Rowan
[[Rowan, Scion of War]] is a turbo Rakdos[[symbol:b]][[symbol:r]] deck that leverages Rowan’s cost-reduction ability to fuel explosive plays and powerful combos. While it thrives on speed and efficiency, the deck also maintains a solid mid-game presence, enabling it to pivot into grindy matches when necessary. By turning life loss into a resource, Rowan facilitates high-value plays and accelerates powerful spells like [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Torment of Hailfire]], and combo pieces at a fraction of their normal cost.
Why Play Rowan, Scion of War?
Strengths:
Explosive Power: With Rowan’s ability, large spells like [[Peer into the Abyss]] or [[Hoarding Broodlord]] become easier to cast, enabling early wins.
Flexible Win Conditions: The deck features multiple overlapping combos that are easy to assemble with the right setup.
Resilience: While focused on speed, the deck can grind effectively when necessary.
Weaknesses:
Commander Dependency: Many of the deck’s most explosive plays require Rowan to be on the battlefield.
Life Total Management: Rowan’s ability is tied to life loss, meaning overuse can leave you vulnerable.
Limited Interaction: As a proactive strategy, the deck sacrifices some ability to interact with opponents.
Game Plan
Early Game
The primary goal in the early game is to cast Rowan as quickly as possible, typically on turn 1 or 2, using fast mana like [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]], and [[Simian Spirit Guide]]. Once Rowan is in play, you’ll look to develop your board with mana sources and set up for a combo finish.
Mid Game
With Rowan active, the deck transitions to leveraging her ability to cast discounted spells and assemble a win. Cards like [[Jeska’s Will]] and [[Cabal Ritual]] become even more efficient, allowing you to storm off or find the missing pieces for a combo.
Rowan’s ability shines here, turning life loss from pain lands or fetch lands into a resource. Carefully manage your life total while pushing toward a win.
Late Game
While the deck is designed to win early, if a game goes long, Rowan still provides value by reducing costs for impactful plays. Look for opportunities to exploit your opponents’ windows of vulnerability, often in response to their failed win attempts.
Key Options:
[[Final Fortune]] to seize an extra turn for a decisive victory.
Utilize recursion through cards like [[Yawgmoth’s Will]] to reassemble combo pieces.
Combos & Win Conditions
[[Dualcaster Mage]] + [[Twinflame]] / [[Molten Duplication]]
Pieces: [[Dualcaster Mage]] + [[Twinflame]] or [[Molten Duplication]]
Execution:
Cast [[Twinflame]] [[Molten Duplication]] targeting a creature you control. Hold priority.
Cast [[Dualcaster Mage]] targeting [[Twinflame]] or [[Molten Duplication]] with the enter the battlefield ability.
The copied spell targets [[Dualcaster Mage]], creating another hasty copy.
Repeat for infinite hasty creatures.
Move to combat and swing for lethal combat damage.
[[Dualcaster Mage]] + [[Saw in Half]]
Pieces: [[Dualcaster Mage]] + [[Saw in Half]] + either [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Demonic Tutor]], or [[Praetor's Grasp]]
Execution:
Cast an instant or sorcery like [[Lightning Bolt]] or [[Praetor’s Grasp]], holding priority. You can also respond to an opponent’s instant or sorcery spell.
Cast [[Saw in Half]] targeting any creature, holding priority.
Cast [[Dualcaster Mage]] to copy [[Saw in Half]].
Resolve the [[Saw in Half]] copy, making 2 copies of [[Dualcaster Mage]]
Target [[Saw in Half]] and the original instant or sorcery on the stack to copy both.
[[Underworld Breach]] + [[Grinding Station]]
Pieces: [[Underworld Breach]] + [[Grinding Station]] + a zero- or mana-positive artifact (e.g., [[Sol Ring]] or [[Mox Opal]])
Execution:
Cast [[Underworld Breach]].
Resolve [[Grinding Station]], then sacrifice your artifact to mill yourself for 3.
Escape the artifact by exiling 3 cards from your graveyard.
Artifact’s ETB untaps [[Grinding Station]]. Tap and sacrifice again for repeated mill.
Outcome: Continual loops that can mill your entire library and assemble another win condition from your graveyard.
[[Hoarding Broodlord]] + [[Saw In Half]]
Cast, reanimate, or tutor into play [[Hoarding Broodlord]].
Cast [[Entomb]] and [[Reanimate]] [[Hoarding Broodlord]].
Cast [[Hoarding Broodlord]] using available mana and convoking creatures you control.
Broodlord Breach Line
Tutor [[Saw in Half]] with [[Hoarding Broodlord]]’s enter the battlefield ability.
Cast Saw in Half to create two copies of [[Hoarding Broodlord]], tutoring for [[Burnt Offering]] and [[Underworld Breach]].
Tap and sacrifice one of the [[Hoarding Broodlord]] copies to cast [[Burnt Offering]] with convoke, making [[symbol:r]][[symbol:r]][[symbol:r]][[symbol:r]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]].
Cast [[Underworld Breach]], taping the other [[Hoarding Broodlord]] and using [[symbol:r]].
Escape [[Saw in Half]] targeting the [[Hoarding Broodlord]] copy, tutoring [[Flicker]], [[Grinding Station]], or any other necessary pieces to combo off and win the game.
Broodlord Peer Line
Tutor [[Saw in Half]] with [[Hoarding Broodlord]]’s enter the battlefield ability.
Cast Saw in Half to create two copies of [[Hoarding Broodlord]], tutoring for [[Burnt Offering]] and [[Peer Into the Abyss]].
Tap and sacrifice one of the [[Hoarding Broodlord]] copies to cast [[Burnt Offering]] with convoke, making [[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]].
Cast [[Peer Into the Abyss]] to draw half of your library, taping the other [[Hoarding Broodlord]] and using [[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]] (leaving [[symbol:b]][[symbol:b]] floating).
Cast mana positive rocks and rituals and assemble a win condition.
Mulligan Guide
Look for hands that allow a quick Rowan, typically by turn 1 or 2, and include at least one tutor or combo piece. Pain lands and fetch lands are essential for enabling Rowan’s cost reduction.
Good Hands Include:
Early ramp and mana: [[Chrome Mox]], [[Arcane Signet]], [[Talisman of Indulgence]]
Tutors: [[Demonic Tutor]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]]
Combo pieces: [[Twinflame]], [[Underworld Breach]]
Avoid hands without early mana or hands reliant on Rowan without a backup plan in case of removal.
Conclusion
[[Rowan, Scion of War]], combines Rakdos’ speed and explosiveness with mid-game grind potential, creating a dynamic and versatile deck. While it rewards careful planning and precise execution, it remains a powerful contender capable of delivering wins with flair and efficiency. Whether storming off early or grinding out a longer game, Rowan is a thrilling option for competitive players.
References:
[cedh] Rowan
