Overview
Upgrades Unleashed is a deck of upgraded creatures. Chishiro, the Shattered Blade creates a 2/2 red Spirit creature token with menace whenever an Aura or Equipment you control enters, and at the beginning of your end step puts a +1/+1 counter on each modified creature you control. A creature is modified if it has Equipment, an Aura you control, or a counter on it.
The 99 cards are 29 creatures, 8 artifacts, 10 enchantments, 5 instants, 10 sorceries and 37 lands. The deck has seven Auras and eight Equipment, including Equipment creatures such as Komainu Battle Armor and Tanuki Transplanter, and many cards that put counters on creatures, such as Rishkar, Peema Renegade, Grumgully, the Generous and Genesis Hydra. The payoffs reward modified creatures, such as Akki Battle Squad, Kami of Celebration and Walking Skyscraper.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about mana and a first modified creature. Rampant Growth, Kodama's Reach, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Orochi Merge-Keeper, Sol Ring and Arcane Signet speed you up, and Tanuki Transplanter adds mana when it or an equipped creature attacks. Champion of Lambholt, Fertilid, Rampant Rejuvenator and Grumgully, the Generous come with counters.
The middle of the game is about stacking upgrades. Auras such as Bear Umbra, Snake Umbra, Ordeal of Nylea and Elemental Mastery each trigger Chishiro, Equipment such as Fireshrieker, Sword of Vengeance, Bonehoard and Mage Slayer does too, and Concord with the Kami draws cards or makes Spirits in your end step. Kosei, Penitent Warlord draws cards and damages opponents when it is enchanted, equipped and has a counter on it.
The late game is about big creatures and an alpha strike. Akki Battle Squad gives an extra combat, Kami of Celebration turns attacks into cards, Primeval Protector puts a counter on each other creature, and Spearbreaker Behemoth and Walking Skyscraper are huge threats. Starstorm, Chain Reaction and Collision of Realms reset the board, and Decimate removes four permanents at once.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: Most of the deck's cards are modified creatures or support them, so Chishiro's end step trigger often puts a counter on most of your board, and the deck has a lot of protection with Silkguard, Swiftfoot Boots and umbra armor. It also has good interaction, including Beast Within, Chaos Warp, Acidic Slime and Decimate.
Weaknesses: Auras can lose value to removal, and the deck relies on its commander and a handful of key creatures, so a sweeper or targeted removal can be painful. Many of its best creatures are expensive.
Want to improve it? See the Upgrades Unleashed upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Chishiro, the Shattered Blade build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Upgrades Unleashed decklist?
The Upgrades Unleashed precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Chishiro. The full Upgrades Unleashed decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Upgrades Unleashed released?
Upgrades Unleashed was released on February 18, 2022 as part of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander.
Who is the commander of Upgrades Unleashed?
Upgrades Unleashed is led by Chishiro, the Shattered Blade, a Gruul (R/G) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Upgrades Unleashed?
The 99 cards besides Chishiro, the Shattered Blade include 29 creatures.
How many lands does Upgrades Unleashed have?
Upgrades Unleashed has 37 lands in the 99 cards besides Chishiro, the Shattered Blade, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Upgrades Unleashed precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.