<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope|J25|60" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CHisashi+Momose%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Hisashi Momose</a></em></p>
<h2>Come to the Light</h2>
<p>Salutations, and welcome to another edition of <em>Commander Makeover</em>! Here, we take old commanders and shed light on some recent cards that work with them. This week, we're taking on our second mono-color commander in the Top 200, which you can find <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">here</a>. Not too long ago, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-case-for-why-we-need-more-monocolored-commander-decks">I made my points</a> on why there should be more mono-color precons, but I digress. Why do I bring this up? Because our commander this week is one of the five coming out with the new Starter Decks in a couple of months (as of writing).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giada, Font of Hope"></div></div>
<p>This four-year-old legend is popular, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/giada-font-of-hope">ranked #14 overall</a> on EDHREC. White is not the first color we go looking for ramp, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a mana dork itself. On top of that, it comes down very early to start the ramp going. Lastly, in the late game, it buffs our <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/angels">Angels</a>, making them into enormous threats (as if they weren't already). However, what new cards could make it into a Giada deck (maybe even the precon), I wonder?</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gleaming Splendor" href="#" target="_blank">Gleaming Splendor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gleaming Splendor"></div></div>
<p>Kicking off our sermon is a newly printed card from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/hob"><em>The Hobbit</em></a>. Here's my colder-than-Pluto cold take (minus 387 degrees, for those wondering): This will be a Commander staple, through and through. This enchantment will be pricey unless it gets reprinted into oblivion, assuming it does. If you've got the money in these trying times, get it, by all means. Otherwise, best look for an alternative (yes, you could always proxy, but I'm not going down that rabbit hole here).</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosmic Cube" href="#" target="_blank">Cosmic Cube</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosmic Cube"></div></div>
<p>Certainly a neat card, and it does shine here. Naturally, a number of our Angels will have large stats, giving the Cube more range when we trigger it. On the plus side, our commander's buffing ability broadens those horizons a little at a time. It also being hard to remove is a bonus.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Arkenstone" href="#" target="_blank">The Arkenstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Arkenstone"></div></div>
<p>There are a lot of legendary Angels, even in mono-white, so the Adventure half of the card will have some range. When we do cast it, though, the anthem won't be the reason we're running this card. Actually, it's the card draw ability. Something another new card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ten Rings" href="#" target="_blank">The Ten Rings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, can do, but that's a hefty eight mana.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">The Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mind Stone"></div></div>
<p>Not to be confused with the even older <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mind Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Mind Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this is more or less an indestructible <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marble Diamond" href="#" target="_blank">Marble Diamond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that doesn't enter tapped, plus upside if we harness it. However, I imagine the price tag will put some people off. If you have one/can get one, it's not a bad card to run.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exemplar of Light" href="#" target="_blank">Exemplar of Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exemplar of Light"></div></div>
<p>This is more right at home in a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/plus-1-plus-1-counters">+1/+1 Counters</a> deck. That said, assuming we have our commander out, we net a card from its trigger right away. In addition, Angel decks tend to have a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lifegain">Lifegain</a> subtheme, while will still give us card draw in a more convoluted way. It's also four mana, and cheap Angels are hard to come by.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dazzling Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Dazzling Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dazzling Angel"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of life gain, here's one way to do it. It's cheaper than the above card, but that's all it's got going for it. Not bad, if a little slow for us to take advantage of that life gain.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starfield Shepherd" href="#" target="_blank">Starfield Shepherd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starfield Shepherd"></div></div>
<p>Not ramp, per se, but this does help us not miss our land drops when we need them. The fact that this can be cast early is a boon. Then, we have a five mana Angel sitting there and looking pretty until we cast it. Also, let's be real, we're using this to find lands. There aren't many one-drops worth running in this deck.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restoration Magic" href="#" target="_blank">Restoration Magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Restoration Magic"></div></div>
<p>While we do have a number of ways to protect our board in white, no one can fault this card's flexibility. Protect our whole board, or shield a key card from removal. The lifegain is a neat bonus, especially if we're running cards to take advantage of it. On top of that, it's also one of the few ways in <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/mono-white">mono-white</a> (that I know of at least) that gives the protected permanents hexproof. Take that as you will, because I say this is a top contender for any white deck with lots of cards on board.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wind Crystal" href="#" target="_blank">The Wind Crystal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Wind Crystal"></div></div>
<p>This artifact has a lot of uses. Firstly, it's ramp, even if it does cost four mana. We'll need all the ramping and drawing help we can get. Second, for only six mana, we can give our board lifelink (the flying's irrelevant here), and gain a boatload of life.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winnowing" href="#" target="_blank">Winnowing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winnowing"></div></div>
<p>The best comparison to this card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tragic Arrogance" href="#" target="_blank">Tragic Arrogance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which hit more than just creatures. The balancing act here is that we won't be sacrificing our board, since we're leaning completely into one creature type. Unless our opponents are running a typal deck as well, this could be backbreaking against them.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chronicle of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Chronicle of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chronicle of Victory"></div></div>
<p>I've covered this card in the past, but we won't be getting much mileage out of the card draw. That said, +2/+2, first strike, and trample to all of our Angels is nothing to sneeze at. All for the low, low cost of six mana. Is it worth it? I'll let you be the judge here.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gathering Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Gathering Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gathering Stone"></div></div>
<p>Remember <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? That's exactly what this is, except it triggers on entry, and not adding the card to our hand gives us the option to send it to the graveyard instead. Like I said, we're in mono-white, which is notorious for its lack of ramp and draw. In saying that, we're likely running this for that reason, even if our commander does ramp us.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Banner of Kinship" href="#" target="_blank">Banner of Kinship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Banner of Kinship"></div></div>
<p>Again, like with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chronicle of Victory" href="#" target="_blank">Chronicle of Victory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we're not going to get much out of this. That said, if you consistently get a large board of Angels (then I'd be asking what in tarnation is wrong with your opponents), this might be worth our while. It's also five mana, so we aren't slamming this down the moment we draw it.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightstall Inquisitor" href="#" target="_blank">Lightstall Inquisitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lightstall Inquisitor"></div></div>
<p>Now this is a rarity! One-mana Angels are not common, so the first instinct would be to slam this in right away. Then, its trigger will either slow our opponents down, or make something in their hand harder to cast. Either way, this is not a bad card at all.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exalted Sunborn" href="#" target="_blank">Exalted Sunborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exalted Sunborn"></div></div>
<p>If the deck's got a lot of token making, then this will be worth including. The warp cost being as cheap as it is means we can set up for something massive that turn. What we'll do with those tokens is another matter. To my knowledge, there aren't enough cards that make Angel tokens. That said, this could be a card to consider long-term as more ways to make Angel tokens get released.</p>
<h3>A Blessed Ending</h3>
<p>Hopefully we're seeing Angels instead. We do have a new Angel commander in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seluma, Light of Aysen" href="#" target="_blank">Seluma, Light of Aysen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so I'd be interested to see where she goes (if you ask me, she's what <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maelstrom Archangel" href="#" target="_blank">Maelstrom Archangel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> should've been). Speaking of cards from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/mbc"><em>Mystery Booster: Commander Edition</em></a>, come back next week, and I'll treat you to a deck tech to one of those spicy new commander options.</p>


Giada, Font of Hope | Commander Makeover

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rafiq of the Many|ALA|185" href="#" target="_blank">Rafiq of the Many</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MichaelKomarckIllustration/">Michael Komarck</a></em></p>
<p>The recent <em>Marvel Super Heroes </em>set featured "attacking alone" <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/exalted">as a strategy</a> in both the main set and <em>Jumpstart</em> product. This is a perfect opportunity to revisit Commander's decorated champion of single combat: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rafiq of the Many" href="#" target="_blank">Rafiq of the Many</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>I love commanders like Rafiq. Give me a direction, but don't do the work for me. If you like commanders that challenge your deck building and gameplay skills, then this Rafiq rebuild is for you.</p>
<h2>In Command</h2>
<p>Rafiq of the Many first appeared in <em>Shards of Alara</em> and turned the tide for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aggro">Aggro</a> in 20-life formats. His ability to pump a creature and give it double strike made earlier drops into later threats.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rafiq of the Many|V11|10"></div></div>
<p>That <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a> promo art is sharp, befitting a Commander known for having an edge. I've heard stories from more experienced players of a time when Rafiq of the Many was a fearsome presence in the command zone.</p>
<p>Of course, that was before <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/card-preview/fire-it-2019-06-21">FIRE design</a> torched old conventions of game balance. By the time I started playing Commander in earnest, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chulane, Teller of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Chulane, Teller of Tales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> overwhelmingly dominated the popularity contest for top Bant (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander. These days, 4.8k stalwart Rafiq decks stand valiantly against a field of convenient value-engine piles.</p>
<p>It's tempting to monologue about power creep in order to rationalize Rafiq's slide down the rankings.</p>
<p>It's easy to point fingers at easy-mode commanders, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> didn't do anything to Rafiq.</p>
<p>Objectively, Rafiq of the Many is self-limiting to a small pool of permanents, and reliant on an approach to combat that doesn't scale to Commander's multiplayer environment.</p>
<p>Exalted and other "attacks alone" triggers expect you to attack one opponent with one creature. If you want a detailed explanation of why that's a problem, check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-history-of-combat-and-why-attacking-in-commander-sucks">Cas Hinds' attacking exposé</a>. They make a lot of solid points, and I'm pragmatic enough to recognize the inherent disadvantage of attacking one opponent among three to trigger exalted.</p>
<h2>...BUT...</h2>
<p>Attacking is fun, and I'll never stop building combat decks just because conventional wisdom says I should do something more efficient. So today I'm rebuilding EDHREC's average deck for Rafiq of the Many with cards from <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em>, and a few other recent releases. Despite the fact that the set mechanics from <em>MSH</em> directly support Rafiq's primary game plan, these new "attacks alone" cards are appearing in single-digit percentages of Rafiq decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peggy Carter, Secret Agent|MSC|523"></div></div>
<p>Striking from the shadows, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peggy Carter, Secret Agent|MSC|523" href="#" target="_blank">Peggy Carter, Secret Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently the most popular <em>MSH</em> card with Rafiq. Still, she's barely made a ripple in the data: a mere 11 of 227 Rafiq decks updated since <em>Marvel's</em> release. I think that number should be a lot higher, given her exalted-adjacent trigger grants indestructible. She perfectly mitigates the risk of attacking alone, significantly improving the combat math. Peggy isn't the only deserving <em>Marvel</em> card missing a chance on the dance floor with Rafiq. There are several others, and I'll cover each one in turn.</p>
<h2>Alone, but Not Lonely</h2>
<p>First up, we have S.H.I.E.L.D.'s frontman <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nick Fury, Spymaster" href="#" target="_blank">Nick Fury, Spymaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Like any good spy, Nick isn't playing fair. First strike is not a fair keyword. He provides card draw without giving anything to an opponent, which is woefully rare in white. AND, he cheats creatures into play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nick Fury, Spymaster"></div></div>
<p>Those other creatures come into play tapped and attacking, which creates a couple interesting rules interactions for this deck. As an upside, you resolve this effect after satisfying the requirement to put all your "attacks alone" triggers on the stack. That means you get to have your cake and throw it at your opponents too. As a minor downside, that creature won't get any of its own attack triggers, which is relevant because that's almost every creature in this deck.</p>
<p>Peggy Carter's niece, Sharon, is something of a lone wolf. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent 13, Sharon Carter" href="#" target="_blank">Agent 13, Sharon Carter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not nearly as potent as Nick Fury, but she still offers a form of card advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agent 13, Sharon Carter"></div></div>
<p>Somehow Sharon reminds me of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempered in Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Tempered in Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which, sadly, is out of Rafiq's color identity. I know Clues and impulse draw lead to different play patterns, but I would really like to have both as an option. Since it's not, I'll accept my one clue per combat and move on.</p>
<p>Next, this character is more feline than lupine. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Panther, Claws of Bast" href="#" target="_blank">Black Panther, Claws of Bast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is showcasing his territorial nature with an attacks alone trigger that leaves a mark.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Panther, Claws of Bast"></div></div>
<p>The best part of exalted is the way it stacks with other instances of exalted. Black Panther trades the group benefit of the exalted ability word for a permanent increase of power and toughness via +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>If opponents' defenses are getting under your skin, then consider <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luke Cage, Power Man" href="#" target="_blank">Luke Cage, Power Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s unbreakable skin as an alternative to risking a more valuable game piece.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Luke Cage, Power Man"></div></div>
<p>The downside to Luke Cage is his insistence on being the lone attacker. Without that trigger, he's just a <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Vanilla">vanilla</a> 2/5, contributing very little to the game plan beyond blocking. Still, I appreciate cards that allow a deck to pivot and reduce dependence on the commander. For those situations when Rafiq isn't available to swing, Luke is a viable backup plan.</p>
<h2>Not Heroes, but Still Super</h2>
<p>Exalted most often appears on creatures, but there's a sprinkling of other permanent types with "attacks alone" triggers. <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em> included an enchantment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strategic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Strategic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and an Equipment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit" href="#" target="_blank">S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I'm grouping these together because they sort of reflect one another.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Strategic Intervention"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit"></div></div>
<p>Strategic Intervention is a weaker version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Benediction" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Benediction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it also costs half as much mana. Soft removal like tapping creatures is a small utility that can make a big difference in combat, or deprive opponents of resources.</p>
<p>As much as I like tapping my opponents' stuff, I love untapping my stuff. The S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit gives our lone attacker pseudo-vigilance, with the added benefit of filtering the top of the library.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Team Avatar"></div></div>
<p>While the members of Team Avatar are not <em>Marvel</em>-ous, I could not resist the chance to slot this card in a deck. For one less mana, it yields the same power/toughness boost as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Exaltation" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Exaltation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and does double duty as removal in a pinch. It's worth noting that removal effect is also difficult to counter, because it's an activated ability, not casting the spell.</p>
<h2>Rafiq, Alara's Mightiest Hero</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Rebuilding Rafiq" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rafiq of the Many
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of the Goyf
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bilbo&#039;s Ring
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Rammas Echor, Ancient Shield
*1 S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sigil of Valor
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Angelic Benediction
*1 Angelic Exaltation
*1 Ardent Plea
*1 Dueling Grounds
*1 Finest Hour
*1 Gryff&#039;s Boon
*1 Idolized
*1 Launch
*1 Rancor
*1 Strategic Intervention
*1 Team Avatar
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Bant Charm
*1 Beast Within
*1 Counterspell
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Invisible Force Field
*1 Negate
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Quandrix Charm
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Agent 13, Sharon Carter
*1 Akrasan Squire
*1 Aven Squire
*1 Battlegrace Angel
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Black Panther, Claws of Bast
*1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
*1 Court Archers
*1 Ethercaste Knight
*1 Frontline Sage
*1 Giltspire Avenger
*1 Guardians of Akrasa
*1 Knight of Glory
*1 Luke Cage, Power Man
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Nick Fury, Spymaster
*1 Noble Hierarch
*1 Peggy Carter, Secret Agent
*1 Qasali Pridemage
*1 Sigiled Paladin
*1 Silent Arbiter
*1 Sovereigns of Lost Alara
*1 Stoic Angel
*1 Sublime Archangel
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Call Damage Control
*1 Farseek
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Three Visits
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Access Tunnel
*1 Baxter Building
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cathedral of War
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Strand
*6 Forest
*1 Gathering Place
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Gleaming Bastion
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*4 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*7 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Missing, but Not Missed</h2>
<p>Because my baseline for this rebuild was an average deck, there were some cards that are popular, but not ideal. I'm not going into detail every single cut, but there is one in particular that deserves a discussion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rashel, Fist of Torm"></div></div>
<p>Giving exalted to all your Auras is cracked. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rashel, Fist of Torm" href="#" target="_blank">Rashel, Fist of Torm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> appears in 30% of Rafiq decks, and I'm sure many of those Rafiq players are happy with their choice. Rashel is an awesome commander in its own right, and excellent in any deck with Auras as the primary focus. However, I felt my take on Rafiq didn't contain enough Auras to justify the slot for Rashel.</p>
<p>There's another notable exclusion, the only Marvel card that actually had exalted in the text box.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zarda, the Power Princess"></div></div>
<p><del>Wonder Woman</del> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zarda, the Power Princess" href="#" target="_blank">Zarda, the Power Princess</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is yet another card that would be great with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's boring and parasitic. There are no other typal cards in this list to justify a slot for both Zarda and Maskwood Nexus, and there aren't enough Heroes in the list to justify Zarda alone.</p>
<h2>Done, but Not Finished</h2>
<p>Three flaws I noticed in the average Rafiq list could be another article on their own, so I'm tacking on a quick lightning round to wrap things up.</p>
<p>One: not enough lands. The average list weighed in at 36, but I prefer to start at 42 and tune from there. I added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baxter Building" href="#" target="_blank">Baxter Building</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because it's a better <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonders&#039; Enclave" href="#" target="_blank">Bonders&#039; Enclave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It enters untapped to make mana, fixes colors, and draws cards for very low cost of inclusion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baxter Building"></div></div>
<p>Two: not enough interaction. One key add here is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invisible Force Field|MSC|19" href="#" target="_blank">Invisible Force Field</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Protection spells like this are always measured against <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and Invisible Force Field doesn't quite measure up because its defensive effect is a lot narrower. That said, rebound gives you at least one extra chance to attack without hazarding your own creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invisible Force Field|MSC|19"></div></div>
<p>Three: not enough graveyard recursion. I tossed in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call Damage Control" href="#" target="_blank">Call Damage Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because it's usually going to be better than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Regrowth" href="#" target="_blank">Regrowth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's pretty good considering Regrowth was restricted in Vintage for 19 years.</p>
<p>That's it for the lighting round. Do you have stories from Rafiq's glory days? What would you do differently with this list? Tell us in the comments below.</p>
<p>This deck is done enough to play, but there's a lot more I would love to tinker with. That's the way of deckbuilding, and the way Disney and Marvel handle storytelling. Like any Marvel movie, I'm ending this article with a sequel setup.</p>
<p><em> John will return with more deck techs and unsolicited opinions.</em></p>


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