EDH Optimizer

Malcolm, the Eyes

Card: Malcolm, the Eyes

Legendary Creature — Siren Pirate · UR

Color identity: Red · Blue · Izzet

Malcolm, the Eyes is Izzet (red and blue): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.

Rules text:
Flying, haste
Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")

Reference price of the card: €0.20

Average lands in decks for Malcolm, the Eyes: 33

ArtifactsCluesCantripsSpellslingerTreasureTokensTempoAffinity

Build your Malcolm, the Eyes deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.

🛠️ Build a deck for Malcolm, the Eyes 📥 Analyze my deck

🎲 How the average Malcolm, the Eyes deck starts over 4,000 games

The list people actually play per EDHREC (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.

2.2average turn the commander comes down
100 %of games have it on the battlefield before turn 7
30 %of games miss at least one land drop in the first six turns (mana screw)
24 %of games flood (three or more turns with nothing to cast)
98 %of games close out the table before turn 12
9median closing turn

Deck health of the average list: B (67/100)

See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 33 lands (23 nonbasic, 7 Island, 3 Mountain)

Arcane Signet · Sol Ring · Opt · Academy Manufactor · Brainstorm · Consider · Counterspell · Erdwal Illuminator · Preordain · Frantic Search · Deduce · Ponder · Breeches, the Blastmaker · Demand Answers · Expressive Iteration · Izzet Signet · Jori En, Ruin Diver · Thoughtcast · Forensic Gadgeteer · Storm-Kiln Artist · Kappa Cannoneer · Kraum, Violent Cacophony · Reckless Fireweaver · Talisman of Creativity · Tangletrove Kelp · Gleaming Geardrake · Inspiring Statuary · Lightning Bolt · Blasphemous Act · Snap · Trail of Evidence · Third Path Iconoclast · Thought Monitor · Rise and Shine · Slick Sequence · Abrade · Chaos Warp · Cyberdrive Awakener · Pongify · Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider · Galazeth Prismari · Gitaxian Probe · Negate · Ingenious Artillerist · Izzet Charm · The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan · Thought Vessel · Shimmer Dragon · Tamiyo's Journal · Five Hundred Year Diary · Rapid Hybridization · An Offer You Can't Refuse · Idol of Oblivion · Aetherize · Arcane Denial · Mechanized Production · Mica, Reader of Ruins · Crime Novelist · Nettlecyst · Vandalblast · Curious Inquiry · Dowsing Device // Geode Grotto · Serum Visions · Faithless Looting · Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs · Unwind · Command Tower · Sulfur Falls · Shivan Reef · Cascade Bluffs · Frostboil Snarl · Steam Vents · Stormcarved Coast · Archway of Innovation · Izzet Boilerworks · Temple of Epiphany · Fiery Islet · Reliquary Tower · Seat of the Synod · Training Center · Ferrous Lake · Thundering Falls · Exotic Orchard · Mystic Sanctuary · Silverbluff Bridge · Great Furnace · Scalding Tarn · Riverpyre Verge · Spirebluff Canal

🃏 Recommended cards for Malcolm, the Eyes

The highest-synergy cards in decks for Malcolm, the Eyes, with their inclusion rate.

CardInclusionSynergy
Erdwal Illuminator 52% +52%
Academy Manufactor 55% +51%
Deduce 48% +47%
Breeches, the Blastmaker 47% +45%
Forensic Gadgeteer 45% +43%
Tangletrove Kelp 43% +43%
Thoughtcast 47% +43%
Kraum, Violent Cacophony 44% +42%
Jori En, Ruin Diver 47% +42%
Kappa Cannoneer 44% +41%
Gleaming Geardrake 42% +40%
Inspiring Statuary 42% +40%
Demand Answers 47% +40%
Trail of Evidence 40% +39%
Reckless Fireweaver 44% +39%
Rise and Shine 38% +37%
Slick Sequence 38% +35%
Thought Monitor 39% +35%
Archway of Innovation 39% +34%
Cyberdrive Awakener 36% +34%
Consider 53% +30%
Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider 31% +29%
The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan 30% +29%
Tamiyo's Journal 29% +29%

💰 The best cards for your Malcolm, the Eyes deck, by budget

Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.

Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card

The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.

  • Erdwal Illuminator€0.20 · 52% inclusion
  • Deduce€0.11 · 48% inclusion
  • Breeches, the Blastmaker€0.15 · 47% inclusion
  • Forensic Gadgeteer€0.86 · 45% inclusion
  • Tangletrove Kelp€0.29 · 43% inclusion
  • Thoughtcast€0.66 · 47% inclusion
🛠️ Optimize my deck · up to €2/card

Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card

The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.

  • Academy Manufactor€5.40 · 55% inclusion
  • Worldwalker Helm€2.73 · 21% inclusion
  • Great Furnace€2.15 · 26% inclusion
  • Snap€3.21 · 40% inclusion
  • Stridehangar Automaton€3.25 · 14% inclusion
  • Bottle-Cap Blast€5.09 · 12% inclusion
🛠️ Optimize my deck · up to €10/card

Tier 3 · No cap no cap

The cards your price cap was hiding from you.

  • Urza, Lord High Artificer€14.58 · 18% inclusion
  • Uthros, Titanic Godcore€11.94 · 14% inclusion
🛠️ Optimize my deck · no cap

Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.

♾️ Known combos with Malcolm, the Eyes

Other commanders

Frequently asked questions

What is Malcolm, the Eyes's color identity?

Malcolm, the Eyes is Izzet (red and blue): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.

What turn does Malcolm, the Eyes come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?

In the average Malcolm, the Eyes deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 33 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 2.2 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 30 % of the time and floods 24 %. Deck health: B (67/100).

How many lands should a Malcolm, the Eyes deck run?

Real Malcolm, the Eyes decks run 33 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.

What are the best cards for Malcolm, the Eyes?

The three highest-synergy cards are Erdwal Illuminator, Academy Manufactor, Deduce. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Malcolm, the Eyes decks.

What combos does Malcolm, the Eyes have?

Malcolm, the Eyes has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Hullbreaker Horror + Sol Ring. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.

How much does a Malcolm, the Eyes deck cost?

You can start cheap: Erdwal Illuminator, Deduce, Breeches, the Blastmaker are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.

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