Jeskai AscendancyJeskai Ascendancy | Art by Dan Scott

Greetings and salutations my dear brewers, and welcome to a new instance of Branching Out, where I try to find some interesting and unplayed commanders or themes for various color combinations.

After starting this new three-color batch two weeks ago with Mardu, it's time to take on their monastic enemies, Jeskai .

Jeskai is an interesting and, I believe, often overlooked color combination. I have rather fond memories of smashing down my opponents back when Ravnica: City of Guilds and Time Spiral were both Standard legal (yes, I'm old) with Lightning AngelLightning Angel. And Ruhan of the FomoriRuhan of the Fomori used to wreak terror among early Commander games by controlling the board and bashing heads in a terrifyingly effective way, with a combination of heavy control and commander damage.

Today, things have changed a bit, and some clear patterns have emerged. These are the top five commanders played in these colors at the time of writing:

1. Zinnia, Valley's VoiceZinnia, Valley's Voice: 14,610 decks, with the most popular themes being Tokens (1,5K decks), Artifacts (290), and Clones (244).
2. Satya, Aetherflux GeniusSatya, Aetherflux Genius: 13,131 decks, with the most popular themes being Energy (5K decks), Clones (392), and Artifacts (390).
3. Kykar, Wind's FuryKykar, Wind's Fury: 12,460 decks, with the most popular themes being Spellslinger (1,1K decks), Tokens (669), and Polymorph (600).
4. Éowyn, ShieldmaidenÉowyn, Shieldmaiden: 12,386 decks, with the most popular themes being Humans (4K decks), Monarch (911), and Tokens (622).
5. Captain America, First AvengerCaptain America, First Avenger: 11,393 decks with the most popular themes being Equipment (3.8K decks), Voltron (620), and Artifacts (338).

Already there's something rather striking in these subthemes. Tokens seem to play a rather predominant role, as do Artifacts. Let's take a look at the most played themes and see how these fare:

1. Energy: 9,922 decks
2. Artifacts: 9,846 decks
3. Tokens: 6,541 decks
4. Spellslinger: 6,353 decks
5. Equipment: 6,111 decks

Unsurprisingly, the top three correspond rather well to the most played commanders, but to a plethora of others further down in the list as well.

With all of this in mind, let's try exploring three weird brews you can devise with legendary creatures that deserve more love.

Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus

Let's begin with my favourite commander in these colors, and one that should definitely see more play.

This, in my book, is the perfect balance for someone who wants to make a million tokens while giving the impression of doing it in a fair way. There are no infinites here, just amazing synergies to maximize the output allowed by this wild pair from Innistrad.

The goal is not only to tap them three times in a row, but ideally to do so each and every turn, amassing a sizeable army by the time it comes back to your turn, so that you can conveniently both bash heads and protect yourself.

This is a deck that's quite vulnerable to well-timed removal spells, but also one that usually passes under the radar until it's too late (at least during the first game). With the right tools, it can rebuild extremely quickly after a board wipe, and it allows you to resort to some really weird cards. The only tricky part is to time your spells right so that your intent doesn't become obvious prematurely. Some of these spells are invaluable and will gather unwanted attention the moment they hit the field.

And did I mention it's a total blast to play? It's one of my go-tos whenever I feel like showing off something both fun and decently powerful while keeping things fair in low Bracket 3 land.

What's not to love?

To make this work, you'll need:

• Tap outlets: Attacking is so 2024...Grab some value, and get your commander going!
  • Oracle's InsightOracle's Insight will draw you an avalanche of cards.
  • Aura of DominionAura of Dominion does all the work on its own.
  • Paradise MantleParadise Mantle ramps you for more spells.
• Untap outlets: Your commander needs to untap several times in a row to reach its potential. Sure, spells with convoke will help, but there are other ways to tap and untap. Tap and untap. And then tap and untap some more. The best out there are Intruder AlarmIntruder Alarm and Freed from the RealFreed from the Real, but you can also have fun with FatestitcherFatestitcher, DrumbellowerDrumbellower or Kelpie GuideKelpie Guide. Just make sure you're packing enough of those so you always have at least one at hand.
• Convoke outlets: These are especially great here, since they will automatically untap your commander, which will then be ready to spit out more fodder for more of these spells. The more, the merrier!
• Other weird outlets: 
  • Beguiler of WillsBeguiler of Wills will steal cards for good, and if you can untap it, it will do so multiple times.
  • Cayth, Famed MechanistCayth, Famed Mechanist will grow your army for cheap.
  • Prosperous PartnershipProsperous Partnership has the potential to make a ton of TreasuresTreasures and gets your army going.
  • Heck, you can even try Prodigal SorcererProdigal Sorcerer here!

You will like this deck if: 

• You fall for decks that tick like a clock.
• You enjoy doing this that leads to that which in turns triggers this and that and those...
• You want to feel the exhilaration of being a puppet master.
• You're tired of seeing Kykar, Wind's FuryKykar, Wind's Fury go infinite.

You won't like this deck if: 

• You don't want to keep track of triggers during all turns.
• You're not a fan of doing a gazillion things per turn, every turn.
• You're not ready to protect your commander with your soul if need be.
• You don't enjoy value engines (but then, why are you playing Magic?).

Shu Yun, the Silent TempestShu Yun, the Silent Tempest

Let's continue with a build that's more intended for Bracket 1, but that holds its own in B2 as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, planewalkers and demons, allow me to introduce to you...

That's right. I'm building a Saitama deck.

I mean, take a second look at Shu Yun. Can you tell me with a straight face that there isn't an amazing resemblance here?

In case some of you don't know what I'm talking about, I urge you to go watch the first season of One-Punch Man. It's a fantastic anime that revisits most of the superhero tropes. It's fun, it's refreshing, it's not that long, it has amazing fight scenes, and it's definitely 100% totally worth your time.

The point is, this hero can defeat every enemy on its path with a single punch. Each. And. Every. One. Of. Them.

So this is exactly what the deck is about. Gather pump outlets in your hand, deploy your commander, then swing when you're absolutely certain you can obliterate one (or two, or three) opponents with a single hit.

Saita... Sorry, Shu Yun's abilities will certainly help to reach that goal. Prowess will accumulate rather fast, and the for double-strike means you only need him to reach 11 power to be lethal, assuming he goes unhindered.

There's a plethora of red spells that will grow your commander to stratospheric levels in no time, while blue and white both have options to keep him alive and/or grant him evasion.

Some builds will resort to plan Bs, such as Feather, the RedeemedFeather, the Redeemed, Monastery MentorMonastery Mentor or Veyran, Voice of DualityVeyran, Voice of Duality. One could also argue in favour of Kediss, Emberclaw FamiliarKediss, Emberclaw Familiar. All extremely valid options, but not quite in the spirit of the deck. Shu Yun should be your only creature, and you should hold your blows until you can, quite literally, one-punch someone to smithereens.

It's extremely glass-cannony, but it's also quite impressive when you manage to pull it off.

So gear up and get ready to send the ultimate Voltron deck to your opponents' faces.

To make this work, you'll need: 

• Pump spells: Think instants and sorceries rather than mana-intensive Equipment, to maximize prowess triggers. Also, Saitama doesn't fight with weapons, does he? Basically anything providing at least +3 in power for one or, at most, two mana is good in here. Stuff like Brute ForceBrute Force, Monstrous RageMonstrous Rage, Invigorated RampageInvigorated Rampage or AntagonizeAntagonize. Haste enablers for bonus points.
• Evasion enablers: To kill, you must reach your opponents. Ergo, you need to make your commander either unblockable or to give him protection from a given color. Don't be skimpy on these, they are what will ensure you can effectively kill someone.
• Draw, draw, draw: Getting one opponent down is good, but you'll run out of gas rather fast. You absolutely require several ways to keep your hand full and keep going after you've taken someone down.
• Protection: You will attract unwanted attention the moment the commander hits the field. Your opponents will be at odds to kill him as quickly as they can. So make sure you can keep him alive. Remember, you're here to shoot down players, but you don't have to be extremely quick to do so.

You will like this deck if: 

• You love the anime.
• You love punching stuff.
• You love Voltron.
• You love spectacular combat phases.

You won't like this deck if: 

• You don't enjoy winning the same way every time.
• You don't want to rely on a single creature.
• You don't like over-committing to the board.
• You don't like focusing on one player at a time.

The Face of BoeThe Face of Boe

Let's wrap this tour with a commander that's rather unpopular, for reasons I can't fathom.

With 515 decks, this is clearly not a fan favorite. Yet of all the Doctor Who potential commanders, this is one I find extremely interesting. I guess all of the spotlight was taken by The Tenth DoctorThe Tenth Doctor and Rose TylerRose Tyler (5,525 decks to their name). Not to mention it's a fantastic character in the series, but I digress.

Since their inception in Time Spiral, spells with suspend have ranged from rather good (Ancestral VisionAncestral Vision, Lotus BloomLotus Bloom) to useless garbage.

However, if you could cast them for their actual suspend cost, they could become powerhouses. And that's exactly what The Face of Boe allows you to do. Now what if you could do that multiple times in a row?

You see, much like Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus above, I believe this commander's true potential lies in the ability to tap and untap him multiple times in a row, to generate crazy value. What if you could cast an 8/8 with flying and vigilance for ? What if you could get a 9/7 for ? Or an unblockable 6/6 for ?

These are but a few examples of the possibilities offered by that beautiful alien face. Time to get all of those Time Spiral cards out of your binder. And you get to tap and untap stuff, which I love.

To make this work, you'll need:

• Cards with suspend: These should account for at least a third of all spells. You want to cast a lot of things for cheap, so you need them in your hand to do so!
• Untappers: Getting one trigger a turn is good. Getting three or four is better
• A decent control package: Since you're playing your spells for cheap, and The Face of Boe can only be activated at sorcery speed, this leaves mana up for more shenanigans on your opponents' turns.
• Fun plan Bs: The Millennium CalendarThe Millennium Calendar jumps to mind, but you could even jam in a Krenko, Mob BossKrenko, Mob Boss in here for the unexpected "Wait, what?" effect.

You'll like this deck if: 

• You like tinkering with whatever no one else is playing.
• You think suspend is underrated.
• You like casting expensive spells for cheap.
• You know the true story behind The Face of Boe.

You won't like this deck if: 

• You're not the patient kind.
• You don't wish to play the long game.
• You're scared of the scaredy Face.
• Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey... stuff.

Conclusion

That settles it for Jeskai. I hope you enjoyed this selection and maybe found some inspiration for your future brews!

Let me know in the comments if there are other Jeskai commanders or ideas you feel should see more play, or your best stories with these colors.

See you in two weeks!