Theros Beyond Death introduces a new Therosian Planeswalker to Magic Story: Calix, Destiny’s Hand. Calix was created by Klothys, the god of destiny, to bring Elspeth back to the Underworld and restore order to Theros.
As Klothys’ champion, Calix has a close relationship to the enchantment-based magic that keeps Theros running. His loyalty abilities reflect that, presenting an interesting deck-building challenge to brewers who love enchantments. Here are some deck-building ideas for a Calix Brawl deck that takes advantage of all the enchantments Theros Beyond Death has to offer.
Choosing Creatures
Calix’s plus ability lets you search the top four cards of your deck for an enchantment and put it into your hand. His minus ability turns any of your enchantments into an extra Banishing Light, and his ultimate ability returns all enchantments from your graveyard to your battlefield. The best way to make use of these abilities is to make sure as many of your cards as possible are enchantments, and that as many of those enchantments as possible are enchantment creatures.
In order to maximize the benefits of playing enchantment creatures, you’ll also want to include some non-enchantment creatures with constellation, like Pious Wayfarer and Setessan Champion, as well as creatures that reward you for casting creatures, like Beast Whisperer. Starfield Mystic is also a great card to include because the discount it gives you for casting enchantments applies to most of your creatures as well.
Choosing Noncreature Spells
Of course, not all your enchantments have to be enchantment creatures. Many green and white creatures in Theros Beyond Death lend themselves to an “auras” strategy. The most exciting aura to include in this deck is Hydra’s Growth, which increases a creature’s power more and more every turn until it becomes unstoppable. Commanding Presence is another good card to include to build up your board, and Sentinel’s Eyes can escape to buff multiple creatures over the course of a game.
Since auras only affect one creature at a time, this deck might be a good home for Angelic Exaltation – you can attack with one enchanted creature while also benefiting from having lots of creatures in play. You’ll also want some enchantments with flash that you can use as combat tricks, including Omen of the Sun. Banishing Light and Conclave Tribunal provide protection from your opponents’ permanents.
There are also some spells you’ll want to include that aren’t creatures or enchantments. Altar of the Pantheon will increase your access to colored mana, as well as increasing your devotion to the Gods and Demigods in your deck. Flicker of Fate allows you to protect your creatures from removal or move auras from target to target. Bear in mind, though, that adding these cards to your deck will reduce your chances of finding an enchantment with Calix’s plus ability.
Choosing Lands
This deck includes a lot of spells that cast for two or three of the same color, so it’s important to get access to both green and white as quickly as possible. I’ve included all the Standard-legal lands that produce both green and white mana, as well as Castle Garenbrig, which can facilitate casting more expensive spells like Nyxbloom Ancient.
Destiny’s Child
This decklist shows off Calix’s connections to and power over the divine enchantments of Theros. Use it as a base for your own Calix deck, and let us know which cards you like best!
Commander
Calix, Destiny’s Hand
Creatures
Alseid of Life’s Bounty
Arasta of the Endless Web
Beast Whisperer
Captivating Unicorn
Dawn Evangel
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
Destiny Spinner
Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
Eidolon of Inspiration
Eidolon of Obstruction
Glory Bearers
Heliod, Sun-Crowned
Impassioned Orator
Nessian Wanderer
Nylea, Keen-Eyed
Nylea’s Forerunner
Nyxbloom Ancient
Nyx Herald
Pious Wayfarer
Renata, Called to the Hunt
Setessan Champion
Skola Grovedancer
Starfield Mystic
Transcendent Envoy
Noncreature Spells
Altar of the Pantheon
Angelic Exaltation
Banishing Light
Commanding Presence
Conclave Tribunal
Flicker of Fate
Hydra’s Growth
Omen of the Sun
Omen of the Hunt
Sentinel’s Eyes
Setessan Training
Lands
Blossoming Sands
Castle Garenbrig
Selesnya Guildgate
Temple Garden
Temple of Plenty
9 Plains
10 Forest
Alex is an Azorius bureaucrat who dreams of joining the Selesnya Conclave. Their favorite color of mana is green, and they love brewing for Commander variants.