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Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant // Phoenix, Warden of Fire
Legendary Creature — Human Noble Wizard // Legendary Enchantment Creature — Saga Phoenix
When Joshua enters, discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards. {3}{R}{W}, {T}: Exile Joshua, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. Activate only as a sorcery.
3 / 4
$1.44Buy on TCGPlayer
“Instant-speed wizard that transforms into a punishing flying phoenix.”
Midrange
Intermediate
Commander damage, Combat damage
Spellslinger, Voltron
Strategy
Joshua is a transforming commander that rewards you for playing instants and sorceries early, then flips into a flying phoenix that punishes your opponents for casting spells. Your game plan is to load up the first few turns with cheap cantrips, burn spells, and interaction that trigger Joshua's ability while advancing your game. Once you flip into Phoenix form, you've got a flying threat with lifelink that's incredibly hard to race, and every spell your opponents cast damages them while you gain life.
The deck wants to be tempo-focused—you're playing efficient answers and cantrips to flip Joshua quickly, then pivoting into a defensive stance where the phoenix's passive ability grinds out value. You'll win through a combination of commander damage and life total pressure, since the phoenix punishes opponents for doing anything, turning their spell volume against them. The lifelink makes it especially hard for opponents to race you, turning the dynamic into a slow squeeze.
Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Key Synergies
Budget Build
Skip expensive cantrips like Scalding Tarn; use basic land cycles and efficient commons like Opt, Dragon's Rage Channeler, and Unholy Heat as budget-friendly fillers.
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Art Variants
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