Iroh, Firebending Instructor Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Brahne" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Brahne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/lorenzomastroianni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lorenzo Mastroianni</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>, the series where we build decks based on popular Commander archetypes. I'll be using Scryfall's tagging system and EDHREC's Tag pages to build around a new theme each week. Scryfall has a really cool way of categorizing cards, where each card has specific labels attached to it for later reference. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terisiare&#039;s Devastation" href="#" target="_blank">Terisiare&#039;s Devastation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the artifact synergy tag and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fateful Absence" href="#" target="_blank">Fateful Absence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the removal tag. EDHREC's tag system is really cool too, letting users see popular cards associated with a given strategy. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in spellslinger decks and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Juri, Master of the Revue" href="#" target="_blank">Juri, Master of the Revue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in sacrifice decks. These tagging systems are great ways to get inspiration for certain deck archetypes, and I often start there when it's time for me to build a new deck.</p>
<p>This week we'll be building a deck focused on polymorphing small, less useful creatures into big, powerful monsters. For those who may not know, “polymorphing” is the process of removing a creature and having its owner replace it on the battlefield by revealing cards from the top of their library until a new creature appears. Essentially, these effects will let us turn tokens and other cheap creatures into high mana value beaters. So we'll need a commander that lets us get easy access to disposable creatures, and it'll need to have <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> or <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> in its color identity, as that's where most of <em>Magic</em>'s polymorph effects lie. Luckily, <em>Final Fantasy</em> has presented us with a fantastic option: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Brahne" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Brahne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Queen Brahne"></div></div>
<p>For those of you who are interested, here are some of the Scryfall searches I used to write this article:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Apolymorph+commander%3Ared+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polymorph effects</a></li>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Acreature+cmc%3E4+-fo%3A%22when+you+cast+this+spell%22+commander%3Ared+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Creatures to polymorph into</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>What Does Queen Brahne Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Brahne" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Brahne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an interesting new design, netting us a cool token every time it attacks. These 0/1 Wizard tokens will ping our opponents when we cast noncreature spells, which is great because most of our polymorph spells aren't creatures. While the chip damage they provide likely won't be game-winning, it'll certainly add up as the game goes on. But, a lot of these tokens will end up being sacrificed so we can cheat something scarier onto the battlefield. I'm super excited to talk about the deck's inner workings, so let's get going!</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Polymorphing With Queen Brahne</h2>
<p>First, let's talk about the different ways that we can turn little guys into big guys. The classics are all here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divergent Transformations" href="#" target="_blank">Divergent Transformations</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Indomitable Creativity" href="#" target="_blank">Indomitable Creativity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reality Scramble" href="#" target="_blank">Reality Scramble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That last one's my favorite, because we can recast it as many times as we'd like (provided there's lands in our hand). Sometimes we'll get unlucky and spin into a creature that doesn't work well on the current board state. Cards like Reality Scramble ensure that we can get a do-over whenever needed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Divergent Transformations"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Indomitable Creativity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reality Scramble"></div></div>
<p>There's a few more repeatable ways for us to polymorph our creatures too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fireflux Squad" href="#" target="_blank">Fireflux Squad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can polymorph a creature every turn if it survives combat. This is particularly strong alongside our commander, given that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Brahne" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Brahne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes a new token every turn that can serve as an easy target for polymorphing.</p>
<p>I also really like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because it provides value outside of just polymorphs. The card advantage this planeswalker provides is nice, and its ultimate can easily end the game when activated. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dreamshaper Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Dreamshaper Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> slots super well into our game plan. If we've got extra mana and any extra nonland permanents lying around, this creature can turn those into game-ending threats quite easily. Plus, it's no slouch in combat as a 5/4.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fireflux Squad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dreamshaper Shaman"></div></div>
<p>But that's enough talk about polymorph spells. Lets talk about the big, scary creatures we'll be getting onto the battlefield. I'll start by talking about a trio of Dragons: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skyline Despot" href="#" target="_blank">Skyline Despot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Utvara Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Utvara Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balefire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Balefire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These are all huge, flying creatures that'll make short work of our opponents if we can get them onto the board early. I like that these creatures provide more than just power and toughness, though. They provide card advantage, token production, and removal, respectively. We need our big threats to do more than just attack and block, given how much we're investing in them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skyline Despot"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Utvara Hellkite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Balefire Dragon"></div></div>
<p>There are, of course, Eldrazi here too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Void Winnower" href="#" target="_blank">Void Winnower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can cripple our opponents' ability to play the game at all, while also being a massive 11/9. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulamog&#039;s Dreadsire" href="#" target="_blank">Ulamog&#039;s Dreadsire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a newer card that can produce huge amounts of power if left unchecked. And, one of my personal favorites, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pathrazer of Ulamog" href="#" target="_blank">Pathrazer of Ulamog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will ensure our opponents' board states aren't strong enough to fight back against us. Although these creatures don't provide as much value as the aforementioned Dragons, I'm still more than happy to include them here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Void Winnower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ulamog&#039;s Dreadsire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pathrazer of Ulamog"></div></div>
<p>Given that many of our polymorph effects destroy or sacrifice one of our creatures, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Triniform" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Triniform</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wurmcoil Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Wurmcoil Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triplicate Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Triplicate Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become even stronger in this deck. It's great to have them on board as big 9/9s, but we're also perfectly okay with sacrificing them to go fetch another big creature from our deck. The tokens they leave behind are powerful, and can be sacrificed for future polymorph spells too. All of these creatures, and the tokens they leave behind, fit extremely well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terror of the Peaks" href="#" target="_blank">Terror of the Peaks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Not counting the tokens we'll be creating, the average power of creatures in this deck is six. Suffice it to say that Terror of the Peaks will be dishing out tons of damage over the course of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Triniform"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triplicate Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terror of the Peaks"></div></div>
<p>Our commander has prowess, which conveniently synergizes with the 39 noncreature spells in this deck. But there are other ways to take advantage of those spells too, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Pyromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Young Pyromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although including this creature in the deck does run the risk of it being flipped off a polymorph spell, the huge amount of creature tokens it'll be creating for us is too good to pass up. Same goes for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bothersome Quasit" href="#" target="_blank">Bothersome Quasit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which provides combat control through goading. And, as a unique include to re-trigger our noncreature synergies, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mark of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Mark of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here. Haste is pretty important in this deck, letting our big creatures attack for value or letting our commander attack to make an additional creature token. Having the chance to cast this spell and give a new creature haste on every single turn feels really strong.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Young Pyromancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bothersome Quasit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mark of Fury"></div></div>
<h2>Queen Brahne Polymorph Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>Here's the full decklist, which includes one of my personal favorite cards in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Powerbalance" href="#" target="_blank">Powerbalance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetypes of Imagination - Queen Brahne" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Queen Brahne
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Plate
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Ruby Medallion
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Tome of Legends
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Ancient Copper Dragon
*1 Aspiring Champion
*1 Balefire Dragon
*1 Blightsteel Colossus
*1 Bonehoard Dracosaur
*1 Bothersome Quasit
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dreamshaper Shaman
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Fireflux Squad
*1 Magmatic Force
*1 Molten Primordial
*1 Pathrazer of Ulamog
*1 Phyrexian Triniform
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded
*1 Skyline Despot
*1 Terror of the Peaks
*1 Triplicate Titan
*1 Ulamog&#039;s Dreadsire
*1 Utvara Hellkite
*1 Void Winnower
*1 Wurmcoil Engine
*1 Young Pyromancer
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Breaching Dragonstorm
*1 Mark of Fury
*1 Powerbalance
*1 Shifting Shadow
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chaotic Transformation
*1 Descent of the Dragons
*1 Indomitable Creativity
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Reality Scramble
*1 Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass
*1 Song of Totentanz
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
*1 Transmogrify
*1 Will of the Jeskai
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Crimson Wisps
*1 Desperate Ritual
*1 Divergent Transformations
*1 Expedite
*1 Guff Rewrites History
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Pyretic Ritual
*1 Seething Song
*1 Tibalt&#039;s Trickery
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge
*1 Wild Magic Surge
*1 Zoyowa&#039;s Justice
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Kher Keep
*32 Mountain
*1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
*1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voyage&#039;s End" href="#" target="_blank">Voyage&#039;s End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Thanks for sticking around to the end! Before you go, there's a few more cards I wanted to shout out for their role in the 99 of this deck. We're making a lot of 0/1 and 1/1 tokens, so cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Idol of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Idol of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide a ton of card advantage. And, should we wish to upgrade some of those tokens into game-ending threats, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Descent of the Dragons" href="#" target="_blank">Descent of the Dragons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do so. I love this card for its ability to downgrade an opponent's scariest threat into a mere 4/4 and its ability to upgrade our small tokens into flying threats.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Idol of Oblivion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Descent of the Dragons"></div></div>
<p>Thanks once again for reading! I'll see you all soon for another edition of <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>!</p>


mono red commander deck

Iroh, Firebending Instructor Commander Deck Tech

Making a Polymorph Deck With Queen Brahne