by ElspethFTW, Old School Duelist
Ojutai, Soul of Winter may appear to be an awfully pricey Commander to cast, but his payoff is entirely worth it. Using Changelings and value Dragons to activate her ability, you can essentially lock-down players during each combat.
Utilizing a powerful control suite, an Ojutai EDH deck can be built on a budget. It won’t cost you more than $250, even with some of the best cards you could use.
Let’s break down the list, starting with the mana base:
Utilizing a powerful control suite, an Ojutai EDH deck can be built on a budget. It won’t cost you more than $250, even with some of the best cards you could use.
Let’s break down the list, starting with the mana base:
Land (37)
Academy Ruins
Azorius Chancery
Azorius Guildgate
Command Tower
Evolving Wilds
Ghost Quarter
Glacial Fortress
Halimar Depths
Hallowed Fountain
9x Island
Myriad Landscape
Mystic Gate
Opal Palace
12x Plains
Reliquary Tower
Sejiri Refuge
Temple of the False God
Tranquil Cove
Academy Ruins
Azorius Chancery
Azorius Guildgate
Command Tower
Evolving Wilds
Ghost Quarter
Glacial Fortress
Halimar Depths
Hallowed Fountain
9x Island
Myriad Landscape
Mystic Gate
Opal Palace
12x Plains
Reliquary Tower
Sejiri Refuge
Temple of the False God
Tranquil Cove
Academy Ruins is good for getting back the few artifacts in the deck, but if you’re on a budget, it’s the first cut you can make. Mystic Gate is a great filter land that helps you mana fix, but you can save a bit of money by replacing it with Nimbus Maze or Skycloud Expanse. The fetchland Flooded Strand could be in here,
Creature (21)
Avian Changeling
Eternal Dragon
Frost Titan
Grand Abolisher
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Icefall Regent
Keiga, the Tide Star
Medomai the Ageless
Mirror Entity
Mulldrifter
Quicksilver Dragon
Sakashima the Impostor
Shapesharer
Solemn Simulacrum
Steel Hellkite
Sun Titan
Sunblast Angel
Sunscorch Regent
Wardscale Dragon
Windreader Sphinx
Yosei, the Morning Star
Avian Changeling
Eternal Dragon
Frost Titan
Grand Abolisher
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Icefall Regent
Keiga, the Tide Star
Medomai the Ageless
Mirror Entity
Mulldrifter
Quicksilver Dragon
Sakashima the Impostor
Shapesharer
Solemn Simulacrum
Steel Hellkite
Sun Titan
Sunblast Angel
Sunscorch Regent
Wardscale Dragon
Windreader Sphinx
Yosei, the Morning Star
Who thought Avian Changeling would be awesome? Well, he’s a Dragon, so that makes him worth playing here. Eternal Dragon is sort of iffy, but he cycles for a Plains, and you can get him back to your hand. Frost Titan fits in perfectly with Ojutai’s theme of tapping stuff down. Grand Abolisher stops opponents from casting spells or activating abilities (except on lands) during your turn.
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV is one of the most hated cards in Commander because of the fact he makes everyone else’s spells cost more. But he’s huge in this deck because he also makes your white and blue spells cost less. Ojutai, Soul of Winter is only five mana to cast with the Arbiter on board
Icefall Regent is a nice way to lock down a problem creature and is more difficult for spot removal to take care of than most. Keiga the Tide Dragon steals a creature when it dies. Medomai the Ageless can buy you an extra turn when it connects. Mirror Entity is a Changeling that also counts as a Dragon and can make all other creatures you control into Dragons.
Mulldrifter is the classic draw spell attached to a 2/2 flyer that you can Evoke just to get the cards. Quicksilver Dragon is a creature with Morph and the ability to redirect targeted spells to another target.
Icefall Regent is a nice way to lock down a problem creature and is more difficult for spot removal to take care of than most. Keiga the Tide Dragon steals a creature when it dies. Medomai the Ageless can buy you an extra turn when it connects. Mirror Entity is a Changeling that also counts as a Dragon and can make all other creatures you control into Dragons.
Mulldrifter is the classic draw spell attached to a 2/2 flyer that you can Evoke just to get the cards. Quicksilver Dragon is a creature with Morph and the ability to redirect targeted spells to another target.
Sakashima the Imposter is a pretty awesome clone that can be reused. Plus, he can even copy your own Legendary creatures, as he keeps his own name despite having all of the characteristics of the other creature. You can use him to copy Ojutai’s ability, allowing you to tap down two permanents. You can end up with two Grand Arbiters, as well, making your spells even cheaper to cast. The budget replacement for this would be the original Clone, but he’s a pretty awesome card that complements the deck quite well.
Shapesharer is a different sort of clone that can make a target Shapeshifter, including itself, a copy of target creature until end of turn. There are a good number in the deck, so this effect can be used multiple times in the same turn.
Solemn Simulacrum is pretty much a Commander staple, fetching you a basic land and drawing you a card when he dies. Steel Hellkite has a cool ability to wipe out token armies and any permanents with converted mana cost X when he deals combat damage. He also has a colorless firebreathing ability. He’s one of the most underrated cards in Commander.
Sun Titan helps you get back anything with converted mana cost 3 or less from the yard when he enters or attacks. He’s a big basher with Vigilance, too, and will provide plenty of value. He’s an awesome target for your Clones.
Sunblast Angel can come down and absolutely annihilate a ton of creatures, as she destroys all tapped creatures when she enters. It’s important to be careful that you don’t blow up your own stuff, too, though. In multiplayer, this Angel can make people very bad.
Sunscorch Regent is a bit of an odd choice for the deck, but it seems the other best option was Alabaster Dragon, and this is strictly better. Not only is it a dragon, but every time an opponent casts a spell it gets a +1/+1 counter and you gain 1 life. In Commander, incremental advantages like this are always helpful.
Wardscale Dragon doesn’t look that exciting, but when it attacks, opponent’s can’t cast spells, which is really good if Grand Abolisher isn’t in play. And it’s a White dragon, always good with Ojutai. Windreader Sphinx may be a bulk mythic rare, but with all the flyers in this deck, you’ll be drawing plenty of cards with his effect.
Yosei, the Morning Star taps up to five target permanents when he dies. While it’s only for a turn, it can be enough, especially if you choose the right player in multiplayer.
Shapesharer is a different sort of clone that can make a target Shapeshifter, including itself, a copy of target creature until end of turn. There are a good number in the deck, so this effect can be used multiple times in the same turn.
Solemn Simulacrum is pretty much a Commander staple, fetching you a basic land and drawing you a card when he dies. Steel Hellkite has a cool ability to wipe out token armies and any permanents with converted mana cost X when he deals combat damage. He also has a colorless firebreathing ability. He’s one of the most underrated cards in Commander.
Sun Titan helps you get back anything with converted mana cost 3 or less from the yard when he enters or attacks. He’s a big basher with Vigilance, too, and will provide plenty of value. He’s an awesome target for your Clones.
Sunblast Angel can come down and absolutely annihilate a ton of creatures, as she destroys all tapped creatures when she enters. It’s important to be careful that you don’t blow up your own stuff, too, though. In multiplayer, this Angel can make people very bad.
Sunscorch Regent is a bit of an odd choice for the deck, but it seems the other best option was Alabaster Dragon, and this is strictly better. Not only is it a dragon, but every time an opponent casts a spell it gets a +1/+1 counter and you gain 1 life. In Commander, incremental advantages like this are always helpful.
Wardscale Dragon doesn’t look that exciting, but when it attacks, opponent’s can’t cast spells, which is really good if Grand Abolisher isn’t in play. And it’s a White dragon, always good with Ojutai. Windreader Sphinx may be a bulk mythic rare, but with all the flyers in this deck, you’ll be drawing plenty of cards with his effect.
Yosei, the Morning Star taps up to five target permanents when he dies. While it’s only for a turn, it can be enough, especially if you choose the right player in multiplayer.
One obvious creature you could add here is Dragonlord Ojutai, the alternate timeline Ojutai, who’s not quite as expensive now as he was. Quite a decent Commander himself, he’s tricky to remove, and helps you card filter - basically Anticipate on a stick! You can swap out the Eternal Dragon for him if you have a copy.
Artifact (8)
Azorius Signet
Darksteel Ingot
Lightning Greaves
Pristine Talisman
Sol Ring
Swiftfoot Boots
Thran Dynamo
Winter Orb
Like many blue/white control builds in Commander, Winter Orb is a nasty way to lock down your opponent’s lands. Once you have your Dragon force assembled, you really don’t need much in the way of mana anyway. The mana rocks will give you what you need, but there are few enough that if you lose them you aren’t ruined.
Azorius Signet
Darksteel Ingot
Lightning Greaves
Pristine Talisman
Sol Ring
Swiftfoot Boots
Thran Dynamo
Winter Orb
Like many blue/white control builds in Commander, Winter Orb is a nasty way to lock down your opponent’s lands. Once you have your Dragon force assembled, you really don’t need much in the way of mana anyway. The mana rocks will give you what you need, but there are few enough that if you lose them you aren’t ruined.
Sorcery (8)
Austere Command
Fabricate
Ponder
Rite of Replication
Supreme Verdict
Terminus
Treasure Cruise
Wrath of God
The myriad of options that Austere Command provides makes it a white staple in Commander. The other board-wipes are Supreme Verdict, Terminus, and Wrath of God (Day of Judgment is the budget alternate). Fabricate helps you get a mana rock or your Winter Orb once you need it. Ponder is simple card filtering and you could use Anticipate or Impulse in this slot instead if you’d prefer - although Ponder gives you a shuffle effect. Treasure Cruise is usually going to be Ancestral Recall with all of the cards that will end up in the yard for its Delve cost. Rite of Replication lets you make a ton of copies of a cool creature your opponent has or a ton of copies of one of your non-Legendary dragons to force a major lockdown.
Austere Command
Fabricate
Ponder
Rite of Replication
Supreme Verdict
Terminus
Treasure Cruise
Wrath of God
The myriad of options that Austere Command provides makes it a white staple in Commander. The other board-wipes are Supreme Verdict, Terminus, and Wrath of God (Day of Judgment is the budget alternate). Fabricate helps you get a mana rock or your Winter Orb once you need it. Ponder is simple card filtering and you could use Anticipate or Impulse in this slot instead if you’d prefer - although Ponder gives you a shuffle effect. Treasure Cruise is usually going to be Ancestral Recall with all of the cards that will end up in the yard for its Delve cost. Rite of Replication lets you make a ton of copies of a cool creature your opponent has or a ton of copies of one of your non-Legendary dragons to force a major lockdown.
Instant (15)
Brainstorm
Condemn
Counterspell
Cyclonic Rift
Disenchant
Dissipate
Hinder
Negate
Path to Exile
Remand
Render Silent
Return to Dust
Rewind
Sphinx's Revelation
Swords to Plowshares
The control suite in this deck is pretty straightforward. Brainstorm is the classic card filtering spell. Condemn isn’t quite as good as it was now that Commanders can’t simply be returned to the deck, but it deals with enough problems that it’s still worth running. Cyclonic Rift is one of the most busted cards in Commander and can just win you the game out right by sending everyone else’s stuff back. Everything else in here is pretty self-explanatory. Nothing here is too pricey.
Brainstorm
Condemn
Counterspell
Cyclonic Rift
Disenchant
Dissipate
Hinder
Negate
Path to Exile
Remand
Render Silent
Return to Dust
Rewind
Sphinx's Revelation
Swords to Plowshares
The control suite in this deck is pretty straightforward. Brainstorm is the classic card filtering spell. Condemn isn’t quite as good as it was now that Commanders can’t simply be returned to the deck, but it deals with enough problems that it’s still worth running. Cyclonic Rift is one of the most busted cards in Commander and can just win you the game out right by sending everyone else’s stuff back. Everything else in here is pretty self-explanatory. Nothing here is too pricey.
Planeswalker (4)
Jace, Architect of Thought
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Teferi, Temporal Archmage
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Jace, Architect of Thought gives you valuable card filtering and a very relevant ultimate ability, especially in multiplayer, to steal cards right out of the deck and onto the battlefield. Tamiyo has one of the sweetest emblems ever, but you play her to tap stuff down and potentially draw a bunch of cards. Teferi gives you card filtering and a way around Winter Orb, plus an emblem that can be relevant by letting you play planeswalker abilities on opponent’s turns.
Ugin is probably the most expensive card in this deck, but that’s because the colorless planeswalker is super awesome. The value he provides is just worth it. If you have a Karn Liberated, he’d be a solid 5th planeswalker to add to this list.
Jace, Architect of Thought
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Teferi, Temporal Archmage
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Jace, Architect of Thought gives you valuable card filtering and a very relevant ultimate ability, especially in multiplayer, to steal cards right out of the deck and onto the battlefield. Tamiyo has one of the sweetest emblems ever, but you play her to tap stuff down and potentially draw a bunch of cards. Teferi gives you card filtering and a way around Winter Orb, plus an emblem that can be relevant by letting you play planeswalker abilities on opponent’s turns.
Ugin is probably the most expensive card in this deck, but that’s because the colorless planeswalker is super awesome. The value he provides is just worth it. If you have a Karn Liberated, he’d be a solid 5th planeswalker to add to this list.
Enchantment (6)
Blind Obedience
Detention Sphere
Oblivion Ring
Propaganda
Rhystic Study
Xenograft
Blind Obedience not only taps your opponents’ artifacts and creatures down when they enter, but it also has Extort on it. While that doesn’t seem all that relevant, in multiplayer, this is actually a really sweet drain ability that can help you win out of nowhere, as long as you keep a White mana open for each spell you cast.
Detention Sphere is pretty sweet removal, essentially a slightly better Oblivion Ring. Propaganda is annoying for opponent’s to play around. You could have Ghostly Prison in here, in addition, which does the same exact thing in White, although the Blue version is cheaper. Rhystic Study is a Blue Commander staple that can end up drawing you a ton of cards, as long as you remember the triggers. Xenograft is a card you don’t see too often, but once you declare Dragons, your deck becomes a lot more powerful, as every creature you control becomes a Dragon in addition to its other types, making your Shapeshifters all that much better.
Blind Obedience
Detention Sphere
Oblivion Ring
Propaganda
Rhystic Study
Xenograft
Blind Obedience not only taps your opponents’ artifacts and creatures down when they enter, but it also has Extort on it. While that doesn’t seem all that relevant, in multiplayer, this is actually a really sweet drain ability that can help you win out of nowhere, as long as you keep a White mana open for each spell you cast.
Detention Sphere is pretty sweet removal, essentially a slightly better Oblivion Ring. Propaganda is annoying for opponent’s to play around. You could have Ghostly Prison in here, in addition, which does the same exact thing in White, although the Blue version is cheaper. Rhystic Study is a Blue Commander staple that can end up drawing you a ton of cards, as long as you remember the triggers. Xenograft is a card you don’t see too often, but once you declare Dragons, your deck becomes a lot more powerful, as every creature you control becomes a Dragon in addition to its other types, making your Shapeshifters all that much better.
As far as EDH goes, this is one of the less expensive decks that you can build that can wreak havoc in the format. A lot of the money is tied up in just a handful of cards, too, so it’s not impossible to build this deck for $100-150 depending on what cards you already happen to own. If you would rather build a Dragonlord Ojutai deck, you’re looking at a deck that will run you a lot more money.
If you’d like to see a Dragonlord Ojutai Commander primer, or have another Legendary Creature you have in mind that you’d like to build around, let us know.
If you’d like to see a Dragonlord Ojutai Commander primer, or have another Legendary Creature you have in mind that you’d like to build around, let us know.
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