If a creature attacking causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
Isshin doubles every 'whenever a creature attacks' trigger you control, so you flood the board with attack-triggered permanents and swing for explosive value. Early turns develop ramp and aggressive token/attack-trigger engines, then by midgame each combat generates double the tokens, drains, damage, and card advantage. You win through overwhelming board states, repeated drains, or extra-combat finishers.
Massive value multiplication from attack triggers, snowballing fast once online
Mardu colors give access to the best removal, sweepers protection, and recursion
Flexible builds: aggressive tokens, aristocrats, or combo all work
Cheap commander at 3 mana that immediately impacts every combat
Heavily reliant on Isshin and attacking, vulnerable to board wipes and removal
Tapping out to attack can leave you defenseless against other aggressors
Slower to set up than dedicated combo decks; needs a turn to build triggers
Color identity lacks blue, so no counterspells or strong card-draw engines
Forces opponents to block one creature and doubles its trigger, often resulting in mass blocker death.
Add efficient tutors and protection (Boros Charm, Teferi's Protection) to keep Isshin safe and find your enablers. Lean into extra-combat combos like Aggravated Assault plus Sword of Feast and Famine, or tight aristocrat loops, to convert doubled triggers into deterministic kills. Tighten the mana base with fast lands and ramp like Smothering Tithe and signets so you commit your board and protect it the same turn.
Legendary Creature — Human Samurai
