Budget Deck Builds with Sokenzan: Affordable MTG Strategies

In TCG ·

Sokenzan plane card art from March of the Machine Commander

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Budget-Friendly Sokenzan Strategies for Casual MTG Play

Zero mana. A world-spanning buff. And a dash of chaotic time-warp flavor that rewards aggressive, go-wide play. Sokenzan, a planar card from March of the Machine Commander, slides into casual decks with a wink and a nod to players watching their coin purses. It’s a colorless enchantment-esque plane that reads: all creatures get +1/+1 and have haste, and when chaos ensues, untap all creatures that attacked this turn. If it’s a main phase, there is an additional combat phase after this phase, followed by an additional main phase. That last part? It’s basically a built-in excuse to swing twice as often and push through surprise damage with cheap attackers. 🧙‍♂️🔥

In practical terms for budget builders, Sokenzan is a welcome catalyst for go-wide strategies. You don’t pay mana for the boost, so you can invest that budget into affordable enablers rather than a costly pump suite. The global buff means even the most paltry 1/1 creatures instantly become credible threats the moment they step onto the battlefield. The haste helps you jam on turn five or six without waiting for a premium equipment or a premium spell. And that chaos-tinted ability is a spicy baked-in incentive to lean into an “attack early, attack again” tempo that can surprise unsuspecting players in casual pods. 🎲

Budget deck ideas that sing with Sokenzan

  • Go-wide tokens: Populate the board with cheap, independently effective creatures, then use Sokenzan to turn a few dozen 1/1s into a rushing wave. The added haste evaporates blockers, and the extra combat phase can stack with other windfalls like token-production spells or anthem effects you already own—no need to chase expensive finishers.
  • Haste accelerators: Include cost-effective enablers that grant haste or help you push through quickly. Cheap evasive creatures, versatile midfielders, and repeatable sacrifice outlets can all keep you in the air as chaos provides extra attack steps.
  • Colorless resilience: Since Sokenzan is colorless, it plays nicely in any color identity your budget allows. A mono-white or red-green shell can leverage quick creatures, while a blue-red brew can lean into tempo with inexpensive disruption and returns. The card’s broad applicability makes it ideal for casual table-scraps designed to shock, not to brew for the latest meta.
  • Chaos-aware pacing: The “chaos ensues” clause isn’t just flavorful—it signals a plan: you’re aiming to get your attackers through and then plan for a second attack phase in the same turn. Pair this with cheap combat tricks and surprise blockers, and you’ll watch the table scramble to respond to an open board that keeps swinging back. ⚔️

Woven into these ideas is the card’s lore flavor from Kamigawa’s biomes—a plane steeped in tradition, stormy weather, and sudden shifts in fortune. Sokenzan embodies the idea that even the most carefully laid plans can crack with a burst of chaos, and players who lean into bold, affordable plays will find this plane a (surprisingly) friendly addition to their casual arsenal. The art by Brian Snõddy captures that moment of energy when a quiet battlefield erupts into a chorus of fast, loud momentum. It’s the kind of card you show off at the table and then immediately shove into your binder because it’s not every day you find a zero-cost beacon that actually changes the tempo. 🎨

From a collector perspective, Sokenzan sits at a pleasant price point for budget-minded builders. The card’s rarity is common, and market values sit within easy reach for most casual players—perfect for those who want a strong thematic card without burning through their limited budget. The March of the Machine Commander printing totals are friendly to new collectors who are just starting their commander journey or those who want a goofy, chaotic engine to pilot with friends. And yes, the card’s 0‑mana cost means you can sleeve it up and still be on budget even after you grab a few token-makers or cheap removal spells to keep the momentum rolling. 💎

To get the most out of Sokenzan without overspending, lean into tried-and-true, easily accessible cards that support a wide board. Think of a steady stream of low-cost creatures, journeyman combat tricks, and a few cheap interaction pieces that protect your go-wide plan. The combination of a global buff and extra combat steps is more than enough to create dynamic, interactive games where you are the one pressuring the table, not just the table pressuring you. And if you’re ever in a store or a café between games, a quick glance at your phone is easier with a lightweight grip—hence the little nod to a handy phone holder in the production sidebar. 😄

Phone Grip Click-On Personal Phone Holder Kickstand

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