Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer costs {1}{B}{G}{U} and is a 3/3 Legendary Snake Wizard Sorcerer. The first face-down creature spell you cast each turn costs {3} less, and whenever a face-down creature you control enters, you draw a card. Morph, megamorph, disguise and manifest all put a face-down creature onto the battlefield, so every one of them draws.

The precon already has the best megamorph creatures, including Ainok Survivalist, Stratus Dancer, Willbender, Den Protector and Vesuvan Shapeshifter. 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 Kadena decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Kadena decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Faceless Menace precon guide.

12
Swaps
$4.67
Cost of the adds
40→40
Lands
1→54
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough ways to make face-down creatures

They Came from the Pipes, Hauntwoods Shrieker, Whisperwood Elemental and Vannifar manifest or cloak cards, and Brine Elemental, Voidmage Apprentice and Mischievous Quanar are morph creatures. Each face-down creature that enters draws a card with Kadena. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Cards outside the lists

Apex Altisaur, Great Oak Guardian, Grismold, Rayami, Scaretiller, Thought Sponge, Voice of Many, Volrath, Pendant of Prosperity and Tezzeret's Gambit are not cards Kadena decks usually play.

A nine-drop and slow spells

Apex Altisaur costs nine, and Mire in Misery and Bounty of the Luxa are each played in about one Kadena deck in seventeen or twenty.

The 12 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 12
Tezzeret's Gambit
Cut
Tezzeret's Gambit
Sorcery · 3U/P
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
They Came from the Pipes
Add
They Came from the Pipes
Enchantment · 4U
Inclusion58%
Synergy57%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 57

Tezzeret's Gambit is a four-mana sorcery that draws two cards and proliferates. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

They Came from the Pipes is a five-mana enchantment. When it enters you manifest dread twice, and whenever a face-down creature you control enters, you draw a card. A five-mana enchantment that makes two face-down creatures, draws two cards through Kadena, and draws a card for every face-down creature after, and the highest-scoring cheap card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 12
Apex Altisaur
Cut
Apex Altisaur
Creature — Dinosaur · 7GG
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Brine Elemental
Add
Brine Elemental
Creature — Elemental · 4UU
Inclusion65%
Synergy64%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 64

Apex Altisaur is a nine-mana 10/10 that fights. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Brine Elemental is a 5/4 Elemental for {4}{U}{U} with morph {5}{U}{U}. When it is turned face up, each opponent skips their next untap step. A morph creature that you cast face down for {3}, which is free with Kadena, that draws a card and later locks opponents down.

Swap 3 of 12
Great Oak Guardian
Cut
Great Oak Guardian
Creature — Treefolk · 5G
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Whisperwood Elemental
Add
Whisperwood Elemental
Creature — Elemental · 3GG
Inclusion53%
Synergy52%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 53

Great Oak Guardian is a six-mana 4/5 with flash that pumps and untaps creatures. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Whisperwood Elemental is a 4/4 Elemental for {3}{G}{G}. At the beginning of your end step you manifest the top card of your library, and you can sacrifice it to make your face-up nontoken creatures manifest when they die. A five-drop that makes a face-down creature, and a card, every turn.

Swap 4 of 12
Grismold, the Dreadsower
Cut
Grismold, the Dreadsower
Legendary Creature — Troll Shaman · 1BG
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Hauntwoods Shrieker
Add
Hauntwoods Shrieker
Creature — Beast Mutant · 1GG
Inclusion62%
Synergy61%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 62

Grismold, the Dreadsower is a three-mana 3/3 trampler that gives every player a Plant. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Hauntwoods Shrieker is a 3/3 Beast Mutant for {1}{G}{G}. Whenever it attacks you manifest dread, and for {1}{G} you reveal target face-down permanent and may turn it face up if it is a creature card. A three-drop that makes a face-down creature and a card every attack.

Swap 5 of 12
Rayami, First of the Fallen
Cut
Rayami, First of the Fallen
Legendary Creature — Vampire · 1BGU
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Vannifar, Evolved Enigma
Add
Vannifar, Evolved Enigma
Legendary Creature — Elf Ooze Wizard · 2GU
Inclusion57%
Synergy55%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 56

Rayami, First of the Fallen is a four-mana 5/4 that exiles dying nontoken creatures. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Vannifar, Evolved Enigma is a 3/4 Legendary Elf Ooze Wizard for {2}{G}{U}. At the beginning of combat on your turn you choose one: cloak a card from your hand, which puts it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 with ward {2}, or put a +1/+1 counter on each colorless creature you control. A four-drop that makes a face-down creature every turn.

Swap 6 of 12
Scaretiller
Cut
Scaretiller
Artifact Creature — Scarecrow · 4
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Printlifter Ooze
Add
Printlifter Ooze
Creature — Ooze · 1G
Inclusion52%
Synergy51%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 51

Scaretiller is a four-mana 1/4 artifact creature that puts lands onto the battlefield when it becomes tapped. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Printlifter Ooze is a 2/2 Ooze for {1}{G} with deathtouch and disguise {3}{G}. Whenever it or another creature you control is turned face up, you create a 0/0 Ooze token with trample and X +1/+1 counters, where X is the number of other creatures you control. A two-drop that makes an Ooze whenever any of your face-down creatures flips.

Swap 7 of 12
Thought Sponge
Cut
Thought Sponge
Creature — Sponge · 3U
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Voidmage Apprentice
Add
Voidmage Apprentice
Creature — Human Wizard · 1U
Inclusion59%
Synergy58%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 58

Thought Sponge is a four-mana creature with flash that grows with the cards an opponent drew. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Voidmage Apprentice is a 1/1 Human Wizard for {1}{U} with morph {2}{U}{U}. When it is turned face up, you counter target spell. A morph creature that counters a spell, and draws a card with Kadena when it is played face down.

Swap 8 of 12
Voice of Many
Cut
Voice of Many
Creature — Elf Druid · 2GG
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Mischievous Quanar
Add
Mischievous Quanar
Creature — Beast · 4U
Inclusion53%
Synergy52%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 52

Voice of Many is a four-mana 3/3 that draws a card for each opponent with fewer creatures. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Mischievous Quanar is a 3/3 Beast for {4}{U} with morph {1}{U}{U}. When it is turned face up, you copy target instant or sorcery spell, and for {3}{U}{U} you can turn it face down again. A morph creature that copies a spell, and can be turned face down to flip again.

Swap 9 of 12
Volrath, the Shapestealer
Cut
Volrath, the Shapestealer
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Shapeshifter · 2BGU
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Experiment Twelve
Add
Experiment Twelve
Creature — Elf Lizard Warrior · 3G
Inclusion48%
Synergy47%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 48

Volrath, the Shapestealer is a five-mana 7/5 that puts -1/-1 counters on creatures. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Experiment Twelve is a 4/4 Elf Lizard Warrior for {3}{G} with trample and disguise {4}{G}. Whenever it or another creature you control is turned face up, you put +1/+1 counters on that creature equal to its power. A four-drop that doubles the power of every creature you flip.

Swap 10 of 12
Pendant of Prosperity
Cut
Pendant of Prosperity
Artifact · 3
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Panoptic Projektor
Add
Panoptic Projektor
Artifact · 4
Inclusion54%
Synergy53%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 54

Pendant of Prosperity is a three-mana artifact that enters under an opponent's control and draws both of you cards. It is not a card Kadena decks usually play.

Panoptic Projektor is an artifact for {4}. For a tap, the next face-down creature spell you cast this turn costs {3} less, and if turning a face-down permanent face up causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. A four-mana artifact that makes a second face-down creature almost free and doubles flip triggers.

Swap 11 of 12
Mire in Misery
Cut
Mire in Misery
Sorcery · 1B
Inclusion5%
Synergy5%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 5
Obscuring Aether
Add
Obscuring Aether
Enchantment · G
Inclusion31%
Synergy30%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 30

Mire in Misery is a two-mana sorcery that makes each opponent sacrifice a creature or enchantment. It is played in about one Kadena deck in twenty.

Obscuring Aether costs {G}. Face-down creature spells you cast cost {1} less, and for {1}{G} you can turn it face down so it becomes a 2/2 creature. A one-mana enchantment that makes every morph cheaper and becomes a face-down creature itself.

Swap 12 of 12
Bounty of the Luxa
Cut
Bounty of the Luxa
Enchantment · 2GU
Inclusion6%
Synergy5%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 5
Ugin's Mastery
Add
Ugin's Mastery
Enchantment · 4
Inclusion61%
Synergy59%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 60

Bounty of the Luxa is a four-mana enchantment that draws a card and then makes {C}{G}{U} on alternate turns. It is played in about one Kadena deck in seventeen.

Ugin's Mastery costs {4}. Whenever you cast a colorless creature spell you manifest the top card of your library, and whenever you attack with creatures with total power 6 or greater you may turn a face-down creature you control face up. A four-mana enchantment that makes a face-down creature for every colorless spell.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Tezzeret's Gambit
  • Apex Altisaur
  • Great Oak Guardian
  • Grismold, the Dreadsower
  • Rayami, First of the Fallen
  • Scaretiller
  • Thought Sponge
  • Voice of Many
  • Volrath, the Shapestealer
  • Pendant of Prosperity
  • Mire in Misery
  • Bounty of the Luxa

Add

  • They Came from the Pipes
  • Brine Elemental
  • Whisperwood Elemental
  • Hauntwoods Shrieker
  • Vannifar, Evolved Enigma
  • Printlifter Ooze
  • Voidmage Apprentice
  • Mischievous Quanar
  • Experiment Twelve
  • Panoptic Projektor
  • Obscuring Aether
  • Ugin's Mastery

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

Faceless Menace already has the best megamorph creatures and Kadena's draw engine. The upgrade is cheap cards that put face-down creatures onto the battlefield every turn, in place of cards outside the lists and a nine-drop. These twelve swaps cost about $5 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Faceless Menace precon?

Using data from 7,564 Kadena decks, the highest-scoring additions are Brine Elemental (for Apex Altisaur), Hauntwoods Shrieker (for Grismold, the Dreadsower) and Ugin's Mastery (for Bounty of the Luxa). The full list has 12 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Faceless Menace?

All 12 swaps cost about $4.67 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Ixidor, Reality Sculptor ($2.13) and Leyline of Anticipation ($4.91).

What should I cut from Faceless Menace?

The weakest cards for this commander are Tezzeret's Gambit, Apex Altisaur and Great Oak Guardian. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Faceless Menace?

Keep Ainok Survivalist, Stratus Dancer, Willbender, Den Protector and Kadena's Silencer. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Kadena do?

Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer costs {1}{B}{G}{U} and is a 3/3 Legendary Snake Wizard Sorcerer. The first face-down creature spell you cast each turn costs {3} less, and whenever a face-down creature you control enters, you draw a card. Morph, megamorph, disguise and manifest all put a face-down creature onto the battlefield, so every one of them draws.

More Commander 2019 upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer decks (7,564 of them when this was written, 2026-10-28) 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 Kadena decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many face-down cards because few decks play them outside a face-down deck, 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.