Overview

Breed Lethality is a counters deck that proliferates every turn. Atraxa, Praetors' Voice is a 4/4 with flying, vigilance, deathtouch and lifelink, and at the beginning of your end step you proliferate. You choose any number of permanents and players and give each another counter of each kind already there, so +1/+1 counters, loyalty counters and other counters all grow every turn.

The 99 cards are 27 creatures, 9 artifacts, 6 enchantments, 9 instants, 9 sorceries and 39 lands. Many creatures come with counters or add them, including Kalonian Hydra, Ghave, Guru of Spores, Reyhan, Last of the Abzan, Juniper Order Ranger, Master Biomancer and Custodi Soulbinders. Other cards, such as Corpsejack Menace, Hardened Scales, Deepglow Skate, Vorel of the Hull Clade and Solidarity of Heroes, add or double counters, and Thrummingbird and Tezzeret's Gambit proliferate again.

Key Cards

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Kalonian Hydra
Doubling · Trample
A creature for {3}{G}{G}. It has trample and enters with four +1/+1 counters, and whenever it attacks it doubles the number of +1/+1 counters on each creature you control. With proliferate and Corpsejack Menace, it becomes huge in one or two attacks.
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Corpsejack Menace
Counter Doubler · Fungus
A 4/4 for {2}{B}{G}. If one or more +1/+1 counters would be put on a creature you control, twice that many are put on it instead. It doubles every counter effect in the deck, including proliferate.
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Master Biomancer
Counters · Mutant
A 2/4 for {2}{G}{U}. Each other creature you control enters with additional +1/+1 counters equal to this creature's power, and as a Mutant. With Hardened Scales or Corpsejack, it makes every creature enter large.
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Ghave, Guru of Spores
Counters · Tokens
A creature for {2}{W}{B}{G}. It enters with five +1/+1 counters, and for {1} you remove a counter from a creature you control to create a 1/1 Saproling, or sacrifice a creature to put a counter on a target creature. It turns counters into tokens and back.

Playing the Deck

The early game is about mana and cheap counters. Sol Ring, Darksteel Ingot, Fellwar Stone, Golgari Signet, Orzhov Signet and Simic Signet ramp you, Hardened Scales and Scavenging Ooze start growing, and Abzan Falconer, Tuskguard Captain and Fathom Mage use counters for value. Thrummingbird proliferates when it connects.

The middle of the game is about stacking counters. Atraxa, Praetors' Voice proliferates each end step, Cathars' Crusade and Juniper Order Ranger add counters whenever a creature enters, Citadel Siege adds two counters each turn, and Enduring Scalelord grows with the team. Bred for the Hunt, Inspiring Call and Elite Scaleguard turn counters into cards and tapped blockers.

The late game is about huge creatures. Kalonian Hydra doubles the whole team, Deepglow Skate and Solidarity of Heroes double counters, Vulturous Zombie and Necroplasm keep growing, and Duelist's Heritage gives double strike. Duneblast, Languish and Merciless Eviction reset the board when needed.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The deck has an extremely synergistic suite of counter cards, and Atraxa itself has flying, vigilance, deathtouch and lifelink. It also has a good amount of interaction, including Mortify, Putrefy, Sylvan Reclamation, Disdainful Stroke, Sublime Exhalation and Bane of the Living.

Weaknesses: Four colours make mana awkward, and the deck is exposed to a sweeper or removal on a creature that holds many counters. Several creatures start tiny, so the deck is slow on the first turns, and some cards, such as Necroplasm and Festercreep, also hurt your own board.

Want to improve it? See the Breed Lethality upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.

Verdict
Breed Lethality is a satisfying counters deck with a strong commander and a lot of synergy. It is a good choice for players who like adding counters, doubling them and watching a single creature grow out of control.

Want to see what a fully optimised Atraxa, Praetors' Voice build looks like? Try the Oracle.

✦ Build with The Oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards are in the Breed Lethality decklist?
The Breed Lethality precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Atraxa, Praetors' Voice. The full Breed Lethality decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.

When was Breed Lethality released?
Breed Lethality was released on November 11, 2016 as part of Commander 2016.

Who is the commander of Breed Lethality?
Breed Lethality is led by Atraxa, Praetors' Voice, a Four-colour (W/U/B/G) legendary creature.

How many creatures are in Breed Lethality?
The 99 cards besides Atraxa, Praetors' Voice include 27 creatures.

How many lands does Breed Lethality have?
Breed Lethality has 39 lands in the 99 cards besides Atraxa, Praetors' Voice, including basic lands.

Full Decklist

All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Breed Lethality precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.

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