Art: Adam Paquette · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast
Sai, Master Thopterist
ULegendary Creature — Human Artificer · from $0.33
Whenever you cast an artifact spell, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.
{1}{U}, Sacrifice two artifacts: Draw a card.
A typical Commander deck
A starting template, not a rule — counts to fill in around the commander.
- Lands3736–38 for most decks; fewer with cheap curves
- Ramp10mana rocks, dorks, land ramp — mostly 2–3 mana
- Card draw10repeatable engines beat one-shot cantrips
- Targeted removal6answers for creatures AND artifacts/enchantments
- Board wipes3sweepers reset boards you've lost
- Synergy & win conditions33the deck's actual plan
Staples in these colors
The 100 cards that fit this color identity in the most EDHREC decklists (EDHREC rank via Scryfall).
Budget
53 of 100 at $5 or less · 31 at $1 or less
| # | Card | Type | MV | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sol Ring | Artifact | 1 | $1.07 |
| 2 | Command Tower | Land | 0 | $0.26 |
| 3 | Arcane Signet | Artifact | 2 | $0.34 |
| 4 | Exotic Orchard | Land | 0 | $0.19 |
| 5 | Reliquary Tower | Land | 0 | $4.28 |
| 6 | Swiftfoot Boots | Artifact | 2 | $1.43 |
| 7 | Lightning Greaves | Artifact | 2 | $3.86 |
| 8 | Path of Ancestry | Land | 0 | $0.16 |
| 9 | Counterspell | Instant | 2 | $1.33 |
| 10 | Fellwar Stone | Artifact | 2 | $0.47 |
| 11 | Rogue's Passage | Land | 0 | $0.31 |
| 12 | Evolving Wilds | Land | 0 | $0.09 |
| 13 | Thought Vessel | Artifact | 2 | $2.23 |
| 14 | Terramorphic Expanse | Land | 0 | $0.10 |
| 15 | Myriad Landscape | Land | 0 | $0.25 |
| 16 | Mind Stone | Artifact | 2 | $0.21 |
| 17 | An Offer You Can't Refuse | Instant | 1 | $3.01 |
| 18 | Polluted Delta | Land | 0 | $19.85 |
| 19 | Flooded Strand | Land | 0 | $12.78 |
| 20 | Skullclamp | Artifact | 1 | $4.85 |
| 21 | Solemn Simulacrum | Creature | 4 | $0.27 |
| 22 | Misty Rainforest | Land | 0 | $35.98 |
| 23 | Bloodstained Mire | Land | 0 | $14.54 |
| 24 | Fabled Passage | Land | 0 | $0.65 |
| 25 | Windswept Heath | Land | 0 | $11.19 |
| 26 | Rhystic Study | Enchantment | 3 | $61.06 |
| 27 | Wooded Foothills | Land | 0 | $17.96 |
| 28 | Verdant Catacombs | Land | 0 | $29.16 |
| 29 | Scalding Tarn | Land | 0 | $36.86 |
| 30 | Marsh Flats | Land | 0 | $32.04 |
| 31 | Arcane Denial | Instant | 2 | $1.88 |
| 32 | Commander's Sphere | Artifact | 3 | $0.19 |
| 33 | Negate | Instant | 2 | $0.12 |
| 34 | Arid Mesa | Land | 0 | $31.40 |
| 35 | Cyclonic Rift | Instant | 2 | $29.75 |
| 36 | Swan Song | Instant | 1 | $10.72 |
| 37 | Ancient Tomb | Land | 0 | $56.94 |
| 38 | Brainstorm | Instant | 1 | $0.56 |
| 39 | Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth | Land | 0 | $56.13 |
| 40 | Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth | Land | 0 | $16.76 |
| 41 | Fierce Guardianship | Instant | 3 | $59.21 |
| 42 | Temple of the False God | Land | 0 | $0.19 |
| 43 | Chromatic Lantern | Artifact | 3 | $0.38 |
| 44 | Otawara, Soaring City | Land | 0 | $26.57 |
| 45 | City of Brass | Land | 0 | $9.17 |
| 46 | The One Ring | Artifact | 4 | $109.88 |
| 47 | Frantic Search | Instant | 3 | $0.82 |
| 48 | Mystic Remora | Enchantment | 1 | $10.97 |
| 49 | Cavern of Souls | Land | 0 | $47.72 |
| 50 | Propaganda | Enchantment | 3 | $1.84 |
| 51 | Mana Confluence | Land | 0 | $34.75 |
| 52 | Urza's Saga | Enchantment | 0 | $34.67 |
| 53 | Mana Drain | Instant | 2 | $50.65 |
| 54 | Lotus Petal | Artifact | 0 | $35.11 |
| 55 | Wayfarer's Bauble | Artifact | 1 | $0.31 |
| 56 | Roaming Throne | Creature | 4 | $47.06 |
| 57 | Ashnod's Altar | Artifact | 3 | $8.15 |
| 58 | War Room | Land | 0 | $0.79 |
| 59 | Ponder | Sorcery | 1 | $1.82 |
| 60 | Herald's Horn | Artifact | 3 | $2.88 |
| 61 | Mana Vault | Artifact | 1 | $91.59 |
| 62 | Pongify | Instant | 1 | $2.21 |
| 63 | Chrome Mox | Artifact | 0 | $51.19 |
| 64 | Windfall | Sorcery | 3 | $4.78 |
| 65 | Mystical Tutor | Instant | 1 | $14.99 |
| 66 | Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx | Land | 0 | $45.68 |
| 67 | Reflecting Pool | Land | 0 | $5.50 |
| 68 | Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs | Instant | 3 | $9.68 |
| 69 | Mystic Sanctuary | Land | 0 | $1.01 |
| 70 | Three Tree City | Land | 0 | $29.09 |
| 71 | Gemstone Caverns | Land | 0 | $62.05 |
| 72 | Command Beacon | Land | 0 | $7.99 |
| 73 | Idol of Oblivion | Artifact | 2 | $2.40 |
| 74 | Prismatic Vista | Land | 0 | $28.10 |
| 75 | Buried Ruin | Land | 0 | $0.38 |
| 76 | Thran Dynamo | Artifact | 4 | $1.94 |
| 77 | Force of Will | Instant | 5 | $26.56 |
| 78 | Patchwork Banner | Artifact | 3 | $1.52 |
| 79 | Mox Amber | Artifact | 0 | $86.45 |
| 80 | Karn's Bastion | Land | 0 | $2.51 |
| 81 | Rapid Hybridization | Instant | 1 | $0.81 |
| 82 | Ash Barrens | Land | 0 | $0.15 |
| 83 | Preordain | Sorcery | 1 | $0.64 |
| 84 | Opt | Instant | 1 | $0.16 |
| 85 | Secluded Courtyard | Land | 0 | $0.31 |
| 86 | Ornithopter of Paradise | Creature | 2 | $0.35 |
| 87 | Sensei's Divining Top | Artifact | 1 | $36.48 |
| 88 | Sword of the Animist | Artifact | 2 | $2.79 |
| 89 | Mithril Coat | Artifact | 3 | $27.09 |
| 90 | Mox Opal | Artifact | 0 | $229.58 |
| 91 | Unclaimed Territory | Land | 0 | $0.30 |
| 92 | Mox Diamond | Artifact | 0 | $1108.66 |
| 93 | Foundry Inspector | Creature | 3 | $0.28 |
| 94 | Everflowing Chalice | Artifact | 0 | $0.28 |
| 95 | Basilisk Collar | Artifact | 1 | $2.73 |
| 96 | Archmage Emeritus | Creature | 4 | $0.60 |
| 97 | Academy Manufactor | Creature | 3 | $8.00 |
| 98 | Inventors' Fair | Land | 0 | $15.74 |
| 99 | Panharmonicon | Artifact | 4 | $4.98 |
| 100 | Force of Negation | Instant | 3 | $45.50 |
Curve of these staples
7
0
16
1
14
2
15
3
6
4
1
5
6
7+
Combos with Sai, Master Thopterist
The 10 most popular of 14 combos (by EDHREC decklist count) using this commander that fit its color identity, from Commander Spellbook.
Krark-Clan Ironworks + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist + Scrap Trawler
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Ashnod's Altar + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist + Scrap Trawler
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam + Sai, Master Thopterist + Urza, Lord High Artificer + Artifact Castable for {0} that survives
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite storm count · Infinite tapped creature tokens
Junk Diver + Krark-Clan Ironworks + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Ashnod's Altar + Junk Diver + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Chakram Retriever + Emry, Lurker of the Loch + Lotus Petal + Sai, Master Thopterist
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite artifact LTB · Infinite artifact sacrifice triggers · Infinite card draw · Infinite colored mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite draw triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Krark-Clan Ironworks + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist + Workshop Assistant
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Ashnod's Altar + Myr Retriever + Sai, Master Thopterist + Workshop Assistant
Infinite artifact ETB · Infinite colorless mana · Infinite creature tokens · Infinite death triggers · Infinite creature ETB · Infinite creature LTB · Infinite creature sacrifice triggers · Infinite storm count
Mm'menon, the Right Hand + Sai, Master Thopterist + Sensei's Divining Top + Worldwalker Helm
Infinite card draw · Near-infinite creature ETB · Infinite draw triggers · Near-infinite storm count · Near-infinite tapped creature tokens
Krang, Utrom Warlord + Mm'menon, the Right Hand + Sai, Master Thopterist + Sensei's Divining Top
Infinite card draw · Infinite draw triggers · Near-infinite creature ETB · Near-infinite storm count · Near-infinite tapped creature tokens
Top finishes
2 finishes placing top 16 at 16+ player events with this commander. Results from Topdeck.gg.
- 16th of 26 — FULL PRECON DEL PODER: PARTNER EDITION on Topdeck.ggOct 3, 2026 · 0–3–0 · with Saheeli, Radiant Creator · by Coré Ruiz Díaz
- 13th of 26 — C&S Presents: The Summit on Topdeck.ggSep 27, 2026 · 1–2–1 · by Cameron Bonura
Precons led by Sai, Master Thopterist
Official preconstructed decks with Sai, Master Thopterist at the helm.
- Keen Engineering
PreconCommander· Released Oct 2026
Card data and images courtesy of Scryfall; popularity ranking from EDHREC decklist data included in Scryfall bulk. Combo data courtesy of Commander Spellbook. Tournament results courtesy of Topdeck.gg. Precon product lists via MTGJSON. Deckwarden is unofficial Fan Content and is not endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.