SOC · 2026-04-24 · X Spells and Counters
Quandrix Unlimited Upgrade Guide
Commander: Zimone, Infinite Analyst
Zimone discounts the first X spell each turn as her counters grow. Instant-speed X spells can trigger the discount on opponents’ turns.
Out-of-the-box list sourced from MTGJSON QuandrixUnlimited_SOC <https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/secrets-of-strixhaven-commander-decklists>.
Where to start upgrading
Deck-specific one-for-one ideas. Check current prices before buying; the budget plans below use live card data when available.
Cut Perplexing Test → Add Walking Ballista
An X spell can trigger Zimone’s counters and provides repeatable removal with its +1/+1 counters.
Cut Oversimplify → Add Voracious Hydra
Another scalable X spell that can become removal or a large combat threat.
Upgrade plans
$3.81 of $25.00 · 15 swaps · $21.19 left over
- "Exotic Orchard" has no known price; deck price cannot be computed.
- "Path of Ancestry" has no known price; deck price cannot be computed.
- 1
Tanazir QuandrixPensive Professor$0.42Card Draw · MV 3 — adds card draw in place of a low-impact card; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 2 MV; $0.42 (was $0.28 in the box).
- 2
Perplexing TestRazzle-Dazzler$0.06Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy removal & interaction; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 3 MV; $0.06 (was $0.28 in the box).
- 3
Zimone's HypothesisFathom Mage$0.82Card Draw · MV 4 — trades removal & interaction for card draw; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.82 (was $0.25 in the box).
- 4
Altered EgoVine Gecko$0.19Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 2 MV; $0.19 (was $0.27 in the box).
- 5
Guardian AugmenterSisterhood of Karn$0.25Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.25 (was $1.03 in the box).
- 6
Arcane SignetQuirion Beastcaller$0.32Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; $0.32 (was $0.50 in the box).
- 7
Biomass MutationBerta, Wise Extrapolator$0.29Support · MV 4 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; costs 2 more MV for a stronger effect; $0.29 (was $0.24 in the box).
- 8
Entrancing MelodyMister Gutsy$0.31Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 4 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; $0.31 (was $0.23 in the box).
- 9
Expansion AlgorithmStormkeld Prowler$0.10Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; $0.10 (was $2.45 in the box).
- 10
Open the WayTester of the Tangential$0.25Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Wizard kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; $0.25 (was $0.70 in the box).
- 11
Deekah, Fractal TheoristStaunch-Hearted Warrior$0.06Support · MV 4 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.06 (was $0.28 in the box).
- 12
Eureka MomentDragonsguard Elite$0.24Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy card draw; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 2 MV; $0.24 (was $0.23 in the box).
- 13
Nexus MentalitySimic Fluxmage$0.07Support · MV 3 — replaces a low-synergy card draw; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Wizard kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; lowers the curve by 1 MV; $0.07 (was $0.28 in the box).
- 14
Animist's AwakeningHero of Leina Tower$0.23Support · MV 1 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; $0.23 (was $0.35 in the box).
- 15
Mana BloomZuri, Warrior of Wakanda$0.20Support · MV 2 — replaces a low-synergy support; shares 3 synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; shares Human kinship with Zimone, Infinite Analyst; costs 1 more MV for a stronger effect; $0.20 (was $0.20 in the box).
What improves
- Only $3.81 of the $25.00 budget was needed — the rest of the precon holds up without changes.
- 15 one-for-one swaps for $3.81 of a $25.00 budget, adding 2 card draw, 3 support.
- Average spell mana value drops from 2.39 to 2.23 — the deck plays faster.
- 15 incoming cards share synergy tags with Zimone, Infinite Analyst.
Remaining weaknesses
- No win conditions after upgrades (most Commander decks want at least 2). A bigger upgrade budget should target this role first.
- 2 cards kept (Exotic Orchard, Path of Ancestry) have no available price, so the plan neither cuts nor values them.
Original decklist
The stock 99 (plus Zimone, Infinite Analyst) at current data prices — 2 cards have no available price and are excluded from the total. Estimated box value: $71.88
Other (99)
- Alchemist's Refuge$0.74
- Altered Ego$0.27
- Animist's Awakening$0.35
- Arcane Signet$0.50
- Astral Cornucopia$0.28
- Beast Within$0.75
- Benevolent Hydra$0.77
- Biomass Mutation$0.24
- Brass Infiniscope$0.29
- Command Tower$0.28
- Commander's Insight$0.23
- Curse of the Swine$0.29
- Decisive Denial$0.32
- Deekah, Fractal Theorist$0.28
- Elementalist's Palette$0.30
- Elusive Otter // Grove's Bounty$0.25
- Entrancing Melody$0.23
- Eureka Moment$0.23
- Exotic Orchardunavailable
- Expansion Algorithm$2.45
- Fabled Passage$0.70
- Flooded Grove$0.26
- 6× Forest$0.08
- Forgotten Ancient$0.38
- Fractal Harness$0.27
- Goldvein Hydra$3.31
- Guardian Augmenter$1.03
- Hangarback Walker$0.35
- Hardened Scales$3.09
- Hinterland Harbor$0.39
- Hydroid Krasis$0.30
- Ingenious Prodigy$0.32
- 7× Island$0.07
- Kami of Whispered Hopes$4.19
- Kinetic Ooze$0.30
- Lattice Library$0.27
- Lifeblood Hydra$0.32
- Mana Bloom$0.20
- Nature's Lore$2.14
- Nev, the Practical Dean$0.27
- Nexus Mentality$0.28
- Opal Palace$0.33
- Open the Way$0.70
- Oran-Rief, the Vastwood$0.40
- Overflowing Basin$0.20
- Oversimplify$0.28
- Owlin Spiralmancer$0.29
- Ozolith, the Shattered Spire$7.13
- Paradox Gardens$0.15
- Path of Ancestryunavailable
- Perplexing Test$0.28
- Primal Might$0.10
- Primo, the Unbounded$1.04
- Primordial Hydra$1.51
- Pull from Tomorrow$0.28
- Quandrix Apprentice$0.30
- Quandrix Campus$0.28
- Quandrix Charm$0.23
- Quandrix Command$0.32
- Rain-Slicked Copse$0.29
- Rapid Hybridization$0.80
- Reliquary Tower$4.97
- Rogue's Passage$0.77
- Silkguard$0.36
- Sodden Verdure$0.37
- Sol Ring$1.48
- Steelbane Hydra$0.37
- Stonecoil Serpent$0.36
- Striding Shotcaller // Run the Play$0.17
- Stroke of Genius$0.29
- Study Hall$0.21
- Tanazir Quandrix$0.28
- Tangled Islet$0.26
- Temple of Mystery$0.32
- Temple of the False God$0.28
- Terramorphic Expanse$0.28
- The Goose Mother$0.31
- Three Visits$5.49
- Troyan, Gutsy Explorer$0.24
- Turbulent Wilderness$6.16
- Tyvar's Stand$1.31
- Unbound Flourishing$2.28
- Vineglimmer Snarl$0.32
- Yavimaya Bloomsage // Channel$0.28
- Yavimaya Coast$0.66
- Zimone, All-Questioning$0.21
- Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy$0.30
- Zimone's Hypothesis$0.25