Maximum Effort: Building Your Deadpool, Trading Card Commander Deck

An April Fool's Day Secret Lair drop has broke through the 4th wall, giving MTG Commander players around the world a new and very powerful entry to the pod. The Secret Lair X Deadpool release came out of nowhere and actually lasted a bit longer than expected, while prices for the Deadpool single skyrocketed after some crazy combos were discovered.

The whole deck revolves around Deadpool, Trading Card, and his unique ability to trade text boxes with other cards on the field. The catch is that the effect is permanent until the cards affected leave the field. So let's take a look at some strategy as well as 5 cards your deck should include to help you secure a victory.

The Game Plan: Typical Deadpool Shenanigans

Deadpool's ability is all about stealing other creatures' abilities, which in and of itself is pretty straightforward. The fun part is when you exploit the ability by bouncing Deadpool out and doing it again when he reenters.

When you trade boxes with a creature, it's a permanent effect, meaning even if Deadpool leaves the battlefield, the creature he stole from retains the ability that causes its controller to lose 3 life per turn. This can be avoided, but you must sacrifice the creature and let everyone else draw a card.

The Core Strategy

1. Remove the Legend Rule - Cards like Mirror Box and one of our 5 recommended cards make it so you don't have to sacrifice the tokens you make because of the Legend Rule.

2. Make Deadpool Tokens - Use his effect repeatedly, causing the life loss effect to pile up.

3. Get A Bounce Outlet - This helps you avoid the commander tax and conserve mana.

4. Control the Board - Red lets you sneak in ping spells as a crowd control measure, ensuring your opponent doesn't have time to stage a comeback.

   
   

Five Must-Have Friends for Deadpool, Trading Card

Now that we’ve got a game plan, here are five must-have cards for your Deadpool, Trading Card deck:

1. The Master, Multiplied

What was once a $0.20 rare from the Doctor Who Universes Beyond set, The Master, Multiplied, has jumped to upwards of $20 after becoming Deadpool's best friend. The Master removes the legend rule for tokens, which is key to keeping the ones you create. Myriad wouldn't be that much of a threat, as you traditionally have to sacrifice the tokens you make at the end of your turn. However, The Master also has a sneaky ability that lets you keep the tokens you create, causing an eventual cascade of creatures that become hard to remove.

The play here is to use Deadpool to copy The Master, destroy the Master to avoid the life loss, and then start making tokens and stealing effects.

2. Splinter Twin

Tokens. Lots and lots of tokens.

3. Saw in Half

Saw in Half is another card that's included in the Deadpool Secret Lair, and it fits perfectly into a Deadpool Commander deck. By destroying Deadpool, you create 2 copies of him, allowing you to steal 2 more creature boxes. Very straightforward.

4. Conjurer's Closet

Conjurer's Closet is a staple bounce outlet for Commander Decks. At the beginning of your end step, you can phase out Deadpool, resetting his text box. When he returns, his effect triggers again, allowing you to use his ability every turn.

5. Helm of the Host

Helm of the host is another token outlet, but this time, they are permanent. The cost is a little high, but the ability to passively create tokens for nothing is well worth it.

Bonus Tips for Maximum Effort

• Build in Protection - Giving Deadpool hexproof with equipment like Swiftfoot Boots can go a long way to extending his stay on the board.

• Take Advantage of Death Triggers - Cards like Blood Artist and Morbid Opportunist give you perks when your tokens inevitably bite the dust.

  
  

Shuffling up your Deadpool Commander Deck

Nobody saw this coming, but Deadpool, Trading Card is a welcome entry to the commander arena. With a unique ability that is fairly easy to exploit, you can have your friends scooping boards and flipping tables in no time.

Did you get your hands on Deadpool? What are some of your favorite combos for maximum effort? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, all cards here can be picked up from our friends at TCG Player!