Shared Commander deck
The Gaffer - community staples
The Gaffer · W · 100 cards · 37 lands
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Bracket 3 - UpgradedCommander 1Creatures 37Instants 9Sorceries 4Artifacts 6Enchantments 6Lands 37
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Strategy
The Gaffer leads a deck built from the cards players most often run with it, putting +1/+1 counters on things and growing them out of range. The list holds 12 ramp pieces, 9 pieces of targeted interaction, 2 board wipes and 9 sources of card draw, at an average mana value of 2.89.
Early: Use the early turns on mana. Smothering Tithe and the rest of the 12 ramp pieces are what let the deck cast The Gaffer on curve and keep casting after it.
Mid: Once the commander is down, the deck wants to be doing two things at once: advancing its own board and answering everyone else's. Swords to Plowshares is the first answer you will usually reach for, and Exemplar of Light keeps the hand full while you do it.
Late: Hold Farewell for the turn the table gets ahead of you - with 2 in the deck you can afford to use one early and still have an answer later. At 2.89 average mana value the top end is middling, which means most turns hold two spells.
Win conditions: Wins by growing a threat past what the table can answer and connecting with it.
- Soul's Attendant - Core to the plan
- Soul Warden - Core to the plan
- Cleric Class - Core to the plan
- Shattered Angel - Core to the plan
- Revitalize - Core to the plan
- Auriok Champion - Core to the plan
- Crested Sunmare - Core to the plan
- Gwaihir, Greatest of the Eagles - Core to the plan
~$467.22
estimated to build this deck
Commander (1)
The Gaffer
Legendary Creature — Halfling Peasant
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, draw a card.
Creatures (37)
Soul's Attendant
Creature — Human Cleric
$5.74
Whenever another creature enters, you may gain 1 life.
Soul Warden
Creature — Human Cleric
$2.77
Whenever another creature enters, you gain 1 life.
Shattered Angel
Creature — Phyrexian Angel
$0.46
Flying
Whenever a land an opponent controls enters, you may gain 3 life.
Auriok Champion
Creature — Human Cleric
$9.56
Protection from black and from red
Whenever another creature enters, you may gain 1 life.
Crested Sunmare
Creature — Horse
$5.53
Other Horses you control have indestructible.
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, create a 5/5 white Horse creature token.
Gwaihir, Greatest of the Eagles
Legendary Creature — Bird Noble
$0.4
Flying
Whenever Gwaihir attacks, target attacking creature gains flying until end of turn.
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, create a 3/3 white Bird creature token with flying and "Whenever this token attacks, target attacking creature gains flying until end of turn."
Sunscorch Regent
Creature — Dragon
$0.33
Flying
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and you gain 1 life.
Exemplar of Light
Creature — Angel
$0.91
Flying
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
Whenever you put one or more +1/+1 counters on this creature, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Angel of Vitality
Creature — Angel
$0.3
Flying
If you would gain life, you gain that much life plus 1 instead.
This creature gets +2/+2 as long as you have 25 or more life.
Haliya, Guided by Light
Legendary Creature — Human Soldier
$2.88
Whenever Haliya or another creature or artifact you control enters, you gain 1 life.
At the beginning of your end step, draw a card if you've gained 3 or more life this turn.
Warp {W} (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
Rhox Faithmender
Creature — Rhino Monk
$1.95
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead.
Valkyrie Harbinger
Creature — Angel Cleric
$2.3
Flying
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 4 or more life this turn, create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying and vigilance.
Resplendent Angel
Creature — Angel
$7.16
Flying
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 5 or more life this turn, create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying and vigilance.
{3}{W}{W}{W}: Until end of turn, this creature gets +2/+2 and gains lifelink.
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
Legendary Enchantment Creature — Demigod
$0.24
Daxos's toughness is equal to your devotion to white. (Each {W} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to white.)
Whenever another creature you control enters or dies, you gain 1 life.
Felidar Sovereign
Creature — Cat Beast
$2.95
Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.)
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 40 or more life, you win the game.
Serra Ascendant
Creature — Human Monk
$28.21
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
As long as you have 30 or more life, this creature gets +5/+5 and has flying.
Suture Priest
Creature — Phyrexian Cleric
$1.53
Whenever another creature you control enters, you may gain 1 life.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls enters, you may have that player lose 1 life.
Heliod, Sun-Crowned
Legendary Enchantment Creature — God
$19.76
Indestructible
As long as your devotion to white is less than five, Heliod isn't a creature.
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature or enchantment you control.
{1}{W}: Another target creature gains lifelink until end of turn.
Knight of the White Orchid
Creature — Human Knight
$1.68
First strike
When this creature enters, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Archangel of Thune
Creature — Angel
$18.37
Flying
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Archivist of Oghma
Creature — Halfling Cleric
$6.06
Flash
Whenever an opponent searches their library, you gain 1 life and draw a card.
Voice of the Blessed
Creature — Spirit Cleric
$2.25
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
As long as this creature has four or more +1/+1 counters on it, it has flying and vigilance.
As long as this creature has ten or more +1/+1 counters on it, it has indestructible.
Knight of Dawn's Light
Creature — Human Knight
$0.29
First strike
If you would gain life, you gain that much life plus 1 instead.
{1}{W}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Speaker of the Heavens
Creature — Human Cleric
$0.47
Vigilance, lifelink (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap. Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
{T}: Create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying. Activate only if you have at least 7 life more than your starting life total and only as a sorcery.
Leonin Elder
Creature — Cat Cleric
$0.35
Whenever an artifact enters, you may gain 1 life.
Guide of Souls
Creature — Human Cleric
$3.08
Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life and get {E} (an energy counter).
Whenever you attack, you may pay {E}{E}{E}. When you do, put two +1/+1 counters and a flying counter on target attacking creature. It becomes an Angel in addition to its other types.
Nykthos Paragon
Enchantment Creature — Human Soldier
$0.65
Whenever you gain life, you may put that many +1/+1 counters on each creature you control. Do this only once each turn.
Curious Farm Animals
Creature — Boar Elk Bird Ox
$0.25
When this creature dies, you gain 3 life.
{2}, Sacrifice this creature: Destroy up to one target artifact or enchantment.
Mangara, the Diplomat
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric
$0.36
Lifelink
Whenever an opponent attacks with creatures, if two or more of those creatures are attacking you and/or planeswalkers you control, draw a card.
Whenever an opponent casts their second spell each turn, draw a card.
Esper Sentinel
Artifact Creature — Human Soldier
$60.54
Whenever an opponent casts their first noncreature spell each turn, draw a card unless that player pays {X}, where X is this creature's power.
Claim Jumper
Creature — Rabbit Mercenary
$0.38
Vigilance
When this creature enters, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then if an opponent controls more lands than you, repeat this process once. If you search your library this way, shuffle.
Loran of the Third Path
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer
$4.91
Vigilance
When Loran enters, destroy up to one target artifact or enchantment.
{T}: You and target opponent each draw a card.
Enduring Innocence
Enchantment Creature — Sheep Glimmer
$3.76
Lifelink
Whenever one or more other creatures you control with power 2 or less enter, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.
When Enduring Innocence dies, if it was a creature, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. It's an enchantment. (It's not a creature.)
Loyal Warhound
Creature — Dog
$0.41
Vigilance
When this creature enters, if an opponent controls more lands than you, search your library for a basic Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Deep Gnome Terramancer
Creature — Gnome Wizard
$8.43
Flash
Mold Earth — Whenever one or more lands enter under an opponent's control without being played, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Do this only once each turn.
Solemn Simulacrum
Artifact Creature — Golem
$0.27
When this creature enters, you may search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
When this creature dies, you may draw a card.
Keeper of the Accord
Creature — Human Soldier
$0.49
At the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more creatures than you, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
At the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a basic Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Instants (9)
Swords to Plowshares
Instant
$1.42
Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.
Path to Exile
Instant
$1.01
Exile target creature. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Teferi's Protection
Instant
$34.74
Until your next turn, your life total can't change and you gain protection from everything. All permanents you control phase out. (While they're phased out, they're treated as though they don't exist. They phase in before you untap during your untap step.)
Exile Teferi's Protection.
Generous Gift
Instant
$0.71
Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Elephant creature token.
Invoke the Divine
Instant
$0.18
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. You gain 4 life.
Light of Hope
Instant
$0.16
Choose one —
• You gain 4 life.
• Destroy target enchantment.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
Your Temple Is Under Attack
Instant
$0.52
Choose one —
• Pray for Protection — Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
• Strike a Deal — You and target opponent each draw two cards.
Sorceries (4)
Farewell
Sorcery
$4.77
Choose one or more —
• Exile all artifacts.
• Exile all creatures.
• Exile all enchantments.
• Exile all graveyards.
Fumigate
Sorcery
$0.28
Destroy all creatures. You gain 1 life for each creature destroyed this way.
Cut a Deal
Sorcery
$0.25
Each opponent draws a card, then you draw a card for each opponent who drew a card this way.
Artifacts (6)
The Wind Crystal
Legendary Artifact
$7.12
White spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead.
{4}{W}{W}, {T}: Creatures you control gain flying and lifelink until end of turn.
Aetherflux Reservoir
Artifact
$21.77
Whenever you cast a spell, you gain 1 life for each spell you've cast this turn.
Pay 50 life: This artifact deals 50 damage to any target.
Archaeomancer's Map
Artifact
$0.92
When this artifact enters, search your library for up to two basic Plains cards, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
Whenever a land an opponent controls enters, if that player controls more lands than you, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Wayfarer's Bauble
Artifact
$0.3
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Nuka-Cola Vending Machine
Artifact
$21.21
{1}, {T}: Create a Food token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")
Whenever you sacrifice a Food, create a tapped Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Enchantments (6)
Cleric Class
Enchantment — Class
$1.03
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.)
If you would gain life, you gain that much life plus 1 instead.
{3}{W}: Level 2
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
{4}{W}: Level 3
When this Class becomes level 3, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. You gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
Authority of the Consuls
Enchantment
$4.27
Creatures your opponents control enter tapped.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls enters, you gain 1 life.
Angelic Accord
Enchantment
$1.32
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 4 or more life this turn, create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying.
Smothering Tithe
Enchantment
$54.96
Whenever an opponent draws a card, that player may pay {2}. If the player doesn't, you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Monologue Tax
Enchantment
$1.06
Whenever an opponent casts their second spell each turn, you create a Treasure token.
Smuggler's Share
Enchantment
$10.64
At the beginning of each end step, draw a card for each opponent who drew two or more cards this turn, then create a Treasure token for each opponent who had two or more lands enter the battlefield under their control this turn.
Lands (37)
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Land
$6.75
This land enters tapped.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control seven or more Plains, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
{T}: Add {W}.
War Room
Land
$5.32
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}, {T}, Pay life equal to the number of colors in your commanders' color identity: Draw a card.
Kabira Crossroads
Land
$0.3
This land enters tapped.
When this land enters, you gain 2 life.
{T}: Add {W}.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Legendary Land
$53.08
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}: Choose a color. Add an amount of mana of that color equal to your devotion to that color. (Your devotion to a color is the number of mana symbols of that color in the mana costs of permanents you control.)
Adventurer's Inn
Land — Town
$0.29
When this land enters, you gain 2 life.
{T}: Add {C}.
Seraph Sanctuary
Land
$1.11
When this land enters, you gain 1 life.
Whenever an Angel you control enters, you gain 1 life.
{T}: Add {C}.
Castle Ardenvale
Land
$0.23
This land enters tapped unless you control a Plains.
{T}: Add {W}.
{2}{W}{W}, {T}: Create a 1/1 white Human creature token.
Minas Tirith
Legendary Land
$6.88
Minas Tirith enters tapped unless you control a legendary creature.
{T}: Add {W}.
{1}{W}, {T}: Draw a card. Activate only if you attacked with two or more creatures this turn.
Secluded Steppe
Land
$0.11
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {W}.
Cycling {W} ({W}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
Legendary Land
$5.66
{T}: Add {W}.
Channel — {2}{W}, Discard this card: It deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
Basic lands: 25 Plains
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