Defeating an opponent in Magic: The Gathering can be approached in many ways. The most familiar techniques are draining their life points or milling their entire library, but a particularly clever method involves one of the game’s longest-running strategies: poison counters.
In the Commander format, poison counters are particularly potent since only 10 counters are needed to knock out a player, which is usually easier than dealing 40 points of damage or milling 100 cards. Pairing poison counters with deathtouch creates a powerful combination, making Fynn the Fangbearer an ideal commander for your gaming sessions.
The Commander: Fynn, the Fangbearer
Fynn, the Fangbearer is an excellent commander choice due to his simplicity, low mana cost, and effectiveness. As a 1/3 Human Warrior with deathtouch for just two mana, he enhances all of your creatures with deathtouch. Moreover, any player hit by your creatures in combat will receive two poison counters.
This ability is compelling for numerous reasons. First, deathtouch is a strong defensive trait in a multiplayer Commander game. It raises the stakes for anyone attempting to attack you. Players are often reluctant to send in their powerful creatures if they risk their valuable assets against a seemingly weak deathtouch creature.
As a result, a deck full of deathtouch creatures will discourage most players from attacking you. Additionally, converting deathtouch damage into poison counters significantly boosts your offensive capabilities.
Keep in mind that just 10 poison counters can eliminate an opponent, compared to 40 life points, meaning that every two poison counters represent roughly eight points of damage.
In summary, a deathtouch-heavy deck not only offers superior defensive strategies but also puts you ahead in the race for damage through poison counters. With an easy-to-cast commander, multiple ways to deliver damage, and cards that proliferate, you’ll have a consistently threatening deck.
Building Your Fynn, the Fangbearer Commander Deck
The first consideration for any Fynn deck is including creatures with deathtouch, which are plentiful in mono-green. You’ll find numerous options ranging from budget-friendly choices to more expensive picks in terms of both mana cost and market price.
Proliferate is another keyword to consider. It allows you to increase your opponents’ poison counters without needing to deal direct combat damage. It acts like direct damage without inflicting "damage" in the traditional sense.
You’ll also enjoy the usual perks of mono-green, such as efficient mana ramp, clever combat tricks, and ample opportunities for card draw, often linked to damage dealt or creatures you cast.
Deathtouch and Other Poison-Generating Creatures
You have plenty of 1/1 deathtouch creatures to choose from, including options like Moss Viper and Sedge Scorpion, but others like Narnam Renegade, Gnarlwood Dryad, and Wasteland Viper offer even more for a single mana.
At two mana, you gain access to creatures like Deadly Recluse or Ambush Viper, which introduce additional keywords, or ramp options like Poison Dart Frog and Nightshade Dryad. Flexible removal options are also available at this level with cards like Cankerbloom and Kappa Tech-Wrecker.
When you reach three mana and beyond, you’ll find creatures like Skullwinder, Bloodroot Apothecary, and Okahame Adversary that provide even greater benefits, alongside four-mana creatures like Saryth, the Viper’s Fang and Questing Beast.
By five mana or more, cards like Contaminant Grafter, Phyrexian Swarmlord, Hornet Queen, and Tyrranax Rex can help you rack up poison counters quickly. With Fynn in play, these creatures can quickly finish a game.
Proliferate
Eventually, your opponents will start blocking your deathtouch creatures, even if it means losing their own. When that happens, it’s time to turn to proliferate.
Proliferate allows you to increase the number of poison counters on opponents by one without having to deal combat damage. Cards like Evolution Sage can trigger proliferate whenever you play a land, while Cankerbloom can offer you either proliferate or removal for artifacts and enchantments, depending on what you need.
Most proliferate spells will come in sorcery form, with options such as Thirsting Roots, Smell Fear, Unnatural Restoration, and Carnivorous Canopy providing various benefits.
Other ways to proliferate include artifacts like Contagion Clasp, Contagion Engine, or using Karn’s Bastion for repeat proliferate triggers.
Ramp, Card Draw, and Good Green Cards
Don’t forget about core green staples to fill out your deck. Acidic Slime offers both deathtouch and removal. You might also consider Heroic Intervention or Overprotect for combat tricks and protection for Fynn. For mana ramp, cards like Nature’s Lore and Cultivate will prove invaluable, while Harmonize, Guardian Project, and Snake Umbra offer substantial card draw.
Green also boasts some effective removal with Beast Within, Infection Bite, and Kenrith’s Transformation, alongside Archdruid’s Charm, which can provide either ramp or removal. Consider including cards like Triumph of the Hordes or Noxious Assault, which can serve as potential game-ending plays.
Suggested Deck List for Fynn, the Fangbearer
Here’s a sample deck list to get you started with Fynn, the Fangbearer:
Commander (1)
- Fynn, the Fangbearer
Creatures (33)
- Narnam Renegade
- Gnarlwood Dryad
- Wasteland Viper
- Venerated Rotpriest
- Ambush Viper
- Cankerbloom
- Deadly Recluse
- Ruins Recluse
- Thornweald Archer
- Blight Mamba
- Poison Dart Frog
- Nightshade Dryad
- Kappa Tech-Wrecker
- Evolution Sage
- Ichorspit Basilisk
- Skullwinder
- Bloodroot Apothecary
- Okahame Adversary
- Saryth, the Viper’s Fang
- Beast Whisperer
- Questing Beast
- Acidic Slime
- Bellowing Tanglewurm
- Ohran Frostfang
- Contaminant Grafter
- Hornet Queen
- Phyrexian Swarmlord
- Tyrranax Rex
Planeswalkers (1)
- Vivien, Champion of the Wilds
Sorceries (9)
- Thirsting Roots
- Smell Fear
- Unnatural Restoration
- Cultivate
- Carnivorous Canopy
- Harmonize
- Triumph of the Hordes
- Noxious Assault
- Nature’s Lore
Instants (6)
- Infectious Bite
- Cosmic Hunger
- Heroic Intervention
- Overprotect
- Beast Within
- Archdruid’s Charm
Enchantments (6)
- Wild Growth
- Guardian Project
- Hunter’s Talent
- Kenrith’s Transformation
- Snake Umbra
- Asceticism
Artifacts (9)
- Sol Ring
- Glistening Sphere
- Swiftfoot Boots
- Hunter’s Bow
- Contagion Clasp
- Rhona’s Monument
- Lifecrafter’s Bestiary
- Whispersilk Cloak
- Contagion Engine
Lands (35)
- Rogue’s Passage
- Access Tunnel
- Escape Tunnel
- Karn’s Bastion
- Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
- War Room
- Castle Garenbrig
- Inkmoth Nexus
- Boseiju, Who Endures
- Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
- Forest (25)
Budget Substitutions
While the overall cost of a Fynn, the Fangbearer deck is generally manageable, some cards on the list may be pricier. Here are some budget-friendly alternatives:
- Bloodroot Apothecary → Hornet Nest, Axebane Ferox, Flesh Burrower
- Tyrranax Rex → God-Eternal Rhonas, Somerwald Beastmaster, Kura, the Boundless Sky
- Triumph of the Hordes → Shamanic Revelation, Planewide Celebration
- Heroic Intervention → Tamiyo’s Safekeeping, Snakeskin Veil, Gaea’s Gift, Horrid Vigor
- Archdruid’s Charm → Krosan Grip, Return to Nature
- Guardian Project → Toski, Bearer of Secrets
- Asceticism → Glorious Sunrise
- Glistening Sphere → Arcane Signet, Phyrexian Atlas, Heraldic Banner
- Boseiju, Who Endures → Tranquil Thicket
- Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx → Myriad Landscape, Blighted Woodland, Temple of the False God
Tips for Playing Fynn, the Fangbearer in Commander
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Try to sneak in a few poison counters early in the game before your opponents can build their defenses. A small number of poison counters can be crucial, especially when using proliferate or spells like Noxious Assault.
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Don’t play too aggressively. Deathtouch works best on the defensive side, and eventually, you can sneak your creatures through using protections like Whispersilk Cloak or Rogue’s Passage.
- Save your proliferate spells for moments when you need just a couple more poison counters to secure a victory. This way, your opponents may only have counterspells available as a defense.
