Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor

Legendary Creature — Human Knight

Whenever Varchild deals combat damage to a player, that player creates that many 1/1 red Survivor Creature Tokens

Survivors your opponent control can't block, and they can't attack you or a PW you control

When Varchild Leaves the battlefield, gain control of all Survivors.

Discussion (51)

Lordeh on Winota, Joiner of Forces

1 month ago

I have a spicy suggestion O_o Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor

multimedia on Kelsien's Army of Tims

1 month ago

Hey, nice budget version.

Gift of Doom for it's morph cost is good deathtouch/protection for Kelsien. Open the Armory is a budget tutor to get Gift or a deathtouch equipment. Double strike is very good in combination with deathtouch. This combo of attacking abilities with Kelsien makes him basically unblockable in combat and take advantage of his high power to do a lot of Commander damage.

• Silverblade Paladin
• Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder
• Duelist's Heritage
• Fireshrieker

Mask of Memory is good repeatable draw especially with double strike triggering it's combat damage ability twice. With as much pinging as you have here then consider adding cards that give your opponents creatures? Once Kelsien has deathtouch then it will be difficult for your opponents to keep creatures or even want to play creatures, but you want your opponents to have creatures so you can keep getting experience counters and growing Kelsien.

• Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
• Goblin Spymaster
• Alliance of Arms
• Benevolent Offering
• Generous Gift
• Clackbridge Troll

General's Enforcer has good interaction with Kelsien giving him indestructible and then his ability can exile creatures you kill with Kelsien. There's other creatures in Mardu colors who can benefit from experience counters who are worth adding.

• Daxos the Returned
• Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas

Good luck with your deck.

Coward_Token on Marisi, C-C-C-C-Corona Breaker

1 month ago

Oh and more seriously, The Great Henge, since the Ant lets you boost Marisi to 7 power in time for the next turn, where he's hopefully alive to let you cast the Henge for just . Not bad with Champion of Lambholt, Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor, or even the fragile Legion Loyalist either.

LittleBlueHero on The Way of Shadows

1 month ago

Yep I totally understand that just figured any deathtouch is good deathtouch.

On a different note, have you thought about cards like Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor, Akroan Horse or Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip? Any cards that give weak creature tokens to you opponents for Kelsien to pick off? Dowsing Dagger and Varchild are the better of the three unless you have your untap engine rolling with Kelsien. Akroan horse could be huge if you did.

Halflingz on Queen Marchesa

1 month ago

Board wipes that seem "on theme" and white "ramp" to consider. Kaya's Wrath Fumigate Retaliate Austere Command Decree of Pain Martial Coup Merciless Eviction Descent of Dragons Angel of the Dire Hour Magister of Worth Sunblast Angel Boreas Charger Oreskos Explorer Surveyor's Scope Solemn Simulacrum Sword of the Animist Verge Rangers Smothering Tithe Sword of Feast and Famine Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip

Queen Marchesa doesn't have a clear single way to build so you have lots of options. However, I feel like said you want to play her like the Kween she is and create a royal court full of politicin' and group interaction to make all the boys whine. I don't think you want to discourgage people from taking the monarch from you, more encourage them to swing others IE: NO Ghostly Prisons, YES Teysa effects. Punish the ones who swing you only after the fact and reward the ones who swing others. There is a lot listed!

Politic theme links to Scryfall searches Monarch, Will of the Council, Council's Dilemma, Join Forces, Curses, Tempting offer, Goad

You will also want to get retake the throne each turn and lets face it, the Assasin's won't always get through Dauthi Embrace Dauthi Trapper Nether Shadow Nether Traitor Soltari Visionary Changeling Outcast Tormented Soul Break Through the Line Ferropede Gingerbrute Key to the City Whispersilk Cloak Trailblazer's Boots Zhang He, Wei General Yellow Scarves Cavalry Wei Night Raiders Wei Scout Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior Shadow Alley Denizen

Finally here are some other fun interactions befitting the royal court. Crown of Doom Kor Haven Cathars' Crusade Electropotence + Pandemonium (Nasty with deathtouch) Field of the Dead Mentor of the Meek In the Web of War Mace of the Valiant Ogre Battledriver Orc Sureshot Mathas, Fiend Seeker Master of Cruelties Anya, Merciless Angel Tree of Perdition Alesha, Who Smiles at Death Ashling, the Extinguisher Azra Oddsmaker Aurification Bloodforged Battle-Axe Contested War Zone Thaumatic Compass  ^Flip Dread Elbrus, the Binding Blade  ^Flip Iroas, God of Victory Aurelia, the Warleader Gisela, Blade of Goldnight Five-Alarm Fire Hellrider Hixus, Prison Warden Larceny Necropolis Regent No Mercy Phage the Untouchable Quietus Spike Skeleton Key Throat Slitter Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor Vraska, Scheming Gorgon Scourge of the Throne Akroan Horse Captive Audience Goblin Spymaster Forbidden Orchard Clackbridge Troll Hunted Dragon Hunted Lammasu Hunted Horror

Theme directions to explore? Lifegain to stay above the swings? Angelic Chorus Answered Prayers Anointer Priest Authority of the Consuls Ayara, First of Locthwain Daxos, Blessed by the Sun Healer of the Pride Impassioned Orator Pious Evangel  ^Flip Soul's Attendant Soul Warden Archangel of Thune Suture Priest Ajani's Welcome Dawn of Hope Deathgreeter Exquisite Blood Epicure of Blood Falkenrath Noble Karlov of the Ghost Council Noble Purpose Righteous Cause Sanguine Bond Searing Meditation Seraph Sanctuary Serene Steward Shattered Angel Spirit Loop Sun Droplet Vizkopa Guildmage Well of Lost Dreams Alhammarret's Archive Licia, Sanguine Tribune Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim Eternity Vessel Chalice of Life  ^Flip Resolute Archangel Storm Herd Felidar Sovereign Divinity of Pride Serra Ascendant

Aristocrats of the Court (slow life drain strategy)? Bastion of Remembrance Corpse Knight Impact Tremors Purphoros, God of the Forge Blood Artist Zulaport Cutthroat Outpost Siege Bontu's Monument Brutal Hordechief Campaign of Vengeance Cliffhaven Vampire Cruel Celebrant Kambal, Consul of Allocation Polluted Bonds Retreat to Hagra Vindictive Vampire revenge Sorin, Grim Nemesis Judith, the Scourge Diva Stalking Vengeance Syr Konrad, the Grim

jconeil1988 on Knights Unite

2 months ago

Woah, holy knights.

Okay. So. first thing is first. Obviously, we are going knights tribal. The second thing to think about is what is it's theme. You said you want to go King Arthur. Honestly, King Kenrith makes for a better King Arthur deck. But, we're working with Syr Gwynn, so, we are more focusing on the Knights of King Arthur.

Are you wanting more of a knight heavy creature based deck, or equipment based deck. in my deck Valiant Knights of Eldraine, I focused more on a split of equipment and knights giving me 13 equipment and a total of 11 knights including Syr Gywn and 6 non knight creatures. Now, I've built my deck to try to be as powerful as I possibly can make it. What I'm going to suggest below is more flavor and theme based.

I think a cool direction to take this would be focusing on the Legendary theme, after all King Arthur is the most legendary legend of all time. And there is a perfect card that is knightly and legendary centered and it is, The Circle of Loyalty. For each knight already on the field, it costs one less. And when it is on the the field, for each legendary spell you cast, it creates a knight, and lets you sink some unused mana into making another knight.

Okay, we have our legendary theme. Let's round this out with some legendary weapons (think Excalibur) and legendary knights. Most renderings of King Arthur has anywhere from 12-15 knights at his table. I say we go somewhere in between and pick 13 legendary knights. Looking at the gatherer, I see a total of 31 legendary knights, but only 24 possible in our colors. I'd wittle it down to these 13 knights and 1 dragon. Adriana, Captain of the Guard, Arvad the Cursed, Aryel, Knight of Windgrace, Balan, Wandering Knight, Danitha Capashen, Paragon, Josu Vess, Lich Knight, Kwende, Pride of Femeref, Lena, Selfless Champion, Sylvia Brightspear and her dragon buddy Khorvath Brightflame, Syr Gywn, Hero of Ashvale, Syr Konrad, the Grim, Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor, and Vona, Butcher of Magan.

Next, I would put in an equipment for each of the knights. So, 13 equipments. Keeping with the legendary theme, there are 18 legendary equipments. My choices for the 13 to use are Blackblade Reforged, Elbrus, the Binding Blade  ^Flip, Embercleave, Godsend, Helm of Kaldra, Sword of Kaldra, Shield of Kaldra, Helm of the Host, Konda's Banner, Shadowspear, Sword of the Animist, Tenza, Godo's Maul, and Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang.

So far that is a total of 28 legendary cards. You're going to want between 35 and 38 lands in this deck, I'd personally go with 36 bringing the total up to 64 leaving 46 spaces. Out of those 46 spaces, I'd want atleast another 10 ramp spells so, I'd look into Tithe, Weathered Wayfarer, Knight of the White Orchid, Arcane Signet, Boros Signet, Orzhov Signet, Rakdos Signet, Talisman of Conviction, Talisman of Hierarchy, and Talisman of Indulgence.

With the 36 spaces left, we probably want some card draw and tutors to get our knights equipment. Knights of the Black Rose, Puresteel Paladin, Stoneforge Mystic, Stonehewer Giant, Enlightened Tutor, Open the Armory, Steelshaper's Gift, Scheming Symmetry, Herald's Horn, Icon of Ancestry, and Vanquisher's Banner are all really good here giving us 11 options to dig, leaving us with 25 spots left.

Can't forget removal. I'd personally go with 7 single target and 4 board wipes. Those being Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, Crackling Doom, Utter End, Righteous Confluence, Return to Dust, Rakdos Charm, Wrath of God, Single Combat, and Tragic Arrogance.

With the remainder of the 15 spots, I would fill it with some utility and cards to push through for the win. Here I would look into Knights' Charge, Master Warcraft, War Flare, Boros Charm, Unbreakable Formation, Heavenly Blademaster, Knight Exemplar, Leonin Shikari, Silverwing Squadron, Nahiri, Storm of Stone, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord, Bloodforged Battle-Axe, Sunforger, and Sigiled Sword of Valeron.

This should be a pretty well rounded and focused deck, or at least a path for you to take if you so choose.

ZendikariWol on Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders

2 months ago

First and most importantly, have you considered naming this deck "Dalakos's Artifact Stack Attack," because I think that would be wonderful.

Beyond that, though, have you considered the following:

Balefire Dragon (because it's fantastic), Captain Lannery Storm (because she's a warm body that ramps), Cephalid Constable (because it's a criminally underrated masterpiece), Daring Saboteur (because it loots and is evasive af), Fervent Champion (because it's an excellent voltron), Flameblast Dragon (because removal is nice), Grenzo, Havoc Raiser (because stealing spells is fun), Hellkite Tyrant (because 20 artifacts, with this deck? Sure, you'll need help, but that's what your opponents are for!), Hero of Oxid Ridge (in case you have any pesky token strats in your meta), Legion Loyalist (because why not just give your creatures all the keywords at that point), Markov Blademaster (because double strike is just really strong), Niv-Mizzet, Parun (in case storm exists in your meta), Prophetic Flamespeaker (because it's got double strike, trample, and card draw), Rapacious One (because INFINITE BLOCKERS), Scab-Clan Berserker (in case, once again, of Storm), Scourge of the Throne (because it's real good), Tandem Lookout (because drawing two cards per turn is nice), Tyrant's Familiar (because, once again, removal is wonderful to have), Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor (because it basically creates tokens for you), Windreader Sphinx (because it's a LOT of card draw), Basilisk Collar (because lifelink is super good), Batterskull (see prior), Champion's Helm (because hexproof is important), Embercleave (for obvious reasons), Golem-Skin Gauntlets (because more power is better), Heirloom Blade (because it's a steep stat boost and a death trigger, maybe), Loxodon Warhammer (because lifelink is basically super-vigilance anyway), Prowler's Helm (because evasion is nice), Rogue's Gloves (because card draw is good to have), Shadowspear (because it's nuts), The Sword Cycle (because you feel like droppin 16,000,000,000$), Sword of Vengeance (because holy keywords, Batman!)

Emearq on Syr Gwyn - charging back into commander

3 months ago

Hey,

Firstly thank you for your comments, greatly appreciate the feedback.

Had the chance to actually play 3 games with the deck, although unfortunately they were all 1v1 which is really not what I really wanted to start playing commander for. Alas, it is what it is. They also made for really poor test games as I unfortunately was caught by Blood Moon from a Krenko, Mob Boss very early two games in a row and on the third game (against a different player) he didn't play any creatures (just destroy X and counter-spells) and fell very slowly to Leonin Shikari, Acclaimed Contender & Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor.

In that final game though definitely felt the lack of a ramp as still did not get close to the mana for Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale. The Talismans and the Chromatic Lantern also look like good calls. Had thought about the talismans before and opting to try without them first. However had not really looked into draw cards beyond what I included before and you listed a lot of great options, I'll need to adjust the list and see where I can slot some of them in.

Had a look through your list and props for managing not to include every cool knight spot during deck-building. Guess smarter deck-building largely comes down to experience, but will get there yet. Will try and draw the line in the middle somewhere.

Thanks for your help!