MTG > Metagame Commander > deck Pippin, Warden of Isengard // Merry, Warden of Isengard

Strategy

### Commander Deck: Pippin, Warden of Isengard // Merry, Warden of Isengard **Commander Overview:** Pippin and Merry serve as a unique pair of commanders that blend the themes of fellowship and resilience from "The Lord of the Rings." Their abilities focus on creating synergy with creatures and providing card advantage, making them a versatile choice for a fun and thematic deck. The deck leans into a mix of creature-based strategies and control elements, allowing you to adapt to various game states. **Strategy:** 1. **Creature Synergy:** The deck includes a variety of creatures that can generate value or provide utility. Cards like *Tireless Provisioner* and *Mirkwood Bats* help with resource generation and board presence. 2. **Removal and Control:** With efficient removal spells like *Swords to Plowshares*, *Path to Exile*, and *Mortify*, you can manage threats on the board while maintaining your own tempo. *Toxic Deluge* and *Fumigate* provide powerful board wipes when needed. 3. **Ramp and Fixing:** The inclusion of ramp spells like *Cultivate* and *Farseek*, along with mana rocks like *Sol Ring* and *Arcane Signet*, ensures you can cast your spells consistently and maintain a steady flow of mana. 4. **Loyalty and Resilience:** The presence of cards like *Sam, Loyal Attendant* and *Rosie Cotton of South Lane* reinforces the theme of loyalty and support, allowing you to bolster your creatures and gain life, which is crucial for longevity in games. 5. **Versatile Utility:** The deck features utility spells like *Dusk // Dawn*, which can help you recover from board wipes or bring back key creatures, and *Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit*, which can provide card advantage and life gain. **Good Points:** - **Thematic Cohesion:** The deck is rich in flavor and thematic elements from the lore, making it enjoyable for fans of "The Lord of the Rings." - **Flexibility:** With a mix of creatures, removal, and ramp, the deck can adapt to various game states and opponents, allowing for different strategies to emerge. - **Strong Removal Suite:** The combination of targeted removal and board wipes allows you to maintain control over the game and respond to threats effectively. - **Life Gain and Resilience:** Cards that provide life gain and creature recursion help you stay in the game longer and recover from setbacks. **Bad Points:** - **Mana Base Challenges:** The deck's mana base, while including several dual lands and utility lands, may struggle if not drawn properly, particularly with the three-color identity. - **Creature Reliance:** The strategy is heavily reliant on creatures, which can be problematic against decks that focus on mass removal or control strategies. - **Limited Win Conditions:** While the deck can generate value and board presence, it may lack a clear win condition, relying on overwhelming opponents with creatures rather than having a definitive game-ending strategy. - **Vulnerability to Graveyard Hate:** Since the deck includes recursion elements, it can be vulnerable to cards that exile or disrupt graveyards. ### Conclusion: Overall, the Pippin and Merry deck is a fun, thematic choice that embraces the spirit of fellowship and resilience. While it has its weaknesses, the combination of creature synergy, removal, and life gain can create a rewarding gameplay experience. With careful piloting and strategic decision-making, this deck can hold its own in a variety of Commander matchups.