What Year Is It? by akocham

Format: Commander

Commander: Rafiq of the Many

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 35

Deck overview

This deck is a focused Bant Voltron build that leverages Rafiq of the Many to eliminate opponents through rapid commander damage. By utilizing low-cost mana acceleration, the deck consistently deploys Rafiq on turn 3 and suits him up with high-impact Auras and Equipment on turn 4. Rafiq's innate exalted ability and double strike trigger turn modest stat bonuses into devastating combat steps capable of knocking out a player in a single swing. A heavy emphasis on evasion—such as unblockability, protection from creatures, and flying—ensures that attacks connect cleanly. To safeguard its significant single-target investment, the deck incorporates resilient protective layers, including totem armor, phasing, ward, and targeted hexproof. Secondary beaters like Rashel, Fist of Torm and recursion engines like Mantle of the Ancients provide operational redundancy if the primary commander line is disrupted.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 All That Glitters
  • 1 Ancestral Mask
  • 1 Angelic Destiny
  • 1 Aqueous Form
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Armadillo Cloak
  • 1 Avacyn's Pilgrim
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Bant Charm
  • 1 Bear Umbra
  • 1 Bountiful Promenade
  • 1 Breeding Pool
  • 1 Brotherhood Regalia
  • 1 Brushland
  • 1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
  • 1 Canopy Cover
  • 1 Canopy Vista
  • 1 Cathedral of War
  • 1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Danitha, New Benalia's Light
  • 1 Dog Umbra
  • 1 Dueling Grounds
  • 1 Ethereal Armor
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Fabled Passage
  • 1 Farseek
  • 1 Favor of the Overbeing
  • 1 Finest Hour
  • 3 Forest
  • 1 Giltspire Avenger
  • 1 Giver of Runes
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Haystack
  • 1 Idolized
  • 4 Island
  • 1 Keen Sense
  • 1 Kenrith's Transformation
  • 1 Knight of Glory
  • 1 Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar
  • 1 Lion Umbra
  • 1 Mantle of the Ancients
  • 1 Mystic Gate
  • 1 Nature's Lore
  • 1 Noble Hierarch
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Pippin, Guard of the Citadel
  • 5 Plains
  • 1 Prairie Stream
  • 1 Qasali Pridemage
  • 1 Rafiq of the Many
  • 1 Rancor
  • 1 Rashel, Fist of Torm
  • 1 Razorverge Thicket
  • 1 Redemption Arc
  • 1 Reflecting Pool
  • 1 Robe of Stars
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Security Bypass
  • 1 Selesnya Signet
  • 1 Shadowspear
  • 1 Sheltered by Ghosts
  • 1 Shield of the Oversoul
  • 1 Skycloud Expanse
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sovereigns of Lost Alara
  • 1 Spara's Headquarters
  • 1 Spirit Mantle
  • 1 Sram, Senior Edificer
  • 1 Steel of the Godhead
  • 1 Sublime Archangel
  • 1 Sungrass Prairie
  • 1 Sunpetal Grove
  • 1 Swift Reconfiguration
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Sythis, Harvest's Hand
  • 1 Temple Garden
  • 1 Trailblazer's Boots
  • 1 Tyvar's Stand
  • 1 Umbra Mystic
  • 1 Unclaimed Territory
  • 1 Unquestioned Authority
  • 1 Urban Retreat
  • 1 Wild Growth
  • 1 Winds of Rath
  • 1 Winged Boots
  • 1 Wooded Bastion
  • 1 Yavimaya Coast