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COMMANDER(S)
Kenrith, the Returned King
QR Code
B G R U W
- Five-Color
Created by  Kayanous
Bracket
8.0 - 8.5
Bracket 5
Average CMC Average CMC
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ANALYSIS

Overview:

This 5-color Kenrith deck is a high-powered combo engine leveraging multiple infinite loops and efficient tutors to secure victory. The commander serves primarily as a value piece and backup win condition, enabling card draw, reanimation, and life gain to support combo assembly. The deck's core strategy revolves around executing fast, resilient combos like Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker/Zealous Conscripts, Squirrel Nest/Earthcraft, Devoted Druid/Vizier of Remedies, and Thassa's Oracle/Demonic Consultation, backed by a robust interaction suite and premium mana base.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

  1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Prioritize fast mana (Sol Ring, Mox Opal, Mana Confluence) and tutors (Demonic Tutor, Green Sun's Zenith). Cast Esper Sentinel or Mystic Remora to disrupt opponents while digging for combo pieces.
  2. Combo Assembly (Turns 2-4): Use Fauna Shaman, Diabolic Intent, or Demonic Consultation to fetch key components. Deploy Devoted Druid + Vizier of Remedies for infinite green mana, enabling Kenrith’s card draw to find Thassa’s Oracle. Alternatively, cheat out Kiki-Jiki via reanimation (Animate Dead, Karmic Guide).
  3. Win Execution (Turns 3-5):
    • Infinite mana + Kenrith’s blue ability to deck yourself, then resolve Thassa’s Oracle.
    • Kiki-Jiki + Zealous Conscripts for infinite hasty tokens.
    • Earthcraft + Squirrel Nest for infinite tapped squirrels, then Altar of Dementia for mill.
  4. Protection: Use Silence, Grand Abolisher, and free counters (Dovin's Veto, Mana Drain) to shield combos. Teferi’s Protection and Heroic Intervention protect against wipes.

Mulligan Priorities:

  • Keep hands with 2+ lands, fast mana, or a tutor. Prioritize Demonic Tutor, Esper Sentinel, or a combo pair (e.g., Devoted Druid + Vizier).
  • Avoid hands lacking ramp or tutors unless holding a T2-T3 combo.

Key Tips:

  • Use Kenrith’s reanimation ability to recur combo pieces like Kiki-Jiki or Devoted Druid.
  • Isochron Scepter imprinting Dramatic Reversal + mana rocks creates infinite mana.
  • Training Grounds reduces Kenrith’s activation costs, enabling rapid card draw or reanimation loops.

Weaknesses:

Critical

  • Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down reanimation lines and Devoted Druid.
  • Anti-search effects (Opposition Agent, Aven Mindcensor) cripple tutor-dependent strategies.
  • Rule of Law effects (Ethersworn Canonist, Deafening Silence) prevent combo execution.

Moderate

  • Artifact destruction disrupts mana rocks and combo enablers like Isochron Scepter.
  • Instant-speed interaction can interrupt infinite mana sinks (e.g., countering Kenrith’s draw ability post-Thassa’s Oracle).

Minor

  • Aggressive decks may pressure life totals before combos assemble, but the deck runs ample life gain (Kenrith’s white ability, Teferi’s Protection).

Most Important Cards:

  • Demonic Consultation (Tutor/Thoracle win enabler)
  • Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (Primary combo piece)
  • Thassa's Oracle (Instant-win condition)
  • Devoted Druid (Infinite mana engine)
  • Teferi, Time Raveler (Combo protection/soft lock)
  • Grand Abolisher (Combo turn protection)
  • Dovin's Veto (Uncounterable interaction)
  • Demonic Tutor (Critical tutor)
  • Earthcraft (Infinite token generator)
  • Mox Opal (Explosive mana acceleration)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10

  • Capable of T2-T3 wins with optimal hands (e.g., Demonic Consultation + Thoracle, Devoted Druid + Vizier + draw engine).

Resilience: 7/10

  • Robust interaction suite (counterspells, hexproof) and combo redundancy mitigate disruption, but graveyard reliance remains a liability.

Consistency: 8/10

  • 10+ tutors and extensive card draw ensure frequent access to combo pieces, though 5-color mana demands occasional hiccups.

Interaction: 8/10

  • High-quality counterspells, removal, and stax (Ethersworn Canonist, Defense Grid) disrupt opponents while protecting combos.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with T2-T3 win potential but lacks the hyper-optimized redundancy and free interaction of top-tier lists. Its robust mana base, multiple combo lines, and layered protection justify a high-power rating, though meta-dependent vulnerabilities prevent Tier 1 status.

Power level: 8.0 - 8.5

DECK LIST
Kenrith, the Returned King
Planeswalker: 2
($7.73)
1
Karn, the Great Creator
4
1
Teferi, Time Raveler
1 W U
Creature: 18
($90.42)
1
Deadeye Navigator
4 U U
1
Devoted Druid
1 G
1
Esper Sentinel
W
1
Ethersworn Canonist
1 W
1
Fauna Shaman
1 G
1
Grand Abolisher
W W
1
Karmic Guide
3 W W
1
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
2 R R R
1
Leonin Relic-Warder
W W
1
Ohran Frostfang
3 G G
1
Peregrine Drake
4 U
1
Reveillark
4 W
1
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
2 U U U
1
Thassa's Oracle
U U
1
The Reality Chip
1 U
1
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
3 G
1
Vizier of Remedies
1 W
1
Zealous Conscripts
4 R
Artifact: 12
($195.28)
1
Altar of Dementia
2
1
Arcane Signet
2
1
Bident of Thassa
2 U U
1
Blasting Station
3
1
Chromatic Lantern
3
1
Defense Grid
2
1
Fellwar Stone
2
1
Isochron Scepter
2
1
Lightning Greaves
2
1
Mox Opal
0
1
Sol Ring
1
1
Swiftfoot Boots
2
Enchantment: 9
($168.64)
1
Animate Dead
1 B
1
Asceticism
3 G G
1
Court of Grace
2 W W
1
Earthcraft
1 G
1
Leyline of Sanctity
2 W W
1
Mystic Remora
U
1
Privileged Position
2 G/W G/W G/W
1
Squirrel Nest
1 G G
1
Training Grounds
U
Instant: 14
($151.03)
1
Autumn's Veil
G
1
Boros Charm
R W
1
Demonic Consultation
B
1
Dovin's Veto
W U
1
Dramatic Reversal
1 U
1
Flawless Maneuver
2 W
1
Heroic Intervention
1 G
1
Keep Watch
2 U
1
Mana Drain
U U
1
Orim's Chant
W
1
Silence
W
1
Swords to Plowshares
W
1
Teferi's Protection
2 W
1
Veil of Summer
G
Sorcery: 6
($85.4)
1
Demonic Tutor
1 B
1
Diabolic Intent
1 B
1
Farseek
1 G
1
Green Sun's Zenith
X G
1
Painful Truths
2 B
1
Traverse the Ulvenwald
G
Land: 38
($2431.67)
1
Arid Mesa
1
Badlands
1
Bayou
1
Blood Crypt
1
Bloodstained Mire
1
Boseiju, Who Endures
1
Breeding Pool
1
Cavern of Souls
1
City of Brass
1
Command Tower
1
Exotic Orchard
1
Flooded Strand
1
Godless Shrine
1
Hallowed Fountain
1
Mana Confluence
1
Marsh Flats
1
Misty Rainforest
1
Otawara, Soaring City
1
Overgrown Tomb
1
Plateau
1
Polluted Delta
1
Reflecting Pool
1
Sacred Foundry
1
Savannah
1
Scalding Tarn
1
Scrubland
1
Steam Vents
1
Stomping Ground
1
Taiga
1
Temple Garden
1
Tropical Island
1
Tundra
1
Underground Sea
1
Verdant Catacombs
1
Volcanic Island
1
Watery Grave
1
Windswept Heath
1
Wooded Foothills

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