<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chong and Lily, Nomads" href="#" target="_blank">Chong and Lily, Nomads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CPhima%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Phima</a></span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sagas are one of the coolest card types in <em>Magic</em>, but also, for a long time, the bane of my existence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They’re really cool because they show how each plane or IP tells stories. They depict important events and figures and they are integral pieces of worldbuilding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dedicated Saga decks, however, run the risk of requiring a lot of time and energy to maintain board state and resolve their draw-step triggers. All this for a card type that provides incremental advantage rather than actually winning the game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week, we’re looking at a creature type that accentuates Sagas and gives them something to do besides providing that incremental advantage. If Sagas are how planes tell stories, this type is the storytellers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you guessed it? It’s Bards!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bards and Warlocks were the last of the primary <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em> classes to work their way into <em>Magic</em> canon. In <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>, Bards were solidified as artists in the Prismari College, with some expressing themselves through visual mediums, and others, auditory.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In many of the sets where Sagas are featured, the corresponding storytelling is reflected in their Bards. More recently, Bards got a major boost in <em>The Hobbit</em>.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bohn, Beguiling Balladeer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tom Bombadil"></div></div>
<h2><b>Bard History</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bards haven’t been around for a long time, but there are members that gained the type through errata, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yisan, the Wanderer Bard" href="#" target="_blank">Yisan, the Wanderer Bard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Some play music, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Totentanz, Swarm Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Totentanz, Swarm Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and some paint, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kalain, Reclusive Painter" href="#" target="_blank">Kalain, Reclusive Painter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No matter what the medium, a Bard's power is exerted through their performances. Some of these performances move their audiences emotionally…and some move them physically. Hard. Like, through a wall. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">More recently, Bards show off their powers by synergizing with enchantments, especially Sagas, which are seminal moments in history depicted in the art style of the plane or IP.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sagas have chapters rather than modes, and the current chapter is what determines their abilities. The chapters advance each draw step, usually increasing in intensity as the lore counters add up. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The problem with Sagas is that their power is determined by the number of Sagas and the current lore counter count, so the advantages are minimal and lining them up for a big turn is difficult.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So how do we get these pieces to work together? And what do Chong and Lily bring to the table?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chong and Lily, Nomads"></div></div>
<h2><b>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chong and Lily, Nomads" href="#" target="_blank">Chong and Lily, Nomads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ironically, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bard, King of Dale" href="#" target="_blank">Bard, King of Dale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not a Bard, and Chong and Lily, Nomads aren’t Nomads. It has nothing to do with what they do, but it seems like they're weird coincidences. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bard, King of Dale" href="#" target="_blank">Bard, King of Dale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is even listed on the Bard Typal EDHREC page as a Bard commander!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what do Chong and Lily actually do?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chong and Lily navigated Team Avatar through the Cave of the Two Lovers, and they do the same for the meanderings of our list of Bards and Sagas.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chong and Lily are one of the few commanders to care about Bards, triggering when one or more Bards we control attack. They give our creatures power for each lore counter on our Sagas, which is an incredible burst, or they put a lore counter on each of our Sagas, helping to set up the big final chapters.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By either making our Bards bigger for each Saga we control or advancing our Sagas, Chong and Lily manage to make both aspects of Bards better. The only problem is, we’re stuck in mono-red.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ah, well. Not every song is a hit.</span></p>
<h2><b>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chong and Lily, Nomads" href="#" target="_blank">Chong and Lily, Nomads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since Bards are a relatively unexplored type, we are going to lean as far into Bards and Sagas as possible. We will still try to do the jobs of a regular deck, however. But be warned, this is a low-power Bracket 1-2 deck.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raccoon Rallier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merry Bards"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Functionally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raccoon Rallier" href="#" target="_blank">Raccoon Rallier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of our quintessential Bards, coming down early and giving our later creatures haste. This helps a lot when our commander wants us to be attacking. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merry Bards" href="#" target="_blank">Merry Bards</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on the other hand, gives a creature another attack trigger. It also is part of the <em>Wilds of Eldraine</em> Bard strategy of having Bards be actors that are enchanted by the Roles they portray.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Balin, Loremaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Brynhildr"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a deck with an incremental value strategy, we need as much draw as we can get, primarily in the Bard and Saga subtypes. Balin uses the new storied mechanic, checking to see if we have three artifacts, Sagas, or legends, to grant a city’s blessing-like status. If we have that status, we can blast our opponents when it or any Dwarf, of which we have several, enters and wheel us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For our Sagas, I’m classifying them primarily based on their first abilities, as that’s what we get immediately. For <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Brynhildr" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Brynhildr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we exile the top card of our library and can cast it any turn we put a lore counter on the card. This interesting impulse draw variant lets us see farther and have more options.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blazing Firesinger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glóin, Dwarf Emissary"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a four-mana commander, our deck can be mana-hungry. We also have several Prismari Bards that care about instants and sorceries. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blazing Firesinger" href="#" target="_blank">Blazing Firesinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets us add both an instant and a Bard, specifically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seething Song" href="#" target="_blank">Seething Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the best rituals of all time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glóin, Dwarf Emissary" href="#" target="_blank">Glóin, Dwarf Emissary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us Treasures when we cast historic spells, the same kinds of spells storied status cares about, and most of what we’re casting. Free Treasure for what we’re already doing? Sign me up!</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Insufferable Balladeer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Balladeer removes an opposing creature as a blocker and makes it attack elsewhere, solidifying it as Bards’ version of a removal spell. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern" href="#" target="_blank">Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> removes a creature with its first mode and an artifact with its second, both of which should always find homes.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn&#039;s Bastion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nesting Grounds"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nesting Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Nesting Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both interact with Sagas and their lore counters. The Bastion proliferates them, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nesting Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Nesting Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> essentially moves a counter from one to another. These let us get multiple chapter triggers in the same turn for unexpected value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we close the game out?</span></p>
<h2><b>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chong and Lily, Nomads" href="#" target="_blank">Chong and Lily, Nomads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</b></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firbolg Flutist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saga decks often struggle to win games and Bards are a relatively new type with a somewhat shallow pool of options, but they help each other out. The Flutist follows in the Balladeer’s footsteps by enthralling opposing creatures. This creature steals them, however, and it takes one from each opponent while copying itself with its myriad ability.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bahamut is the big bang shot of the deck. A nine-power flyer for nine mana, it’s the ultimate curve-topper. As a creature with lore counters, it even gets pumped by our commander!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, in summary: we’re a combat-oriented deck with some big, swingy creatures that make combat one-sided for us.</span></p>
<h2>The Deck List</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Chong and Lily Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Chong and Lily, Nomads
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Balin, Loremaster
*1 Blazing Firesinger // Seething Song
*1 Bloodline Pretender
*1 Bombur, Gentle Dreamer
*1 Bothersome Noisemaker
*1 Changeling Wayfinder
*1 Crime Novelist
*1 Firbolg Flutist
*1 Fire-Belly Changeling
*1 Flamebraider
*1 Fíli and Kíli, Joyous
*1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
*1 Insufferable Balladeer
*1 Merry Bards
*1 Moku, Meandering Drummer
*1 Molten Primordial
*1 Molten-Core Maestro
*1 Mutant Town Musicians
*1 One-Clown Band
*1 Prismari Pianist
*1 Raccoon Rallier
*1 Spellbinding Soprano
*1 Stirring Bard
*1 Summon: Bahamut
*1 Summon: Brynhildr
*1 Summon: Esper Ramuh
*1 Summon: Esper Valigarmanda
*1 Summon: G.F. Ifrit
*1 Summon: Kujata
*1 Taurean Mauler
*1 The Mary Janes
*1 Three Tree Mascot
*1 Thunderdrum Soloist
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Valor Singer
*1 War-Spike Changeling
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Demand Answers
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern
*1 Collective Inferno
*1 Day of the Moon
*1 Origin of Thor
*1 Ral and the Implicit Maze
*1 The Akroan War
*1 The Elder Dragon War
*1 The Flame of Keld
*1 The Flux
*1 The Legend of Roku // Avatar Roku
*1 The Misty Mountains Cold
*1 The Parting of the Ways
*1 Vault 21: House Gambit
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Insurrection
*1 Kindred Charge
*1 Mob Rule
*1 Seize the Spotlight
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Desert of the Fervent
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Hidden Volcano
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*30 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Secret Tunnel
*1 Three Tree City
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2><b>Conclusion</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bards are a relatively new creature type, but they have a range of builds. This one featured Sagas, but some feature Role tokens, and still others bring the party with Group Hug.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How would you build Bards? And who would you use to command them?</span></p>


chong and lily nomads

Chong and Lily, Nomads | A Bard Saga Deck