You bought the Eldrazi deck that literally says “copy my whole stack” and you want to make it more consistent. Respect.
TLDR
- Prioritize true colorless mana so you can pay {C}{C} for Ulalek again and again (this deck is weirdly picky about that).
- Add cast-trigger engines that Ulalek can copy (Kozilek’s Unsealing, Sarkhan’s Unsealing, Up the Beanstalk).
- Trim clunky filler that does not scale when you start copying spells and triggers.
- If you want the “premium” version, you’re basically buying cost reduction + explosive lands + more copy effects.
- If you just want a fast shopping list, MTGEDH’s Precon Upgrader can do the “give me the swaps” part for you, then you can come back here for the “why” and the sequencing notes.
What Eldrazi Incursion Does Out of the Box
Eldrazi Incursion is a five-color Commander precon led by Ulalek, Fused Atrocity, and it plays like a ramp deck that occasionally turns into a math problem.
You spend the early turns ramping, then you land Ulalek, then you start casting Eldrazi and paying {C}{C} to copy:
- the Eldrazi spell itself (hello, extra bodies),
- its cast trigger (hello, extra value),
- and any other spells and abilities you control on the stack (hello, we are doing this now).
The backup commander, Azlask, the Swelling Scourge, is a very different plan: you grind experience counters off dying colorless creatures, then pay {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} to pump the team and give your Spawn and Scions indestructible plus annihilator 1. That’s a real win button, but it’s also a reminder that your mana base needs to do two things at once: cast big colorless spells and still produce WUBRG on demand.
If you want two MTGEDH “related things” to poke later: our homepage points to the Precon Upgrader and the Draft Simulator (not Commander, but great for getting reps in without coordinating a full pod). Mentioning them now so you can actually find them again.
Ulalek, Fused Atrocity: How the Copy Turns Actually Work
Here’s the key thing people miss: Ulalek does not “copy your deck’s vibe.” It copies what is currently on the stack that you control.
A clean example:
- You cast Artisan of Kozilek.
- Artisan’s cast trigger goes on the stack (reanimate a creature).
- Ulalek’s trigger goes on the stack.
- When Ulalek’s trigger resolves, you pay {C}{C}. Now you copy:
- the Artisan spell (you get a token copy when it resolves),
- the Artisan cast trigger (you reanimate again),
- and anything else you put on the stack before Ulalek resolves.
That last line is the secret sauce. Because Ulalek’s trigger uses the stack, you can respond to it. If you have instants, activated abilities, or other triggers you can place on the stack before Ulalek resolves, Ulalek will copy those too.
Upgrade goal #1 is making sure you always have (a) {C}{C} available and (b) something worth copying.
The Fix-First Checklist
Before you buy a pile of spaghetti monsters, fix the parts that make the deck stumble.
- Colorless mana sources: You need consistent {C}. Ulalek’s {C}{C} payment is not optional if you want the deck to feel like it was built on purpose.
- Ramp that scales: You want ramp that jumps you from “normal Commander” to “why is the table panicking” quickly.
- Cast-trigger engines: These are your best Ulalek targets because they are already on the stack when Ulalek resolves.
- Cheap interaction: You are still playing Commander. People will try to stop you.
- A few finishers that are not legendary: Copying legendary Eldrazi is often “make a token, immediately legend rule it, feel regret.”
Budget Upgrades (About $5 or Less Per Card)
Prices move, but everything in this section is commonly around the $5 line or under, and more importantly, these upgrades punch above their weight in this specific deck.
Budget engine package: “Everything triggers on cast”
These cards are here because Ulalek loves copying triggers.
- Kozilek’s Unsealing
This is absurd in Ulalek. Casting midrange Eldrazi makes Spawn tokens (which become ramp), and casting the big ones draws a chunk of cards. Both triggers can get copied by Ulalek, which turns “value” into “we are going to see my whole deck tonight.” - Sarkhan’s Unsealing
Another cast-trigger enchantment that turns each big creature spell into removal, and your truly large Eldrazi into table-wide damage. Ulalek copying those triggers makes it much easier to clear blockers and end games. - Up the Beanstalk
Simple, clean, effective. Casting big spells draws cards. Ulalek copies the draw trigger. You keep casting big spells. The math checks out.
Budget copy support: “Let Ulalek do it twice”
- Abstruse Archaic
Copies a triggered or activated ability you control from a colorless source. Ulalek is colorless (Devoid), so yes, Abstruse Archaic can copy Ulalek’s trigger. That means more copies, more triggers, more stack nonsense. - Echoes of Eternity
This is the “why did they print this” budget card. It doubles triggered abilities of your colorless spells and permanents, and it also copies every colorless spell you cast. Even without Ulalek, it turns your deck into a copier machine. With Ulalek, you start needing a notepad.
Budget consistency: “Find the next Eldrazi, cast the next Eldrazi”
- Territory Culler
Landfall that finds Eldrazi (or other relevant pieces) is exactly what this deck wants. It turns your normal land drops into gas. - Sanctum of Ugin
A land that can turn your first big colorless cast into the next big threat. This is one of the easiest ways to keep the chain going. - Conduit of Ruin
Tutors a big creature to the top and reduces the cost of your first creature spell each turn. It’s not flashy, it’s just extremely on-plan.
Budget mana and fixing: “Yes, you still need colors”
- Chromatic Lantern
Fixes the weird five-color parts of the deck and makes your lands behave. Also helps when you want to activate Azlask’s {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} ability without praying to the topdeck gods. - Thran Dynamo and Worn Powerstone
Old-school rocks that are still perfect here. They get you to your Eldrazi turns faster, and they help keep {C}{C} online.
Budget finishers: “Copy these and people stop laughing”
- Desolation Twin
This is the poster child for Ulalek upgrades. It already gives you a token on cast, and Ulalek can copy both the spell and the cast trigger. The result is a silly pile of 10/10s for one cast. - Pathrazer of Ulamog
Not legendary, hits like a truck, and gives you the classic “answer this or die” problem.
Budget swap list (12 in, 12 out)
These are my first-pass cuts because they are either narrow, clunky for the payoff, or just not scaling with your new engines.
Add (Budget Core 12)
- Kozilek’s Unsealing
- Sarkhan’s Unsealing
- Up the Beanstalk
- Abstruse Archaic
- Echoes of Eternity
- Territory Culler
- Sanctum of Ugin
- Conduit of Ruin
- Chromatic Lantern
- Thran Dynamo
- Worn Powerstone
- Desolation Twin
Cut (Starting Point 12)
- Suffer the Past (narrow, low impact late)
- Ugin’s Insight (fine, but clunky and not synergistic)
- Dreamstone Hedron (too slow compared to better rocks)
- Inversion Behemoth (big body, not big payoff)
- Titans’ Vanguard (doesn’t hit hard enough for the slot)
- Ulamog’s Nullifier (often awkward to enable)
- Crib Swap (you can upgrade removal later, this is the “easy cut” slot)
- Selective Obliteration (expensive and situational, depending on your pods)
- Rishkar’s Expertise (powerful, but not copy-friendly here)
- Deepfathom Skulker (cute, not essential)
- Sifter of Skulls (redundant once you add better engines)
- Eldrazi Monument (strong, but this list is tightening the curve first)
If you love any of those cut cards, keep them. This is Commander, not a tax audit.
Premium Upgrades (Over $5 Per Card)
This is where the deck goes from “strong precon” to “your playgroup texts each other when you show up.”
Cost reduction and “pay {C}{C} forever”
- Urza’s Incubator
Name Eldrazi, your curve drops by two. This effectively “pays” for Ulalek’s {C}{C} trigger over and over. - Eye of Ugin (optional, very pricey)
If you already own one, it’s a monster here. If you do not own one, your wallet does not deserve this.
Premium lands that turbocharge the deck
- Ugin’s Labyrinth
A land that can tap for {C}{C} if you imprint a big colorless card. In a deck full of big colorless cards. Shocking synergy, I know. - Cavern of Souls
Naming Eldrazi makes your threats uncounterable and fixes colors. If your meta has lots of blue mages who love saying “in response,” this earns its keep.
More copying, because we are leaning in
- Twinning Staff
Ulalek already copies spells. Twinning Staff turns that into “copy it one extra time.” You can also pay seven to copy an instant or sorcery in a pinch, which is occasionally relevant when you are trying to finish a game. - Kozilek’s Command
Flexible, scalable, and it plays extremely well with “I have a lot of mana and I like options.” It makes Spawn, it draws, it exiles creatures, it cleans graveyards. It’s a real glue card.
Big premium creatures
- Zhulodok, Void Gorger
Cascading twice off your big spells is already wild. When your copied triggers start stacking, it gets out of hand fast. The only downside is the price tag. - It That Betrays and Flayer of Loyalties
These are the “okay, we’re done here” Eldrazi. If your pod is casual-battlecruiser, these end games. If your pod is higher-power, expect them to eat removal immediately.
Premium typal bombs
- Kindred Discovery
Incredible draw engine, especially when you are making extra bodies. It’s over the $5 line most of the time, but it’s one of the first expensive upgrades I’d consider. - Kindred Dominance
One-sided board wipe in typal decks. Casting it at the right moment feels like cheating, which is how you know it’s good.
“We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Titans” (But Here’s the Real Take)
You can add the big legendary Eldrazi Titans. They’re powerful, iconic, and they make great “I warned you” moments.
My issue in this Ulalek build is practical:
- They are legendary, so copying the creature spell often means you get one and your copy dies to the legend rule.
- They are expensive, both in mana and in money, and you can get a lot of power for that same budget elsewhere.
If you do want Titans anyway, at least consider a “legend rule workaround” first (for example, Mirror Box is often around the budget line and makes copying legendary creatures much less sad).
Quick pilot notes after upgrading
A few play patterns that make the upgraded version feel busted (in a fun way):
- Keep hands with real {C} access. You can cast Ulalek off all-colorless, but you cannot pay {C}{C} without true colorless sources.
- Sequence for the stack. If you can put an ability or instant on the stack before Ulalek resolves, do it. You are paying for copies, get your money’s worth.
- Do not overextend into wipes. You look scary. People will wipe the board. Hold back one big threat or keep protection up when possible.
FAQs
Does Ulalek copy my opponents’ spells?
No. Ulalek copies spells you control and abilities you control that are on the stack.
Do Ulalek’s spell copies count as “cast”?
No, copies are not cast unless an effect specifically says you may cast the copy. This matters for cast triggers.
Why do I keep hearing “you need real {C}”?
Because Ulalek’s payment is {C}{C}. Generic mana is not the same thing. A land that taps for {1} is not a land that taps for {C}.
Is Eldrazi Incursion cEDH?
Out of the box, no. Upgraded hard, it can absolutely bully casual pods, but it’s still a high-mana-value plan that can struggle against the fastest competitive decks.
What’s the single best budget upgrade?
If you only buy one card, I’d start with Kozilek’s Unsealing or Up the Beanstalk, depending on whether you want more ramp (Spawn) or just more raw cards.
Wrap Up
Eldrazi Incursion is already one of the scarier precons Wizards has printed, and Ulalek is the reason. Your upgrades should make two things happen more often:
- you have {C}{C} available, and
- you have something disgusting on the stack worth copying.
If you remember one thing: Ulalek rewards sequencing, not just spending mana. Build for cast triggers, build for true colorless mana, and let the stack do the rest.