MTG's Modern Horizons 3 (MH3) is rapidly approaching its release and is coming out with four preconstructed commander decks including the Creative Energy. Led by Satya, Aetherflux Genius, Creative Energy mainly focuses on generating energy counters. The energy counter mechanic is somewhat neglected in the MTG realm. With the release of Fallout's Science! precon and now MH3's precon, energy counters are slowly getting the spotlight they deserve.
The question now is, will Creative Energy be a solid preconstructed commander deck in MTG? Here's a full deck reveal.
MTG Creative Energy Commander Deck
MTG's upcoming commander precon deck Creative Energy will come in two variants, the regular and the Collector's edition. As of this writing, the regular variant will cost around $70 while the Collector's edition will cost approximately $170. Prices will vary depending on the local game store. Players interested in purchasing the deck must be curious to know what's in store.
Commanders
Like every other precon before it, Creative Energy will come with two commander cards.
Satya, Aetherflux Genius
Satya, Aetherflux Genius serves as the primary commander of the Creative Energy deck. He's a four-cost (one generic, one blue, one red, and one white) Legendary Creature with Menace and Haste. Satya relies on his attack-triggered ability, which can annoy enemy players. The reason is that the commander can create a tapped and attacking token that can become a copy of a target nontoken creature the player controls.
Having that in mind, the player can easily create copies of certain creature card that not only gives value but could also speed up their potential victory. Hypothetically the player has an abundance of energy counters, they can easily pay energy counters equivalent to the mana cost of the copied creature during their end step to keep them on the battlefield permanently.
Cayth, Famed Mechanist
Cayth, Famed Mechanist is the secondary commander of the precon. While her abilities may seem like it doesn't synergize with the energy counters mechanic, she serves as a great backup to Satya, Aetherflux Genius. As Cayth enters the battlefield, she can either buff herself with a +1/+1 counter or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
Given how Satya is somewhat of a tokenator in his own right, she can provide more creatures on the battlefield with her Fabricate ability. Not only that, she can also choose to populate each turn for only two mana, which would further give the player the upper hand especially if they're populating a copy token of an important creature they control. Cayth can also proliferate for two mana, which is also a good way to increase energy counters early on in the match.
New Cards in the MTG Creative Energy Deck
For every new set that comes out in MTG, new cards will also come out. In the Creative Energy deck, 15 brand-new precon-exclusive cards will be coming out.
Hourglass of the Lost
Hourglass of the Lost is a valuable mana ramp. While it may only give one white mana per use, players can also apply time counters on it. These time counters can return all nonland permanents from the graveyard depending on the time counters spent. Its ability to return nonland permanents to the battlefield is a one-time use ability since the artifact will be exiled after. Nevertheless, it's a great way to bring back important pieces, especially if one ends up fighting a mill deck user.
Localized Destruction
If one is looking for a way to wipe the board without jeopardizing their own board state, Localized Destruction is here to save the day. Basically, this sorcery serves as protection for the controller's creatures as long as they can pay energy counters equivalent to their creatures' power. The spell will make their creatures indestructible while destroying the rest on the battlefield.
It may seem a little overpowered at first, however, there's a catch to using this board wipe spell. Localized Destruction will only make creatures with powers the same as the energy counters paid indestructible. Meaning that if they control other creatures that are either weaker or stronger, they all get destroyed as well. To get the most value out of this card, the player needs to figure out a way to have their creatures have the same power.
Razorfield Ripper
Razorfield Ripper can be a valuable piece in the MTG Creative Energy deck depending on if the player can accumulate an abundance of energy counters. This Artifact Creature will get buffed when it attacks by gaining +X/+X where X is the amount of energy counters the player has. It also serves as an equipment and will also give the equipped creature the same ability it has.
Salvation Colossus
If a player is looking to hit hard and maintain their defense, Salvation Colossus might pique one's interest. This Artifact Creature is a 9/9 with Flying, Vigilance, and Trample. It's quite heft on the mana cost but it gives a lot of value once it's on the battlefield. For eight mana (six generic and two white), Salvation Colossus gives the player an attack trigger that grants their other creatures +2/+2 and is indestructible until the end of the turn. This card is a great way to end games, especially if the player has a well-built board state.
Then in any case Salvation Colossus is sent to the graveyard, it also has Unearth for eight energy counters. Players could use this ability the moment they know they could win the game.
Silverquill Lecturer
Another method of having creatures you want to have multiple copies of is through Silverquill Lecturer. All creature spells the player casts have Demonstrate. This means that players have the option to summon a copy of the creature they're casting. However, there's a catch. If they do end up copying that creature, an opponent of their choice will create a copy as well.
It's probably best to use Silverquill Lecturer's abilities when the player can make significant plays that put them in a position near victory. Otherwise, there's a risk of potentially helping opponents by providing them copies of their creatures, especially during early game.
Aurora Shifter
For a two-mana cost (one generic and one blue) creature spell, Aurora Shifter provides a lot of value to the board. One of her abilities is to give the controller a number of energy counters depending on how much damage she dealt to a player. Given that she's a 1/3 creature, she doesn't provide much by herself.
However, her second ability is where the money is at. At the beginning of the combat phase, players can pay two energy counters for her to become a copy of a target creature they control with her first ability sticking around. Let's say the player decides to copy Salvation Colossus, not only could the copy token generate nine energy counters upon damage, but its abilities stack with the original's abilities as well, making the player's board more menacing to deal with.
Blaster Hulk
Blaster Hulk lives up to its name as it has the ability to deal damage to any target due to its attack trigger. However, the catch to maximizing the usage of this creature is by having a huge amount of energy counters.
Blaster Hulk costs six generic and two red to cast. Players can technically cast it for two red mana as long as they have more than six energy counters. The Artifact Creature is one generic mana less to cast for each energy counter the player paid or lost during that turn. Then its second ability gives the player two energy counters when it attacks. In addition, it also gives the player the option to pay eight energy counters to deal eight damage to up to eight targets.
While Blaster Hulk can do heavy damage, it's quite costly to do so. Players need to secure themselves with lots of energy counters to efficiently use the Artifact Creature.
Filigree Racer
Another great way of playing from one's graveyard with energy counters is through Filigree Racer. This Artifact Vehicle gives the player four energy counters when it enters the battlefield. The counters it gives out are valuable because players will already have enough counters to pay for its second ability. When Filigree Racer attacks, players can pay two energy counters to give a target instant or sorcery card in their graveyard Jump-start until the end of the turn.
Hypothetically the player upgrades the MTG Creative Energy deck, there's a chance that spells like Cyclonic Rift might be in the graveyard. With Jump-start, players can recast these game-changing spells with the addition of discarding a card from their hand to pay for the cost.
Overclocked Electromancer
Sometimes it becomes challenging to constantly pay energy counters to utilize certain abilities. With Overclocked Electromancer, players don't have to worry too much about paying as the creature somewhat reimburses them for the energy counters they spent and then some.
Players have the option to spend three energy counters at the beginning of their combat to give Overclocked Electromancer a +1/+1 counter. Doesn't seem too valuable at first. But when the creature attacks, its power doubles until the end of the turn. With its power doubled up, it will deal excess damage to a creature if blocked. When the creature deals excess damage, players will gain X energy counters where X is the excess damage dealt.
The bigger Overclocked Electromancer gets, the higher the energy counters a player can accumulate given their opponents block it.
Sphinx of the Revelation 
Out of all the new cards coming to MTG Creative Energy, Sphinx of the Revelation might be the best one. This Artifact Creature is a solid energy counter engine as it gives player the ability to gain a certain amount of counter based on the life they gained. On top of that, it has a tapped ability that allows players to draw X cards depending on how much energy counter they paid. Players can easily maximize the usage of the second ability especially if they manage to gain lots of counters from gaining life.
Conversion Apparatus 
Mana ramps are one of the most important pieces to have in a commander deck. Thankfully, the MTG Creative Energy deck is coming out with a mana rock that heavily synergizes with the energy counters mechanic. For three generic mana, players can cast an Artifact that either gives one colorless mana, three energy counters for three generic mana, or three mana in any combination of colors for three energy counters. It's a nice mana rock to have especially if the player can spare energy counters for mana.
Stone Idol Generator 
Another great way of building up energy counters is by having the Stone Idol Generator active on the battlefield. This Artifact enables each creature to give one energy counter every time they attack. Seeing as how Satya, Aetherflux Genius and Cayth, Famed Mechanist are capable of generating multiple creature tokens, players can generate as many energy counters as they can.
To add a cherry on top, Stone Idol Generator has a second tapped ability that allows players to create a 6/12 colorless Construct Artifact creature token with Trample. This just adds up to the creatures that can generate one energy counter once they attack.
Aether Refinery
Right next to Sphinx of the Revelation, one of the best new cards coming out in the precon is Aether Refinery. It's a six-cost (four generic and two red) Artifact that doubles the amount of energy counters the controller gains.
Its second ability allows players to gain two energy counters then gives them the option to pay an X amount of counters to create an X/X black Aetherborn creature token. With accumulated energy counters now doubled, players likely can freely create massive creature tokens as much as they want.
Notable Reprints
While there are undoubtedly many new cards coming out in MH3, the other half of the population features reprints. When it comes to reprints, fans are mostly looking forward to the cards that typically cost a lot in the market. With that said, here are some of the most notable reprints coming in the MTG Creative Energy deck.
Akroma's Will
Currently, the most expensive variant of Akroma's Will is roughly $35. This instant spell is the most notable and valuable card in the MTG Creative Energy Deck. For three generic and one white mana, players can either give creatures they control Flying, Vigilance, and Double Strike until the end of the turn or Lifelink, Indestructible, and protection from all colors until the end of the turn. Now, the player has their commander out when the spell is cast, they can select both options.
Akroma's Will can be a game-ending spell especially when the controller has their battlefield stacked with creatures.
Goldspan Dragon 
Depending on which set one gets it from, Goldspan Dragon goes for as much as approximately $31. While it does sound enticing to have an expensive card coming in a precon deck, this particular creature doesn't synergize with the deck.
Goldspan Dragon creates Treasure tokens when it attacks or becomes a target of a spell. It's an okay card to have especially if the player wants to have more sources of mana. However, creating one Treasure token each time it swings doesn't sound too menacing. Now if the player upgraded the MTG Creative Energy deck and added cards such as Mondrak, Glory Dominus or Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation, then they'll undoubtedly make the most out of creating Treasures.
Gonti's Aether Heart 
Gonti's Aether Heart is an okay card to have in an energy deck. For six generic, players can have the Artifact enter the battlefield to gain two energy counters. Then when the time comes players think they could win the game or do something game-changing, they can pay eight energy counters to exile the Artifact and take an extra turn.
It sounds neat to have a way to take an extra turn. But it doesn't sound too valuable to have especially if it's more of a late-game card to play. Nevertheless, Gonti's Aether Heart could come in clutch in certain situations.
Aetherworks Marvel
If many permanents a player controls often get destroyed, having Aetherworks Marvel on the battlefield could make things worthwhile. For each permanent sent to the graveyard from the battlefield, the controller gains one energy counter. Then its second ability gives players the option to tap it to pay six energy counters to look at the top six cards in their library and cast one of those cards for free. Now that's value.
All Other Reprints Coming to MTG Creative Energy
The majority of the remaining reprints coming to the precon deck mostly synergize with the energy counter mechanic. Here's a full list of every other card:
That's it for the entire deck list of MTG Creative Energy. For more MTG news, be sure to check out ClutchPoints Gaming.
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