Deck 9 - Shalai and Hallar

This deck is part of the Two-Headed Giant Commander decks, these are designed to be played 2v2 or 3v3 in the Commander format, but can also be played 1v1. 

Certain decks have certain themes, and will pair better with other decks, which decks work best have been listed below. These decks are on a higher skill level than most of the other decks in the club, with a lot of interacting mechanics. This can be overwhelming to learn and master but it is a whole lot of fun when you do.

The kingdom of Gloria stands as a beacon of hope amidst the gathering storm. King Kenrith and Queen Marchesa rule with wisdom and valor, commanding a vast army and a stalwart group of city defenders. As whispers of war reach their borders, the kingdom prepares for battle. The king’s brother, exiled for his wild ways, watches from the shadows, knowing that his time to either protect or challenge the throne is near. The fate of the kingdom rests on the decisions made by its rulers and the loyalty of its people.The theme of the For Glory box is a Kingdom and its protectors, heroes and rulers that fight to defend the people, and are united together. The main theme for the For Glory decks are +1/+1 counters, defenders and Humans. 

Shalai is an angel Protector of Llanowar on Dominaria. Many Serra Angels stand guard over a particular place or group of people. But few have gone as far afield as Shalai, who forged a deep bond with the elves of Llanowar. Though many younger elves do not trust her, the oldest remember that she fought beside them during their darkest hour, the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria. Shalai fought alongside Hallar in defense of Dominaria during New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse.

Hallar, the Firefletcher is a elf archer from Llanowar, Dominaria. The child born the night of Marwyn's legendary negotiation was named Hallar. Hallar uses a genderless elvish pronoun that points to both their gender identity and their position with footholds in two elfhames. Though raised in Kelfae, Hallar has a close lifelong bond with the Staprion elves, who taught them how to shoot out a charging baloth's eye from a hundred paces by the time Hallar was ten years old. Uniquely among Llanowar elves, Hallar uses fire magic, but does so in a very careful and controlled fashion. The same magic burns in Hallar's fiery arrows and in the eyes of their bonded kavu, Serahane, indicating the unusually close empathic bond between warrior and mount.

Shalai and Hallar lead a deck that revolves around +1/+1 counters and direct damage. By combining creatures that generate counters with cards that amplify or multiply these counters, this deck turns every +1/+1 counter into a potential win condition. The deck leverages synergies that enhance the counters placed on your creatures and translates those into significant damage, ultimately overwhelming your opponents through both creature strength and direct damage.

Key Cards

• Shalai and Hallar: Your commander duo is the core of the deck, turning +1/+1 counters into direct damage. Each time a counter is placed on a creature you control, Shalai and Hallar deal that much damage to an opponent. This ability allows you to end games quickly if you can generate a large number of counters.

• Hardened Scales: This enchantment increases the number of +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures by one, making every counter effect more potent. Combined with Shalai and Hallar, this can rapidly accelerate the damage output.

• The Ozolith: The Ozolith ensures that no +1/+1 counter goes to waste. When a creature with counters dies, those counters are stored on The Ozolith, ready to be redistributed to another creature. This not only protects your investment in counters but also ensures that you can maintain pressure even after losing creatures.

• Kalonian Hydra: This hydra doubles the +1/+1 counters on all of your creatures whenever it attacks. With Shalai and Hallar in play, this can lead to a massive amount of damage being dealt in a single swing.

• Mayael's Aria: A powerful alternate win condition, Mayael's Aria rewards you for having creatures with large amounts of +1/+1 counters. If you can get a creature to 20 or more power, you win the game outright, providing a secondary route to victory.

• Uncivil Unrest: This enchantment not only gives your creatures trample but also allows them to deal additional damage based on the number of +1/+1 counters they have. This can push through damage against even the most defensive opponents.

• The Red Terror: This creature can grow rapidly with every instance of damage dealt to an opponent, making it a significant threat on its own. Paired with Shalai and Hallar, it can create a loop of damage and counter generation.

Strategy

Early Game: In the early game, your focus should be on ramping and setting up your counter synergies. Play mana acceleration cards like Birds of Paradise, Arcane Signet, and Cultivate to build a strong mana base. At the same time, you should aim to get early counter enablers like Hardened Scales or Conclave Mentor onto the battlefield. These cards will lay the foundation for your explosive mid-game plays.

Mid Game: By the mid-game, you should be establishing a strong board presence with creatures that generate and benefit from +1/+1 counters. Play key cards like Kalonian Hydra, The Ozolith, and Mikaeus, the Lunarch to start building up your counters. Shalai and Hallar should be in play by now, converting your growing counter total into direct damage against your opponents. Use cards like Inspiring Call to protect your creatures and draw more cards, ensuring you don't run out of steam.

Late Game: In the late game, your goal is to close out the game with overwhelming power. Uncivil Unrest and Mayael's Aria provide powerful ways to push through damage or even win the game outright. Use The Red Terror and Kalonian Hydra to maximize the number of counters on your creatures, turning each combat phase into a deadly threat. If necessary, Shalai, Voice of Plenty can protect your board from targeted removal, ensuring your key pieces stay in play.

Mulligan Guide

Opening Hand Considerations: Look for a hand that includes ramp, a counter enabler, and either a strong mid-game play or card draw. A hand with Birds of Paradise, Arcane Signet, or Nature's Lore will help you ramp into your more powerful spells. If you have Hardened Scales or Conclave Mentor in your opening hand, it’s often worth keeping, as these cards are crucial to your deck's strategy. Additionally, having early protection like Swiftfoot Boots can be a strong reason to keep a hand.

Hands to Avoid: Avoid hands that are too slow or lack the ability to establish a board presence. Hands with too many high-cost spells or without any ramp are risky, as you may fall behind early. If your hand doesn’t have a clear plan for the first few turns or lacks a way to get Shalai and Hallar onto the battlefield quickly, consider taking a mulligan to find a more balanced hand.

With this strategy guide, you should be well-prepared to pilot your Shalai and Hallar deck to victory. By leveraging the power of +1/+1 counters and Shalai and Hallar’s ability to turn those counters into damage, you can build a dominant board presence and crush your opponents before they can react.