Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser costs {2}{R}{W}, is a 2/4 and has vigilance. Whenever Nelly attacks, you suspect target creature, then goad all suspected creatures. A suspected creature has menace and cannot block. Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls deal combat damage to one or more of your opponents, you and the controller of those creatures each draw a card. Her goaded creatures hit other players, and you draw.
The precon already has the goad spells, including Disrupt Decorum, Hot Pursuit, Vengeful Ancestor and Take the Bait. Each swap below pairs a cut with an add, and every card is scored with the same numbers the Oracle uses to build decks: synergy and inclusion from the Nelly Borca decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Nelly Borca decks than in decks that could play it.
Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Blame Game precon guide.
What is holding the deck back
Not enough cheap goad and suspect
Agrus Kos, Spirit of Justice, Puppet Master, String Puller, Grenzo, Havoc Raiser and Convenient Target goad or suspect a creature for two or three mana. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.
Expensive finishers and wipes
Ancient Stone Idol, Steel Hellkite, Angel of the Ruins, Darien, King of Kjeldor and Etali, Primal Storm cost six or more, and Winds of Rath wipes the creatures the deck sends at the table.
Defensive cards that do not draw
Wall of Omens, Stalking Leonin and Otherworldly Escort defend the table, while Mangara, Firemane Commando and Aurelia draw whenever players attack.
The 13 swaps
Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.

Ancient Stone Idol is a 12/12 artifact creature for {10}, cheaper for each attacking creature. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in nine.
Agrus Kos, Spirit of Justice is a 2/4 double strike, vigilance creature for {2}{R}{W}. Whenever it enters or attacks, you choose up to one target creature: if it is suspected you exile it, and otherwise you suspect it. A second source of suspect that also removes. It is the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Feather, Radiant Arbiter is a 4/3 flying lifelink Angel for {R}{W}{W} that copies spells targeting it. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in nine.
Taunt from the Rampart costs {3}{R}{W}: goad all creatures your opponents control, and they cannot block until your next turn. Every creature at the table attacks someone else, and Nelly draws a card for each hit.

Steel Hellkite is a six-mana 5/5 flying artifact Dragon. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in eight.
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is a 2/2 for {R}{R}. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player you choose one: goad a creature that player controls, or exile their top card and cast it this turn. A two-drop that goads again.

Winds of Rath is a five-mana sorcery that destroys every creature that is not enchanted. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in six, and it kills the creatures you are goading.
Puppet Master, String Puller is a 2/4 for {2}{R}. Whenever you attack, you goad target creature an opponent controls and it cannot block this turn, and whenever one or more goaded creatures deal combat damage to one of your opponents you create a Treasure. A three-drop that goads every turn and pays for it.

Angel of the Ruins is a seven-mana flier that exiles two artifacts or enchantments. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in six.
Aurelia, the Law Above is a 4/4 flying, vigilance, haste creature for {3}{R}{W}. Whenever a player attacks with three or more creatures you draw a card, and whenever a player attacks with five or more it deals 3 damage to each of your opponents and you gain 3 life. A flier that rewards every goaded attack.

Darien, King of Kjeldor is a six-mana 3/3 that makes Soldiers when you are dealt damage. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in six.
Geode Rager is a 4/3 first strike creature for {4}{R}{R}. Landfall: whenever a land enters under your control, you goad each creature target player controls. A goad on every land drop.

Stalking Leonin is a 3/3 for {2}{W} that secretly exiles an attacker once. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in six.
Mangara, the Diplomat is a 2/4 lifelink creature for {3}{W}. Whenever an opponent attacks with creatures, if two or more are attacking you or your planeswalkers you draw a card, and whenever an opponent casts their second spell each turn you draw a card. A card engine for a table that is attacking.

Etali, Primal Storm is a six-mana 6/6 that casts spells from the top of each library when it attacks. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in five.
Firemane Commando is a 4/3 flier for {3}{W}. Whenever you attack with two or more creatures you draw a card, and whenever another player attacks with two or more creatures they draw a card if none of those creatures attacked you. A flier that draws on every attack.

Wall of Omens is a 0/4 defender that draws a card when it enters. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in five.
Convenient Target costs {R}. When it enters it suspects the enchanted creature, and the creature gets +1/+1, and for {2}{R} you return it from the graveyard to your hand. A one-mana suspect that you can reuse.

Otherworldly Escort is a 4/3 flash Human Detective for {3}{W} that returns once as a Spirit. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in six.
Fast Forward costs {4}{R}, minus {1} for each opponent you attacked this turn. It goads all creatures your opponents control. After you attack, it can cost two mana and sends the whole table at each other.

Ransom Note is a one-mana Clue that can goad a creature or draw a card. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in eight.
Bothersome Quasit is a 3/2 menace Demon for {2}{R}. Goaded creatures your opponents control can't block, and whenever you cast a noncreature spell you goad target creature an opponent controls. A goad engine that clears the way for your own attackers.

Elspeth, Sun's Champion is a six-mana planeswalker that makes three Soldiers a turn. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in four.
The Sound of Drums is an Aura for {2}{R}. The enchanted creature is goaded and deals double combat damage, and for {2}{R} you can return it from the graveyard to your hand. A goaded creature hits another player for double, and Nelly draws for both of you.

Solemn Simulacrum is a four-mana 2/2 that fetches a land and draws a card. It is played in about one Nelly Borca deck in three, and does nothing to the goad plan.
Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos is a 4/4 trampler for {3}{R} that attacks each combat if able and can't attack its owner. At each player's upkeep, that player gains control of it, untaps it and puts a +1/+1 counter on it. It is passed around the table, attacks someone else every turn, and gets bigger each time.
The full swap list
Cut
- Ancient Stone Idol
- Feather, Radiant Arbiter
- Steel Hellkite
- Winds of Rath
- Angel of the Ruins
- Darien, King of Kjeldor
- Stalking Leonin
- Etali, Primal Storm
- Wall of Omens
- Otherworldly Escort
- Ransom Note
- Elspeth, Sun's Champion
- Solemn Simulacrum
Add
- Agrus Kos, Spirit of Justice
- Taunt from the Rampart
- Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
- Puppet Master, String Puller
- Aurelia, the Law Above
- Geode Rager
- Mangara, the Diplomat
- Firemane Commando
- Convenient Target
- Fast Forward
- Bothersome Quasit
- The Sound of Drums
- Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos
What to keep
These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.
- Disrupt Decorum$4.04
Played in 90% of Nelly Borca decks. Goads all creatures you do not control. - Hot Pursuit$0.35
Suspects and goads a creature an opponent controls, and steals goaded creatures once two players have lost. - Vengeful Ancestor$0.53
A flier that goads on entering and attacking, and pings the controller of a goaded creature whenever it attacks. - Take the Bait$5.78
Prevents combat damage to you, untaps attackers, goads them and gives them an extra combat. - Duelist's Heritage$2.50
Gives double strike to an attacking creature whenever creatures attack.
If you want to spend more
These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.
- Windcrag Siege$0.31
Doubles attack triggers or makes a lifelink Goblin each upkeep.
Blame Game already has the goad spells. The upgrade is cheap creatures that goad, suspect and draw whenever players attack, in place of expensive finishers, a wipe and defensive cards. These thirteen swaps cost about $25 in total.
Want a full 100-card list built around Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser from today's data?
Build with The Oracle →Frequently asked questions
What are the best upgrades for the Blame Game precon?
Using data from 6,405 Nelly Borca decks, the highest-scoring additions are Agrus Kos, Spirit of Justice (for Ancient Stone Idol), Taunt from the Rampart (for Feather, Radiant Arbiter) and Bothersome Quasit (for Ransom Note). The full list has 13 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.
How much does it cost to upgrade Blame Game?
All 13 swaps cost about $25.42 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Windcrag Siege ($0.31).
What should I cut from Blame Game?
The weakest cards for this commander are Ancient Stone Idol, Feather, Radiant Arbiter and Ransom Note. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.
Which cards should I keep in Blame Game?
Keep Disrupt Decorum, Hot Pursuit, Vengeful Ancestor, Take the Bait and Duelist's Heritage. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.
What does Nelly Borca do?
Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser costs {2}{R}{W}, is a 2/4 and has vigilance. Whenever Nelly attacks, you suspect target creature, then goad all suspected creatures. A suspected creature has menace and cannot block. Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls deal combat damage to one or more of your opponents, you and the controller of those creatures each draw a card. Her goaded creatures hit other players, and you draw.
More Murders at Karlov Manor Commander upgrade guides
How the numbers work
Inclusion is the share of Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser decks (6,405 of them when this was written, 2026-10-27) that play the card. Synergy is how much more often they play it than other decks in the same colours. Oracle score is synergy × 0.6 plus inclusion × 0.4, the same blend The Oracle uses to rank cards for a deck. Lift compares how often the card appears in these decks with how often it could, capped at 8× here; it is shown for context and does not change the score.
Two cautions. Players who run the precon unmodified count as Nelly Borca decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many goad cards because few decks play them outside a goad deck, so use lift to compare cards, not to judge one in isolation. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.












