Commander Spotlight: Isshin, Two Heavens as One - Double the Attack Triggers

Isshin, Two Heavens as One has one of the most straightforward yet powerful abilities in Commander: if a creature attacking causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.

In plain language: every "whenever a creature attacks" trigger on your permanents happens twice. This includes triggers on the attacking creature itself, but also triggers on your enchantments, artifacts, and other creatures that care about attacks.

This turns moderately good attack triggers into game-warping value. A creature that creates one token on attack now creates two. A creature that drains for 1 now drains for 2. A creature that draws a card now draws two. And when you have five creatures with attack triggers all doubling, the value is overwhelming.

Why Isshin Excels

Isshin works because attack triggers are already strong in Commander, and doubling them does not cost any extra mana. Once Isshin is on the battlefield, every creature with "whenever this creature attacks" becomes twice as good for free.

Mardu colors (red, white, black) also happen to have the best attack trigger creatures in the game. White gets token generators and tax effects. Red gets damage and extra combats. Black gets drain effects and card advantage. Together, they form a deck that generates enormous value simply by turning creatures sideways.

Isshin himself is only three mana ({R}{W}{B}), which means you can deploy him early and start doubling triggers as soon as turn three or four.

Key Cards

Token Generators

Doubling token creation is one of the strongest things Isshin does.

• Adeline, Resplendent Cathar - Creates a 1/1 Human token for each opponent whenever you attack (she does not need to attack herself). With Isshin, that is six tokens per attack in a four-player game.
• Hero of Bladehold - Creates two 1/1 Soldiers and gives battle cry on attack. With Isshin: four tokens and two battle cry triggers.
• Hanweir Garrison - Creates two 1/1 Human tokens when it attacks. With Isshin, that is four tokens per attack.
• Mardu Ascendancy - Creates a 1/1 Goblin token whenever a nontoken creature you control attacks. With Isshin, each attacker makes two Goblins. Also sacrifices to give your creatures +0/+3 against board wipes.

Drain and Damage

• Aurelia, the Warleader - Extra combat step when she attacks. With Isshin, you get two extra combat steps (three total combats per turn). This is often game-ending.
• Brutal Hordechief - Defending player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life whenever a creature you control attacks. With Isshin, each attacker drains for 2. Swing with five creatures at one player and they lose 10 life.
• Etali, Primal Storm - Exiles the top card of each player's library when it attacks and you can cast the nonland cards for free. With Isshin, exile two cards from each player.
• Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant - Goads a target creature an opponent controls whenever you attack. With Isshin, you goad two creatures per attack. As a bonus, whenever a creature an opponent controls attacks, both you and that creature's controller draw a card.

Value Engines

• Breena, the Demagogue - When a player attacks one of your opponents who has more life than another player, you draw a card and put two +1/+1 counters on a creature you control. With Isshin, double both the draw and the counters.
• Tectonic Giant - When it attacks, either deals 3 damage to each opponent or exiles the top two cards and you play one of them. With Isshin, you get both triggers.
• Fervent Charge - Enchantment that gives attacking creatures +2/+2. With Isshin, the buff triggers twice for +4/+4 on each attacker. A massive damage boost across your whole board.
• Hammers of Moradin - Taps down opponents' creatures when it attacks. With Isshin, taps down twice as many blockers.

Protection and Support

• Dolmen Gate - Your attacking creatures do not take combat damage. This lets you attack freely without worrying about losing creatures.
• Reconnaissance - Remove your creatures from combat after triggers resolve. They still count as having attacked, but they do not take damage.
• Lightning Greaves / Swiftfoot Boots - Protect Isshin. Without him, your deck is just a pile of mediocre attack triggers.
• Iroas, God of Victory - Menace and prevents all damage that would be dealt to your attacking creatures.

Extra Combats

Extra combat steps mean extra rounds of doubled triggers.

• Aurelia, the Warleader - The best extra combat creature. With Isshin, you get three combats per turn.
• Karlach, Fury of Avernus - Extra combat on first attack each turn.
• Raiyuu, Storm's Edge - Extra combat when a Samurai or Warrior attacks alone.

Strategy Tips

Isshin must survive: Without Isshin, your attack triggers are merely okay. With Isshin, they are devastating. Protect him with equipment, hexproof effects, and strategic timing. Do not deploy Isshin until you are ready to attack or you can protect him.

Attack planning matters: In a four-player game, you do not have to send all your creatures at the same player. Spread your attacks to trigger effects against multiple opponents while avoiding the player with the best blockers.

Dolmen Gate is essential: Being able to attack without fear of losing creatures transforms the deck. Prioritize getting Dolmen Gate or Reconnaissance onto the battlefield early.

Aurelia is your best finisher: Aurelia, the Warleader with Isshin gives you three total combat phases. If you have five creatures with attack triggers, that is fifteen doubled triggers in a single turn. This often wins the game outright.

Watch for "whenever attacks" vs "whenever deals combat damage": Isshin only doubles "whenever attacks" triggers, not "whenever deals combat damage" triggers. Cards like Ohran Frostfang or Toski do not benefit from Isshin.

Budget Build Path

Isshin has many budget-friendly options because attack trigger creatures are common at lower rarities.

Under $1 powerhouses: Brutal Hordechief, Hammers of Moradin, Goblin Heelcutter, Frontline Medic, Accorder Paladin, Goblin Rabblemaster.

Worth investing in ($3-10): Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, Dolmen Gate, Hero of Bladehold, Aurelia, the Warleader.

Dream upgrades: Etali, Primal Storm, Reconnaissance, Mardu Ascendancy.

A strong Isshin deck can be built for $40-60. The key expensive cards are Aurelia and Dolmen Gate, both of which have significant impact on the deck's performance.

Isshin is a combat-focused commander who rewards smart deckbuilding and careful attack planning. Double your triggers, protect your commander, and overwhelm the table with value. For help identifying the best attack trigger creatures at your budget, try Manacove and describe your Isshin build goals.