Saheeli, Radiant Creator costs {1}{G}{U}{R}. Whenever you cast an Artificer or artifact spell you get {E}, an energy counter, and at the beginning of combat you may pay {E}{E}{E} to create a token copy of a permanent you control as a hasty 5/5 artifact creature, sacrificed at the end step. Every artifact spell is energy, and three energy is a hasty copy.

The precon already has the engines, including Aetherworks Marvel, Decoction Module and Solar Transformer. 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 Saheeli decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Saheeli decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Living Energy precon guide.

11
Swaps
$4.37
Cost of the adds
38→38
Lands
23→49
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough energy

Izzet Generatorium, Roil Cartographer, Aether Refinery and Gonti's Aether Heart are the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out. Each adds, doubles or accelerates the energy you make.

Cards that do not touch energy

Bootleggers' Stash, Cultivator's Caravan, Soul-Guide Lantern, Explosive Vegetation and Elder Gargaroth are good cards in other decks, but none of them makes or spends energy.

Nothing that turns energy into damage

Aether Revolt and Galvanic Discharge turn every energy counter into damage, and Electrosiphon counters a spell and pays you energy for it. The precon has none of them.

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
Bootleggers' Stash
Cut
Bootleggers' Stash
Artifact · 5G
Inclusion16%
Synergy14%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 14
Izzet Generatorium
Add
Izzet Generatorium
Artifact · UR
Inclusion76%
Synergy73%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 75

Bootleggers' Stash costs {5}{G} and gives your lands a tap ability that makes Treasure. It does not make energy, and it is played in about one Saheeli deck in six.

Izzet Generatorium costs {U}{R}: if you would get one or more energy counters, you get that many plus one instead, and {T} draws a card if you have paid or lost four or more energy this turn. Every energy source is one bigger, and it is the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 11
Cultivator's Caravan
Cut
Cultivator's Caravan
Artifact — Vehicle · 3
Inclusion17%
Synergy16%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 16
Roil Cartographer
Add
Roil Cartographer
Creature — Merfolk Rogue · 1U
Inclusion64%
Synergy62%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 63

Cultivator's Caravan is a three-mana rock that crews for 3. It is a vehicle and a mana rock that does not make energy.

Roil Cartographer costs {1}{U}: whenever a land enters under your control you get {E}, and {T}, pay six {E} draws three cards. A two-drop that makes energy from every land you play.

Swap 3 of 11
Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Cut
Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer · 2RR
Inclusion18%
Synergy17%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 17
Aether Refinery
Add
Aether Refinery
Artifact · 4RR
Inclusion62%
Synergy59%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 60

Pia and Kiran Nalaar is an Artificer for {2}{R}{R} that makes two Thopters and can sacrifice artifacts to deal 2 damage. It is a good card, but it is played in about one Saheeli deck in six and makes no energy.

Aether Refinery costs {4}{R}{R}: if you would get energy counters you get twice that many instead, and {T} gets you {E}, then you may pay energy to create an X/X Aetherborn. It doubles your energy and turns it into bodies.

Swap 4 of 11
Soul-Guide Lantern
Cut
Soul-Guide Lantern
Artifact · 1
Inclusion23%
Synergy22%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 22
Gonti's Aether Heart
Add
Gonti's Aether Heart
Legendary Artifact · 6
Inclusion61%
Synergy59%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 59

Soul-Guide Lantern exiles a card from a graveyard and can be sacrificed to draw a card. It makes no energy, and is played in about one Saheeli deck in four.

Gonti's Aether Heart costs {6}: whenever it or another artifact you control enters you get {E}{E}, and for eight energy and an exile you take an extra turn. A big energy engine and a finisher that costs one card.

Swap 5 of 11
Elder Gargaroth
Cut
Elder Gargaroth
Creature — Beast · 3GG
Inclusion24%
Synergy21%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 22
Electrosiphon
Add
Electrosiphon
Instant · UUR
Inclusion52%
Synergy50%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 51

Elder Gargaroth is a 6/6 reach, vigilance, trampler for {3}{G}{G} that makes a Beast, gains life or draws on every attack or block. It is a very strong card, but it does not make energy, and is played in about one Saheeli deck in four.

Electrosiphon costs {U}{U}{R} at instant speed: counter target spell, and you get energy equal to its mana value. Counter a six-drop and you have six energy, enough to draw three off Roil Cartographer.

Swap 6 of 11
Explosive Vegetation
Cut
Explosive Vegetation
Sorcery · 3G
Inclusion26%
Synergy22%
Lift6.9×
Oracle score 24
Tune the Narrative
Add
Tune the Narrative
Instant · U
Inclusion48%
Synergy46%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 47

Explosive Vegetation costs four to put two basic lands onto the battlefield tapped, and Saheeli's deck already has plenty of mana.

Tune the Narrative costs {U}: draw a card and get {E}{E}. A one-mana cantrip that makes two energy and replaces itself.

Swap 7 of 11
Midnight Clock
Cut
Midnight Clock
Artifact · 2U
Inclusion28%
Synergy26%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 27
Aether Revolt
Add
Aether Revolt
Enchantment · 2RR
Inclusion44%
Synergy43%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 43

Midnight Clock is a rock that adds hour counters and, on the twelfth, shuffles your hand and graveyard into your library and draws seven. It is slow, and played in about one Saheeli deck in four.

Aether Revolt costs {2}{R}{R}: whenever you get one or more energy it deals that much damage to any target, and with revolt noncombat damage is increased by 2. Every energy counter you make is a ping.

Swap 8 of 11
Conjurer's Closet
Cut
Conjurer's Closet
Artifact · 5
Inclusion30%
Synergy26%
Lift6.9×
Oracle score 28
Galvanic Discharge
Add
Galvanic Discharge
Instant · R
Inclusion38%
Synergy37%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 37

Conjurer's Closet costs five and blinks a creature you control at your end step. It is a slow value card, played in about three Saheeli decks in ten.

Galvanic Discharge costs {R} at instant speed: you get {E}{E}{E}, then you may pay any amount of energy to deal that much damage to a creature or planeswalker. A one-mana removal spell that nets energy if you do not pay it all.

Swap 9 of 11
Commander's Sphere
Cut
Commander's Sphere
Artifact · 3
Inclusion34%
Synergy28%
Lift5.1×
Oracle score 30
Conversion Apparatus
Add
Conversion Apparatus
Artifact · 3
Inclusion36%
Synergy35%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 35

Commander's Sphere is a three-mana rock that taps for one mana of your commander's colours, and the deck has several others.

Conversion Apparatus costs {3}: it taps for {C}, and for {3} and a tap it gets you {E}{E}{E}, and for a tap and three energy it adds three mana of any colors. A rock that makes the three energy Saheeli's copy ability needs, and is an artifact spell that triggers her.

Swap 10 of 11
Evolving Wilds
Cut
Evolving Wilds
Land
Inclusion42%
Synergy16%
Lift1.6×
Oracle score 26
HELIOS One
Add
HELIOS One
Land
Inclusion34%
Synergy33%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 33

Evolving Wilds sacrifices itself to put a basic land onto the battlefield tapped.

HELIOS One is a land that taps for {C}. For {1} and a tap you get {E}, and later you can sacrifice it with energy to destroy a nonland permanent. A land that makes energy every turn and doubles as removal.

Swap 11 of 11
Duplicant
Cut
Duplicant
Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter · 6
Inclusion28%
Synergy27%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 27
Volatile Stormdrake
Add
Volatile Stormdrake
Creature — Drake · 1U
Inclusion42%
Synergy40%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 41

Duplicant ({6}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 27 in the Oracle: it is in 28% of Saheeli decks with 27% synergy. It reads: Imprint : When this creature enters, you may exile target nontoken creature.

Volatile Stormdrake ({1}{U}) scores 41: it is in 42% of Saheeli decks with 40% synergy. It reads: Flying, hexproof from activated and triggered abilities. When this creature enters, exchange control of this creature and target creature an opponent controls.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Bootleggers' Stash
  • Cultivator's Caravan
  • Pia and Kiran Nalaar
  • Soul-Guide Lantern
  • Elder Gargaroth
  • Explosive Vegetation
  • Midnight Clock
  • Conjurer's Closet
  • Commander's Sphere
  • Evolving Wilds
  • Duplicant

Add

  • Izzet Generatorium
  • Roil Cartographer
  • Aether Refinery
  • Gonti's Aether Heart
  • Electrosiphon
  • Tune the Narrative
  • Aether Revolt
  • Galvanic Discharge
  • Conversion Apparatus
  • HELIOS One
  • Volatile Stormdrake

What to keep

These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.

More energy cards to test

All of these are cheap, and none made the ten because the precon is already full of fives and sixes. Swap them in as you find your own slots. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

Living Energy already has the engines and the artifacts. The upgrade is cards that add, double and spend energy, in place of ramp and value cards that do not touch it. These eleven swaps cost about $4 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Saheeli, Radiant Creator from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Living Energy precon?

Using data from 10,744 Saheeli decks, the highest-scoring additions are Izzet Generatorium (for Bootleggers' Stash), Roil Cartographer (for Cultivator's Caravan) and Aether Refinery (for Pia and Kiran Nalaar). The full list has 11 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Living Energy?

All 11 swaps cost about $4.37 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-27). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Stone Idol Generator ($0.24), Behemoth of Vault 0 ($0.28) and The Motherlode, Excavator ($0.31).

What should I cut from Living Energy?

The weakest cards for this commander are Bootleggers' Stash, Cultivator's Caravan and Pia and Kiran Nalaar. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Living Energy?

Keep Aetherworks Marvel, Decoction Module, Nissa, Worldsoul Speaker, Aetherflux Conduit and Solar Transformer. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Saheeli do?

Saheeli, Radiant Creator costs {1}{G}{U}{R}. Whenever you cast an Artificer or artifact spell you get {E}, an energy counter, and at the beginning of combat you may pay {E}{E}{E} to create a token copy of a permanent you control as a hasty 5/5 artifact creature, sacrificed at the end step. Every artifact spell is energy, and three energy is a hasty copy.

More Aetherdrift Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Saheeli, Radiant Creator decks (10,744 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 Saheeli decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is very high for these energy cards because they are rarely played outside energy decks, so use lift to compare cards, not to judge one in isolation. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.