How to build Thorin Oakenshield in Commander

Ways to build it

Why it's worth building

Storied asks you to control three or more artifacts, legendaries and/or Sagas at the same time. Thorin is legendary, so he is already one of the three. Once you get there, you have an enduring story for the rest of the game, even if those permanents leave later.

From then on your artifacts and creatures have ward {1}, so an opponent's spells and abilities that target them get countered unless that player pays {1}. Dori, Bearer of Friends gets you two pieces at once (a legendary creature and a Treasure), and Dwarven Mattock attaches itself to a Dwarf such as Thorin for free when it enters.

How the deck plays

Several Dwarves check the same enduring story. Fíli the Pathfinder gives your creatures +1/+1 once you have it and makes a 2/2 Dwarf token whenever a nontoken Dwarf enters. Dáin, Lord of the Iron Hills makes opponents pay {1} for each creature that attacks you. Thorin's trample means pump from Equipment or Fíli still gets damage through blockers.

One thing to watch: ward {1} is a small tax. It slows down removal aimed at your board, but it won't stop a player who has the spare mana, and it does nothing against spells that don't target.

Hidden gems for Thorin Oakenshield

Dori, Bearer of Friends

A legendary Dwarf that also makes a Treasure: two of your three Storied pieces from one card.

Trample When Dori enters, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

Legendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior · in 83% of decks for this commander

Dwarven Mattock

Attaches to a Dwarf like Thorin for free when it enters: +2/+2, ward {1}, and one more artifact for Storied.

When this Equipment enters, attach it to target Dwarf you control. Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has ward {1}. (Whenever equipped creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {1}.) Equip {3} ({3}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

Artifact — Equipment · in 74% of decks for this commander

Fíli the Pathfinder

Makes a 2/2 Dwarf whenever a nontoken Dwarf enters, and once you have an enduring story your creatures get +1/+1.

Storied (If you control three or more artifacts, legendaries, and/or Sagas, you have an enduring story for the rest of the game.) As long as you have an enduring story, creatures you control get +1/+1. Whenever Fíli or another nontoken Dwarf you control enters, create a 2/2 red Dwarf creature token.

Legendary Creature — Dwarf Scout · in 81% of decks for this commander

Dáin, Lord of the Iron Hills

Uses the same enduring story: creatures can't attack you unless their controller pays {1} each.

Vigilance Storied (If you control three or more artifacts, legendaries, and/or Sagas, you have an enduring story for the rest of the game.) As long as you have an enduring story, creatures can't attack you unless their controller pays {1} for each of those creatures.

Legendary Creature — Dwarf Noble · in 87% of decks for this commander

More cards that work with it

Share of decks for this commander that play the card.