Halvar, Divine Voltron

Commander / EDH Aggro Bracket 3 Equip Mono-White Multiplayer Voltron

NensouHiebara

Halvar's Armory (22)

• 1x Argentum Armor
• 1x Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus
• 1x Blackblade Reforged
• 1x Buster Sword
• 1x Caduceus, Staff of Hermes *f-etch*
• 1x Celestial Armor
• 1x Commander's Plate
• 1x Genji Glove
• 1x Hammer of Nazahn *f-etch*
• 1x Leyline Axe
• 1x Lion Sash
• 1x Maul of the Skyclaves
• 1x Robe of Stars
• 1x Shadowspear
• 1x Sting, the Glinting Dagger
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Sword of Feast and Famine
• 1x Sword of Fire and Ice
• 1x Sword of Light and Shadow
• 1x Sword of Sinew and Steel *f-etch*
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Wrecking Ball arm

Instant (12)

• 1x Dawn's Truce
• 1x Enlightened TutorGC
• 1x Final Showdown
• 1x Galadriel's Dismissal
• 1x Generous Gift
• 1x Get Lost
• 1x Parting Gust
• 1x Razorgrass Ambush
• 1x Restoration Magic
• 1x Sejiri Shelter
• 1x Stroke of Midnight
• 1x Teferi's ProtectionGC

Land (34)

• 1x Abstergo Entertainment *f-etch*
• 1x Ancient TombGC
• 1x Castle Ardenvale
• 1x Command Beacon
• 1x Demolition Field
• 1x Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• 1x Field of Ruin
• 1x Ishgard, the Holy See
• 1x Kor Haven
• 1x Minas Tirith
• 1x Monumental Henge
• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 14x Plains
• 1x Plaza of Heroes
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Sanctum of Eternity
• 1x Talon Gates of Madara
• 1x Thespian's Stage
• 1x Tyrite Sanctum
• 1x Urza's Cave
• 1x Urza's Saga

Sorcery (7)

• 1x Austere Command
• 1x Avatar's Wrath
• 1x Emeria's Call
• 1x Farewell *f-etch*GC
• 1x Open the Armory
• 1x Steelshaper's Gift
• 1x Winds of Abandon

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Forge Anew
• 1x Meticulous Excavation
• 1x Sigarda's Aid

Commander (1)

Creature (16)

• 1x Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist *f-etch*
• 1x Cavalier of Dawn
• 1x Cid, Freeflier Pilot
• 1x Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
• 1x Danitha, Benalia's Hope *f-etch*
• 1x Esper Sentinel
• 1x Loran of the Third Path
• 1x Puresteel Paladin
• 1x Recruiter of the Guard
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Sokka, Swordmaster
• 1x Spectacular Spider-Man
• 1x Sram, Senior Edificer
• 1x Stoneforge Mystic
• 1x Stonehewer Giant
• 1x Witch Enchanter

Artifact (5)

• 1x Arcane Signet *f-etch*
• 1x Expedition Map
• 1x Marble Diamond
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Sol Ring

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{W} {W}- - February 17, 2026 - -{W} {W}

Lorwyn Eclipsed Update

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2026 Updates

Beginning of Updates

February 17 ~~ Lorwyn Eclipsed Update Show

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Lorwyn Eclipsed

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Main Set

None

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Commander

None

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Other Additions

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None

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Q2 ~~ Secrets of Strixhaven Update Show

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Secrets of Strixhaven

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Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles

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Q3 ~~ Heroes & Hobbits Update Show

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Marvel Super Heroes

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The Hobbit

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Q4 ~~ Reality Fracture Update Show

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Reality Fracture

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Star Trek

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End of Updates

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Description & Gameplay

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Why Mono-White?---Why Halvar?

Beginning of Why

Why Mono-White Show

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This deck was first built in 2011, when options for Equipment-centric Voltron Commanders were extremely limited. Kemba, Kha Regent was the only proper option to fill my initial need of such a Commander, and this deck remained Mono-White ever since.

Equipment is firmly within White's slice of the Colour Pie. The vast majority of tutors, recursion, and other forms of support are found in this single colour. The other four colours have barely any appeal, as they don't significantly improve what White can already accomplish. The only colour that has anything is Red, but even then there isn't anything novel.

I have zero interest in converting this deck into multicolour, and I don't expect anything to persuade me from this stance. It just isn't feasible to fit all of the required staples and support without tearing this deck asunder. Not every card of the additional colour would have an easy 1-to-1 replacement either, and certain effects that don't occur outside of White would have to be diminished for space. Such an endeavour would result in a fundamentally different deck that I'd might as well make a separate one from scratch.

Remaining Monocoloured greatly benefits my manabase, as I can devote a higher amount of space towards a suite of utility lands. Such a manabase wouldn't be possible with a multicolored deck's demanding mana-fixing requirements.

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Why Halvar, God of Battle? Show

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A Voltron deck's Commander is, first and foremost, the primary win condition. My choice of Commander is what I deem the best choice that can deal that sweet 21 Commander Damage better than any other option. This deck has been though five different Commanders, and I believe Halvar, God of Battle is the greatest at performing this role.

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Kemba, Kha Regent

October 26, 2011 - July 23, 2013

Kemba was elected as the First Commander out of necessity. There was only two options for an Equipment-centric Commander when I first starting building this deck, the other being Raksha Golden Cub. Kemba was chosen over Raksha for her cheaper mana cost.

Kemba wasn't an effective Voltron Commander, with her Equipment-fueled benefit created a legion of Cats and not any kind of advantage towards the Voltron strategy. I eventually grew tired of tokens and started searching for a replacement.

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Eight-and-a-Half-Tails

July 23, 2013 - February 3, 2017

Eight-and-a-Half-Tails became the Second Commander as a proper Voltron Commander. Giving my permanents protection from White and turning blockers White to get around them made him more effective at dealing Commander Damage and safeguarding key permanents from targeted effects.

8.5-Tails' protections came at a significant cost, as he needed plenty of mana to use his abilities on top of paying for Equipment. He ended up stuck as a late-game play, with any potential early-game opportunities to deal Commander Damage being lost.

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Sram, Senior Edificer

February 3, 2017 - November 30, 2017

Sram stepped up as the Third Commander to regain Equipment synergy, being the third Mono-White Equipment-centric legend after Kemba. A Commander that draws cards for doing regular Equipment Voltron things was very appealing, and his low cost guaranteed the Commander Damage clock would start before the board would get too packed.

The Senior Edificer's time as Commander was extremely short-lived, as his successor arrived a mere few months later.

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Balan, Wandering Knight

November 30, 2017 - February 12, 2021

Balan jumped in as the Forth Commander for her power. Her natural double strike entering the Command Zone was a gamechanger, dealing Commander Damage far better and more consistently than her predecessors.

If there's one downside with the Wandering Knight, it would be how selfish she is. Her attach ability affects all of your Equipment, not a select number of them. This disincentives other attackers or using a spare Equipment to protect a key utility creature. Despite this, she was a fantastic Commander and I honestly thought she couldn't be bested.

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Halvar, God of Battle// Sword of the Realms

February 12, 2021 - Present

Halvaris the Fifth and current Commander for his efficiency and utility.

His efficiency comes from his natural double strike. He only needs one Equipment against Balan's two. His higher base power paired with an Equipment that provides a sufficient power-boost and evasion turns him into a two-turn clock. This damage output from such minimal resources is the best out of any previous Commander.

His utility comes from his benefits towards alternative threats. Halvar'sshares his double strike to any equipped creature, allowing multiple threats fighting alongside him. His attach trigger allows spare Equipment to be transferred between creatures, allowing an earlier threat to toss a Sword to Halvaror a tapped creature to give their Equipment to an untapped blocker. Sword of the Realms, the other half of my DFC Commander, supports an alternative threat to maintain a commanding presence on the battlefield in situations where Halvarwouldn't be effective.

At this point, I don't expect Halvar to be replaced. A hypothetical successor would need to be better than a literal 2-for-1 High-Damage Threat/Utility Equipment offering mass double strike, Equipment tossing, and death aversion.

End of Why

Halvar's Gameplan

Beginning of Gameplan

General Strategies Show

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Building Resources

Early game is largely focused on setting up the board, generating additional mana and a card draw engine to keep up with multiple opponents. Two White sources, ramp, protection, a solid Equipment, and a cheap threat are what I want to see in an opening hand, though I don't expect everything at once. As long as a hand provides something worthwhile within the first few turns, I'll likely keep it instead of taking a mulligan.

Ramp:

• A handful of Mana Rocks for everyday mana acceleration.
• Sword of the Animist and Bitterthorn are ramp engines among the Equipment package to ensure steady mana production.
• Myriad Landscape and Ancient TombGC are lands that generate additional mana.
• The first Equipment tutor is often spent towards ramp, grabbing either ramp engine. Enlightened TutorGC has the option to set up Sol Ring for the following turn instead of an Equipment.

Card Draw:

• Sram and Puresteel Paladin trigger card draw from casting Equipment.
• Esper Sentinel utilize the power-boost from Equipment to cause its trigger cost to be effectively unpayable.
• Loran offers a consistent flow of cards after popping an artifact/enchantment.
• Buster Sword and Sword of Fire and Ice are Equipment that draw cards on combat triggers.
• Minas Tirith and Monumental Henge among the manabase use late-game mana to generate more cards.

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Basic Equipment Gameplay

Equipment are cast on a need basis. Any Equipment past setting up Halvar's two-turn clock or buking up an alternative threat won't be played unless it's covering a insufficiency, such as a gap in evasion or lack of power.

Equipment support cards are usually played as soon as I see them to get the most out of their abilities.

• Sokka, Swordmaster and Cid reduce the cost of Equipment spells.
• Sram and Puresteel Paladin need to be on board before casting further Equipment.
• Sigarda's Aid and Hammer of Nazahn have attach triggers for subsequent Equipment.
• Forge Anew is held back to get value on its recursion trigger unless there's a high equip cost to get around.

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Hindering Opponents

White has the most extensive removal available. As such, this deck features a large amount of removal to slow my opponents from developing their strategies.

• I've leaned more heavily into catch-all removal options to avoid having the "wrong" removal. I try to leave mana open for removal every turn for killspells and/or protective effects whenever possible.
• Loran and Witch Enchanterare dedicated artifact/enchantment removal options to save the instant-speed removal more towards creatures.
• Creature sweepers keep the aggro decks and other creature-based strategies in check before they get overwhelming.
• Heavy sweepers are the ultimate reset button when opponents have developed their boards too far and/or I'm greatly falling behind. Using such sweepers may seem counterintuitive as they also hit my Equipment, but I don't mind. This deck can run on minimal resources, and I'll likely rebuild faster than my opponents can.

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Protecting the King

Voltron has a major weakness in putting your efforts onto a single creature. Whether it's Halvaror an alternative threat, it's a severe problem if that threat goes down or is disarmed. This deck features a vast package of protective effects keep that suited-up creature going though the expected attempts to stop it.

• Restoration Magic, Galadriel's Dismissal, Dawn's Truce, and Teferi's ProtectionGC are the bread-and-butter protective spells that safeguard my board.
• Parting Gust and Final Showdown are removal spells that have a protection mode to fall back on.
• Robe of Stars phases out the equipped threat on command.
• Plaza of Heroes deters removal away from Halvaror another legend.
• Talon Gates of Madara can surprise an opponent with its activated ability or through Urza's Cave.

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The Three Paths Show

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Primary Path: The Skoti Warrior

The main win condition of this deck is to defeat each opponent through Commander Damage. As such, the Primary Path is the one I will prioritize throughout the game whenever feasible.

An opening hand with a Mana Rock, a solid Equipment, and a protective spell is the most ideal situation to follow the Primary Path out of the gate. Halvarcan begin dealing Commander Damage before opponents can set up proper defenses. In the mid-late game when I have the more resources, the Primary Path can be taken so Halvarhas plenty of Equipment to work with additional waysGC to keep him safe from removal.

Halvaris an efficient warrior. Any Equipment that pumps his power to at least 6 and offers sufficient evasion is the most beneficial, as he'll only need two turns to take out an opponent. A Sword with a relevant protection is especially effective as to completely dodge potential blockers and removal while generating value from the combat triggers.

In most cases, additional Equipment won't increase Halvar'sclock any further. At 6 power, he'll need an another 5 for him to enter one-shot territory. Powerhouse Equipment that pushes his damage to that level is a worthwhile follow-up. Any other Equipment beyond that will likely be utility options that provide evasion or protection from removal. Additional Equipment may be given to another threat to join in on Halvar'sdouble strike and pressure a second opponent, especially to activate Minas Tirith.

In the event that Halvardies, I have two options to keep his pressure up.

• The first one which is to recast card:alvar, God of Battle|Halvarimmediately, especially if I have an Equipment supplying haste or a protective effect from a follow-up killspell.
• The second option is to equip an alternative threat first, then recast Halvarto have the other creature bash in while he's summoning sick. Halvarcan then be tossed an Equipment with his attach trigger to resume his assault the follwing turn.

There will be situations where I may have to hold off on recasting Halvar. If I do suspect a killspell and I don't have way around it,, I wouldn't be able to avoid him getting sniped. If my Equipment were destroyed with him and I have none on hand to replace them, then Halvarwould be pointless. No matter the reason, I'll be forced to abandon the Primary Path and traverse one of the others.

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Auxiliary Path: The Tyrite Blade

The Auxiliary Path is for when things aren't suitable for Halvarto be effective. A missing piece for an early rush. A telegraphed removal spell. Lack of Equipment on hand. There are plenty of reasons for him to be held back. Unlike other Voltron Commanders, Halvarisn't completely left without options. Where other Commanders would be cursed to wait in the Command Zone, the Sword of the Realmscan shine. This Path is very appealing in the early game with opening hands that don't work for Halvar, but aren't lacking enough to press my luck with a mulligan.

Sword of the Realmsis the perfect supplement for an alternative threat. It offers vigilance to keep my defenses up and will return the equipped creature to my hand when it dies. The deck has a solid collection of creatures that can utilize Halvar's Swordfor a variety of roles.

Combat:

• Serra Ascendant is the champion of the Auxiliary Path. The hyper-efficient threat benefits greatly from the vigilance and self-recursion granted by Halvar's Sword. Whenever I see Serra Ascendant in my opening hand, I'll immediately follow the Auxiliary Path for the enormous board dominance a large, immortal, vigilant, lifelinking flier provides so early in the game.
• Danitha, Stonehewer Giant, and Cavalier of Dawn are the other large threats that generally benefit evading death.
• Ardenn and Puresteel Paladin (with metalcraft) shaves the equip cost Sword to have an immediate wielder if none else are available.

Utility:

• Sram and Puresteel Paladin get a guarantee card draw trigger.
• Esper Sentinel has an easy access power-boost to increase the cost of its trigger.
• Cloud, Stoneforge Mystic, and Recruiter of the Guard get brought back from death to gain another tutor.
• Cavalier of Dawn gets an additional round of triggers when brought back with the Sword.

The Auxiliary Path is not without downsides. In order to use the Sword of the Realms, I'll have to forsake the ability to deal Commander Damage until it leaves the battlefield. This will entail waiting for the Tyrite Bladeto fall victim to artifact removal, be it an opponent's removal spell or my own if i'm desparate. Under normal gameplay, the Primary and Auxiliary Paths are fixed. Even if Halvaris stripped of his weapons with nothing left, or Swordsits surrounded with the resources now available for Halvarto make use of, I'll have to keep on the chosen Path until my Commander falls... unless I have an out.

Meticulous Excavation and Sanctum of Eternity grant the ability to swap between card:Halvar,God of Battle|Halvarand his Swordwithout waiting for removal and suffering through Commander Tax. These cards are valuable tools for changing Paths when the opportunity arises.

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Default Path: The Godless Struggle

The Default Path is for when my Commander is completely unavailable. Halvarand Sword of the Realmsare two halves of the same card, and therefore share Commander Tax. A low-tax Commander is an ever-dwindling commodity throughout the game, and casting either side haphazardly could end in disaster. If neither Halvarnor his Swordis going to work out, holding back is the best course of action. Repeated bouts of removal may have also choked my Commander with high tax. Regardless on why my Commander is unavailable, I'll attempt to defeat my opponents though regular damage without his divine aid.

The Default Path requires raw strength. Without Commander Damage to take out opponents, I need high power to accomplish the same.

Threats:

• Serra Ascendant is still a threat that pairs exceedingly well with other Equipment, so long as my life total has remained stable.
• Danitha, Benalia's Hope is a bulky keyword soup creature that cheats/recurs an Equipment directly into her hands.
• Cavalier of Dawn has a strong starting frame and doesn't mind dying for the cause.
• Urza's Saga creates a pair of Contract tokens that scale with the number of artifacts on board. By the end of Chapter III, the end up as 3/3s and only get bigger from there.

Equipment:

• Argentum Armor turns chump into champ.
• Blackblade Reforged and Wrecking Ball arm will substantially boost threats in the late game, especially for the deck's card:Spectacular Spider-Man(SPM:014)|low-power legends.
• Caduceus, similar to Serra Ascendant, provides a huge P/T boost, lifelink, and indestructible for relatively small cost as long as my life total is stable.
• Leyline Axe and Genji Glove grant double strike and other benefits for alternative threats.
• The Swords lose a lot of their impact when Halvar'sdouble strike and Commander Damage getting the most out of them. Their lower power boost puts them more into a support role, using their protections to circumvent blockers and removal.

Even with a heavily taxed Commander, there is a ray of hope out of the Default Path. Command Beacon is a useful tool by providing a one-time tax break to get Halvarback in the game without spending excessive amounts of mana.

End of Gameplan

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Deck Construction

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Card Choices

Beginning of Card Choices

Creatures

Beginning of Creatures

Equipment Support Show

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Equipment Tutor Creatures

Cloud, Midgar Mercenary doubles Equipment triggers, benefitting Sword of the Animist and the Swords.

Stoneforge Mystic can cheat an Equipment onto the battlefield for only two mana, circumventing high mana costs and dodging countermagic.

Stonehewer Giant is the best creatures the 99. Tutoring up my best Equipment directly onto the field every turn is backbreaking. Sting, the Glinting Dagger and Argentum Armor are among the first Equipment I grab.

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Free-Equip Creatures

Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist suits himself up or another threat when my combat begins. He can be an early threat if my opening hand is slow.

Puresteel Paladin grants equip 0 to my Equipment when metalcraft is achieved. It's also a card draw engine, triggering when an Equipment enters.

Sokka, Swordmaster is a lone wolf, picking up a weapon for himself during combat.

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Cid, Freeflier Pilot

A proactive, Equipment-centric version of Argivian Archaeologist.

Cheaper, reduces the mana costs of Equipment, and has flying to be a potential attacker.

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Danitha, Benalia's Hope

A bulky threat that cheats an Equipment onto the field and auto-equips it to her.

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Sram, Senior Edificer

A creature that makes every Equipment spell cantrip.

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Other Creatures Show

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Cavalier of Dawn

An all-in-one value creature providing a bulky body, removal, and recursion.

It can target itself with its removal enters trigger to get the recursion death trigger right away. (And I get the 3/3 token!)

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Esper Sentinel

A Rhystic StudyGC-style card draw engine with the cost based on its power, which can be increased with Equipment.

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Loran of the Third Path & Witch Enchanter

Creatures that provide artifact/enchantment removal when they enter.

Loran of the Third Path draws cards afterwards.

Witch Enchanter is a MDFC that can be a land drop instead of removal.

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Recruiter of the Guard

A tutor for creatures with low toughness. This deck has a variety of creatures to choose from.

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Serra Ascendant

The Scourge of Turn 1

Purely a back-up threat without any utility. I've dialed back on creatures that don't do anything beyond attack in this deck, but Ascendant has persisted due to its unique nature as a 6/6 flying lifelinker for a single {W}.

If I happen to have it early-game, I'll forgo playing Halvarright away and use Sword of the Realmsto support it.

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Spectacular Spider-Man

A webslinging Hero that soars over blockers and sacrifices himself for the greater good.

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End of Creaures

The Divine Armory

Beginning of Armory

Halvar's Favourites Show

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These Equipment are among the best that Halvarcould ever wield. Any one of them provides the necessary P/T boost and evasion to push his damage to two-shot range while circumventing blockers. When he's out, I will prioritize any available to maximize his effectiveness.

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The Skoti's Sword Collection

Sword of Feast and Famine untaps all lands and picks apart an opponent's hand.

Sword of Fire and Ice draws cards and shoots damage.

Sword of Light and Shadow provides creature recursion and lifegain. It's protections are also the most potent at avoiding killspells.

Sword of Sinew and Steel rids the field of artifacts and Planeswalkers.

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Commander's Plate

A Sword-adjacent Equipment providing the similar P/T boosts and protections, but in larger and broader forms.

Cheaper to equip to Halvar.

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Celestial Armor & Maul of the Skyclaves

Snap-on Equipment that providing a P/T boost and flying on the cheap.

Celestial Armor in particular has flash and safeguards the equipped creature from removal for the turn. This Equipment is treated more as a protection spell if I don't have another on hand.

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Wrecking Ball arm

An Equipment that hard sets the equipped creature to a 7/7 and provides evasion against chump blockers.

Cheaper to equip to Legends.

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Powerhouses Show

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Equipment that focus on raw power boosts. Preferable for alternative threats in the absence of Halvar.

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Argentum Armor

An Equipment that provides a massive P/T boost and a removal attack trigger.

Even though is very expensive to cast and equip, I consider this Equipment a staple. There's a plethora of ways to avoid paying the full 12 mana needed to set it up.

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Blackblade Reforged

An Equipment that provides a raw, enormous P/T boosts based on the number of land I control.

Cheaper to equip to Legends.

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Buster Sword

An Ex-SOLDIER's iconic weapon that provides a sizable P/T boost, draws cards, and casts spells for free.

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Caduceus, Staff of Hermes

Serra Ascendant in Equipment form.

Provides a large P/T boost and indestructible so long as I have 30 or more life, which I do by default.

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Genji Glove

Provides double strike and an additional combat step, effectively quadrupling a creature's potential damage output.

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Leyline Axe

An Equipment offering double strike and trample, increasing damage while punching though defenses.

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Utility Show

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Equipment that provide other abilities and advantages outside of dealing damage.

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Sword of the Realms

The other half of my Commander.

I'll cast this side instead of Halvarwhen he isn't the optimal play to support an alternative threat.

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Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus & Sword of the Animist

Equipment that grab basic Plains every attack. This continuously builds my mana and eases missed land drops.

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Hammer of Nazahn

A well-rounded package providing a power boost, indestructible, and 'snap-on' equipping.

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Lion Sash

An Equipment creature that picks apart the grave to boost itself or whatever is wielding it.

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Robe of Stars

A purely defensive Equipment that phases the Equipped creature out, avoiding any and all forms of removal towards it and every Equipment its wielding.

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Shadowspear

A cheap Equipment providing trample, lifelink, and a way to strip hexproof and indestructible form my opponents' permanents.

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Sting, the Glinting Dagger

A source of haste and "vigilance" in the form of an untap trigger.

Stonehewer Giant gets an immense advantage from the untap trigger, allowing it to tutor up twice on my turn and have additional tutors on each opponent's turn.

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Swiftfoot Boots

A very handy Equipment providing hexproof and haste for low costs. An Equipment Votron deck shouldn't go without it.

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Artifacts & Enchantments

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Mana Rocks

Sol Ring is among the best Mana Rocks, providing a substantial bump in mana for minimal costs. It's a staple so ubiquitous it's seen as a symbol of the format. Intentionally excluding it from your deck is a disservice.

Arcane Signet is the best 2mv Mana Rock available. Enters untapped and taps for {W} without downsides.

Marble Diamond is another 2mv Mana Rock that taps for {W}.

Mind Stone is a 2mv Rock that can be popped for a card when it isn't needed.

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Expedition Map

Grabs one of the many utility lands this deck uses for whatever the situation calls for.

If played on Turn 1, it can grab Ancient TombGC to cast Halvarearly.

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Forge Anew

An Equipment support package providing recursion, instant-speed equipping, and a free equip every turn.

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Meticulous Excavation

Protects my permanents during my turn, reuses enter triggers, & regains access to the spell half of MDFC lands.

Hotswaps between each side of my Commander.

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Sigarda's Aid

An Enchantment that gives Equipment flash and an auto-equip.

Turns Sword of the Realmsinto a protection spell while it's in the Command Zone.

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Spells

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Equipment Tutors Show

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Steelshaper's Gift & Open the Armory

Cheap and efficient Equipment tutors. The core of any Equipment Voltron deck.

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Enlightened TutorGC

A broader Tutor that can select any artifact or enchantment. Although, I almost always stick with an Equipment.

If it's in my opening hand, I may use it to get Sol Ring and play Halvarvery early.

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Removal Spells Show

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Parting Gust & Winds of Abandon

Simple killspells that exile the target.

Winds of Abandon can be overloaded to sweep every opponent's creatures. Giving them a pile of Basics is a lot better than whatever I was staring down.

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Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire & Razorgrass Ambush

Cards that have the alternative use of dealing damage to a creature in combat.

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Catch-all Removal Spells

Versatile removal spells that target anything that ails me, leaving behind relatively non-threatening tokens.

• Generous Gift
• Get Lost
• Stroke of Midnight

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Austere Command & FarewellGC

Modal sweepers that adapt to any board state.

Due to this deck's low amount of enchantments, Austere Command's 'Destroy all enchantments' mode is often used as a blank if I wish to preserve specific creatures or my Equipment.

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Avatar's Wrath

A sweeper that airbends creatures off the field, eliminating blockers for a couple of combat steps.

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Final Showdown

A creature sweeper that can cancel out abilities and leave a threat behind.

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Protective Spells Show

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Dawn's Truce

White's Heroic Intervention.

I need to gift an opponent a card to get the full effect, but that's a more than reasonable cost for my board to avoid annihilation.

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Final Showdown

Gives a creature indestructible to botch removal or survive the sweeper mode.

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Galadriel's Dismissal

A phasing spell with a wide array of applications:

• It can spare a creature from removal.
• It can spare an Equipment from removal indirectly by phasing out its wielder.
• It can spare my entire board of creatures and attached Equipment from a sweeper.
• It can stifle an opponent's alpha strike.
• It can clear out an opponent's blockers to set up my own alpha strike.

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Parting Gust

Can be cast on one of my creatures ungifted to flicker it away from being removed, and it comes back with a +1/+1 counter!

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Restoration Magic

A protection spell that saves one permanent on the cheap or my whole board when I pay for the highest tier.

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Sejiri Shelter

An MDFC, with a protective spell on the front side.

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Teferi's ProtectionGC

A Gamechanger that spares me and my board from nearly everything.

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Other Spells Show

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Emeria's Call

A MDFC, with a token/protective spell on the front. Creates flying bodies and gives non-Angels indestructible for the turn cycle.

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Sevinne's Reclamation

A recursion spell for small permanents that double dips on its effect when cast from the graveyard.

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Land

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14 Basic Plains

This deck needs plenty of {W}, and Basic Lands are the major providers.

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Modal DFCs

Unique cards that allow utility cards and land drops to exist simultaneously.

• Emeria, Shattered Skyclave
• Razorgrass Field
• Sejiri Glacier
• Witch-Blessed Meadow

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Abstergo Entertainment

Dual historic card recursion/grave purge in a land slot.

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Ancient TombGC

A lands that tap for {C}{C} in exchange for 2 life.

Helpful for paying casting expensive spells and paying equip costs.

Can enable an early Halvar.

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Castle Ardenvale

An untapped {W} utility land.

Creates 1/1 Human Tokens to pick up Equipment or chump block.

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Command Beacon

Offers a Commander Tax break when Halvargets expensive to cast.

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Demolition Field & Field of Ruin

Utility lands that destroys another utility land.

I use them over other options due to them replacing themselves with Basics so I'm not down a land.

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Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

An untapped {W} utility land.

Can be channeled to damage a creature in combat.

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Ishgard, the Holy See

A land that leads to a recursion adventure.

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Kor Haven

A protective utility land that deters my opponents' threats.

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Minas Tirith & Monumental Henge

Untapped {W} utility lands.

Minas Tirith can draw cards on turns I attack with multiple creatures.

Monumental Henge is a repeatable dig effect for historic cards.

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Myriad Landscape

A ramp source of a land by grapping a pair of Plains.

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Plaza of Heroes & Talon Gates of Madara

Lands that protects a creature from removal.

Plaza of Heroes openly safeguards Halvaror another legend by existing.

Talon Gates of Madara acts like a protection spell by its unique ability to place itself directly on the battlefield from the hand for its enters trigger to phase out a creature.

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Rogue's Passage

Makes a threat unblockable.

Helpful when my available Equipment lack the proper evasion.

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Sanctum of Eternity

A land that bounces my Commander.

Saving my Commander from removal during my turn.

Offers the opportunity to hotswap between each side of my Commander.

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Thespian's Stage

A land clone that can repeatedly change what it becomes.

Can be a Plains when there's nothing else worth copying.

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Tyrite Sanctum

A land that empowers legends, granting them godhood and immortality.

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Urza's Cave

A tutor that gets any utility land that I desire.

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Urza's Saga

A unique Saga that creates a pair bodies and tutors for a small artifact.

End of Lands

End of Card Choices

Notable Exclusions

Beginning of Notable Exclusions

Mechanics Show

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Catch-Up Ramp

I heavily dislike this style ramp that White has. The purpose of ramp is to develop a resource advantage over your opponents. Catch-up ramp doesn't do that. It can only ever bring you at parity with the opponents that ramp, and never offer that advantage for yourself. Without a Green opponent at the table or their ramp effects being played early enough, you end up with cards that can't do anything outside of correcting missed land drops. Catch-up ramp is also completely ineffective against most other decks that don't ramp with lands.

I gave a few catch-up ramp cards a try for a number of years, but they frequently butted heads with Sword of the Animist. I've fully cut them in favor of traditional Mana Rocks and focusing more on tutoring heavily for the Equipment-based ramp engines.

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Poison

Poison is one of the most annoying and hated mechanics in the game. Having your life total effectively be capped at 10 with no proper counterplay puts players on edge. Select cards bearing the infect keyword are the egregious offenders, allowing poison kills to be feasible in this format.

This deck has access to two major cards with infect: Grafted Exoskeleton and Inkmoth Nexus. Though this deck never used Grafted Exoskeleton, it did have Inkmoth Nexus in earlier builds solely as a back-up win-con. There was significant distain in every game I had it out, and victory with it personally felt hollow.

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Mass Land Destruction

I'm not a fan of mass land destruction in Commander. They're too all-or-nothing, only giving me the win if I have an overwhelming board advantage. Otherwise, I'm either kingmaking or turning the game into an utter mess. With the stigma it carries and the use of them pushing decks into high Bracket tiers, I'm not interested in having my deck getting ostracized.

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Equipment & Support Show

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The Unused Swords

I don't run all eleven Swords because they're not all equal in strength and value. I judge each Sword based on what their triggers offer this deck, and I have no desire in Swords that don't provide anything relevant. There's a finite amount of space for Equipment in this deck, so I can't shove everything in without forethought.

I've heard the argument that the Swords can be used 'just for the protections.' Sword of Light and Shadow is the only Sword I believe this idea applies to, and only because protection from both White and Black shuts out the top creature removal colours. However, this deck is still using Sword of Light and Shadow for its triggered ability. Commander's Plate also exists that provides protection from the other four colours.

• Sword of Body and Mind is a terrible Sword. Milling is not an effective win-con in Commander outside of milling everyone out at once, which at that point you're just another combo deck. Not to mention the free value opposing graveyard-based strategies this Sword gives.

• Sword of War and Peace is the absolute weakest of the Swords just by its underwhelming trigger. It neither impacts the board nor generates any tangible value. Lifegain and additional damage are provided by other Equipment in better, more consistent quantities.

• Sword of Truth and Justice is a proliferate engine, not a Voltron Equipment. The +1/+1 counters it comes with isn't enough on its own.

• Sword of Hearth and Home gave me way too many problems with protection from White. This deck relies too heavily on protective spells, targeted abilities, and card:Sward of the Realms|coloured Equipmentfor it to be a usable land ramp engine.

• Sword of Forge and Frontier needs a lot of mana upfront to prevent permanently leaving high mana value cards left in exile, and this makes it very awkward to use early-game.

• Sword of Once and Future only works in a deck that's loaded with cheap value spells. I don't have anywhere near enough of the right spells to get any proper value out of this Sword.

• Sword of Wealth and Power is the only Sword that doesn't provide evasion. It's trigger is lackluster as well, requiring a deck with enough value spells like Once & Future does. Beyond that, the Treasure token isn't worth it when I'll need an outside source of evasion just to get it consistently. Protection from instants also blocks protective spells.

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Masterwork of Ingenuity

I don't get a lot of use out of an Equipment clone. Clones are only as powerful as what you can copy, and this deck doesn't provide that much to work with. I used to joke in games that Masterwork was a second Argentum Armor, until I came to the conclusion that all it ever was. Since I tend have one creature equipped, the second copy has to have a low level of diminishing returns when together. A second Argentum Armor is another +6/+6 and removal trigger, but most other Equipment don't have that quality.

One appeal of Masterwork is to double up on Swords for more triggers. A second copy of them isn't as exciting when I have double strike in the Command Zone at the ready to get additional triggers. Sword of Light and Shadow is never good in multiples with the issues protection from White cause for this deck. Outside of additional triggers, a second Sword at the least only adds another +2/+2, which isn't worth the effort.

Another strike against Masterwork is the number of legendary Equipment in this deck. There are strong Equipment that would be fantastic in multiples are completely halted by the Legend Rule.

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Other Cards Show

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Land Tax

This card is a persistent relic of the early days, and I don't understand its modern appeal. It's not a ramp source. Flooding your hand with Basics is never going to keep pace with the Green Mages. Any ramp source is a better option if your goal is to ramp. If repeatable rand ramp is the goal, there are efficient tools available.

This card isn't good anymore, if it was even 'good' to begin with. It only remains out of habit from older players and high-profile reprints drawing fresh attention to it.

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Path to Exile & Swords to Plowshares

These old staple killspells have been pushed out by more versatile options.

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Fetchlands

There are two primary functions for Fetchlands in Commander: mana fixing and landfall triggers. This deck requires neither, so Fetchlands won't be apart of this deck.

Deck-thinning is a myth, especially so in a format with 99-card decks. A Fetchland filtering out one additional card out of the deck doesn't make a noticeable difference. There's also an opportunity cost, as every Fetchland is one less utility land I get to enjoy.

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Emeria, the Sky Ruin

This deck doesn't have a solid number of high-impact recursion targets. The vast majority of my creatures need synergy with other cards to function instead of commanding a presence alone, which isn't going to be worth fishing out this land and seven basics.

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Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

I don't build enough devotion consistently for this land to produce sufficient mana. Even with the advent of coloured Equipment to fuel it, I don't want to waste a land slot on something that's not going to work when I want it to.

End of Notable Exclusions

Top Ranked	Achieved #6 position overall 13 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Bracket 3 11 months ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Mono-White 7 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Voltron 7 years ago
Date added	13 years
Last updated	1 month
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	21 - 0 Mythic Rares 47 - 0 Rares 13 - 0 Uncommons 3 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.65
Tokens	Angel Warrior 4/4 W, Construct 0/0 C, Elephant 3/3 G, Fish 1/1 U, Golem 3/3 C, Human 1/1 W, Map, On an Adventure, Phyrexian Germ 0/0 B
Folders	favorites, Commander, great edh deck, Faves, EDH, EDH Decks, decks i want to build, edh, EDH, Decks Im going to get soon