Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder | Art by Thomas Chamberlain-Keen

Due to some unfortunate circumstances - which you can read about here - Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has previewed a bunch of new cards from the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles release much earlier than intended. And while I am not very knowledgeable about the TMNT comics, movies, or TV shows, I am a big fan of Commander and am very excited to build decks around these cool new game pieces!

This week I brewed up a deck around Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder, and it's exciting to work on a Ninja typal deck that doesn't include blue mana, which lets this stand out from previous commander options for Ninja decks.

So let's sneak on in this very cool deck tech on Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder!

What Does Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder Do?

First off, Dark Leo has sneak, a new version of ninjutsu that works much better with commanders. You see, ninjutsu only works for a creature card that's in your hand, while sneak is an ability that actually lets you cast the spell.

Here's how the sneak ability reads: "You may cast this spell for [the sneak cost] if you also return an unblocked attacker you control to hand during the declare blockers step. It enters tapped and attacking."

Next up is the static ability giving attacking Ninjas you control deathtouch, which certainly gets better the more Ninjas you're playing. Giving attacking Ninjas deathtouch is a great way to put pressure on your opponents, who are incentivized to not let your Ninjas deal them damage since most of them have triggers that happen when combat damage is dealt to opponents.

So do they block and lose their blocker to the deathtouch, or take the hit and suffer the combat damage trigger?

Lastly is a combat damage to a player trigger, which creates a 1/1 black Ninja creature token, and if you then control five or more Ninjas, that player loses half their life, rounded up. That is a huge effect, and definitely makes you want to stuff as many Ninja cards in your deck as you can. So you'll want to have ways to push Dark Leo past blockers to hit for damage!

It's awesome that we have another Ninja deck option for a commander that's not blue, even though Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow is incredibly powerful and Higure, the Still WindHigure, the Still Wind is quirky and cool.

Key Cards for Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder

The first things I looked for were other Ninjas from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Leonardo, Cutting EdgeLeonardo, Cutting Edge is an inexpensive Ninja that can help up your Ninja count quickly, and its lifelink and gain life trigger is appreciated. Leonardo, Sewer SamuraiLeonardo, Sewer Samurai and Leonardo, Worldly WarriorLeonardo, Worldly Warrior have double strike, which is a deadly combination with the deathtouch that Dark Leo brings to attacking Ninjas.

Shark Shredder, Killer CloneShark Shredder, Killer Clone also has first strike, and its triggered ability is a wild way to reanimate a creature from defending player's graveyard. Super ShredderSuper Shredder and Splinter, the MentorSplinter, the Mentor are a few more inexpensive Ninjas that have abilities that nicely trigger from all the sneak and ninjutsu this deck is capable of doing.

Turncoat KunoichiTurncoat Kunoichi is an excellent removal spell attached to a Ninja. Besides being absolutely adorable, Prehistoric PetPrehistoric Pet has an excellent activated ability that's particularly helpful in returning a blocked Ninja to your hand that you can then deploy with sneak or ninjutsu during the same combat. Blade-Blizzard KitsuneBlade-Blizzard Kitsune is another Ninja that loves picking up deathtouch when it attacks.

Earlier sets had a bunch of black Ninjas we can tap into. SkullsnatcherSkullsnatcher is a great way to manage an opponent's graveyard in case of shenanigans. Azra SmokeshaperAzra Smokeshaper's ability is a great surprise if an opponent is expecting to trade with a deathtouch attacker, you can make it indestructible.

Ink-Eyes, Servant of OniInk-Eyes, Servant of Oni is a classic, with sizable power and toughness and an excellent combat damage trigger to reanimate an opponent's dead creature.

The triggered ability of Nashi, Moon Sage's ScionNashi, Moon Sage's Scion is a great way to generate some virtual card draw, while Throat SlitterThroat Slitter and Dokuchi SilencerDokuchi Silencer provide additional creature removal.

I like the extra lifelink that ThroatseekerThroatseeker provides, which can help race against a counterattack. Inkrise InfiltratorInkrise Infiltrator has flying and is relatively cheap, so it makes for a Ninja that you'll return to your hand with sneak or ninjutsu.

TMNT has even put sneak spells on non-creature spells, which is wild! Leonardo's TechniqueLeonardo's Technique is a great way to bring one or two dead Ninjas back to the battlefield. Splinter's TechniqueSplinter's Technique does a pretty good Demonic TutorDemonic Tutor impression.

And the hilariously named Class Ninja TeenNinja Teen does excellent things for this deck at each of the levels, particularly Level 2 which brutally combines with Dark Leo's deathtouch to attacking Ninjas.

I rounded out the Ninja lineup with creatures that have the changeling ability. PersonifyPersonify is an excellent way to save one of our Ninjas from targeted removal, and you get that token creature with changeling as a bonus. Changeling OutcastChangeling Outcast is cheap to cast and can't be blocked, which makes it an excellent combo with the sneak and ninjutsu ability. Universal AutomatonUniversal Automaton is cheap to cast and opponents won't want to trade a blocker with it when it's got deathtouch from Dark Leo.

Flock ImpostorFlock Impostor's flash gives you another way to bounce a blocked Ninja back to your hand to deploy with sneak or ninjutsu again, and GraveshifterGraveshifter has an excellent enters ability, and makes a pretty good target for returning to your hand with sneak or ninjutsu.

I peppered in cards that care about typal decks, with Secret TunnelSecret Tunnel making two Ninjas unable to be blocked and hopefully getting some combat damage triggers. Crippling FearCrippling Fear sweeps away all the smaller non-Ninjas on the battlefield, while Pact of the SerpentPact of the Serpent will draw you cards, or kill an opponent in the right circumstances.

I added ways to give a Ninja first strike or double strike to combine with the deathtouch ability from Dark Leo, with Hidden BladeHidden Blade being excellent choices. Genji GloveGenji Glove also gives you an additional combat phase too!

And They Shall Know No FearAnd They Shall Know No Fear is excellent in a typal deck, letting you save Ninjas from dying in combat, or from a battlefield sweeper, and in a pinch that +1 power boost might make an attack lethal if you have enough Ninjas.

The Darkness CrystalThe Darkness Crystal adds additional disincentive to opponents for chump blocking deathtouch attacking Ninjas since they'll get exiled, and eventually pulled out of exile and into your service.

I looked for more ways to make Dark Leo unblockable and found a fair number of additional lands so they don't take up spell slots. Access TunnelAccess Tunnel, Rogue's PassageRogue's Passage, and even The Black GateThe Black Gate.

Minas Morgul, Dark FortressMinas Morgul, Dark Fortress bestows a shadow counter, making the target pretty much unblockable. Shizo, Death's StorehouseShizo, Death's Storehouse gives Dark Leo or another legendary creature fear until the end of the turn.

Since many Ninjas, including Dark Leo, have low power, the skulk ability bestowed by Behind the ScenesBehind the Scenes can be practically unblockable. If you own a Silver Shroud CostumeSilver Shroud Costume this would be an excellent deck for it, providing some interaction and sticking around for making equipped creature unblocked.

Sonic ScrewdriverSonic Screwdriver can make a creature unblockable for the turn, but also offers three other choices that are all going to be useful at different times in the game.

Sanctum of EternitySanctum of Eternity is another way to bounce a blocked Dark Leo to your hand so you can sneak them back out in the middle of combat. Ashnod's InterventionAshnod's Intervention is a flexible card to help save a dying Ninja and put it back to your hand where you want it.

Folk HeroFolk Hero adds some card draw, just keep in mind that deploying a Ninja with sneak is actually casting it and can draw a card, while doing it with ninjutsu is not actually casting it. Haunted OneHaunted One saves some of your attacking Ninjas from permanently dying from combat damage, and brings them back a little bigger.

Since Dark Leo makes small token creatures, I'm running SkullclampSkullclamp to cash them in for two extra cards, and Phyrexian TowerPhyrexian Tower to cash them in for two black mana.

How Does This Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder Commander Deck Win?

This is a solid Core (Bracket 2) deck, grinding value from Ninja triggers and winning through combat damage and Dark Leo's life drain triggers.

Akroma's WillAkroma's Will can really push victory in your direction, potentially making your Ninja team unblockable due to protection from all colors, and double triggers from double strike.

And if you can get Wound ReflectionWound Reflection to stick on the battlefield, it combines with Dark Leo's trigger to completely drain the life from one opponent at a time.

Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder Commander Deck List

Conclusion

While the deck doesn't have the raw power and combo finish of Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow, a lot of people don't like to play against Yuriko. I think Dark Leo & Shredder offers a much more chill game experience, and while there are lots of surprises thanks to sneak and ninjutsu, most of that is happening during creature combat and is relatively straight forward.

If you're looking for a relaxed typal deck that still has tricks, this could be the deck for you! What other cards would you play in a Dark Leo & ShredderDark Leo & Shredder?

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