As a Brago, King Eternal player in commander, I decided to take a stab at brewing up a deck that was similar to the mechanics I utilize in Brago.
Terms
Blink - To exile something, then return it to the battlefield immediately. Restoration Angel
Flicker - To exile something, then return it to battlefield at the beginning of the next end step. Flickerwisp
ETB - Enter the battlefield trigger
Why Bant?
Despite Brago being an Azorious commander, I found that green has extremely valuable pieces when it came to blink/flicker targets, such as Thragtusk. Green also allows for some ramp and color fixing.
ETB Value Cards
Wall of Omens is a simple card that gains value with blinks. It replaces itself when you play it, while also providing a 0/4 blocker to stop early game damage from something like a Goblin Guide.
Coiling Oracle is similar to Wall of Omens, except it provides a better advantage. While with Wall your opponent does not see the card you draw, Oracle allows you to ramp, possibly leading to a turn 3 or 4 Thragtusk.
Speaking of Thragtusk, there’s too much value in this creature to not be running it in a blink deck. The life gain helps to stabilize against burn game one, while also providing a 3/3 when it leaves. This leaves trigger is extraordinarily powerful, as it allows for a trigger on blink, as well as on death and actual exile. There is no such thing as a one for one trade with Thragtusk.
Reclamation Sage lets you hit cards that matter game one that decks not running Kolaghan's Command will be destroyed by game one (looking at you Ensnaring Bridge). There are more in the sideboard if needed.
Eternal Witness lets you get that one card you needed back from your graveyard mid to late game. It also combos with Eerie Interlude.
ETB Enablers
Flickerwisp lets you flicker one of your or your opponent’s permanents. This allows you get your extra value off of ETBs. With Venser, the Sojourner, you are able to lock out a permanent from your opponent on their turn because of the trigger causing it to return on their end step. Keep them off their Jace, the Mind Sculptor while continuing to beat.
Venser, the Sojourner offers so much value in this deck. His +2 allows the continued abuse of your permanents, as well as its able to let you regain control of anything your opponents manage to steal from you because Venser reads “Target permanent you own.” His -1 lets you strike through their defensive line for lethal, meaning Venser is a very good top deck on a late boardstate. His ultimate lets you have a free Scour from Existence whenever you cast a spell. With the defensive capabilities of the deck, it is rather easy to get Venser into ultimate range.
Restoration Angel allows you to blink a creature at instant speed, allowing for more ETB value. This also is a way to defend creatures if needed.
Eerie Interlude is absurdly useful in the deck. It can be used as an anti-board wipe, or as a way to hit massive value with a full board state. With Eternal Witness, you can continuously flicker all of your creatures every turn. If you’re going for value flickers over protection, be sure to cast it on your opponent’s second main, as they return on the next end step.
Other Utilities
Path to Exile is your go to removal in white.
Mana Leak is a tempo card, letting you slow down your opponent and take out cards useful to them.
Spell Queller is also tempo, “countering” a spell while also having a 2/3 flier. If you deny a board wipe with this, you can Eerie Interlude to use your opponent’s board wipe as a one-sided board wipe in your favor.
Birds of Paradise are a way to fix mana, as well as giving you a little bit of ramp. If you have the money, I’d recommend replacing them with Noble Hierarchss, as the exalted deals more damage than one might think.
Detention Sphere is a very useful card. Use it to take out tokens from a Young Pyromancer, then flicker it to take out the Pyromancer itself. Jace, the Mind Sculptor giving you problem? Send him to detention.
Sideboard
Leyline of Sanctity is an auto-include in most decks running white as it’s a hard counter to many decks, such as Storm, Burn, and Mill.
More Reclamation Sages are here in case of a more heavy deck that requires you to run more hate.
Relic of Progenitus is a way to selectively exile cards, as you have use in your Eternal Witness still. If you accidentally side this in unnecessarily on accident, or you were faked into putting it in, you are still able to cycle it for a total of 2 mana.
Supreme Verdict is your main board wipe for against pesky decks like Elves and Zoo.
Settle the Wreckage is currently an experiment, as it is sneaky. Most people will not expect to see this card in modern. It has the potential to be a one-sided board wipe, as it is basically a mass Path to Exile.
Dispel is used against control to help out tempo them.
Disdainful Stroke is for Jace, the Mind Sculptor and any other big threats, possibly a Tasigur, the Golden Fang or Gurmag Angler
Conclusion
At this point, I’m still testing this deck online and will post results as I gain more research. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
