The Modern Horizons 3 preconstructed decks are here, and we’re diving deep to maximize their potential! In this guide, we’re focusing on Graveyard Overdrive, the Black-Red-Green precon that promises graveyard shenanigans and big Lhurgoyf creatures. If you’re just getting started, you might want to check out a detailed Graveyard Overdrive precon review to understand the deck’s baseline performance and playstyle.
While Graveyard Overdrive brings some exciting elements to the table, it’s fair to say it needs a boost to truly shine. The deck feels somewhat unfocused and struggles with consistent card draw, which are key elements for a powerful Commander deck. But don’t worry, we’re here to fix that!
In this upgrade guide, we’ll explore how to enhance Graveyard Overdrive, turning it into a more potent and consistent graveyard-centric powerhouse. We’ll look at both budget-friendly and more expensive upgrades to suit different player needs and budgets. Let’s dig in and supercharge this deck!
Analyzing the Original Graveyard Overdrive Deck
Before we start throwing in new cards, let’s take a closer look at what the Graveyard Overdrive precon brings to the battlefield right out of the box.
The deck is built around a Black-Red-Green (Jund) color identity, with two potential commanders:
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Disa the RestlessDisa the Restless: As the face commander, Disa is a 5/6 Human Scout who generates a TarmogoyfTarmogoyf token whenever she deals combat damage to an opponent. Crucially, Disa also has a graveyard recursion ability: whenever a Lhurgoyf card goes to your graveyard from anywhere other than the battlefield, you can put it directly onto the battlefield instead. This is the core engine of the deck, encouraging graveyard filling and Lhurgoyf deployment.
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Coram, the UndertakerCoram, the Undertaker: The backup commander offers a different angle. Coram is a 0/5 Human Warrior whose power scales with the highest power creature in any graveyard. When Coram attacks, each player mills a card, and you get to play a land and a spell from milled cards that turn. Coram provides a mill engine and potential card advantage, albeit less directly tied to the Lhurgoyf theme.
The original decklist includes a mix of creatures, spells, and supporting artifacts and enchantments aimed at leveraging the graveyard and Lhurgoyfs. However, it lacks focus and consistent draw power, hindering its ability to reliably execute its game plan.
Here’s the original deck list breakdown:
Graveyard Overdrive Precon Decklist:
- Commander (1): Disa the Restless
- Creatures (31): A wide variety of creatures, including several Lhurgoyfs and creatures that benefit from or interact with the graveyard.
- Sorceries (7): Primarily ramp, removal, and graveyard interaction spells.
- Artifacts (9): Mana rocks, utility artifacts, and some graveyard synergy.
- Instants (7): Removal and reactive spells.
- Enchantments (3): Graveyard and creature buffs.
- Planeswalkers (3): Graveyard and value-oriented planeswalkers.
- Lands (39): A decent mana base with some utility lands.
View the full original decklist on Archidekt
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Budget-Friendly Upgrades for Graveyard Overdrive
Let’s start by enhancing Graveyard Overdrive with budget-conscious upgrades, all under $5 per card. Our goal is to inject more Lhurgoyf synergy, improve card draw, and add consistency without breaking the bank.
First, let’s lean harder into the Lhurgoyf theme. Adding more Lhurgoyfs directly benefits Disa’s ability and strengthens the deck’s core strategy. TerravoreTerravore is a fantastic budget addition. Its power and toughness scale with the number of lands in graveyards, which naturally grows in Commander games, especially in a deck that encourages self-milling and graveyard interaction.
To further amplify Disa’s combat damage trigger and Lhurgoyf recursion, we can include changelings. Taurean MaulerTaurean Mauler grows with each turn, becoming a significant threat, and crucially, it’s also a Lhurgoyf for Disa’s ability. Changeling OutcastChangeling Outcast provides early-game pressure and is an unblockable Lhurgoyf for consistent Disa triggers.
Addressing the card draw deficiency is crucial. Lord WindgraceLord Windgrace fits perfectly into the Jund colors and graveyard theme. He provides card draw through discarding, ramps with land recursion, and can act as removal. Ohran FrostfangOhran Frostfang offers conditional card draw whenever our creatures connect in combat, synergizing directly with Disa’s game plan of attacking with Lhurgoyfs and tokens. Grenzo, Havoc RaiserGrenzo, Havoc Raiser provides card advantage by allowing us to play cards from opponents’ libraries when our creatures connect, adding a disruptive and opportunistic element.
For graveyard filling and card selection, Ripples of UndeathRipples of Undeath from Modern Horizons 3 is a thematic inclusion. It mills us each turn, fueling our graveyard, and allows us to retrieve milled cards for a small cost. Fauna ShamanFauna Shaman acts as a creature tutor, allowing us to discard a creature (ideally a Lhurgoyf we want in the graveyard for Disa) to search for another creature, providing valuable card selection.
To further enhance the milling strategy, consider Skull ProphetSkull Prophet and Old RutsteinOld Rutstein. Skull Prophet mills each turn and provides mana fixing. Old Rutstein mills on attack and creates Zombie tokens, adding board presence and graveyard fuel.
For a powerful burst of graveyard setup, Buried AliveBuried Alive is incredibly efficient. With Disa in play, Buried Alive essentially becomes “Search your library for three Lhurgoyf creatures and put them onto the battlefield,” a massive tempo and value play.
To create explosive graveyard synergy, Ashes of the FallenAshes of the Fallen and ConspiracyConspiracy can turn all creatures in our graveyard into Lhurgoyfs. This dramatically amplifies Disa’s ability and opens up powerful combos. With either of these enchantments in play, casting Morality ShiftMorality Shift becomes a game-winning move. By swapping your library and graveyard, all your creatures that were just milled into your graveyard will now enter the battlefield as Lhurgoyfs due to Ashes of the Fallen or Conspiracy.
Finally, to capitalize on the graveyard focus, Tormod, the DesecratorTormod, the Desecrator generates Zombie tokens whenever cards leave our graveyard, providing extra value and board presence as we manipulate our graveyard resources.
Here are the cards we recommend removing from the original precon to make room for these budget upgrades: Bituminous BlastBituminous Blast, Bloodbraid ChallengerBloodbraid Challenger, Bloodbraid ElfBloodbraid Elf, Chandra’s IgnitionChandra’s Ignition, Exterminator MagmarchExterminator Magmarch, Garruk, Apex PredatorGarruk, Apex Predator, Grapple with the PastGrapple with the Past, Infested ThrinaxInfested Thrinax, Kolaghan’s CommandKolaghan’s Command, Raging RavineRaging Ravine, Sawhorn NemesisSawhorn Nemesis, Siege-Gang LieutenantSiege-Gang Lieutenant, Talisman of ImpulseTalisman of Impulse, Tempt with MayhemTempt with Mayhem, Yavimaya ElderYavimaya Elder. These cuts prioritize streamlining the deck towards its Lhurgoyf and graveyard strategy while improving card draw and consistency.
Here is the updated budget-upgraded decklist:
Graveyard Overdrive Budget Upgrade Decklist:
- Commander (1): Disa the Restless
- Creatures (33):
- Artifacts (9):
- Enchantments (5):
- Sorceries (8):
- Instants (3):
- Planeswalkers (3):
- Lands (38):
View the full budget upgrade decklist on Archidekt
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For players looking for even more budget options, consider these cards: Bladewing, Deathless TyrantBladewing, Deathless Tyrant for recursion and dragon synergy if you want to diversify, Chainer, Nightmare AdeptChainer, Nightmare Adept for graveyard recursion and haste, SplinterfrightSplinterfright for another scaling graveyard threat, Titanoth RexTitanoth Rex as a massive trampling threat that can be cycled early, Troll of Khazad-dumTroll of Khazad-dum for resilience and self-milling, and Valakut ExplorationValakut Exploration for card advantage and reach.
High-Impact Expensive Upgrades for Graveyard Overdrive
If you’re ready to invest more into Graveyard Overdrive, these higher-cost cards will significantly elevate the deck’s power and consistency.
First and foremost, we must include the iconic TarmogoyfTarmogoyf itself! It’s a quintessential Lhurgoyf and a powerhouse creature that fits perfectly into the deck’s theme and strategy.
With BrawnBrawn and AngerAnger already in the precon, adding FilthFilth creates a powerful synergy. Giving all our creatures swampwalk, especially our large Lhurgoyfs and Tarmogoyf tokens, makes it much easier to connect with opponents and trigger Disa’s ability.
To further capitalize on combat damage triggers and draw power, Gix, Yawgmoth PraetorGix, Yawgmoth Praetor is an excellent inclusion. Gix turns combat damage into card draw and offers a potentially useful activated ability for reanimation strategies. Professional Face-BreakerProfessional Face-Breaker provides Treasure tokens for mana acceleration and impulse draw, further improving card velocity.
For even more potent card draw, Greater GoodGreater Good is a fantastic option. It allows us to convert our Tarmogoyf tokens and other creatures into massive card draw while simultaneously fueling our graveyard, perfectly aligning with the deck’s strategy.
SixSix from Modern Horizons 3 is a highly synergistic planeswalker for this deck. Six provides both milling and recursion effects, and its ability to turn extra lands into card advantage is valuable in Commander.
To leverage lands in the graveyard, Boseiju, Who EnduresBoseiju, Who Endures and Takenuma, Abandoned MireTakenuma, Abandoned Mire are excellent utility lands. Boseiju provides valuable land-based removal, while Takenuma offers on-theme graveyard recursion.
Finally, Parallel LivesParallel Lives doubles our token production, significantly boosting the output of Disa’s Tarmogoyf tokens and other token-generating cards. Terror of the PeaksTerror of the Peaks turns creature entries into damage, providing reach and closing power, especially with the influx of Lhurgoyfs and tokens.
We recommend removing these cards from the budget upgrade list to make room for these expensive additions: Forgotten CaveForgotten Cave, Tranquil ThicketTranquil Thicket, Talisman of IndulgenceTalisman of Indulgence, Grist, the Hunger TideGrist, the Hunger Tide, Maelstrom PulseMaelstrom Pulse, Riveteers CharmRiveteers Charm, TerravoreTerravore, Maskwood NexusMaskwood Nexus, Syphon MindSyphon Mind, Izoni, Thousand-EyedIzoni, Thousand-Eyed. These cuts prioritize the higher-impact expensive cards while maintaining the deck’s core strategy.
Here is the non-budget upgraded decklist:
Graveyard Overdrive Non-Budget Upgrade Decklist:
- Commander (1): Disa the Restless
- Creatures (37):
- Sorceries (6):
- Instants (2):
- Enchantments (7):
- Artifacts (7):
- Planeswalkers (2):
- Lands (38):
View the full non-budget upgrade decklist on Archidekt
Buy this non-budget upgrade decklist from Card Kingdom
For those wanting to push the deck even further, consider these additional expensive upgrades: Invasion of IkoriaInvasion of Ikoria for creature tutoring and graveyard filling, Doubling SeasonDoubling Season to amplify token generation, and Incarnation TechniqueIncarnation Technique for a powerful reanimation spell that can put multiple Lhurgoyfs onto the battlefield at once.
Strategy and Gameplay Tips for Upgraded Graveyard Overdrive
With these upgrades, Graveyard Overdrive becomes a more focused and potent graveyard-centric deck. Here are some key gameplay tips to pilot it effectively:
- Prioritize Disa: Disa the Restless is your primary commander and the engine of the deck. Aim to get her onto the battlefield as soon as possible and protect her.
- Fill Your Graveyard: Utilize self-mill cards like Stitcher’s Supplier, Old Rutstein, and Faithless Looting to fuel your graveyard with Lhurgoyfs and other creatures.
- Combat Focus: Disa triggers on combat damage, so ensure you are attacking consistently. Swampwalk from Filth and unblockable changelings can help.
- Lhurgoyf Recursion: Leverage Disa’s ability to put Lhurgoyfs directly onto the battlefield from the graveyard. Buried Alive becomes incredibly powerful in this context.
- Card Draw is Key: Utilize the added card draw engines like Lord Windgrace, Ohran Frostfang, Gix, and Greater Good to maintain card advantage and consistency.
- Combo Potential: Be aware of the powerful combo with Ashes of the Fallen/Conspiracy and Morality Shift for potential game-ending plays.
- Adapt to Pod: Commander is a multiplayer format. Assess your opponents’ decks and adjust your strategy accordingly. Sometimes, aggressive combat is the answer; other times, you need to control the board and set up for a big graveyard play.
Modern Horizons 3 Commander Legends Evolved
With these upgrades, Graveyard Overdrive transitions from a decent precon to a more competitive and enjoyable Commander deck. By focusing on Lhurgoyf synergy, improving card draw, and adding powerful combo potential, you’ll be ready to dominate the battlefield with your graveyard-fueled horde!
Now it’s your turn! What do you think of these upgrades? Did we miss any crucial cards? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out our upgrade guides for the other Modern Horizons 3 precons:
Explore More MH3 Precon Upgrades:
Creative Energy Upgrade Guide
Eldrazi Incursion Upgrade Guide
Tricky Terrain Upgrade Guide
