Original / 100-CARD BUILD

The Council of Four

Azorius

There is value in company.

Two spells, another recruit. Browse the original’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

Original is a Knight combat deck with a draw engine in the command zone. Knight entries and attacks build cards, while second-spell turns make more Knights for the next attack.

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
Two spells, another recruit
Cast two spells in one turn with the Council in play to make a Knight token. Worthy Knight separately makes a Human token when you cast a Knight spell, so a Knight as the second spell can develop both engines. Humans do not automatically gain Knight-only bonuses.
- The Council of Four
- Worthy Knight
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.
Worthy Knight
Whenever you cast a Knight spell, create a 1/1 white Human creature token.
03CARRY IT THROUGH
Give the cavalry a clear route
Herald of Hoofbeats gives your other Knights horsemanship, limiting which creatures can block them. Knight Exemplar strengthens the other Knights and gives them indestructible. The Exemplar does not protect itself, and indestructible does not stop exile or toughness reduction.
- Herald of Hoofbeats
- Knight Exemplar
Rules text for these cards
Herald of Hoofbeats
Horsemanship (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship.) Other Knights you control have horsemanship.
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.)

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 of the Holy Nimbus

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.) If this creature would be destroyed, regenerate it. (Tap it, remove it from combat, and heal all damage on it.) {2}: This creature can't be regenerated this turn. Only your opponents may activate this ability.

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

Fiendslayer Paladin

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) This creature can't be the target of black or red spells your opponents control.

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.

Knight of Grace

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Hexproof from black (This creature can't be the target of black spells or abilities your opponents control.) This creature gets +1/+0 as long as any player controls a black permanent.

Syr Alin, the Lion's Claw

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Whenever Syr Alin attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

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

33 cards

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 2–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 2–Mid 3

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

Knight draw and evasion make cohesive combat pressure, with ordinary rocks and counters rather than a compact tutored combo. The five-mana commander is a value engine, not a fast win by itself.

Assembly and timing: A board and a later attack are needed for most finishes. Second-draw thresholds are once per active player turn and do not chain recursively.

Recovery and constraints: Indestructible and protection help, but exile or commander removal can dismantle a tribal board; card draw can rebuild it.

Curve: 3.11 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: Kindred Discovery · Herald of Hoofbeats · Knight Exemplar · The Council of Four.

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.