Best Starter Commanders – Isshin, Two Heavens As One

Do you know what’s great? Doubling things. There’s just nothing as satisfying as making something that was only meant to happen once, happen twice.

This is especially true in MTG, and even more so when it’s your triggers that you’re doubling. One of the new legendary creatures from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty also loves doubling things too.

Meet your commander

Your commander is none other than Isshin. For those of you who’ve played Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, don’t worry, we’re not about to say the Sword Saint. No, this is a different person called Isshin, Two Heavens As One Isshin, Two Heavens As One If a creature attacking causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. . Now, that’s an incredibly cool title, but what does this card actually do?

This three-mana red, white, and black 3/4 has one ability, and it reads, “If a creature attacking causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.” So, our aim here is simple then, we’ve just got to keep turning creatures sideways until we’ve won the game.

Of course, we need to make sure we’re getting the maximum value out of our deck, so we’ve put together a few suggestions on what you should include in your new Mardu aggro deck.

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The best creatures for Isshin

The most obvious option here is, of course Aurelia, the Warleader Aurelia, the Warleader Flying, vigilance, haste
Whenever Aurelia attacks for the first time each turn, untap all creatures you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase. . It means that whenever you attack with them, you’ll get two extra combat steps, and you can combine that with Moraug, Fury of Akoum Moraug, Fury of Akoum Each creature you control gets +1/+0 for each time it has attacked this turn.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, if it's your main phase, there's an additional combat phase after this phase. At the beginning of that combat, untap all creatures you control. for even more combat steps and even more damage too.

We have two other suggestions here too. The first is Etali, Primal Storm Etali, Primal Storm Whenever Etali attacks, exile the top card of each player's library, then you may cast any number of spells from among those cards without paying their mana costs. . This is a six-mana 6/6 that reads, “Whenever Etali, Primal Storm attacks, exile the top card of each player’s library, then you may cast any number of spells from among those cards without paying their mana costs.” Basically, you’ll be getting lots of free things.

Then you’ve got the scholar’s choice, Sun Titan Sun Titan Vigilance
Whenever this creature enters or attacks, you may return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. . Whether you’re bringing back curses, creatures, or just fetch lands, having access to a double titan of the sun is a big deal. It’s value, and that’s really what you’re looking for.

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The best support cards for Isshin

One of the best support cards for Isshin has to be Blade of Selves Blade of Selves Equipped creature has myriad. (Whenever it attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may create a token copy that's tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control. Exile the tokens at end of combat.)
Equip {4} . This is a two-mana equipment card that grants a creature myriad. This means that when it attacks, you get to create one extra copy for each other opponent you control, and have that creature attack them too. Better yet, because of Isshin, you now get even more tokens.

We mentioned the curses already too. That’s because Isshin doesn’t just trigger when you attack, but when any creature attack. This means that if you play Curse of Opulence Curse of Opulence Enchant player
Whenever enchanted player is attacked, create a Gold token. Each opponent attacking that player does the same. (A Gold token is an artifact with "Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.") , you’ll get even more Treasure tokens whenever anyone attacks whoever you cursed. It’s a huge deal, and it can lead to some truly obnoxious turns.

Finally, you’re going to be attacking a lot, so it’s a good idea to have some defensive options too. The best of the bunch, in our opinion, is Lightmine Field Lightmine Field Whenever one or more creatures attack, this enchantment deals damage to each of those creatures equal to the number of attacking creatures. . This card reads, “Whenever one or more creatures attack, Lightmine Field deals damage to each of those creatures equal to the number of attacking creatures.” In essence, this does double damage now, and that’s a great way to deter would-be attackers.

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