Art by Colin Boyer
Saved commander deck
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.
Prompt: Balin, Loremaster commander deck
Commander
1 cards
Balin, Loremaster
{3}{R}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Bard
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10 cards
Sol Ring
{1}Artifact
Essential mana acceleration that also counts toward enduring story
Arcane Signet
{2}Artifact
Reliable two-mana color fixing and artifact storied enabler
Ruby Medallion
{2}Artifact
Reduces the cost of all red spells and provides artifact count
Mind Stone
{2}Artifact
Early ramp artifact that can cash itself in for a card later
Thought Vessel
{2}Artifact
Provides mana and unlimited hand size to maximize Balin's damage output
Liquimetal Torque
{2}Artifact
Mana rock that can turn permanents into artifacts if needed
Cursed Mirror
{2}{R}Artifact
Ramp artifact that can copy a Dwarf upon entering to trigger Balin
Decanter of Endless Water
{3}Artifact
Artifact ramp that removes maximum hand size to hold more cards for Balin
Herald's Horn
{3}Artifact
Discounts Dwarves and provides potential card advantage
Card Draw
10 cards
The One Ring
{4}Legendary Artifact
Legendary artifact that draws massive amounts of cards to supercharge Balin's wheel
Skullclamp
{1}Artifact — Equipment
Artifact that draws cards from small utility Dwarves
Bag of Holding
{1}Artifact
Captures all cards discarded to Balin to return them later
Currency Converter
{1}Artifact
Cheap artifact that generates treasures or rogue tokens when discarding to Balin
Alhammarret's Archive
{5}Legendary Artifact
Legendary artifact that doubles the cards drawn off Balin's trigger
Wheel of Misfortune
{2}{R}Sorcery
Refills hand while synergizing with discard and damage payoffs
Reforge the Soul
{3}{R}{R}Sorcery
Replenishes a full grip of seven cards to prepare for Balin's ability
Big Score
{3}{R}Instant
Discards a card, draws two, and creates two artifact treasure tokens
Removal
10 cards
Abrade
{1}{R}Instant
Modal removal dealing with small creatures or problematic artifacts
Deflecting Swat
{2}{R}Instant
Free protection and redirection while controlling Balin
Delayed Blast Fireball
{1}{R}{R}Instant
One-sided creature board wipe with exile utility
The Akroan War
{3}{R}Enchantment — Saga
Saga that steals a creature, forces attacks, and board wipes while advancing storied
The Elder Dragon War
{2}{R}{R}Enchantment — Saga
Saga that damages creatures, filters hand, and creates a threat while enabling storied
Threats/Wincons
24 cards
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
{1}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Berserker
Legendary Dwarf that generates treasures and tutors artifacts or dragons
Magda, the Hoardmaster
{1}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Berserker
Legendary Dwarf that converts treasures into flying Scorpion Dragons
Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
{1}{R}{R}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Noble
Legendary Dwarf that increases all red damage dealt by Balin and other sources
Gimli, Counter of Kills
{3}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior
Legendary Dwarf that burns opponents whenever opposing creatures die
Gimli of the Glittering Caves
{2}{R}Legendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior
Legendary Dwarf that grows and gains double strike when dealing combat damage
Storm-Kiln Artist
{3}{R}Creature — Dwarf Shaman
Dwarf Shaman that creates artifact treasures on every instant or sorcery cast
Plundering Barbarian
{2}{R}Creature — Dwarf Barbarian
Dwarf that creates a treasure or destroys an artifact on entry
Fearless Liberator
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf Berserker
Dwarf with boast ability that creates additional Dwarf Berserker tokens
Rimrock Knight // Boulder Rush
{1}{R} // {R}Creature — Dwarf Knight // Instant — Adventure
Low-cost Dwarf that provides adventure combat trick utility
Dwarven Bloodboiler
{R}{R}{R}Creature — Dwarf
Dwarf that lets you tap other Dwarves for massive power boosts
Dwarven Blastminer
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf
Dwarf with nonbasic land destruction utility
Dwarven Miner
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf
Repeated nonbasic land disruption on a Dwarf body
Dwarven Weaponsmith
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf Artificer
Dwarf that turns redundant artifacts into creature buffs
Axgard Cavalry
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf Berserker
One-drop Dwarf that grants haste to Balin or other attackers
Seven Dwarves
{1}{R}Creature — Dwarf
Cheap Dwarf to trigger Balin's wheel ability
Bloodfire Dwarf
{R}Creature — Dwarf
Cheap Dwarf that can sacrifice itself to sweep away small tokens
Glint-Horn Buccaneer
{1}{R}{R}Creature — Minotaur Pirate
Deals direct damage to all opponents whenever cards are discarded to Balin
Brallin, Skyshark Rider
{3}{R}Legendary Creature — Human Shaman
Grows and burns opponents whenever you discard cards
Surly Badgersaur
{3}{R}Creature — Badger Dinosaur
Generates counters, treasures, and removal whenever you discard with Balin
Solphim, Mayhem Dominus
{2}{R}{R}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Legendary creature that doubles noncombat damage dealt by Balin
Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty
{2}{R}Legendary Creature — God // Legendary Artifact
Legendary creature that generates mana on spellcasts or acts as an artifact horn
Urabrask // The Great Work
{2}{R}{R}Legendary 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
{2}{R}Enchantment — Saga // Enchantment Creature — Goblin Shaman
Saga that creates treasures, loots, and flips to copy Dwarves for repeat Balin triggers
Fiery Emancipation
{3}{R}{R}{R}Enchantment
Triples all damage dealt by Balin's storied ability for instant knockouts
Utility
8 cards
Swiftfoot Boots
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Artifact equipment protecting Balin and granting haste
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Zero-cost equip artifact for haste and shroud
Panharmonicon
{4}Artifact
Doubles enter-the-battlefield triggers on Balin and other Dwarves
Conjurer's Closet
{5}Artifact
Blinks a Dwarf or Balin every end step to trigger repeatable wheels and burns
Maskwood Nexus
{4}Artifact
Artifact that makes every creature you control a Dwarf and can spawn tokens
Containment Construct
{2}Artifact Creature — Construct
Artifact creature allowing you to cast cards discarded via Balin
Urza's Incubator
{3}Artifact
Artifact that reduces the casting cost of all Dwarves by two
Teferi's Puzzle Box
{4}Artifact
Artifact that triggers draw and discard synergies each turn while advancing storied
