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Lathliss, Dragon Queen turns every Dragon into two. Each time another nontoken Dragon enters under your control, you get a 5/5 flying Dragon token, and her pump ability makes the whole flight hit harder. The Reign of Dragons precon has the right idea. It just needs more Dragons arriving sooner and better ways to keep the flight alive. We built two upgrades: an affordable Budget upgrade of 14 swaps and a premium Baller upgrade of 15.
Price date: Budget and Baller picks are based on card prices recorded October 20, 2026, when the video was made (the video was published October 22, 2026). Prices change, so check current prices on the store.
Shop the cards: we put the Budget and Baller cards from this guide in one place. Shop the Reign of Dragons upgrade cards at Arcane Arena. Cards we have in stock are linked below. We ship to US addresses only.
Lathliss and what stays
Watch this part of the video (0:29)
Lathliss is a six-mana 6/6 flyer. The token trigger only counts nontoken Dragons, so the deck wants a steady stream of real Dragon cards, ideally some that come down early. Her {1}{R} ability gives every Dragon you control +1/+0, so a wide flight of 5/5s turns into lethal fast. The stock core of red Dragons and ramp stays. The upgrades smooth the mana, add Dragons at every point on the curve and give you real interaction.
Budget upgrade: 14 swaps
Watch this part of the video (0:57)
Each addition replaces a specific stock card. The pairings are on screen in the video.
Ramp and mana rocks
- Mind Stone · a two-mana rock that cashes itself in for a card once you're done ramping.
- Sarkhan, Fireblood · +1 for two mana that can only be spent on Dragon spells, or +1 to loot. The ultimate makes four 5/5 flying Dragons.
- Reckless Barbarian · a two-mana creature that is also a Dragon, so it triggers Lathliss for a 5/5. Sacrifice it for two red when you need to jump ahead.
- Ganax, Astral Hunter · makes a Treasure whenever Ganax or another Dragon enters. Every Dragon pays you back.
- Desolation of Smaug · 3 damage to each non-Dragon creature, plus four mana to spend on Dragon spells. A one-sided sweeper that also ramps.
More Dragons, sooner
- Universal Automaton · a one-mana changeling, so it's every creature type, Dragon included. Lathliss turns it into a 5/5 flyer.
- Steel Hellkite · a colorless Dragon that wipes every nonland permanent of a chosen mana value from a player it hit.
- Hellkite Tyrant · flying and trample. When it connects, you take all of that player's artifacts.
- Knollspine Dragon · cast it after combat, discard your hand, and draw a card for each point of damage you dealt to the target opponent this turn. A flight of 5/5s refills you completely.
Card flow, protection and interaction
- Idol of Oblivion · draws a card on any turn you created a token. Lathliss tokens and Ganax Treasures both count.
- Chandra, Torch of Defiance · card advantage, two red mana or 4 damage to a creature, every turn.
- Descendants' Fury · when your creatures connect, sacrifice one and reveal until you hit a creature card that shares a type. Sacrifice a Dragon token, flip a Dragon card onto the battlefield, and Lathliss triggers again.
- Vandalblast · one mana for an opposing artifact, or overload it to destroy every artifact you don't control.
- Bolt Bend · costs three less if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. That's almost always one red mana to redirect a single-target removal spell.
Three Budget alternatives
Watch this part of the video (3:45)
These are substitutions, not extra buys:
- Endless Atlas · instead of Idol of Oblivion. A steady card-draw engine once you control three lands with the same name, which a deck heavy on Mountains manages easily.
- Patron of the Arts · instead of Universal Automaton. A three-mana Dragon Noble that makes a Treasure when it enters and again when it dies.
- Chandra, Dressed to Kill · instead of Chandra, Torch of Defiance. Three mana, with a red mana and a ping, or card advantage off the top.
Budget: every card in and out
Watch this part of the video (4:13)
In (14): Ganax, Astral Hunter; Sarkhan, Fireblood; Mind Stone; Reckless Barbarian; Idol of Oblivion; Knollspine Dragon; Hellkite Tyrant; Desolation of Smaug; Vandalblast; Bolt Bend; Chandra, Torch of Defiance; Descendants' Fury; Steel Hellkite; and Universal Automaton.
Out (14): each addition replaces one stock card. The full in-and-out screen is in the video at 4:13. Keep your cuts, because some come back in the Baller build.
Baller upgrade: 15 swaps
Watch this part of the video (4:43)
Baller mana and momentum
- Urza's Incubator · name Dragon: every Dragon spell costs two less.
- Ruby Medallion · every red spell costs one less, and nearly the whole deck is red.
- Goldspan Dragon · haste, plus a Treasure every time it attacks or becomes the target of a spell. Your Treasures tap for two mana, Ganax's included.
- Jeska's Will · with your commander out, you get both modes: red mana for each card in an opponent's hand, then exile your top three and play them this turn.
- Sneak Attack · one red puts a creature from your hand onto the battlefield with haste. You sacrifice it at end of turn, but the 5/5 Lathliss made for it stays.
- Cavern-Hoard Dragon · costs less for each artifact your most artifact-heavy opponent controls. It has flying, trample and haste, and it makes Treasures when it connects.
More triggers, more consequences
- Terror of the Peaks · whenever another creature enters under your control, it deals damage equal to that creature's power to any target. Every Lathliss token is 5 more damage. Spells that target it cost your opponents 3 extra life.
- Roaming Throne · name Dragon: triggered abilities of your other Dragons trigger an additional time. Lathliss makes two tokens, Ganax makes two Treasures and Terror fires twice.
- Wrathful Red Dragon · whenever a Dragon you control is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to any target that isn't a Dragon. Blocks and burn sweepers backfire.
- Deflecting Swat · free if you control a commander. Redirect the removal spell aimed at Lathliss.
- Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge · an instant-speed hand refresh, or a land that enters tapped and makes red when you need the drop.
Three Baller alternatives
Watch this part of the video (7:59)
- Panharmonicon · instead of Roaming Throne. Lathliss's token trigger is caused by a creature entering, so Panharmonicon doubles it too, along with Ganax and Terror of the Peaks.
- Lightning Greaves · instead of Deflecting Swat. Haste and shroud for zero equip. Lathliss swings the turn she lands, and spot removal can't target her.
- Ancient Copper Dragon · a d20 of Treasures every time it connects. It needs a different package to fit: swap it in for Cavern-Hoard Dragon, play Bolt Bend instead of Deflecting Swat, and play Panharmonicon instead of Roaming Throne.
Baller: every card in and out
Watch this part of the video (8:39)
In (15): Ganax, Astral Hunter; Sarkhan, Fireblood; Idol of Oblivion; Knollspine Dragon; Urza's Incubator; Goldspan Dragon; Terror of the Peaks; Roaming Throne; Jeska's Will; Sneak Attack; Wrathful Red Dragon; Deflecting Swat; Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge; Ruby Medallion; and Cavern-Hoard Dragon.
Out (15): the matching stock cuts are on screen in the video at 8:39.
Upgrading in stages
Watch this part of the video (9:04)
Built Budget first? Ganax, Astral Hunter; Sarkhan, Fireblood; Idol of Oblivion; and Knollspine Dragon carry straight over. The other Budget picks come out for the eleven new Baller cards, and three stock cards you cut for Budget go back in: The Elder Dragon War, Breaching Dragonstorm and Breath Weapon. That's why we say keep your cuts.
Which build fits your table?
Watch this part of the video (9:43)
Budget gives Lathliss a smoother curve, more Dragons to trigger her and real interaction, and it's an easy weekend project. Baller makes every Dragon cost less mana and every trigger hit twice. If your table lets a Terror of the Peaks resolve, the game ends quickly.
A note on prices
We keep prices off this guide on purpose, because singles move constantly and any number here would be stale within a week. The Budget package is built to be genuinely affordable and the Baller build is the premium version. For current, live prices on any of these cards, check them at the store. The Budget and Baller picks reflect prices recorded October 20, 2026.
Build it
Want the full walkthrough with the reasoning on every card? Watch the video here. When you are ready to build, shop the cards: every upgrade from this guide at Arcane Arena. We ship to US addresses only.
More Budget vs Baller upgrade guides
Each one has a Budget upgrade and a Baller upgrade for a Commander precon, with every swap explained.
- Quandrix Unlimited Upgrade Guide (Zimone, Infinite Analyst)
- Tramplesaurus Rex Upgrade Guide (Ghalta, Primal Hunger)
- Wretched Ranks Upgrade Guide (Ghoulcaller Gisa)
- Multiverse Reforged Upgrade Guide (Jace, Multiverse Architect)
Earlier Budget & Baller guides: Draconic Destruction and Avengers Assemble.
Which precon should we upgrade next? Tell us, and we will put it on the table.
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