How to Play Isshin, Two Heavens as One in Commander

Bracket 3 · Our Isshin decklist · Mardu Aggro

Our Isshin list is Mardu attack triggers. Isshin makes every ability that triggers from a creature attacking trigger an additional time, so each attack doubles your tokens, drain and card draw.

The deck is packed with attack payoffs like Adeline, Hero of Bladehold and Mardu Ascendancy, copies Isshin's effect with Windcrag Siege, takes extra combats with Karlach and Aurelia, and drains with Mishra and Within Range.

Strategy
Mardu Aggro
Bracket
3
Avg. mana value
3.17
Lands
36
Shop the deck · $70See the decklist

01The Commander

Isshin, Two Heavens as One is a three-mana 3/4. If a creature attacking causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.

That covers creatures' own attack triggers, like Hero of Bladehold making four Soldiers instead of two, and 'whenever you attack' triggers on other permanents, like Mardu Ascendancy or Within Range.

Windcrag Siege on Mardu mode does the same thing again, so with both out each attack trigger happens three times.

02How This Deck Wins

  1. 1

    Play attack payoffs

    Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, Hero of Bladehold, Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon and Mardu Ascendancy make tokens every time you attack.

  2. 2

    Double the triggers

    Isshin and Windcrag Siege double or triple every attack trigger. Karlach, Fury of Avernus and Aurelia, the Warleader add extra combats.

  3. 3

    Drain and swing

    Mishra, Claimed by Gix, Within Range, Brutal Hordechief and Commissar Severina Raine drain the table as you attack.

03Deck at a Glance

Bracket 3 · Mardu Aggro · 100 cards

Composition

  • Commander1
  • Creatures29
  • Instants & sorceries14
  • Artifacts & enchantments20
  • Planeswalkers0
  • Lands36
  • Tokens9

Mana Curve

00
61
182
183
114
45
46
27+

Color Split

92colored
symbols
  • White 41%
  • Black 21%
  • Red 38%

By the Numbers

3.17avg. mana value
36lands (17 basic)
1Game Changer
9token types included

Cards by Role

Token Makers on Attack16
Drain and Damage10
Extra Combats and Doublers7
Card Draw and Mana16
Removal and Protection14

04Token Makers on Attack

With Isshin, each of these makes twice as many tokens.

Adeline, Resplendent CatharA Human per opponent each attack, so six with Isshin in a four-player game.
Hero of BladeholdTwo attacking Soldiers and battle cry, each doubled.
Myrel, Shield of ArgiveSoldiers equal to your Soldier count, twice, and opponents can't cast spells on your turn.
Mardu AscendancyA tapped and attacking Goblin per nontoken attacker, doubled.
Krenko, Tin Street KingpinGrows and makes Goblins twice per attack.

Also in this role

Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon
Ainok Strike Leader
Hanweir Garrison
Skyknight Vanguard
Voice of Victory
Zurgo Stormrender
Otharri, Suns' Glory
Caesar, Legion's Emperor
Mardu Siegebreaker
Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate
Firebender Ascension

05Drain and Damage

Attack triggers that hit opponents directly.

Mishra, Claimed by GixEach opponent loses life equal to your attackers, twice.
Within RangeEach opponent loses life equal to the creatures attacking them, twice.
Brutal HordechiefEach attacker drains 1, twice.
Commissar Severina RaineEach opponent loses life for each other attacker, twice.
Tectonic GiantThree damage to each opponent on attack, twice.

Also in this role

Breena, the Demagogue
Etali, Primal Storm
Iroas, God of Victory
Fervent Charge
Curse of Opulence

06Extra Combats and Doublers

More attacks means more triggers.

Windcrag SiegeA second Isshin on an enchantment.
Karlach, Fury of AvernusUntaps attackers and adds a combat. Isshin's double trigger doesn't stack extra combats, but the untap and first strike still help.
Aurelia, the WarleaderAn extra combat the first time she attacks each turn.
ReconnaissanceRemove attackers from combat to keep them safe after triggers resolve.
Dolmen GateYour attackers take no combat damage.

Also in this role

Rising of the Day
Aurelia, the Law Above

07Card Draw and Mana

Attack triggers that draw and make Treasure.

Audacious ThiefDraws a card on attack, twice.
Goldspan DragonA Treasure each attack, twice, and Treasures make two mana.
Captain Lannery StormTreasure on every attack, doubled.
Kellogg, Dangerous MindTreasure on attack, and five Treasures steals a creature.
Sword of the AnimistA basic land each attack, twice.

Also in this role

Sun Titan
Sol Ring
Arcane Signet
Boros Signet
Orzhov Signet
Rakdos Signet
Talisman of Conviction
Talisman of Hierarchy
Talisman of Indulgence
Lightning Greaves
Swiftfoot Boots

08Removal and Protection

Mardu answers and ways to keep the team alive.

Akroma's WillDouble strike, flying, indestructible and protection for the team.
Flawless ManeuverFree indestructible for your creatures with Isshin out.
Swords to PlowsharesOne-mana removal.
Anguished UnmakingExiles any nonland permanent.
Ruinous UltimatumDestroys every nonland permanent your opponents control.

Also in this role

Path to Exile
Despark
Generous Gift
Chaos Warp
Boros Charm
Damn
Farewell
Blasphemous Act
Vandalblast

09Combos and Key Interactions

+

Isshin, Two Heavens as One + Windcrag Siege

Every attack trigger happens three times.

+

Isshin, Two Heavens as One + Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

Two Humans per opponent each attack, all of them attacking.

+

Mishra, Claimed by Gix + Isshin, Two Heavens as One

Each opponent loses twice your attacker count every combat.

10How to Play

Opening hand

Keep hands with two or three lands, a mana rock, and a cheap attack payoff. Isshin on turn three with something to attack is ideal.

1

Early gameturns 1-3

Play rocks and cheap attackers like Skyknight Vanguard or Voice of Victory.

2

Mid gameturns 4-7

Cast Isshin and attack every turn. Add Adeline, Resplendent Cathar or Hero of Bladehold.

3

Late gameturn 8+

Add Windcrag Siege or an extra combat, drain with Mishra, Claimed by Gix, and protect the swing with Akroma's Will.

Tips

  • Isshin doubles 'whenever you attack' triggers too, not just triggers on the attacking creature.
  • Enter-the-battlefield triggers from tokens made attacking are not doubled. Only attack triggers are.
  • Attack with Isshin when it's safe, but its effect works even if it stays home.
  • Reconnaissance can pull an attacker from combat after its triggers resolve.

Common mistakes

  • Attacking into a bad block just to get triggers.
  • Overextending tokens into a wipe.
  • Forgetting Isshin only doubles triggers from attacking, not from damage.
  • Losing Isshin with no Windcrag Siege backup.

Watch out for

  • Board wipes.
  • Effects that stop attacking, like Propaganda.
  • Removal on Isshin.
  • Fog effects.

11Bracket and Rule 0

1Exhibition
2Core
3Upgraded
4Optimized
5cEDH
Bracket3

Our list runs 1 Game Changer (Farewell), within the Bracket 3 limit of three.

The deck wins through combat and drain with no two-card infinite combos.

12Full Decklist

Every card in our Isshin proxy deck (100 cards). Hover or tap a name to see the card.

Commander

  • 1Isshin, Two Heavens as OneRWB

Creatures (29)

  • 1Ainok Strike Leader1W
  • 1Skyknight VanguardRW
  • 1Voice of Victory1W
  • 1Adeline, Resplendent Cathar1WW
  • 1Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate1BR
  • 1Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon1RW
  • 1Audacious Thief2B
  • 1Breena, the Demagogue1WB
  • 1Captain Lannery Storm2R
  • 1Commissar Severina Raine1WB
  • 1Hanweir Garrison2R
  • 1Kellogg, Dangerous Mind1BR
  • 1Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin2R
  • 1Zurgo StormrenderRWB
  • 1Brutal Hordechief3B
  • 1Caesar, Legion's Emperor1RWB
  • 1Hero of Bladehold2WW
  • 1Iroas, God of Victory2RW
  • 1Mardu Siegebreaker1RWB
  • 1Mishra, Claimed by Gix2BR
  • 1Myrel, Shield of Argive3W
  • 1Tectonic Giant2RR
  • 1Aurelia, the Law Above3RW
  • 1Goldspan Dragon3RR
  • 1Karlach, Fury of Avernus4R
  • 1Otharri, Suns' Glory3RW
  • 1Aurelia, the Warleader2RRWW
  • 1Etali, Primal Storm4RR
  • 1Sun Titan4WW

Instants (9)

  • 1Path to ExileW
  • 1Swords to PlowsharesW
  • 1Boros CharmRW
  • 1DesparkWB
  • 1Anguished Unmaking1WB
  • 1Chaos Warp2R
  • 1Flawless Maneuver2W
  • 1Generous Gift2W
  • 1Akroma's Will3W

Sorceries (5)

  • 1VandalblastR
  • 1DamnBB
  • 1Farewell4WW
  • 1Ruinous UltimatumRRWWWBB
  • 1Blasphemous Act8R

Artifacts (12)

  • 1Sol Ring1
  • 1Arcane Signet2
  • 1Boros Signet2
  • 1Dolmen Gate2
  • 1Lightning Greaves2
  • 1Orzhov Signet2
  • 1Rakdos Signet2
  • 1Swiftfoot Boots2
  • 1Sword of the Animist2
  • 1Talisman of Conviction2
  • 1Talisman of Hierarchy2
  • 1Talisman of Indulgence2

Enchantments (8)

  • 1Curse of OpulenceR
  • 1ReconnaissanceW
  • 1Firebender Ascension1R
  • 1Mardu AscendancyRWB
  • 1Rising of the Day2R
  • 1Windcrag Siege1RW
  • 1Fervent Charge1RWB
  • 1Within Range3B

Lands (36)

  • 1Arid Mesa
  • 1Battlefield Forge
  • 1Blood Crypt
  • 1Caves of Koilos
  • 1Clifftop Retreat
  • 1Command Tower
  • 1Dragonskull Summit
  • 1Exotic Orchard
  • 1Godless Shrine
  • 1Isolated Chapel
  • 1Luxury Suite
  • 6Mountain
  • 1Nomad Outpost
  • 1Path of Ancestry
  • 6Plains
  • 1Rogue's Passage
  • 1Sacred Foundry
  • 1Savai Triome
  • 1Smoldering Marsh
  • 1Spectator Seating
  • 5Swamp
  • 1Vault of Champions
Isshin proxy deck cover

Get the deck

Isshin Mardu Aggro proxy deck

Isshin turns every attack into a double attack. Play payoffs, double the triggers, and drain the table.

Every card in this guide is shown exactly as it prints in the deck you get, sleeve-ready, with tokens.

Shop the deck · $70

Every card named in this guide is in our deck, and every image is our own proxy card, rendered from the art in this deck.