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COMMANDER(S)
Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
QR Code
B U W
- Esper
Created by  aSloth
Bracket
5.0 - 6.0
Bracket 1
Average CMC Average CMC
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ANALYSIS

Overview:

This Sidar Jabari Knight tribal deck focuses on aggressive board development, leveraging Knight synergies for card advantage, token generation, and graveyard recursion. The core strategy revolves around attacking with Knights to trigger Sidar’s eminence draw/discard engine, then reanimating key pieces via Sidar’s combat damage trigger. While lacking infinite combos, it aims to overwhelm opponents with resilient threats and value engines like Vanquisher’s Banner and Knights’ Charge.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy low-to-mid-cost Knights (e.g., Worthy Knight, Knight of the White Orchid) to trigger Sidar’s eminence for card filtering. Recur high-impact Knights like Haakon, Stromgald Scourge from the graveyard to sustain pressure. Key phases:

  1. Early Setup: Ramp with Sol Ring, fix mana with dual lands, and establish card engines like Herald’s Horn.
  2. Midgame Value: Attack with Knights to cycle cards and stock the graveyard. Reanimate threats like Silverwing Squadron using Sidar.
  3. Endgame: Close with Knights’ Charge recursion, Syr Konrad pings, or token swarms from Hero of Bladehold.

Mulligan Priorities:

  • 3 lands (preferably untapped)
  • 1–2 Knights or ramp sources
  • Avoid hands without early plays (e.g., 6+ CMC cards).

Key Tips:

  • Prioritize Knight Exemplar to grant indestructibility.
  • Use Haakon to cast Knights from graveyard if Sidar is removed.
  • Knights’ Charge is a finisher — wait until post-boardwipe to recur multiple threats.

Avoid Traps:

  • Overextending into wraths without recursion.
  • Holding back attackers — Sidar’s eminence demands consistent aggression.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

  • Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) cripples Sidar/Haakon recursion.
  • No protection for key engines beyond Knight Exemplar.

Moderate:

  • Slow recovery from multiple board wipes.
  • Limited interaction for noncreature permanents.

Minor:

  • Slightly clunky mana base with tapped lands.

Most Important Cards:

  • Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
  • Knight Exemplar
  • Vanquisher’s Banner
  • Knights’ Charge
  • Syr Konrad, the Grim
  • Herald’s Horn
  • Silverwing Squadron
  • Worthy Knight
  • Murderous Rider
  • Hero of Bladehold

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

  • Goldfish win ~T8–9 via combat. No fast mana or cost reduction to accelerate critical threats.

Resilience: 6/10

  • Graveyard recursion and Knight Exemplar mitigate some removal, but folds to targeted hate.

Consistency: 7/10

  • Strong tribal synergies and card draw (12+ sources) ensure steady threats. Limited tutors.

Interaction: 5/10

  • Efficient spot removal (Swords, Path) but lacks counterspells and mass artifact/enchantment answers.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Optimized Casual (5.0) and Focused (6.0). It lacks the speed and redundancy of high-power decks but surpasses precon-level synergy. Strengths include tribal cohesion and recursion, but weaknesses to graveyard hate and slow clock hold it back. Comparable to upgraded precons with focused themes but no infinite lines.

Power level: 5.0–6.0

DECK LIST
Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
Creature: 28
($13.56)
1
Acclaimed Contender
2 W
1
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
1 W W
1
Arvad the Cursed
3 W B
1
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace
2 W B
1
Corpse Knight
W B
1
Elenda and Azor
3 W U B
1
Ethersworn Adjudicator
4 U
1
Exsanguinator Cavalry
2 B
1
Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
1 B B
1
Herald of Hoofbeats
3 U
1
Hero of Bladehold
2 W W
1
Josu Vess, Lich Knight
2 B B
1
Knight Exemplar
1 W W
1
Knight of the White Orchid
W W
1
Knights of the Black Rose
3 W B
1
Liliana's Standard Bearer
2 B
1
Locthwain Lancer
4 B
1
Marshal of Zhalfir
W U
1
Midnight Reaper
2 B
1
Silverwing Squadron
5 W
1
Syr Elenora, the Discerning
3 U U
1
Syr Konrad, the Grim
3 B B
1
Valiant Knight
3 W
1
Vodalian Wave-Knight
2 W U
1
Vona, Butcher of Magan
3 W B
1
Wintermoor Commander
W B
1
Worthy Knight
1 W
1
Xerex Strobe-Knight
2 U
Artifact: 12
($12.96)
1
Arcane Signet
2
1
Commander's Sphere
3
1
Conjurer's Mantle
1 W
1
Fellwar Stone
2
1
Herald's Horn
3
1
Ichor Elixir
4
1
Maul of the Skyclaves
2 W
1
Mind Stone
2
1
Orzhov Signet
2
1
Sigiled Sword of Valeron
3
1
Sol Ring
1
1
Vanquisher's Banner
5
Enchantment: 2
($8.73)
1
Chivalric Alliance
1 W
1
Knights' Charge
1 W B
Instant: 6
($2.4)
1
Despark
W B
1
Path to Exile
W
1
Pull from Tomorrow
X U U
1
Return to Dust
2 W W
1
Swords to Plowshares
W
1
Unbreakable Formation
2 W
Sorcery: 6
($1.33)
1
Distant Melody
3 U
1
Fell the Mighty
4 W
1
Painful Truths
2 B
1
Promise of Loyalty
4 W
1
Read the Bones
2 B
1
Time Wipe
2 W W U
Land: 40
($4.27)
1
Arcane Sanctum
1
Bojuka Bog
1
Choked Estuary
1
Command Tower
1
Dismal Backwater
1
Evolving Wilds
1
Exotic Orchard
6
Island
1
Myriad Landscape
1
Path of Ancestry
8
Plains
1
Port Town
1
Prairie Stream
1
Shineshadow Snarl
1
Sunken Hollow
5
Swamp
1
Temple of Deceit
1
Temple of Enlightenment
1
Temple of Silence
1
Temple of the False God
1
Terramorphic Expanse
1
Thriving Heath
1
Thriving Isle
1
Thriving Moor
Other: 5
($)
1
Foulmire Knight
1
Invasion of New Phyrexia
1
Murderous Rider
1
Order of Midnight
1
Smitten Swordmaster

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