BlueLegendary Creature — Human Elf Shaman SorcererMathise, Surge Channeler
Mana value3Rank#12,792
The Commander
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or greater, roll a d20.
1-9 | Each player draws a card.
10-19 | You draw a card.
20 | Copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Guide
Gameplan
Mathise is a mono-blue spellslinger commander that wants you to chain expensive (MV 3+) instants and sorceries, rolling a d20 each time for card advantage and the occasional free copy. You play a draw-go control game—counter threats, draw cards, and ramp toward big spells—then close with a high-impact finisher that the d20 might double on a natural 20. Most of your value comes from the 10-19 'you draw a card' band, so casting many qualifying spells snowballs your hand.
Strengths
- Generates consistent card advantage on every big spell, even on bad rolls (worst case everyone draws).
- Mono-blue gives access to the format's best counterspells, card draw, and tutors for consistency.
- The natural-20 copy can swing games by doubling an X-spell, board wipe, or extra-turn spell.
- Low cost (3 MV) and naturally protected by counter-heavy blue shells.
Weaknesses
- Mono-blue lacks efficient removal and can't easily clear resolved permanents or big boards.
- Dice variance—the 1-9 band hands opponents cards, occasionally helping them more than you.
- No inherent way to convert card advantage into a win; needs dedicated finishers.
- Vulnerable to fast aggro and creature-based strategies while durdling on instants/sorceries.
Key Cards
- Stroke of Genius — A scalable MV 3+ draw spell that triggers Mathise and can deck an opponent if copied.
- Blue Sun's Zenith — Repeatable X-draw that both triggers Mathise and serves as a mill/draw wincon, especially doubled on a 20.
- Mystic Remora — Cheap, explosive card advantage to fuel a hand full of big spells.
- Rhystic Study — Engine card advantage that keeps your hand stocked with castable triggers.
- Pull from Tomorrow — Big instant-speed draw that reliably triggers Mathise and refills after a wipe.
- Cyclonic Rift — The premier mono-blue board reset that triggers Mathise and is backbreaking if copied on a 20.
Upgrade Path
Lean into low-cost card-advantage engines (Mystic Remora, Rhystic Study) and efficient ramp (Sol Ring, mana rocks, High Tide) so you can cast multiple triggers per turn. Add scalable X-draw spells and copy enablers, plus blue tutors like Mystical Tutor and Long-Term Plans to find your finisher. To raise power, build toward a compact combo—infinite mana plus an X-draw to deck the table—while keeping a dense counterspell suite to protect it.
Core Cards
The most-played cards for this commander, built from aggregated deck data (the Mythic Graph). Build public decks to seed it.
Win Conditions
- ▸Decking opponents with copied or oversized X-draw spells like Blue Sun's Zenith or Stroke of Genius.
- ▸Comboing off with infinite mana into a lethal X-spell or repeatable draw.
- ▸Riding a single large threat (e.g., a buffed token or commander damage) protected by counters.
- ▸Grinding card advantage into an inevitable lock with counters and bounce, then a finisher.
Archetypes
- Spellslinger — Mathise rewards casting a high density of MV 3+ instants and sorceries with card draw and copies.
- Control — Mono-blue counters and bounce let you durdle while Mathise refuels your hand.
- Combo — Card advantage and copy potential support assembling draw-engine or X-spell mill kills.
- Mill — Copied X-draw spells like Blue Sun's Zenith can force opponents to deck out.
Combos
No combos found for this commander on Commander Spellbook.
Related Commanders
Same color identity (U), by popularity.
