Monarch by user9274127

Format: Commander

Commander: Queen Marchesa

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 40

Deck overview

This deck is a Mardu Monarch control and pillowfort strategy helmed by Queen Marchesa. The primary game plan revolves around introducing the monarch early, establishing defensive taxing layers such as Ghostly Prison, Windborn Muse, and Blind Obedience, and accumulating steady card advantage. Rather than racing the table, the deck uses political deterrence, goad effects like Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser and Spectacular Showdown, and retaliatory damage spells like Deflecting Palm and Comeuppance to redirect aggression toward opponents. As the game develops, scaling token generators and monarch payoffs such as Skyline Despot, Court of Embereth, and Assemble the Legion build an insurmountable board presence. The deck closes games around Turn 9 by overwhelming surviving opponents with flying Dragon swarms or a decisive Moonshaker Cavalry overrun. It boasts strong resilience and recovery thanks to heavy functional redundancy across monarch enablers and versatile defensive interaction.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Archon of Coronation
  • 1 Ash Barrens
  • 1 Assemble the Legion
  • 1 Baird, Steward of Argive
  • 1 Battlefield Forge
  • 1 Black Dragon Gate
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Champions of Minas Tirith
  • 1 Chromatic Lantern
  • 1 Citadel Gate
  • 1 Comeuppance
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Commander's Sphere
  • 1 Court of Ardenvale
  • 1 Court of Embereth
  • 1 Court of Grace
  • 1 Court of Ire
  • 1 Court of Locthwain
  • 1 Crystal Grotto
  • 1 Curse of Opulence
  • 1 Custodi Lich
  • 1 Cut a Deal
  • 1 Deadly Rollick
  • 1 Deflecting Palm
  • 1 Deflecting Swat
  • 1 Diabolic Intent
  • 1 Dragonskull Summit
  • 1 Duelist's Heritage
  • 1 Escape Tunnel
  • 1 Evolving Wilds
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Garrulous Sycophant
  • 1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
  • 1 General's Enforcer
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Immortal Obligation
  • 1 Inspiring Vantage
  • 1 Invasion of Fiora // Marchesa, Resolute Monarch
  • 1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
  • 1 Keeper of the Accord
  • 1 Knights of the Black Rose
  • 1 Loran of the Third Path
  • 1 Loyal Unicorn
  • 1 Marchesa's Decree
  • 1 Mob Verdict
  • 1 Moon-Blessed Cleric
  • 1 Moonshaker Cavalry
  • 5 Mountain
  • 1 Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser
  • 1 Nils, Discipline Enforcer
  • 1 Noble Heritage
  • 1 Norn's Annex
  • 1 Orzhov Advokist
  • 1 Palace Sentinels
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 6 Plains
  • 1 Prisoner's Dilemma
  • 1 Promise of Loyalty
  • 1 Protector of the Crown
  • 1 Queen Marchesa
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Skyline Despot
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spectacular Showdown
  • 1 Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader
  • 1 Stroke of Midnight
  • 5 Swamp
  • 1 Take the Bait
  • 1 Talisman of Indulgence
  • 1 Temple of the False God
  • 1 Tenuous Truce
  • 1 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
  • 1 The Autonomous Furnace
  • 1 The Dross Pits
  • 1 The Eternal Wanderer
  • 1 The Fair Basilica
  • 1 Thorn of the Black Rose
  • 1 Throne Warden
  • 1 Throne of the High City
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Treasure Vault
  • 1 Trouble in Pairs
  • 1 Windborn Muse
  • 1 Xantcha, Sleeper Agent