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COMMANDER(S)
Niko, Light of Hope
QR Code
U W
- Azorius
Created by  ViniF0kr
Bracket
4.5 - 5.0
Bracket 1
Average CMC Average CMC
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ANALYSIS

Overview:

This Azorius flicker/token deck leverages Niko, Light of Hope's Shard token generation and creature-copying ability to generate incremental value through ETB triggers and token multiplication. While lacking infinite combos, it aims to overwhelm opponents with flying tokens and board-wide synergies supported by efficient interaction and flicker recursion.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck focuses on exiling/recurring creatures for value via Soulherder, Thassa, Deep-Dwelling, and Conjurer's Closet, using Niko’s Shard tokens as both card advantage engines and temporary creature copiers. Win conditions center on token armies amplified by Anointed Procession/Mondrak, Glory Dominus and evasive threats like Dream Trawler or Ancient Gold Dragon.

Key Lines:

  1. Early Setup: Ramp with artifacts (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) while establishing flicker engines (Teleportation Circle, Displacer Kitten).
  2. Midgame Value: Use Ephemerate or Semester's End to protect key creatures while generating Shard tokens. Activate Niko’s copy ability to clone high-impact threats like Hullbreaker Horror.
  3. Late Game: Overwhelm with doubled tokens (Hero of Bladehold + Mondrak) or lock opponents via Propaganda/Sludge Monster while drawing into finishers.

Mulligan Priorities:

  • Keep hands with 3 lands, at least 1 ramp artifact, and 1 flicker enabler (e.g., Cloudshift + Soulherder).
  • Avoid hands lacking early board presence or creature targets for Niko’s ability.

Key Tips:

  • Time flicker effects to dodge removal and maximize ETB value (e.g., reset Aerial Extortionist after attacks).
  • Use Sharding Sphinx/Skycat Sovereign as resilient token generators that benefit from flying synergies.
  • Protect Mondrak/Anointed Procession with Swiftfoot Boots or counterspells.

Avoid Traps:

  • Overcommitting to board before establishing token doublers.
  • Wasting Shard tokens on low-impact creatures early.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

  • No graveyard recursion for key enchantments/artifacts (e.g., losing Mondrak/Anointed Procession cripples the primary wincon).

Moderate:

  • Vulnerable to Toxic Deluge/Cyclonic Rift due to reliance on wide boards.
  • Limited card advantage without active flicker engines.

Minor:

  • Basic-heavy mana base weak to Blood Moon, but sufficient duals mitigate this.

Most Important Cards:

  • Anointed Procession
  • Mondrak, Glory Dominus
  • Soulherder
  • Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
  • Displacer Kitten
  • Supreme Verdict
  • Hullbreaker Horror
  • Hero of Bladehold
  • Teleportation Circle
  • Sharding Sphinx

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Goldfishes wins via token swarm around T9-10. No fast mana or cost reducers, but efficient flicker loops accelerate value.

Resilience: 6/10
Flicker effects protect key creatures, counterspells (Counterspell, No More Lies) guard critical pieces. Weak to back-to-back board wipes.

Consistency: 5/10
Moderate draw (Curiosity Crafter, Bident of Thassa) and 3 token doublers, but lacks tutors for combo-like reliability.

Interaction: 7/10
A-Tier removal (Swords to Plowshares, Farewell) and counterspells. Propaganda provides unique defensive scaling.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the upper end of Casual/Precon (4.0) with Optimized Casual (5.0) elements. Its T9-10 win speed and reliance on combat align with 4.5-5.0, but the lack of infinite combos and moderate protection keep it below high-power tiers. Key strengths (flicker recursion, flying evasion) compensate for slower setup compared to pure combat precons.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0

DECK LIST
Niko, Light of Hope
Creature: 30
($167.56)
1
Abuelo, Ancestral Echo
1 W U
1
Aerial Extortionist
3 W W
1
Ancient Gold Dragon
5 W W
1
Battle Angels of Tyr
2 W W
1
Combat Calligrapher
3 W
1
Curiosity Crafter
3 U
1
Dauntless Veteran
1 W W
1
Displacer Kitten
3 U
1
Dream Trawler
2 W W U U
1
Drogskol Reinforcements
3 W
1
Empyrean Eagle
1 W U
1
Ethereal Valkyrie
4 W U
1
Hammers of Moradin
2 W
1
Hero of Bladehold
2 W W
1
Hullbreaker Horror
5 U U
1
Knight Exemplar
1 W W
1
Lionheart Glimmer
3 W W
1
Meneldor, Swift Savior
3 U
1
Mondrak, Glory Dominus
2 W W
1
Nesting Dovehawk
3 W
1
Overlord of the Floodpits
3 U U
1
Overlord of the Mistmoors
5 W W
1
Serra Ascendant
W
1
Sharding Sphinx
4 U U
1
Silverwing Squadron
5 W
1
Skycat Sovereign
W U
1
Sludge Monster
3 U U
1
Soulherder
1 W U
1
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
3 U
1
Vanguard Suppressor
3 U
Artifact: 9
($6.45)
1
Arcane Signet
2
1
Azorius Signet
2
1
Bident of Thassa
2 U U
1
Conjurer's Closet
5
1
Mind Stone
2
1
Sol Ring
1
1
Swiftfoot Boots
2
1
Talisman of Progress
2
1
Thought Vessel
2
Enchantment: 8
($77.36)
1
Anointed Procession
3 W
1
Candlekeep Sage
2 U
1
Coastal Piracy
2 U U
1
Far Traveler
2 W
1
Legion Loyalty
6 W W
1
Propaganda
2 U
1
Reconnaissance Mission
2 U U
1
Teleportation Circle
3 W
Instant: 11
($11.62)
1
Arcane Denial
1 U
1
Cloudshift
W
1
Counterspell
U U
1
Ephemerate
W
1
Ghostway
2 W
1
Momentary Blink
1 W
1
No More Lies
W U
1
Parting Gust
W W
1
Path to Exile
W
1
Semester's End
3 W
1
Swords to Plowshares
W
Sorcery: 2
($6.15)
1
Farewell
4 W W
1
Supreme Verdict
1 W W U
Land: 38
($176.03)
1
Adarkar Wastes
1
Arid Mesa
1
Command Tower
1
Deserted Beach
1
Fabled Passage
1
Flooded Strand
1
Floodfarm Verge
1
Glacial Fortress
1
Hallowed Fountain
9
Island
1
Marsh Flats
1
Meticulous Archive
1
Misty Rainforest
1
Mystic Gate
9
Plains
1
Polluted Delta
1
Port Town
1
Prairie Stream
1
Scalding Tarn
1
Sea of Clouds
1
Skycloud Expanse
1
Windswept Heath
Other: 1
($)
1
Skyhunter Strike Force

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