Art by Grant Griffin
Commander deckW
Will Riker, Assuming Command
Leverage blink and flicker engines to repeatedly trigger Will Riker's enter-the-battlefield ability, turning a resilient board of creatures into massive, evasive threats through +1/+1 counter synergies.
Asked for“Will Riker, Assuming Command 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
1Will Riker, Assuming Command
4WLegendary Creature — Human Officer
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Knight of the White Orchid
WWCreature — Human Knight
Catch-up land tutor on a body that can receive counters
Oketra's Monument
3Legendary Artifact
Reduces creature costs while generating token targets for counters
Card Draw
10
Esper Sentinel
WArtifact Creature — Human Soldier
Premier white card draw that scales with +1/+1 counters
Welcoming Vampire
2WCreature — Vampire
Consistent creature-based card draw trigger
Mentor of the Meek
2WCreature — Human Soldier
Translates extra mana into card draw on creature ETBs
Folk Hero
1WLegendary Enchantment — Background
Draws cards whenever you cast your commander or shared-type spells
Rumor Gatherer
1WWCreature — Elf Wizard
Provides scrying and card draw as creatures flood the board
Aerial Extortionist
3WWCreature — Bird Soldier
Provides repeated card advantage while exiling opposing threats
Inspiring Overseer
2WCreature — Angel Cleric
Cantrip flyer that gains life and serves as a flicker target
Removal
10
Swords to Plowshares
WInstant
The most efficient single-target creature removal in the format
Grasp of Fate
1WWEnchantment
Exiles a key threat from each opponent simultaneously
Skyclave Apparition
1WWCreature — Kor Spirit
Exiles low-cost nonland permanents and re-triggers with flickers
Solitude
3WWCreature — Elemental Incarnation
Free interaction creature that can be blinked in response to threats
Threats/Wincons
24
Abzan Falconer
2WCreature — Human Soldier
Grants flying to every creature with a +1/+1 counter
Ainok Bond-Kin
1WCreature — Dog Soldier
Gives first strike to all modified creatures
Elite Scaleguard
4WCreature — Human Soldier
Taps down opposing blockers whenever your modified creatures attack
High Sentinels of Arashin
3WCreature — Bird Soldier
Grows larger for each counter on your board and distributes more
Basri's Lieutenant
3WCreature — Human Knight
Provides counter distribution and board wipe resilience with knight tokens
Luminarch Aspirant
1WCreature — Human Cleric
Reliably grows creatures every single combat step
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
XWLegendary Creature — Human Cleric
Scalable creature that buffs the entire army with counters
Cathars' Crusade
3WWEnchantment
Explosively distributes counters whenever any creature enters
Felidar Retreat
3WEnchantment
Turns land drops into team-wide +1/+1 counters and vigilance
Serra Redeemer
3WWCreature — Angel Soldier
Adds extra counters to small creatures entering the battlefield
Heliod, Sun-Crowned
2WLegendary Enchantment Creature — God
Turns lifegain triggers into steady +1/+1 counter distribution
Archangel of Thune
3WWCreature — Angel
Buffs your entire squad with +1/+1 counters upon gaining life
Soul Warden
WCreature — Human Cleric
Low-drop lifegain engine that triggers Heliod and Archangel
Walking Ballista
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Deadly mana sink and pinging threat powered by +1/+1 counters
Hangarback Walker
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Scalable counter receiver that dies into a swarm of Thopters
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
1WWLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Generates wide boards each combat that benefit from team buffs
Restoration Angel
3WCreature — Angel
Flash flyer that can flicker Riker to buff another attacker mid-combat
Flickerwisp
1WWCreature — Elemental
Evasive body that temporarily exiles Riker or opposing obstacles
Charming Prince
1WCreature — Human Noble
Modal early creature that can set up delayed flickers
Preston, the Vanisher
3WLegendary Creature — Rabbit Wizard
Creates illusion token duplicates whenever creatures are flickered
Sun Titan
4WWCreature — Giant
Recurs key low-cost utility and counter synergy pieces
Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
4WLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Doubles all of your enter-the-battlefield triggers while shutting down opponents'
Rosie Cotton of South Lane
2WLegendary Creature — Halfling Peasant
Generates food and places +1/+1 counters whenever tokens are created
Court of Grace
2WWEnchantment
Introduces monarch for card draw and creates flying tokens to receive counters
Utility
8
Ephemerate
WInstant
Re-triggers Will Riker and other enter-the-battlefield abilities twice
Teleportation Circle
3WEnchantment
Free flicker every end step to distribute +1/+1 counters repeatedly
Conjurer's Closet
5Artifact
Repeatedly flickers the commander to pile on counters
Eldrazi Displacer
2WCreature — Eldrazi
Repeatable mana sink to blink creatures at instant speed
Teferi's Protection
2WInstant
Ultimate protection to preserve your tall, counter-laden board
Flawless Maneuver
2WInstant
Free protection spell against destruction board wipes
The Ozolith
1Legendary Artifact
Stores counters when modified creatures leave the battlefield
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Grants hexproof and haste to crucial attackers
