Batman: The Deck!

Commander / EDH* DragonShield Deck Challenge: Batman WUB (Esper)

avocadabro

Artifact (21)

• 1x Blackblade Reforged
• 1x Champion's Helm
• 1x Darksteel Plate
• 1x Golem-Skin Gauntlets
• 1x Hammer of Nazahn
• 1x Helm of the Host
• 1x Hero's Blade
• 1x Hot Soup
• 1x Infiltration Lens
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Mask of Memory
• 1x Masterwork of Ingenuity
• 1x Rogue's Gloves
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Sword of Light and Shadow
• 1x Sword of Vengeance
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Talisman of Dominance
• 1x Talisman of Hierarchy
• 1x Talisman of Progress
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Creature (10)

• 1x Admonition Angel
• 1x Banisher Priest
• 1x Dark Confidant
• 1x Patron of the Moon
• 1x Puresteel Paladin
• 1x Silent Arbiter
• 1x Spark Double
• 1x Sram, Senior Edificer
• 1x Stoneforge Mystic
• 1x Walking Atlas

Enchantment (15)

• 1x All That Glitters
• 1x Banishing Light
• 1x Cloak of Mists
• 1x Curious Obsession
• 1x Detention Sphere
• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Leyline of Anticipation
• 1x Oath of Lieges
• 1x Oblivion Ring
• 1x Prison Realm
• 1x Sigarda's Aid
• 1x Staggering Insight
• 1x Strands of Night
• 1x Tricks of the Trade

Land (32)

• 1x City of Brass
• 1x Cryptic Caves
• 1x Dromar's Cavern
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Hallowed Fountain
• 7x Island
• 1x Mortuary Mire
• 9x Plains
• 8x Swamp
• 1x Terrain Generator
• 1x Watery Grave

Commander (1)

Sorcery (13)

• 1x Artful Dodge
• 1x Careful Study
• 1x Deep Analysis
• 1x Diabolic Tutor
• 1x Exhume
• 1x Fabricate
• 1x False Defeat
• 1x Night's Whisper
• 1x Ponder
• 1x Reanimate
• 1x Steelshaper's Gift
• 1x Treasure Cruise
• 1x Twilight's Call

Instant (8)

• 1x Anticipate
• 1x Boomerang
• 1x Brainstorm
• 1x Enlightened Tutor
• 1x Obsessive Search
• 1x Silence
• 1x Stroke of Genius
• 1x Tithe

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It was important to me that this commander deck embodies who Batman is, which made it clear for me that there could be no 'kill' spells, lots of neat gadgets, and... Batman can't fly.

Batman does not have any super powers of his own, but becomes stronger for the sake of Gotham. Because of this, I thought Dakkon Blackblade made the perfect commander. It was a bonus that Dakkon is also a dark knight. Batman can't resist Twilight's Call, and as night rises over the city of Gotham(and there are more lands), Batman gets stronger. That being said, Dakkon does not have any other abilities unique to himself aside from what he is given. There is just a man behind the batsuit.

"A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy's shoulder to let him know that the world hadn't ended." -The Dark Knight Rises

No 'kill' spells

Batman doesn't kill. Instead of destroying creatures, the deck focuses on exiling enemies to Arkham, only for them to escape later. Spells like Prison Realm, Banishing Light, Oblivion Ring, Detention Sphere and Ghostly Prison all exile a creature until someone breaks them out. Likewise, there are no board clears to keep with the code. Gadgets and talents such as Whispersilk Cloak, Artful Dodge, Hot Soup and Tricks of the Trade make Batman unblockable and close out a game.

Lots of neat gadgets

Batman is known for his gadgets, from shark repellent to the Bat-Boomerang. Cards like Darksteel Plate and the swords play to Batman's strength with gear. Mask of Memory is a particularly important card too, representing his own childhood trauma that lead to wearing the mask. Likewise, the Sword of Light and Shadow help describe Batman's own duality between good and evil.

More importantly, Batman should't have to pay the equip cost! Cards such as Stoneforge Mystic, Puresteel Paladin, Hammer of Nazahn and Sigarda's Aid reduce equip costs to zero, or allow them at flash speeds.

Wit

Aside from a lofty inheritance, wit is Batman's real superpower. Batman can Anticipate what the villains of Gotham will do next. Each case is a Careful Study that requires Deep Analysis and an Obsessive Search until Batman hits a Stroke of Genius and cracks the case. Batman's Staggering Insight and strong Silence makes him uniquely brilliant compared to the rest of the Justice League. He is a detective after all...

Sidekicks

For someone who prefers to work alone, Batman has picked up an assortment of sidekicks over the years; some of which have taken up the mantle of Batman for themselves. Instead of including creature cards that fit each of his sidekicks, I felt Spark Double and Helm of the Host were more flavorful.

The Lazarus Pit

Last of all, in order for this deck to work best, we will need the healing powers of the Lazarus pit to Reanimate and Exhume Batman from the Strands of Night. Of course, it might have always been a False Defeat, but better to be safe than sorry.

Batman is going to face his most challenging opponents to date: my EDH group. Wish me luck!

Date added	3 years
Last updated	3 years
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 0 Mythic Rares 29 - 0 Rares 26 - 0 Uncommons 17 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.57
Tokens	Copy Clone