Greetings fellow Magic the Gathering and comic fans. I have only been playing Magic for the past 4 months, when the quarantine started it gave my friends the opportunity to introduce to me what is now my addiction that of MTG. Now we have a constant staple of Friday night Magic. Magic has since been a part of my everyday life for the past 4 months, which includes countless hours of research of new and old cards as well as deck techs/deck building. The knowledge I have "gathered" (no pun intended) from the community, and the fine details discovered on every new/old card I see continues to grow my love for MTG. I have never played commander format and have only made 1 commander deck (this being my 2nd) I am very excited to play the format in the future however. Without further ado, this is my submission for the Aquaman deck challenge.
The strategy for this deck is based upon building an army and FLOODING the board. Quite literally without dumping a bucket of water on our competitions cherished sometimes expensive cardboard. We want to flood the board with our flavorful oceanic beings and a little help from some land dwellers. We want to pile on counters and try to get as many direct player damage as possible with our islandwalkers until we unleash our beast from the deep. Watch as our opponents waves of tears fall to our underestimated hero!
While this is an Aquaman deck challenge, I have decided to make this deck not solely based on the man himself but rather his story as a whole. That includes him losing his throne and title of ruler of Atlantis. When it comes to Aquaman he has had many incarnations as do many comic book characters which led to me including several versions of him which allow variation and build towards our wincons. Aquaman himself can be seen as Master of the Pearl Trident, Lord of Atlantis and Thrasios, Triton Hero. 2 of which wield Tridents and 1 is the actual Lord of Atlantis who wields a spear (although not in replacement of his hand) like Arthur did through the 90's.
There is one constant however. That is his brother Orm otherwise known as Ocean Master! For our Commander I have chosen Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca to represent the tyrannical Ocean Master. The flavor of this card is fitting with its Simic color devotion and manipulative ways to use Merfolk aka our Atlanteans for his own vengeful gain!
Mera herself is very powerful and as such is Prime Speaker Zegana who will become as strong as the ocean beasts around her also allowing us to utilize card draw as well. There are several card draw options and counter additions but Zegana could be the most powerful is utilized correctly.
There would be no Aquaman without his Mom and Dad. Atlanna is represented by Wishful Merfolk who has the option to become human momentarily similar to her days spent above water at Arcane Lighthouse with Tom Curry who is Lighthouse Chronologist.
We can't forget about our dear boy Aqualad who became the powerful Tempest or known to us as Kopala, Warden of Waves.
Within this deck contains powerful and overwhelming force. Our opponents might call Aquaman weak like ZuM did who was left writhing in pain within seconds as Arthur used his psychic ability like our Psychic Puppetry to denounce his scoffing. If our challengers attack we will use Octopus Umbra to show how durable our hero really is! The seas are vast and we will show how quick water can spread with Whelming Wave, and Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep. Sea's Claim, Shimmering Mirage and Convincing Mirage will ensure the terror ensue once we claim our oppenents lands as ours and our Lord of Atlantis and Master of the Pearl Trident will allow us to use them as such when all of our creatures fond of water choose to do so.
Once Aquaman gains his Gauntlet of Power he will empower our mighty Atlanteans to increase in power and provide us with mana ramp needed to awaken our deep water giants Colossal Whale, Stormtide Leviathan and Lorthos, the Tidemaker!
With Kindred Discovery, and Rite of Replication that leads me to the "golden pig" of this deck Panharmonicon. Panharmonicon is not only tough to deal with as an artifact but has great value at a low mana cost of 4, it will allow us to rightfully FLOOD the board. Which can get even more out of control with Copy Artifact.
In this deck I have included several key pieces to the story of Arthur Curry as Aquaman. Like his Telepathy is often misconceived as him speaking the language of fish but it's truly him guiding them away from danger or to his aid. I tried to iclude several ways to help us mana ramp and card draw which I've learned is VERY important for Commander as well as help make an unblockable army. All why trying to find little details (fish food) like art depictions on the cards as well as flavor text like the response I would expect from Aquaman to recite when defeating Orm to reclaim his rightful throne with Aetherize.
Much like you shouldn't underestimate this deck, do not underestimate the power of Aquaman the being who took on Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman by himself!
