Szarel, Genesis Shepherd costs {2}{B}{R}{G} and has flying. You may play lands from your graveyard, and whenever you sacrifice another nontoken permanent during your turn she puts +1/+1 counters equal to her power on another creature. Every land you sacrifice can come back and trigger landfall again.

The precon already has the land engines, including The Gitrog Monster, Oracle of Mul Daya and Korvold. 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 Szarel decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Szarel decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the World Shaper precon guide.

11
Swaps
$44.72
Cost of the adds
42→41
Lands
15→31
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough cheap landfall payoffs

Tannuk, Sabotender, Ride the Shoopuf, Ob Nixilis the Fallen and Mightform Harmonizer each reward a land entering, and each costs two to five mana. The precon plays none of them.

No free sacrifice outlet

Szarel pays out when you sacrifice a permanent on your turn. Zuran Orb sacrifices a land for free, and Nahiri's Lithoforming sacrifices several at once and draws a card for each.

Land-graveyard cards almost nobody plays

Formless Genesis, Centaur Vinecrasher, Loamcrafter Faun and Uurg count lands in the graveyard, and World Breaker exiles a land. They are each in about one Szarel deck in five or fewer, and World Breaker is not played in the commander's decks at all.

The 11 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 11
World Breaker
Cut
World Breaker
Creature — Eldrazi · 6G
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
Add
Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
Legendary Creature — Kavu Pilot · 1RG
Inclusion46%
Synergy33%
Lift3.7×
Oracle score 38

World Breaker is a seven-mana 5/7 Eldrazi with reach that exiles an artifact, enchantment or land when you cast it. It is not a card Szarel decks usually play.

Tannuk, Memorial Ensign is a 2/4 for {1}{R}{G}. Whenever a land enters under your control it deals 1 damage to each opponent, and the second time each turn it also draws you a card. It is the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out apart from Zuran Orb, and a three-drop that pays you for every land.

Swap 2 of 11
Wastes
Cut
Wastes
Basic Land
Inclusion10%
Synergy9%
Lift6.1×
Oracle score 9
Nahiri's Lithoforming
Add
Nahiri's Lithoforming
Sorcery · XRR
Inclusion33%
Synergy27%
Lift5.3×
Oracle score 29

Wastes is a colourless basic land in a three-colour deck with 42 lands. It is played in about one Szarel deck in ten.

Nahiri's Lithoforming costs {X}{R}{R}: sacrifice X lands, draw a card for each, and you may play X additional lands this turn. Each sacrifice pays Szarel, and each land you replay from the graveyard is landfall.

Swap 3 of 11
Groundskeeper
Cut
Groundskeeper
Creature — Human Druid · G
Inclusion13%
Synergy11%
Lift4.8×
Oracle score 12
Sabotender
Add
Sabotender
Creature — Plant · 1R
Inclusion17%
Synergy11%
Lift2.7×
Oracle score 14

Groundskeeper is a 1/1 that returns a basic land from your graveyard to your hand for {1}{G}. Szarel already lets you play lands from the graveyard.

Sabotender is a creature with reach for {1}{R}: whenever a land enters under your control, it deals 1 damage to each opponent. A two-drop that pings on every land.

Swap 4 of 11
Satyr Wayfinder
Cut
Satyr Wayfinder
Creature — Satyr · 1G
Inclusion16%
Synergy12%
Lift3.4×
Oracle score 14
Ride the Shoopuf
Add
Ride the Shoopuf
Enchantment · 1G
Inclusion15%
Synergy14%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 15

Satyr Wayfinder is a 1/1 for {1}{G} that digs four cards for a land, which is not much in a deck with 42 lands.

Ride the Shoopuf costs {1}{G}: landfall puts a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Every land makes a creature bigger, and it becomes a creature itself late in the game.

Swap 5 of 11
Formless Genesis
Cut
Formless Genesis
Kindred Sorcery — Shapeshifter · 2G
Inclusion17%
Synergy14%
Lift4.6×
Oracle score 15
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
Add
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
Legendary Creature — Demon · 3BB
Inclusion22%
Synergy17%
Lift3.8×
Oracle score 19

Formless Genesis makes an X/X Shapeshifter where X is the number of lands in your graveyard, and has retrace. It is played in about one Szarel deck in six.

Ob Nixilis, the Fallen costs {3}{B}{B}: whenever a land enters under your control, you may have a player lose 3 life, and if you do, he gets three +1/+1 counters. A big body that drains for every land.

Swap 6 of 11
Centaur Vinecrasher
Cut
Centaur Vinecrasher
Creature — Plant Centaur · 3G
Inclusion17%
Synergy14%
Lift6.2×
Oracle score 15
Mightform Harmonizer
Add
Mightform Harmonizer
Creature — Insect Druid · 2GG
Inclusion33%
Synergy28%
Lift7.5×
Oracle score 30

Centaur Vinecrasher enters with +1/+1 counters equal to the number of lands in all graveyards and can be returned for {G}{G}. It is played in about one Szarel deck in six.

Mightform Harmonizer is a 4/4 for {2}{G}{G}, or {2}{G} with warp. Whenever a land enters under your control it doubles the power of a creature you control until end of turn. Every land is a big attack.

Swap 7 of 11
Uurg, Spawn of Turg
Cut
Uurg, Spawn of Turg
Legendary Creature — Frog Beast · BBG
Inclusion21%
Synergy18%
Lift5.8×
Oracle score 19
Zuran Orb
Add
Zuran Orb
Artifact · 0
Inclusion52%
Synergy40%
Lift3.5×
Oracle score 45

Uurg's power equals the number of lands in your graveyard, it surveils each upkeep, and for {B}{G} and a sacrificed land you gain 2 life. It is played in about one Szarel deck in five.

Zuran Orb costs {0}: sacrifice a land to gain 2 life. It is a free sacrifice outlet, so every land you sacrifice on your turn pays Szarel, and Szarel lets you play it again from the graveyard.

Swap 8 of 11
Binding the Old Gods
Cut
Binding the Old Gods
Enchantment — Saga · 2BG
Inclusion22%
Synergy15%
Lift2.5×
Oracle score 18
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Add
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Legendary Creature — Human Monk · 2G
Inclusion54%
Synergy43%
Lift4.3×
Oracle score 47

Binding the Old Gods is a four-mana Saga that destroys a nonland permanent, fetches a Forest and gives deathtouch. It is played in about one Szarel deck in five.

Azusa, Lost but Seeking is a 1/2 Human Monk for {2}{G} that lets you play two additional lands each turn. Szarel's lands come back from the graveyard, and this gets them down faster. It is the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 9 of 11
Night's Whisper
Cut
Night's Whisper
Sorcery · 1B
Inclusion28%
Synergy15%
Lift1.9×
Oracle score 20
Lotus Cobra
Add
Lotus Cobra
Creature — Snake · 1G
Inclusion41%
Synergy28%
Lift2.9×
Oracle score 33

Night's Whisper is a two-mana sorcery that draws two cards for 2 life. It is played in about one Szarel deck in four.

Lotus Cobra is a 2/1 for {1}{G}. Landfall: whenever a land enters under your control you add one mana of any color. Every land you replay from the graveyard is mana.

Swap 10 of 11
Loamcrafter Faun
Cut
Loamcrafter Faun
Creature — Satyr Druid · 2G
Inclusion22%
Synergy19%
Lift6.5×
Oracle score 20
Scute Swarm
Add
Scute Swarm
Creature — Insect · 2G
Inclusion48%
Synergy36%
Lift3.4×
Oracle score 41

Loamcrafter Faun is a 3/3 for {2}{G} that returns nonland permanents when you discard lands. It is played in about one Szarel deck in five.

Scute Swarm is a 1/1 Insect for {2}{G}. Landfall: whenever a land enters under your control you create a 1/1 Insect, or a copy of Scute Swarm if you control six or more lands. A land every turn is an army by the end of the game.

Swap 11 of 11
Escape to the Wilds
Cut
Escape to the Wilds
Sorcery · 3RG
Inclusion24%
Synergy19%
Lift4.4×
Oracle score 21
Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
Add
Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
Enchantment Creature — Nymph Dryad · 2G
Inclusion38%
Synergy29%
Lift4.0×
Oracle score 33

Escape to the Wilds is a five-mana sorcery that exiles the top five cards and lets you play them. It is played in about one Szarel deck in four.

Dryad of the Ilysian Grove is a 2/4 enchantment creature for {2}{G}. You may play an additional land each turn, and your lands are every basic land type. An extra land drop and fixing for every color, in a body that blocks.

The full swap list

Cut

  • World Breaker
  • Wastes
  • Groundskeeper
  • Satyr Wayfinder
  • Formless Genesis
  • Centaur Vinecrasher
  • Uurg, Spawn of Turg
  • Binding the Old Gods
  • Night's Whisper
  • Loamcrafter Faun
  • Escape to the Wilds

Add

  • Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
  • Nahiri's Lithoforming
  • Sabotender
  • Ride the Shoopuf
  • Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
  • Mightform Harmonizer
  • Zuran Orb
  • Azusa, Lost but Seeking
  • Lotus Cobra
  • Scute Swarm
  • Dryad of the Ilysian Grove

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

World Shaper already has the land engines and the sacrifice finishers. The upgrade is cheap landfall creatures, a free sacrifice outlet and a way to sacrifice many lands at once, in place of a few cards almost nobody plays. These eleven swaps cost about $45 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Szarel, Genesis Shepherd from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the World Shaper precon?

Using data from 8,672 Szarel decks, the highest-scoring additions are Azusa, Lost but Seeking (for Binding the Old Gods), Zuran Orb (for Uurg, Spawn of Turg) and Scute Swarm (for Loamcrafter Faun). The full list has 11 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade World Shaper?

All 11 swaps cost about $44.72 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Sylvan Safekeeper ($6.77) and Crop Rotation ($3.58).

What should I cut from World Shaper?

The weakest cards for this commander are World Breaker, Wastes and Groundskeeper. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in World Shaper?

Keep Hearthhull, the Worldseed, The Gitrog Monster, Exploration Broodship, Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and Korvold, Fae-Cursed King. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Szarel do?

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd costs {2}{B}{R}{G} and has flying. You may play lands from your graveyard, and whenever you sacrifice another nontoken permanent during your turn she puts +1/+1 counters equal to her power on another creature. Every land you sacrifice can come back and trigger landfall again.

More Edge of Eternities Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Szarel, Genesis Shepherd decks (8,672 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 Szarel decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is low for most of these cards because they are played in many land 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.