The Thirteenth Doctor puts a +1/+1 counter on target creature whenever you cast a spell from anywhere other than your hand, and untaps each creature you control that has a counter at the beginning of your end step. Yasmin Khan taps to exile the top card of your library and lets you play it until your next end step, which is a spell cast from outside your hand every turn. The precon is full of Paradox cards that pay off when you do it.

What it needs is more ways to cast from exile and fewer cards that do nothing when you do. 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 Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in those decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Paradox Power precon guide.

9
Swaps
$33.33
Cost of the adds
36→36
Lands
13→40
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Creatures that never trigger Paradox

Dan Lewis, Thijarian Witness, Bill Potts, Strax, Madame Vastra and Jenny Flint do their own thing and add nothing to casting spells from exile. Dan Lewis and Thijarian Witness are not played in enough Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin decks to register in the data, and the rest are each played in about one deck in six to eight.

Too few ways to cast from exile

Etali, Laelia, Faldorn, Doc Aurlock and Wild-Magic Sorcerer all make or cheapen spells you cast from exile, and every one of those casts is a Paradox trigger. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Heavy cards and a Saga that miss the point

Fugitive of the Judoon is played in about one deck in nine, and Frost Fair Lure Fish and Lunar Hatchling each cost six or seven and are played in about one deck in five.

The 9 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 9
Dan Lewis
Cut
Dan Lewis
Legendary Creature — Human · 1R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Etali, Primal Storm
Add
Etali, Primal Storm
Legendary Creature — Elder Dinosaur · 4RR
Inclusion52%
Synergy42%
Lift5.3×
Oracle score 46

Dan Lewis is a 2/2 for {1}{R} that makes your noncreature, non-Equipment artifacts into Equipment with equip {1}. It is played in so few Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin decks that it barely registers in the data.

Etali, Primal Storm is a 6/6 for {4}{R}{R}. Whenever it attacks, you exile the top card of each player's library and may cast any number of the spells among them without paying their mana costs. Each of those is a spell cast from exile, so one attack can trigger Paradox several times.

Swap 2 of 9
Thijarian Witness
Cut
Thijarian Witness
Creature — Alien Cleric · 1G
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Laelia, the Blade Reforged
Add
Laelia, the Blade Reforged
Legendary Creature — Spirit Warrior · 2R
Inclusion47%
Synergy45%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 46

Thijarian Witness is a 0/4 flash creature for {1}{G} that investigates when another creature that was attacking or blocking alone dies. It is played in so few Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin decks that it barely registers in the data.

Laelia, the Blade Reforged is a 2/2 haste creature for {2}{R}. Whenever it attacks, you exile the top card of your library and may play it this turn, and whenever cards are put into exile from your library or graveyard it gets a +1/+1 counter. Playing that card is a Paradox trigger, and the counter means the Doctor untaps it at your end step.

Swap 3 of 9
Fugitive of the Judoon
Cut
Fugitive of the Judoon
Enchantment — Saga · 4G
Inclusion11%
Synergy11%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 11
Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius
Add
Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius
Legendary Creature — Bear Druid · GU
Inclusion49%
Synergy42%
Lift6.8×
Oracle score 45

Fugitive of the Judoon is a five-mana Saga that makes a 1/1 Human and a 4/4 Alien Rhino, investigates, and can exile a Human and an artifact to put a Doctor onto the battlefield. It is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in nine.

Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius is a 2/3 for {G}{U}. Spells you cast from your graveyard or from exile cost {2} less, and plotting cards from your hand costs {2} less. Every spell it discounts is already a Paradox trigger.

Swap 4 of 9
Bill Potts
Cut
Bill Potts
Legendary Creature — Human · 3R
Inclusion12%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 12
Kami of Whispered Hopes
Add
Kami of Whispered Hopes
Creature — Spirit · 2G
Inclusion44%
Synergy38%
Lift7.0×
Oracle score 40

Bill Potts is a 2/4 for {3}{R} that copies spells and abilities targeting only him, once each turn. It is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in eight.

Kami of Whispered Hopes is a 1/1 for {2}{G}. If one or more +1/+1 counters would be put on a permanent you control, that many plus one are put on it instead, and {T}: add X mana of any one color, where X is its power. Every Paradox counter is bigger, and the extra counters make its own mana grow.

Swap 5 of 9
Strax, Sontaran Nurse
Cut
Strax, Sontaran Nurse
Legendary Creature — Alien Cleric · 3RG
Inclusion16%
Synergy16%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 16
Passionate Archaeologist
Add
Passionate Archaeologist
Legendary Enchantment — Background · 1R
Inclusion41%
Synergy37%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 39

Strax is a 5/5 vigilance trampler for {3}{R}{G} that sacrifices an artifact to fight. It is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in six.

Passionate Archaeologist is a Background for {1}{R}. Commander creatures you own have "Whenever you cast a spell from exile, this creature deals damage equal to that spell's mana value to target opponent." With the Thirteenth Doctor or Yasmin on the battlefield, each Paradox cast also burns an opponent.

Swap 6 of 9
Madame Vastra
Cut
Madame Vastra
Legendary Creature — Lizard Detective · 2GU
Inclusion18%
Synergy17%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 17
Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald
Add
Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald
Legendary Creature — Human Druid · 1RG
Inclusion40%
Synergy36%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 37

Madame Vastra is a 3/3 for {2}{G}{U} that must be blocked if able and makes a Clue and a Food when a creature she damaged dies. She is half of a partner pair with Jenny Flint, who is also cut below. She is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in six.

Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald is a 3/3 for {1}{R}{G}. Whenever you cast a spell from exile or a land you control enters from exile, you create a 2/2 green Wolf. For {1}, {T} and a discard it exiles the top card of your library and lets you play it this turn. Each Paradox cast also makes a Wolf.

Swap 7 of 9
Jenny Flint
Cut
Jenny Flint
Legendary Creature — Human Detective · 1UR
Inclusion18%
Synergy18%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 18
Incubation Druid
Add
Incubation Druid
Creature — Elf Druid · 1G
Inclusion36%
Synergy33%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 34

Jenny Flint is a 2/2 first striker for {1}{U}{R} with training that grows another creature when you sacrifice a Clue or Food. She partners with Madame Vastra, who is also cut above. She is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in six.

Incubation Druid is a 0/2 for {1}{G} that taps for one mana of any type a land you control could produce, or three if it has a +1/+1 counter on it. The Thirteenth Doctor's Paradox counter on it turns it into a three-mana ramp creature.

Swap 8 of 9
Frost Fair Lure Fish
Cut
Frost Fair Lure Fish
Creature — Fish · 5UR
Inclusion22%
Synergy22%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 22
Maelstrom Wanderer
Add
Maelstrom Wanderer
Legendary Creature — Elemental · 5GUR
Inclusion42%
Synergy32%
Lift4.1×
Oracle score 36

Frost Fair Lure Fish is a 7/7 for {5}{U}{R} that makes two Fish and two tapped Treasures. It is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in five.

Maelstrom Wanderer is a 7/5 for {5}{G}{U}{R}, in exactly this deck's three colours. Creatures you control have haste, and cascade, cascade casts two spells from exile for free, each a Paradox trigger. It costs eight mana, so it is the top end of the deck.

Swap 9 of 9
Lunar Hatchling
Cut
Lunar Hatchling
Creature — Alien Beast · 4GU
Inclusion21%
Synergy21%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 21
Wild-Magic Sorcerer
Add
Wild-Magic Sorcerer
Creature — Orc Shaman Sorcerer · 3R
Inclusion39%
Synergy35%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 36

Lunar Hatchling is a 6/6 flier for {4}{G}{U} with basic landcycling {2} and escape. It is played in about one Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin deck in five.

Wild-Magic Sorcerer is a 4/3 for {3}{R}. The first spell you cast from exile each turn has cascade, which casts another spell from exile. One cast from exile becomes two Paradox triggers.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Dan Lewis
  • Thijarian Witness
  • Fugitive of the Judoon
  • Bill Potts
  • Strax, Sontaran Nurse
  • Madame Vastra
  • Jenny Flint
  • Frost Fair Lure Fish
  • Lunar Hatchling

Add

  • Etali, Primal Storm
  • Laelia, the Blade Reforged
  • Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius
  • Kami of Whispered Hopes
  • Passionate Archaeologist
  • Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald
  • Incubation Druid
  • Maelstrom Wanderer
  • Wild-Magic Sorcerer

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 cards that cost more than the swaps above. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

The precon's Paradox core is already close to what players build: its best cards, Flaming Tyrannosaurus, Bigger on the Inside and Sisterhood of Karn, are played in more than three decks in four. The upgrade is more ways to cast from exile, in place of creatures that never trigger a Paradox. These nine swaps cost about $33 in total and keep the deck's identity intact.

Want a full 100-card list built around The Thirteenth Doctor from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Paradox Power precon?

Using data from 1,928 The Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin Khan decks, the highest-scoring additions are Etali, Primal Storm (for Dan Lewis), Laelia, the Blade Reforged (for Thijarian Witness) and Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius (for Fugitive of the Judoon). The full list has 9 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Paradox Power?

All 9 swaps cost about $33.33 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-11-02). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Delayed Blast Fireball ($15.44).

What should I cut from Paradox Power?

The weakest cards for this commander are Dan Lewis, Thijarian Witness and Fugitive of the Judoon. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Paradox Power?

Keep Flaming Tyrannosaurus, Bigger on the Inside, Sisterhood of Karn, Into the Time Vortex and Iraxxa, Empress of Mars. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does The Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin Khan do?

The Thirteenth Doctor puts a +1/+1 counter on target creature whenever you cast a spell from anywhere other than your hand, and untaps each creature you control that has a counter at the beginning of your end step. Yasmin Khan taps to exile the top card of your library and lets you play it until your next end step, which is a spell cast from outside your hand every turn. The precon is full of Paradox cards that pay off when you do it.

More Doctor Who Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of The Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin Khan decks (1,928 of them when this was written, 2026-11-02) 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 The Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin Khan decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. And lift is very high for many Doctor Who cards because they are new and rarely played outside Doctor Who decks, 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.