In today's article, we’re revisiting the Marvel Super Heroes (MSH) set, this time focusing on a commander that caught my eye due to the simplicity of its ability. Ironheart, Clever Champion offers a very straightforward approach to EDH, making the Improvise mechanic highly accessible and enabling a classic Mono-Blue artifact deck—but with an upgrade on its strengths!The Commander - IronheartIronheart, Clever Champion is a legendary 3/4 artifact creature for five mana, with Flying and Improvise. This establishes the deck as an "Affinity-style" build that seeks out numerous artifacts—particularly low-cost ones like Ornithopter and Darksteel Relic—so that your commander can enter the battlefield early.However, Ironheart offers more than just stats; she grants the Improvise ability to every non-creature spell we cast. This significantly alters the deck-building approach, as the board effectively becomes an extension of our mana base; even a Mishra’s Bauble transforms into a permanent addition to that resource pool, rather than serving merely as a disposable artifact to be sacrificed.Consequently, with the commander in play, every artifact serves a dual purpose: triggering its own effect and helping to pay for spells like Thoughtcast, Whir of Invention, The One Ring, Cyclonic Rift, or other key non-creature spells. This gives the deck a unique rhythm—flooding the board with artifacts first, dropping the commander, and then casting increasingly powerful spells with Ironheart’s assistance.The DeckThe list we’re looking at today is a Mono-Blue artifact deck focused on Improvise, card advantage, and some well-known EDH win conditions. Although Ironheart, Clever Champion can carry Equipment and attack through the air, we aren't exactly building a Voltron deck, nor is it a pure combo deck, as many games will be won simply by accumulating resources.The core idea is to cast artifacts during the early turns, use the commander to reduce the cost of non-creature spells, and find a way to snowball that advantage into a victory. Since we’re in Blue, we also have access to counterspells, card draw, and artifact tutors, giving the deck greater consistency than is usually seen in strategies relying solely on small permanents.Here is today’s deck:Card AdvantageMystic Remora and Rhystic Study do exactly what we expect of them in Commander, boosting our game by taxing opponents whenever they cast a spell. Meanwhile, The One Ring is another source of advantage that fits the strategy perfectly. With Ironheart on the battlefield, the four-mana cost becomes much easier to manage, and the protection it grants upon entering can buy time to stabilize the board. Thoughtcast and Thought Monitor are even more natural inclusions, as Affinity for Artifacts and Improvise synergize well, rewarding us for the number of artifacts we have in play.Vedalken Archmage rewards casting artifacts by drawing cards, ensuring we don't easily run out of steam. It doesn't need to stay on the battlefield long to generate value, especially since the deck is packed with low-cost artifacts.Mystic Forge and Sensei's Divining Top help manage the top of the library and can enable very long turns when combined with cost reducers or sufficient mana. The Reality Chip follows a similar approach, allowing the deck to better utilize the top of the library and find more pieces without relying solely on the hand.Forensic Gadgeteer serves as a support piece for this setup, aiding a deck that thrives on Clues, artifacts, and small permanents that stick around on the battlefield.Tutoring and RecoveringFabricate is one of the cleanest ways to find the right artifact at the right time. In some games, that will be The One Ring; in others, it might be Isochron Scepter, Aetherflux Reservoir, Sensei's Divining Top, or a piece of protection. Whir of Invention is even better suited to the commander's strategy, as it naturally features Improvise and can tutor artifacts directly onto the battlefield.Inventors' Fair serves a similar function in the late game, while Urza's Saga helps find low-cost artifacts and creates relevant bodies. Academy Ruins and Buried Ruin are important because artifact decks often struggle significantly against targeted removal hitting key pieces; having ways to recover these cards reduces the risk of being left without a plan following a well-timed interaction from opponents.Emry, Lurker of the Loch is one of the best creatures in the list, even in a deck where Ironheart only reduces the cost of non-creature spells. She capitalizes on the number of cheap artifacts, puts cards into the graveyard, and allows you to cast artifacts from there, serving as a secondary source of value throughout the game.Urza, Lord High Artificer is a well-known card in artifact decks, and here he synergizes perfectly with the concept of turning artifacts into mana. He also creates a relevant token and can become a value engine in longer games. Archway of Innovation and Hall of Tagsin reinforce the plan of using lands as part of the artifact engine—something always welcome in a list that aims to extract the maximum value from every permanent.EquipmentsEven though the deck isn't a Voltron build, Ironheart, Clever Champion has flying and a decent body, so running some Equipment—which also aids the Improvise mechanic—makes sense. Commander's Plate is one of the best options for mono-colored commanders, offering protection from multiple colors and increasing the commander's damage output.Blackblade Reforged can turn Ironheart into a significant source of commander damage, especially in longer games. Shadowspear helps with lifegain and bypassing protection, while Swiftfoot Boots and Hammer of Nazahn are included primarily to protect the commander and speed up her deployment.Interactions and ControlThe blue part of the list plays a strong role in interaction. Counterspell and Swan Song are efficient counterspells for protecting Ironheart, stopping opponent's combos, or countering removal aimed at key pieces. Since the deck can reduce the cost of non-creature spells via Improvise, we can often develop the board while still keeping interaction available. Commandeer is a high-cost "free spell," but it can drastically swing a game at the right moment. Rewind and Unwind align well with the strategy of keeping mana open, as they untap lands and allow you to continue playing after interacting.Cyclonic Rift is a well-known game-changer in the format, and here it can be cast easily when Ironheart turns artifacts into extra mana. Back to Basics and Ward of Bones must be used with great caution depending on the board state, but they can hold back decks that utilize mana and permanents more effectively than ours—such as Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice.Aether Spellbomb and Tormod's Crypt are prime examples of low-cost cards that serve multiple functions. They offer interaction, remain on the battlefield to fuel Improvise, and can even be reused by Emry, Lurker of the Loch or other cards, as needed.Win ConditionsIsochron Scepter with Dramatic Reversal is a classic combo in decks packed with mana-generating artifacts. When there are enough mana rocks and improvise enablers to generate more mana than the combo costs to activate, it allows for massive mana generation, untapping artifacts, and setting up a win.Aetherflux Reservoir is one of the most direct ways to turn long turns into a victory, given the deck's ability to cast multiple low-cost spells and reduce costs via the commander. Hullbreaker Horror also serves as an endgame control piece, bouncing permanents to hand and creating a board state where opponents struggle to rebuild.Jace, Wielder of Mysteries appears as an alternative win condition, particularly in lists capable of drawing large numbers of cards using The One Ring, Mystic Forge, The Reality Chip, and chains of cheap artifacts. While not the primary path in every game, it is a key way to win when the deck enters a high-velocity draw phase. If playing at higher power levels, Thassa’s Oracle is a strong inclusion here.Playing the DeckA good opening hand typically contains two or three lands, at least one low-cost artifact, and some form of ramp or card draw. Since Ironheart costs five mana but has Improvise, building a solid foundation of artifacts helps to get her out early—even if they aren't mana rocks.In the early game, the goal is to develop your artifacts and lands without drawing too much attention. Playing Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Mishra's Bauble, Ornithopter, and other small artifacts creates the framework the commander needs. Ironheart then enters the fray, converting that board state into acceleration for our non-creature spells.In the mid-game, the key is sequencing your plays correctly. It isn't always worth tapping every artifact to discount a spell, as some possess relevant abilities or generate mana. The deck's strength lies in knowing when to use artifacts for Improvise and when to keep them available for interaction, protection, or activating abilities.When it's time to close out the game, we need to identify the most viable path to victory. Some matches will be won with Aetherflux Reservoir, others via the Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal combo, and others simply by attacking through the air with an equipped Ironheart while controlling the board. The deck doesn't need to commit to a single win condition, making it a very engaging deck to play.Closing ThoughtsIt’s always fun to see how, in a world of complex and nuanced effects, simplicity often stands out. The effect of Ironheart, Clever Champion is here to significantly upgrade the classic Mono-Blue Affinity, rather than turning it into a weird, different deck that relies entirely on the commander's presence and struggles with pacing without her.
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