This article explores a Commander deck that is built to play and feel like a bard. If you are interested in flavorful Vorthosian decks, creative takes on the Commander format, or restrictive deck-building ideas, this article is for you.

The Sound of Music, Baby!

Among the annals of history, there has been one profession that could make us laugh, cause us to cry, and lead us into war. They have been depicted as wanderers, jokesters, and masters of the written word. Who are these brave men and women finding solace in song? They are bards. Vorthoses of the Multiverse, I implore you: If you wish to rely on your mastery of music in battle, if you recognize the primal powers contained in sound, consider this decklist the next time you venture forth into the unknown Multiverse.

Learning about Bards, Baby!

Before we go creating decks and searching for cards, let’s take some time and reflect. What exactly is a bard? What does it mean to be a bard? Where did the inspiration for the bard class come from? With a little bit of research, we can find out.

Studious answer: In medieval Gaelic and British culture, a bard is a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.

That’s interesting, but it’s not exactly what I would call a fun deck concept . . . 

Traditional fantasy-gaming answer: A bard is a talented scoundrel, capable of using the powers contained within story and song to vanquish his or her foes.

Now, that sounds more like a bard we would want to role-play. We want a deck that lets us sing songs to smite our foes.

Let’s Get Inspired, Baby!

In order to form a better understanding of our newly-adopted class, let’s take what we have learned and look more closely at current representations of bards in fantasy gaming:

Bards of Skyrim

Image courtesy of http://fabsh.com/minette-vinius/

Bards can be found throughout the mountainous region of Skyrim, typically playing in inns and taverns. Most are found playing their instruments (lutes, flutes, and drums), but some will also sing and recite poetry.

While interesting, this is not what we are looking for to inspire a Magic deck. Let’s keep searching . . . 

Bards of Dungeons & Dragons

Image courtesy of https://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4alum/2009March

Through the power of sound and song, bards of D&D confound and charm their foes, while simultaneously inspiring their allies in battle. Accomplished in both magic and melee, bards are a jacks-of-all-trades that always bring excitement and energy to the table.

That is more like it. We do not want to play silly rhyming poetry garbage. We want to dispatch our foes with the mighty power of sound. We want to pick up our axe and wail! (And no, I do not mean the wood-chopping variety.)

It’s time to rock out with our Cockatrice out.

Buckle up, Vorthoses of the world; things are about to get LOUD.

Image courtesy of http://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-eddie-van-halen-guitar-solos/

Let’s Rock and Roll, Baby!

Using some Vorthosian deck-building techniques, I came up with a list that will put you in the shoes of a musical powerhouse.

With this deck, you will sing.

Shipwreck Singer & Seasinger

You will sing songs of fury and fire.

Seething Song & Torch Song

With this deck, you will call forth an epic chorus . . . 

Chorus of the Tides & Chorus of the Conclave

 . . . and recall ancient lore.

Lorescale Coatl & Fatal Lore

With this deck, you will chant . . . 

Deadbridge Chant & Tourach's Chant

 . . . you will wail . . . 

Wail of the Nim & Horobi, Death's Wail

 . . . you will Howl . . . 

Howling Mine & Nighthowler

 . . . you will scream . . . 

Screams from Within & Resounding Scream

 . . . and you will roar.

Roar of the Wurm & Roaring Primadox

With this deck, you will revel in dance . . . 

Viridian Revel & Dance of the Dead

 . . . recite powerful hymns . . . 

Hymn of Rebirth & Invincible Hymn

 . . . sing deadly anthems . . . 

Gaea's Anthem & Anthem of Rakdos

 . . . and perform at venues across the Multiverse.

Hammerheim & Grand Coliseum

With this deck, you will master many instruments . . . 

Springleaf Drum & Temple Bell

 . . . and you will not be afraid to break them . . . 

Elven Lyre & Goblin Lyre

 . . . ending your performance in a perfect rumbling crescendo.

Rumbling Crescendo

And what better commander for this symphony of death and destruction than an entity whose cry can herald the end of days?

Child of Alara

So pick up your axe . . . 

Image courtesy of https://www.magiccardmarket.eu/img/specimens/113652733.jpg

 . . . and let’s get the band back together.

Karametra, God of Strings; Phenax, God of Sick Beats; Ephara, God of Bass

Xenagos, God of Vocals; Mogis, God of Death Metal

Alter images courtesy of http://entersthebattlefield.tumblr.com/. Alter Ideas inspired by http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG.

Vorthosian Bard, Baby! ? Commander | Ant Tessitore

• Commander (0)

• Creatures (20)
• 1 Bone Dancer
• 1 Chorus of the Tides
• 1 Lorescale Coatl
• 1 Midnight Banshee
• 1 Musician
• 1 Nighthowler
• 1 Reckless Reveler
• 1 Roaring Primadox
• 1 Seasinger
• 1 Shipwreck Singer
• 1 Spitebellows
• 1 Wind Dancer
• 1 Chorus of the Conclave
• 1 Ephara, God of the Polis
• 1 Horobi, Death's Wail
• 1 Karametra, God of Harvests
• 1 Maralen of the Mornsong
• 1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
• 1 Phenax, God of Deception
• 1 Xenagos, God of Revels

• Planeswalkers (1)
• 1 Garruk Relentless

• Spells (39)
• 1 Cauldron Dance
• 1 Chord of Calling
• 1 Corpse Dance
• 1 Destructive Revelry
• 1 Eladamri's Call
• 1 Seething Song
• 1 Wail of the Nim
• 1 Call of the Nightwing
• 1 Call the Skybreaker
• 1 Fatal Lore
• 1 Hymn of Rebirth
• 1 Invincible Hymn
• 1 Resounding Scream
• 1 Roar of the Wurm
• 1 Wurmcalling
• 1 Anthem of Rakdos
• 1 Dance of the Dead
• 1 Deadbridge Chant
• 1 Discordant Dirge
• 1 Gaea's Anthem
• 1 Glorious Anthem
• 1 Lilting Refrain
• 1 Marshal's Anthem
• 1 Midsummer Revel
• 1 Recantation
• 1 Rumbling Crescendo
• 1 Screams from Within
• 1 Serra's Hymn
• 1 Serra's Liturgy
• 1 Torch Song
• 1 Tourach's Chant
• 1 Vile Requiem
• 1 Viridian Revel
• 1 War Dance
• 1 Elven Lyre
• 1 Goblin Lyre
• 1 Howling Mine
• 1 Springleaf Drum
• 1 Temple Bell

• Lands (39)
• 1 Island
• 1 Mountain
• 1 Plains
• 4 Forest
• 5 Swamp
• 1 Akoum Refuge
• 1 Ancient Amphitheater
• 1 An-Havva Township
• 1 Arcane Sanctum
• 1 Aysen Abbey
• 1 Castle Sengir
• 1 City of Ass
• 1 City of Brass
• 1 City of Shadows
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Elfhame Palace
• 1 Forsaken CIty
• 1 Gilt-Leaf Palace
• 1 Grand Coliseum
• 1 Graypelt Refuge
• 1 Hinterland Harbor
• 1 Jwar Isle Refuge
• 1 Kazandu Refuge
• 1 Koskun Keep
• 1 Opal Palace
• 1 Rakdos Carnarium
• 1 Seaside Citadel
• 1 Sejiri Refuge
• 1 Thespian's Stage
• 1 Wizards' School
• 1 Hammerheim
• 1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep

Buy This Deck

Have you made a deck that Vorthos would be proud to call his own? I want to hear about it! Send me your list at ANThroplasm909 at gmail dot com, and I may feature it in my next article.