A long-overdue re-tuning of my token deck, and probably well-timed given how G/W tokens are dominating standard in Shadows Over Innistrad.
Between not owning Rhys the Redeemed and a desire to try something a bit more interactive, I started out and stuck with Trostani.
As a deck, while vulnerable to an airborn Commander kill, she should outlast everything else long enough to get you your win.
(older versions)
1. http://www.mtgvault.com/imawizardharry/decks/edh-selesnyas-march/
2. http://www.mtgvault.com/imawizardharry/decks/trostani-retuned/
Commander tempo may stretch farther than other formats, but it still follows the same skeleton.
1- RAMP
Being green, ramp is the name of our early game. At least 10/15+ ramp spells have been curated to be as low-cost and instant as possible. Your Commander is the key to your deployment, so you want to ramp up to her as fast as possible.
God-Hand
T1: Forest --> Exploration --> Land
T2: Land --> Nature's Lore (Temple Garden) --> Rampant Growth --> Krosan Verge
This opens your 3rd turn with 6 mana, appropriately fixed, AND a Verge ready to get you 2 more when you want. Not a bad start :P
Crop Rotation is best held for a surprise Nykthos before/on your big turn, so if you have other ramp options, save it for later.
2- DEPLOYMENT
Once you've gotten through your ramp stage, your next goal is to play your Commander and deploy some of the 20+ token generators. Trostani is central for 3 reasons:
- 2/5 blocker is hard to pass early
- she can clone tokens
- lifegain
Lifegain is exceptional with Trostani due to cards like Well of Lost Dreams, Archangel of Thune, Angelic Accord, Sylvan Library, and Phyrexian Processor.
The synergies open up card draw and board size that, if not disrupted, will easily overwhelm opponents AND give you the staying power to survive any retaliation.
I mean, Sylvan Library alone will draw you 3 cards a turn for 2 mana!
As a backup plan, if your hand is short on creatures, or hate cards like Torpor Orb are in your way, Selvala is usually your best bet. Activateable lifegain, card draw and ramp all being rolled up into one usually guarantees your growing pains are short-lived.
As far as setting up for a blow-out win, getting a Grand Abolisher, Mirari's Wake, Cathars' Crusade or Archangel of Thune are usually the strongest plays you can make.
3- WIN-CONS
This deck requires several pieces to win on one turn, or else it simply has to outlast its opponents.
It's possible to spawn an unmatched army just before your turn, or give haste to one born on your main phase. You could also explode your creatures with pumps, suddenly make them unblockable, or board wipe your opponents while spawning your own indestructible army (Martial Coup + Rootborn Defenses = <3 ).
WIDE - Win From Nothing (18 mana) :
[Grand Abolisher] + [Cathars' Crusade] + [Storm Herd] + [Concordant Crossroads]
***only works if your life total isn't shit
TALL - No Risk No Reward :
[Trostani] + [Phyrexian Processor] + [token doubler] + [evasion]
- pay 20 life into processor
- spawn token & use Trostani to populate it before your turn
- tap down or destroy blockers, or get trample / flying / unblockable
OPTIONS :
Fresh Army = [Storm Herd / Martial Coup / White Sun's Zenith]
Bigger Army = [Second Harvest]
Haste = [Concordant Crossroads / Akroma's Memorial]
Trample = [Overwhelming Stampede / Thunderfoot Baloth]
Pump = [Cathars' Crusade / Archangel of Thune]
Unblockable = [Champion of Lambholt / Glare of Subdual]