Art by Micah Epstein
Commander deckGU
D'Vana Tendi, Optimistic Ensign
Leverage D'Vana Tendi's versatile untap ability alongside mana-generating creatures, powerful tap activations, and untap auras to generate overwhelming mana, card advantage, and game-ending combos.
Asked for“D'Vana Tendi, Optimistic Ensign 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 · 60 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
1D'Vana Tendi, Optimistic Ensign
1GUGULegendary Creature — Orion Scientist
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
9
Gyre Engineer
1GUCreature — Vedalken Wizard
Taps for two mana and provides explosive acceleration when untapped by Tendi
Marwyn, the Nurturer
2GLegendary Creature — Elf Druid
Taps for large amounts of green mana to multiply with untap abilities
Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
1GGLegendary Creature — Elf Scout
Generates massive mana when untapped repeatedly by Tendi
Kami of Whispered Hopes
2GCreature — Spirit
Scales mana production with power to abuse with untap effects
Priest of Titania
1GCreature — Elf Druid
Produces huge mana bursts with elves on board
Card Draw
10
Mystic Remora
UEnchantment
Early-game explosive card draw against noncreature spells
Arcanis the Omnipotent
3UUULegendary Creature — Wizard
Draws three cards per tap, doubling or more with Tendi
Archivist
2UUCreature — Human Wizard
Simple tap to draw a card that synergizes directly with Tendi
Fathom Mage
2GUCreature — Human Wizard
Draws cards as it grows from +1/+1 counters
Beast Whisperer
2GGCreature — Elf Druid
Draws cards for casting our creature-heavy curve
Curiosity Crafter
3UCreature — Bird Wizard
Rewards attacking with tokens or creatures while uncapping hand size
Pull from Tomorrow
XUUInstant
Massive instant-speed mana sink fueled by untap mana engines
Removal
10
Fierce Guardianship
2UInstant
Free interaction while Tendi is on the battlefield
Nature's Claim
GInstant
Ultra-efficient answer to problem artifacts and enchantments
Imprisoned in the Moon
2UEnchantment — Aura
Neutralizes opposing commanders and problem permanents
Threats/Wincons
23
Freed from the Real
2UEnchantment — Aura
Combos with Tendi or multi-mana producers for infinite untaps and mana
Pemmin's Aura
1UUEnchantment — Aura
Provides untap combos and versatile protection/evasion
Intruder Alarm
2UEnchantment
Untaps all creatures whenever a creature enters, creating game-ending loops
Chakram Retriever
4UCreature — Elemental Dog
Untaps Tendi or mana producers on every cast
Illusionist's Bracers
2Artifact — Equipment
Doubles Tendi's untap activation, untapping two permanents per tap
Thousand-Year Elixir
3Artifact
Grants pseudo-haste to Tendi and offers an additional untap activation
Magewright's Stone
2Artifact
Allows untapping Tendi to reactivate her untap ability
Staff of Domination
3Artifact
Classic infinite-mana outlet that draws the deck and gains infinite life
Isochron Scepter
2Artifact
Can imprint Dramatic Reversal or instant protection, untappable by Tendi
Dramatic Reversal
1UInstant
Untaps all nonland permanents to generate huge mana or combo
Koma, Cosmos Serpent
3GGUULegendary Creature — Serpent
Generates tokens every upkeep and locks down permanents
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle
2GULegendary Creature — Kraken
Massive beater that taps for two mana, untappable by Tendi
Avenger of Zendikar
5GGCreature — Elemental
Go-wide win condition that swarms the board
Craterhoof Behemoth
5GGGCreature — Beast
Decisive combat finisher for a board full of creatures
Finale of Devastation
XGGSorcery
Tutor and game-ending pump effect powered by huge mana
Walking Ballista
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Infinite mana win condition that ping-downs opponents
Hullbreaker Horror
5UUCreature — Kraken Horror
Uncounterable flash control engine that bounces threats on spell casts
Kiora's Follower
GUCreature — Merfolk
Redundant permanent untapper that doubles Tendi's engine
Vorel of the Hull Clade
1GULegendary Creature — Human Merfolk
Doubles counters on permanents and can be untapped repeatedly by Tendi
Experiment Kraj
2GGUULegendary Creature — Ooze Mutant
Copies activated abilities and enables untap chain combos
Seedborn Muse
3GGCreature — Spirit
Untaps all permanents on each opponent's untap step for endless activations
Murkfiend Liege
2GUGUGUCreature — Horror
Untaps green and blue creatures on each opponent's turn
Master Biomancer
2GUCreature — Elf Wizard
Pumps incoming creatures, synergizing with creature loops
Utility
8
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Gives commander haste and shroud immediately upon entering
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Provides haste and hexproof to safeguard Tendi
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
Board-wide protection against sweepers and spot removal
Rings of Brighthearth
3Artifact
Copies Tendi's untap or surveil activations for value
Chord of Calling
XGGGInstant
Instant-speed creature tutor leveraging convoke with untapped creatures
Green Sun's Zenith
XGSorcery
Flexible green creature tutor directly onto the battlefield
