Felothar the SteadfastFelothar the Steadfast | Art by Zoltan Boros

Friendly greetings, and welcome to Bracketeering, the series about building sideboards for Commander Brackets. I'm John Sherwood, and I'm taking a breather between Final Fantasy and Edge of Eternities to ruminate on ripples in the Magic pond.

Final Fantasy made waves with some great card designs; now I'm contentedly ashore, musing about the Commander ecosystem and a deck from within Magic's multiverse. The subject for this edition of Bracketeering is the Abzan Armor preconstructed deck, led by Felothar the SteadfastFelothar the Steadfast.

This one made a slightly larger splash than other new precons thanks to the inclusion of Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse. Wizards of the Coast added Seedborn Muse to the Game Changer list just 11 days after releasing Tarkir: Dragonstorm. This coincidence makes Abzan Armor a perfect candidate to sideboard into either the Core (2) or Upgraded (3) brackets.

Before I exposit those thoughts, I want to report back on the deck featured in my last Bracketeering article. In case you missed it, I made a sideboard for my Delina, Wild MageDelina, Wild Mage deck. The deck made its post-Bracketeering debut in a pod with fellow EDHREC contributors Mike Carozza, Nicholas Lucchesi and Nick Wolf. Luckily, my free mulligan yielded a Seven DwarvesSeven Dwarves and I tasted the Bracket 1 dream for a few turns. Then Mike killed us with multiple token copies of Terror of the PeaksTerror of the Peaks. Good game, friends!

Since then, I had some great experiences adjusting the deck to suit the brackets and vibes of other games.

Win or lose, side-boarding for brackets works, and I hope you'll try it out.

Leading from the Front

As Khan of the Abzan clan, Felothar the SteadfastFelothar the Steadfast thematically charges in the vanguard. Felothar is a sturdy 0/5 for four mana, and that asymmetrical stat line isn't fooling anyone. "Each creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power" means Felothar swings for damage ahead of curve.

Plus, Felothar allows creatures with defender to attack and provides a sacrifice outlet with upside to fill both hand and graveyard. In other words, Felothar is an efficient threat, graveyard synergy, and card advantage all in one.

Game Changers and Precons

The Bracket system emphasizes the intent of a deck when deciding its bracket. The designers for Commander build precons from the same set with the intent for a balanced, self-contained play experience. Although the Tarkir: Dragonstorm precons were designed long before the bracket system, they nonetheless abide in Core (Bracket 2). However, Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse is a Game Changer, which technically elevates Abzan Armor to Upgraded (Bracket 3).

Seeborn Muse earned its Game Changer status by creating massive disparities in resources and play time. In a game with multiple opponents, Seedborn Muse disproportionately accelerates its controller. For the Abzan Armor precon specifically, the Muse seeds opportunities to abuse activated abilities, like Blight PileBlight Pile and the new Arbor AdherentArbor Adherent.

In April's Bracket Beta update, Magic designer Gavin Verhey discussed the timing of Seedborn Muse's shift to the game changer list in light of its inclusion in this precon. Essentially, Gavin's comments clarify this was a coincidence: precons may vary between brackets, and there is a possibility for future Bracket terminology to "pull away" from using precons as a benchmark. I appreciate Gavin addressing the issue.

Including Game Changers in Commander preconstructed decks is a good thing. Precons are an important avenue for reprinting cards, and many Game Changers need reprints. Also, precons are a gateway to the Commander format for many new players. It's important for new players to experience powerful, game-changing cards.

Core (2) Side-in

One of the features of socially focused gameplay in Core (2) is the freedom to make picks for theme over power. I would love to be able to side-in a dozen cards with connections to Abzan lore and call it a day, but I had to make some tough choices and trim that number down to four. For example, many Abzan cards deal with +1/+1 counters, so including those would have strayed from Felothar's toughness and defender themes.

Here are the Abzan-flavor picks that made my final cut.

Fruit of the First TreeFruit of the First Tree calls back to the heart of Abzan culture: sacred trees inhabited by souls of deceased kin. Attaching a strong card draw effect to a potential blocker is a great tool for subverting the "math is for blockers" norm. Sacrificing that creature to Felothar's activated ability will also double the card draw.

Abzan BeastmasterAbzan Beastmaster lacks toughness itself, but controlling the toughest creature will be easy for this deck. Admittedly, this card is too slow for higher brackets, but waiting a turn cycle to trigger extra card draw is fine for a Core (2) game.

The charms are expressive of their slice of the color pie. Unfortunately, none of the modes on Abzan CharmAbzan Charm directly synergize with Felothar. This card is partly here for its name, but there's more to it than a faction reference. A three-mana instant with removal, draw, and combat trick modes is flexible enough to earn a slot in any deck.

Surprisingly, Archers' ParapetArchers' Parapet is the only card with this exact ability. Most of the equivalents require sacrificing a creature or paying life. Sacrifice outlets are great, and life is a resource, but somehow this version is uniquely Abzan. It fortifies your life total with a bastion of toughness, a bastion from which you may harass the opponents besieging your fortress. Of the three flavor picks, this one is my favorite.

The other Core (2) side-ins are primarily shoring up Felothar's defenses, while keeping the pace and potency below Upgraded (3):

• Catapult FodderCatapult Fodder transforms into Catapult Captain, another sacrifice outlet and another way to win the game.
• Portcullis VinePortcullis Vine will usually just be a cheap body, but sometimes you really need another card, and this Plant Wall will deliver.

• Souls of the FaultlessSouls of the Faultless is the best kind of defender, because it encourages opponents to attack someone else.
• Spidersilk ArmorSpidersilk Armor might be the best anthem for three mana in a Felothar deck. The toughness boost will translate to more damage, and reach shores up one of the deck's vulnerabilities.
• Finally Wall of EssenceWall of Essence, Wall of HopeWall of Hope, and Wall of SoulsWall of Souls are bricks in the same wall. These cheap defenders increase the difference between life totals. That said, if I had to pick just one, it would be Wall of Souls. Use it as a political weapon by scheming with other players to swing into it and send the life loss to another opponent.

Core (2) Side-out

If Core (2) is on the table, then the first card to come out of the main deck should be Seedborn MuseSeedborn Muse. A pregame conversation is a perfect time to advocate for Game Changer acceptance in a Core (2) game. However, many Core (2) players will prefer to abide by the letter of the bracket guidelines.

In the Social-focused spirit of Core (2), I'm making a case to side-out Sol RingSol Ring. While not listed as a Game Changer, Sol Ring can throw a low power game completely out of balance.

Dragonlord DromokaDragonlord Dromoka asymmetrically prohibits spell casting. I'm in favor of equal opportunity for interaction at the social end of the Bracket spectrum. Felothar helped depose the genocidal tyrant Dromoka, and taking this harbinger of hate out of the deck will help the whole table have more fun.

Lifegain is great, although possibly overvalued in light of Commander damage. Admittedly, there are some lifegain cards in the sideboard, but those cards have defender, leaning into synergy with other cards in the deck. Ikra Shidiqi, the UsurperIkra Shidiqi, the Usurper, Indulging PatricianIndulging Patrician, Nyx-Fleece RamNyx-Fleece Ram, and Rhox FaithmenderRhox Faithmender are all fine in a dedicated lifegain deck, but they lack defender, so I'm siding them out.

The color distribution in Abzan Armor skewed with a few too many white pips. The next side-out helps with that. Protector of the WastesProtector of the Wastes offers repeatable multi-target removal on a big flyer via the monstrous ability. However, a deck can only handle so many monstrous mana costs.

The rest of the Core (2) side-outs are all fine to exist in Core (2), but something has to move out of the way for the more thematic side-ins.

Faeburrow ElderFaeburrow Elder is a great card, and sadly gets benched just for having symmetrical power and toughness.

Staff of CompleationStaff of Compleation feels like a reprint for the sake of reprint in this list.

Welcoming VampireWelcoming Vampire has a reliable card draw ability. Many of the creatures in Abzan Armor will trigger it, but the deck doesn't need help in that regard. Weclome this Vampire to the sidelines; make room for another Defender.

Upgraded (Bracket 3) Side-in

Since Abzan Armor already includes a Game Changer, there's room for two more, but I don't think this deck needs any to perform at an Upgraded (3) level. Nick Wolf wrote an excellent upgrade guide for this deck. Some of his picks are perfect sideboard options, including combo, budget, and value selections.

• Betor, Kin to AllBetor, Kin to All is all payoff for everything this deck is already doing.
• Fecund GreenshellFecund Greenshell blocks flyers, pumps the team, and provides card advantage, all on a card that currently costs less than a dollar and appears in only 55% of Felothar decks. Stat challenge: That number is too low.
• MeekstoneMeekstone is a mild stax piece. It will affect some players more than others. More importantly, it will affect Abzan Armor less than most other decks.

• Robe of StarsRobe of Stars is as a premium protection piece, and Felothar reaps the additional benefit of turning +0/+2 into damage.
• Sword of the ParunsSword of the Paruns combos to make infinite mana with multiple creatures in Abzan Armor, or it can be played fair for the toughness anthem.
• Tree of PerditionTree of Perdition is a must-answer threat with or without Felothar.
• One thing Felothar does really well is take advantage of one-sided board wipes, like Tip the ScalesTip the Scales, which was made for the Abzan Armor precon. Following that line, I'm siding in Dusk // DawnDusk // Dawn and Toxic DelugeToxic Deluge.
• Sweeping opponents' creatures out of the way is great. Here are a couple other side-ins to make sure Felothar can press the advantage.
• Delney, Streetwise LookoutDelney, Streetwise Lookout was supposed to champion the white weenie deck archetype, but conveniently says nothing about toughness.
• Gauntlets of LightGauntlets of Light provides a little redundancy with Sword of the Paruns.

These picks, combined with some of the same cards as the Core (2) side-ins, should make the deck run efficiently until it's ready for big lethal turns.

Upgraded (Bracket 3) Side-Out

Unfortunately, a few things are out of place on the alternative commander for this Abzan-themed, toughness matters deck. For starters, the apostrophe in the card name Betor, Ancestor's VoiceBetor, Ancestor's Voice would be more appropriately placed after the "s" because Betor's body is made of many Abzan ancestors' spirits.

Mechanically speaking, Betor's abilities are great. However, just like that misplaced apostrophe, those abilities are a bit off target from the toughness and defender subthemes of the deck. As the sideboard focuses on cohesion with Felothar's abilities, Betor, Ancestor's Voice will perch on the sidelines.

The rest of the Upgraded (3) side-outs are cards that cost too much and do too little for Upgraded play.

• Assault FormationAssault Formation costs five total mana for a temporary toughness boost while the rest of its effects overlap with Felothar's. If this card becomes relevant, then the battle is probably a lost cause.
• Canopy GargantuanCanopy Gargantuan is a seven-mana win-more card. It's splashy and exciting, but ultimately requires a strong board presence to accomplish anything more than keyword: big.

• Hornet NestHornet Nest is cute as a casual combat deterrent, but savvy players will play around it. This one is better in decks that deal direct damage.
• Shadrix SilverquillShadrix Silverquill gives resources to opponents, but the deck doesn't have any of the tools that make a group hug effect worthwhile.
• Tower DefenseTower Defense is on-theme, but leans more toward defense when an Upgraded creature combat deck should be more aggressive.
• Towering TitanTowering Titan might flex to give opponents' creatures trample as a political tool or combat trick, but it's too expensive and slow.
• Zetalpa, Primal DawnZetalpa, Primal Dawn invokes a primal yawn. An Upgraded (3) version of Abzan Armor should be trying to win decisively, in a coordinated fashion. Flopping an eight-mana top-end onto the table and hoping to turn it sideways on the following turn cycle doesn't count.

Abzan Armor Sideboard List

I played games against Abzan Armor, and the opponents immediately put up a fences of toughness with a stern warnings of no trespassing. The deck gradually builds a dominating board state behind a hefty defensive line. Its major weakness was blocking flyers. The sideboard for this deck leans into all the things I saw this deck do well, and patches the roof to keep more flyers out.

Here's the whole sideboard:

Close the Gates

Although this list was curated specifically for Abzan Armor, Felothar the SteadfastFelothar the Steadfast is not the only legend that could use this sideboard. Doran, the Siege TowerDoran, the Siege Tower is an older toughness-matters commander in these colors. This sideboard would also work in a Betor, Kin to AllBetor, Kin to All deck, or for going the graveyard route with Colfenor, the Last YewColfenor, the Last Yew.

Whichever legend leads your Abzan toughness pile, I hope you give sideboarding a try to add some flexibility to your Commander Brackets experience.