Anhelo, the Painter costs {U}{B}{R} and is a Legendary Creature with deathtouch. The first instant or sorcery spell you cast each turn has casualty 2: as you cast it, you may sacrifice a creature with power 2 or greater, and when you do you copy the spell and may choose new targets for the copy. Every turn the first spell you cast can be two spells, if you have a creature to sacrifice.

The precon already has the copy effects and the spells, including Twinning Staff, Cormela, Goblin Electromancer, Kess and Double Vision. But it has only 14 creatures, and casualty needs a body to sacrifice. 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 Anhelo decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Anhelo decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Maestros Massacre precon guide.

12
Swaps
$10.05
Cost of the adds
37→37
Lands
2→45
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough fodder for casualty

The deck has only 14 creatures. Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia and Poppet Stitcher make 2/2 Zombies with decayed, which have enough power to be sacrificed to casualty 2, and Lagomos makes a 2/1 Elemental every turn.

Cheap payoffs for casting spells

Talrand, Archmage Emeritus, Storm-Kiln Artist, Judith and Deekah all reward you for casting an instant or sorcery. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Expensive sorceries and cards outside the lists

Call the Skybreaker, Hex, Reign of the Pit, Sever the Bloodline and Zndrsplt's Judgment are not cards Anhelo, and the deck has 10 nonland cards at mana value six or more decks usually play.

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
Call the Skybreaker
Cut
Call the Skybreaker
Sorcery · 5U/RU/R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Add
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Wizard · 2UU
Inclusion66%
Synergy64%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 65

Call the Skybreaker is a seven-mana sorcery that makes a 5/5 flying Elemental and can be retraced. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Talrand, Sky Summoner is a 2/2 Legendary Creature for {2}{U}{U}. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell you create a 2/2 blue Drake creature token with flying. A four-drop that turns every spell into a flyer, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 12
Hex
Cut
Hex
Sorcery · 4BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
Add
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard · 1B
Inclusion63%
Synergy62%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 62

Hex is a six-mana sorcery that destroys six target creatures. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia is a 1/1 Legendary Creature for {1}{B}. At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures with decayed, you create a 2/2 black Zombie with decayed. A two-drop that makes a creature with power 2 every turn to sacrifice to casualty.

Swap 3 of 12
Reign of the Pit
Cut
Reign of the Pit
Sorcery · 4BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Exsanguinate
Add
Exsanguinate
Sorcery · XBB
Inclusion48%
Synergy44%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 45

Reign of the Pit is a six-mana sorcery where each player sacrifices a creature and you make a Demon. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Exsanguinate costs {X}{B}{B}. Each opponent loses X life and you gain life equal to the life lost this way. A scalable finisher that casualty can copy to drain the table twice.

Swap 4 of 12
Sever the Bloodline
Cut
Sever the Bloodline
Sorcery · 3B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Baral and Kari Zev
Add
Baral and Kari Zev
Legendary Creature — Human · 1UR
Inclusion42%
Synergy41%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 42

Sever the Bloodline is a four-mana sorcery that exiles a creature and all others with the same name, with flashback. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Baral and Kari Zev is a 2/4 Legendary Creature for {1}{U}{R} with first strike and menace. Whenever you cast your first instant or sorcery each turn, you may cast a spell with lesser mana value that shares a card type from your hand for free, and if you don't, you create First Mate Ragavan. A three-drop that makes your cheap spells free.

Swap 5 of 12
Zndrsplt's Judgment
Cut
Zndrsplt's Judgment
Sorcery · 4U
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Archmage Emeritus
Add
Archmage Emeritus
Creature — Human Wizard · 2UU
Inclusion59%
Synergy48%
Lift5.6×
Oracle score 52

Zndrsplt's Judgment is a five-mana sorcery that copies friends' creatures and bounces foes' creatures. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Archmage Emeritus is a 2/2 for {2}{U}{U}. Magecraft: whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, you draw a card. Casualty copies count, so one spell can draw twice.

Swap 6 of 12
Smuggler's Buggy
Cut
Smuggler's Buggy
Artifact — Vehicle · 4
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Storm-Kiln Artist
Add
Storm-Kiln Artist
Creature — Dwarf Shaman · 3R
Inclusion61%
Synergy50%
Lift5.5×
Oracle score 54

Smuggler's Buggy is a four-mana Vehicle with hideaway 4 and crew 2. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Storm-Kiln Artist is a 2/2 for {3}{R} that gets +1/+0 for each artifact you control. Magecraft: whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, you create a Treasure token. A four-drop that pays for itself with every spell and copy.

Swap 7 of 12
Syrix, Carrier of the Flame
Cut
Syrix, Carrier of the Flame
Legendary Creature — Phoenix · 2BR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
Add
Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman · 1BR
Inclusion33%
Synergy32%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 32

Syrix, Carrier of the Flame is a four-mana 3/3 flying, haste Phoenix. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Lagomos, Hand of Hatred is a 1/3 Legendary Creature for {1}{B}{R}. At the beginning of combat on your turn you create a 2/1 red Elemental with trample and haste and sacrifice it at the next end step, and it can tutor if five or more creatures died this turn. A three-drop that makes a body with power 2 every turn.

Swap 8 of 12
Woe Strider
Cut
Woe Strider
Creature — Horror · 2B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Poppet Stitcher // Poppet Factory
Add
Poppet Stitcher // Poppet Factory
Creature — Human Wizard // Artifact · 2U
Inclusion53%
Synergy52%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 52

Woe Strider is a three-mana 3/2 that makes a Goat and can escape. It is not a card Anhelo decks usually play.

Poppet Stitcher is a 2/3 Wizard for {2}{U} that creates a 2/2 black Zombie with decayed whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell. If you control three or more creature tokens it can transform into Poppet Factory, which gives creature tokens base power and toughness 3/3. A three-drop that makes fodder out of every spell.

Swap 9 of 12
Mimic Vat
Cut
Mimic Vat
Artifact · 3
Inclusion6%
Synergy5%
Lift4.0×
Oracle score 5
Maestros Ascendancy
Add
Maestros Ascendancy
Enchantment · UBR
Inclusion25%
Synergy24%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 24

Mimic Vat is a three-mana artifact that copies creatures that have died. It is played in about one Anhelo deck in seventeen.

Maestros Ascendancy costs {U}{B}{R}. Once during each of your turns you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from your graveyard by sacrificing a creature in addition to its other costs, and it is exiled if it would go to your graveyard. A three-mana enchantment in the commander's exact colors that replays your best spell.

Swap 10 of 12
Puppeteer Clique
Cut
Puppeteer Clique
Creature — Faerie Wizard · 3BB
Inclusion7%
Synergy4%
Lift2.2×
Oracle score 5
Judith, Carnage Connoisseur
Add
Judith, Carnage Connoisseur
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman · 3BR
Inclusion36%
Synergy35%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 36

Puppeteer Clique is a five-mana 3/2 flyer with persist that steals a creature from an opponent's graveyard for a turn. It is played in about one Anhelo deck in fourteen.

Judith, Carnage Connoisseur is a 3/4 Legendary Creature for {3}{B}{R}. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you choose one: that spell gains deathtouch and lifelink, or you create a 2/2 red Imp that deals 2 damage to each opponent when it dies. A five-drop that makes a body every time you cast a spell.

Swap 11 of 12
Determined Iteration
Cut
Determined Iteration
Enchantment · 1R
Inclusion6%
Synergy4%
Lift3.3×
Oracle score 5
Big Score
Add
Big Score
Instant · 3R
Inclusion64%
Synergy50%
Lift4.7×
Oracle score 56

Determined Iteration is a two-mana enchantment that populates each combat. It is played in about one Anhelo deck in seventeen, and the deck has few creature tokens to copy.

Big Score costs {3}{R} and an additional discard. You draw two cards and create two Treasure tokens. An instant that replaces itself and pays for the next spells.

Swap 12 of 12
Extravagant Replication
Cut
Extravagant Replication
Enchantment · 4UU
Inclusion9%
Synergy5%
Lift2.2×
Oracle score 6
Deekah, Fractal Theorist
Add
Deekah, Fractal Theorist
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard · 4U
Inclusion24%
Synergy23%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 24

Extravagant Replication is a six-mana enchantment that copies another nonland permanent you control each upkeep. It is played in about one Anhelo deck in eleven.

Deekah, Fractal Theorist is a 3/3 Legendary Creature for {4}{U}. Magecraft: whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, you create a 0/0 Fractal token with X +1/+1 counters, where X is that spell's mana value. A five-drop that turns every spell and copy into a body.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Call the Skybreaker
  • Hex
  • Reign of the Pit
  • Sever the Bloodline
  • Zndrsplt's Judgment
  • Smuggler's Buggy
  • Syrix, Carrier of the Flame
  • Woe Strider
  • Mimic Vat
  • Puppeteer Clique
  • Determined Iteration
  • Extravagant Replication

Add

  • Talrand, Sky Summoner
  • Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
  • Exsanguinate
  • Baral and Kari Zev
  • Archmage Emeritus
  • Storm-Kiln Artist
  • Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
  • Poppet Stitcher
  • Maestros Ascendancy
  • Judith, Carnage Connoisseur
  • Big Score
  • Deekah, Fractal Theorist

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

Maestros Massacre already has the copy effects and the spells. The upgrade is cheap creatures that pay you for casting spells and make bodies for casualty, in place of expensive sorceries and cards outside the lists. These twelve swaps cost about $10 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Anhelo, the Painter from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Maestros Massacre precon?

Using data from 6,306 Anhelo decks, the highest-scoring additions are Talrand, Sky Summoner (for Call the Skybreaker), Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (for Hex) and Big Score (for Determined Iteration). The full list has 12 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Maestros Massacre?

All 12 swaps cost about $10.05 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Dualcaster Mage ($3.48) and Metallurgic Summonings ($1.66).

What should I cut from Maestros Massacre?

The weakest cards for this commander are Call the Skybreaker, Hex and Reign of the Pit. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Maestros Massacre?

Keep Twinning Staff, Cormela, Glamour Thief, Goblin Electromancer, Kess, Dissident Mage and Double Vision. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Anhelo do?

Anhelo, the Painter costs {U}{B}{R} and is a Legendary Creature with deathtouch. The first instant or sorcery spell you cast each turn has casualty 2: as you cast it, you may sacrifice a creature with power 2 or greater, and when you do you copy the spell and may choose new targets for the copy. Every turn the first spell you cast can be two spells, if you have a creature to sacrifice.

More Streets of New Capenna Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Anhelo, the Painter decks (6,306 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 Anhelo decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many spell payoffs because few decks play them outside a spellslinger 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.