<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rafiq of the Many|ALA|185" href="#" target="_blank">Rafiq of the Many</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MichaelKomarckIllustration/">Michael Komarck</a></em></p>
<p>The recent <em>Marvel Super Heroes </em>set featured "attacking alone" <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/exalted">as a strategy</a> in both the main set and <em>Jumpstart</em> product. This is a perfect opportunity to revisit Commander's decorated champion of single combat: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rafiq of the Many" href="#" target="_blank">Rafiq of the Many</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>I love commanders like Rafiq. Give me a direction, but don't do the work for me. If you like commanders that challenge your deck building and gameplay skills, then this Rafiq rebuild is for you.</p>
<h2>In Command</h2>
<p>Rafiq of the Many first appeared in <em>Shards of Alara</em> and turned the tide for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aggro">Aggro</a> in 20-life formats. His ability to pump a creature and give it double strike made earlier drops into later threats.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rafiq of the Many|V11|10"></div></div>
<p>That <a href="https://www.waynereynolds.com/">Wayne Reynolds</a> promo art is sharp, befitting a Commander known for having an edge. I've heard stories from more experienced players of a time when Rafiq of the Many was a fearsome presence in the command zone.</p>
<p>Of course, that was before <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/card-preview/fire-it-2019-06-21">FIRE design</a> torched old conventions of game balance. By the time I started playing Commander in earnest, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chulane, Teller of Tales" href="#" target="_blank">Chulane, Teller of Tales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> overwhelmingly dominated the popularity contest for top Bant (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander. These days, 4.8k stalwart Rafiq decks stand valiantly against a field of convenient value-engine piles.</p>
<p>It's tempting to monologue about power creep in order to rationalize Rafiq's slide down the rankings.</p>
<p>It's easy to point fingers at easy-mode commanders, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> didn't do anything to Rafiq.</p>
<p>Objectively, Rafiq of the Many is self-limiting to a small pool of permanents, and reliant on an approach to combat that doesn't scale to Commander's multiplayer environment.</p>
<p>Exalted and other "attacks alone" triggers expect you to attack one opponent with one creature. If you want a detailed explanation of why that's a problem, check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-history-of-combat-and-why-attacking-in-commander-sucks">Cas Hinds' attacking exposé</a>. They make a lot of solid points, and I'm pragmatic enough to recognize the inherent disadvantage of attacking one opponent among three to trigger exalted.</p>
<h2>...BUT...</h2>
<p>Attacking is fun, and I'll never stop building combat decks just because conventional wisdom says I should do something more efficient. So today I'm rebuilding EDHREC's average deck for Rafiq of the Many with cards from <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em>, and a few other recent releases. Despite the fact that the set mechanics from <em>MSH</em> directly support Rafiq's primary game plan, these new "attacks alone" cards are appearing in single-digit percentages of Rafiq decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peggy Carter, Secret Agent|MSC|523"></div></div>
<p>Striking from the shadows, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peggy Carter, Secret Agent|MSC|523" href="#" target="_blank">Peggy Carter, Secret Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is currently the most popular <em>MSH</em> card with Rafiq. Still, she's barely made a ripple in the data: a mere 11 of 227 Rafiq decks updated since <em>Marvel's</em> release. I think that number should be a lot higher, given her exalted-adjacent trigger grants indestructible. She perfectly mitigates the risk of attacking alone, significantly improving the combat math. Peggy isn't the only deserving <em>Marvel</em> card missing a chance on the dance floor with Rafiq. There are several others, and I'll cover each one in turn.</p>
<h2>Alone, but Not Lonely</h2>
<p>First up, we have S.H.I.E.L.D.'s frontman <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nick Fury, Spymaster" href="#" target="_blank">Nick Fury, Spymaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Like any good spy, Nick isn't playing fair. First strike is not a fair keyword. He provides card draw without giving anything to an opponent, which is woefully rare in white. AND, he cheats creatures into play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nick Fury, Spymaster"></div></div>
<p>Those other creatures come into play tapped and attacking, which creates a couple interesting rules interactions for this deck. As an upside, you resolve this effect after satisfying the requirement to put all your "attacks alone" triggers on the stack. That means you get to have your cake and throw it at your opponents too. As a minor downside, that creature won't get any of its own attack triggers, which is relevant because that's almost every creature in this deck.</p>
<p>Peggy Carter's niece, Sharon, is something of a lone wolf. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent 13, Sharon Carter" href="#" target="_blank">Agent 13, Sharon Carter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not nearly as potent as Nick Fury, but she still offers a form of card advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agent 13, Sharon Carter"></div></div>
<p>Somehow Sharon reminds me of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tempered in Solitude" href="#" target="_blank">Tempered in Solitude</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which, sadly, is out of Rafiq's color identity. I know Clues and impulse draw lead to different play patterns, but I would really like to have both as an option. Since it's not, I'll accept my one clue per combat and move on.</p>
<p>Next, this character is more feline than lupine. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Panther, Claws of Bast" href="#" target="_blank">Black Panther, Claws of Bast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is showcasing his territorial nature with an attacks alone trigger that leaves a mark.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Panther, Claws of Bast"></div></div>
<p>The best part of exalted is the way it stacks with other instances of exalted. Black Panther trades the group benefit of the exalted ability word for a permanent increase of power and toughness via +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>If opponents' defenses are getting under your skin, then consider <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luke Cage, Power Man" href="#" target="_blank">Luke Cage, Power Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s unbreakable skin as an alternative to risking a more valuable game piece.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Luke Cage, Power Man"></div></div>
<p>The downside to Luke Cage is his insistence on being the lone attacker. Without that trigger, he's just a <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Vanilla">vanilla</a> 2/5, contributing very little to the game plan beyond blocking. Still, I appreciate cards that allow a deck to pivot and reduce dependence on the commander. For those situations when Rafiq isn't available to swing, Luke is a viable backup plan.</p>
<h2>Not Heroes, but Still Super</h2>
<p>Exalted most often appears on creatures, but there's a sprinkling of other permanent types with "attacks alone" triggers. <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em> included an enchantment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strategic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Strategic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and an Equipment, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit" href="#" target="_blank">S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I'm grouping these together because they sort of reflect one another.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Strategic Intervention"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit"></div></div>
<p>Strategic Intervention is a weaker version of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Benediction" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Benediction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it also costs half as much mana. Soft removal like tapping creatures is a small utility that can make a big difference in combat, or deprive opponents of resources.</p>
<p>As much as I like tapping my opponents' stuff, I love untapping my stuff. The S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit gives our lone attacker pseudo-vigilance, with the added benefit of filtering the top of the library.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Team Avatar"></div></div>
<p>While the members of Team Avatar are not <em>Marvel</em>-ous, I could not resist the chance to slot this card in a deck. For one less mana, it yields the same power/toughness boost as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Exaltation" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Exaltation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and does double duty as removal in a pinch. It's worth noting that removal effect is also difficult to counter, because it's an activated ability, not casting the spell.</p>
<h2>Rafiq, Alara's Mightiest Hero</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Rebuilding Rafiq" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Rafiq of the Many
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of the Goyf
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bilbo&#039;s Ring
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Rammas Echor, Ancient Shield
*1 S.H.I.E.L.D. Spy Kit
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sigil of Valor
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Angelic Benediction
*1 Angelic Exaltation
*1 Ardent Plea
*1 Dueling Grounds
*1 Finest Hour
*1 Gryff&#039;s Boon
*1 Idolized
*1 Launch
*1 Rancor
*1 Strategic Intervention
*1 Team Avatar
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Bant Charm
*1 Beast Within
*1 Counterspell
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Invisible Force Field
*1 Negate
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Quandrix Charm
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Agent 13, Sharon Carter
*1 Akrasan Squire
*1 Aven Squire
*1 Battlegrace Angel
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Black Panther, Claws of Bast
*1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
*1 Court Archers
*1 Ethercaste Knight
*1 Frontline Sage
*1 Giltspire Avenger
*1 Guardians of Akrasa
*1 Knight of Glory
*1 Luke Cage, Power Man
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Nick Fury, Spymaster
*1 Noble Hierarch
*1 Peggy Carter, Secret Agent
*1 Qasali Pridemage
*1 Sigiled Paladin
*1 Silent Arbiter
*1 Sovereigns of Lost Alara
*1 Stoic Angel
*1 Sublime Archangel
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Call Damage Control
*1 Farseek
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Three Visits
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Access Tunnel
*1 Baxter Building
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cathedral of War
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Strand
*6 Forest
*1 Gathering Place
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Gleaming Bastion
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*4 Island
*1 Misty Rainforest
*7 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Missing, but Not Missed</h2>
<p>Because my baseline for this rebuild was an average deck, there were some cards that are popular, but not ideal. I'm not going into detail every single cut, but there is one in particular that deserves a discussion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rashel, Fist of Torm"></div></div>
<p>Giving exalted to all your Auras is cracked. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rashel, Fist of Torm" href="#" target="_blank">Rashel, Fist of Torm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> appears in 30% of Rafiq decks, and I'm sure many of those Rafiq players are happy with their choice. Rashel is an awesome commander in its own right, and excellent in any deck with Auras as the primary focus. However, I felt my take on Rafiq didn't contain enough Auras to justify the slot for Rashel.</p>
<p>There's another notable exclusion, the only Marvel card that actually had exalted in the text box.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zarda, the Power Princess"></div></div>
<p><del>Wonder Woman</del> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zarda, the Power Princess" href="#" target="_blank">Zarda, the Power Princess</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is yet another card that would be great with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's boring and parasitic. There are no other typal cards in this list to justify a slot for both Zarda and Maskwood Nexus, and there aren't enough Heroes in the list to justify Zarda alone.</p>
<h2>Done, but Not Finished</h2>
<p>Three flaws I noticed in the average Rafiq list could be another article on their own, so I'm tacking on a quick lightning round to wrap things up.</p>
<p>One: not enough lands. The average list weighed in at 36, but I prefer to start at 42 and tune from there. I added <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baxter Building" href="#" target="_blank">Baxter Building</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because it's a better <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonders&#039; Enclave" href="#" target="_blank">Bonders&#039; Enclave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It enters untapped to make mana, fixes colors, and draws cards for very low cost of inclusion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baxter Building"></div></div>
<p>Two: not enough interaction. One key add here is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Invisible Force Field|MSC|19" href="#" target="_blank">Invisible Force Field</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Protection spells like this are always measured against <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and Invisible Force Field doesn't quite measure up because its defensive effect is a lot narrower. That said, rebound gives you at least one extra chance to attack without hazarding your own creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Invisible Force Field|MSC|19"></div></div>
<p>Three: not enough graveyard recursion. I tossed in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call Damage Control" href="#" target="_blank">Call Damage Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because it's usually going to be better than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Regrowth" href="#" target="_blank">Regrowth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's pretty good considering Regrowth was restricted in Vintage for 19 years.</p>
<p>That's it for the lighting round. Do you have stories from Rafiq's glory days? What would you do differently with this list? Tell us in the comments below.</p>
<p>This deck is done enough to play, but there's a lot more I would love to tinker with. That's the way of deckbuilding, and the way Disney and Marvel handle storytelling. Like any Marvel movie, I'm ending this article with a sequel setup.</p>
<p><em> John will return with more deck techs and unsolicited opinions.</em></p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rafiq.jpg

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