Deck 4 - Chishiro, the Shattered Blade

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.

In the untamed wilderness beyond the kingdom’s borders, the Wild Outlanders thrive. These warriors, elves, and goblins live in harmony with the forest, their lives deeply connected to the natural world. Their leader Kresh, the exiled brother of King Kenrith, has forged a life of freedom and strength among these outlanders. As the kingdom faces the threat of the Villains, the Wild Outlanders must decide whether to join the fight for glory or remain hidden in their remote villages, untouched by the turmoil of the outside world.The theme of the Wild Outlanders box is a . The main theme for the Wild Outlander decks are +1/+1 counters, Warriors, Elves and Goblins. 

Chishiro is a large Orochi samurai from modern Kamigawa. He carries a black blade flecked with jade that represents his bond with his kami companion, Kaima. Chishiro was an elite samurai in the Order of Jukai who could channel the magic of Kaima, Kami of Forest Fellowship, through his sword. This strength could even be extended to others based on how strong an emotional bond he forged with them. But Chishiro falls into a trap set by the Saiba Futurists. His friends were killed, Kaima was driven from him, and his sword was shattered. Broken and unwilling to risk the lives of others, Chishiro leaves the order and journeys alone, accepting coin to train warriors to defend themselves. When a small village is attacked by a group of Mukotai Reckoners, Chishiro finds a glimmer of comradeship from his old life and chooses to battle alongside them, leading them to a hard-won victory.

Chishiro, the Shattered Blade leads a Gruul (Red-Green) deck focused on creating and enhancing creature tokens, particularly Spirits, and distributing +1/+1 counters. Chishiro's ability to create Spirit tokens and add counters to modified creatures allows for rapid board development and synergy with other cards that benefit from counters and modifications. This deck aims to flood the battlefield with powerful, modified creatures and overwhelm opponents through sheer force and strategic use of counters.

Key Cards:

• Chishiro, the Shattered Blade: As your commander, Chishiro generates a 2/2 Spirit token whenever an Aura or Equipment enters the battlefield under your control. Additionally, at the beginning of each end step, he puts a +1/+1 counter on each modified creature you control, making him central to your strategy of growing your creatures into formidable threats.

• The Ozolith and Hardened Scales: The Ozolith ensures that any counters on your creatures aren’t wasted if they leave the battlefield, allowing you to redistribute them. Hardened Scales amplifies the number of +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures, accelerating the growth of your threats.

• Kalonian Hydra and Defiler of Vigor: Kalonian Hydra doubles the number of +1/+1 counters on each creature you control whenever it attacks, quickly creating an unstoppable army. Defiler of Vigor allows you to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control whenever you cast a green permanent spell, providing a continuous stream of counters.

• Akki Battle Squad and Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin: Akki Battle Squad allows you to have an additional combat phase when one of your modified creatures attacks, making it a powerful way to maximize your offensive potential. Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin generates a growing army of Goblins that get larger with each attack, synergizing well with Chishiro’s counters and other enhancement effects.

• Sword of Feast and Famine and Embercleave: Sword of Feast and Famine provides protection, card advantage, and untaps your lands, allowing you to cast more spells or activate abilities after attacking. Embercleave provides a massive combat boost with double strike and trample, enabling you to deliver devastating blows and potentially win the game in a single swing.

• All Will Be One and Volt Charge: All Will Be One deals damage whenever you put counters on your permanents, adding a direct damage element to your counter strategy. Volt Charge not only deals damage but also proliferates, helping you spread more +1/+1 counters across your board.

• Rhythm of the Wild and Rishkar, Peema Renegade: Rhythm of the Wild ensures your creatures can't be countered and gives them riot, allowing you to choose between haste or a +1/+1 counter when they enter the battlefield. Rishkar, Peema Renegade can turn your creatures with +1/+1 counters into mana producers, ramping your mana base significantly.

Strategy:

Early Game: Focus on ramping and setting up your engine pieces in the early game. Use mana dorks like Birds of Paradise and ramp spells like Kodama's Reach and Three Visits to accelerate your mana base. Early plays like Renata, Called to the Hunt and Ozolith, the Shattered Spire can start generating +1/+1 counters or modifying your creatures. Getting Chishiro, the Shattered Blade out early is crucial to start producing Spirit tokens and putting +1/+1 counters on your creatures.

Mid Game: By the mid-game, your goal is to establish a strong board presence with modified creatures and powerful synergies. Play key cards like Kalonian Hydra and Defiler of Vigor to amplify the power of your creatures through counters. Equip your creatures with cards like Sword of Feast and Famine or Embercleave to maximize their combat potential and trigger Chishiro’s abilities. Cards like Akki Battle Squad and All Will Be One can start turning your counters into overwhelming offensive power and direct damage to opponents.

Late Game: In the late game, your deck should focus on closing out the game through overwhelming force. Kalonian Hydra and All Will Be One can escalate your board state quickly into an unstoppable force. Use combat multipliers like Akki Battle Squad and Kessig Wolf Run to push through the final damage. Rishkar's Expertise and Shamanic Revelation can refill your hand, ensuring you maintain pressure. The combination of modified creatures, doubled counters, and combat tricks like Embercleave should be more than enough to take down your opponents.

Mulligan Guide:

Opening Hand Considerations: Look for a hand that includes ramp, early plays, and a way to start modifying your creatures. An ideal hand might include Birds of Paradise or Nature's Lore for ramp, a card like Hardened Scales or Rhythm of the Wild to start enhancing your creatures, and a creature or equipment to begin triggering Chishiro’s abilities. The Ozolith or Lightning Greaves are also excellent early-game keeps for protection and counter management.

Hands to Avoid: Avoid hands that are too slow, lacking in ramp or early plays, as these will prevent you from setting up your strategy effectively. Hands with too many high-cost spells or without any early enablers are risky and could leave you vulnerable in the early game. If your hand lacks a clear plan to start modifying creatures or accelerating your mana, consider taking a mulligan.

With this strategy guide, you’ll be well-equipped to lead your Chishiro, the Shattered Blade deck to victory. The deck's combination of counters, token generation, and modification effects creates a powerful and flexible strategy that can adapt to different opponents and board states, ultimately overwhelming them with a relentless onslaught of enhanced creatures.