Halvar, Divine Voltron (Commander / EDH MTG Deck)

Halvar, Divine Voltron

Commander / EDH Aggro Equip Mono-White Multiplayer Voltron

NensouHiebara

Creature (23)

Sorcery (7)

Land (36)

Instant (8)

Enchantment (2)

Nahiri (1)

1x Nahiri, the Lithomancer

Commander (1)

Halvar's Armory (16)

Artifact (6)

Maybeboard

Allied Swords (3)

1x Sword of Blue and Black
1x Sword of Green and White
1x Sword of Red and Green

Equipment (2)

Strixhaven (1)

1x Sweeper Modal DFC?

Land (1)

1x Blinkmoth Nexus

Sorcery (1)

1x Akroma's Vengeance

- - February 12, 2021 -- Kaldheim Update - -

- - February 12 -- Kaldheim Update - - Show

Q2 -- Strixhaven Update Show

Q3 -- Forgotten Realms Update Show

Q4 -- "Innistrad 3" Update Show

Description

General Show

The path I start with each game is dictated by my opening hand. I may have good Equipment and drop Halvar right away. I may have an early threat and wish to use Sword of the Realms to support it. I may have a middling hand and decide to build my resources first.

No matter how I begin, whichever gameplan I execute is subject to change as things progress and situations evolve. This deck's primary win condition is to deal lethal Commander Damage to each opponent, so I will prioritize on using Halvar whenever feasible.

Any available ramp is played as early as possible. The Mana Rocks, Ancient Tomb, a tutor for Ancient Tomb played on Turn 1, and Knight of the White Orchid enable Halvar to be cast early. Other ramp sources keep the mana flowing into the late game.

Weathered Wayfarer, aside from Turn 1 shenanigans, keeps me from falling behind on mana and offers a stream of utility lands. I will likely aggresively keep a land-light opening hand if Wayfarer is present. I tend to grab some combination of Castle Ardenvale, Command Beacon, Rogue's Passage, War Room, and Emeria, The Sky Ruin before its ability is shut off.

Eternal Dragon and Noble Templar are cycled whenever I have spare mana to set up the next land drop. Mistveil Plains is the go-to target unless I need the untapped Basic.

As the main strategy is to bash in with a single attacker, most of my creatures are dedicated to providing beneficial abilities instead of combat. A handful of these creatures have static abilities that either supports my board or put a moderate chokehold on my opponents. I usually play these creatures as I acquire them so their abilities are online as son as possible.

Protectors are important for shutting down my opponents' kill spells. Targeted removal is a lot harsher against strategies focusing on lone threats. I prefer to have a Protector on board at all times, and I'll always play a one early if present in my opening hand. Devoted Caretaker specifically also keeps removal away from my Equipment, though it may force me to be a turn slower throughout the early-game to keep mana for its ability open.

Many of my utility creatures have low toughness, which allows Recruiter of the Guard to be a 'toolbox' tutor that gets whatever I need in a given moment. Early-game targets are either a Protector to keep my creatures safe from kill spells, Serra Ascendant or Danitha Capashen if I need an early threat, or Weathered Wayfarer to alleviate mana-screw. Late-game targets include Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist or Puresteel Paladin to dodge equip costs, Stoneforge Mystic to later get an Equipment, or Argivian Archaeologist to make use of a stocked graveyard.

This deck features an extensive removal package to disrupt my opponents' gameplans. It contains various targeted removal spells and sweepers to adapt to any situation by picking off isolated problems or clearing the board.

I try to leave mana open for removal every turn for kill spells. Keeping a Plains open for Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares is easy in most scenarios. Having spare mana left for Oblation, Generous Gift, or Heliod's Intervention can be tricky if I need the mana for other cards, especially early-game or if I'm a bit mana-screwed.

Creature sweepers keep aggro decks in check. Equipment Voltron is a 'Go Big' playstyle, focusing on a single threat. Aggro strategies, especially Token decks, get overwhelming by their sheer numbers, and I have little to defend against them in combat.

Heavy sweepers are the ultimate reset button for dire situations when opponents have develops their boards too far with various permanents. Playing such sweepers may seem counterintuitive as they destroy my Equipment, but I don't mind. This deck likely runs better on minimal resources than my opponents'. I will rebuild faster than them, and I have plenty of recursion to bring my Equipment back.

The Skoti Warrior Show

The Tyrite Blade Show

The Godless Struggle Show

Card Choices

Creatures Show

Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist

Provides free equips.

Can either be an emergency Equipment wielder or support one of the deck's more dedicated back-up threats.

Argivian Archaeologist

Repeatable artifact recursion. Left unchecked, it will take full advantage of a graveyard full of destroyed Equipment, undoing my opponents' attemps to keep Halvar unarmed.

It also creates a card draw engine with Mind Stone and Soul-Guide Lantern.

Cataclysmic Gearhulk & Realm-Cloaked Giant

Gearhulk is the style of sweeper that spares one of each type. More often than not, I let Gearhulk die to its own ability so it can be recurred later on. I may keep it on the board if there isn't another artifact or creature worth holding onto instead. Halvar doesn't mind these kinds of sweepers as the one Equipment left over can still keep his damage output high.

Realm-Cloaked Giant is a great fit for an Equipment deck. Cast Off is a separate part of the card, so it acts like a regular, appropriately costed sweeper. And the Giant is still available in exile after the sweep awaiting the time when its vigilant 7/7 body needed. As a nice bonus, Cast Off also spares Stonehewer Giant and Sun Titan.

Cavalier of Dawn

In my opinion, it's the ultimate utility creature:

It's ETB trigger removes threats.
It's death trigger brings back an Equipment or enchantment
It can kill itself with its own ETB trigger to get the recursion death trigger immediately (and have the 3/3 Golem).
It's vigilant 4/5 body is a great base frame to be a back-up Equipment wielder.

Danitha Capashen

Reduces Equipment mana costs.

Her multiple keywords also makes her a great back-up Equipment wielder, specifically the Swords and P/T boosters. She's particularly great early game as the initial threat if the rest of my opening hand is lacking.

Devoted Caretaker, Mother of Runes, & Giver of Runes

Protectors that keep targeted removal off of Halvar and important utility creatures.

Mom and Giver can use protection to have Halvar bypass blockers.
Caretaker keeps targeted removal spells off of any of my permanets, not just creatures.

Drannith Magistrate

Prevents opponents from casting their Commanders, which can cause certain strategies to utterly fall apart.

Eternal Dragon & Noble Templar

I use them in lieu of other Basic land tutors, such as Land Tax and Gift of Estates. Those type of cards tend to become dead very quickly while a creature still has the potential to be a back-up Equipment wielder. And as creatures, they pair very well with Sword of Light and Shadow to give a steady stream of land drops.

Grand Abolisher

Keeps my turns free from my opponents' shenanigans. Their countermagic is kept at bay and their instant-speed interaction is useless in stopping Halvar's assault.

Knight of the White Orchid

Land ramp effect.

I almost always grap Mistveil Plains with it. The times I don't is when the untapped Basic is more important.

Leonin Abunas

Artifact protector, and the only one worth playing. Giving artifacts hexproof instead of shroud makes it easier to equip artifact creatures or to target my own Equipment for whatever reason.

Mangara, the Diplomat

A card draw engine that fills my hand when opponents perform common tasks.

Puresteel Paladin

Makes my Equipment cantrip and lets me equip for free with metalcraft active.

Recruiter of the Guard

Small creature tutor. Has a handful of options within this deck to match the situation.

When I'm looking for new creature additions, possessing toughness 2 or less is an asset.

Serra Ascendant

The Scourge of Turn 1.

Purely an attacker with no 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 .

If I happen to have it early-game, I'll forgo playing Halvar right away and cast Sword of the Realms to protect it.

Stoneforge Mystic

An Equipment Tutor that circumvents mana costs. Handy for saving on mana for the turn, dodging countermagic, and not paying to play Argentum Armor.

Stonehewer Giant

The best creature in the 99. An unanswered Stonehewer can take over the board from tutoring up my top Equipment back-to-back.

I tend to favour Argentum Armor as the first Equipment to grab with it.

Sun Titan

The Recursion King of White.

Takes advantage of a well-stocked graveyard and can be a back-up Equipment wielder. It also creates a card draw engine with Mind Stone or Soul-Guide Lantern.

When I'm looking for new additions, possessing a CMC within 3 is an asset.

Weathered Wayfarer

A repeatable land tutor. Keeps me from falling behind on land drops and sets up my board with utility lands.

Can enable an early Halvar when played on Turn 1 to tutor up Ancient Tomb.

Halvar's Armory Show

The Mirran & Allied Swords

The best of the best in terms of utility. These Equipment come with P/T boosts, protection from two colours, and valuable triggered abilities.

Sword of Feast and Famine chews up my opponents' hands and gives me extra mana for the turn.
Sword of Fire and Ice draws cards and throws a bit of damage around to poke Planeswalkers or kill small creatures.
Sword of Light and Shadow offers protection from the top removal colours and recurs fallen utility creatures.
Sword of Sinew and Steel smashes trinkets and kills Planeswalkers without attacking them.

Argentum Armor

I see this Equipment as a staple despite its high costs. It's really easy to dodge at least one of them most of the time and it has the best payoff in doing so.

I frequently have Stonehewer Giant tutor this up first.

Batterskull

As a living weapon, I see it as a creature first, Equipment second. Acting like a creature mitigates its high costs and is a back-up Equipment wielder that can be easily tutored for.

Living weapon also allows it to be equipped to Halvar right away with his attach trigger if I so chose.

Blackblade Reforged

Juices up Halvar's power for the one-shot kill.

Also allows back-up Equipment wielders to scale with this format's multiple large life totals.

Hammer of Nazahn

One of the best Equipment available. +2/+0 and auto-equipping in addition to providing indestructible puts this Equipment above its predecessors.

It has kicked out Darksteel Plate for a spot in this deck. There's no room for both.

Inquisitor's Flail

The damage doubler.

Using it instead of Fireshrieker, since Halvar naturally has double strike and hands it out like candy.

Loxodon Warhammer & Shadowspear

Solid equipment that provide P/T boosts, trample and lifelink.

Warhammer's larger power boost allows Halvar to two-shot opponents by itself.
Shadowspear's ability to strip hexproof and indestructible form my opponents' permanents allows my removal to tag problems they would otherwise miss.

Maul of the Skyclaves

A "snap-on" Equipment providing a P/T boost and evasion. Allows Halvar to two-shot opponents without proper blockers.

It unfortunately doesn't play well with Sword of Light and Shadow.

Swiftfoot Boots

Cheap hexproof and haste is something Equipment Voltron shouldn't go without.

Sword of the Animist

Mana rocks tend to be collateral damage, be it from an opponent's sweeper or my own. Using an Equipment I can easily tutor for to ramp with lands instead of mana rocks mitigates this issue.

Sword of the Animist grabbing a land every turn eases missing land drops and supports Emeria, the Sky Ruin.

Sword of Vengeance

Provides a collection of keywords to benefit a creature with high power.

Allows Halvar to two-shot opponents by itself.

Umezawa's Jitte

A unique Equipment that uses charge counters for various effects:

+2/+2 to boost the equipped creature's power.
-1/-1 to kill opposing utility creatures, or a large threat when enough counters are stockpiled.
Lifegain to buffer my life total or trigger Dawn of Hope outside of combat.

Artifacts & Enchantments Show

Spells Show

Nahiri Show

Land Show

Notable Exclusions

Equipment Show

The Mirran & Allied Swords

I don't run all seven Swords because they're not all equal in strength. There's a finite amount of space for Equipment in this deck. I can't shove everything in without forethought.

I value each Sword based on what their triggers offer. I have no desire to use a Sword if they don't provide anything relevant:

Body & Mind: Milling is way too slow as a win-con and fuels opposing Graveyard strategies.
War & Peace: Neither impacts the board nor generates any tangible value. Its damage doesn't contribute to Commander Damage, and it's lifegain is easily outpaced by lifelink.
Truth & Justice: This Sword is a proliferate engine. Nothing more. Without a sufficient focus on counters, its can't accomplish anything. The +1/+1 counter is comes with isn't enough.

I've heard the argument that the Swords can be used "just for the protections." The only Sword that I believe this idea applies to is Light & Shadow, and only because pro-White/Black shuts out the top creature removal colours. However, this deck's still using Light & Shadow for its trigger.

Champion's Helm

It only giving hexproof to Legends makes it underwhelming when equipping it to back-up threats.

Darksteel Plate

Hammer of Nazahn took over its spot for having a much larger application beyond indestructible.

There's no space for both.

Fireshrieker

With Halvar as the Commander, Equipment that offer double strike are redundant.

Instead, its spot in the deck is occupied by Inquisitor's Flail to retain access of a damage doubler.

Grafted Exoskeleton

Nobody enjoys fighting against poison. Nobody. Having Exoskeleton would devolve this deck into attempting poison kills.

Poison a generally hated mechanic, and I don't want that stigma attached to this deck.

Masterwork of Ingenuity

It doesn't function well when the vast majority of your Equipment are either Legendary or not worth copying.

The Kaldra Set

The original motivation for me building this deck.

Unfortunately, they've been heavily antiquated over the years. Getting the whole set out at once is also too inconsistent and inefficient. I had to drop them to make room for overall better Equipment.

Lightning Greaves & Whispersilk Cloak

Shroud is a problem in a deck that has to target its own creatures. And Halvar's trigger is useless in the presence of shroud.

This also goes for other Equipment with shroud. If it offers it, this deck isn't interested.

Skullclamp

It requires cheap, consistent access to expendable X/1s, which this deck doesn't really do. There are a few cards in the deck that can create 1/1 tokens, but they aren't exactly optimal.

Support & Tutors Show

Creatures Show

Artifacts & Enchantments Show

Artifacts

Mana Rocks & Doublers

I'm intentionally keeping the amount of mana rocks in this deck at an absolute minimum. Equipment decks will naturally incentivize heavier use of artifact hate, and non-Equipment artifacts will frequently end up as collateral damage. This deck also has a good number of sweepers that will ruin all attempts to build mana with artifact sources.

Sol Ring and Mana Crypt are pretty much as far as I want to go. Any other mana rocks would have to offer some form of utility beyond mana production to make me interested in using it.

As for mana doublers, I'm abstaining from using them entirely. Aside from having the same issues that mana rocks do, they also possess their own individual problems:

Extraplanar Lens doesn't like a mana base with a high nonbasic land count.
Gauntlet of Power can increase my opponents' White mana production.
Caged Sun has a clunky mana cost that can burn up a turn's mana without accomplishing anything.

Darksteel Forge

It's really expensive for what it does. This deck isn't interested in an 9cmc card that rots in my hand.

Inspiring Statuary

It can only affect 31 of the 66 nonland cards this deck has. About 47%. Why would I use a mana rock that can only be used to cast less than half of my spells?

Regardless, not being able to make Equipment spells cheaper is an instant deal-breaker.

Enchantments

Banishing Light et al

I'm not a huge fan of removal that's easily reversible. A simple Naturalize effects or one of my own sweepers and opponent get their cards back.

I did use Grasp of Fate when Commander 2015 released. New removal options released since then has made it less appealing.

Land Tax

It was in this deck since the beginning, but I disliked waiting for an upkeep trigger and needed something more immediate.

Sigarda's Aid

After it was released in Eldritch Moon, better ways to dodge equip costs have sapped its effectiveness.

Spells Show

Land Show

Fetchlands

They're primarily used for colour-fixing, which a mono-coloured deck doesn't need. Deckthinning with them is statistically negligible, especially so in a 99-card deck.

There's also an opportunity cost with Fetchlands. Every Fetchland is one less utility land I'm able to use. And this deck loves its utility lands.

Artifact Lands

They don't provide any meaningful utility and will end up as collateral damage from sweepers. This deck can achieve metalcraft just fine without them.

Cavern of Souls

It doesn't do much in a non-Tribal, mono-coloured deck. Just using it to make Halvar uncounterable feels like a waste.

Flagstones of Trokair

It doesn't do anything relevant. A land that replaces itself is extremely narrow in use.

Inkmoth Nexus

Like with Grafted Exoskeleton, it would devolve the deck into attempting poison kills and give this deck a bad reputation.

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

It doesn't function properly in a deck with a high concentration of colourless permanents. I had it in this deck for a couple of years and it was way too inconsistent.

Strip Mine et al

I used Strip Mine for the longest time, until Field of Ruin came around. I greatly prefer Field as it replaces itself. I also had Dust Bowl too. I'm not that aggressive with Striplands and I wasn't getting a lot of use out of it, so I dropped it for a different utility land.

Between Field, Generous Gift, and Argentum Armor, I feel like I have sufficient ways to tag the odd utility land causing me grief.

Temple of the False God

This card is a trap. Its promise of is enticing, but it's a dead card when that mana matters the most. I already have Ancient Tomb anyway.

Hall of Commanders

First Commander: Kemba, Kha Regent

October 26, 2011 - July 23, 2013

This is my first Commander deck. I started building it in October 2011. The original motivation for this deck was the desire to use The Kaldra Set. To get the best use out of them, I required a synergistic Commander.

The only options available in 2011 were Kemba, Kha Regent or Raksha Golden Cub. I obviously decided on the former as the First Commander. Having a Commander that initially costs seven mana would only invite problems.

The early builds of this deck were Voltron/Token hybrid strategies to make use out of Kemba's Cat tokens. I'd equip her and build up a Token army while attempting Combat Damage kills. Overtime, I grew tired of the token half of the deck's strategy and desired to go full Voltron. The support for it dwindled as I began looking for an alternative Commander to better deal Commander Damage.

Second Commander: Eight-and-a-Half-Tails

July 23, 2013 - February 3, 2017

My search for a new Commander led me to the format's old treasure trove of Kamigawa. The first set in the Block, Champions of Kamigawa, had the best candidate for the Second Commander: Eight-and-a-Half-Tails. This famous Kitsune offered the ability keep targeted removal off of my permanents while also making himself unblockable. A great fit for my new needs.

8.5-Tails wasn't without his fair share of problems. His abilities required three mana to be open at all times to be effective as a removal deterrant. He was never an early-game play, and keeping his abilities active always stung when mana-screwed. Regardless, I was content with 8.5-Tails as my Commander for the coming years.

Third Commander: Sram, Senior Edificer

February 3, 2017 - November 30, 2017

Aether Revolt introduced a peculiar Dwarf, Sram, Senior Edificer. My initial impression wasn't the best. The though of using him as a Commander didn't come to mind right away and I initially dismissed it as a bad Puresteel Paladin, nothing I really wanted in the 99.

After giving it some thought, I figured that this was an opportunity to have Equipment support back in the Command Zone and return to using an early-game Commander, and Sram, Senior Edificer took over as the Third Commander.

Forth Commander: Balan, Wandering Knight

November 30, 2017 - February 12, 2021

Sram's reign as Commander was short-lived. Mere months after he took the position, Commander 2017 introduced the Forth Commander: Balan, Wandering Knight.

Balan was a game-changer, possessing the ability to be an aggressive win-con. With previous Commanders, getting a vanilla 2 power creature to deal 21 total damage reliably more often than not involves numerous Equipment, causing their clocks to take several turns and giving opponents plenty of breathing room to draw into answers. Balan's natural double strike increases her clock dramatically, requiring less Equipment to be a legitimate threat and take out opponents in a more reasonable amount of time. She would also consistently two-shot opponents with any couple of Equipment, and had the potential to one-shot using a specific pair.

Another great aspect of Balan was her attach ability. For two mana, all Equipment I control attached to her, greatly saving on mana when equipping her. She could also use her attach ability to dodge high equip costs.

Fifth Commander: Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms

February 12, 2021 - Present

As such a proficient win-con, Balan was the best Commander yet. I honestly believed she would be at the helm of this deck for a long time. However, Halvar, God of Battle emerged from the frigid realms of Kaldheim to become the Fifth Commander.

Possessing double strike when equipped like his predecessor, Halvar has a blazing fast clock. His double strike requires a single solid Equipment, and can easily two-shot opponents if that lone Equipment increases his power to at least 6 and provides sufficient evasion. Halvar also shares his double strike to any other equipped creatures, offering the option to focus on multiple opponents at once.

Sword of the Realms adds a layer of utility alongside the regular Voltron gameplan. It causes any one of this deck's alternative threats to act like a Partner by returning it to my hand when it dies. This devalues my opponents' creature removal and keeps a key creature on board.

Deck Development

As of February 12, 2021

Pending Changes

Strixhaven: School of Mages Additions

Pending

Other Additions

Currently None

Potential Ideas

Equipment Show

Allied Swords

Loxodon Warhammer -> "Sword of Blue and Black"
Loxodon Warhammer -> "Sword of Red and Green"
Loxodon Warhammer -> Commander's Plate

Maul of the Skyclaves -> "Sword of Green and White"

I fully expect the remaining Allied Swords to be featured in Modern Horizons 2. Swords are among the best Equipment Halvar could ask for, providing the power boost and evasion that he thrives with. On the other hand, I don't expect all three to be winners, so Commander's Plate is being given a second look as another option to maximize the number of Equipment that Halvar can two-shot with.

Loxodon Warhammer is one open Equipment slot reserved for either a Sword or the Plate. Shadowspear has pretty much superseded Loxodon Warhammer at this point. I kept it for its larger power boost, but now's the time for it to finally retire.

If "Sword of Green and White" happens to be worthwhile, my plan is to specifically cut Maul of the Skyclaves for it. Protection from White causes significant problems for coloured Equipment. One Pro-White Sword makes things awkward enough, a second will be too much.

Additional Equipment Slots

Nahiri, the Lithomancer -> Equipment Slot #17

??? -> Equipment Slot #18

An idea I've been mulling over is increasing the Equipment count to 18. It would give Dowsing Dagger an easy slot to fill and would open up space for an Allied Sword. I would also treat Dowsing Dagger and Sword of the Animist more like Mana Rocks and still have 16 functional Equipment.

I already have Nahiri, the Lithomancer as a potential cut for Dowsing Dagger. Finding space for Equipment #18 is a little tricy at the current time.

Spells Show

2020 Updates

February 29 -- Theros: Beyond Death Show

Q2 -- Ikoria Update Show

August 22 -- Summer's End 2020 Update Show

December 15 -- Zendikar Rising Update Show

Spoiler Timeline

Card Odds V2 Draw hand

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Updates Add

Kaldheim Update — Feb. 12, 2021

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Commander Change

Balan, Wandering Knight -> Halvar, God of Battle ^Flip

Kaldheim Additions

None

Other Additions

Restoration Specialist -> Drannith Magistrate

Colossus Hammer -> Sword of Sinew and Steel

Desert of the True -> Sejiri Shelter ^Flip

Secluded Steppe -> Ondu Inversion ^Flip

Commander Change

While this deck is no stranger to a change in Commander, I expected Balan, Wandering Knight to be around for a long time. How do you top double strike and cheap equips? What combination effects will convince me to go with something else? It would have to be something special.

Well, something special has emerged from the frigid realms of Kaldheim and has taken over as Commander, Halvar, God of Battle! ^Flip

More for Less Show

What makes Balan such a potent Commander is that she runs lean. Natural double strike greatly diminishes the amount of Equipment and attacks needed to deal the sweet 21. Most of the Equipment in this deck allowed her to two-shot with great consistency, and select pairs are capable to the one-shot kill.

Halvar's ^Flip primary advantage over the Wandering Knight is that he runs leaner. Not only does he need a single Equipment for his double strike to be active, that same lone Equipment can allow him to two-shot. With his higher base power, any Equipment with a +2 power boost and evasion does the trick, bringing Halvar's ^Flip total damage output to 12 in one attack. Currently, this deck has seven Equipment capable of this feat:

Loxodon Warhammer *
Maul of the Skyclaves
Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of Sinew and Steel (see 'Other Additions' for details)
Sword of Vengeance *

*The Equipment that offer trample as their evasion may need additional power to punch though blockers for the two-shot. At the very least, trample prevents an X/1 blocker from affecting Halvar's ^Flip clock.

Halvar ^Flip loves Swords. Out of the Equipment that single-handedly pushed his damage to two-shot range, they also keep kill spells off of him. Unless opponents have access to artifact removal or some way to get around a Swords protection, they have no chance.

Halvar ^Flip is the most efficient Mono-White Voltron Commander yet. A single creature wielding a lone Equipment, the absolute minimum that can be considered a legitimate threat from this deck, is capable of ending an opponent's entire existence in a couple of turns.

Going Wide Show

Unlike the Wandering Knight, Halvar ^Flip isn't selfish. He doesn't mind sharing his vast collection of weapons with his loyal followers. In the days before double strike was so readily available in the Command Zone, I ran Silverblade Paladin. This creature was a major workhorse that played well at both supporting the Commander and back-up threats. When my Commander was out, it acted like Battle Mastery. When I needed to rely on back-up threats, it gave me two double strikers to work with. Halvar ^Flip plays similarly to the Paladin by creating multiple high-damage threats to pressure multiple opponent at a time.

While one solid Equipment can turn Halvar ^Flip into a monster, the second may run into diminishing returns. Once a Commander's damage output reaches 11, going any higher doesn't lower the number of attacks until it's at the one-hit 21. Aiming for the mythical one-shot kill with the least amount of resources requires specific Equipment that offer higher power boosts. Equipment that won't do much in Halvar's ^Flip hands can be given to another and give me a second threat to work with.

Halvar's ^Flip attach ability, while unable to affect unattached Equipment, can still provide some utility. If I have an alternative threat set up before he's out, I can cast him to give that threat double strike. Afterwards, Halvar ^Flip can be tossed a spare weapon without spending further mana and have two threats ready to go.

In situations where I just have the one Equipment, I can attack with Halvar, ^Flip move the Equipment onto another creature for a double striking blocker on the next player's combat for the turn cycle, then move it back on my turn.

A Partner's Blade Show

Kaldheim

The God of Battle Stands Alone Show

Other Additions

Magistrate Show

Sinew and Steel Show

Modal Lands Show

Deck Development

Swords on the Horizon Show

Additional Equipment Slots Show

Sweeper or Sword? Show

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Top Ranked	Achieved #6 position overall 7 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Mono-White 1 year ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Voltron 1 year ago
Date added	8 years
Last updated	1 week
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	15 - 0 Mythic Rares 47 - 0 Rares 15 - 0 Uncommons 3 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.97
Tokens	Equipment, 3/3 Elephant, 1/1 Kor Soldier, 1/1 Soldier, 3/3 Golem, 0/0 Germ, 1/1 Human, Treasure
Folders	favorites, Commander, great edh deck, Faves, EDH, EDH Decks, decks i want to build, edh, EDH, Decks Im going to get soon, See all 479
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