Arcane Foundry › Commanders › Mathise, Surge Channeler
Mathise, Surge Channeler
Legendary Creature — Human Elf Shaman Sorcerer · {2}{U} · Blue commander
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or greater, roll a d20.
1-9 | Each player draws a card.
10-19 | You draw a card.
20 | Copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Build a Mathise, Surge Channeler deck →
What Mathise, Surge Channeler actually does
Read off the card by the same engine the Forge and Analyzer use — this is the mechanical classification, not a summary.
- Triggered ability · cast_spellWhenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or greater, roll a d20.
- Ability1-9 | Each player draws a card.
- Ability10-19 | You draw a card.
- Ability20 | Copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
What a Mathise, Surge Channeler deck needs
Plays as spellslinger. What the commander asks of the other 99 — read from the card and checked by hand.
- instants and sorceries with mana value 3 or greater (each rolls a d20 — draws, and a 20 copies it)
The Mathise, Surge Channeler deck plan
The roles the Forge fills for this commander, and how many cards of each.
- 14× Mana value at or above the floor — for a cascade commander a cheap card is a DEFECT, not a bargain
- 28× Instants and sorceries — for a magecraft/prowess commander the spell COUNT is the engine
- 5× Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- 9× Find the exact card the plan needs
- 2× Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- 1× Answer a whole board at once
- 7× Refill your hand
- 2× Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- 11× Get ahead on mana
Best cards for Mathise, Surge Channeler
Ranked by an engine that reads what each card does — its real cost, its delay and how reliably it works — rather than counting how often other people play it.
Mana value at or above the floor — for a cascade commander a cheap card is a DEFECT, not a bargain
- Excalibur, Sword of Eden12 mana
- Ancient Stone Idol10 mana
- Blightsteel Colossus12 mana
- Darksteel Colossus11 mana
- Emrakul, the Promised End13 mana
- Emrakul, the World Anew12 mana
- Flayer of Loyalties10 mana
- It That Betrays12 mana
Instants and sorceries — for a magecraft/prowess commander the spell COUNT is the engine
- Pact of Negation0 mana
- An Offer You Can't Refuse1 mana
- Brainstorm1 mana
- Mystical Tutor1 mana
- Opt1 mana
- Ponder1 mana
- Pongify1 mana
- Preordain1 mana
Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- Reality Shift2 mana
- Pongify1 mana
- Rapid Hybridization1 mana
- Resculpt2 mana
- Umezawa's Jitte2 mana
- Titan's Presence3 mana
- Icy Prison2 mana
- Kozilek's Command2 mana
Find the exact card the plan needs
- Reshape2 mana
- Mask of the Mimic1 mana
- Long-Term Plans3 mana
- Whir of Invention3 mana
- Merchant Scroll2 mana
- Mystical Tutor1 mana
- Muddle the Mixture2 mana
- Personal Tutor1 mana
Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- Mindbreak Trap4 mana
- Fierce Guardianship3 mana
- Force of Negation3 mana
- Force of Will5 mana
- Flare of Denial3 mana
- Pact of Negation0 mana
- An Offer You Can't Refuse1 mana
- Arcane Denial2 mana
Answer a whole board at once
- Desynchronization4 mana
- Wave Goodbye4 mana
- Whelming Wave4 mana
- Consuming Tide4 mana
- Selective Obliteration5 mana
- Evacuation5 mana
- Perplexing Test5 mana
- Cyclonic Rift2 mana
Refill your hand
- Mystic Remora1 mana
- Skullclamp1 mana
- Curiosity1 mana
- Wizard Class1 mana
- Rhystic Study3 mana
- Faerie Mastermind2 mana
- Archmage Emeritus4 mana
- The One Ring4 mana
Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- Lost in the Maze2 mana
- Lightning Greaves2 mana
- Swiftfoot Boots2 mana
- Eldrazi Monument5 mana
- Commander's Plate1 mana
- Mithril Coat3 mana
- Akroma's Memorial7 mana
- The Walls of Ba Sing Se8 mana
Get ahead on mana
- Sol Ring1 mana
- Palladium Myr3 mana
- Worn Powerstone3 mana
- Chrome Mox0 mana
- Everflowing Chalice0 mana
- Mox Diamond0 mana
- Mana Vault1 mana
- Wayfarer's Bauble1 mana