The Greedy Goblin: The Turtle Power! Precon is a Steal
The Goblin has a simple philosophy: pay less, get more. Every week he rummages through the Multiverse looking for products, cards, and collections that offer exceptional value.
Wizards accidentally gave this deck a mana base that has no business existing in a $50 product. Couple that with several fan-favorite reprints and a slew of awesome turtle-y commanders in stunning art, and you have the Turtle Power! precon. Those lands, however ,is really what require a second look at this deck. Let's dive into it and examine why you might want to grab the Turtle Power! at this price point.
To be honest, the TMNT blood does not flow strong within these veins. The Turtles were just a hair before my time, so when I saw that this set was announced I didn't pay it to much attention. Just not my thing. Or so I thought...
There is no other way to say it, however: this precon slaps. I picked this up for below MSRP and I couldn't stop smiling while opening it up and going through the cards. Beautiful commanders, and such options! At the time of this writing you can pick up a Turtle Power! precon for sub-$50, and just take a look how much it currently parts out MTGGoldfish.
I honestly couldn't believe what was in store when I flicked though the mana base. Who doesn't love City of Brass? Looking at these, I came to the personal opinion that enough included to more than make up for the current price tag - City of Brass, Undergrowth Stadium, and Spire Garden all stand out as value selections, and even if you're not that hot on the turtle theme of this deck, you can definitely find a place for these in your collection. This is just the tip of the ice burg as well - there's a host of playable lands in this deck.
If that's not enough for you, also included are some really fan-favorite creature reprints. As I previously mentioned, turtles aren't exactly my wheelhouse, but even reskinned these cards pack a punch. But playing with +1/+1 counters, though? Always a blast. Take a look at Irma, Part-Time Mutant - copying creatures you control and slapping counters on them? And Heralds of the Shredder for Vigor - can you imagine being slapped with that while playing against someone? Instant removal. All in all the creature base isn't as strongest as some other precons we've seen (looking at you, Marvel) but it's there, and more importantly its fun.
I was ready to be disappointed by this deck, buying it only to satisfy the Greedy Goblin inside and to fill one more deckbox. I left more than pleasantly surprised. The counter engine and mutagen token mix wonderfully, and I can't wait to look into how I can upgrade it to get the maximum enjoyment out of this.
The Goblin’s Verdict
Turtle Power! is not a flawless deck, and nobody should buy it solely because a spreadsheet says the cards are worth more separately. But at roughly $50, it offers an unusually strong combination of playable lands, recognizable reprints, flexible commanders, and genuine personality. For players who want a five-color foundation, or simply a precon they may actually enjoy keeping intact, the Goblin considers this one an easy recommendation.
What do you think? Did I miss anything, or have you been enjoying Turtle Power! yourself? I'd love to hear what upgrades you've made, or whether you think the Greedy Goblin is way off the mark.