Because all of your Maindeck Doomfiends, except for the two Level 4s, have different Levels, Apothecary is pretty difficult to play
In short, Abzan is just a really efficient deck
As you know, many of the VMAX cards in the format have become very slow to be played, and they are not always the best choices because it is very easy for your opponent to use Boss Orders on them before they have evolved
Budget-friendly options that deliver strong performance: Pain Lands ($1-3): Reliable untapped fixing with minimal life cost in Commanders 40-life format Check Lands ($2-5): Enter untapped consistently when paired with typed duals or basics Pathways ($1-4): Zero conditions, zero life loss, clean fixing for two-color decks Slow Lands ($1-2): Untapped from turn 3 onward, perfect for mid-range strategies Battlebond Lands ($3-8): Unconditional untapped fixing in multiplayer Commander games When to invest in premium options: Building competitive or high-power decks where consistency determines wins Running 3+ colors where typed duals and fetch synergies matter most Long-term collection building where premium lands hold value across multiple decks Format Restrictions and Legal Options Format legality directly impacts which cycles are available
Gold Mine is a strictly better Gemstone Mine, until it permanently turns into a Wastes, making it interesting to use for all of a three round draft
