I've been weaving back and forth on whether I should chart a deck based on a strategy that appeals to me (albeit one that seems to be very outside-the-box, and certainly untested by me), namely manipulating combat in terms of who's blocking whom, or whichever commander most appeals to me in a vacuum (Yasova). I decided to try my hand at constructing a commander who'd hit both themes at once, in the ideal color combination for the strategy--to me, Jeskai, getting both RW's combat work and U's easy card advantage.
And yes, the first part is something that came from my previous attempt at an RW commander who cared about combat in ways more than "make things stronger".
Gethrell, Riddlemaster of War 2URW
Legendary Creature--Sphinx Soldier
4/5
Flying, vigilance
As long as Gethrell, Riddlemaster of War has not been declared as an attacker this turn, creatures you control have provoke.
Whenever you declare Gethrell as an attacker, you may return target sorcery or instant card from your graveyard to your hand.
Hopefully the flying and second special ability together are enough to make Gethrell part-blue...
That provoke-granting ability has very difficult to parse timing. I'm not even sure it actually achieves what you intend without double-checking the rules (though I assume it does). Just for the sake of sanity of players reading the card I'd change it to something like:
At the beginning of combat during your turn, you may choose to have ~ gain defender until end of combat. If you do, other creatures you control gain provoke until end of combat.
As a triggered ability the timing of this varant would bbe very well understood by any advanced player.
Even simpler would be a tap-ability.
"Whenever you declare ~ as an attacker" also is equivalent to the commonly used "Whenever ~ attacks".
I think, the colors are fine - you have white-blue(-red) flying, red-white provoke, blue-red reclaiming of instants/sorceries. Nothing feels out of place.
Even if white-red nowadays encroaches a little on specific subsections of instant/sorcery-love this card is all-around pointing well enough to these three colors.
And yes, the first part is something that came from my previous attempt at an RW commander who cared about combat in ways more than "make things stronger".
Gethrell, Riddlemaster of War
2URW
Legendary Creature--Sphinx Soldier
4/5
Flying, vigilance
As long as Gethrell, Riddlemaster of War has not been declared as an attacker this turn, creatures you control have provoke.
Whenever you declare Gethrell as an attacker, you may return target sorcery or instant card from your graveyard to your hand.
Hopefully the flying and second special ability together are enough to make Gethrell part-blue...
As a triggered ability the timing of this varant would bbe very well understood by any advanced player.
Even simpler would be a tap-ability.
"Whenever you declare ~ as an attacker" also is equivalent to the commonly used "Whenever ~ attacks".
I think, the colors are fine - you have white-blue(-red) flying, red-white provoke, blue-red reclaiming of instants/sorceries. Nothing feels out of place.
Even if white-red nowadays encroaches a little on specific subsections of instant/sorcery-love this card is all-around pointing well enough to these three colors.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
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