I remember the impetus of my Tiana deck. When placing a preorder for Dominaria I decided to pick up a copy of the uncommon Legendary Angel Artificer in the hope that maybe it would spur me on to build a Red-White deck. The ability was interesting and narrow enough that it appealed to me.
When it comes to Commander there are few things I like more than sacrificing something for value. If you look at my decks there is always a way to turn that downside into a significant advantage. This makes it almost painfully easy to build base black decks. Branching into other colors can be a challenge. Yet I always manage to find a way to pay the ultimate price and turn that woe for my opponents. But in the Boros color combination I was never able to get it to click. Despite having a copy of Brion Stoutarm and Alesha, Who Smiles at Death in my box-o-generals, nothing ever did it for me.
One day I had some friends over to play Commander and I was in the process of building my Torgaar, Famine Incarnate deck. As I was going through my cards I started pulling weird auras that I felt might make Tiana fun. The more I pulled the more I realized something else I loved to do in Commander - force the table to read my cards and then beat them with utter jank. And so I started to gather the components for my Tiana deck.
Tiana is a value engine that turns dying Auras (and Equipment) into perpetual motion machines. The trick, as it were, is to get these elements to actually die. One reason I love enchantments in Commander is that they are a barely targeted permanent type. Artifacts draw more hate (and I decided to skimp on them for that reason) but getting Auras to hit the graveyard, well that's a challenge.
Capashen Standard does some serious work in that department, as do Flamespeaker's Will and Mortal Obstinacy. Soul Tithe is a nifty card that can tax an opponent's mana. Bound by Moonsilver also lets me bin Auras - like sat Sage's Reverie - in the hope of getting it back later. With Tiana on the board Choking Restraints becomes an incredibly expensive Swords to Plowshares but who cares because I'm beating you with draft chaff.
I decided to include a Sunforger package because I got blown out by it once. Seriously, no one ever expects throwing the hammer at someone and resolving a Settle the Wreckage. Boros Charm is in there for when I don't want my stuff to die while Oblation and Chaos Warp get the nod as ways to either save my own things or deal with problem permanents.
Tiana is one of my favorite decks to play at the moment. It's full of weird cards that don't look like much on their own. Together, however, they can create a rather impressive weapon. Or they can falter in an epic fashion. Because that's just how Auras are sometimes.
Commander
When it comes to Commander there are few things I like more than sacrificing something for value. If you look at my decks there is always a way to turn that downside into a significant advantage. This makes it almost painfully easy to build base black decks. Branching into other colors can be a challenge. Yet I always manage to find a way to pay the ultimate price and turn that woe for my opponents. But in the Boros color combination I was never able to get it to click. Despite having a copy of Brion Stoutarm and Alesha, Who Smiles at Death in my box-o-generals, nothing ever did it for me.
One day I had some friends over to play Commander and I was in the process of building my Torgaar, Famine Incarnate deck. As I was going through my cards I started pulling weird auras that I felt might make Tiana fun. The more I pulled the more I realized something else I loved to do in Commander - force the table to read my cards and then beat them with utter jank. And so I started to gather the components for my Tiana deck.
Tiana is a value engine that turns dying Auras (and Equipment) into perpetual motion machines. The trick, as it were, is to get these elements to actually die. One reason I love enchantments in Commander is that they are a barely targeted permanent type. Artifacts draw more hate (and I decided to skimp on them for that reason) but getting Auras to hit the graveyard, well that's a challenge.
Capashen Standard does some serious work in that department, as do Flamespeaker's Will and Mortal Obstinacy. Soul Tithe is a nifty card that can tax an opponent's mana. Bound by Moonsilver also lets me bin Auras - like sat Sage's Reverie - in the hope of getting it back later. With Tiana on the board Choking Restraints becomes an incredibly expensive Swords to Plowshares but who cares because I'm beating you with draft chaff.
I decided to include a Sunforger package because I got blown out by it once. Seriously, no one ever expects throwing the hammer at someone and resolving a Settle the Wreckage. Boros Charm is in there for when I don't want my stuff to die while Oblation and Chaos Warp get the nod as ways to either save my own things or deal with problem permanents.
Tiana is one of my favorite decks to play at the moment. It's full of weird cards that don't look like much on their own. Together, however, they can create a rather impressive weapon. Or they can falter in an epic fashion. Because that's just how Auras are sometimes.
Commander
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker
Creatures
Auramancer
Boonweaver Giant
Duregar Hedge-Mage
Faith Healer
Heliod's Pilgrim
Ironclad Slayer
Kitsune Mystic
Knight of the White Orchid
Kor Spiritdancer
Mesa Enchantress
Nomad Mythmaker
Restoration Specialist
Silent Sentinel
Stonehewer Giant
Sun Titan
Umbra Mystic
Eidolon of Countless Battles
Danitha Capashen, Paragon
Sram, Senior Edificer
Valduk, Keeper of the Flame
Burnished Hart
Sorceries
Angelic Purge
Divine Reckoning
Open the Armory
Retether
Three Dreams
Winds of Rath
Instants
Boros Charm
Chaos Warp
Oblation
Path to Exile
Settle the Wreckage
Swords to Plowshares
Enchantments
Outpost Siege
Sigarda's Aid
Bound by Moonsilver
Capashen Standard
Chained to the Rocks
Choking Restraints
Darksteel Mutation
Daybreak Coronet
Ethereal Armor
Faith Unbroken
Faith's Fetters
Felidar Umbra
Flamespeaker's Will
Hobble
Hyena Umbra
Mortal Obstinacy
Sage's Reverie
Shielded by Faith
Soul Tithe
Squee's Embrace
Unquestioned Authority
Artifacts
Boros Signet
Crystal Chimes
Darksteel Plater
Helm of the Gods
Lightning Greaves
Skullclamp
Sunforger
Swiftfoot Boots
Sword of the Animist
Lands
17 Plains
9 Mountain
Battlefield Forge
Boros Garrison
Command Tower
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Kor Haven
Sacred Foundry
Serra's Sanctum
Stone Quarry
Temple of Triumph
Wind-Scarred Crag
