Magic: The Gathering’s Sauron, the Lidless Eye Commander Deck brings one of the most iconic villains in fantasy to life in a way that’s as flavorful as it is powerful. Part of the The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth collaboration set, this preconstructed deck is a must-have for fans of both MTG and Tolkien’s legendary world. Focused on themes of domination, reanimation, and overwhelming power, the deck reflects Sauron’s strategic mastery and dark influence. Whether you’re a new player looking to enter Commander format or a seasoned collector seeking a unique experience, this deck has something special to offer.
Overview of Sauron, the Lidless Eye
The centerpiece of this Commander deck is the cardSauron, the Lidless Eye, a legendary creature that embodies manipulation and control. The card itself is a five-mana cost (3BR) legendary Avatar Horror with a powerful enter-the-battlefield ability: when it enters, you gain control of target creature until end of turn, untap it, and it gains haste. Additionally, it features an activated ability that pumps other creatures, reinforcing Sauron’s role as a dark leader rallying armies under his command.
This commander isn’t just about brute force it’s about seizing the opponent’s assets, turning their strengths against them, and overwhelming the battlefield with a growing force of undead and minions. The gameplay style favors tempo swings, stealing threats, and exploiting graveyards to gain lasting advantage.
Color Identity and Strategy
The Sauron, the Lidless Eye Commander Deck operates within theblack-red (Rakdos)color identity. This color pairing is well-known in Magic for aggressive playstyles, sacrifice mechanics, and direct damage. In this deck, however, Rakdos is used more tactically. Instead of rushing to the finish line, it manipulates the board state through recursion, control, and power-based synergy.
Deck Themes and Key Mechanics
The design of this deck is built around several interlocking strategies that make it thematic and effective:
- Threat Control Using Sauron’s ability to steal and hastily swing with enemy creatures can create devastating tempo advantages.
- Sacrifice and Recursion Once you steal a creature, the deck includes many ways to sacrifice it for value, such as drawing cards, dealing damage, or reanimating it under your control.
- Army Generation The deck makes use of the Amass Orcs mechanic to create massive creature tokens that can scale over time, especially when combined with damage and graveyard synergy.
- Graveyard Synergy Cards that return creatures from graveyards (yours or opponents’) help ensure that threats never stay gone for long.
Amass Orcs and Token Control
A standout mechanic featured in this Commander deck isAmass Orcs. Similar to previous Amass strategies, this allows you to build a single giant Orc Army token. Whenever you amass, if you already control an Orc Army, it gains +1/+1 counters; if not, you create one. This mechanic is incredibly synergistic with sacrifice outlets and buff effects, turning a single token into a battlefield threat over time.
Cards that amass or benefit from amassed creatures include:
- Orcish Bowmasters A powerful response card that fits perfectly into the deck’s theme of incremental control.
- Sauron’s Ransom Draw spell that fuels both your hand and graveyard for future reanimation plays.
- Lash of the Balrog A flavorful removal spell that supports amassing and board control.
Notable Cards and Combos
While the deck is designed to play smoothly out of the box, several cards stand out for their synergy and raw power. These include:
- Sauron’s Mouth A card that can steal creatures, offer sacrifice value, or generate card advantage through graveyard interactions.
- Call of the Ring A legendary enchantment that ties into the deck’s Ring temptation mechanic, providing consistent value over turns.
- Morgul-Knife Wound A card that weakens enemy creatures over time while setting up eventual death triggers.
- Grima, Saruman’s Footman Offers political play and sabotage potential, reinforcing Sauron’s manipulative personality.
Several in-deck combos include:
- Stealing a creature with Sauron, then sacrificing it usingWitch-king’s CommandorBlood Artisteffects to get multiple benefits from one action.
- UsingReanimateorVictimizeto bring back a key creature while thinning your graveyard for later plays.
- Building a massive Orc Army, then giving it evasion or trample to finish opponents in one overwhelming swing.
Mana Base and Land Support
The mana base in this precon deck is designed to be functional out of the box, though experienced players might consider upgrades for optimization. It typically includes:
- Dual lands such asCinder BarrensandRakdos Carnarium
- Basic lands to support consistency
- Utility lands likeTemple of the False GodorMyriad Landscapefor ramp and fixing
While serviceable, upgrading the mana base with shock lands, fetch lands, or pain lands can improve the deck’s performance in competitive settings.
Upgrade Paths and Customization
Many players enjoy modifying preconstructed Commander decks to fit their personal style or to increase power level. Here are some suggestions for enhancing the Sauron, the Lidless Eye Commander Deck:
- More Sacrifice Outlets: Add cards likeViscera Seer,Altar of Dementia, orPhyrexian Towerfor repeatable value.
- Graveyard Recursion: Cards likeAnimate Dead,Living Death, orYawgmoth’s Willcan create huge swings in tempo.
- Board Wipes and Control: IncludeBlasphemous ActorToxic Delugeto deal with token-heavy or aggressive opponents.
- Card Draw and Tutors: Add consistency with cards likeSign in Blood,Read the Bones, orDiabolic Intent.
Depending on your playgroup, you might also consider adding more thematic cards from other The Lord of the Rings sets or general Rakdos staples that align with Sauron’s power-hungry identity.
Multiplayer Strength
This deck shines in multiplayer games. Sauron’s ability to steal creatures and punish overcommitted boards allows you to play politically and avoid being targeted early. The deck can sit back, develop a strong board presence, and then explode in one or two powerful turns. The threat of amassing an Orc Army or turning an opponent’s win condition against them creates constant tension at the table.
The MTG Sauron the Lidless Eye Commander Deck is an excellent entry point for players who want a flavorful, thematic deck that still packs a punch. Its mix of control, recursion, and token generation offers a dynamic play experience that captures the essence of Sauron’s power and cunning. While it performs well out of the box, it also provides an ideal foundation for upgrades and customization. Whether you’re commanding the forces of Mordor for casual play or tuning it for stronger metas, this deck delivers a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience worthy of the Dark Lord himself.