Overview
Urza's Iron Alliance is a deck of artifact creatures that gets bigger every turn. Urza, Chief Artificer has affinity for artifact creatures, so he costs {1} less for each one you control, and artifact creatures you control have menace. At the beginning of your end step he creates a 0/0 colourless Construct artifact creature token that gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.
The 99 cards are 36 creatures, 14 artifacts, 2 enchantments, 4 instants, 7 sorceries and 36 lands. Many of the creatures are artifact creatures, including Baleful Strix, Chief of the Foundry, Master of Etherium, Darksteel Juggernaut and Myr Battlesphere, and the rest of the deck supports them with token makers such as Sai, Master Thopterist and Whirler Rogue, anthems such as Tempered Steel, and cost reducers such as Etherium Sculptor.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about cheap artifact creatures and mana. Baleful Strix, Etched Champion, Steel Overseer, Chief of the Foundry and Etherium Sculptor are cheap, and Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Orzhov Signet, Azorius Signet, Dimir Signet and Thought Vessel provide mana. Sai, Master Thopterist makes a Thopter whenever you cast an artifact spell, and Wreck Hunter and Scholar of New Horizons help with mana and lands.
The middle of the game is about growing the board and drawing cards. Digsite Engineer makes a Construct whenever you cast an artifact spell and pay {2}, Alela, Artful Provocateur makes a Faerie whenever you cast an artifact or enchantment spell, and Thopter Spy Network makes a Thopter each upkeep. Losheel, Clockwork Scholar, Thopter Shop and Bident of Thassa draw cards, and Master of Etherium and Bronze Guardian grow with your artifacts.
The late game is about huge artifact creatures and a sweeper that spares them. Darksteel Juggernaut is indestructible and attacks each combat, Myr Battlesphere makes four Myr, Steel Hellkite destroys each nonland permanent with a chosen mana value after it connects, and Marionette Master drains when artifacts die. Sphinx's Revelation draws a lot of cards, and Austere Command, Phyrexian Rebirth and Urza's Ruinous Blast reset the board.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: The deck has a high number of artifact creatures and several anthem effects, so it can build a threatening board quickly, and Urza's end step Construct adds a body every turn. It also has solid interaction, including Swords to Plowshares, Despark, Vindicate, Noxious Gearhulk and Ethersworn Adjudicator.
Weaknesses: Artifact removal and sweepers are a problem for a deck with so many artifacts, and the deck has three colours, which makes its mana less reliable. Many of its creatures are small until they are pumped, and the sweepers such as Phyrexian Rebirth and Austere Command also hit your own board.
Want to improve it? See the Urza's Iron Alliance upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Urza, Chief Artificer build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Urza's Iron Alliance decklist?
The Urza's Iron Alliance precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Urza, Chief Artificer. The full Urza's Iron Alliance decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Urza's Iron Alliance released?
Urza's Iron Alliance was released on November 18, 2022 as part of The Brothers' War Commander.
Who is the commander of Urza's Iron Alliance?
Urza's Iron Alliance is led by Urza, Chief Artificer, a Esper (W/U/B) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Urza's Iron Alliance?
The 99 cards besides Urza, Chief Artificer include 36 creatures.
How many lands does Urza's Iron Alliance have?
Urza's Iron Alliance has 36 lands in the 99 cards besides Urza, Chief Artificer, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Urza's Iron Alliance precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.