Deck Primer / Description

A commander that encourages politics and looking for opportunities to impact the game. Starke of Rath can be used to destroy your own permanents, so I load up on targets, steal effects, and untaps that allow you to use Starke twice in a stack so you can keep control after he destroys something.

Includes plenty of expendable cards that give benefit on ETB and LTB (Patron of the Arts, Ichor Wellspring, etc.) or LTB (Dragon Egg, Flameskull, Balor).

Steal cards (Captivating Crew, Act of Treason, Claim the Firstborn, etc.) can be used to take an enemy creature, attack with it, and then destroy it with Starke. You're the controller when it's destroyed so you retain Starke. If you've lost control of Starke you can use a steal to temporarily take him back and then destroy one of your own cards to retain control permanently.

Starke combo with Patriar's Seal allows you to target your own permanent for destruction, then untap Starke with the Seal and target an opponent permanent. When the stack resolves, Starke transfers to the opponent and then back to you at the bottom of the stack. A similar trick can be done with Sanctum of Eternity where you activate the return to your hand then activate Starke in response. Sanctum returns commanders you own, so control doesn't factor in to the bounce effect.

If you do have to use Starke on an opponent permanent, try to wait until after their untap on their turn. They will be getting Starke tapped so they won't be able to use him until their next turn, giving you a chance to steal him back on your turn if you pull the right card.

Note: Brash Taunter is indestructible, so Starke can continuously target Taunter giving you control of Starke with no loss of a permanent.

Devil generators (Zariel, Archduke of Avernus, Devils' Playground, etc.) included to create cannon fodder that also does direct damage on LTB (and an actual cannon with Makeshift Munitions).

Plenty of damage spells that can be recast from the grave with Mizzix's Mastery. With MIzzix in the deck, I avoid damage spells with X casting cost.

Chandras for more chip damage and ultimate wipes against a player (more chances for politics!).

Double or quadruple all damage with Dictate of the Twin Gods and Furnace of Rath. Paired with the (-2) ability on Chandra, the Firebrand or Mizzix can be spicy.

Liquimetal artis allow Starke to target any non-land perm (Liquimetal Torque) or any perm including lands (Liquimetal Coating).