Art by Colin Boyer
Commander deckR
Balin, Loremaster
Assemble an enduring story quickly using artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas, then trigger Balin repeatedly with Dwarves to cycle through your hand and burn opponents for lethal damage.
Asked for“Balin, Loremaster commander deck”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 62 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Balin, Loremaster
3RRLegendary Creature — Dwarf Bard
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Sol Ring
1Artifact
Essential mana acceleration that also counts toward enduring story
Arcane Signet
2Artifact
Reliable two-mana color fixing and artifact storied enabler
Ruby Medallion
2Artifact
Reduces the cost of all red spells and provides artifact count
Mind Stone
2Artifact
Early ramp artifact that can cash itself in for a card later
Thought Vessel
2Artifact
Provides mana and unlimited hand size to maximize Balin's damage output
Liquimetal Torque
2Artifact
Mana rock that can turn permanents into artifacts if needed
Cursed Mirror
2RArtifact
Ramp artifact that can copy a Dwarf upon entering to trigger Balin
Decanter of Endless Water
3Artifact
Artifact ramp that removes maximum hand size to hold more cards for Balin
Card Draw
10
The One Ring
4Legendary Artifact
Legendary artifact that draws massive amounts of cards to supercharge Balin's wheel
Skullclamp
1Artifact — Equipment
Artifact that draws cards from small utility Dwarves
Bag of Holding
1Artifact
Captures all cards discarded to Balin to return them later
Currency Converter
1Artifact
Cheap artifact that generates treasures or rogue tokens when discarding to Balin
Alhammarret's Archive
5Legendary Artifact
Legendary artifact that doubles the cards drawn off Balin's trigger
Wheel of Misfortune
2RSorcery
Refills hand while synergizing with discard and damage payoffs
Reforge the Soul
3RRSorcery
Replenishes a full grip of seven cards to prepare for Balin's ability
Big Score
3RInstant
Discards a card, draws two, and creates two artifact treasure tokens
Removal
10
Abrade
1RInstant
Modal removal dealing with small creatures or problematic artifacts
Deflecting Swat
2RInstant
Free protection and redirection while controlling Balin
Delayed Blast Fireball
1RRInstant
One-sided creature board wipe with exile utility
The Akroan War
3REnchantment — Saga
Saga that steals a creature, forces attacks, and board wipes while advancing storied
The Elder Dragon War
2RREnchantment — Saga
Saga that damages creatures, filters hand, and creates a threat while enabling storied
Threats/Wincons
24
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
1RLegendary Creature — Dwarf Berserker
Legendary Dwarf that generates treasures and tutors artifacts or dragons
Magda, the Hoardmaster
1RLegendary Creature — Dwarf Berserker
Legendary Dwarf that converts treasures into flying Scorpion Dragons
Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
1RRRLegendary Creature — Dwarf Noble
Legendary Dwarf that increases all red damage dealt by Balin and other sources
Gimli, Counter of Kills
3RLegendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior
Legendary Dwarf that burns opponents whenever opposing creatures die
Gimli of the Glittering Caves
2RLegendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior
Legendary Dwarf that grows and gains double strike when dealing combat damage
Storm-Kiln Artist
3RCreature — Dwarf Shaman
Dwarf Shaman that creates artifact treasures on every instant or sorcery cast
Plundering Barbarian
2RCreature — Dwarf Barbarian
Dwarf that creates a treasure or destroys an artifact on entry
Fearless Liberator
1RCreature — Dwarf Berserker
Dwarf with boast ability that creates additional Dwarf Berserker tokens
Rimrock Knight // Boulder Rush
1R // RCreature — Dwarf Knight // Instant — Adventure
Low-cost Dwarf that provides adventure combat trick utility
Dwarven Bloodboiler
RRRCreature — Dwarf
Dwarf that lets you tap other Dwarves for massive power boosts
Dwarven Blastminer
1RCreature — Dwarf
Dwarf with nonbasic land destruction utility
Dwarven Miner
1RCreature — Dwarf
Repeated nonbasic land disruption on a Dwarf body
Dwarven Weaponsmith
1RCreature — Dwarf Artificer
Dwarf that turns redundant artifacts into creature buffs
Axgard Cavalry
1RCreature — Dwarf Berserker
One-drop Dwarf that grants haste to Balin or other attackers
Bloodfire Dwarf
RCreature — Dwarf
Cheap Dwarf that can sacrifice itself to sweep away small tokens
Glint-Horn Buccaneer
1RRCreature — Minotaur Pirate
Deals direct damage to all opponents whenever cards are discarded to Balin
Brallin, Skyshark Rider
3RLegendary Creature — Human Shaman
Grows and burns opponents whenever you discard cards
Surly Badgersaur
3RCreature — Badger Dinosaur
Generates counters, treasures, and removal whenever you discard with Balin
Solphim, Mayhem Dominus
2RRLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Legendary creature that doubles noncombat damage dealt by Balin
Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty
2RLegendary Creature — God // Legendary Artifact
Legendary creature that generates mana on spellcasts or acts as an artifact horn
Urabrask // The Great Work
2RRLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor // Enchantment — Saga
Legendary creature that pings, refunds red mana, and transforms into a Saga
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
2REnchantment — Saga // Enchantment Creature — Goblin Shaman
Saga that creates treasures, loots, and flips to copy Dwarves for repeat Balin triggers
Fiery Emancipation
3RRREnchantment
Triples all damage dealt by Balin's storied ability for instant knockouts
Utility
8
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Artifact equipment protecting Balin and granting haste
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Zero-cost equip artifact for haste and shroud
Panharmonicon
4Artifact
Doubles enter-the-battlefield triggers on Balin and other Dwarves
Conjurer's Closet
5Artifact
Blinks a Dwarf or Balin every end step to trigger repeatable wheels and burns
Maskwood Nexus
4Artifact
Artifact that makes every creature you control a Dwarf and can spawn tokens
Containment Construct
2Artifact Creature — Construct
Artifact creature allowing you to cast cards discarded via Balin
Urza's Incubator
3Artifact
Artifact that reduces the casting cost of all Dwarves by two
Teferi's Puzzle Box
4Artifact
Artifact that triggers draw and discard synergies each turn while advancing storied
