<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>


abzan knights

Brewing Abzan Knights with Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan