<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://scryfall.com/card/unf/527/space-beleren">Space Beleren</a> | Art by <a href="https://artofscooter.com/">Scooter</a>)</h6>
<h1>W<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ould</span> U let me be your commander?</h1>
<p>The question of planeswalkers as commanders has been brought up in <em>Magic</em> discourse an infinite number of times. People say it would kill EDH as a format, and others say it will do nothing but give more options to an endless pool of commanders. I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. My name is Nick, and the seventh installment of <em>Myth Realized</em> will cover Azorius (blue, white) cards and how they would each ruin (or not ruin) your favorite 100-card singleton format.</p>
<p>If you have stuck around with me till this article, then you know what cards to look out for in this color combination. If not, check out the individual articles I did on both <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/myth-realized-what-if-any-planeswalker-could-be-your-commander/">white</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/myth-realized-what-if-any-planeswalker-could-be-your-commander-blue-pt-1/">blue</a> to see the cards I've shouted out before in these colors.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovin, Architect of Law" href="#" target="_blank">Dovin, Architect of Law</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong> - 4WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dovin, Architect of Law"></div></div>
<p>This is one of the better Planeswalker Deck planeswalkers that we have seen up till this point. It does cost six mana, but it has abilities you want to see on a planeswalker, especially in these colors. Drawing cards, gaining life, and locking down a single creature or an entire opponent's board gives you a lot of decisions. I would not be embarrassed to have this as my commander, but I feel this would be an annoying and tiresome deck to play against. Dovin would be very good friends with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Prison" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Prison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovin Baan" href="#" target="_blank">Dovin Baan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 2WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dovin Baan"></div></div>
<p>Similar to one of his other versions, Baan would be a very serviceable planeswalker to lead a deck. The tradeoff for this Dovin is less mana to cast, but less starting loyalty. A bonus is the "lockdown" ability, which is a +1 this time. I think this Dovin is better since if you are able to ultimate this, you get a one-sided <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sadly, counter-doubling cards paired with Planeswalkers do not get you an immediate ultimate, but in UW (blue, white) there are plenty of ways to make it to one more turn around the table.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovin, Hand of Control" href="#" target="_blank">Dovin, Hand of Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 2W </strong>or <strong>2U</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dovin, Hand of Control"></div></div>
<p>A fitting name since most of the cards that end up in your opponent's hand are going to be stranded there thanks to Dovin. I think the passive ability on this card is why you would want to run it in your command zone. Doing their best impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this would be a similar style of deck.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset Transcendent" href="#" target="_blank">Narset Transcendent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 2WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset Transcendent"></div></div>
<p>This card is a powerhouse planeswalker. Only four mana and a massive six loyalty to start out with is crazy. Narset features a +1 that lets you get the top card off your deck more often than not (as long as you build right) and a -2 that can make a good spell great by letting you cast it the next turn, thanks to rebound. I have gotten this card to ultimate before, and it is one of the most guaranteed ways to end a game. Locking your opponents to only casting creatures when you have a UW deck, a color combination known for dealing with creatures as its favorite pastime, does not look good for your opponents. I would imagine this card would see a big uptick in play if it were legal to lead a deck.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niko Aris" href="#" target="_blank">Niko Aris</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- XWUU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Niko Aris"></div></div>
<p>One of the most interesting planeswalkers out there and one of the hardest to evaluate. I have talked before about planeswalkers with abilities that do not mesh together to form a game plan. Niko suffers from this same idea. There are a lot of things that can be done with this card. You can reuse enter-the battlefield (ETB) triggers with its +1, make tokens off its cast and its -1, and kill a tapped creature if you draw the right amount of cards. Unless you can find a way to maximize the Shard tokens this card can make, you're going to run this card because you like the character more than the abilities they were given.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Space Beleren" href="#" target="_blank">Space Beleren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 2WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Space Beleren"></div></div>
<p>I know what you are going to say. "Nick, this is an un-card; why are you wasting our time with it?" Because the card is legal in the format and, honestly, might be super fun as a commander. This card does something unique by dividing the battlefield into three zones and then having its abilities do things to zones of your choice. Thoughts on un-cards aside, I think this would be a very interesting UW creatures-matter commander, and that is not something often seen in these colors. Bonus if you want to get really weird with this card and slap <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on it.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Hero of Dominaria" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Hero of Dominaria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 3WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Hero of Dominaria"></div></div>
<p>Strong. Dominant. Format defining. Hated. These words are often used to describe Teferi, and this card is one of the reasons why. One of the most UW cards to ever exist. A +1 that can draw you into action and give you the mana to cast it or untap a utility land. A minus ability that is both removal and a way people have avoided milling out on their path to victory. Finally, one of the most back-breaking ultimates ever. A guaranteed commander if it was legal, and a very good one at that.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Timebender" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Timebender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 4WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Timebender"></div></div>
<p>So Azorius cards might have gotten the "best" Planeswalker Deck planeswalkers we have seen so far. Much like the first card in this article, six mana is up there in cost, but this card is all about gaining you advantage. The ability to untap an artifact and a creature can lead to all forms of combo potential. Any card that can let you take an extra turn is always viable, so having that out of the command zone is welcomed.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Time Raveler" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Time Raveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 1WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Time Raveler"></div></div>
<p>One of the best passive abilities ever seen on a planeswalker. This is also a callback to his non-planeswalker version <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Another callback is the ability this card has to let you cast sorceries at instant speed, and if you have never cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> during your opponent's combat step, you have never lived. The -3 does put this card into the danger zone of dying to a stiff breeze, but bouncing almost any nonland permanent you or an opponent has and drawing a card is often worth it. If all of this was not good enough, three mana makes this card come down early and lets you possibly have it come down often.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 2WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset"></div></div>
<p>I underrated this card when it first came out. I looked at the words on this card and laughed. Then I got smashed by this card in 1v1 formats and realized sometimes I am bad at magic. This Teferi is a solid roleplayer type of card. Untapping three different cards you control (or tapping three of your opponent's cards) and gaining two life on a +1 lets Teferi stay on the board for a long time. Getting to have the best of your top three cards and clear unwanted cards allows for a lot of selection. Now, the ultimate on this card does not look "game-winning", but there is a reason that cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the banned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prophet of Kruphix" href="#" target="_blank">Prophet of Kruphix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are/were considered must-kill threats by many. The benefit to Teferi is that if you get to its -7, you get an emblem, which cannot be killed. Plus, unlike Seedborn and Prophet, you get to draw a card as well. This card slows sunsets and slows down Commander pods when it gets to lead a deck.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Venser, the Sojourner" href="#" target="_blank">Venser, the Sojourner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <strong>- 3WU</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venser, the Sojourner"></div></div>
<p>The reason that Karn is able to planeswalk. Lore aside, I have always liked this card, and I will defend myself and say it is with good reason. This is often seen in blink decks thanks to its +2 ability. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Space Beleren" href="#" target="_blank">Space</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this is another UW planeswalker that cares about creatures. Low loyalty and a five-mana value casting cost makes getting to the -8 emblem tricky but rewarding, since you are almost certain to win the game when every spell you cast comes with a free exile. The first two abilities look strange on the same card, but I will say that designers were playing the long game knowing that Venser was just waiting to get a hold of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Luxior, Giada&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or to get animated with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarkhan the Masterless" href="#" target="_blank">Sarkhan the Masterless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>alongside other planeswalker friends. They gave Venser the ability to grant unblockable, I suspect, with the knowledge of foresight. Another potential option for a blink commander or another option of the ever-growing UW creatures-matter archetype being discovered in this article.</p>
<hr />
<h3><strong>Wrap Up</strong></h3>
<p>Azorius has a reputation for being a hard-control color combination in the game. Years of counterspells and wrath effects preventing players prone to entering the combat step pull their hair out in disgust at what is sitting across the table from them. The planeswalkers available in this color combination do not shy away from this fully, but they might tone it down a bit. Would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi, Time Raveler" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi, Time Raveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> need to be banned? What about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset Transcendent" href="#" target="_blank">Narset Transcendent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Anything is possible, after all.</p>
<p>I think these cards would fit into the same realm as many of the currently available commanders in this color. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lavinia, Azorius Renegade" href="#" target="_blank">Lavinia, Azorius Renegade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> certainly could be argued as more oppressive than anything in the list above, but the majority does not seem to be calling for either of those cards' heads. Many of these cards would be strong, and there would be people who would build a deck with them. However, the vast majority of players will all, without talking to one another, decide they would rather not build decks around these cards, much like many of the overpowered options in Commander out there.</p>
<p>Azorius aside, join me with my next article, where we go over the sneakiest of all the two-color combinations: Dimir.</p>


Myth Realized - What if Any Planeswalker Could Be Your Commander? (Azorius)

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin, IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin, IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Original art by <a href="http://www.matthew-stewart.com/">Matt Stewart</a>)</span></h6>
<h1>Coming Soon to a <del>Theater</del> Table Near You</h1>
<p><em>Power Sink</em> is back with a vengeance. In a world dominated by high-powered commanders, one article series is out to take them down (in power level). This time, it's teaming up with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get him out of his chair and into the streets.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV"></div></div>
<p>Grand Arbiter comes in as the number 158 commander on EDHREC, touting 1,198 decks. In terms of just Azorius commanders, this makes him number three with a bullet at the blue-white box office. Augustin has been in this game a long time, originally printed back in 2006. During that time he's ruffled a lot of feathers and earned a 2.22 <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/salt">Salt Score</a>, making him the 23rd saltiest card in the entire format. With his tax effect, Grand Arbiter is known for keeping other players from doing what they want to do by covering it with a bunch of bureaucratic red tape, while his cost discount makes it easier to cast his own spells, which often make sure everyone else has to go through even more of the proper protocols.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Grand Arbiter Average Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archon of Emeria
*1 Aven Mindcensor
*1 Azor&#039;s Elocutors
*1 Consecrated Sphinx
*1 Drannith Magistrate
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Fatespinner
*1 Grand Abolisher
*1 Hullbreacher
*1 Hushbringer
*1 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade
*1 Mangara, the Diplomat
*1 Spelltithe Enforcer
*1 Strict Proctor
*1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
*1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
*1 Wandering Archaic
*1 Windborn Muse
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aura of Silence
*1 Authority of the Consuls
*1 Blind Obedience
*1 Ghostly Prison
*1 Land Tax
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Propaganda
*1 Rest in Peace
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Sphere of Safety
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Force of Will
*1 Mana Drain
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Negate
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Render Silent
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Revelation
*1 Swan Song
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue
*1 Jeweled Lotus
*1 Mana Crypt
*1 Norn&#039;s Annex
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Winter Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Approach of the Second Sun
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Solve the Equation
*1 Supreme Verdict
*1 Time Wipe
*1 Wrath of God
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Dovin, Hand of Control
*1 Narset, Parter of Veils
*1 Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hengegate Pathway
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*9 Island
*1 Nimbus Maze
*11 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>In case his own tax effect wasn't enough, Grand Arbiter is running even more mandatory tax effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thalia, Guardian of Thraben" href="#" target="_blank">Thalia, Guardian of Thraben</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spelltithe Enforcer" href="#" target="_blank">Spelltithe Enforcer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovin, Hand of Control" href="#" target="_blank">Dovin, Hand of Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making it tough to pay for the <em>optional</em> tax cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wandering Archaic" href="#" target="_blank">Wandering Archaic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>There are also a bunch of cards in the average deck that just straight up disallow things: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Parter of Veils" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Parter of Veils</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stops additional card draw, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hushbringer" href="#" target="_blank">Hushbringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shuts off ETB and Aristocrat strategies, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fatespinner" href="#" target="_blank">Fatespinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes opponents skip one of their phases, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drannith Magistrate" href="#" target="_blank">Drannith Magistrate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> says "no" to anything not cast from a player's hand, which is bad news for anyone who wants to cast their commander. Board wipes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are somehow made even worse than normal, as opponents have to jump through tons of hoops to replay their cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Approach of the Second Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thalia Guardian of Thraben"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drannith Magistrate"></div></div>
<p>The end result is a deck that makes it nigh impossible for opponents to resolve anything, while the Grand Arbiter deck takes its time to put together a win with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Approach of the Second Sun" href="#" target="_blank">Approach of the Second Sun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or some sort of combo.</p>
<p>However, this has been the typical Grand Arbiter deck for long enough. His reputation has been smeared, so for this article, he's out for revenge. In the past, he made them pay mana, but this time, he's just going to make them pay.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">I'm All Out of Bubblegum</span></strong></p>
<p>For this deck we're dropping the stax and tax and taking the fight to our opponents. People don't expect blue and white to leave opponents black and blue, but Azorius fliers has long been a consistent combat-focused draft archetype, and there have been several excellent creatures printed throughout <em>Magic</em>'s history that are ready to bring the pain. Instead of trying to slow down our opponents, we're going to capitalize on our commander's cost reduction to drop devastating haymakers way ahead of schedule.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Grand Arbiter: Arbit Harder" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Azor, the Lawbringer
*1 Cloudblazer
*1 Deputy of Detention
*1 Dragonlord Ojutai
*1 Dream Trawler
*1 Drogskol Reaver
*1 Ethereal Valkyrie
*1 Hero of Precinct One
*1 Intrepid Adversary
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
*1 Isperia, Supreme Judge
*1 Knight of the White Orchid
*1 Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate
*1 Loyal Drake
*1 Loyal Warhound
*1 Medomai the Ageless
*1 Midnight Pathlighter
*1 Reflector Mage
*1 Selfless Spirit
*1 Shabraz, the Skyshark
*1 Spell Queller
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Sunscorch Regent
*1 Thistledown Liege
*1 Unsettled Mariner
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Heraldic Banner
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strixhaven Stadium
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Tome of Legends
*1 Tome of the Guildpact
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Cloud Cover
*1 Detention Sphere
*1 Duelist&#039;s Heritage
*1 Reconnaissance Mission
*1 Righteous Authority
*1 True Conviction
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Chart a Course
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Migratory Route
*1 Time Wipe
*1 Winds of Abandon
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Counterspell
*1 Delay
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Heliod&#039;s Intervention
*1 Keep Watch
*1 Make a Stand
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Resculpt
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Revelation
*1 Unbreakable Formation
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Castle Ardenvale
*1 Castle Vantress
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Glacial Floodplain
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Guildmages&#039; Forum
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hengegate Pathway
*10 Island
*1 Nimbus Maze
*12 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>We're focusing heavily on multicolor creatures to take full advantage of Arbiter's discount. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shabraz the Skyshark" href="#" target="_blank">Shabraz the Skyshark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunscorch Regent" href="#" target="_blank">Sunscorch Regent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become big threats very quickly, and Shabraz even has the added benefit of giving Grand Arbiter flying, so even our commander can get in for a little extra damage. Conveniently, some of our heavy hitters, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethereal Valkyrie" href="#" target="_blank">Ethereal Valkyrie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlord Ojutai" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlord Ojutai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, draw us cards when they head into combat.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drogskol Reaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Medomai, the Ageless"></div></div>
<p>We aren't really leaning on lifegain, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drogskol Reaver" href="#" target="_blank">Drogskol Reaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can take advantage of the limited lifegain effects we happen to have, along with its native lifelink; just make sure the Reaver isn't out at the same time as Shabraz, or you'll be forced to draw your whole deck! With so many multicolor spells in this list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero of Precinct One" href="#" target="_blank">Hero of Precinct One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to generate a lot of tokens. Finally, if it manages to connect, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Medomai, the Ageless" href="#" target="_blank">Medomai, the Ageless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give us an extra turn, complete with another attack step, doubling up our beats.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Do You Feel Lucky? Well, Do Ya, Punk?</strong></span></p>
<p>Eventually, our opponents will likely notice that we've become a threat to their organization and will send their assassins (read: removal) to deal with us. Of course, we've prepared for this with a suite of protection effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate" href="#" target="_blank">Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selfless Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Selfless Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offer on-board protection for our creatures, along with the capability to do some damage in the air. Speaking of damage, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unbreakable Formation" href="#" target="_blank">Unbreakable Formation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can protect our board or provide us with even more combat prowess.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Linvala, Shield of Sea Gate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unbreakable Formation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloud Cover"></div></div>
<p>The protection doesn't stop there! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> adds a tax on targeting our permanents, and while opponents might not want to see another tax effect, it's not like we're <em>making</em> them target our stuff! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swiftfoot Boots" href="#" target="_blank">Swiftfoot Boots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are format staples for the protection they provide, but the haste they give is important for our creature-based strategy. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud Cover" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud Cover</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make it hard to keep our beaters down for good, since we can save them by returning them to hand, and even though they need to be recast, our commander makes that much easier. We've even got a few counterspells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovin&#039;s Veto" href="#" target="_blank">Dovin&#039;s Veto</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delay" href="#" target="_blank">Delay</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to either protect our board or shut down a problematic enemy spell.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>No, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Die</strong></span></p>
<p>Having a few big, evasive creatures will get you pretty far in a Commander game, but we'll need a bit more weight behind our punches to take out three opponents. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duelist&#039;s Heritage" href="#" target="_blank">Duelist&#039;s Heritage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">True Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> give us that one-two punch with double strike, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thistledown Liege" href="#" target="_blank">Thistledown Liege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes advantage of the fact that most of our creatures are multicolored. Plus, since all of our creatures are white, we're going to want to choose 'white' for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heraldic Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Heraldic Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thistledown Liege"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="True Conviction"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Pathlighter"></div></div>
<p>From the recently-released <em>Innistrad: Midnight Hunt</em> set, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intrepid Adversary" href="#" target="_blank">Intrepid Adversary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be a a huge boost, provided that you have a lot of mana. With the numerous card draw effects in our deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Righteous Authority" href="#" target="_blank">Righteous Authority</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help do a lot of damage. For those times that flying just isn't enough, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Pathlighter" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Pathlighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make blocking nigh impossible, and on top of that, we can even get some extra value from venturing into the dungeon!</p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Hasta la Vista, Baby</span></strong></p>
<p>There's no denying that Grand Arbiter has a bad reputation, but I think much of the ire comes from what people expect from the 99. While that one-mana tax can be annoying, it doesn't really stop anyone from playing the game; people supposedly pay the one for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, after all. Grand Arbiter is just as much a ramp card as it is a hatebear, and I think anyone looking to play a casual version of this commander would do well to treat it this way when brewing and when discussing a deck in a rule zero conversation.</p>
<p>I'm not the first person with this idea for a Grand Arbiter deck - back in 2017, <a href="http://www.commandercookout.com/">Commander Cookout podcast</a> did an <a href="https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/commandercookout/episodes/2017-10-26T17_57_48-07_00">episode</a> on a very similar deck. Of course, a beatdown deck isn't the only way to approach this commander. Human tribal and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Persistent Petitioners" href="#" target="_blank">Persistent Petitioners</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> show up as notable themes on Grand Arbiter's EDHREC page, and Coach JRO (a.k.a <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/unsummonedskull">Unsummoned Skull</a> on Twitch) has a spicy <a href="https://www.moxfield.com/decks/tUYudS0sw0SGYdosF5bHyg"><em>Storm</em> deck</a> he was kind enough to share.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Erratic Explosion"></div></div>
<p>It's about time for us to walk away from this explosion without looking at it. Let me know in the comments if this Grand Arbiter deck is worth the price of admission and if there are any commanders you'd like me to line up for the inevitable sequel.</p>


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