Arcane Foundry › Commanders › Lyra, Tolarian Archangel
Lyra, Tolarian Archangel
Legendary Creature — Angel Wizard · {1}{U}{U} · Blue commander
Flying
At the beginning of each end step, if you've drawn three or more cards this turn, create a 3/3 blue Angel creature token with flying.
{3}{U}{U}: Until end of turn, whenever Lyra deals combat damage to a player, draw two cards.
Build a Lyra, Tolarian Archangel deck →
What Lyra, Tolarian Archangel actually does
Read off the card by the same engine the Forge and Analyzer use — this is the mechanical classification, not a summary.
- Triggered ability · end_stepAt the beginning of each end step, if you've drawn three or more cards this turn, create a 3/3 blue Angel creature token with flying.
- Activated ability{3}{U}{U}: Until end of turn, whenever Lyra deals combat damage to a player, draw two cards.
- Keyword · flyingflying
What a Lyra, Tolarian Archangel deck needs
Plays as combat trigger. What the commander asks of the other 99 — read from the card and checked by hand.
- card draw, wheels and cantrips (each card drawn triggers it)
- token payoffs — anthems, sacrifice outlets and go-wide finishers (it makes tokens on repeat)
- evasion and protection for the commander (the trigger needs its combat damage to connect)
The Lyra, Tolarian Archangel deck plan
The roles the Forge fills for this commander, and how many cards of each.
- 6× Make the commander connect — a body that never deals combat damage never triggers
- 12× Make creature tokens — a static anthem or a go-wide commander needs a board to be wide
- 4× A team pump that actually pumps tokens
- 5× Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- 9× Find the exact card the plan needs
- 2× Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- 1× Answer a whole board at once
- 7× Refill your hand
- 2× Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
Best cards for Lyra, Tolarian Archangel
Ranked by an engine that reads what each card does — its real cost, its delay and how reliably it works — rather than counting how often other people play it.
Make the commander connect — a body that never deals combat damage never triggers
- Favorable Winds2 mana
- Eldrazi Monument5 mana
- Shadowspear1 mana
- Akroma's Memorial7 mana
- Archetype of Imagination6 mana
- Loxodon Warhammer3 mana
- Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds2 mana
- Cynette, Jelly Drover4 mana
Make creature tokens — a static anthem or a go-wide commander needs a board to be wide
- Chasm Skulker3 mana
- Kozilek's Unsealing3 mana
- Myr Battlesphere7 mana
- Andúril, Flame of the West3 mana
- Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia3 mana
- Field of the Dead0 mana
- Spawnbed Protector7 mana
- Jace, Cunning Castaway3 mana
A team pump that actually pumps tokens
- Heraldic Banner3 mana
- Chief of the Foundry3 mana
- Master of Etherium3 mana
- Caged Sun6 mana
- Favorable Winds2 mana
- Eldrazi Monument5 mana
- Heroes' Podium5 mana
- Endurance Bobblehead3 mana
Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- Reality Shift2 mana
- Pongify1 mana
- Rapid Hybridization1 mana
- Resculpt2 mana
- Suspend1 mana
- Snap2 mana
- Into the Flood Maw1 mana
- Unsummon1 mana
Find the exact card the plan needs
- Reshape2 mana
- Mask of the Mimic1 mana
- Long-Term Plans3 mana
- Whir of Invention3 mana
- Merchant Scroll2 mana
- Mystical Tutor1 mana
- Muddle the Mixture2 mana
- Personal Tutor1 mana
Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- Mindbreak Trap4 mana
- Fierce Guardianship3 mana
- Force of Negation3 mana
- Force of Will5 mana
- Flare of Denial3 mana
- Pact of Negation0 mana
- An Offer You Can't Refuse1 mana
- Arcane Denial2 mana
Answer a whole board at once
- Desynchronization4 mana
- Wave Goodbye4 mana
- Whelming Wave4 mana
- Consuming Tide4 mana
- Selective Obliteration5 mana
- Evacuation5 mana
- Perplexing Test5 mana
- Cyclonic Rift2 mana
Refill your hand
- Mystic Remora1 mana
- Skullclamp1 mana
- Curiosity1 mana
- Wizard Class1 mana
- Rhystic Study3 mana
- Faerie Mastermind2 mana
- The One Ring4 mana
- Combat Research1 mana
Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- Lost in the Maze2 mana
- Lightning Greaves2 mana
- Swiftfoot Boots2 mana
- Eldrazi Monument5 mana
- Commander's Plate1 mana
- Mithril Coat3 mana
- Akroma's Memorial7 mana
- The Walls of Ba Sing Se8 mana