Tricky Terrain Precon: Decklist, Value, and Verdict

I’m conflicted. Tricky Terrain is an easy A+ on value, but the actual strategy and card selection feels like it fumbled the ball somewhere. Like it was a really cool concept on paper, and they just didn’t follow through in the execution.

There’s enough here to make the non-basic land type theme work, but it’s more of an afterthought in an otherwise run-of-the mill ramp deck. I mean, do you really want another precon where you’re trying to win with Avenger of Zendikar and Rampaging Baloths? We’ve been doing that since 2013. I love the new stuff here, but I find the rest tired and uninspired. Pick this up for value or to disassemble for parts, but as an out-of-the-box experience, I’m not a fan.

Omo, Queen of VesuvaJyoti, Moag Ancient

The aptly named Tricky Terrain is a Simic ramp deck with a pretty interesting gimmick: Combine cards that reference non-basic land types like deserts, caves, gates, etc.

I was extremely excited about the Tricky Terrain EDH precon when the first few cards got leaked. The concept is entirely novel, it’s unexplored precon territory, and it gives a home to a bunch of otherwise unplayable Draft chaff. Then I saw the decklist. It’s just a Simic landfall /ramp deck. The mana base has some awesome gems floating around, but the rest of the deck just feels uninspired. Typical Simic fair with ramp and control elements atop a fresh and diverse mana base with very little that capitalizes on it. Huge letdown in my opinion.

I’ll give the Simic commander credit, though. Omo, Queen of Vesuva showcases an intriguing new “everything counter,” which doesn’t do anything outside of working with Omo’s ability. The commander’s one of the only elements that actually pulls everything together.

First up on the chopping block is that desert subtheme. The archetype requires a critical mass of that card type and plenty of ways to get them into the graveyard, neither of which this deck provides. Omo helps but can only do so much. I’m cutting the cards that care about deserts and the deserts themselves—except for Lazotep Quarry, which stands alone as a fine utility land.

Draftsim's upgrade guide makes 19 changes to this deck. The first picks (hover for the card):

• Nature’s Lore
• Three Visits
• Farseek
• Open the Way
• Omenpath Journey
• Planar Genesis

• Official Modern Horizons 3 Commander decklists (Wizards of the Coast)
• All 8 Simic Commander Precons in Magic Ranked by A.L. Walser (April 6, 2026)
• The Best and Easy Way to Upgrade Your Preconstructed Commander Magic Deck by A.L. Walser (July 28, 2026)