Quick note: This is a rebrew of this deck, so any comments below about cards that were in there are no longer necessarily relevant.
As the saying goes, everyone has a price. Perhaps no one knows this better then Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer. A rogue merchant from the Alaran shard of Bant, Hazid loves nothing more then to make a profit, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead including bribery.
Gwafa Hazid has an amazing amount of flexibility as a commander. Unlike other U/W generals like Isperia, Supreme Judge and Bruna, Light of Alabaster, Hazid is incredibly efficient in terms of mana cost. At 1UW, Hazid will enter the battlefield much earlier then many of his fellow commander brethren will. Like most U/W generals, Hazid also has an ability that him to protect both himself and you, locking down opposing creatures and clearing a path for you to get easy damage through. Though your opponents could gain minor card advantage from Hazid bribing opponent's creatures to not attack or block, the fact that they are essentially locked down on the board means that the biggest threats you could face will probably stay stuck on the board, even when Hazid is sent back to the commander zone.
To assist in locking down creatures, a host of control creatures, enchantments, and even some planeswalkers are available at your disposal. Blind Obedience enters the battlefield early and provides an immediate tempo advantage against any aggressive deck, assuring you the time necessary to begin locking down the board. Martial Law and Archon of the Triumvirate provide extra detention capabilities, while cards like Oblivion Ring, Journey to Knowhere and Detention Sphere (admittedly a bit nullified since EDH is a singleton format, but it's nice to have an extra Oblivion Ring effect) exile things. Sphere of Safety, Norn's Annex, and even Blind Obedience help further protect from aggressive decks and rush strategies, while the deck packs a few removal spells and counter spells to deal with selective threats. Other enchantments, such as Control Magic, Mind Control, let me gain control of creatures that Hazid has not bribed (Keiga, the Tide Star is there for this purpose as well).
The deck runs three planeswalkers that each bring a unique yet potent skill set to the table. Tamiyo, the Moon Sage helps increase the lockdown effects of the deck with her +1 ability, and her -2 ability allows for tons of card advantage with the amount of creatures that will be tapped down. On the other end of the spectrum, Gideon Jura and Elspeth, Knight Errant are considerably more offensive in their purpose in this deck. Gideon plays very well off of both Blind Obedience and Tamiyo, essentially giving the deck a three shot sniper rifle to eliminate virtually any creature that I please, offering both a near fog like effect with his +1, and the potential to become a 9/9 flyer that prevents all damage dealt to him thanks to Elspeth. Elspeth, meanwhile, can help pump creatures and her ultimate is worth playing off of, essentially keeping my side of the board safe from any opponent's interaction if it is achieved.
The creature force of the deck mostly come in the form of various flyers. New Prahv Guildmage and Archon of the Triumvirate assist in locking down the board, while Drogskol Reaver, Isperia, Supreme Judge and Consecrated Sphinx help gain card advantage while also being potent offensive weapons. Meanwhile Gomazoa, Ith, High Arcanist, and Guardian of the Gateless help keep down big threats and alpha strikes. Keiga and Yosei have powerful abilities for when they day, and they also function as potent aerial threats in their own right. However, the biggest finishers in the deck come in the form of Avacyn, Angel of Hope and Iona, Shield of Emeria. These big bodied angels each prevent opponents from interacting with my side of the board, and if either hits in the late game after the board has been locked down by Gwafa and all the enchantments, the game is pretty much over.
Considering you have four sword in your list, I shall give my advice on an assumption that budget is not really an issue.
Keyrune is a fine rock but you have a better option, namely, Chromatic Lantern.
Ring of Evos Isle? Why?
Staff of Nin is nice if you don't play blue (or to lesser degree, black or green) but since you play blue, you have a lot of nicer option.
Vedalken Shackles...It is an ace card in mono blue but I believe you have a better option especially if you do not intend to steal only utility creature.
Ascended Lawmage is not worth it. Even as a sword wielder.
While Baneslayer Angel has a sublime art and a high price tag, I believe you have better option. She is borderline though.
While burn does not dominate this format, Fog Bank is not that great since trample DOES. This is why I believe Wall of Denial is the best wall there is.
Geist is awefully expensive (budget wise) but is not that useful as your soldier...give him a commanding position and that's a whole new story.
Lawkeeper is weak because it need to tap to activate this so and so ability.
I love Supreme Judge but she is weak if you don't try to endorse her strength.
Judge's Familiar...a good card in other format but in this mana rich format...not so much.
Keiga is old-school. I like it. But it is so out-dated by now.
Lyvev Skyknight is acceptable in standard but severly over power in this format.
Ardent Plea? Why? Exalted?
Cancel is terrible. There is a lot of better option out there.
Daze is...fascinating but I will cut it unless you play with stranger a lot or your group is rater careless.
Mana Leak is an awful counter because it is too situational in this format, for one, it cannot stop infinite mana.
Unless you have some kind of infinite silence combo...Silence is terrible.
Think Twice is too...underwhelm.
No point in using shock land (Hallowed Fountain) with no fetch land.
Moorland Haunt is generally terrible...why not resurrects your fallen one?
I recommend you to boots the number of your land count...39 do me wonder but 36 should be acceptable.
I don't believe the merit of Preordain is worth it slot.
Now. Let's assume that you have roughly eight slot to refill your deck... This is my recommendation:
As the saying goes, everyone has a price. Perhaps no one knows this better then Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer. A rogue merchant from the Alaran shard of Bant, Hazid loves nothing more then to make a profit, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead including bribery.
1x Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer
Creature (23)
1x Archon of the Triumvirate
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1x Azorius Guildmage
1x Azor's Elocutors
1x Bruna, Light of Alabaster
1x Consecrated Sphinx
1x Drogskol Reaver
1x Dungeon Geists
1x Guardian of the Gateless
1x Gomazoa
1x Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer
1x Intrepid Hero
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Isperia, Supreme Judge
1x Ith, High Arcanist
1x Keiga, the Tide Star
1x New Prahv Guildmage
1x Roil Elemental
1x Rootwater Matriarch
1x Silent Arbiter
1x Sovereigns of Lost Alara
1x Sower of Temptation
1x Transcendent Master
1x Yosei, the Morning Star
Instant (6)
1x Azorius Charm
1x Blustersquall
1x Counterspell
1x Disenchant
1x Path to Exile
1x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Divine Reckoning
1x Retether
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Three Dreams
1x Wrath of God
Artifact (5)
1x Azorius Keyrune
1x Azorius Signet
1x Fieldmist Borderpost
1x Illusionist's Bracers
1x Neurok Stealthsuit
Enchantment (20)
1x Arrest
1x Blind Obedience
1x Conjured Currency
1x Control Magic
1x Corrupted Conscience
1x Detention Sphere
1x Eldrazi Conscription
1x Ghostly Prison
1x Journey to Nowhere
1x Leyline of Sanctity
1x Luminarch Ascension
1x Martial Law
1x Mind Control
1x Nevermore
1x Oblivion Ring
1x Pacifism
1x Persuasion
1x Soul Snare
1x Vow of Duty
1x Vow of Flight
1x Azorius Chancery
1x Azorius Guildgate
1x Bant Panorama
1x Celestial Colonnade
1x Coastal Tower
1x Command Tower
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Glacial Fortress
1x Hallowed Fountain
13x Island
1x Minamo, School at Water's Edge
13x Plains
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Sejiri Refuge
Planeswalker (3)
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1x Gideon Jura
1x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Gwafa Hazid has an amazing amount of flexibility as a commander. Unlike other U/W generals like Isperia, Supreme Judge and Bruna, Light of Alabaster, Hazid is incredibly efficient in terms of mana cost. At 1UW, Hazid will enter the battlefield much earlier then many of his fellow commander brethren will. Like most U/W generals, Hazid also has an ability that him to protect both himself and you, locking down opposing creatures and clearing a path for you to get easy damage through. Though your opponents could gain minor card advantage from Hazid bribing opponent's creatures to not attack or block, the fact that they are essentially locked down on the board means that the biggest threats you could face will probably stay stuck on the board, even when Hazid is sent back to the commander zone.
To assist in locking down creatures, a host of control creatures, enchantments, and even some planeswalkers are available at your disposal. Blind Obedience enters the battlefield early and provides an immediate tempo advantage against any aggressive deck, assuring you the time necessary to begin locking down the board. Martial Law and Archon of the Triumvirate provide extra detention capabilities, while cards like Oblivion Ring, Journey to Knowhere and Detention Sphere (admittedly a bit nullified since EDH is a singleton format, but it's nice to have an extra Oblivion Ring effect) exile things. Sphere of Safety, Norn's Annex, and even Blind Obedience help further protect from aggressive decks and rush strategies, while the deck packs a few removal spells and counter spells to deal with selective threats. Other enchantments, such as Control Magic, Mind Control, let me gain control of creatures that Hazid has not bribed (Keiga, the Tide Star is there for this purpose as well).
The deck runs three planeswalkers that each bring a unique yet potent skill set to the table. Tamiyo, the Moon Sage helps increase the lockdown effects of the deck with her +1 ability, and her -2 ability allows for tons of card advantage with the amount of creatures that will be tapped down. On the other end of the spectrum, Gideon Jura and Elspeth, Knight Errant are considerably more offensive in their purpose in this deck. Gideon plays very well off of both Blind Obedience and Tamiyo, essentially giving the deck a three shot sniper rifle to eliminate virtually any creature that I please, offering both a near fog like effect with his +1, and the potential to become a 9/9 flyer that prevents all damage dealt to him thanks to Elspeth. Elspeth, meanwhile, can help pump creatures and her ultimate is worth playing off of, essentially keeping my side of the board safe from any opponent's interaction if it is achieved.
The creature force of the deck mostly come in the form of various flyers. New Prahv Guildmage and Archon of the Triumvirate assist in locking down the board, while Drogskol Reaver, Isperia, Supreme Judge and Consecrated Sphinx help gain card advantage while also being potent offensive weapons. Meanwhile Gomazoa, Ith, High Arcanist, and Guardian of the Gateless help keep down big threats and alpha strikes. Keiga and Yosei have powerful abilities for when they day, and they also function as potent aerial threats in their own right. However, the biggest finishers in the deck come in the form of Avacyn, Angel of Hope and Iona, Shield of Emeria. These big bodied angels each prevent opponents from interacting with my side of the board, and if either hits in the late game after the board has been locked down by Gwafa and all the enchantments, the game is pretty much over.
EDH
WB Teysa, Orzhov Scion
I believe Blind Obedience is legal because the black mana symbol is in reminder text.
Hidetsugu - Combo Damage
Ezuri - Elfball
Theorycrafting:
Selvala - "A hunter must hunt."
Selvala - Budget
Keyrune is a fine rock but you have a better option, namely, Chromatic Lantern.
Ring of Evos Isle? Why?
Staff of Nin is nice if you don't play blue (or to lesser degree, black or green) but since you play blue, you have a lot of nicer option.
Vedalken Shackles...It is an ace card in mono blue but I believe you have a better option especially if you do not intend to steal only utility creature.
Ascended Lawmage is not worth it. Even as a sword wielder.
While Baneslayer Angel has a sublime art and a high price tag, I believe you have better option. She is borderline though.
While burn does not dominate this format, Fog Bank is not that great since trample DOES. This is why I believe Wall of Denial is the best wall there is.
Geist is awefully expensive (budget wise) but is not that useful as your soldier...give him a commanding position and that's a whole new story.
Lawkeeper is weak because it need to tap to activate this so and so ability.
I love Supreme Judge but she is weak if you don't try to endorse her strength.
Judge's Familiar...a good card in other format but in this mana rich format...not so much.
Keiga is old-school. I like it. But it is so out-dated by now.
Lyvev Skyknight is acceptable in standard but severly over power in this format.
Ardent Plea? Why? Exalted?
Cancel is terrible. There is a lot of better option out there.
Daze is...fascinating but I will cut it unless you play with stranger a lot or your group is rater careless.
Mana Leak is an awful counter because it is too situational in this format, for one, it cannot stop infinite mana.
Unless you have some kind of infinite silence combo...Silence is terrible.
Think Twice is too...underwhelm.
No point in using shock land (Hallowed Fountain) with no fetch land.
Moorland Haunt is generally terrible...why not resurrects your fallen one?
I recommend you to boots the number of your land count...39 do me wonder but 36 should be acceptable.
I don't believe the merit of Preordain is worth it slot.
Now. Let's assume that you have roughly eight slot to refill your deck... This is my recommendation:
1. Hinder
2. Spell Crumple
3. Sower of Temptation
4. Reveillark
5. Karmic Guide
6. Sun Titan
7. Sphinx of Uthuun
8. Fact or Fiction
This deck has been featured in Gathering Magic by Carlos Gutierrez
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
QFT; needs more land (+4 or +5 more lands).