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Esior, Wardwing Familiar
Legendary Creature — Bird
Flying Spells your opponents cast that target one or more commanders you control cost {3} more to cast. Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)
1 / 3
$0.61Buy on TCGPlayer
“Tax-based partner enabler that shields your voltron commander from removal.”
Midrange
Intermediate
Commander damage, Combat damage
Voltron, Partner Synergies
Strategy
Esior is a protective partner commander that makes targeting your commanders prohibitively expensive for opponents. The deck wants to pair Esior with a strong partner commander (like Alena, Rough Edges or Akiri, Line-Slinger) and lean into voltron strategies, where you pump your commander(s) with equipment and auras to close out games through commander damage. Since Esior itself doesn't generate offense, you're relying on your partner to be the threat engine while Esior acts as a tax and evasion layer.
The core gameplan involves deploying your primary commander early, protecting it behind Esior's tax effect, then loading it up with cheap equipment, sword effects, and combat tricks. Cards that give hexproof or shroud become even better since opponents can't even target your threats to remove them. You'll also want cantrips and card draw to find your key equipment pieces and stay ahead of the table despite running a low-tempo partnership.
You win by converting your pumped commander into lethal damage, often through unblockable or evasive keyword abilities. The deck thrives in midrange metas where targeted removal is common—Esior punishes that strategy and buys you time to set up a lethal attack.
Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Key Synergies
Budget Build
Skip expensive swords and use budget equipment like Bonesplitter, Basilisk Collar, and Kessig Malice; focus on card draw with Sky Swallower and Welcoming Vampire instead of Rhystic Study.
Most-Played Cards
Island
Arcane Signet
Sol Ring
Combat Tutorial
Counterspell
Dramatic Reversal
High Tide
Ponder
Preordain
Deep Analysis
Aqueous Form
Desert of the Mindful
Inclusion = % of Esior, Wardwing Familiar decks running this card. +lift = percentage-point boost over the format average.
Partner Candidates
Community Decks
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Art Variants
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