Jor Kadeen the Prevailer from New Phyrexia - A Magic the Gathering Card Review

by ElspethFTW, Old School Duelist

To this day, I’m a big believer in good old Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer. Even at the New Phyrexia pre-release, Jor Kadeen was identified as a fine choice for a Commander - back before the format even became popular. All you would need to build is an artifact-heavy deck built around Metalcraft, a mechanic which activates when you have 3 or more artifacts in play.  Jor Kadeen's Metalcraft ability gives all of your creatures a +3 power boost, including himself, which is pretty ridiculous.

With Metalcraft, Jor Kadeen alone is an 8/4 with first strike for 3RW (3 colorless, Red, White). If you can build an army of small creatures around him, you can end up with an unstoppable force never afraid to make an Alpha Strike.

There was a deck floating around in Standard not long after New Phyrexia's release that featured this guy. It revolved mostly around Kemba, Kha Kegent, Goblin Gaveleer, and a janky enchantment called  Bludgeon Brawl.

---

Goblin Gaveleer is a little Goblin with Trample that got much, much bigger the more enchantments that you stuck on it, and  Kemba, Kha Regent (a very popular Commander in her own right) puts out a Cat token for each Equipment attached to it during each of your upkeeps. Jor Kadeen is essentially the finisher, making all of your Cats into 5/2 beaters and increasing Kemba’s and the Goblin Gaveleer’s power. Immolating Souleater, which can get very big if you pump enough mana (or life) into it, was another big beater in that deck that could combo with Bludgeon Brawl.

As cool as that kind of deck was, however, it was pretty inconsistent. On the other hand, with so many amazing artifacts in Commander, that sort of deck certainly be fun and have a load of win conditions if  Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer is leading it. If you love playing artifacts, but like to also play aggressively, Jor Kadeen a great Commander to consider. He’s also very good in decks like  Mayael the Anima, who can take advantage of his 5 power.

Basically, any Commander deck with Boros colors that’s aggressive can use him, due to the fact that having three artifacts under your control is pretty easy to do; Sol Ring, Darksteel Ingot, and Boros Signet are all you need in play. Any Equipment that you can play also helps. Artifact lands such as Ancient Den, Darksteel Citadel, and Great Furnace are another cheap way to get Metalcraft online. The fact that Jor Kadeen pumps your whole team makes him a game-changer. He’s definitely a super solid card for Commander, even if he never had his potential realized in Constructed.

---