MTG Salvation

Many years ago when I was first into Magic (before I quit for...7ish years) I saw a friend who ran an awesome Rafiq Commander deck. This deck basically abused the commander damage rule, by using Rafiq equipped with the various swords to murder people. The deck used a lot of artifact fetching cards that allowed him to dig up the swords.

In my nearly decade of departure from MTG, I must admit I don't know any more than a few key older cards now. So I present this question and even challenge to you here in the MTG-Salvation community.

If you guys had to use Rafiq of the Many as your commander. How would you build the deck.

Thank you all in advance.

Hey Pricecut! i see you are pretty new to the forums. If you check out this thread: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/204408-commander-decklist-database you will see that there are a bunch of decks already listed, so you can review a ton of Rafiq decks, as well as see the conversations about them. Just scroll down to the "Bant Decklists" section and click the Spoiler button to reveal all the decks. You can find Rafiq in there. The links to the deck lists are the ones that say "by <PLAYER NAME>"

edit - also, if you have never checked out edhrec.com before, its a VERY cool site for researching what cards other players like to use.

I think there are two ways to build Rafiq:

1. Give Rafiq Trample or unblockable or flying or protection from creatures.... whatever you like, and have him smash your opponents' faces.
2. Have Rafiq give double strike to creatures with powerful abilities, like Sphinx Ambassador, Cephalid Constable, Dragonlord Ojutai, Medomai the Ageless, etc.

There are a lot of cards good in Rafiq, such as Sovereigns of lost Alara

has some good idea.

If you don't mind being evil, Infect is a way to go.

Rafiq adds + 1 damage and doubles your attacks with double strike, basically a 1/1 infect with Rafiq on the battlefield is a 2/2 double strike, if you add any equip/aura/instant that gives just a little attack it is lethal. for example, blighted agent + Rafiq + another exalted card(noble hierarch the best) + Rancor is a one-hit-KO on anyone, that is why I asked if it is ok to be evil on your meta, that is a very merciless way to build him, I would :).
That also opens up the commander damage strategy, so the deck tries to abuse the "shortcuts" to kill instead of breaking the 40HP barrier. Become Immense/Berserk are brutal x).

Quote from LordRewind »

Hey Pricecut! i see you are pretty new to the forums. If you check out this thread: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/204408-commander-decklist-database you will see that there are a bunch of decks already listed, so you can review a ton of Rafiq decks, as well as see the conversations about them. Just scroll down to the "Bant Decklists" section and click the Spoiler button to reveal all the decks. You can find Rafiq in there. The links to the deck lists are the ones that say "by <PLAYER NAME>"

edit - also, if you have never checked out edhrec.com before, its a VERY cool site for researching what cards other players like to use.

WOW Thanks man! That site is awesome!

Not only did I find a Rafiq Deck, but I also think I can piece it together for around 600 bucks, which seems cheap for an EDH Deck.



Tell me if this looks good to you.

Personally, I prefer using auras as it makes the deck a bit less oppressive. Having said this, Sword of Feast and Famine and other mirrodin things are probably the weapons youre after.

Quote from Pricecut »

WOW Thanks man! That site is awesome!

Not only did I find a Rafiq Deck, but I also think I can piece it together for around 600 bucks, which seems cheap for an EDH Deck.

Tell me if this looks good to you.

Looks like a solid starting list, though you wont know how well it works till you test it in your meta.

btw, when you use the deck tag, you dont need to use card tags (or any other tags) within, just put a number in front of your card count:

Quote from LordRewind »

Quote from Pricecut »

WOW Thanks man! That site is awesome!

Not only did I find a Rafiq Deck, but I also think I can piece it together for around 600 bucks, which seems cheap for an EDH Deck.

Tell me if this looks good to you.

Looks like a solid starting list, though you wont know how well it works till you test it in your meta.

btw, when you use the deck tag, you dont need to use card tags (or any other tags) within, just put a number in front of your card count:

Pricecut's DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
Commander (1) 1 Rafiq of the Many Creatures (23) 1 Bastion Protector 1 Birds of Paradise 1 Eternal Witness 1 Grand Abolisher 1 Mother of Runes 1 Noble Hierarch 1 Qasali Pridemage 1 Sigarda, Host of Herons 1 Sovereigns of Lost Alara 1 Sram, Senior Edificer 1 Stoneforge Mystic 1 Sublime Archangel 1 Sun Titan 1 Thassa, God of the Sea 1 Bloom Tender 1 Avacyn’s Pilgrim 1 Bruna, Light of Alabaster 1 Medomai the Ageless 1 Sylvan Caryatid 1 Knight of New Alara 1 Dauntless Escort 1 Verduran Enchantress 1 Argothian Enchantress Instants (7) 1 Counterspell 1 Cyclonic Rift 1 Negate 1 Enlightened Tutor 1 Krosan Grip 1 Path to Exile 1 Swords to Plowshares	Sorceries (5) 1 Cultivate 1 Kodama’s Reach 1 Open the Armory 1 Supreme Verdict 1 Wrath of God Artifacts (10) 1 Conqueror’s Flail 1 Lightning Greaves 1 Selesnya Signet 1 Simic Signet 1 Sol Ring 1 Swiftfoot Boots 1 Sword of Feast and Famine 1 Sword of Fire and Ice 1 Darksteel Plate 1 Whispersilk Cloak Enchantments (15) 1 Armadillo Cloak 1 Eldrazi Conscription 1 Finest Hour 1 Mirari’s Wake 1 Rancor 1 Shield of the Oversoul 1 Sigarda’s Aid 1 Steel of the Godhead 1 Ancestral Mask 1 Angelic Destiny 1 Ethereal Armor 1 Bear Umbra 1 Asceticism 1 Sylvan Library 1 Spectra Ward	Planeswalkers (1) 1 Tamiyo, Field Researcher Lands (38) 1 Botanical Sanctum 1 Breeding Pool 1 Canopy Vista 1 Cathedral of War 1 Command Tower 1 Flooded Strand 1 Glacial Fortress 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Hinterland Harbor 1 Prairie Stream 1 Rogue’s Passage 1 Seaside Citadel 1 Sunpetal Grove 1 Temple Garden 1 Windswept Heath 1 Reflecting Pool 1 City of Brass 1 Mana Confluence 1 Tropical Island 1 Tundra 1 Savannah 1 Misty Rainforest 1 Razorverge Thicket 1 Seachrome Coast 6 Plains 4 Island 4 Forest

Yeah I'm gonna proxy the deck before I start buying in on the cards. I'm new to collecting so I a building from scratch minus one or two cards from Modern Masters.

If you want to go equipment i suggest you check out my deck in the database (would link it but on mobile right now)

It is a equipment focused deck with rafiq. Though some cards are rather expensive.