Ranking the Swords of X and Y in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.gallerygerard.com/the-art-of-justin-gerard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Gerard</a></em></p>
<p>Fan favorite Merfolk Sygg returns in the upcoming set <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/ecl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em></a>, as we revisit the much beloved plane in January. What better way to celebrate than by building a brand new Commander deck for him?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom"></div></div>
<p>But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's take a look at the freshwater ferryman that'll be leading our 99. As <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> is set in a plane where the very nature of the world changes from day to night, Sygg has two faces which we can transform between to represent him in both Lorwyn and Shadowmoor.</p>
<p>On the front face, Wanderwine Wisdom, we have an unblockable 2/2 Merfolk Wizard that can't be blocked. Whenever Sygg enters or transforms back into his Wanderwine form, we can target any creature we control with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> style effect. For the rest of the turn, if they hit an opponent or one of their planeswalkers in combat, we draw ourselves a card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Curiosity"></div></div>
<p>For this brand new set, transformation doesn't require us to meet any special conditions. Instead it's a repeatable paid ability that triggers at the start of every main phase. If we pay one <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> we'll flip Sygg over to his Wanderbrine side.</p>
<h2>Sygg's Shadow</h2>
<p>Whenever Sygg flips into <span class="edhrecp__link reverse"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we get to suit up one of our creatures with protection from every color. That makes whatever creature we choose with our ability very difficult to interact with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards reverse"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom"></div></div>
<p>As Sygg's abilities are tied to his transformations, it can make him a little tricky to build around. Most transforming creatures will stay transformed once it's happened. But with this new flipping mechanic from <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed, </em>Sygg can technically flip back and once on every turn. It's similar to Day &amp; Night from the most recent <em>Innistrad</em> sets, but in this case we have much more direct control over the process.</p>
<h2>Making Sure We’re Equipped for Combat</h2>
<p>As Sygg's rather strange ability seems to want us to make something de facto unblockable like himself and swing in for combat damage-tied card advantage, we should build a deck that wants to get stuck into combat. But as Sygg only targets a single creature with his ability, we really want to be focusing on a single attacker.</p>
<p>Luckily, with the protection that Sygg gives us, we'll be able to make sure that our chosen creature gets in for combat damage. What we now need to provide that creature is some buffs so that we can present lethal damage to our opponents, as well as a bevvy of combat damage triggers to make sure we get as much bang for our buck as we can from one big hit.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geist of Saint Traft"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zethi, Arcane Blademaster"></div></div>
<p>For that reason we're going for a sort of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voltron</a> strategy in which we cram loads of buffs and triggers onto one single creature. And as Sygg will provide our creature with protection from all colors, we want those buffs to be colorless or else the protection will cause them to fall off.</p>
<p>That's why we're taking an Equipment focus with this build! And as Sygg's <em>Shadowmoor</em> self was a sort of swashbuckling sellsword, it makes sense that we'd suit up our swingers with an assortment of swords. Sibilance!</p>
<h2>Sellsword Sells Swords</h2>
<p>For those not aware, the Sword of X and Y cycle is a collection of ten Equipment cards, each one linked to one of the ten color pairs in <em>Magic</em>. They provide the bearer protection from both of those colors and give a +2/+2 buff. That's a pretty good benefit on its own for three mana, but what really makes them sing for our deck is the combat damage triggers they provide.</p>
<p>Whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player whilst equipped with one of these Swords, we get two triggers. One representing each of the two colors on the sword. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, gives us some hand hate against our opponent and allows us to untap all our lands, effectively doubling the resources we have access to each turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Feast and Famine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Fire and Ice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Hearth and Home"></div></div>
<p>The Sword cycle is notoriously powerful, and for good reason. When you load up enough of them onto a creature you'll get a wild amount of value out of just one swing. Not to mention that combined they give a total +20 to your creature's power.</p>
<p>The plan is very simple: We go big, and then we bring it home! We present lethal combat damage attached to creatures that can't be blocked or interacted with.</p>
<p>So how do we make it work?</p>
<h2>Finding Our Weapons</h2>
<p>First up we'll need some card advantage. This plan is all well and good, but what if our swords are still sitting in our deck? Our attacks aren't going to look very impressive.</p>
<p>First of all, we can look to some basic card draw.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sram, Senior Edificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Puresteel Paladin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shimmer Dragon"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sram, Senior Edificer" href="#" target="_blank">Sram, Senior Edificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puresteel Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Puresteel Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are classics for Equipment decks as they refill our hand whenever our Equipment enters the field. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shimmer Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shimmer Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provides some repeatable, instant speed card draw by allowing us to tap two swords for a card. As Equipment doesn't do any tapping on its own, it's effectively free.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stoneforge Mystic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starwinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Open the Armory"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starwinder" href="#" target="_blank">Starwinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a little more top end but will give us crazy card draw after a big swing - not to mention we can warp him in on the cheap on big turns. We can also take advantage of Equipment tutor effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to root through our library for the swords we need.</p>
<h2>Suiting Up</h2>
<p>The key feature of Equipment cards is that they trade the Aura's one time use for a repeatable equip cost. But that equip cost can start to rack up once we've got enough Equipment on board. With effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brass Squire" href="#" target="_blank">Brass Squire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Codsworth, Handy Helper" href="#" target="_blank">Codsworth, Handy Helper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can circumvent the equip costs to keep prices down.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brass Squire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Codsworth, Handy Helper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forge Anew"></div></div>
<p>Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Danitha Capashen, Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Danitha Capashen, Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> however will reduce costs over all. And the fantastic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forge Anew" href="#" target="_blank">Forge Anew</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will not only provide a one time discount but also allow us to equip our swords at instant speed. That turns them into repeatable protection effects against enemy spells when we need them.</p>
<p>Forge Anew also allows us to recur important Equipment from the graveyard when opponents inevitably try to remove our swords. We need to protect the things that are giving us protection, after all.</p>
<h2>Redundancy for Sygg</h2>
<p>Speaking of protection, it's worth noting that Sygg's effect is a little slow. We only get it once every other turn and we're forced to do it right at the start of our main phase. To make sure we have enough of a wall between us and our opponents' spells, we should plan some backups.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mother of Runes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pippin, Guard of the Citadel"></div></div>
<p>Luckily we're in white, which gives us a load of options - the premier color for keeping our warriors safe! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mother of Runes" href="#" target="_blank">Mother of Runes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a staple for this type of effect, giving us instant-speed protection from a single color.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pippin, Guard of the Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Pippin, Guard of the Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also provide protection from the card type of our choice. Either something like instants to ignore interaction or just creatures to make us unblockable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archaeomancer"></div></div>
<p>To get around the turns in which Sygg will transform back to his less exciting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curiosity" href="#" target="_blank">Curiosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, we can take advantage of flickering! Using cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we can have Sygg re-enter the battlefield in our upkeep to give his regular blue effect, then allowing us to transform him to his white side again for the protection.</p>
<p>With cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archaeomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Archaeomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mnemonic Wall" href="#" target="_blank">Mnemonic Wall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that effect can become repeatable as we pick back up our flicker spells.</p>
<h2>Finding the Right Attacker</h2>
<p>The only piece left of the puzzle is to find a decent creature to connect with our opponents. For that we want to seek out slippery creatures with great evasive skills or ones that hit extra hard. Creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geist of Saint Traft" href="#" target="_blank">Geist of Saint Traft</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who's not only hexproof but rewards us with a free extra attacker with every swing.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wraith, Vicious Vigilante"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geist of Saint Traft"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wraith, Vicious Vigilante" href="#" target="_blank">Wraith, Vicious Vigilante</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is unblockable even without protection effects, and she's also blessed with double strike, giving us double the damage and double the combat damage triggers from our swords!</p>
<p>The aforementioned Danitha has some great keywords, like lifelink to keep us kicking, and vigilance allowing us to save her as a blocker for our opponents' turns. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer" href="#" target="_blank">Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> however will find us artifacts from the top of our deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Danitha Capashen, Paragon"></div></div>
<h2>A List to Start With</h2>
<p>With all those elements combined you could have yourself a pretty powerful Equipment-focused deck. Just be sure to brush up on the rules for protection! As it's a symmetrical effect you can put yourself in some sticky situations in you're not careful.</p>
<p>For example, when Sygg gives multicolored protection to your creature, make sure it doesn't already have protection from white! Otherwise you won't be able to target it.</p>
<p>I've put together a list below that provides a look at how a deck like this might be constructed. Feel free to either put it together yourself or use it as a basis to build up your own Sygg list. Are you excited to play with this brand new version of a classic character? Let me know in the comments below how you're planning to build him!</p>
<h2>Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sygg Equipment" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom // Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist
*1 Ayesha Tanaka, Armorer
*1 Brass Squire
*1 Bronze Guardian
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Geist of Saint Traft
*1 Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms
*1 Hydroelectric Specimen // Hydroelectric Laboratory
*1 Leonin Shikari
*1 Mendicant Core, Guidelight
*1 Mnemonic Wall
*1 Mother of Runes
*1 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
*1 Pippin, Guard of the Citadel
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Silent Arbiter
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Starwinder
*1 Stoneforge Mystic
*1 Wraith, Vicious Vigilante
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Azorius Locket
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Kaldra Compleat
*1 Marble Diamond
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sky Diamond
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Body and Mind
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Fire and Ice
*1 Sword of Forge and Frontier
*1 Sword of Hearth and Home
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Sword of Once and Future
*1 Sword of Sinew and Steel
*1 Sword of Truth and Justice
*1 Sword of War and Peace
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Aetherize
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cryptic Command
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Ghostly Flicker
*1 Jwari Disruption // Jwari Ruins
*1 Kabira Takedown // Kabira Plateau
*1 Muddle the Mixture
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
*1 Sejiri Shelter // Sejiri Glacier
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Three Steps Ahead
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins
*1 Open the Armory
*1 Supreme Verdict
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*6 Island
*1 Maze of Ith
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Mystic Gate
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*7 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Restless Anchorage
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Skycloud Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>
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swords

Ranking the Swords of X and Y in Commander

Sygg Sells Swords! - Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom Commander Deck Tech