Rafiq of the Many: A Legendary Knight for Aggressive Strategies

Rafiq of the Many is a legendary human knight with an exalted ability that boosts the power and toughness of attacking creatures. This card can be a formidable addition to aggressive strategies, but its unique abilities also introduce complexities that must be carefully considered.

The Exalted Ability: Power and Toughness Boosts

Rafiq's exalted ability grants an additional +1/+1 bonus to any creature controlled by him that attacks alone. This power boost is only activated when the attacking creature is not accompanied by other creatures, however. It also applies whenever Rafiq attacks with his own combat phase.

Self-Sustaining Effects and Double Strike

One of the most interesting aspects of Rafiq's exalted ability is its potential to create self-sustaining effects. When a creature attacks alone, it gains double strike as an added bonus. This can lead to a snowball effect if multiple creatures are attacking together, with each one gaining more power and toughness over time.

However, there is also a risk of leaving creatures isolated for too long. If a creature is left without the support of other creatures or Rafiq's exalted ability, it may struggle to stay relevant on the battlefield. Therefore, finding the right balance between creating threats and disrupting opponents' plans while keeping other potential benefits intact is crucial.

Strategic Uses and Combos

One of the most potent ways Rafiq can be used in strategy is as part of a combo involving removal spells and board sweepers to clear space for your creatures to advance. By using cards that are great at dealing damage or clearing the board with high efficiency, you might want to build your deck around Rafiq.

Some possible combinations include:

• Removal Spells: Cards like Sword of Light and Shadow or Path to Exile can help clear the way for your creatures to attack.
• Board Sweepers: Spells like Abrupt Decay or Chandra's Defiance can quickly sweep away opponents' threats, allowing your creatures to take center stage.

Additionally, if you're looking to create a more controlling strategy that leverages exalted and double strike synergies effectively, pairing Rafiq with removal spells and other cards that generate threats while also being able to clear the board can be an excellent way to build a cohesive game plan.

Example Combinations: * Combo 1: "Removal" Combo * Remove opponent's creature using Sword of Light and Shadow * Attack with Rafiq, followed by Abrupt Decay to clear the board * Combo 2: "Threat Generation" Combo * Use Kozilek's Return to return a creature to its owner's hand * Attack with Rafiq and the returned creature, then use Path to Exile to clear the board

Gameplan Considerations

While Rafiq can be an excellent addition to aggressive strategies, there are several gameplan considerations to keep in mind.

• Creatures: Finding creatures that benefit from Rafiq's exalted ability and can withstand the double strike effect is crucial.
• Board Control: Using cards like Sword of Light and Shadow or Path to Exile to clear space for your creatures to attack can help you maintain board control.
• Threat Generation: Finding ways to generate threats while also being able to clear the board quickly will help you stay ahead of your opponents.

Conclusion

Rafiq of the Many is a powerful card that can be used in a variety of strategies. By carefully considering its exalted ability, self-sustaining effects, and gameplan considerations, players can unlock its full potential and create formidable aggressive decks.