Overview:
A mono-white control deck centered around Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, focusing on token generation and creature-based stax elements while using the commander as both a force multiplier and defensive tool.
Primer:
This deck operates as a creature-based control strategy that aims to establish board dominance through token generation and anthem effects. The commander, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, serves as both a powerful anthem for your creatures and a devastating control piece against opponent's boards. The deck generates value through multiple token producers like Court of Grace, Secure the Wastes, and White Sun's Zenith, while protecting its position with stax pieces like Grand Abolisher and Ghostly Prison.
The gameplan typically involves establishing early defensive positions with cards like Ghostly Prison and Norn's Annex, then building up mana to deploy significant token generators. Once a reasonable board presence is established, Elesh Norn or Cathars' Crusade can be played to create a commanding position. The deck includes numerous board wipes as reset buttons, which work asymmetrically with instant-speed token generation and the commander's ability to shrink opposing creatures.
Weaknesses:
The deck is heavily reliant on its commander for closing out games and lacks efficient tutors to find key pieces. The mana base is extremely basic, making it vulnerable to nonbasic land hate but resistant to Blood Moon effects. The deck can struggle against combo-based strategies due to limited instant-speed interaction, and its reliance on creatures makes it vulnerable to exile-based removal.
Most Important Cards:
- Cathars' Crusade
- Grand Abolisher
- Secure the Wastes
- White Sun's Zenith
- Sol Ring
- Ghostly Prison
- Austere Command
- Court of Grace
- Keeper of the Accord
- Solitude
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 4/10
- Resilience: 6/10
- Consistency: 5/10
- Interaction: 7/10
Rating Justification:
This deck operates at a focused casual level, with its primary win conditions coming online around turns 8-10. While it includes strong interaction pieces and can establish controlling board states, the lack of efficient tutors and fast mana beyond Sol Ring keeps it from reaching higher power levels. The deck's reliance on its commander and creature-based strategy places it firmly in the 5.0-5.5 range, as it can execute its gameplan consistently but not quickly enough to compete with more optimized strategies.
Final power level rating: 5.0 - 5.5
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite