Unpacking the Power of Benalish Commander

Benalish Commander is a formidable force on the Magic: The Gathering battlefield, leveraging its ability to scale with the number of Soldiers in play to become nearly unbeatable. This commander's versatility and potential for exponential growth make it a staple in various formats.

Mechanical Mastery

At first glance, Benalish Commander appears straightforward, but its mechanics are deceptively complex. When suspended, the commander generates an army of 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens that can attack and defend on their own. This ability allows Benalish Commander to scale with the number of Soldiers in play, increasing its power and toughness accordingly.

One key interaction worth noting is the "power and toughness" text. On its face, this might seem like a simple mechanic, but it actually enables Benalish Commander to create an army of smaller creatures that can independently attack and defend. For example, if you have 2 Soldiers in play, Benalish Commander's power and toughness will be 2, generating 2 1/1 Soldier creature tokens.

When a third Soldier enters the battlefield, the commander's power and toughness increase to 3, producing an additional 1/1 Soldier creature token. This exponential growth potential makes Benalish Commander a formidable force on the battlefield.

Exile-Based Generation

Another powerful aspect of Benalish Commander is its ability to generate creatures whenever a time counter is removed from it while it's exiled. This mechanic can be particularly effective in formats where counterspells are prevalent, such as Modern or Legacy. Whenever a time counter is removed from the commander while it's exiled, you create a new 1/1 white Soldier creature token.

This ability creates a powerful synergy with other decks that rely on generating additional creatures. By suspending Benalish Commander and creating an army of tokens, you can then use spells like Angelic Law or Rampant Growth to fuel further growth and create an overwhelming force on the battlefield.

Strategic Depth

Benalish Commander's versatility allows for a wide range of strategic applications. Here are a few key approaches:

• Token Generation: One of Benalish Commander's most obvious roles is token generation. By suspending itself and creating an army of 1/1 Soldier creature tokens, you can quickly overwhelm your opponent's life total.
• Card Advantage: In addition to its ability to generate tokens, Benalish Commander also has a powerful exile-based mechanic that creates new creatures when time counters are removed. This can provide significant card advantage in formats where counterspells are common.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Benalish Commander is typically built around the following deck roles:

• Token Generation: As mentioned earlier, token generation is one of Benalish Commander's most obvious strengths.
• Card Advantage: The exile-based mechanic also provides significant card advantage in formats where counterspells are prevalent.

In terms of deck archetypes, Benalish Commander often fits into the following categories:

• Mono-White Control: This archetype focuses on generating an army of tokens using Benalish Commander and other token-generating spells like Angelic Law or Rampant Growth. With a large array of 1/1 Soldier creature tokens, you can quickly overwhelm your opponent's life total.
• White Token Bombs: This archetype builds around the idea of generating an army of tokens using Benalish Commander and other token-generating spells. However, this archetype often relies on more aggressive plays to get in under your opponent's defenses.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Benalish Commander has a strong competitive context across multiple formats, particularly in Modern and Legacy. Its ability to scale with the number of Soldiers in play and generate an army of 1/1 tokens makes it a formidable force on the battlefield.

However, Benalish Commander also faces competition from other decks in these formats:

• Simic Ramp: Decks that focus on generating smaller creatures using cards like Simian Spirit Guide or Glimmering Essence can be particularly tough for Benalish Commander.
• Mill Decks: Decks that rely on counting down the game clock to win often have a hard time dealing with Benalish Commander, as its exile-based mechanic makes it difficult to maintain an advantage.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Benalish Commander has several rules interactions worth noting:

• Suspend X—{X}{W}{W}: The suspend cost of Benalish Commander can be paid in any order, as long as the total mana cost is paid.
• Create 1/1 white Soldier creature token: Whenever a time counter is removed from Benalish Commander while it's exiled, you create a new 1/1 white Soldier creature token. This ability only triggers when the commander returns to the battlefield, so be sure to pay attention to its exile status.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Benalish Commander is an iconic card in the Magic: The Gathering franchise, reflecting the values of the Benalish people. According to the official lore, Benalish Commander was created as a symbol of their military prowess and discipline.

In terms of art, Benalish Commander is often depicted as a stern-looking soldier with a commanding presence. This reflects its role as a commander who can scale up to take on even the toughest opponents.

Conclusion

Benalish Commander is a powerful and versatile card that leverages its ability to scale with the number of Soldiers in play. By suspending itself and generating an army of smaller creatures, Benalish Commander becomes nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. With careful deckbuilding and strategic use, Benalish Commander can become a dominant force in formats like Modern and Legacy.

However, it also faces competition from other decks, particularly those that rely on ramp or milling. As with any powerful commander, mastering Benalish Commander requires a deep understanding of its mechanics, strategic applications, and competitive context.