The Coat of Harms [w/ Primer]
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 7 | 2 COMMENTS | 939 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
2nd Revision — Taking My Boots Off + Primer —Nov. 28, 2023
Phew, I guess I wrote a primer! At the same time, I made 8 card changes, outlined below:
Swiftfoot Boots --> Plate Armor
Lightning Greaves --> Sting, the Glinting Dagger
I’m trying out a version of the list that doesn’t run boots. The simplest logic for why is that protecting Gwyn became less relevant when Gwyn stopped being a win-condition. Her role in the deck shifted to being a card draw engine and setup piece, though she obviously doesn’t lack as a creature in combat. The crucial moment to protect Gwyn is the first equip after casting her, but if an opponent held up instant speed interaction, the Boots don’t protect from that. They mostly block sorcery speed removal or forego Gwyn entirely to protect my equipment bearer. So, I’ve instead put in a different Haste card (Sting), which gives a stat boost, untaps the creature for defense, and has the Legendary type for my tutors that find legendaries. Shroud has especially caused me grief (which I’ve discussed in the “Quick Change” update), so Lightning Greaves is definitely getting out. But, we could make a better argument for Swiftfoot Boots, since Hexproof offers a lot of power without that hassle. I’ve added Plate Armor rather tentatively to test. I talked about it in more detail in the Primer, but it still offers some protection and a sizable stat boost, and it functions well even in bad scenarios. My major indictments against it are its lack of combat keywords and, most importantly, the ward cost being so cheap, but we’ll see how it performs.
Chivalric Alliance --> Glimmer Lens
Taunt from the Rampart --> Steelshaper's Gift
These were two simpler changes. Glimmer Lens provides the same effect but increases our equipment count and provides one of the two necessary bodies for free. Taunt from the Rampart was not a bad include in any regard, but I justified removing it solely because it was off-theme (i.e. not a Knight or Equipment), and because I already had 6-7 other cards that could be considered finishers. I did not need that many finishers, but I did need a slot for Steelshaper’s Gift, so Taunt got removed.
Skyhunter Strike Force --> Werefox Bodyguard
Skyhunter Strike Force would have the least impact on the rest of the deck if it was gone. It’s not the cornerstone of any key synergies, and in fact, it stands out for being an anthem effect when my deck strategy doesn’t go wide. It stayed in over every anthem effect cut before it because of its baseline use as a 3/3 Flier while attacking. Now, I have a Knight lined up that offers more to the rest of the deck. Even with the removal of Strike Force and Rem Karolus below, Flying is still tied for the most common keyword in my deck with Double Strike, both at 6 instances. I'm not concerned about losing redundancy, especially since Maul of the Skyclaves is tutorable. To discuss Werefox Bodyguard itself: it has utility as interaction that can be used on myself or others, and it obviously has an immediate effect when cast. Therefore, it passes two criteria and makes the cut.
Bloodcrusher of Khorne --> Inti, Seneschal of the Sun
Bloodcrusher performs underwhelmingly. I’m sad to remove it, but I often only have 2-3 knights in play and sharing Trample with the whole team doesn’t really have an impact when only one person is carrying all of the weight. All of that also assumes I don’t already have Trample on my equipment bearer. Inti performs the same function in a better manner; I can choose to provide Trample to my equipment bearer on the one turn where it matters: when they’re going for their big attack. Further, it can provide a utility (card selection) at any point of the game and can even provide that effect immediately thanks to the ability’s wording (“Whenever you attack” instead of “Whenever Inti attacks”). On top of those two notes, Inti can provide Trample to himself where necessary, giving him a keyword and making him meet all 3 of my creature criteria.
Paradise Mantle --> Diamond Pick-Axe
Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer -->Rohirrim Chargers
I group these together because I only thought to add them after I ordered cards, so I don’t actually own them yet but will get them later. Short version: I realized that since I average only 2-3 knights on board at a time and am constantly attacking for triggers, the deck struggled to have a spare creature to tap for Paradise Mantle. I looked instead into treasure-generating equipment and The Irencrag. As a personal choice, I didn’t want to run The Reaver Cleaver, but it also costs three mana when its competition for ramp options casts for cheaper. Further, its infamous power would make it a target for my opponents, similar to how some tables react to Sword of the Animist. On other hand, The Irencrag fits perfectly into the deck’s play patterns: it ramps to 6 mana for Gwyn and then transforms into an equipment when she enters, guaranteeing that I can get card draw triggers. (It scores additional bonus points for flavor too.) The only reason I didn’t choose the Irencrag was because it generates colorless mana in a deck that has lots of pips, and because compared to my other prospects, I lose my mana rock instead of permanently keeping both extra mana and an equipment. As I discussed in the primer, I then chose Diamond Pick-Axe over Beamtown Beatstick, because while the Beatstick performed better in combat, I evaluated that Diamond Pick-Axe would be better utility, which was the main purpose I needed in the slot anyway.
Rem Karolus was another underwhelming creature. I don’t currently get much benefit from his unique abilities outside of blocking an opponent’s Blasphemous Act. So if he only exists to be a 2 power flyer, I can get other knights that will do the same thing at 2 mana (such as Leonin Skyhunter). Haste does not justify the extra point of mana, and I don’t really care to tutor Legendary Creatures at the moment, so his Legendary typing provides no value. Rohirrim Chargers provides a card advantage effect as powerful as Armored Skyhunter. While the chargers have no combat keywords on their own, the ability to guarantee an equipment has incredible value for this deck’s consistency. Casting that equipment for free is a bonus.
Finally, while the two Boots are no longer around to be considered Enablers, I realized that recursion covers the main counter to my deck. Cavalier of Dawn and Sevinne's Reclamation are counted in the Enablers category now. Werefox Bodyguard will be counted as an Enabler too, because it actually can protect Gwyn at Instant speed in many kinds of emergencies.