Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos costs {2}{W}{B} and is a 3/4. Whenever you cast a Phyrexian creature or artifact creature spell, you incubate X, where X is that spell's mana value, creating an Incubator token with X +1/+1 counters that transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature for {2}. At the beginning of each end step, if a Phyrexian died under your control this turn, you proliferate. Every creature you cast is also an Incubator.
The precon already has the Phyrexian payoffs, including Filigree Vector, Massacre Wurm, Vulpine Harvester and Compleated Huntmaster. 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 Brimaz decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Brimaz decks than in decks that could play it.
Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Growing Threat precon guide.
What is holding the deck back
Not enough cheap Phyrexians
Progenitor Exarch, Norn's Inquisitor, Essence of Orthodoxy and Bloated Processor are Phyrexians that cost one to five mana and incubate on their own. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.
Few ways to transform Incubators
Attentive Skywarden and Progenitor Exarch transform Incubator tokens without spending {2}, and Phyrexian Awakening makes a big Incubator for three mana.
Mana rocks and one-offs
Fractured Powerstone, Ichor Elixir and Ancient Stone Idol are not cards Brimaz, and Coveted Jewel, Path of the Schemer, Scytheclaw and Orzhov Locket are each played in about one Brimaz deck in eight or fewer decks usually play.
The 13 swaps
Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.
Fractured Powerstone is a two-mana rock that rolls the planar die. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Progenitor Exarch is a 1/2 Phyrexian Cat Cleric for {X}{X}{W}. When it enters you incubate 3 X times, and for a tap you transform an Incubator token you control. A creature that makes several Incubators and flips them, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.
Ichor Elixir is a four-mana rock that changes planar dice. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Phyrexian Awakening costs {2}{W}. When it enters you incubate 4, and your Phyrexians have vigilance. A three-mana enchantment that makes a 4/4 Phyrexian for {2} more.
Coveted Jewel costs six: you draw three cards when it enters, but whenever an opponent's creatures attack you and are not blocked, that player draws three and takes the Jewel. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in twenty.
Essence of Orthodoxy is a 3/3 flying Phyrexian for {3}{W}{W}. Whenever it or another Phyrexian you control enters, you incubate 2. Every Phyrexian you play, including itself, makes an Incubator.
Path of the Schemer is a five-mana sorcery that mills and reanimates, and has a vote. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in twenty.
Norn's Inquisitor is a 1/1 Phyrexian Knight for {1}{W}. When it enters you incubate 2, and whenever a permanent you control transforms into a Phyrexian it gets a +1/+1 counter. A two-drop that incubates twice, once for Brimaz and once on its own.
Scytheclaw is a five-mana Equipment with living weapon. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in eleven.
Grafted Butcher is a 2/2 Phyrexian Samurai for {1}{B}. When it enters your Phyrexians gain menace until end of turn, other Phyrexians you control get +1/+1, and for {3}{B} and a sacrifice it returns from the graveyard. A lord that is cheap and comes back.
Orzhov Locket is a three-mana rock that sacrifices itself to draw two cards. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in eight.
Bloated Processor is a 3/2 Phyrexian for {2}{B}. Sacrifice another Phyrexian to put a +1/+1 counter on it, and when it dies you incubate X, where X is its power. A Phyrexian that turns into an Incubator, and a Phyrexian dying means Brimaz proliferates.
Phyrexian Ghoul is a 2/2 that sacrifices creatures to grow for itself. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in eight.
Aron, Benalia's Ruin is a 3/3 menace Phyrexian Human for {W}{W}{B}. For {W}{B}, a tap and a sacrificed creature, you put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. A Phyrexian with a sacrifice outlet that grows the team.
Hedron Archive is a four-mana rock that taps for {C}{C}. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in seven.
Metastatic Evangel is a 3/1 Phyrexian Human Cleric for {1}{W}. Whenever another nontoken creature enters under your control, you proliferate. Every creature you play puts another counter on every Incubator.
Ambition's Cost draws three cards and costs you 3 life. It is played in about one Brimaz deck in seven.
Attentive Skywarden is a 2/2 flying Phyrexian Kor for {2}{W}. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player or battle, you transform up to one target Incubator token you control. A flier that flips an Incubator for free.
Ancient Stone Idol is a ten-mana 12/12 artifact creature. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Scheming Aspirant is a 2/2 for {1}{B}. Whenever you proliferate, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. Brimaz and Metastatic Evangel proliferate, so it drains the table.
Cataclysmic Gearhulk is a five-mana 4/5 that makes each player sacrifice most of their nonland permanents. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Elesh Norn is a seven-mana legendary Phyrexian Praetor with vigilance. Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you or a permanent you control, its controller loses 2 life unless they pay {1}. A Phyrexian that incubates for Brimaz, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.
Duplicant is a six-mana 2/4 that exiles a nontoken creature when it enters. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Phyrexian Censor is a 3/3 Phyrexian Wizard for {2}{W}. Each player can't cast more than one non-Phyrexian spell each turn, and non-Phyrexian creatures enter tapped. A three-drop Phyrexian that slows everyone else down.
Meteor Golem is a seven-mana 3/3 that destroys a nonland permanent when it enters. It is not a card Brimaz decks usually play.
Phyrexian Vindicator is a 5/5 flier for {W}{W}{W}{W}. If damage would be dealt to it, that damage is prevented and it deals that much damage to any other target. A Phyrexian creature that is hard to remove, though its cost needs a lot of white mana.
The full swap list
Cut
- Fractured Powerstone
- Ichor Elixir
- Coveted Jewel
- Path of the Schemer
- Scytheclaw
- Orzhov Locket
- Phyrexian Ghoul
- Hedron Archive
- Ambition's Cost
- Ancient Stone Idol
- Cataclysmic Gearhulk
- Duplicant
- Meteor Golem
Add
- Progenitor Exarch
- Phyrexian Awakening
- Essence of Orthodoxy
- Norn's Inquisitor
- Grafted Butcher
- Bloated Processor
- Aron, Benalia's Ruin
- Metastatic Evangel
- Attentive Skywarden
- Scheming Aspirant
- Elesh Norn
- Phyrexian Censor
- Phyrexian Vindicator
What to keep
These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.
- Filigree Vector$11.39
Played in 76% of Brimaz decks. Puts counters on any number of creatures and artifacts, and proliferates for {1} and a sacrifice. - Massacre Wurm$2.58
Gives your opponents' creatures -2/-2 and makes them lose 2 life whenever one dies. - Vulpine Harvester$0.41
Returns an artifact card from your graveyard whenever Phyrexians attack. - Compleated Huntmaster$0.27
Sacrifices another creature or artifact to incubate 3. - Darksteel Splicer$2.41
Makes 3/3 Golems whenever it or another nontoken Phyrexian enters, and gives Golems indestructible.
If you want to spend more
These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.
- Sunfall$0.33
Exiles all creatures and incubates for each one exiled.
Growing Threat already has the Phyrexian payoffs and the proliferate. The upgrade is cheap Phyrexians that incubate on their own and cards that flip Incubators, in place of mana rocks and one-offs. These thirteen swaps cost about $17 in total.
Want a full 100-card list built around Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos from today's data?
Build with The Oracle →Frequently asked questions
What are the best upgrades for the Growing Threat precon?
Using data from 8,682 Brimaz decks, the highest-scoring additions are Progenitor Exarch (for Fractured Powerstone), Essence of Orthodoxy (for Coveted Jewel) and Grafted Butcher (for Scytheclaw). The full list has 13 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.
How much does it cost to upgrade Growing Threat?
All 13 swaps cost about $17.21 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Sunfall ($0.33).
What should I cut from Growing Threat?
The weakest cards for this commander are Fractured Powerstone, Ichor Elixir and Ancient Stone Idol. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.
Which cards should I keep in Growing Threat?
Keep Filigree Vector, Massacre Wurm, Vulpine Harvester, Compleated Huntmaster and Darksteel Splicer. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.
What does Brimaz do?
Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos costs {2}{W}{B} and is a 3/4. Whenever you cast a Phyrexian creature or artifact creature spell, you incubate X, where X is that spell's mana value, creating an Incubator token with X +1/+1 counters that transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature for {2}. At the beginning of each end step, if a Phyrexian died under your control this turn, you proliferate. Every creature you cast is also an Incubator.
More March of the Machine Commander upgrade guides
How the numbers work
Inclusion is the share of Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos decks (8,682 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 Brimaz decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many of these cards because few decks play them outside an incubate 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.