Building Atraxa +1/+1 Counters: Complete Commander Deck Guide
2025-10-05
Building Atraxa +1/+1 Counters: Complete Commander Deck Guide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice is one of Commander's most popular legendary creatures, and for good reason. Flying, vigilance, deathtouch, lifelink, AND proliferate? She does everything.
This guide covers building a +1/+1 counters-focused Atraxa deck with real card examples and links so you can see exactly what to include.
Why Atraxa? The Strategy Explained
What Makes Atraxa Special
Atraxa costs {W}{U}{B}{G} (4 colors!) and brings:
- Proliferate on your end step (doubles all counter types)
- Evasion via flying
- Combat prowess via vigilance + deathtouch + lifelink
- 4 power for Commander damage kills
The Game Plan
- Play Atraxa (turn 3-4 with ramp)
- Deploy counter sources (creatures with +1/+1 counters)
- Proliferate repeatedly (Atraxa + support cards)
- Overwhelm opponents with massive creatures
- Win via combat or combo finishes
Typical win turn: Turns 7-10 (casual), 5-7 (optimized)
Card Categories for Atraxa Counters
Every Atraxa deck needs these categories:
1. Ramp (10-12 cards)
Get Atraxa out fast
2. Counter Generators (15-20 cards)
Cards that create +1/+1 counters
3. Counter Payoffs (8-12 cards)
Cards that care about counters existing
4. Proliferate Support (5-8 cards)
Extra proliferate effects
5. Removal (10-12 cards)
Interaction to survive
6. Card Draw (8-10 cards)
Keep your hand full
7. Lands (37-38 cards)
4-color mana base
Let's explore each category with real examples:
Counter Generators: The Engine
These cards create +1/+1 counters to proliferate:
The Ozolith (~$8)
Why it's incredible:
- Whenever a creature dies, move all its counters to Ozolith
- On your next creature, move counters from Ozolith
- Counters never disappear!
- Survives board wipes
Combo: Board wipe with The Ozolith in play → all your counters survive → put them on one huge creature.
Hardened Scales (~$12)
Why it's essential:
- Every counter becomes two counters
- Stacks with proliferate (1 becomes 2, then proliferate adds 1 more = 3 total!)
- Tiny one-drop enchantment
- Doubles your entire strategy
Math: Turn 1 Hardened Scales → Turn 3 Atraxa → every creature gets 2 counters instead of 1!
Corpsejack Menace (~$1.50)
Search for Corpsejack Menace →
Why it's amazing:
- DOUBLES all counters placed
- Works with Hardened Scales (1 becomes 2, then doubles to 4!)
- Also a solid 4/4 body
- Golgari colors fit perfectly
Combo with Hardened Scales: 1 counter becomes 4 counters every time!
Branching Evolution (~$8)
Search for Branching Evolution →
Why it's powerful:
- Another doubling effect (like Corpsejack)
- Enchantment = harder to remove
- Stacks with other doublers
- Green fits Atraxa's color identity
With all doublers: 1 counter becomes 8+ counters. Math is broken!
Fathom Mage (~$0.50)
Why it's essential:
- Draw a card whenever it gets a +1/+1 counter
- Proliferate = draw more cards
- Self-sustaining card advantage
- Budget-friendly
Combo: Fathom Mage + proliferate = draw 1+ cards per turn automatically.
Counter Payoffs: Why Counters Matter
These cards reward you for having counters:
Tuskguard Captain (~$0.25)
Search for Tuskguard Captain →
Why it's perfect:
- All creatures with +1/+1 counters have trample
- Turns every creature into a threat
- Only {G}{G} (cheap!)
- Budget-friendly
Impact: Your board of 20/20s now all have trample = unstoppable damage.
Master Biomancer (~$2)
Why it's incredible:
- All creatures enter with bonus +1/+1 counters (equal to Biomancer's power)
- Grows itself when you proliferate
- Creates exponential growth
- Simic colors fit Atraxa
Combo: 5/5 Master Biomancer → all creatures enter as 5/5 minimum → proliferate them all!
Vorel of the Hull Clade (~$0.75)
Why it's powerful:
- DOUBLES counters on target artifact/creature
- Activated ability = use multiple times
- Breaks Atraxa wide open
- Cheap to buy
Combo: 10/10 Atraxa → Vorel doubles to 20/20 → proliferate to 21/21 → Commander damage kill!
Kalonian Hydra (~$8)
Why it's a finisher:
- DOUBLES counters on all creatures when it attacks
- Haste-like effect (immediate value)
- Tramples over blockers
- Wins games fast
Math: Attack with 5 creatures with counters → Hydra doubles all of them → swing for lethal.
Proliferate Support: More is Better
Atraxa proliferates once per turn. Add more:
Everflowing Chalice (~$0.75)
Search for Everflowing Chalice →
Why it's flexible:
- Ramp artifact with counters
- Proliferate it = more mana each turn
- Turn 2: cast with 2 counters → turn 3+: proliferate forever
- Scales into late game
Math: By turn 10, might tap for {C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C}+ mana!
Viral Drake (~$0.50)
Why it's useful:
- Repeatable proliferate for {3}{U}
- Flying = evasive
- Budget option
- Proliferate on demand
Use case: Proliferate twice per turn (Atraxa end step + Viral Drake activation).
Contagion Engine (~$12)
Why it's powerful:
- Proliferate TWICE per activation
- Gives opponent creatures -1/-1 counters
- Acts as removal + engine
- Late-game bomb
Combo: Wipe opponent boards with -1/-1 counters while growing your team!
Karn's Bastion (~$3)
Why it's essential:
- LAND that proliferates
- Doesn't cost a spell slot
- Repeatable every turn
- Fits in any Atraxa deck
Value: By turn 10, you've proliferated 10+ times from one land!
Card Draw: Keeping Gas
Four colors needs card draw:
Rhystic Study (~$45)
Why it's premium:
- Draw 1-3 cards per turn cycle
- Taxes opponents (political!)
- Blue staple
- Worth the price
Budget alternative: Mystic Remora (~$8)
Esper Sentinel (~$15)
Why it's amazing:
- White card draw!
- Gets bigger with counters/proliferate
- Taxes opponents
- Recent reprint = affordable
Synergy: Start as 1/1 → proliferate to 5/5 → opponents pay {5} or you draw!
Shamanic Revelation (~$1.50)
Search for Shamanic Revelation →
Why it's perfect:
- Draw cards equal to creatures you control
- Gain life equal to their total power
- Goes wide AND tall
- Budget-friendly
Value: 10 creatures = draw 10 cards + gain 50+ life!
Removal Package
4 colors = access to best removal:
Swords to Plowshares (~$1.50)
Why: Best white removal. One mana, exile any creature.
Beast Within (~$0.50)
Why: Green catches all. Destroy any permanent.
Counterspell (~$1.00)
Why: Blue control. Stop threats.
Generous Gift (~$0.75)
Why: White flexibility. Exile any permanent.
Use our assistant to find more removal → "Removal in WUBG colors"
Mana Base for 4-Color Atraxa
4 colors is tricky. Here's how:
Budget Mana Base ($20-30):
- 5 basics each color (20 total)
- Command Tower (~$0.25)
- Exotic Orchard (~$0.50)
- Caves of Koilos (~$2)
- Llanowar Wastes (~$1.50)
- Yavimaya Coast (~$1.50)
- Adarkar Wastes (~$1.50)
- 10 more tapped duals (guildgates, gainlands)
Optimized Mana Base ($100+):
- Fetch lands + shock lands
- Breeding Pool (~$15)
- Watery Grave (~$12)
- Temple Garden (~$10)
- Check lands, pain lands
- Utility lands like Karn's Bastion
Use our deck builder to calculate mana base →
Sample Decklist: Budget Atraxa ($100)
Here's a complete budget list:
Commander (1)
- Atraxa, Praetors' Voice (~$15)
Ramp (10)
- Sol Ring (~$1.50)
- Arcane Signet (~$0.50)
- Cultivate (~$0.50)
- Kodama's Reach (~$0.50)
- Rampant Growth (~$0.25)
- Farseek (~$0.50)
- Everflowing Chalice (~$0.75)
- Commander's Sphere (~$0.50)
- Fellwar Stone (~$1)
- Mind Stone (~$0.50)
Counter Generators (18)
- Fathom Mage (~$0.50)
- Corpsejack Menace (~$1.50)
- Tuskguard Captain (~$0.25)
- Vorel of the Hull Clade (~$0.75)
- Master Biomancer (~$2)
- Viral Drake (~$0.50)
- Champion of Lambholt (~$1)
- Forgotten Ancient (~$1)
- Fertilid (~$0.25)
- Simic Manipulator (~$0.25)
- Cytoplast Manipulator (~$0.50)
- Hangarback Walker (~$3)
- Walking Ballista (~$25) - splurge option
- 5 more budget creatures with counters
Counter Payoffs (8)
- Ordeal of Nylea (~$0.25)
- Ordeal of Thassa (~$0.25)
- Bred for the Hunt (~$0.25)
- Solidarity of Heroes (~$0.50)
- Give / Take (~$0.25)
- Inspiring Call (~$1)
- Rishkar, Peema Renegade (~$1)
- Abzan Falconer (~$0.50)
Removal (10)
- Swords to Plowshares (~$1.50)
- Beast Within (~$0.50)
- Counterspell (~$1)
- Generous Gift (~$0.75)
- Cyclonic Rift (~$30) - splurge
- 5 more budget removal
Card Draw (8)
- Shamanic Revelation (~$1.50)
- Soul's Majesty (~$0.75)
- Harmonize (~$0.50)
- 5 more budget draw spells
Lands (37)
- Command Tower
- Exotic Orchard
- 8 tapped duals
- Basics (20+)
- 5 utility lands
Total: ~$100 (without Walking Ballista or Cyclonic Rift)
Build this deck in our deck builder →
Gameplay Tips
Early Game (Turns 1-4)
Priority: Ramp, ramp, ramp
- Turn 1: Land, Sol Ring
- Turn 2: Land, ramp spell
- Turn 3: Land, Atraxa
- Turn 4: Land, counter generator
Mid Game (Turns 5-8)
Priority: Build board, proliferate
- Play 2-3 counter creatures per turn
- Proliferate with Atraxa each turn
- Protect Atraxa (Lightning Greaves!)
- Start applying pressure
Late Game (Turns 9+)
Priority: Close the game
- Swing with massive creatures
- Use Vorel to double key threats
- Go for Commander damage with Atraxa
- Combo finish if available
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Not Enough Ramp
Problem: Atraxa costs 4 and requires 4 colors.
Solution: Run 10-12 ramp spells. You need to hit turn 3-4 Atraxa consistently.
Mistake 2: Too Many Planeswalkers
Trap: "Atraxa proliferates planeswalkers, so I'll run 20!"
Reality: Counter creatures close games faster. Run 5-8 planeswalkers max.
Mistake 3: Greedy Mana Base
Problem: All tap lands, no basics, inconsistent colors.
Solution: Run 20+ basics with 10-15 dual lands. Prioritize green sources for ramp.
Mistake 4: Not Enough Protection
Problem: Atraxa gets removed immediately.
Solution: Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots, counterspells. Protect your commander!
Mistake 5: No Finishers
Problem: Big board but can't close the game.
Solution: Run trample enablers (Tuskguard Captain, Abzan Falconer for flying).
Upgrading Your Atraxa Deck
First Upgrades ($20-50):
- Hardened Scales (~$12) - Counter doubler
- The Ozolith (~$8) - Counter insurance
- Karn's Bastion (~$3) - Proliferate land
- Contagion Engine (~$12) - Removal + proliferate
- Kalonian Hydra (~$8) - Finisher
Premium Upgrades ($50+):
- Doubling Season (~$50) - Doubles EVERYTHING
- Parallel Lives (~$25) - Token doubler
- Rhystic Study (~$45) - Card draw engine
- Cyclonic Rift (~$30) - Best blue board wipe
- Mana Crypt (~$180) - Fast mana
Alternative Builds
Atraxa Superfriends
Focus on planeswalkers instead of creatures:
- 15-20 planeswalkers
- Doubling Season
- Chain Veil
- Proliferate support
- Board wipes
Ask our assistant → "Planeswalkers for Atraxa superfriends"
Atraxa Infect
Turn proliferate into a weapon:
- Infect creatures
- Proliferate poison counters
- Kill with 10 poison
- Fast and brutal
Meta dependent: Only works if your group allows infect!
Atraxa Modular
Artifact creature synergies:
- Modular creatures
- Arcbound creatures
- Artifact synergies
- Harder to interact with
Conclusion
Atraxa +1/+1 counters is one of Commander's most satisfying strategies. Every turn your board grows exponentially. Every proliferate trigger feels amazing. And the finish - swinging with a board of 20/20s - is spectacular.
Start with the budget list ($100), upgrade over time, and enjoy the journey!
Resources:
- Build your Atraxa deck →
- Find counter cards → "Cards that work with +1/+1 counters"
- Check card prices →
- Scan cards you own →
Happy proliferating! 🎴✨
Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. When you buy cards through our TCGplayer links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Card data courtesy of Scryfall. Prices from TCGplayer via tcgcsv.com.