Kardur, Doomscourge costs {2}{B}{R} and is a 4/3 Legendary Demon Berserker. When it enters, until your next turn creatures your opponents control attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able. Whenever an attacking creature dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. Opponents are forced to attack each other, and every attacker that dies drains the table for you.

The precon already has the goad creatures and removal, including Geode Rager, Kazuul, Rakdos Charm, Terminate and Brash Taunter. 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 Kardur decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Kardur decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Chaos Incarnate precon guide.

12
Swaps
$4.78
Cost of the adds
40→40
Lands
10→32
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough cheap goad cards

Vengeful Ancestor, Agitator Ant, Shiny Impetus, Parasitic Impetus and Bloodthirsty Blade goad creatures for a few mana, which keeps the table attacking each other. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Burn and heavy spells outside the lists

Magmatic Force and Thermo-Alchemist are not cards Kardur, and Guttersnipe, Explosion of Riches and Breath of Malfegor burn opponents instead of forcing combat decks usually play.

A very heavy top end

The deck has 13 nonland cards at mana value six or more, including an eight-drop, and 40 lands.

The 12 swaps

Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.

Swap 1 of 12
Magmatic Force
Cut
Magmatic Force
Creature — Elemental · 5RRR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Vengeful Ancestor
Add
Vengeful Ancestor
Creature — Spirit Dragon · 2RR
Inclusion43%
Synergy40%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 41

Magmatic Force is an eight-mana 7/7 that deals 3 damage at each upkeep. It is not a card Kardur decks usually play.

Vengeful Ancestor is a 3/4 flying Spirit Dragon for {2}{R}{R}. Whenever it enters or attacks you goad target creature, and whenever a goaded creature attacks it deals 1 damage to its controller. A four-drop that goads on its own, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 12
Thermo-Alchemist
Cut
Thermo-Alchemist
Creature — Human Shaman · 1R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Morbid Opportunist
Add
Morbid Opportunist
Creature — Human Rogue · 2B
Inclusion52%
Synergy37%
Lift3.4×
Oracle score 43

Thermo-Alchemist is a two-mana 0/3 defender that pings opponents. It is not a card Kardur decks usually play.

Morbid Opportunist is a 1/3 Human Rogue for {2}{B}. Whenever one or more other creatures die you draw a card, once each turn. A three-drop that draws a card from the attackers that die.

Swap 3 of 12
Guttersnipe
Cut
Guttersnipe
Creature — Goblin Shaman · 2R
Inclusion13%
Synergy4%
Lift1.5×
Oracle score 7
Agitator Ant
Add
Agitator Ant
Creature — Insect · 2R
Inclusion37%
Synergy34%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 35

Guttersnipe is a three-mana 2/2 that burns opponents for each instant or sorcery. It is played in about one Kardur deck in eight.

Agitator Ant is a 2/2 Insect for {2}{R}. At the beginning of your end step, each player may put two +1/+1 counters on a creature they control, and each creature that got counters is goaded. A three-drop that goads every turn.

Swap 4 of 12
Explosion of Riches
Cut
Explosion of Riches
Sorcery · 5R
Inclusion10%
Synergy9%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 9
Shiny Impetus
Add
Shiny Impetus
Enchantment — Aura · 2R
Inclusion40%
Synergy36%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 37

Explosion of Riches is a six-mana sorcery that draws cards and deals 5 damage to a random opponent. It is played in about one Kardur deck in ten.

Shiny Impetus is an Aura for {2}{R}. Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and is goaded, and whenever it attacks you create a Treasure token. A three-mana Aura you can put on an opponent's creature that forces it to attack and pays you for it.

Swap 5 of 12
Breath of Malfegor
Cut
Breath of Malfegor
Instant · 3BR
Inclusion11%
Synergy10%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 11
Parasitic Impetus
Add
Parasitic Impetus
Enchantment — Aura · 2B
Inclusion24%
Synergy22%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 23

Breath of Malfegor is a five-mana instant that deals 5 damage to each opponent. It is played in about one Kardur deck in nine.

Parasitic Impetus is an Aura for {2}{B}. Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and is goaded, and whenever it attacks its controller loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. A three-mana Aura that drains every time it attacks.

Swap 6 of 12
Scythe Specter
Cut
Scythe Specter
Creature — Specter · 4BB
Inclusion11%
Synergy11%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 11
Frenzied Saddlebrute
Add
Frenzied Saddlebrute
Creature — Orc Warrior · 4R
Inclusion28%
Synergy27%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 28

Scythe Specter is a six-mana 4/4 flyer that makes opponents discard when it connects. It is played in about one Kardur deck in nine.

Frenzied Saddlebrute is a 5/4 Orc Warrior with haste for {4}{R}. All creatures can attack your opponents and planeswalkers your opponents control as though they had haste. A five-drop that makes every creature in the game attack right away.

Swap 7 of 12
Titan Hunter
Cut
Titan Hunter
Creature — Human Warrior · 4B
Inclusion11%
Synergy10%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 11
Slaughter Specialist
Add
Slaughter Specialist
Creature — Vampire Warrior · 1B
Inclusion29%
Synergy28%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 28

Titan Hunter is a five-mana 4/5 that deals 4 damage at end steps when no creature died. It is played in about one Kardur deck in nine.

Slaughter Specialist is a 3/3 Vampire Warrior for {1}{B}. When it enters each opponent creates a 1/1 white Human token, and whenever a creature an opponent controls dies it gets a +1/+1 counter. A two-drop that gives opponents attackers to lose and grows from them.

Swap 8 of 12
Reign of the Pit
Cut
Reign of the Pit
Sorcery · 4BB
Inclusion12%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 12
Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
Add
Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Minion · 1BR
Inclusion35%
Synergy30%
Lift7.2×
Oracle score 32

Reign of the Pit is a six-mana sorcery where each player sacrifices a creature and you make a Demon. It is played in about one Kardur deck in eight.

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent is a 5/5 Legendary Phyrexian Minion for {1}{B}{R}. It enters under an opponent's control, attacks each combat if able and can't attack its owner, and for {3} its controller loses 2 life and you draw a card, which any player may activate. A three-drop that sits in an opponent's board and draws you cards.

Swap 9 of 12
Coveted Jewel
Cut
Coveted Jewel
Artifact · 6
Inclusion14%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 13
Bloodthirsty Blade
Add
Bloodthirsty Blade
Artifact — Equipment · 2
Inclusion34%
Synergy31%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 32

Coveted Jewel is a six-mana artifact that draws three cards and taps for three mana, but can be taken by an opponent. It is played in about one Kardur deck in seven.

Bloodthirsty Blade is an Equipment for {2}. Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and is goaded, and for {1} you attach it to target creature an opponent controls, as a sorcery. A two-mana Equipment that forces an opponent's creature into combat.

Swap 10 of 12
Nihil Spellbomb
Cut
Nihil Spellbomb
Artifact · 1
Inclusion13%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 13
Supernatural Stamina
Add
Supernatural Stamina
Instant · B
Inclusion33%
Synergy28%
Lift6.1×
Oracle score 30

Nihil Spellbomb is a one-mana artifact that exiles a graveyard. It is played in about one Kardur deck in eight.

Supernatural Stamina costs {B}. Until end of turn, target creature gets +2/+0 and gains "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control." A one-mana instant that makes a creature die twice for Kardur's drain.

Swap 11 of 12
Wildfire Devils
Cut
Wildfire Devils
Creature — Devil · 3R
Inclusion14%
Synergy13%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 14
Frontier Warmonger
Add
Frontier Warmonger
Creature — Human Warrior · 3R
Inclusion24%
Synergy23%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 23

Wildfire Devils is a four-mana 4/2 that casts a random instant or sorcery from a graveyard. It is played in about one Kardur deck in seven.

Frontier Warmonger is a 4/4 Human Warrior for {3}{R}. Whenever one or more creatures attack one of your opponents or a planeswalker they control, those creatures gain menace until end of turn. A four-drop that makes every goaded attacker harder to block.

Swap 12 of 12
Hate Mirage
Cut
Hate Mirage
Sorcery · 3R
Inclusion16%
Synergy15%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 15
Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos
Add
Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos
Legendary Creature — Human Berserker · 3R
Inclusion36%
Synergy31%
Lift7.7×
Oracle score 33

Hate Mirage is a four-mana sorcery that copies two opposing creatures for a turn. It is played in about one Kardur deck in six.

Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos is a 4/4 Legendary Human Berserker for {3}{R} with trample. It attacks each combat if able and can't attack its owner, and at the beginning of each player's upkeep that player gains control of it, untaps it and puts a +1/+1 counter on it. A four-drop that is always attacking, passed around the table.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Magmatic Force
  • Thermo-Alchemist
  • Guttersnipe
  • Explosion of Riches
  • Breath of Malfegor
  • Scythe Specter
  • Titan Hunter
  • Reign of the Pit
  • Coveted Jewel
  • Nihil Spellbomb
  • Wildfire Devils
  • Hate Mirage

Add

  • Vengeful Ancestor
  • Morbid Opportunist
  • Agitator Ant
  • Shiny Impetus
  • Parasitic Impetus
  • Frenzied Saddlebrute
  • Slaughter Specialist
  • Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
  • Bloodthirsty Blade
  • Supernatural Stamina
  • Frontier Warmonger
  • Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos

What to keep

These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.

If you want to spend more

These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

Chaos Incarnate already has the goad creatures, the removal and Kardur's drain. The upgrade is cheap goad cards and creatures that profit from attackers dying, in place of burn and heavy spells that Kardur decks leave out. These twelve swaps cost about $5 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Kardur, Doomscourge from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Chaos Incarnate precon?

Using data from 7,737 Kardur decks, the highest-scoring additions are Morbid Opportunist (for Thermo-Alchemist), Vengeful Ancestor (for Magmatic Force) and Shiny Impetus (for Explosion of Riches). The full list has 12 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Chaos Incarnate?

All 12 swaps cost about $4.78 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Blood Artist ($2.84) and Conjurer's Closet ($2.79).

What should I cut from Chaos Incarnate?

The weakest cards for this commander are Magmatic Force, Thermo-Alchemist and Guttersnipe. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Chaos Incarnate?

Keep Rakdos Charm, Terminate, Geode Rager, Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs and Brash Taunter. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Kardur do?

Kardur, Doomscourge costs {2}{B}{R} and is a 4/3 Legendary Demon Berserker. When it enters, until your next turn creatures your opponents control attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able. Whenever an attacking creature dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. Opponents are forced to attack each other, and every attacker that dies drains the table for you.

More Starter Commander Decks upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Kardur, Doomscourge decks (7,737 of them when this was written, 2026-10-28) 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 Kardur 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. A card the commander's decks do not usually play counts as 0 in the average score. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.