Recommendation snapshot from October 8, 2026. Loading the example lets you rerun it with current card data and prices.
What to consider
A lower mana value alone does not establish an upgrade. Choose swaps that improve your actual sequencing.
Tatyova preserves landfall draw at a lower mana value, but loses Nezahal’s resilience and draw from opponents’ spells. Uro requires escape to stay on the battlefield.
Reduces mana value in a comparable role; review the lost abilities and timing requirements.
Mana value 7 → 5. Compare restrictions, timing, and theme interactions before accepting.
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Nezahal, Primal Tide
This spell can't be countered.
You have no maximum hand size.
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, draw a card.
Discard three cards: Exile Nezahal. Return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Tatyova, Benthic Druid
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you gain 1 life and draw a card.
Acidic Slime → Cankerbloom
$0.26 → $0.55
Reduces mana value in a comparable role; review the lost abilities and timing requirements.
Mana value 5 → 2. Compare restrictions, timing, and theme interactions before accepting.
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Acidic Slime
Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)
When this creature enters, destroy target artifact, enchantment, or land.
Cankerbloom
{1}, Sacrifice this creature: Choose one —
• Destroy target artifact.
• Destroy target enchantment.
• Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Fathom Mage → Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
$0.82 → $3.22
Reduces mana value in a comparable role; review the lost abilities and timing requirements.
Mana value 4 → 3. Compare restrictions, timing, and theme interactions before accepting.
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Fathom Mage
Evolve (Whenever a creature you control enters, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Whenever a +1/+1 counter is put on this creature, you may draw a card.
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
When Uro enters, sacrifice it unless it escaped.
Whenever Uro enters or attacks, you gain 3 life and draw a card, then you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Escape—{G}{G}{U}{U}, Exile five other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.)
Wickerbough Elder → Insidious Fungus
$0.32 → $0.66
Reduces mana value in a comparable role; review the lost abilities and timing requirements.
Mana value 4 → 1. Compare restrictions, timing, and theme interactions before accepting.
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Wickerbough Elder
This creature enters with a -1/-1 counter on it.
{G}, Remove a -1/-1 counter from this creature: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Insidious Fungus
{2}, Sacrifice this creature: Choose one —
• Destroy target artifact.
• Destroy target enchantment.
• Draw a card. Then you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped.
Simic Charm → Into the Flood Maw
$3.93 → $3.18
Reduces mana value in a comparable role; review the lost abilities and timing requirements.
Mana value 2 → 1. Compare restrictions, timing, and theme interactions before accepting.
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Simic Charm
Choose one —
• Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
• Permanents you control gain hexproof until end of turn.
• Return target creature to its owner's hand.
Into the Flood Maw
Gift a tapped Fish (You may promise an opponent a gift as you cast this spell. If you do, they create a tapped 1/1 blue Fish creature token before its other effects.)
Return target creature an opponent controls to its owner's hand. If the gift was promised, instead return target nonland permanent an opponent controls to its owner's hand.
Before and after role counts
draw: 14 → 15
ramp: 12 → 14
removal: 9 → 9
wipe: 2 → 2
other: 69 → 69
Review before applying
Role targets are starting heuristics, not a deck rating. Review rules text and theme synergy. Prices exclude shipping.