Secret Lair Drop · 2023 Commander precon
From Cute to Brute upgrade guide
Budget upgrades, cuts and the full decklist for Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge.
From Cute to Brute is a five-color Commander precon from Secret Lair Drop (2023), led by Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge. Out of the box it runs 35 lands, 22 ramp pieces, 15 card-draw effects, 15 removal spells and 4 board wipes, with an average mana value of 3.53.
It already covers the Commander basics, so the best upgrades focus on synergy and a faster mana base (14 lands enter tapped). Its game plan leans on tokens, graveyard and lifegain, so the plan below favors cards that push that. The $50 plan below makes 10 swaps for $18.98.
Deck health
$50 budget plan
Best upgrades for From Cute to Brute
10 swaps for $18.98, built around tokens and graveyard and lifegain. Prices as of November 6, 2026.
Add 10
Protection: deck has 1 of ~2 · #12 on EDHREC$1.89
Fits your Tokens plan · #328 on EDHREC$0.27
Fits your Graveyard plan · #53 on EDHREC$8.69
Fits your Lifegain plan · #1,403 on EDHREC$1.04
Fits your Tokens plan · #866 on EDHREC$0.28
Fits your Graveyard plan · #121 on EDHREC$1.53
Fits your Lifegain plan · #2,391 on EDHREC$0.29
Untapped land for black & blue · #49 on EDHREC$4.47
Untapped land for red & blue · #75 on EDHREC$0.27
Untapped land for red & white · #77 on EDHREC$0.25
Cut 10
Enters tapped — slows your early turns
Enters tapped — slows your early turns
Enters tapped — slows your early turns
Rarely played (#9,858 on EDHREC) · Costs 7 mana
Costs 7 mana · Extra card draw: deck already has 15 (~10 is plenty)
Costs 8 mana · Extra ramp: deck already has 22 (~10 is plenty)
Costs 7 mana · Doesn't support the deck's plan
Rarely played (#12,465 on EDHREC) · Doesn't support the deck's plan
Costs 7 mana · Extra removal: deck already has 15 (~8 is plenty)
Costs 8 mana · Doesn't support the deck's plan
From Cute to Brute decklist
Commander (1)
Creatures (33)
- 1Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier$27.31
- 1Beast Whisperer$8.42
- 1Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage$21.19
- 1Butcher of Malakir$0.30
- 1Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh // Chandra, Roaring Flame$1.97
- 1Cosima, God of the Voyage // The Omenkeel$0.79
- 1Dennick, Pious Apprentice // Dennick, Pious Apparition$0.32
- 1Diluvian Primordial$0.50
- 1Emmara, Soul of the Accord$1.12
- 1Jace, Vryn's Prodigy // Jace, Telepath Unbound$7.75
- 1Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse$0.31
- 1Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy$15.82
- 1Kolvori, God of Kinship // The Ringhart Crest$0.32
- 1Kytheon, Hero of Akros // Gideon, Battle-Forged$1.91
- 1Liliana, Heretical Healer // Liliana, Defiant Necromancer$6.63
- 1Ludevic, Necrogenius // Olag, Ludevic's Hubris$0.20
- 1Meteor Golem$0.21
- 1Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder$1.50
- 1Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen$62.26
- 1Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Nissa, Sage Animist$4.12
- 1Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order$0.37
- 1Rhys the Redeemed$3.47
- 1Sandstone Oracle$0.20
- 1Shaile, Dean of Radiance // Embrose, Dean of Shadow$0.34
- 1Sisay, Weatherlight Captain$2.76
- 1Sphinx of the Second Sun$5.68
- 1Tireless Provisioner$2.28
- 1Tovolar's Huntmaster // Tovolar's Packleader$0.37
- 1Triplicate Titan$1.08
- 1Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root$1.42
- 1Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor$3.66
- 1Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines$1.21
- 1Zetalpa, Primal Dawn$0.38
Planeswalkers (3)
Instants (6)
- 1Beast Within$1.68
- 1Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit$1.77
- 1Pongify$1.73
- 1Putrefy$0.30
- 1Utter End$0.23
- 1Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge$16.58
Sorceries (6)
- 1Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary$7.85
- 1Farseek$1.10
- 1Harmonize$0.27
- 1Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins$1.13
- 1Time Wipe$0.34
- 1Urza's Ruinous Blast$1.79
Artifacts (11)
- 1Altar of the Pantheon$3.26
- 1Arcane Signet$0.57
- 1Azor's Gateway // Sanctum of the Sun$2.66
- 1Chromatic Lantern$1.80
- 1Commander's Sphere$0.36
- 1Dowsing Dagger // Lost Vale$6.13
- 1Elbrus, the Binding Blade // Withengar Unbound$4.95
- 1Fellwar Stone$1.58
- 1Sol Ring$1.92
- 1Thaumatic Compass // Spires of Orazca$1.73
- 1Treasure Map // Treasure Cove$0.58
Enchantments (5)
Lands (35)
- 1Barkchannel Pathway // Tidechannel Pathway$4.80
- 1Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway$5.84
- 1Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway$3.68
- 1Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway$4.40
- 1Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway$4.92
- 1Command Tower$0.35
- 1Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway$3.44
- 1Darkbore Pathway // Slitherbore Pathway$6.29
- 1Evolving Wilds$0.21
- 1Exotic Orchard$0.26
- 1Forest$0.60
- 1Forest$0.59
- 1Forest$0.89
- 1Frontier Bivouac$0.36
- 1Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway$4.83
- 1Island$0.40
- 1Jungle Shrine$0.36
- 1Mountain$0.39
- 1Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway$4.85
- 1Opulent Palace$0.28
- 1Path of Ancestry$0.29
- 1Plains$0.54
- 1Rimewood Falls$0.33
- 1Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway$5.78
- 1Sandsteppe Citadel$0.37
- 1Savage Lands$0.30
- 1Scattered Groves$0.32
- 1Seaside Citadel$0.38
- 1Sheltered Thicket$0.31
- 1Swamp$0.34
- 1Terramorphic Expanse$0.24
- 1The World Tree$7.14
- 1Vivid Grove$0.40
- 1Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince$20.44
- 1Woodland Chasm$0.58
FAQ
How much is the From Cute to Brute precon worth?
At current prices the 100 cards in From Cute to Brute are worth about $408.13 as singles (cheapest printings, TCGplayer market price as of November 6, 2026).
What are the best budget upgrades for From Cute to Brute?
For about $18.98, our top picks are Swiftfoot Boots, Bastion of Remembrance, Reanimate, Cleric Class, Nadier's Nightblade. The full 10-card plan with cuts is above, and the upgrade tool can rebuild it for any budget.
What should I cut from From Cute to Brute?
Start with Vivid Grove, Woodland Chasm, Rimewood Falls, Elbrus, the Binding Blade // Withengar Unbound. These are the least-played or slowest cards that don't support the deck's plan.
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