Kamiz, Obscura Oculus costs {1}{W}{U}{B} and is a Legendary Creature. Whenever you attack, target attacking creature can't be blocked this turn and connives, which means you draw a card, then discard a card, and if you discarded a nonland card it gets a +1/+1 counter. Then you choose another attacking creature with lesser power, and it gains double strike until end of turn. Every attack makes one creature unblockable and another one a double striker.

The precon already has Cephalid Facetaker, Shadowmage Infiltrator, Fallen Shinobi, Writ of Return and Drana. 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 Kamiz decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Kamiz decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Obscura Operation precon guide.

10
Swaps
$8.39
Cost of the adds
38→38
Lands
5→25
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough cheap evasive card advantage

Shoreline Looter, Dimir Cutpurse, Silent Hallcreeper and Reconnaissance Mission draw cards or make you better when your creatures connect. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Cards outside the lists

Alela, Champion of Wits, Custodi Lich, Whirler Rogue and Life Insurance are not cards Kamiz decks usually play.

Expensive and situational cards

Archon of Coronation costs six, and Nightmare Unmaking and Jailbreak are each played in about one Kamiz deck in eight or fewer. The deck has 10 nonland cards at mana value six or more.

The 10 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 10
Alela, Artful Provocateur
Cut
Alela, Artful Provocateur
Legendary Creature — Faerie Warlock · 1WUB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Archpriest of Shadows
Add
Archpriest of Shadows
Creature — Human Warlock · 3BB
Inclusion39%
Synergy37%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 38

Alela, Artful Provocateur is a four-mana 2/3 flyer that makes Faeries when you cast artifact or enchantment spells. It is not a card Kamiz decks usually play.

Archpriest of Shadows is a 4/4 for {3}{B}{B} with backup 1 and deathtouch. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player or battle, you return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. A five-drop that reanimates a creature each time it connects, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 10
Champion of Wits
Cut
Champion of Wits
Creature — Snake Wizard · 2U
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Shoreline Looter
Add
Shoreline Looter
Creature — Rat Rogue · 1U
Inclusion23%
Synergy22%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 22

Champion of Wits is a three-mana 2/1 that draws two cards and discards two when it enters. It is not a card Kamiz decks usually play.

Shoreline Looter is a 1/1 Rat Rogue for {1}{U} that can't be blocked. Threshold: whenever it deals combat damage to a player you draw a card, then discard a card unless there are seven or more cards in your graveyard. A two-drop that is unblockable on its own and draws cards.

Swap 3 of 10
Custodi Lich
Cut
Custodi Lich
Creature — Zombie Cleric · 3BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Dimir Cutpurse
Add
Dimir Cutpurse
Creature — Spirit · 1UB
Inclusion20%
Synergy19%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 20

Custodi Lich is a five-mana 4/2 that makes you the monarch and forces a sacrifice. It is not a card Kamiz decks usually play.

Dimir Cutpurse is a 2/2 Spirit for {1}{U}{B}. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card and you draw a card. A three-drop that Kamiz can make unblockable.

Swap 4 of 10
Whirler Rogue
Cut
Whirler Rogue
Creature — Human Rogue Artificer · 2UU
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Silent Hallcreeper
Add
Silent Hallcreeper
Enchantment Creature — Horror · 1U
Inclusion28%
Synergy24%
Lift6.4×
Oracle score 25

Whirler Rogue is a four-mana 2/2 that makes two Thopters and can make a creature unblockable. It is not a card Kamiz decks usually play.

Silent Hallcreeper is a 1/1 Horror enchantment creature for {1}{U} that can't be blocked. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player, you choose one that hasn't been chosen: two +1/+1 counters, draw a card, or become a copy of another creature you control. A two-drop that is unblockable and gets better each hit.

Swap 5 of 10
Life Insurance
Cut
Life Insurance
Enchantment · 3WB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Void Rend
Add
Void Rend
Instant · WUB
Inclusion42%
Synergy6%
Lift1.2×
Oracle score 20

Life Insurance is a five-mana enchantment with extort that makes Treasures when nontoken creatures die. It is not a card Kamiz decks usually play.

Void Rend costs {W}{U}{B}. This spell can't be countered, and it destroys target nonland permanent. Three mana of removal in exactly the commander's colors.

Swap 6 of 10
Jailbreak
Cut
Jailbreak
Sorcery · 1W
Inclusion7%
Synergy7%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 7
Duelist's Heritage
Add
Duelist's Heritage
Enchantment · 2W
Inclusion35%
Synergy32%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 33

Jailbreak is a two-mana sorcery that returns a permanent from an opponent's graveyard to the battlefield under their control, and then one from yours. It is played in about one Kamiz deck in fourteen.

Duelist's Heritage costs {2}{W}. Whenever one or more creatures attack, you may have target attacking creature gain double strike until end of turn. A three-mana enchantment that gives a second double striker on top of Kamiz's.

Swap 7 of 10
Nightmare Unmaking
Cut
Nightmare Unmaking
Sorcery · 3BB
Inclusion12%
Synergy12%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 12
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
Add
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
Legendary Creature — Horror · 1UU
Inclusion24%
Synergy22%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 23

Nightmare Unmaking is a five-mana sorcery that exiles creatures based on how many cards are in your hand. It is played in about one Kamiz deck in eight.

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar is a 3/2 Legendary Creature for {1}{U}{U}. Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked you may return it to its owner's hand, and whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player you draw a card. A three-drop that draws a card from any hit.

Swap 8 of 10
Archon of Coronation
Cut
Archon of Coronation
Creature — Archon · 4WW
Inclusion13%
Synergy13%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 13
Necropolis Regent
Add
Necropolis Regent
Creature — Vampire · 3BBB
Inclusion17%
Synergy16%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 16

Archon of Coronation is a six-mana 5/5 flyer that makes you the monarch. It is played in about one Kamiz deck in eight.

Necropolis Regent is a 6/5 flying Vampire for {3}{B}{B}{B}. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you put that many +1/+1 counters on it. A six-drop that grows an unblockable attacker by its own power.

Swap 9 of 10
Nadir Kraken
Cut
Nadir Kraken
Creature — Kraken · 1UU
Inclusion12%
Synergy9%
Lift4.2×
Oracle score 10
Reconnaissance Mission
Add
Reconnaissance Mission
Enchantment · 2UU
Inclusion30%
Synergy24%
Lift5.4×
Oracle score 27

Nadir Kraken is a three-mana 2/3 that grows and makes Tentacles whenever you draw a card and pay {1}. It is played in about one Kamiz deck in eight.

Reconnaissance Mission costs {2}{U}{U}. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card, and it has cycling {2}. An enchantment that draws for every connecting creature, and a late-game cycler.

Swap 10 of 10
Commander's Sphere
Cut
Commander's Sphere
Artifact · 3
Inclusion21%
Synergy5%
Lift1.3×
Oracle score 11
Bident of Thassa
Add
Bident of Thassa
Legendary Enchantment Artifact · 2UU
Inclusion29%
Synergy21%
Lift3.6×
Oracle score 24

Commander's Sphere is a three-mana rock that taps for any color in your commander's identity. It is played in about one Kamiz deck in five.

Bident of Thassa is a Legendary Enchantment Artifact for {2}{U}{U}. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card, and for {1}{U} and a tap creatures your opponents control attack this turn if able. A card engine that also forces opponents' creatures into combat.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Alela, Artful Provocateur
  • Champion of Wits
  • Custodi Lich
  • Whirler Rogue
  • Life Insurance
  • Jailbreak
  • Nightmare Unmaking
  • Archon of Coronation
  • Nadir Kraken
  • Commander's Sphere

Add

  • Archpriest of Shadows
  • Shoreline Looter
  • Dimir Cutpurse
  • Silent Hallcreeper
  • Void Rend
  • Duelist's Heritage
  • Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar
  • Necropolis Regent
  • Reconnaissance Mission
  • Bident of Thassa

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

Obscura Operation already has the unblockable creatures, the ninjas and the reanimation. The upgrade is cheap evasive creatures that draw cards when they connect and Void Rend, in place of cards that Kamiz decks leave out. These ten swaps cost about $8 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Kamiz, Obscura Oculus from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Obscura Operation precon?

Using data from 3,871 Kamiz decks, the highest-scoring additions are Archpriest of Shadows (for Alela, Artful Provocateur), Duelist's Heritage (for Jailbreak) and Reconnaissance Mission (for Nadir Kraken). The full list has 10 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Obscura Operation?

All 10 swaps cost about $8.39 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Psychic Frog ($3.70) and Cephalid Constable ($5.57).

What should I cut from Obscura Operation?

The weakest cards for this commander are Alela, Artful Provocateur, Champion of Wits and Custodi Lich. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Obscura Operation?

Keep Cephalid Facetaker, Shadowmage Infiltrator, Fallen Shinobi, Writ of Return and Swiftfoot Boots. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Kamiz do?

Kamiz, Obscura Oculus costs {1}{W}{U}{B} and is a Legendary Creature. Whenever you attack, target attacking creature can't be blocked this turn and connives, which means you draw a card, then discard a card, and if you discarded a nonland card it gets a +1/+1 counter. Then you choose another attacking creature with lesser power, and it gains double strike until end of turn. Every attack makes one creature unblockable and another one a double striker.

More Streets of New Capenna Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Kamiz, Obscura Oculus decks (3,871 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 Kamiz decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many evasive creatures because few decks play them outside an unblockable 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.