Strixhaven Commander Decks Omit Key Elder Dragon in Favour of Deck Synergy

48 articles · Updated · MTG Arena Zone · Apr 18

The new Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks for Magic: The Gathering are missing Velomachus Lorehold, leaving the Elder Dragon cycle incomplete.
Instead, the Lorehold Spirit deck includes Atsushi, the Blazing Sky, a spirit-dragon from Kamigawa, to better fit the deck’s graveyard-focused strategy.
This substitution prioritises mechanical synergy over theme, sparking discussion among players about the balance between flavour and gameplay cohesion.

Is Magic's strategy of free decks and $3,800 chase cards sustainable, or is the game fracturing into two different hobbies?

With proxies on the rise, are ultra-rare Strixhaven cards a wise investment or a high-risk collectible bubble about to burst?

How will the new 'prepared' mechanic, reintroducing older cards to the meta, permanently alter the balance of competitive play?

Are free Welcome Decks an effective gateway, or do they fail to prepare newcomers for the game's rising complexity and cost?

Do Strixhaven's new mechanics truly deepen each college's identity, or are they just complex replacements for established themes?

As Universes Beyond drives record profits, is the backlash from veteran players a sign of a coming schism in the community?