Table of Contents
We are back again, this time for Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Boy do we have a big one.
This is a continuation of the timeline we had after Dragons of Tarkir. Not only do we get exciting new cards like [[Ugin, Eye of the Storms]], we also get some commander classics as reprints like [[Craterhoof Behemoth]].
This time we have 5, yes 5, precons for this set, each from the wedge of colours that make up that group in Tarkir. In this blog, we’re looking at Jeskai Striker.
Magic The Gathering: Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Jeskai Striker Commander Deck
£37.95
£44.99
Description Tarkir faces a full-scale draconic assault, pitting clan against clan and all of civilization against a maelstrom of wings, claws, and fire. Choose one of five clans and discover your favourite way to play, then master the fearsome Dragonstorms… read more
This is also the first blog since the Commander Bracket system has been set up. I’m not going to go deep into it as that is a discussion for another blog, but overall I like it. It helps better define power level. As long as the spirit of the bracket system is followed you can get some better games in.
For reference I will be aiming to make the upgraded deck sit around a low to middle of bracket 3. A bit of a power bump, but nothing broken. There is only so much power I can pack in with 10 new cards for a total of £10.
The Commanders
It is nice to have the 5 precons as they each give something to every playstyle. Jeskai Striker is a classic for the colours - a spellslinger deck.
The Jeskai Striker deck is a bit different from the other Tarkir: Dragonstorm decks, as they all have the face commanders as the Warrior and then the secondary commander as the bonded spirit dragon.
Whereas the Jeskai have to be different and have Shiko and Narset, Unified as the face commander, which combines the leader and spirit dragon together.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/7/shiko-and-narset-unified
Shiko and Narset, Unified care about double casting spells, giving you either a copy or card draw depending on if it targets.
Elsha, Threefold Master is the alternative commander.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/2/elsha-threefold-master
Elsha, Threefold Master is a dump for Prowess. It rewards you with tokens for connecting to a player.
Both commanders can share cards, but they play differently. This is a change from the recent commander decks, where the secondary commanders complemented the play style more.
I will be focusing more on the face commander of [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. The Jeskai Way is a clan of martial artists, mystics and monks. Being cunning and focusing on strategy over strength. So hopefully you know the way.
Let's jump right in and get to the upgrades.
Upgrade 1
IN: Ravenform
https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/167/ravenform
The card I'm adding in is Ravenform. While not a backup win con, it is an interaction. Something I always want more in my decks. Taking the card as its base, it's 3 mana removal. This isn't great, but it has the Foretell ability.
This allows you to effectively spread the cost over multiple turns. In this case just a single {U}. This allows you to “store” the card for later if you don't have a good target immediately. while also giving you a cheap spell later for casting 2 spells and triggering your commander.
As a bonus, this also targets, so you can get the copy effect if you want to remove two things.
Alternatively you can use it as the setup card to copy something else instead.
OUT: Tempest Technique
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/16/tempest-technique
I'm not sure if Wizards has listened to my complaints of too many lands, but they have cut down the amount of lands in the deck to a reasonable 37 lands.
This is both a good and bad thing. It’s good that it works better out of the box and does not have too many lands. But it’s bad as I don't have any easy cuts from the deck.
They have done their usual trick of putting in a random new card that sort of fits but didn't really work. That is Tempest Technique. This is an interesting card, being an Enchantment with Storm.
If you can build up your storm count high enough you can create a monster of a creature, or even multiple. My problem with this card in this deck is that it's not a Storm deck. It's a 2 card per turn deck.
Tempest Technique would also work better in an Enchantress deck that wants the back up win condition.
Upgrade 2
IN: Eris, Roar of the Storm
https://scryfall.com/card/otc/5/eris-roar-of-the-storm
Eris, Roar of the Storm is a card from Outlaws of Thunder Junction but actually synergises more with this Tarkir set. Both of its abilities allow you to end games quickly.
Its first effect can also be used to set up a double spell if you have 4 different mana values. For example, discount it down to {U}{R}. Then if you cast Eris as your first card and then get a second spell off, you will get both the Eris and Shiko and Narset triggers. Such value!
OUT: Mangara, the Diplomat
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/124/mangara-the-diplomat
To make room I'm swapping out Mangara, the Diplomat as it doesn't synergise as well. This is very much a pillowfort card, as it sets up effects that disincentives your opponents from attacking you.
Another example is [[Ghostly Prison]], which is already in the deck. This works better though, as it taxes your opponent's resources instead of just giving you a card. Mangara only works if they attack you with 2 creatures.
If you want more of this kind of effect, [[Propaganda]] is the colour shifted blue version of [[Ghostly Prison]]. Although I feel like the dragons from [[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] would also have a similar effect of stopping attacks.
Upgrade 3
IN: Eagle Vision
https://scryfall.com/card/acr/17/eagle-vision
I'm dropping [[Curse of Opulence]] in favour of Eagle Vision. It's one of the cheapest draw 3 cards in the game.
Also with Shiko and Narset having flying, it's not the hardest to connect with them. They even have Vigilance so there is no downside for attacking an open player.
The other option I had in this place was [[Treasure Cruise]], with the Delve ability potentially making it only cost {U}. Although this isn't a full spell slinger deck, so having 7 cards to exile is a more real cost.
OUT: Curse of Opulence
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/209/curse-of-opulence
Curse of Opulence is another sudo pillowfort card, but it works in reverse. It incentivises you to attack the player that you cursed.
While this is a cheap card that allows you to cast your second spell for the commander trigger, it also gives your opponent's resources.
I'm selfish when I'm playing Commander. I really don't want to give my opponents resources. And this is a pretty good one. [[Gold]].
[[Gold]] tokens are similar to [[Treasure tokens]], but are not required to be tapped to gain mana. It allows for more shenanigans and has since been phased out.
Upgrade 4
We have talked about set up cards already, but what about the payoffs?
IN: Fall of the Titans
https://scryfall.com/card/ogw/109/fall-of-the-titans
Next, I’m adding Fall of the Titans. This has another double spell mechanic. Wizards do like to print these.
This one is surge, which halves the cost of the spell, changing it from {X}{X}{R} to only {X}{R}. For those that don't know, X has to be the same when you have double X in the casting cost. X also cannot be zero.
I am very much seeing this card as the decks finisher, particularly considering the following effect:
“Fall of the Titans deals X damage to each of up to two targets.”
Casting this as your second spell triggers the Flurry ability from [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. This also lets you select new targets, allowing you to target the 3rd player as well.
If one player has higher life than the other two, you can point two of the targets at them and a single target at the other two.
[[Fall of the Titans]] is a flexible spell, as it is an X spell. You can choose where on the curve you can cast it. For example, it can be also used for creature removal.
It even has a secret mode on it. If you chose X=0 it won't actually do anything, but you can use it to enable the Flurry on a different card.
OUT: Magma Opus
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/296/magma-opus
Magma Opus is better in 1v1 formats. For example, when cast on your opponent's upkeep, tapping 2 permanents is far stronger in 1v1 compared to EDH.
Also, creatures in 1v1 formats tend to be smaller, so 4 damage also goes further. The use features of Magma Opus for EDH are the 4/4 body and the draw 2 cards.
This does target, so you can copy it if it's your second spell. But that's a big ‘if’. This spell is 8 mana. So you are going to need 9 mana at least to get that second spell.
To partially offset this from being a dead card in the early game, it also has a second ability.
“ {U/R}{U/R}, Discard this card: Create a Treasure token.”
This at least allows you to bank extra mana in the form of a [[Treasure token]], at the cost of discarding Magma Opus. This is fine in 1v1 where you can have 4 copies of this, but when you only get 1 it's harder to use that ability.
Upgrade 5
IN: Monk Class
https://scryfall.com/card/afr/228/monk-class
Monk Class gives a discount to the second card cast. This also works if Monk Class is your first spell cast.
There is another card that also does this. [[Raging Battle Mouse]]. But I choose Monk Class instead as it's an Enchantment, hence harder to remove, and as it also has better secondary abilities.
As this is a Class you can level it up by paying more mana. For an additional {W}{U} you get level 2, which returns a nonland permanent to its owner hand. This can be your own nonland permanent, if you want to replay it for value.
The only downside is leveling up is sorcery speed only. So no messing around on your opponents turns.
Where it gets really interesting is level 3:
“At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. For as long as it remains exiled, it has "You may cast this card from exile as long as you've cast another spell this turn”
This is even better than card draw, as they aren't in your hand so can't be messed with and don't count towards your hand size. Unfortunately it does require you to have already cast a card to be able to play them. But that is what this deck is trying to do anyway. This ability is also independent of Monk Class so if that is removed you can still cast the exiled cards.
OUT: Big Score
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/206/big-score
Big Score is my next cut. I only see it as a set up card. It's card neutral in the card draw, not actually gaining you more cards. Instead it gives you selection and the [[Treasure tokens]] created are just giving you a discount on the casting cost. While you could store these for a later turn for 4 mana I would rather have other cards.
Upgrade 6
IN: Kraum, Violent Cacophony
https://scryfall.com/card/otj/214/kraum-violent-cacophony
Kraum, Violent Cacophony gives you an extra card for casting that second card, allowing you to gain more value from your gameplan.
There is another card that has this same effect, but without the counter; [[Jori En, Ruin Diver]]. It’s a 3 mana card, which allows you to play [[Jori En, Ruin Diver]] into [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]] sooner. Though, I think having flying and a body that grows bigger outweighed this.
OUT: Shiny Impetus
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/231/shiny-impetus
I am cutting Shiny Impetus. This does function as removal and gains you value in [[Treasure tokens]], but I’ve already added better removal with [[Ravenform]].
At 3 mana, it's a little too much for a setup card and it's not one I really want to copy with Flurry from the commander.
I would much rather have some more pay offs for casting 2 spells on a turn.
Upgrade 7
IN: Rodeo Pyromancers
https://scryfall.com/card/otj/143/rodeo-pyromancers
So we have set up cards, finishers and additional payoffs. But what is left? How about a card that cares about the first spell cast.
Rodeo Pyromancers is effectively a mana dork. It gives you {R}{R} just for casting a spell. While this won't be able to trigger on itself, on future turns you start to gain the value.
It can even turn your one mana spells into a Ritual that gains you mana.
OUT: Faithless Looting
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/213/faithless-looting
Speaking of one mana spells, I'm cutting Faithless Looting. The only benefit I can see for this card is that it is one mana, hence a cheap setup card.
This is a good one though. It lets you loot for a potentially better card to use with Flurry. The problem is that is all it does.
The ceiling for this card is pretty low. If this deck had more ways to abuse the graveyard this would be an easier keep.
If you’re considering keeping it, there is a very nice new card, [[Will of the Jeskai]], which does a very good impression of [[Yawgmoth's Will]], providing some love for your graveyard. It’s like an upgraded version of [[Past in Flames]].
Upgrade 8/9
IN: Double Vision + See Double
https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/267/double-vision
https://scryfall.com/card/mom/77/see-double
My next two upgrades are a pair. You know what happens when you get Double Vision? You See Double!
I promise I didn't just add these to make that joke. They are both actually good fits for the deck.
Double Vision is similar to [[Rodeo Pyromancers]] in that it has an effect on the first cast spells, giving you a second copy of it. In theory you can get 3 copies of an Instant or Sorcery if it also gets copied from [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]].
Just a quick note; this is a copy ability. If your first spell on the turn is an Instant or Sorcery, it will be copied by Double Vision, but this won’t count as casting it for [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. Cast and copying are two different things in Magic.
My second card is See Double. Unfortunately this cannot be copied. This was done to stop infinite loops of multiple copies [[See Double]] copying each other. You can’t copy it with Flurry from [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]] either.
Even still, I think this has value. As the condition to get both effects is only 8 cards in an opponent's graveyard. If there are, then you get the best creature on the battlefield while also getting a powerful spell while it's on the stack.
This also has some synergy with existing cards in the deck, as it can copy one of the big finishers.
There is a neat trick with [[Electrodominance]]. If you cast this with {X} = 4+ and get the Flurry ability from [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]], you can copy [[Electrodominance]].
When the copied version resolves, it allows you to cast a spell for {X} or less, which is going to be See Double. This can then let you copy the original [[Electrodominance]] again for even more value and damage.
OUT: Haughty Djinn + Goblin Electromancer
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/154/haughty-djinn
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/99/goblin-electromancer
With 2 cards going in, that means 2 cards need to come out: Haughty Djinn and Goblin Electromancer.
It feels criminal to remove discounters in a spell slinger deck.
Jeski Striker, as I have said before, isn’t a true one. It's not trying to build up a large storm count or get prowess triggers. It on 2 spells a turn plan. At least with [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]] as the commander.
There are only 18 spells that these two can discount and 2 of them are board wipes, so that does limit the use for these.
While there are actually 29 Instant and Sorceries in my build, ⅓ of them don't have any colourless mana that can be discounted.
I can see the argument to keep these in and take out [[Young Pyromancer]] and [[Monastery Mentor]] instead. I think these have been added to get more tokens to fit in with [[Elsha, Threefold Master]]. But I will talk more on this later.
Upgrade 10
IN: Storm of Saruman
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/72/storm-of-saruman
I heard you like copying, so I'm adding more copying to your copying. Storm of Saruman. This is the big one. It rewards you for doing what you already want to be doing.
Because the copy isn’t Legendary, we get to do some shenanigans. If [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]] has already died then, with commander tax, it's going to cost 6 mana. The perfect amount to cast after Storm of Saruman, if you have a 1 mana spell.
This will give you two [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. One Legendary (the Commander) and one non Legendary token copy. If both of these manage to live until your next turn, or you have two instants that you can cast on your opponent's turn, then you can get double triggers and net a total of three copies of the spell. Damn good value there.
OUT: Baral and Kari Zev
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/282/baral-and-kari-zev
This last cut was hard. Baral and Kari Zev fit really well into this deck.
It’s three mana, so it falls on curve just before the commander. It also allows you to actually free-cast a second spell, triggering [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]].
It falls down as the free-cast spell needs to have less mana value. Obviously this is done for balance reasons as you can’t cast a one mana spell then be able to cast 6+ one for free. We aren’t quite at that level of broken Magic cards (yet). Maybe when Modern Horizons 8 comes out…
That's the problem, though. It's the wrong order. You cast your big spell first to then cast the cheap one. Hence it's the cheap one that gets copied via [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]].
Final Thoughts
Overall I like Jeskai Stiker. it's a slightly different take on the Spellsinger archetype unlike the OTC - Quick Draw deck with [[Stella Lee, Wild Card]] as the commander.
This isn’t all about just dumping your hand of spells for one big turn. This can run over multiple turns and also has an inbuilt draw engine if your second spell doesn’t target.
Another point worth emphasising is that Wizards has cut down the land count to 37, so you get more spells for your money from the deck.
Where I think it falls down compared to other decks is a bit of an identity crisis.
The alternative commander, [[Elsha, Threefold Master]], doesn’t really synergies with [[Shiko and Narset, Unified]]. One is trying to copy big spells that target, while the other is a traditional spell slinger and just wants as many cheap spells to trigger Prowess.
There is also a distinct lack of cards that support [[Elsha, Threefold Master]]. While there are other token makers such as [[Young Pyromancer]] and [[Monastery Mentor]], there isn’t anything to do with the tokens. There are no anthem effects to boost the power or any big finisher that wants a go wide board like [[Moonshaker Cavalry]].
The previous commander decks have had the alternative Commander synergies a lot closer. Usually both of them want the same cards, they just use them in a slightly different way.
One final part and a different way if you really want to push this deck is using the target extra turn spells such as [[Karn’s Temporal Sundering]]. This would allow you to chain extra turns and then win from there. I have purposely avoided this as it pushes you into Bracket 4 automatically. But I would feel remiss to not at least mention it as a direction you can go if you want to try to truly push the Jeskai Striker deck.
As always thanks for sticking with me till the end. Good luck and remember to have fun.
PS. The above upgrades were priced to a budget of 10 GBP at the time of writing.
Non-budget Upgrades
Looking for even more upgrades? Try these 10 cards that didn't meet our budget requirement, but synergise with this deck:
https://scryfall.com/card/inr/142/bedlam-reveler
https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/69/time-stretch
https://scryfall.com/card/sld/1242/bohn-beguiling-balladeer
https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/120/spellseeker
https://scryfall.com/card/otc/25/crackling-spellslinger
https://scryfall.com/card/khm/123/birgi-god-of-storytelling-harnfel-horn-of-bounty
https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/507/gandalf-of-the-secret-fire
https://scryfall.com/card/jvc/27/gush
https://scryfall.com/card/clb/726/leyline-of-anticipation
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/65/press-the-enemy
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