Top MTG Commanders to Pair with Oblivion Stone in Commander

Oblivion Stone artwork from New Capenna Commander

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Top MTG Commanders to Pair with Oblivion Stone in Commander

Oblivion Stone is the kind of artifact you love to hate: a quiet 3-mana artifact that can flip a whole game on its head if you tap into its fate-counter mechanic just right. In Commander, where board presence and political wrangling swing the game as often as pure power, this Artificer’s favorite trick—placing fate counters on permanents and then wiping the board clean with a flourish—becomes a strategic centerpiece. The card text is crisp: {4}, {T}: Put a fate counter on target permanent. Then {5}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Destroy each nonland permanent without a fate counter on it, then remove all fate counters from all permanents. It’s a dual-phase engine: you build up fate counters to cushion your board, and you unleash a controlled wipe when the moment is right. 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

That dual nature begs for a commander who can help you maximize both wheels—placing fate counters and protecting your own key permanents—while still giving you the space to innovate with artifacts. Below are five commanders that shine with Oblivion Stone in a variety of shells: from pure artifact ramp to blink-control tempo, to bold five-color protection schemes. Each pairing invites you to think not just about brute force, but about the dance of counters, permanents, and timing—a true test of MTG finesse. ⚔️🎲

Urza, Lord High Artificer

When you want an ultimate artifact-synergy engine, Urza is the marquee pick. Urza’s mana-swinging presence lets you flood the board early with mana rocks, then pivot to a devastating Oblivion Stone wipe well before opponents expect it. In a deck built around colorless acceleration, Oblivion Stone becomes the perfect “clean slate” finisher: deploy the Stone, cascade into a critical set of artifacts, then swing with a board that’s reset but loaded with your engine pieces.

Why it fits: the synergy is a natural funnel from ramp into a decisive board wipe that protects your snowball of artifacts and value-driven plays.
Play pattern: accelerate out Oblivion Stone by turn 3–4, then deploy a chain of free-running mana rocks and utility artifacts to pressure the table with inevitability.

In practical terms, Urza decks tend to be robust at multiplayer tables and can weather political chips when you pull the trigger on the second ability. It’s a cruise control section of the metagame—board control that still feels explosive. 🪄

Breya, Etherium Shaper

Breya brings a masterclass in artifact interactions, commander-based value, and a toolbox of utility options. She thrives on the artifact-centric, blink- or sac-based strategies that Oblivion Stone can enable. With Breya’s presence, you’re not just destroying opponents’ nonland permanents—you’re doing so with a plan to reestablish your own board state, often in a single turn. The fate-counter mechanic becomes a way to protect your most critical pieces while you deploy the precise pieces that matter most in a given matchup. 💎

Why it fits: Breya’s build typically packs a dense suite of artifacts and synergy with sac outlets, so Oblivion Stone can wipe away the field while you pivot to a reassembled battalion of threats.
Play pattern: develop early defense, apply fate counters to protect your anchors, then sac Stone when you’ve lined up a powerful follow-up—likely a breach of the table’s defenses.

Breya decks shine in long, patchwork games where you’re assembling a precise set of artifacts and political leverage. The endgame payoff lands hard when you combine Breya’s ability to leverage artifacts with Oblivion Stone’s sweeping finale. ⚔️

Jodah, Archmage Eternal

Jodah breaks the classic mana curve in all the right ways. With his ability to pay WUBRG for spells instead of their mana cost, Oblivion Stone is suddenly accessible on tempo you might not have imagined. This is especially potent in five-color or heavy artifact builds where you want to slam big, explosive plays on curve—adjusting the battlefield, then letting the rest of the table squabble while you secure a decisive wipe later that turn. 🔥

Why it fits: the “cast-any-spell” overlay lets you deploy Oblivion Stone early for disruption, then follow with additional value—draw, lands, or more rocks—to outpace opponents.
Play pattern: tempo out Oblivion Stone, leverage your mana base to recur or recast artifacts, and steer the game toward the Stone’s sweet spot when you’re ready to reset the board.

Jodah’s approach is all about smooth, confident execution. It’s the kind of deck where you feel like you’re bending the rules in a friendly way, not breaking them—perfect for long, tabletop magic sessions with friends. 🧭

Aminatou, the Fateshifter

Aminatou brings a clever blink-and-control angle to Oblivion Stone. Her subtle shuffling of permanents—through flicker effects and tempo plays—lets you manipulate which permanents carry fate counters across turns, and when it’s time to unleash the Stone’s sweeping effect. The suspense here is delicious: you can blink to dodge removal on your key pieces while still planning to wipe the table after you’ve locked in your fate-countered board state. It’s a stylish, mind-games-heavy approach that MTG fans relish. 🧙‍♀️

Why it fits: the blinks and manipulations create a dynamic that makes fate counters feel like a resource you actually manage, not a one-off trap.
Play pattern: keep threats alive with counterplay, then set up a fate-counter ladder that culminates in a controlled, devastating reset.

Padeem, Consul of Innovation

Padeem is the quintessential artifact-support commander for any Oblivion Stone shell. While not always at the center of the spotlight, Padeem boosts your artifact density and protection, helping your entire strategy survive long enough to execute the Stone’s engines. In a table full of legendary permanents and tricky politics, Padeem’s presence makes your key pieces harder to remove while you assemble the exact set of artifacts you want to sacrifice for a massive cleanup. 🎨

Why it fits: artifact-centric protection and card advantage provide the runway you need to set up the fate-counter graft and the eventual wipe.
Play pattern: fetch and assemble your artifact suite, protect your setup, then push Oblivion Stone’s ultimate with a confident, well-timed activation.

Each of these commanders brings a unique flavor to Oblivion Stone—whether you’re leaning into raw ramp, blink-control shenanigans, or a five-color toolbox. The real magic is in how you use fate counters: you’re not just wiping the board; you’re choreographing a moment where your permanents shine while the table recalibrates. 🧙‍♂️💎

As you build around Oblivion Stone, remember that the best games are the ones where you feel the counter-trade in every turn: you add counters, you remove counters, you reset, and you reset again with style. If you’re curious about a different kind of MTG merch while you dream up your next commander lineup, take a look at a sleek new accessory to carry your love for the game—the Slim Glossy Phone Case for iPhone 16, a subtle nod to the artistry and design of your favorite decks. Small things make big memories at the table. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Slim Glossy Phone Case for iPhone 16