Loyalty and Rivalry by Ioun

Format: Commander

Creator: Ioun

Commander: Vial Smasher the Fierce and Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful

Bracket: 2

DeckCheck Threat Index: 26

Deck overview

This Mardu deck utilizes the partner pairing of Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful and Vial Smasher the Fierce to field a high-tempo Equipment and legendary aggro strategy. Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful provides an immediate turn-one threat that grows whenever legendary permanents enter the battlefield. The 99 incorporates legendary creatures and Equipment enablers that tutor, cheat, and multiply weapon triggers, such as Cloud, Midgar Mercenary, Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo, and Puresteel Paladin. The primary path to victory is focused commander damage, using combat enhancers like Colossus Hammer, Two-Handed Axe // Sweeping Cleave, and Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder to eliminate opponents sequentially, supported by passive burn from Vial Smasher the Fierce. The deck trades away interactive control and stax in favor of proactive board presence, relying on heavy combat steps to overwhelm opposing life totals before opponents can stabilize.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adelbert Steiner
  • 1 Aerith Gainsborough
  • 1 Ajani's Anguish
  • 1 Ambrosia Whiteheart
  • 1 Andúril, Narsil Reforged
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Basilisk Collar
  • 1 Battlefield Forge
  • 1 Beatrix, Loyal General
  • 1 Black Waltz No. 3
  • 1 Blade of Selves
  • 1 Blasphemous Act
  • 1 Bonders' Enclave
  • 1 Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder
  • 1 Castle Ardenvale
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin
  • 1 Champion's Helm
  • 1 Clifftop Retreat
  • 1 Clive's Hideaway
  • 1 Clive, Ifrit's Dominant // Ifrit, Warden of Inferno
  • 1 Cloud, Midgar Mercenary
  • 1 Colossus Hammer
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Crackling Doom
  • 1 Dancer's Chakrams
  • 1 Dark Confidant
  • 1 Darksteel Plate
  • 1 Deadly Dispute
  • 1 Desolate Mire
  • 1 Dion, Bahamut's Dominant // Bahamut, Warden of Light
  • 1 Dragonskull Summit
  • 1 Duelist's Flame
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Fabled Passage
  • 1 Fated Clash
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Firion, Wild Rose Warrior
  • 1 Forge of Heroes
  • 1 Freya Crescent
  • 1 Genji Glove
  • 1 Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms
  • 1 Hall of Echoes
  • 1 Interceptor, Shadow's Hound
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant // Phoenix, Warden of Fire
  • 1 Judge Magister Gabranth
  • 1 Judgment Bolt
  • 1 Kain, Traitorous Dragoon
  • 1 Locke, Treasure Hunter
  • 1 Mabel, Bitter Recluse
  • 1 Mabel, Heir to Cragflame
  • 6 Mountain
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Paladin's Shield
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 1 Pitiless Plunderer
  • 4 Plains
  • 1 Puresteel Paladin
  • 1 Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo
  • 1 Relic of Legends
  • 1 Rosa, Resolute White Mage
  • 1 Rufus Shinra
  • 1 Rugged Prairie
  • 1 Seifer, Balamb Rival
  • 1 Setzer, Wandering Gambler
  • 1 Shadow, Mysterious Assassin
  • 1 Shadowblood Ridge
  • 1 Shineshadow Snarl
  • 1 Sigiled Sword of Valeron
  • 1 Smoldering Marsh
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spinerock Knoll
  • 1 Squall, Gunblade Duelist
  • 1 Sunlit Marsh
  • 1 Sunscorched Divide
  • 4 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 The Fire Crystal
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Tonberry
  • 1 Two-Handed Axe // Sweeping Cleave
  • 1 Unfinished Business
  • 1 Vial Smasher the Fierce
  • 1 Warrior's Resolve
  • 1 Yoshimaru, Beloved Companion
  • 1 Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful
  • 1 Zack Fair
  • 1 Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival