Midrange
Play to your strengths in tempo and adaptability. Use draw engines to maintain card parity or advantage.
Hold back key interaction to stop opponents' attempts while progressing your game plan.
Use Zur to pressure the midrange player into overextending, then punish with precise removal or a timely combo.
Versus Turbo
Look for interaction-heavy hands, as Turbo decks aim to win before turn four.
Prioritize [[Mystic Remora]] or [[Rhystic Study]], as Turbo decks often can't afford to pay the tax.
Use [[Angel's Grace]] or other protective spells to shut down opposing [[Thassa’s Oracle]] or combo attempts.
Win Conditions
[[Angel’s Grace]] + [[Ad Nauseam]]
Requirements:
[[Angel's Grace]] and [[Ad Nauseam]] in hand.
[[symbol:3]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:w]] mana.
Execution:
Cast [[Ad Nauseam]].
Hold priority, cast [[Angel's Grace]].
Draw your library and win with [[Thassa’s Oracle]] or another combo.
[[Thassa’s Oracle]] + [[Demonic Consultation]] or [[Tainted Pact]]
Requirements:
[[Thassa’s Oracle]].
[[Demonic Consultation]] or [[Tainted Pact]].
[[symbol:u]][[symbol:u]] and either [[symbol:b]] or [[symbol:1]][[symbol:b]].
Execution:
Cast [[Thassa’s Oracle]].
Respond to the ETB trigger with a forbidden tutor, exiling your library.
Win with the Oracle's trigger.
[[Necropotence]]
[[Necropotence]] functions as potent engines that can consistently convert life into a game-winning resource advantage. With strategic use instant-speed enablers such as [[Borne Upon a Wind]] and [[Valley Floodcaller]], these cards enable explosive turns to close out the game. The following outlines how to leverage these cards for 1-turn and 2-turn win scenarios.
General Guidelines
Life Total Management:
When activating [[Necropotence]], determine your target card count based on your current resources and life total. Typically, this is 7 - 15 cards if you don’t have enough mana remaining to cast an instant speed enabler, and 30+ cards if you do.Prioritize Mana and Protection:
Focus on fast mana (e.g., [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Mox Opal]]) to fuel combos and counterspells ([[Fierce Guardianship]], [[Flusterstorm]]) for protection.Identify Your Win Condition:
Use instant-speed tools ([[Tainted Pact]], [[Demonic Consultation]], instant-speed tutors) to find and resolve enablers like [[Valley Floodcaller]] or [[Borne Upon a Wind]].
1-Turn Win Line
Objective: Leverage leftover mana after casting [[Necropotence]] to win during the same end step.
Play Sequence
Cast [[Necropotence]]:
Ensure you leave enough mana to cast [[Borne Upon a Wind]] ([[symbol:1]][[symbol:u]]) or [[Valley Floodcaller]] ([[symbol:2]][[symbol:u]]).
Exile Cards:
Pay life to exile as many cards as possible. The exact number depends on how much life you intent to pay to win the game (i.e. [[Force of Will]], [[Talisman of Dominance]], [[Mental Misstep]]).
Move to End Step:
During your end step, [[Necropotence]] will place the exiled cards into your hand.
Find and Resolve an Enabler:
Cast [[Borne Upon a Wind]] or [[Valley Floodcaller]] to enable casting spells at instant speed during your end step.
If needed, cast [[Tainted Pact]] or [[Demonic Consultation]] to find your enabler.
2-Turn Win Line
Objective: Use the first turn to set up resources and protect your position, then win on the following turn.
Play Sequence
Turn 1: Cast [[Necropotence]]:
Prioritize resolving the engine early. Use available mana ([[Dark Ritual], [[Culling the Weak]]) to cast the Necro.
Pay life to exile between 7 and 15 cards, focusing on finding fast mana, counterspell protection, and instant speed enablers for the next turn.
End Step:
On your end step, [[Necropotence]] will refill your hand with exiled cards.
Turn 2: Play Mana and Combo Off:
Deploy your resources to play mana rocks, rituals, or other accelerants.
Pay life to exile as many cards as possible. The exact number depends on how much life you intent to pay to win the game (i.e. [[Force of Will]], [[Talisman of Dominance]], [[Mental Misstep]]).
Move to the end step and use instant-speed enablers like [[Borne Upon a Wind]] or [[Valley Floodcaller]] to win in the end step.
Mnemonic Betrayal
Use opponents' resources to assemble a win, often [[Thassa’s Oracle]] or [[Underworld Breach]].
Notable Enchantments
[[Rhystic Study]], [[Mystic Remora]]: Best draw engines in the format.
[[Necropotence]]: Central to instant speed lines and often finds the win.
[[Grasp of Fate]]: Triple removal spell in a pinch.
[[Estrid’s Invocation]], [[Copy Enchantment: A second [[Rhystic Study]] or [[Grasp of Fate]].
Mulligan Guide
Keepable Hands:
Early Draw Engine: [[Mystic Remora]], [[Rhystic Study]], fast mana.
Zur Online: Ramp and lands to enable a turn 2 Zur.
Interaction-Heavy: Hands with multiple pieces of cheap interaction like [[Dispel]], [[Swords to Plowshares]], or [[Force of Will]].
Hands to Mulligan:
No ramp or lands to cast Zur.
Hands reliant on topdecking without a clear plan.
Overloaded with interaction but no proactive plays.
Conclusion
[[Zur the Enchanter]] is a flexible, interactive commander capable of adapting to any pod. By leveraging powerful enchantments and layered win conditions, this deck thrives in tempo-oriented and midrange games while maintaining resilience against fast combo decks. Mastering Zur requires a deep understanding of the deck's toolbox and the ability to capitalize on every opportunity—an ideal challenge for any competitive cEDH player.
References:
two rhystics.
Zur, Infinite Oracle
