( Niambi, Esteemed SpeakerNiambi, Esteemed Speaker| Eric Deschamps)

Introduction

When we think of reanimator decks, typically we think of commanders with black somewhere in their color identity. Muldrotha, the GravetideMuldrotha, the Gravetide, Karador, Ghost ChieftainKarador, Ghost Chieftain, and Sedris, the Traitor KingSedris, the Traitor King are all great at taking creatures from the graveyard and slamming them straight into play.

But what if you want to build a reanimator commander, without using the game's best reanimation color?

Let's say you want to build a reanimation deck in Azorius... Well, chances are you'll probably go for Shorikai, Genesis EngineShorikai, Genesis Engine, it's got a very cheap ability to discard cards in order to draw more, letting you fill your graveyard, and draw into your reanimation effects.

Unfortunately, Shoraikai commands more than 18'000 decks putting it far beyond the cut off point of 500 decks needed to be mentioned in this series. What other blue and white graveyard centric legendaries are there for us to look at? Enter Niambi, Esteemed SpeakerNiambi, Esteemed Speaker.

There are currently, as of 03/19/2025, only 252 decks built around Niambi, even though she has a lot of incredibly unique traits to build around. Teferi's daughter, and an esteemed Jamuraan politician in her own right, Niambi is exactly the sort of niche commander that this series was built to analyze.

Esteemed Strategies

Niambi, Esteemed SpeakerNiambi, Esteemed Speaker is a 2/1 Human Cleric for . She can played be at instant speed, thanks to Flash, and has two interesting abilities...

1. When she enters play, she can bounce another one of her controller's creatures back into their hand and grant them life equal to that creature's mana value.
2. She can be tapped down for to discard a legendary card and draw two more cards.

The first question that comes to mind when thinking about Niambi is why she should be run over Shorikai, Genesis EngineShorikai, Genesis Engine?

After all, Shorikai has a similar ability to discard cards in order to draw more and it both costs less mana and generates a 1/1 Pilot token. Well Niambi has a few points in her favor...

• Her bounce effect plays into a niche self-bounce archetype. Cards like Barrin, Tolarian ArchmageBarrin, Tolarian Archmage, Dour Port-MageDour Port-Mage, and Watcher for TomorrowWatcher for Tomorrow all reward their controller for returning their own creatures to their hand.

These can be combined with cards with impactful enter the battlefield abilities like Agent of TreacheryAgent of Treachery, Portal MagePortal Mage, and Peregrine DrakePeregrine Drake to accrue huge value, or to get an infinite combo going.

While blink strategies are a bit more popular and a bit more practical, neither of those are things we're concerned with here on Under the Radar:

• She's two mana cheaper than Shorikai, and can't be destroyed with artifact removal.
• While Niambi's ability can only discard legendary cards, and this is unambiguously a downside, it does incentivize a "legendary matters" theme. Yes it's a pointless restriction, but sometimes pointlessly restricting yourself can be fun.

So have two options to focus on when building around Niambi's. A self-bounce deck that returns creatures with powerful enter the battlefield effects to the hand, to recur them, and a legendary-themed reanimator deck.

While white may not have as many reanimation effects as black, but there are plenty of cards like Karmic GuideKarmic Guide, Breath of LifeBreath of Life, and Late to DinnerLate to Dinner that can get back powerful legendaries once they have been dumped into the graveyard using Niambi's second ability.

Let's take a look at Niambi's average decks, and see which of these two strategies the commander community has gone for, or whether they have somehow merged them.

Niambi's Average Deck

Currently, as of 03/19/2025, there are 252 Niambi, Esteemed SpeakerNiambi, Esteemed Speaker decks logged on EDHREC. The average deck function combs over all 252 of these decks and generates a list containing the most popular cards that appear across all of them. Here's what it gives us for Niambi...

We outlined above how Niambi, Esteemed SpeakerNiambi, Esteemed Speaker can either be built as a legendary matters reanimator deck, or as a self-bounce deck. Looking over this list, it's pretty clear which of these two options most players have chosen.

There are a small selection of payoffs for Niambi's bouncing effect like Barrin, Tolarian ArchmageBarrin, Tolarian Archmage, and Venser, Shaper SavantVenser, Shaper Savant but they're few and far between.

This list is dominated by massive legendaries like Elesh Norn, Grand CenobiteElesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, Avacyn, Angel of HopeAvacyn, Angel of Hope, and Reya DawnbringerReya Dawnbringer as well as a selection of reanimation spells to bring them back once Niambi gets them into the graveyard.

While this is a bit of a shame, as there's room to integrate these two strategies more than the current list does, I will be emphasizing this reanimator strategy going forwards. I don't want to use my cuts and changes to completely redefine the deck.

You'll also notice that this list is loaded with legendary lands. From The Grey HavensThe Grey Havens, to Geier Reach SanitariumGeier Reach Sanitarium, and Otawara, Soaring CityOtawara, Soaring City this deck contains more iconic vistas than a Dominarian travel brochure.

This is handy since these legendary lands can be chucked into the graveyard to activate Niambi's draw ability if a legendary creature isn't available.

Of course, it's always best to discard a creature, you can reanimate Reya DawnbringerReya Dawnbringer, but you won't be able to returnRivendellRivendell to play using Defy DeathDefy Death.

This is a very pricy list. That makes sense since the massive creatures that reanimation decks are built around tend to be quite expensive. At $30+ Avacyn, Angel of HopeAvacyn, Angel of Hope may just be a bit too pricy to hold onto.

The same applies to Elesh Norn, Grand CenobiteElesh Norn, Grand Cenobite who typically sells for about $20, Nezahal, Primal TideNezahal, Primal Tide who has a roughly $15 price tag, and Jin-Gitaxias, Core AugurJin-Gitaxias, Core Augur who goes for just over $10.

Even putting these big creatures aside, there are plenty of costly lands here like Meticulous ArchiveMeticulous Archive, Otawara, Soaring CityOtawara, Soaring City, and Hallowed FountainHallowed Fountain all of which will cost at least $15. Of course, no Average white list would be complete without Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe which is $30+.

It might be a bit frustrating needing to cut these big beaters, but don't worry there are plenty of low budget threats for you to incorporate here, even considering the limitation that they need to be legendary.

Keiga, the Tide StarKeiga, the Tide Star, to TromokratisTromokratis, and Sephara, Sky's BladeSephara, Sky's Blade are just a few of the options out there that aren't currently included in this list.

5 Cards to Keep

Medomai the AgelessMedomai the Ageless

Medomai the Ageless

Currently in 36% of decks.

If you're looking for the best targets to reanimate in this deck... Well, it's probably a card like Elesh Norn, Grand CenobiteElesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, Jin-Gitaxias, Core AugurJin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, orAvacyn, Angel of HopeAvacyn, Angel of Hope.

Those cards cost a pretty penny though, while Medomai the AgelessMedomai the Ageless is only about $2. This Sphinx provides an incredibly powerful extra turn ability while not breaking the bank.

Medomai doesn't have the power of something like AvacynAvacyn, or an avalanche of keywords like Akroma, Angel of WrathAkroma, Angel of Wrath, or Zetalpa, Primal DawnZetalpa, Primal Dawn. The extra turns that it grants give these other cards more time to do their thing.

Kiora, the Rising TideKiora, the Rising Tide

Kiora, the Rising Tide

Currently in 7% of decks.

If reanimator decks were exclusively loaded up with massive creatures to grab from the graveyard, then their strategy would never be able to get going. Any good reanimator deck needs several cheap cards that can help load the graveyard up with big creatures to resurrect later.

Kiora, the Rising TideKiora, the Rising Tide is a great early play in this deck because she lets you draw two new cards, and then dump two of your big creatures into the yard right where you want them.

She also retains her value later in the game, thanks to her Threshold effect creating a powerful 8/8 Octopus. Kiora may have lost her spark but she, and her octopus pal, are still able to put up a damn good fight.

Teferi, Time RavelerTeferi, Time Raveler

Teferi, Time Raveler

Currently in 22% of decks.

TeferiTeferi may be Niambi'sNiambi's father, but he's not some sort of nepo parent, he earns his place in this deck through merit. Teferi, Time Raveler grants all of your sorceries flash and prevents any of your opponents from casting their cards at instant speed.

These are always great effects to have, but in this deck, they can work wonders. Not only can your reanimation spells no longer be countered, but you can also resurrect your creatures at instant speed, surprising the opposition with an unexpected blocker. At the very least, you'll be able to keep yourself safe by bluffing having a Breath of LifeBreath of Life to keep attackers away.

Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers

Loyal Retainers

Currently in 35% of decks.

It's not just sorceries that can bring creatures back. Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers can reanimate any legendary creature for only three mana. Most white reanimation effects fall into two camps. There are cheap ones like Return TriumphantReturn Triumphant and RecommissionRecommission that can't bring back big creatures.

Then there are expensive effects like ResurrectionResurrection and Marshal's AnthemMarshal's Anthem which can bring back any kind of creature, but cost more mana. Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers sits at a nice half way point.

It only costs three mana, but it can reanimate creatures of any cost... Well so long as they are legendary. Fortunately, this deck is all about getting big legendaries into the graveyard, so it's worth retaining a copy of this card.

Fact or FictionFact or Fiction

Fact or Fiction

Currently in 36% of decks.

Just like Kiora above, Fact or FictionFact or Fiction loads up both the hand and the graveyard, filling up two zones that this deck really cares about. It's difficult for an opponent to create two piles that you won't be happy with, since you want so many of your big creatures to end up in the graveyard.

You can also try getting political, and promising an opponent a favor if they split the cards favorably for you. In a worst-case scenario, you can try and pick someone who may not have cottoned on to your reanimator strategy. Whatever the outcome, you'll be getting some useful card advantage, and filling up your graveyard.

5 Cards to Cut

Body DoubleBody Double

Body Double

Currently in 39% of decks.

At five mana, this is one of the most expensive reanimation spells in the deck. It's basically Rise AgainRise Again in the form of a shapeshifting clone. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to four mana value reanimation spells, including Breath of LifeBreath of Life, ResurrectionResurrection, and Late to DinnerLate to Dinner.

There are some other expensive options, but they often have additional upsides to make them worth using. Marshal's AnthemMarshal's Anthem provides an anthem effect and can resurrect multiple creatures. Elspeth Conquers DeathElspeth Conquers Death acts as a removal spell and imposes a temporary cost increasing effect on the opponent.

Reya DawnbringerReya Dawnbringer revives different creatures every turn and, as a creature herself, so she can be reanimated to get around her cost. Compared to all of these other options, there's just nothing that makes Body Double worth including. Get it out of here on the double.

Teferi, Mage of ZhalfirTeferi, Mage of Zhalfir

Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir

Currently in 28% of decks.

Teferi, Mage of ZhalfirTeferi, Mage of Zhalfir is more costly than Teferi, Time RavelerTeferi, Time Raveler and has an effect that doesn't work as well with this deck. Just like Time Reveler, Mage of Zhalfir stops opponents from casting spells at instant speed. While Time Raveler grants sorceries flash, Mage of Zhalfir does the same for creatures.

Unfortunately, you won't be hard casting your creatures, you'll be resurrecting them, more often than not by casting sorceries. One copy of Niambi's dad is great, but two is pushing things.

Bruna, the Fading LightBruna, the Fading Light

Bruna, the Fading Light

Currently in 29% of decks.

Here we have another card that's weighed down by the fact that you won't be hard casting your creatures. Bruna, the Fading LightBruna, the Fading Light can bring an Angel or a Human from the graveyard to the battlefield.

This restriction is frustrating, but it's not so bad. There are plenty of expensive Angels like Reya DawnbringerReya Dawnbringer, Akroma, Angel of WrathAkroma, Angel of Wrath, and Reya DawnbringerReya Dawnbringer who would be eligible to be revived by Bruna.

Unfortunately, Bruna's effect only goes off when she is cast, not just whenever she enters play. Given that she costs seven mana, you don't want to be casting Bruna from your hand, and you would be much better off using any number of cheaper, less conditional, reanimation effects instead.

Azor, the LawbringerAzor, the Lawbringer

Azor, the Lawbringer

Currently in 38% of decks.

Azor, the LawbringerAzor, the Lawbringer just isn't as good a threat to bring back from the grave as the other options in this deck. A 6/6 flyer that pseudo-silences everyone for a turn isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it won't close out games as quickly as powerhouses like Zetalpa, Primal DawnZetalpa, Primal Dawn, or Nezahal, Primal TideNezahal, Primal Tide.

The Sphinx's RevelationSphinx's Revelation card draw effect is a nice call back, but it's a bit unwieldy compared to creatures like Arcanis the OmnipotentArcanis the Omnipotent and Isperia, Supreme JudgeIsperia, Supreme Judge. Swap Azor out for something a bit more impactful.

Urza's Ruinous BlastUrza's Ruinous Blast

Urza's Ruinous Blast

Currently in 56% of decks.

I don't know how much of a hot take this is, but I don't think that Urza's Ruinous BlastUrza's Ruinous Blast is a great card. While yes, it fits with the legendary matters theme of the deck, the card is often disappointing in practice.

Commanders are THE key cards in this format, so the value that you'll be getting from a board wipe that misses your opponents most important creatures is questionable at best.

There are also a huge number of staple creatures that are incidentally legendary like Torbran, Thane of Red FellTorbran, Thane of Red Fell, Elas il-Kor, Sadistic PilgrimElas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim, and Talrand, Sky SummonerTalrand, Sky Summoner. Unfortunately playing with this card isn't a blast at all.

5 Cards to Add

What Must Be DoneWhat Must Be Done

What Must Be Done

Currently in 27% of decks.

Urza could learn a lesson or two this is how you build a board wipe. This card can either destroy every creature and artifact in play, or it can bring back a historic card with two +1/+1 counters. Both of these are effects that this deck wants, and they're also available at a decent cost, especially since they're stapled together on the same card. I know exactly two things about Assassin's Creed. The Sea Shanties in Black Flag slap, and it gave us a pretty good board wipe.

Sephara, Sky's BladeSephara, Sky's Blade

Sephara, Sky's Blade

Currently in 23% of decks.

One thing that many of the threats in this deck have in common is that they have flying. Since blue and white are the two colors with the most flyers, this is hardly unexpected. Sephara, Sky's BladeSephara, Sky's Blade is an imposing 7/7 flyer in her own right, and a shield granting all of your other big flyers indestructible.

Given that so many of the flyers in this deck are massive beaters, it's probably not the best place to take advantage of Sephara's ability to tap them down to come into play at a discounted cost. If you want to give that a try though, the sky is the limit.

WindfallWindfall

Windfall

Currently in 23% of decks.

We've talked about how Fact or FictionFact or Fiction and Kiora, the Rising TideKiora, the Rising Tide both let you dump cards into the graveyard while also loading up your hand.

Of course, we all know that when it comes to effects like this Windfall is the MVP. Not only does this let you get all of the big legendaries in your hand into the graveyard where you want them, but you also get to throw a wrench into everyone else's plans as you go.

Search for GlorySearch for Glory

Search for Glory

Currently in 22% of decks.

Plenty of people see the snow mana symbol on this card, and their eyes glaze over and they stop paying attention. That's a shame because Search for GlorySearch for Glory is a really cool tutor spell. Search for Glory lets you grab one of the many legendary creatures that populate this deck or a Saga.

This Saga fetching ability is more useful here than it might seem since you can grab Elspeth Conquers DeathElspeth Conquers Death to get rid of a Sol RingSol Ring or a Rhystic StudyRhystic Study. Maybe the real glory was the friends we made along the way.

Gold-Forged ThopteryxGold-Forged Thopteryx

Gold-Forged Thopteryx

Currently in 15% of decks.

Building up a big board full of legendary creatures is all well and good, but if you don't have anything to protect them then they may end up getting gradually picked off by removal spells.

Gold-Forged ThopteryxGold-Forged Thopteryx is a cheap guard for all of your legendary permanents making it so opponents either need to kill this thopter dinosaur, or sink an additional two mana into taking your creatures out.

Conclusion

Azorius reanimator may be a niche strategy, but there are far more commanders for it than just Shorikai, Genesis EngineShorikai, Genesis Engine. Blue has plenty of draw spells that can be used to incidentally discard creatures, and white has plenty of resurrection effects.

We've talked about NiambiNiambi here today, but there are plenty of other neat commanders in this space. Arcade GannonArcade Gannon, from the Fallout set also functions as a discard outlet and can bring Humans and artifacts back from the graveyard.

Taigam, Ojutai MasterTaigam, Ojutai Master makes reanimation spells uncounterable, and grants them rebound so they can bring back two creatures. Kastral, the WindcrestedKastral, the Windcrested has the direct ability to return Birds from the graveyard to play. The possibilities are out there, and they're expanding with every new set.

Not only does Niambi work as a reanimation commander, but there's a whole self-bounce strategy that she enables which we have only scratched the surface of here.

Niambi may only have a few decks to her name, but rather than being a downside, this is actually exciting. There are so many strategies just waiting to be uncovered here. Have a bit of a brainstorm, and see what you can dream up.

Ben Macready

Ben is a freelance writer from the UK. He's has been playing Magic since he was 8 years old, back when he thought Enormous Baloth was the best card in the game. You can find more Magic content from him on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@macreadymusings