Talion
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[[Talion, the Kindly Lord]] is a Dimir control deck that leverages Talion’s ability to punish opponents for their spellcasting while simultaneously drawing cards. This commander offers consistent card advantage, enabling you to disrupt opponents’ game plans and eventually assemble a compact combo to close out the game. Dubbed "Rhystic in the Command Zone," Talion is a powerful, persistent value engine that rewards strategic play and precise counterspelling.
Why Play Talion?
You’ll enjoy this deck if:
You like control decks that dominate the game by out-resourcing opponents.
You want to control the tempo and decision-making of the game.
You appreciate a commander that provides value every turn.
You might not enjoy this deck if:
You prefer fast-paced, explosive strategies.
You dislike reactive gameplay.
You struggle with managing multiple layers of interaction.
Strategy
Plan A: Control Until Combo
The deck’s primary strategy is to maintain control over the game until it assembles one of its compact win conditions. Talion’s ability to draw cards whenever opponents cast spells at the chosen mana value ensures a steady stream of interaction. Once opponents are sufficiently disrupted, the deck closes the game with one of its win combos.
Plan B: Burn/Attrition
If your primary win condition is disrupted or unavailable, pivot to Talion’s passive life-drain ability combined with cards like [[Sheoldred, the Apocalypse]], [[Bloodchief Ascension]], and [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. This burn/attrition plan can end games by steadily depleting opponents' life totals while taxing their resources.
Combos and Win Conditions
[[Thassa’s Oracle]] + [[Demonic Consultation]]
Requirements: [[Thassa’s Oracle]], [[Demonic Consultation]], and at least available.
Steps:
Cast [[Thassa’s Oracle]]. Hold priority on its ETB trigger.
Cast [[Demonic Consultation]], naming a nonexistent card.
Exile your library and let the Oracle trigger resolve to win.
[[Thassa’s Oracle]] + [[Tainted Pact]]
Requirements: [[Thassa’s Oracle]], [[Tainted Pact]], and at least available.
Steps:
Cast [[Thassa’s Oracle]]. Hold priority on its ETB trigger.
Cast [[Tainted Pact]], exiling your entire library.
Let the Oracle trigger resolve to win.
[[Mindcrank]] + [[Bloodchief Ascension]]
Requirements: A triggered [[Bloodchief Ascension]] and [[Mindcrank]].
Steps:
Opponent loses life, triggering [[Bloodchief Ascension]] to make them lose another life and you gain 1 life.
This triggers [[Mindcrank]] to mill them, which repeats the cycle infinitely until opponents have no cards in their libraries.
Mulligans
Hands to Keep:
Fast Talion: A hand with the resources to play Talion on turns 1-2, with at least one piece of interaction.
Value + Interaction: A hand with [[Rhystic Study]], [[Mystic Remora]], or another value engine alongside counterspells.
Combo Assembly: A hand with a tutor or one combo piece and sufficient protection to execute the win later.
Hands to Mulligan:
No Early Plays: Hands with no ramp or value engines to develop the board.
No Interaction: Hands that cannot disrupt opponents’ win attempts by turn 2-3.
Overly Reactive: Hands full of counterspells without enough resources or proactive plays.
Piloting Talion
Early Game
Establish Talion as early as possible, ideally on turns 1-2.
Name a mana value based on your pod. "2" is often the best call, but “1” can also pay off due to cheap mana rocks and interaction.
Prioritize protecting Talion and maintaining card advantage.
Mid Game
Disrupt opponents’ win attempts while digging for your combo pieces.
Deploy stax pieces, such as [[Cursed Totem]] and [[Grafdigger’s Cage]], to shut off problematic strategies.
Be conservative with your interaction to ensure resources are available for critical turns.
Late Game
Assemble and protect your combo, or pivot to the attrition plan if opponents have exhausted their resources.
Use Talion’s passive life drain and synergistic pieces to whittle down opponents’ life totals.
Conclusion
[[Talion, the Kindly Lord]] is a powerhouse control commander that offers Dimir players an excellent option for a reactive, value-driven strategy. Talion’s ability to tax opponents’ life totals and generate consistent card advantage makes it a formidable contender in cEDH. Whether controlling the board with counters or leveraging their burn potential, Talion ensures a strong and dynamic game plan.
