Teval, the Balanced Scale costs {1}{B}{G}{U} and is a 4/4 flier. Whenever it attacks you mill three cards and may return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped, and whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard you create a 2/2 Zombie Druid. Every attack fills the graveyard and every card you take out of it is a body.

The precon already has the graveyard payoffs, including Teval's Judgment, Colossal Grave-Reaver and Life from the Loam. 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 Teval decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Teval decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Sultai Arisen precon guide.

14
Swaps
$45.07
Cost of the adds
37→37
Lands
11→39
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Big creatures that do nothing with the graveyard

Consuming Aberration, Lord of the Forsaken and Necropolis Fiend are not cards Teval, and Tasigur, Junji, Amphin Mutineer and Disciple of Bolas are each played in about one Teval deck in six or fewer decks usually play.

The graveyard-play enablers are missing

Muldrotha, Insidious Roots, Kheru Goldkeeper, The Gitrog Monster and Sidisi are the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out, and each plays from the graveyard or turns a card leaving it into a body, Treasure or card.

A heavy top end for a mill deck

Eleven nonland cards cost six or more, including Necropolis Fiend, Necromantic Selection and Treasure Cruise, which rely on delve and a graveyard that is not always full.

The 14 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 14
Consuming Aberration
Cut
Consuming Aberration
Creature — Horror · 3UB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Add
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Legendary Creature — Elemental Avatar · 3BGU
Inclusion62%
Synergy40%
Lift2.8×
Oracle score 49

Consuming Aberration is a five-mana creature whose size is the number of cards in your opponents' graveyards. It is not a card Teval decks usually play.

Muldrotha, the Gravetide costs {3}{B}{G}{U}: during each of your turns you may play a land and cast a permanent spell of each permanent type from your graveyard. A 6/6 that turns your graveyard into a second hand, and every card leaving it makes a Zombie with Teval. It is the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out, apart from Six.

Swap 2 of 14
Lord of the Forsaken
Cut
Lord of the Forsaken
Creature — Demon · 4BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Insidious Roots
Add
Insidious Roots
Enchantment · BG
Inclusion53%
Synergy44%
Lift6.0×
Oracle score 48

Lord of the Forsaken is a 6/6 flying trampler for {4}{B}{B} that sacrifices creatures to mill, and pays life for colorless mana for graveyard spells. It is not a card Teval decks usually play.

Insidious Roots costs {B}{G}: your creature tokens tap for mana of any color, and whenever creature cards leave your graveyard you create a 0/1 Plant and put a +1/+1 counter on each Plant. Teval's Zombie Druids tap for mana, and every reanimation makes a bigger army of Plants.

Swap 3 of 14
Necropolis Fiend
Cut
Necropolis Fiend
Creature — Demon · 7BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Kheru Goldkeeper
Add
Kheru Goldkeeper
Creature — Dragon · 1BGU
Inclusion54%
Synergy42%
Lift4.7×
Oracle score 47

Necropolis Fiend is a nine-mana flier with delve that can exile cards from the graveyard to shrink a creature. It is not a card Teval, and it eats the graveyard you want to keep decks usually play.

Kheru Goldkeeper is a flier for {1}{B}{G}{U}: whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard during your turn, you create a Treasure. Every Teval trigger is also a Treasure.

Swap 4 of 14
Woe Strider
Cut
Woe Strider
Creature — Horror · 2B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
The Gitrog Monster
Add
The Gitrog Monster
Legendary Creature — Frog Horror · 3BG
Inclusion51%
Synergy36%
Lift3.3×
Oracle score 42

Woe Strider is a 3/2 for {2}{B} with a Goat token and an escape ability. It is not a card Teval decks usually play.

The Gitrog Monster is a 6/6 deathtouch for {3}{B}{G}. At your upkeep you sacrifice it unless you sacrifice a land, you may play an additional land each turn, and whenever one or more land cards are put into your graveyard you draw a card. Teval returns the lands you sacrifice, and every sacrifice draws a card.

Swap 5 of 14
Amphin Mutineer
Cut
Amphin Mutineer
Creature — Salamander Pirate · 3U
Inclusion15%
Synergy13%
Lift6.2×
Oracle score 14
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Add
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Legendary Creature — Snake Shaman · 1BGU
Inclusion47%
Synergy37%
Lift4.4×
Oracle score 41

Amphin Mutineer exiles a creature and gives its controller a 4/3, and has encore. It is played in about one Teval deck in seven.

Sidisi, Brood Tyrant is a 3/3 for {1}{B}{G}{U}: whenever she enters or attacks you mill three cards, and whenever one or more creature cards are put into your graveyard from your library you create a 2/2 Zombie. A second Teval that mills three and makes a Zombie each attack.

Swap 6 of 14
Disciple of Bolas
Cut
Disciple of Bolas
Creature — Human Wizard · 3B
Inclusion16%
Synergy13%
Lift6.1×
Oracle score 14
Dread Return
Add
Dread Return
Sorcery · 2BB
Inclusion46%
Synergy34%
Lift4.0×
Oracle score 39

Disciple of Bolas is a 2/1 for {3}{B} that sacrifices another creature, and gains life and draws cards equal to its power. It is played in about one Teval deck in six.

Dread Return costs {2}{B}{B}: return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield, and it has flashback by sacrificing three creatures. A card leaving the graveyard for a Zombie, and then it comes back again.

Swap 7 of 14
Reassembling Skeleton
Cut
Reassembling Skeleton
Creature — Skeleton Warrior · 1B
Inclusion16%
Synergy13%
Lift5.8×
Oracle score 14
Aftermath Analyst
Add
Aftermath Analyst
Creature — Elf Detective · 1G
Inclusion39%
Synergy25%
Lift2.8×
Oracle score 31

Reassembling Skeleton is a 1/1 that returns from the graveyard for {1}{B}. It is played in about one Teval deck in six.

Aftermath Analyst is a 1/3 for {1}{G}. When it enters you mill three cards, and for {3}{G} and a sacrifice you return all land cards from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. A two-drop that fills the graveyard and then returns every land.

Swap 8 of 14
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Cut
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman · 5B
Inclusion17%
Synergy14%
Lift5.9×
Oracle score 15
Tatyova, Benthic Druid
Add
Tatyova, Benthic Druid
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Druid · 3GU
Inclusion34%
Synergy18%
Lift2.1×
Oracle score 25

Tasigur is a 4/5 with delve for {5}{B}, and it exiles the graveyard you are trying to use. It is played in about one Teval deck in six.

Tatyova, Benthic Druid is a {3}{G}{U} creature with landfall: whenever a land enters under your control you gain 1 life and draw a card. Every land Teval returns, and every land you play, draws a card.

Swap 9 of 14
Essence Anchor
Cut
Essence Anchor
Artifact · 2U
Inclusion17%
Synergy14%
Lift6.3×
Oracle score 15
Wight of the Reliquary
Add
Wight of the Reliquary
Creature — Zombie Knight · BG
Inclusion29%
Synergy22%
Lift4.1×
Oracle score 25

Essence Anchor is a three-mana artifact that surveils each upkeep and makes a Zombie Druid when a card left your graveyard. It is played in about one Teval deck in six.

Wight of the Reliquary is a vigilance creature for {B}{G} that gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard, and for {T} and a sacrifice it searches for a land. A two-drop that grows with your graveyard and finds lands.

Swap 10 of 14
Junji, the Midnight Sky
Cut
Junji, the Midnight Sky
Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit · 3BB
Inclusion18%
Synergy15%
Lift5.9×
Oracle score 16
Tormod, the Desecrator
Add
Tormod, the Desecrator
Legendary Creature — Zombie Wizard · 3B
Inclusion19%
Synergy15%
Lift5.8×
Oracle score 17

Junji is a 5/5 flying, menace Dragon for {3}{B}{B} with strong death triggers. It is a great card, but it is played in about one Teval deck in six.

Tormod, the Desecrator costs {3}{B}: whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, you create a tapped 2/2 Zombie. A second Zombie maker that triggers on every Teval attack.

Swap 11 of 14
Cultivate
Cut
Cultivate
Sorcery · 2G
Inclusion38%
Synergy-2%
Lift1.0×
Oracle score 14
Six
Add
Six
Legendary Creature — Treefolk · 2G
Inclusion61%
Synergy45%
Lift3.7×
Oracle score 51

Cultivate ({2}{G}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 14 in the Oracle: it is in 38% of Teval decks with -2% synergy. It reads: Search your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal those cards, put one onto the battlefield tapped and the other into your hand, then shuffle.

Six ({2}{G}) scores 51: it is in 61% of Teval decks with 45% synergy. It reads: Reach. Whenever Six attacks, mill three cards. You may put a land card from among them into your hand. During your turn, nonland permanent cards in your graveyard have retrace.

Swap 12 of 14
Forbidden Alchemy
Cut
Forbidden Alchemy
Instant · 2U
Inclusion20%
Synergy17%
Lift5.8×
Oracle score 18
Ripples of Undeath
Add
Ripples of Undeath
Enchantment · 1B
Inclusion55%
Synergy40%
Lift3.5×
Oracle score 46

Forbidden Alchemy ({2}{U}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 18 in the Oracle: it is in 20% of Teval decks with 17% synergy. It reads: Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard. Flashback {6}{B}.

Ripples of Undeath ({1}{B}) scores 46: it is in 55% of Teval decks with 40% synergy. It reads: At the beginning of your first main phase, mill three cards. Then you may pay {1} and 3 life. If you do, put a card from among those cards into your hand.

Swap 13 of 14
Casualties of War
Cut
Casualties of War
Sorcery · 2BBGG
Inclusion23%
Synergy15%
Lift2.8×
Oracle score 18
Icetill Explorer
Add
Icetill Explorer
Creature — Insect Scout · 2GG
Inclusion50%
Synergy32%
Lift2.8×
Oracle score 39

Casualties of War ({2}{B}{B}{G}{G}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 18 in the Oracle: it is in 23% of Teval decks with 15% synergy. It reads: Choose one or more :. • Destroy target artifact. • Destroy target creature. • Destroy target enchantment. • Destroy target land. • Destroy target planeswalker.

Icetill Explorer ({2}{G}{G}) scores 39: it is in 50% of Teval decks with 32% synergy. It reads: You may play an additional land on each of your turns. You may play lands from your graveyard. Landfall : Whenever a land you control enters, mill a card.

Swap 14 of 14
Noxious Gearhulk
Cut
Noxious Gearhulk
Artifact Creature — Construct · 4BB
Inclusion21%
Synergy17%
Lift4.6×
Oracle score 18
Hedge Shredder
Add
Hedge Shredder
Artifact — Vehicle · 2GG
Inclusion48%
Synergy33%
Lift3.1×
Oracle score 39

Noxious Gearhulk ({4}{B}{B}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 18 in the Oracle: it is in 21% of Teval decks with 17% synergy. It reads: Menace. When this creature enters, you may destroy another target creature. If a creature is destroyed this way, you gain life equal to its toughness.

Hedge Shredder ({2}{G}{G}) scores 39: it is in 48% of Teval decks with 33% synergy. It reads: Whenever this Vehicle attacks, you may mill two cards. Whenever one or more land cards are put into your graveyard from your library, put them onto the battlefield tapped. Crew 1.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Consuming Aberration
  • Lord of the Forsaken
  • Necropolis Fiend
  • Woe Strider
  • Amphin Mutineer
  • Disciple of Bolas
  • Reassembling Skeleton
  • Tasigur, the Golden Fang
  • Essence Anchor
  • Junji, the Midnight Sky
  • Cultivate
  • Forbidden Alchemy
  • Casualties of War
  • Noxious Gearhulk

Add

  • Muldrotha, the Gravetide
  • Insidious Roots
  • Kheru Goldkeeper
  • The Gitrog Monster
  • Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
  • Dread Return
  • Aftermath Analyst
  • Tatyova, Benthic Druid
  • Wight of the Reliquary
  • Tormod, the Desecrator
  • Six
  • Ripples of Undeath
  • Icetill Explorer
  • Hedge Shredder

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

Sultai Arisen already has the graveyard payoffs. The upgrade is cards that play from the graveyard, return lands and make bodies when cards leave it, and fewer fatties that do nothing with the graveyard. These fourteen swaps cost about $45 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Teval, the Balanced Scale from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Sultai Arisen precon?

Using data from 40,525 Teval decks, the highest-scoring additions are Six (for Cultivate), Muldrotha, the Gravetide (for Consuming Aberration) and Insidious Roots (for Lord of the Forsaken). The full list has 14 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Sultai Arisen?

All 14 swaps cost about $45.07 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers The Scarab God ($2.82) and Tortured Existence ($3.28).

What should I cut from Sultai Arisen?

The weakest cards for this commander are Consuming Aberration, Lord of the Forsaken and Necropolis Fiend. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Sultai Arisen?

Keep Teval's Judgment, Colossal Grave-Reaver, Life from the Loam, Victimize and Hedron Crab. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Teval do?

Teval, the Balanced Scale costs {1}{B}{G}{U} and is a 4/4 flier. Whenever it attacks you mill three cards and may return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped, and whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard you create a 2/2 Zombie Druid. Every attack fills the graveyard and every card you take out of it is a body.

More Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Teval, the Balanced Scale decks (40,525 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 Teval decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is moderate for most of these cards because they are played in many Sultai 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.