Abby, Merciless Soldier: Deck of the Day Primer
New to Commander and looking for a way to dip your toes into the format without being swept away by infinite combos and turn-three wins? Welcome to the rugged, overgrown world of Abby, Merciless Soldier and Ellie, Vengeful Hunter—a team-up so thematically rich, you’ll almost forgive their glacial pace. This deck is the equivalent of a slow-cooked stew: hearty, simple, and surprisingly satisfying (if you’re not in a hurry).
The Commander
Let’s break down your new tag-team. Abby, Merciless Soldier brings relentless aggression, swinging in and making opponents think twice about blocking or racing. Meanwhile, Ellie, Vengeful Hunter excels at punishing would-be attackers, doling out retribution and incremental value. Together, they form a grindy, midrange engine that’s less about flashy combos and more about incremental advantage—think attrition, not eruption.
Game Plan
Your overarching plan is to stick your commanders and squeeze value from each combat step. This deck generally lacks fast mana or board wipes, so you’ll want to make every removal spell count. Cards like Terminate, Putrefy, and Go for the Throat help keep the biggest threats at bay, while Cultivate and Kodama’s Reach ensure you hit your land drops, because missing a land drop in Bracket 1 is basically a death sentence.
Use Abby to pressure life totals and force awkward blocks, then let Ellie pick off weakened creatures or punish greedy swings. Don’t overlook unassuming all-stars like Solemn Simulacrum, which ramps and replaces itself, and Read the Bones, which digs for answers and keeps your hand full. Recursion options like Eternal Witness and Victimize let you replay key creatures after a board wipe, which is crucial when you’re playing the long game.
Expect to see a hefty chunk of the deck dedicated to two-for-ones and value creatures—Ravenous Chupacabra, Reclamation Sage, and Acidic Slime are iconic Bracket 1 staples. No infinite combos here; your “combo” is simply out-valuing opponents over dozens of turns. You win by being the last one standing, not by being the flashiest.
Power & Bracket
With a power level of 0/10 and a clear Bracket 1 classification, this deck isn’t breaking any speed records. It’s a safe haven for new players, group-huggers, and anyone who wants a social game where everyone gets to play their spells. There’s no Swords to Plowshares, Cyclonic Rift, or Rhystic Study here—just honest creatures, clunky removal, and the occasional over-costed draw spell. Some might say 107 cards offers a “robust” mulligan experience; we call it deckbuilding with insurance.
Should You Build It?
If you love the idea of learning the ropes of Commander without being crushed by optimized lists, this deck is your new best friend. It’s forgiving, straightforward, and teaches the fundamentals: board presence, resource management, and politics. Expect your biggest plays to involve topdecking Murder at just the right moment or returning Solemn Simulacrum for the fourth time.
If you crave high-powered antics or the thrill of a turn-five win, keep walking. But if you want to play Magic at a pace where you can drink your coffee, chat with friends, and still pull off a hard-fought victory, Abby and Ellie have your back. Just don’t expect to do anything quickly—except maybe shuffle.
