A New Way to Voltron, With Nikara and Yannik

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.samburley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Burley</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to <em>Technically Playable</em>, where our mission statement is "Every commander is <em>technically</em> playable" (the best kind of playable). The way this works is every article will have a commander generated using EDHREC's random button, I'll talk through the card and then write about how we can build around it!</p>
<p>This week's random commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tayam, Luminous Enigma"></div></div>
<p>Initially, this article was going to be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensational Spider-Man" href="#" target="_blank">Sensational Spider-Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but since that card isn't out for another month, I decided to take a very rare <em>Technically Playable</em> mulligan to look at something that has a little more time and experience behind it.</p>
<h2>Wombo Combo!</h2>
<p>Tayam is a deck that invites the deckbuilder to create some really interesting lines of play, especially when it comes to more competitive playgroups. In this section, I'll look at a handful of different combos that Tayam can use to win the game on the spot.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="687-4762" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-4762" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Devoted%20Druid%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%5D&id=687-4762&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p>This first combo uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to create infinite mana. While this combo only needs two cards to win, you also need to make sure that you've got some way to buff the Druid's toughness by +2 so that it doesn't die to its own -1/-1 counters.</p>
<p>This is often done with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Centaur Garden" href="#" target="_blank">Centaur Garden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shield Mate" href="#" target="_blank">Shield Mate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> since they're both cheap to put into play (the land of course costing you no mana to play) however you can also use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vines of Vastwood" href="#" target="_blank">Vines of Vastwood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to both buff the Druid and give it protection from removal at the same time.</p>
<p>Once you've buffed the Druid, simply tap it for mana three times, use that mana to activate Tayam, and remove the -1/-1 counters from the Druid. This will let you mill your whole deck and put any permanents that are three mana or less into play, including all of your lands. From here, you can put a win together with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and some kind of sacrifice outlet.</p>
<p>You can also use the Devoted Druid combo to set up and then use the combos below to finish the game.</p>
<div id="687-2012-2034-3644" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-2012-2034-3644" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Ashnod's%20Altar%22%2C%22Strangleroot%20Geist%22%2C%22Young%20Wolf%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%2C%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%5D&id=687-2012-2034-3644&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p>Similar to the first combo, the idea of this one is to mill your entire library while putting all of your permanents into play, but it achieves this slightly differently. Instead of using Tayam and one other card, it takes a few more pieces, but each of these can be put into play from Tayam's ability if you don't draw them or if they're milled or discarded some other way.</p>
<p>Instead of using the creatures to make the mana, instead we sacrifice both of our creatures with undying to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make four colorless mana. This can then be used to activate Tayam, remove the +1/+1 counters and vigilance counters given by Tayam from our undying creatures, and then repeat the loop. This fully mills our deck like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, but also provides us with infinite colorless mana and infinite leave/enter the battlefield triggers to play with as well.</p>
<p>What makes this combo so great and flexible is that it doesn't need to be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Young Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strangleroot Geist" href="#" target="_blank">Strangleroot Geist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; in fact, any creature with undying or persist will work. This is great with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitchen Finks" href="#" target="_blank">Kitchen Finks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make infinite life or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geralf&#039;s Messenger" href="#" target="_blank">Geralf&#039;s Messenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to machinegun down everyone's life totals.</p>
<div id="687-2034-4626" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-2034-4626" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Promise%20of%20Bunrei%22%2C%22Ashnod's%20Altar%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20creature%20tokens%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%2C%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%5D&id=687-2034-4626&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p>The last combo I want to highlight bears a close resemblance to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Young Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, but with the distinct difference of using a card that's only in 0.25% of decks it can be in. This feels very apt for <em>Technically Playable</em>.</p>
<p>Like the undying/persist combo, this uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Promise of Bunrei" href="#" target="_blank">Promise of Bunrei</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make tokens that get vigilance counters from Tayam. You need any random creature in play and one spare mana before starting the combo. First, you sacrifice it to make mana and sacrifice the Promise to make some tokens. You can then activate Tayam, remove the vigilance counters from the tokens, and return Promise to the battlefield.</p>
<p>Loop this process by sacrificing the tokens to make more tokens and return the Promise over and over again. This will mill your whole deck, give you infinite mana, infinite tokens, basically infinite anything you can think of.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Devoted Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Young Wolf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Promise of Bunrei"></div></div>
<p>While each of these combos is really good by itself if you're going for a combo deck, I'd always say to make sure you have as much redundancy as possible. Each of these combos can set you up to win the game or can dig to find one of the other combos if you need a specific line of play to get through a particular stax piece, stopping you from winning, making them all useful in different ways and for different board states.</p>
<h2>Tayam the Value Engine</h2>
<p>It's clear from the combos above and <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=Tayam%2C+Luminous+Enigma&amp;utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tayam's extensive Commander Spellbook page</a> that we can easily build a combo-focused deck with this card, but personally, I'm a much bigger fan of a slow grind. I like the longer games you can have of Commander; they tend to offer more opportunities for swingy moments and stories you'll be telling in your playgroup for years to come.</p>
<p>This deck has a couple of routes you can go down. The first is one that you may want to run by your playgroup before committing to: The Tayam Edict deck. Using cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merciless Executioner" href="#" target="_blank">Merciless Executioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can get around hexproof and indestructible on your opponents' creatures, allowing you to easily remove their strongest cards without much trouble (unless they're playing a ton of tokens, of course).</p>
<p>In combination with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can easily create a board state that locks your opponents out of playing any creatures. This is made even better by the fact that these cards are all three mana, allowing you to return them at instant speed with Tayam.</p>
<p>All you need to do is make sure you can make enough mana and generate enough counters to do this repeatedly. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works amazingly here, even without committing to the combo. You can also use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Roots" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Roots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't combo like the Druid does, but it does contribute towards being able to replay a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> each turn.</p>
<p>You can also use other sacrifice outlets that give counters, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which both generate counters when sacrificing, and of course, the proliferate ability on Yawgmoth can make for some really explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fleshbag Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Pact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div>
<p>Now I said I like slow games, but everyone has to go home at some point. While I wouldn't play something quite as slow or punishing as the deck above, I would want to use Tayam as part of an engine to push my game plan forward.</p>
<p>I'd definitely run the mana generators like Devoted Druid and Wall of Roots, but alongside those I'd look to play more around +1/+1 counters with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terrasymbiosis" href="#" target="_blank">Terrasymbiosis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to draw through our deck and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyre Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Gyre Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Whispered Hopes" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Whispered Hopes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to generate all the mana I could ever need.</p>
<p>So that's mana and cards sorted, but how are we going to make sure we have enough counters to fuel Tayam? There are a lot of cards we could use to generate our own counters, but what if we instead used our opponents' game actions to do that? That way, we can hold up all of our mana to activate Tayam and dig through our deck for even more value.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Managorger Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Managorger Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the absolute best option for this since it gains counters whenever anyone plays a spell, as well a being the right mana cost to be hit with Tayam. While not the right mana cost, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forgotten Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Forgotten Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also does a very good job of hoarding counters while also being able to move them around to other creatures should that be necessary.</p>
<p>We can also use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of the Grove" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of the Grove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arwen, Weaver of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Arwen, Weaver of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to put loads of counters onto our creatures as they enter. This means that no matter what we hit off of Tayam's ability, we're almost always going to be able to do it again as long as we have the mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terrasymbiosis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyre Sage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Managorger Hydra"></div></div>
<p>As with all <em>Technically Playable</em> articles, this was a very quick look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a commander, and a few of the cards that can really make a deck with Tayam as the commander tick.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments below if you play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, if you want to build a Tayam, Luminous Enigma deck, or even if you just enjoyed this article!</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
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Counters and Combos With Tayam, Luminous Enigma

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan" href="#" target="_blank">Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Bottom of the Barrel</em>! This is a series where we pick a theme from EDHREC and look at the “bottom of the barrel.” This means that we look at the least played color-combinations and pick a commander in those colors to brew a spicy new deck around!</p>
<p>Today's episode is focused around a creature type that has been supported with two separate precons, one of which was released relatively recently. Even though the recent release was met with mixed feelings due to the return of the eminence mechanic, the precon itself was very well made. This creature type, of course, is Knights.</p>
<p>The first two precons covered different design spaces for this creature type: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale" href="#" target="_blank">Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> led a deck that presented Knights with an Equipment-flair, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> explored a Reanimation-centered space. These two commanders helm 3,273 and 6,820 decks, respectively.</p>
<p>Outside of these commanders, there's not much in the way of Knight-typal decks, aside from maybe <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aryel, Knight of Windgrace" href="#" target="_blank">Aryel, Knight of Windgrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aryel, Knight of Windgrace"></div></div>
<p>Today, I wanted to see if we could have a functioning Knight-typal deck outside of these few commanders. According to EDHREC, there are only 27 Knight-typal decks in Abzan, so that's where we're starting. You may be asking: "Why Abzan?" Well, it allows us to still play all the cool Orzhov Knights while giving us access to green's strengths. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan" href="#" target="_blank">Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> felt like the perfect option for this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan"></div></div>
<p>Before diving into the list, allow me to set the record straight right away: Yes, this is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, so when you see the price of the deck, that's why it's so high. An uncommon for five dollars is rough when you run twenty copies in a deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Templar Knight"></div></div>
<p>With that out of the way, let's get started.</p>
<h2>Category #1: Legendary Artifacts</h2>
<p>Now that I've explained that this is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, it's important to discuss the big pieces we're looking for when we can activate its ability.</p>
<p>First up, we have arguably the best card in our entire deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrumming Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Thrumming Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card lets us dig deeper for our Templar Knights, and each time we find one off of the ripple 4 ability, it triggers <em>again.</em> In a regular Templar Knight deck, Thrumming Stone could mean game over, but we're only running 20 copies of Templar Knight, so it's possible that we whiff a few times.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrumming Stone"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a> for a reason. It's an insane card, and if we can rip through our deck using our life total, we'll be in a crazy position. Just be careful; you don't want to overextend and then die at the hands of a (rightfully) concerned table.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bolas&#039;s Citadel"></div></div>
<p>There's not a single card in all of <em>Magic</em> that makes me laugh with glee more than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's only a little bit of sarcasm; it's super fun to play, but not so much fun to play against. The card is ridiculously good, and has thus held a ridiculous price tag since its printing. You can skip on this one, but this card only makes your deck better.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Great Henge"></div></div>
<p>This next one may be a sleeper pick, but it has consistently overperformed in every game I've seen it in: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It grants the ability to tap down blockers <em>or potential attackers</em>, but it can also easily draw ten to fifteen cards after someone full swings.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whip of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Whip of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is crucial to our game plan because we <em>will</em> be attacked, and even if we aren't, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck. This artifact could be the difference between life and death for us.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whip of Erebos"></div></div>
<p>Last, but not least: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is the finisher of all finishers. We play it, we probably win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma&#039;s Memorial"></div></div>
<h2>Category #2: Our Supporting Cast</h2>
<p>Only putting in twenty <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s was a conscious decision. I still wanted the deck to feel like a Knight-typal deck even if we couldn't go off with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. Here are a few "supporting cast" Knights:</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haakon, Stromgald Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Haakon, Stromgald Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a sweet way to recur our Knights over and over again.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haakon, Stromgald Scourge"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murderous Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Murderous Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Westfold Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Westfold Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great pieces of removal that satisfy our theme.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murderous Rider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Westfold Rider"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steward of Valeron" href="#" target="_blank">Steward of Valeron</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Knight that's also ramp, which is hilarious.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steward of Valeron"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian of Faith" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian of Faith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paladin Danse, Steel Maverick" href="#" target="_blank">Paladin Danse, Steel Maverick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Knight Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are excellent ways to protect our board.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian of Faith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paladin Danse, Steel Maverick"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knight Exemplar"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dion, Bahamut&#039;s Dominant" href="#" target="_blank">Dion, Bahamut&#039;s Dominant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpse Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Corpse Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smitten Swordmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Smitten Swordmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kinsbaile Cavalier" href="#" target="_blank">Kinsbaile Cavalier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonshaker Cavalry" href="#" target="_blank">Moonshaker Cavalry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all excellent finishers that are <em>also </em>Knights!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dion, Bahamut&#039;s Dominant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corpse Knight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smitten Swordmaster"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kinsbaile Cavalier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moonshaker Cavalry"></div></div>
<h2>Category #3: Recursion and "Secret Spice"</h2>
<p>Recursion is important to any deck strategy, and this deck in particular has some spicy includes.</p>
<p>First, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise the Past" href="#" target="_blank">Raise the Past</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an underrated recursion piece that can bring back our entire graveyard of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s (or other creatures with mana cost two or less)!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raise the Past"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knights&#039; Charge" href="#" target="_blank">Knights&#039; Charge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> acts as an amazing way to drain our opponents early and reanimate our graveyard late.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knights&#039; Charge"></div></div>
<p>Our "secret spice" recursion pieces are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodbond March" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodbond March</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodbond March" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodbond March</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns all <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s into mass reanimation spells for any other <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s in our graveyard, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">Remembrance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets us go get another <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Templar Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Templar Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if one were to die.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodbond March"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Remembrance"></div></div>
<h2>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>"A deck can have any number of" cards are not everyone's cup of tea, but I think this deck still retains the spirit of a Knight-typal deck while being able to do silly things with Templar Knights. Ironically enough, I built two different decks for this article: one that had Templar Knights and one that didn't have them. The Templar Knight plan was way too cool to let go of.</p>
<p>Check out my decklist below!</p>
<h2>Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Brewing Abzan Knights with Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bloodbond March
*1 Chivalric Alliance
*1 Knights&#039; Charge
*1 Remembrance
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Acclaimed Contender
*1 Battle Angels of Tyr
*1 Bloodthirsty Conqueror
*1 Coppercoat Vanguard
*1 Corpse Knight
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Dion, Bahamut&#039;s Dominant // Bahamut, Warden of Light
*1 Guardian of Faith
*1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
*1 Kinsbaile Cavalier
*1 Knight Exemplar
*1 Kolvori, God of Kinship // The Ringhart Crest
*1 Moonshaker Cavalry
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Paladin Danse, Steel Maverick
*1 Smitten Swordmaster // Curry Favor
*1 Steward of Valeron
*1 Summon: Knights of Round
*20 Templar Knight
*1 Westfold Rider
*1 Worthy Knight
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Memorial
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bitterthorn, Nissa&#039;s Animus
*1 Bolas&#039;s Citadel
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Hylda&#039;s Crown of Winter
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 The Circle of Loyalty
*1 The Great Henge
*1 Thrumming Stone
*1 Whip of Erebos
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary
*1 Raise the Past
*1 Valiant Endeavor
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Flawless Maneuver
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Brushland
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fabled Passage
*3 Forest
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Indatha Triome
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Lush Portico
*1 Minas Tirith
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Path of Ancestry
*7 Plains
*1 Sandsteppe Citadel
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*4 Swamp
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Vault of Champions
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h3>More Knights:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="0lZIWgvfMY"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-knight-deck-with-kwende-pride-of-femeref/">Building a Knight Deck with Kwende, Pride of Femeref</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Building a Knight Deck with Kwende, Pride of Femeref&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-knight-deck-with-kwende-pride-of-femeref/embed/#?secret=lWoLbhDmPJ#?secret=0lZIWgvfMY" data-secret="0lZIWgvfMY" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="iyXYmjSzqf"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/dion-bahamuts-dominant-final-fantasy-deck-tech/">Dion, Bahamut's Dominant - Final Fantasy Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Dion, Bahamut&#039;s Dominant - Final Fantasy Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/dion-bahamuts-dominant-final-fantasy-deck-tech/embed/#?secret=ETODVcs2jj#?secret=iyXYmjSzqf" data-secret="iyXYmjSzqf" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="fRLYQdE0aw"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-dragons-approach-with-garland-knight-of-cornelia/">The Dragons Approach, With Garland, Knight of Cornelia</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;The Dragons Approach, With Garland, Knight of Cornelia&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-dragons-approach-with-garland-knight-of-cornelia/embed/#?secret=G2QSD8miux#?secret=fRLYQdE0aw" data-secret="fRLYQdE0aw" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


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