Optimized / 100-CARD BUILD

The Council of Four

Azorius

There is value in company.

Let the board help recruit the next threat. Browse the optimized’s cards and rules.

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MEET YOUR COMMANDERThe Council of Four

The Council of Four · Featured commander

STRATEGY · 3 PHASES

How this build plays

Optimized keeps the Knight draw-and-evasion core while replacing several small Knights with scalable bodies and token production. The new bodies can use the existing board rather than just adding another anthem recipient.

01SET THE STAGE
Invite the Knights into the library
Choose Knight for Kindred Discovery. A Knight entering or attacking draws a card, and your second draw on your own turn triggers the Council for another card. The Council checks the second draw only once on each player’s turn; its extra draw does not restart that threshold.
- The Council of Four
- Kindred Discovery
Rules text for these cards
The Council of Four
Whenever a player draws their second card during their turn, you draw a card. Whenever a player casts their second spell during their turn, you create a 2/2 white Knight creature token.
Kindred Discovery
As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type. Whenever a creature you control of the chosen type enters or attacks, draw a card.
02BUILD THE ENGINE
Let the board help recruit the next threat
Knight-Errant of Eos has convoke, letting creatures help pay for it. The number that convoked it sets the mana-value ceiling for the creatures its entry can find. Council-made Knight tokens can contribute, but convoking those tokens may leave them unavailable as blockers that turn.
- The Council of Four
- Knight-Errant of Eos
Rules text for these cards
The Council of Four
Whenever a player draws their second card during their turn, you draw a card. Whenever a player casts their second spell during their turn, you create a 2/2 white Knight creature token.
Knight-Errant of Eos
Convoke When this creature enters, look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal up to two creature cards with mana value X or less from among them, where X is the number of creatures that convoked this creature. Put the revealed cards into your hand, then shuffle.
03CARRY IT THROUGH
The squadron grows behind an evasive attack
Silverwing Squadron’s power follows your creature count and its attacks create Knight tokens for each opponent. Herald of Hoofbeats gives the Squadron and the other Knights horsemanship. The new tokens are not attacking automatically and need a later opportunity to join combat.
- Silverwing Squadron
- Herald of Hoofbeats
Rules text for these cards
Silverwing Squadron
Flying, vigilance Silverwing Squadron's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control. Whenever this creature attacks, create a number of 2/2 white Knight creature tokens with vigilance equal to the number of opponents you have.
Herald of Hoofbeats
Horsemanship (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship.) Other Knights you control have horsemanship.

Explore this build

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The Council of Four

Whenever a player draws their second card during their turn, you draw a card. Whenever a player casts their second spell during their turn, you create a 2/2 white Knight creature token.

Dauntless Bodyguard

As this creature enters, choose another creature you control. Sacrifice this creature: The chosen creature gains indestructible until end of turn.

Knight of the White Orchid

First strike When this creature enters, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Knight-Errant of Eos

Convoke When this creature enters, look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal up to two creature cards with mana value X or less from among them, where X is the number of creatures that convoked this creature. Put the revealed cards into your hand, then shuffle.

Worthy Knight

Whenever you cast a Knight spell, create a 1/1 white Human creature token.

Marshal of Zhalfir

Other Knights you control get +1/+1. {W}{U}, {T}: Tap another target creature.

Acclaimed Contender

When this creature enters, if you control another Knight, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Knight, Aura, Equipment, or legendary artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.

Silverblade Paladin

Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as this creature is paired with another creature, both creatures have double strike.

Knight Exemplar

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Other Knight creatures you control get +1/+1 and have indestructible. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy them.)

Benalish Marshal

Other creatures you control get +1/+1.

Guardian of Faith

Flash Vigilance When this creature enters, any number of other target creatures you control phase out. (Treat them and anything attached to them as though they don't exist until their controller's next turn.)

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

Vigilance Adeline's power is equal to the number of creatures you control. Whenever you attack, for each opponent, create a 1/1 white Human creature token that's tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control.

Lyev Skyknight

Flying When this creature enters, detain target nonland permanent an opponent controls. (Until your next turn, that permanent can't attack or block and its activated abilities can't be activated.)

Xerex Strobe-Knight

Flying, vigilance {T}: Create a 2/2 white and blue Knight creature token with vigilance. Activate only if you've cast two or more spells this turn.

Grand Abolisher

During your turn, your opponents can't cast spells or activate abilities of artifacts, creatures, or enchantments.

Battle Angels of Tyr

Flying, myriad Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card if that player has more cards in hand than each other player. Then you create a Treasure token if that player controls more lands than each other player. Then you gain 3 life if that player has more life than each other player.

Kinsbaile Cavalier

Knight creatures you control have double strike.

Valiant Knight

Other Knights you control get +1/+1. {3}{W}{W}: Knights you control gain double strike until end of turn.

Herald of Hoofbeats

Horsemanship (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship.) Other Knights you control have horsemanship.

Vodalian Wave-Knight

Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on each other Merfolk and/or Knight you control.

Knight of the New Coalition

Vigilance When this creature enters, create a 2/2 white and blue Knight creature token with vigilance.

Hero of Bladehold

Battle cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.) Whenever this creature attacks, create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens that are tapped and attacking.

Cavalier of Dawn

Vigilance When this creature enters, destroy up to one target nonland permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token. When this creature dies, return target artifact or enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.

Dion, Bahamut's Dominant

Dragonfire Dive — During your turn, Dion and other Knights you control have flying. When Dion enters, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token. {4}{W}{W}, {T}: Exile Dion, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. Activate only as a sorcery. (As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I, II — Wings of Light — Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control. Those creatures gain flying until end of turn. III — Gigaflare — Destroy target permanent. Exile Bahamut, then return it to the battlefield (front face up). Flying

Summon: Knights of Round

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after V.) I, II, III, IV — Create three 2/2 white Knight creature tokens. V — Ultimate End — Other creatures you control get +2/+2 until end of turn. Put an indestructible counter on each of them. Indestructible

Mirran Crusader

Double strike, protection from black and from green

Skyhunter Strike Force

Flying Melee (Whenever this creature attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each opponent you attacked this combat.) Lieutenant — As long as you control your commander, other creatures you control have melee.

Riders of Gavony

Vigilance As this creature enters, choose a creature type. Human creatures you control have protection from creatures of the chosen type.

Basri's Lieutenant

Vigilance, protection from multicolored When this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Whenever this creature or another creature you control dies, if it had a +1/+1 counter on it, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.

Thistledown Liege

Flash Other white creatures you control get +1/+1. Other blue creatures you control get +1/+1.

Invasion of New Phyrexia

(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it's defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.) When this Siege enters, create X 2/2 white and blue Knight creature tokens with vigilance. +1: Draw two cards. Then discard two cards unless you discard a creature card. −2: You get an emblem with "Knights you control get +1/+0 and have ward {1}." −3: Tap any number of untapped creatures you control. When you do, shuffle target nonland permanent an opponent controls with mana value X or less into its owner's library, where X is the number of creatures tapped this way.

Silverwing Squadron

Flying, vigilance Silverwing Squadron's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control. Whenever this creature attacks, create a number of 2/2 white Knight creature tokens with vigilance equal to the number of opponents you have.

Sol Ring

{T}: Add {C}{C}.

Arcane Signet

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Azorius Signet

{1}, {T}: Add {W}{U}.

Talisman of Progress

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W} or {U}. This artifact deals 1 damage to you.

Mind Stone

{T}: Add {C}. {1}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.

Fellwar Stone

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Herald's Horn

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. Creature spells you cast of the chosen type cost {1} less to cast. At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. If it's a creature card of the chosen type, you may reveal it and put it into your hand.

Sword of the Animist

Equipped creature gets +1/+1. Whenever equipped creature attacks, you may search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Equip {2}

History of Benalia

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I, II — Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance. III — Knights you control get +2/+1 until end of turn.

The Circle of Loyalty

Affinity for Knights (This spell costs {1} less to cast for each Knight you control.) Creatures you control get +1/+1. Whenever you cast a legendary spell, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance. {3}{W}, {T}: Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.

Chivalric Alliance

Whenever you attack with two or more creatures, draw a card. {2}, Discard a card: Create a 2/2 white and blue Knight creature token with vigilance.

Kindred Discovery

As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type. Whenever a creature you control of the chosen type enters or attacks, draw a card.

Vanquisher's Banner

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. Whenever you cast a creature spell of the chosen type, draw a card.

Radiant Destiny

Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. As long as you have the city's blessing, they also have vigilance.

Icon of Ancestry

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. {3}, {T}: Look at the top three cards of your library. You may reveal a creature card of the chosen type from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.

Anointed Procession

If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead.

Swords to Plowshares

Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.

Path to Exile

Exile target creature. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.

Generous Gift

Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Elephant creature token.

Counterspell

Counter target spell.

Dovin's Veto

This spell can't be countered. Counter target noncreature spell.

Galadriel's Dismissal

Kicker {2}{W} (You may pay an additional {2}{W} as you cast this spell.) Target creature phases out. If this spell was kicked, each creature target player controls phases out instead. (Treat phased-out creatures and anything attached to them as though they don't exist until their controller's next turn.)

Austere Command

Choose two — • Destroy all artifacts. • Destroy all enchantments. • Destroy all creatures with mana value 3 or less. • Destroy all creatures with mana value 4 or greater.

Unbreakable Formation

Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. Addendum — If you cast this spell during your main phase, put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures and they gain vigilance until end of turn.

Flawless Maneuver

If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.

And They Shall Know No Fear

Choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+0 and gain indestructible until end of turn.

Akroma's Will

Choose one. If you control a commander as you cast this spell, you may choose both instead. • Creatures you control gain flying, vigilance, and double strike until end of turn. • Creatures you control gain lifelink, indestructible, and protection from each color until end of turn.

Selfless Spirit

Flying Sacrifice this creature: Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.

Smuggler's Share

At the beginning of each end step, draw a card for each opponent who drew two or more cards this turn, then create a Treasure token for each opponent who had two or more lands enter the battlefield under their control this turn.

Tocasia's Welcome

Whenever one or more creatures you control with mana value 3 or less enter, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.

Reprieve

Return target spell to its owner's hand. Draw a card.

Bennie Bracks, Zoologist

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.) At the beginning of each end step, if you created a token this turn, draw a card.

Command Tower

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Exotic Orchard

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Adarkar Wastes

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W} or {U}. This land deals 1 damage to you.

Nimbus Maze

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W}. Activate only if you control an Island. {T}: Add {U}. Activate only if you control a Plains.

Mystic Gate

{T}: Add {C}. {W/U}, {T}: Add {W}{W}, {W}{U}, or {U}{U}.

Skycloud Expanse

{1}, {T}: Add {W}{U}.

Unclaimed Territory

As this land enters, choose a creature type. {T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast a creature spell of the chosen type.

Secluded Courtyard

As this land enters, choose a creature type. {T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast a creature spell of the chosen type or activate an ability of a creature source of the chosen type.

War Room

{T}: Add {C}. {3}, {T}, Pay life equal to the number of colors in your commanders' color identity: Draw a card.

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

{T}: Add {W}. Channel — {2}{W}, Discard this card: It deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.

Plains

({T}: Add {W}.)

Island

({T}: Add {U}.)

Commander

1 card

1×The Council of FourLegendary Creature — Human Noble · Printing not specified

Creature

32 cards

Battle

1 card

1×Invasion of New PhyrexiaBattle — Siege · Printing not specified

Artifact

11 cards

Enchantment

7 cards

1×History of BenaliaEnchantment — Saga · Printing not specified 1×Chivalric AllianceEnchantment · Printing not specified 1×Kindred DiscoveryEnchantment · Printing not specified 1×Radiant DestinyEnchantment · Printing not specified 1×Anointed ProcessionEnchantment · Printing not specified 1×Smuggler's ShareEnchantment · Printing not specified 1×Tocasia's WelcomeEnchantment · Printing not specified

Instant

11 cards

Sorcery

1 card

1×Austere CommandSorcery · Printing not specified

Land

36 cards

PREGAME CONVERSATION · Planned

Commander Bracket Assessment

Rules-Based Bracket: No raised minimumEstimated Power Bracket: Mid 3

Based on the 100-card main deck; sideboard excluded. The Rules-Based Bracket is the lowest bracket this card list allows under Commander bracket rules. The Estimated Power Bracket is a personal estimate of how strongly the deck plays. It is not an official rating.

Evidence and limitations

Rules-Based Bracket · minimum

No raised minimum found in the checked restrictions. This does not establish Exhibition intent, Core fit or absence of every possible combo.

Exact Game Changers: None.

Mass land denial registry: None identified in the checked registry. Modal or repeated-land targeting still requires a pregame discussion.

Your extra-turn cards: None identified in the checked registry. Opponent turns from Emrakul or gifts are not counted as your own chain.

Confirmed early two-card lethal or turn-chain flags are not inferred from keywords. This is a lower bound, not a complete combo solver or permission to delay a consistently early line until turn seven. Agreed Rule Zero / Exhibition exceptions are outside this ordinary-restriction check.

Estimated Power Bracket · Mid 3

Estimated from the card list alone, not from tracked win rates or game results.

Convoke selection and scalable Knight production use an existing board more efficiently. This is a change in combat development, not evidence of a new instant two-card win.

Assembly and timing: Convoke needs bodies; Squadron needs an attack. No reliable early combo finish is verified, despite stronger board scaling than Original.

Recovery and constraints: Selection and repeated tokens improve rebuilding, while sweepers or evasion removal still expose the combat plan.

Curve: 3.17 average nonland mana value. Cheap mana/land-search text: Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Azorius Signet · Talisman of Progress · Mind Stone · Fellwar Stone · Sword of the Animist. This text-derived reading aid is not an official score.

Search-library evidence: Knight of the White Orchid · Sword of the Animist. This includes restricted and land searches; efficient tutor overlap is reviewed separately above. There is no official tutor-count cap.

Fast mana indicators: Sol Ring. Conditional free interaction: None identified in the checked registry. Conditions and resource costs still apply.

Key cards: Knight-Errant of Eos · Silverwing Squadron · Invasion of New Phyrexia · Herald of Hoofbeats.

Official sources checked 2026-10-31; criteria update 2025-10-21, Game Changers update 2026-02-09. Method and official source links. Brackets 4 and 5 share structural freedom; competitive intent cannot be inferred from these counts.