@Crow-Umbra Thanks! It hurt to cut Cathars', but I think it will be for the best. I usually use it as a finisher, but Authority would have helped me out in 3 recent games. I won two of them, but they wouldn't have been so close if I had Authority on the field, and I might have won the third (Actually, I could have won the third if I had just cast and attacked with Isshin rather than casting an Anguished Unmaking, just a nice little reminder to ALWAYS evaluate the attack option with Isshin out). Also, thoughts on Phyrexian Arena vs. Tocasia's Welcome? I don't really have a way to generate tokens on other player's turns, so they both do about the same thing, but I figured 1) Phyrexian would be more consistent than Esper, as opponent's don't always cast non-creature spells, and they can pay to negate the ability, and 2) Phyrexian might be more consistent than Tocasia's as I don't always have token gen online, and my deck sits a little more in the 4 range for creatures, leaving me a little light on draw if I've already cast my commander.

Oh Crow-Umbra, just came across Vampiric Rites. Didn't know about this card. It lives in the category of benefits from tokens, gets me a little life, and is useable on other people's turns. This issue is the black in the mana cost of it's activation and the fact that it requires mana at all for said activation. But as a sub for Phyrexian? Anyway thanks for taking the time to help me tune this deck, I very much appreciate it.

Glad you're getting the hang of the deck and it's working well for you so far. If you like the beefiness of Cathars' Crusade, you could run Adriana, Captain of the Guard. I see she's in your maybe board. Same cmc, but her P/T boosts although temporary, are still pretty decent. With Isshin out, and swinging at 3 opponents, your creatures will get +6/+6. If you pull off the Magic Christmas Land of having Adriana and Skyhunter Strike Force on field at the same time as Isshin, I think your creatures would all get +12/+12, since each instance of Melee triggers separately and would stack.

Additional creatures that can also provide P/T boosts on attack: Signal Pest, Accorder Paladin, Soltari Champion.

Ankle Shanker could be worth a look at to essentially make your board evasive with First Strike & Deathtouch.

In regards to Phyrexian Arena & Tocasia's Welcome they definitely have their pros and cons

Phyrexian Arena:

• Pro: Consistently gets you a card at each of your upkeeps
• Con: Have to wait a whole turn rotation to draw a card from it, making the play pattern kind of awkward in mid-late game.
• Con: Life loss can get precarious later in game, but that's the risk of playing Black Draw lol.
• Con: Double color mana pip, especially in a color that your deck is currently playing the least

Tocasia's Welcome:

• Pro: Can get you a card the same turn it gets played if you follow up with creature token production or a 3cmc or less creature.
• Con: Only draws one card per turn.
• Con: May not draw cards on other players' turns if you don't have a means of making creature tokens at instant speed.
• Con: At its best when paired with consistent creature token production, or casting smaller creatures.

Vampiric Rites is an option worth trying, but will shine with enough creature tokens to toss into it. The activation cost could compete with instant speed removal/interaction in situations where you may be trying to dig for answers. Might be better in an Aristocrats focused deck that is likely also getting additional value out of death triggers, so the 2 mana is a more value generating activation beyond drawing a card and gaining life.

Deadly Dispute and Painful Truths are additional "burst" options for draw.

@Crow-Umbra Thanks for the excellent feedback! I'm making the switch to Vampiric Rites for a few play cycles to see whether it can provide 1) More consistent card draw than Phyrexian Arena and 2) Not out compete other cards for resources. After, I'll give Tocasia's Welcome a few cycles to evaluate its efficacy and impact.

Change Log 28-Feb-2023

Move to Maybe Board:

• Phyrexian Arena

Move to Main Board/Add:

• Vampiric Rites

Change Log 28-Feb-2023: Quick change to represent the higher costs as the deck shifts a little bit.

Cut:

• Plains

Add:

• Swamp

A few quality of life changes. I've been thinking about lowering my curve and what some effective cuts are to the deck in order to do that. I originally had Ardoz, Cobbler of War in the main deck, but he got cut early on and replaced with Ogre Battledriver. Ogre is a great card, and particularly useful because it gives creatures haste, which is a valuable tool in this deck. That is the primary reason that it's been in here as long as it has. BUT, and I bet you could sense that coming, so many of my creatures/effects make tokens that are tapped and attacking or just attacking (11 effects in the deck, compared to 4 effects in the deck that create tokens that are not "tapped and attacking), and specifically on the attack step, so giving tokens the benefit of haste is wasted as they cannot participate in combat. Therefore I am switching back to Ardoz, as it does the same thing for less, which definitely helps with curve reduction. If I end up missing the haste, I can always switch back

Two other small changes. I am changing out one Plains for an Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire and one Mountain for a Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance. I used an Eiganjo in an online game last night to remove a particularly troublesome attacker, and I didn't even have to waste a card slot on it. Furthermore, I have quite a few legendary creatures in the deck, and this allows me to have reduced costs on the channeling ability for those cards.

One thing I have noticed with the deck, and it was something that Crow-Umbra had mentioned, is that I am a little mana light in the deck. Every few games or so I get mana screwed. This is more likely due to poor use of mulligans on my part rather than actual land count in the deck, but 2 more lands would feel better, but I'm unsure where to find those cuts. Anyway, that's it for now. On to lots of testing. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated!

Change Log 04-Mar-2023

Cut/Move to Maybe Board:

• 1x Plains
• 1x Mountain
• Ogre Battledriver

Add/Move to Main Board:

• Ardoz, Cobbler of War
• Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance

Been a second since I changed anything, deck was overdue for a little update. A newer player in my playgroup plays a Kardur, Doomscourge deck, and I read an article recently that talked about how to combat power creep in a playgroup in ways that are fun and interesting for everyone. And the article talked about building decks with your meta in mind, or at least coming up with ways to combat specific decks that you are likely to see, and in the interest of full disclosure, I don't often do that. I find myself building decks that excite me from a mechanical perspective, and then fine tuning the deck relative to my playgroup through playtesting, and in this way letting the meta affect my card choices for slots in my 99. I don't think it's a bad way to deck build, but I think I ask others for their opinions a lot (sorry Crow-Umbra), and that it's a result of me not looking at my meta in particular. I think that thinking about my card slots in terms of what I'll sit down and face on any given play night would actually have me asking less, or maybe just different questions of what my deck should be doing to accomplish its game plan.

Okay, so that's a long ramble, and all of this is to say that against the players in my play group that field decks that put up big bodies that I can't swing into (Gargos, Vicious Watcher, Ghired, Conclave Exile) or their decks go wide enough that they can chump block my creatures to death (Edgar Markov, Ghired, Conclave Exile, Alela, Artful Provocateur, Marrow-Gnawer, Isperia, Supreme Judge, Lathril, Blade of the Elves), or they play Goad (Just the Kardur, Doomscourge Deck currently), I need more protection for my attackers. Now Crow-Umbra mentioned Reconnaissance way back, and I kind of slept on it because I thought (incorrectly) that it would hamper my ability to do damage, but still offer me the benefit of vigilance. But I realized that after the errata by Magic in creating multiple combat steps, that I can still use Reconnaissance to untap my attacking creatures after they've dealt damage, during the combat end step, thus allowing me to "have my cake and eat it too." So I was wondering what to cut, and I landed on cutting Curse of Opulence. It is irritating to the player that it gets put on, and it's hard to assess as early as turn one who the biggest threat will be, and it embitters whichever player I put it on against me, so even though I get ramp off of it, and other players do too, it doesn't really do me too many favors. So Curse is out, Reconnaissance is in.

Change Log 13-Mar-2023

Cut/Move to Maybe Board:

• Curse of Opulence

Add/Move to Main Board:

• Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is such a great card in this deck, glad you're finally giving it a try. I see you already have Gruesome Realization in the 99. I recently had a game a couple of weekends ago where a friend played his Krenko, Mob Boss deck. I drew with a fairly removal heavy hand, one of the pieces being Gruesome Realization. I used it fairly early, and was able to kill off Krenko's 5 Goblin tokens it already managed to create.

If you're looking for more evasion and anti-token tech, I'd also recommend checking out Legion Loyalist and Goblin War Drums. Rakdos Charm can also be a pretty cheeky way to punish token strategies that outpace you on board establishment. I also recently subbed in Urabrask the Hidden as another Haste anthem and stax piece to slow down board rebuilds after board wipes. Kismet is another decent stax piece to hinder what your opponents are rolling out.

Slaughter the Strong is a board wipe that Isshin can dodge, and forces your opponents to slim down to only the most crucial stuff they can afford to keep.

Lastly, Soul Partition is pretty versatile as a removal piece that essentially adds another instance of Commander Tax to a removed opponents' commander, or can be a protection piece for one of your own things. I used it that same game to get rid of Krenko for essentially the rest of the game.

I liked your reasoning for cutting Emberwilde Captain and I may even think about taking it out of my deck. I just recently put Karlach in and might replace Emberwild with another Vigilance card.

Hey IamRancor! I think that's a great way to go. Crow-Umbra really helped me in building this deck, and they made a great point that in order for the card to "do its thing," you need an opponent to do something that's outside your control, and furthermore, the card actively incentivizes opponents to not do something, which isn't really what you want the card to be doing. And yes! Vigilance is amazing in Isshin, the more the merrier!

Okay, this deck needs a little tuning. I got so caught up in honing the knife edge that this deck can be (and believe me, when it pops, it absolutely wrecks the table) that I made it a little hard to play. I love that the deck is low to the ground, but Crow-Umbra was right. I need more lands. I think my ideal number would be 35? 36? Unknown. but I get into so many situations where I can get out a few cards, but just get stalled at playing multiple cards per turn, or just don't draw lands and get killed because of it. So, I am very open to recommendations for cuts.

Here is what I want to fit into the deck:

• AT LEAST: 2 more lands (maybe 3?)
• One more piece of ramp (If it also supports some other part of Isshin, then all the better)
• One more haste enabler (cards I'm looking at for this slot include Mass Hysteria and Rising of the Day, but again, suggestions that include a haste enabler and ALSO contribute another piece to the Isshin gameplan could be ideal too)

So that is 4-5 cuts that would need to be made. And those cuts will definitely hurt, because I love each and every card that is currently in Isshin, but I want him to be able to consistently do his thing, rather than annihilate everyone only irregularly. Thanks for any feedback!

P.S. I'm also looking at maybe putting in Chivalric Alliance instead of Vampiric Rites?

I think one easy swap that you could make that also potentially helps with the dilemma of adding in Chivalric Alliance is swapping either Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire or a basic Plains for Minas Tirith.

I've been okay so far at 35 lands. I can understand running Mass Hysteria for the mana efficiency, but giving your opponents' creatures haste runs the risk of benefiting other aggro strats, and activated tap abilities. Rising of the Day gives 17 of your 29 total creatures (including Isshin) that little additional buff.

My quick suggestions for cuts or swaps:

• Swap either Brave the Sands or Fervent Charge for Flowering of the White Tree. Again, 17 of your 29 creatures get a couple decent buffs, and all your other creatures get a consistent +1/+1. Fervent Charge only buffs when you attack.

• I think you can cut Revenge of Ravens for similarly stated reasons as Emberwilde Captain. Or, you could flat out swap with Marchesa's Decree if you really want to keep the effect, but still squeeze in another draw opportunity.

• You can likely cut Vampiric Rites as you were thinking, especially if you end up adding Minas Tirith, which feels like a middle ground to Vampiric Rites & Chivalric Alliance in terms of getting the draw. Idk what land destruction is like in your meta, but Minas Tirith is also a bit more removal resistant.

• Painful Truths can be a potential cut, or perhaps swap with Professional Face-Breaker. Face-Breaker is a combat damage trigger, but is still something you can benefit from since you want to go wide & hit face anyways.

• More of a meta call, but you can maybe cut Vandalblast and/or Damn. I've been cutting back on board wipes in my more aggro decks in favor of more targeted removal, draw, or creatures.

• Inquisitorial Rosette could be another cut. I've personally moved away from this card & Captain's Claws. I think they got phased out for additional creature slots. If you like it as a menace anthem, then Goblin War Drums is also an option. Ultimately up to you though.

Change Log 10-Jul-2023

Cut/Move to Maybe Board:

• Vandalblast
• Revenge of Ravens
• Vampiric Rites
• Inquisitorial Rosette
• Gruesome Realization
• Brave the Sands

Add/Move to Main Board:

• Anduril, Flame of the West
• Rising of the Day
• Flowering of the White Tree
• Minas Tirith
• Plains
• Talisman of Indulgence

So Crow_Umbra, what are your thoughts on going to 35 lands AND adding the additional piece of ramp (Talisman of Indulgence)? Does that feel like too much swing back to "I must make my land drops? Would it be better to add Chivalric Alliance back in and take out the talisman?

I've been running 35 lands in my list for the better part of the past year, & have felt that's my personal sweet spot. Mind you, I run a couple more Treasure producing effects than you do. Regardless, there's only a couple of times I've been either flooded or been dry on lands.

If you want to test out Chivalric Alliance, I'd probably cut Orzhov or Boros Signet before one of the Talismans.

Change Log 12-Jul-2023

Cut/Move to Maybe Board:

• Orzhov Signet

Add/Move to Main Board:

• Chivalric Alliance

Crow_Umbra, what are your thoughts on Audacious Thief? Does he often draw you more than 2 cards per game, or does he get chumped blocked to death the first time you swing with him? Are you even able to swing with him usually, or is the idea that he is basically combat tribute for his card draw? Would Etali, Primal Storm be more impactful? I know having your protection get hung out to dry in exile when you don't want it to could be a major bummer, but it's only two cards from your own deck. What about Horn of the Mark? Have you played around with that card at all? Also, I'm thinking about cutting Breena, the Demagogue. I feel like the 4 +1/+1 counters don't really benefit me as much as the two cards my opponents get to draw benefits them. I am thinking of cutting Breena pretty hard, and Audacious Thief feels like it may need to go too, but I don't want to go too creature light in the deck, as it really is about combat with creatures. Anyway, thanks in advance for any thoughts.

I cut both Audacious Thief and Etali, Primal Storm a while ago and haven't really looked back or missed either. That's my personal taste though.

When I played Audacious Thief, I realized that it's basically a slower Phyrexian Arena without Isshin on the table; another card I don't really play much of any more. Etali is fun, but it's also very boom or bust. I've had some explosive plays with Etali, and I've had some whiffs. The lack of consistency, and vulnerability to removal for a turn rotation without haste was why I eventually cut Etali.

I've had Horn of the Mark on my radar, but haven't been in a rush to add it. There are definitely times where I'd rather be drawing into removal or protection effects more than I want more creatures. Regardless, digging through 10 cards to re-up on 2 creatures isn't too bad, but can be feels bad if you filter out other spells you may need at that point in the game.

Personally, I would keep Breena. I am biased because she's helped me close out a few games with her +1/+1 counters. My meta leans aggro, so my opponents more often than not let her stick around because they benefit, meanwhile I'm spreading counters out over my board, or stacking them up on Breena. Due to this benefit, people may aim whatever they draw into at each other instead of you. I've had games where she's reached 20+ power and proceeded to snipe other players once their life was low enough.

If anything, I'd replace Audacious Thief with Goldspan Dragon. It has Haste and Flying, it makes your treasures tap for 2 mana instead, and you're already running Professional Face-Breaker and Lannery Storm. The treasure support between those 3 is nothing to scoff at, especially if you can get at least 2 of them on the board in tandem.

If you're looking for more draw without sacrificing a creature slot, there's also Firemane Commando from March of the Machine. It's kinda like Breena, so could potentially work in tandem with, or in replacement. Still, I wouldn't pass up on Breena's ability to buff up your team.

Glimmer Lens and Call of the Ring are both also newer options. I'm currently using Call of the Ring in a couple of decks. Pacing-wise, it is comparable also to Phyrexian Arena, but The Ring Tempts You offers some additional bonuses which reward aggro play patterns, one of which being to draw then discard a card on attack.

Thanks for the feedback Crow_Umbra, I appreciate it. I think consistency is where I want to be with this deck. I realize that I may have been leaning into Etali because of the "cool/splashy" factor, but I had a Mayael the Anima deck as my first deck, and before I really tuned it up, I would whiff with some regularity, and that always hurt, from tempo to mana and everything else. So I think that's a good read on not putting Etali in.

And I'm glad you agreed about Audacious Thief. It just feels like it needs to do more to be included in the deck. I have Goldspan in the Maybeboard currently, but you think the treasure support from Face-Breaker, Lannery, Mondrak, and Goldspan would really be a good synergy eh? Well, I'll give it a shot.

The other change I'm making is taking out Ardoz, Cobbler of War and putting back in Ogre Battledriver. I just think the haste is better for the deck in general, especially since one of my last cuts was to add in Rising of the Day.

Change Log 06-Aug-2023

Cut/Move to Maybeboard:

• Audacious Thief
• Ardoz, Cobbler of War

Add/Move to Mainboard:

• Goldspan Dragon
• Ogre Battledriver

Etali can definitely be fun, but those whiffs can be not so great lol.

The mana acceleration from treasure production is no joke. I've found it really helpful for getting a little of extra mana for instant speed shenanigans when able. Having a few different means of giving your dudes Haste really helps to not have to always wait a turn rotation before swinging.