Isshin, the Glorious Strategist

Commander / EDH First strike Flanking RBW (Mardu) Samurai

ThoreaulyRed

Creature (41)

• 1x Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
• 1x Ankle Shanker
• 1x Aurelia, the Warleader
• 1x Balefire Liege
• 1x Brutal Hordechief
• 1x Burning Shield Askari
• 1x Darien, King of Kjeldor
• 1x Deathbringer Liege
• 1x Fireflux Squad
• 1x Fumiko the Lowblood
• 1x General Jarkeld
• 1x General Kudro of Drannith
• 1x Graveblade Marauder
• 1x Greven, Predator Captain
• 1x Hand of Honor
• 1x Hanweir Garrison  ^Meld
• 1x Iizuka the Ruthless
• 1x Josu Vess, Lich Knight
• 1x Keeper of the Accord
• 1x Kentaro, the Smiling Cat
• 1x Kitsune Blademaster
• 1x Konda, Lord of Eiganjo
• 1x Legion Loyalist
• 1x Marton Stromgald
• 1x Nagao, Bound by Honor
• 1x Odric, Lunarch Marshal
• 1x Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo
• 1x Purphoros, God of the Forge
• 1x Rankle, Master of Pranks
• 1x Ronin Cliffrider
• 1x Scourge of the Throne
• 1x Searing Spear Askari
• 1x Sedge Troll
• 1x Sensei Golden-Tail
• 1x Shaile, Dean of Radiance  ^Flip
• 1x Sidar Jabari
• 1x Stormfist Crusader
• 1x Takeno, Samurai General
• 1x Varchild's War-Riders
• 1x Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
• 1x Virtus the Veiled

Land (35)

• 1x Arid Mesa
• 1x Battlefield Forge
• 1x Blood Crypt
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Brightclimb Pathway  ^Flip
• 1x City of Brass
• 1x Clifftop Retreat
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Dragonskull Summit
• 1x Fabled Passage
• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Hanweir Battlements  ^Meld
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 5x Mountain
• 1x Nomad Outpost
• 1x Pillarverge Pathway  ^Flip
• 4x Plains
• 1x Prismatic Vista
• 1x Rocky Tar Pit
• 1x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Silent Clearing
• 1x Spectator Seating
• 1x Sulfurous Springs
• 1x Sunbaked Canyon
• 3x Swamp
• 1x Vault of Champions

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Ashes to Ashes
• 1x Fumarole
• 1x World at War

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Grand Master of Flowers

Commander (1)

Artifact (12)

• 1x Altar of Bhaal
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Boros Signet
• 1x Chromatic Lantern
• 1x Cursed Mirror
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Jabari's Banner
• 1x Jeweled Amulet
• 1x Maskwood Nexus
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sol Ring

Instant (4)

• 1x Batwing Brume
• 1x False Orders
• 1x Fire Covenant
• 1x Mercadia's Downfall

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Goblin War Drums
• 1x Raging River
• 1x Total War

---

I love combat, and I love abilities that complicate combat. This deck is aiming to use as many of them as possible, minus banding, because I have an entire deck dedicated to banding. It uses flanking, bushido, rampage (slightly), menace, block-switching, first strike, and every other way I found to complicate the combat step and ruin your opponent's life with having to make ever-more-complicated choices. I don't recommend using Brutal Hordechief's ability to dictate all blocks. It's effective, but very not fun, as the goal is to make your opponents make hard choices, not for you to play with their pieces (though False Orders and General Jarkeld allow a bit of that, and I think it's very fair).

I might remove Fumiko, as she limits opponent decisions via them having to attack, but oh is her Bushido good.

This deck at present lacks a number of things, chiefly card draw. Since it also relies on a lot of mechanics that haven't been given meaningful support in close to twenty years, it's also a bit lacking in power. What it lacks there it makes up for in the capacity to induce decision fatigue. It also needs more "when attacks" and especially "when [CARDNAME] damages opponent" triggers. Ideas welcome.

Date added	1 year
Last updated	1 year
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	10 - 0 Mythic Rares 54 - 0 Rares 14 - 0 Uncommons 9 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.34
Tokens	Human 1/1 R, Shapeshifter 2/2 U, Skeleton 4/1 B, Soldier 1/1 W, Survivor 1/1 R, Zombie 2/2 B, Zombie Knight 2/2 B