Pako, Arcane Retriever

Pako, Arcane Retriever is a partner commander that turns combat into card advantage. Every time Pako attacks, you're exiling the top card from each opponent's library and growing Pako with +1/+1 counters for noncreature cards—this means Pako becomes a bigger threat while you're surveying what your opponents will draw next. The deck leans into aggressive early turns to get Pako attacking quickly, then uses haste enablers and evasion to ensure he connects repeatedly. You're essentially playing a tempo-focused Gruul deck that rewards you for attacking and turns your commander into a flying-under-the-radar threat.

Your win condition is straightforward: commander damage from a constantly growing Pako. Since Pako gains +1/+1 counters every turn he connects, he'll quickly clock opponents for 21 damage. The exile effect is pure upside—you get information about opponent draws and occasionally access to their cards via Haldan (your partner) or other exile synergies. Include cheap combat tricks, haste providers, and ways to give Pako evasion so he connects turn after turn. Cards like Lightning Mauler, Embercleave, and Temur Battle Rage turn your dog into a one-turn threat engine.

Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.