[Theory Brew] Yorion & Skysail’s Defense

Protecting a Flying City with ETB Humans, Sky-Tech, and a Whole Lot of Hope!

Hey fellow brewers, and welcome back to the ThemEDH workshop! Today, we’re embarking on a special kind of “Theory Brew.” Sometimes, a commander’s art or basic ability is enough to spark an idea. Other times, you stumble upon a nugget of lore, a single sentence about their world, and suddenly, a whole deck concept unfurls like a magnificent, wind-filled sail. That’s exactly what happened with our commander today: Yorion, Sky Nomad.

It wasn’t until I started digging into its Ikoria lore that the brewing juices really started flowing. I learned about Skysail, the majestic flying city Yorion is connected to. It’s a sanctuary for Human survivors, built from light wood and pterodactyl bones, held aloft by balloons and rudder-sails. A city that survives by staying mobile, scattering into smaller pieces when threatened by Ikoria’s colossal monsters, only to reassemble later. A trading hub, a place of resilience, and a place defended by its brave Human inhabitants. And then, the clincher: Yorion itself fought to defend Ikoria during the New Phyrexian Invasion!

Suddenly, Yorion wasn’t just an ETB-value engine; it was the Protector of Skysail, its mass flicker ability the very embodiment of the city scattering and reforming. The deck needed to tell that story. The inhabitants would be Humans with valuable “enters the battlefield” effects. The artifacts and enchantments would be Skysail’s flying technology, its defenses, and its trade goods. And every card would aim to fit this narrative, all while staying under our $50 ThemEDH budget .

So, grab your navigator’s compass, check the wind currents, and let’s explore how we can bring Skysail to life!

Thematic Deep Dive: Skysail’s Story in Cardboard

Our goal is to make playing this deck feel like you’re commanding the defense and operations of Skysail itself:

The Human Inhabitants: Skysail is a city of Humans. Our creature base will be almost exclusively Humans with useful ETB effects, representing the skilled citizens – soldiers, mages, engineers, scouts, healers, and traders.

Sky-Faring Technology & Magic: We’ll use enchantments and artifacts to grant our Humans flight, represent Skysail’s unique vessels, and showcase its magical defenses or resources (like Ikoria’s famed crystals).

Mobility & Resilience: Yorion’s flicker is the ultimate expression of this. We’ll also look for cards that represent scattering, decoys, quick maneuvers, and the enduring hope of survivors.

Trade & Resourcefulness: Skysail is a trading hub. We’ll include cards that generate resources (like Treasure or card draw) or represent exploration and discovery.

Defense Against Monsters & Invaders: We need ways to protect Skysail from the giant beasts of Ikoria and external threats like the Phyrexians, using thematic interaction.

The Decklist

View The Deck on Moxfield

Deck Breakdown & Synergies: Bringing Skysail to Life

Let’s walk through how different card choices contribute to our flying city.

Yorion, Our Sky Nomad Protector

At the helm is Yorion, Sky Nomad itself. That majestic Bird Serpent isn’t just a value piece it is Skysail’s guardian spirit or its most powerful vessel. Its ETB ability to exile and return our other nonland permanents is the mechanical core, representing Skysail scattering its components to evade danger or strategically redeploying its assets, only to reassemble stronger with a fresh wave of ETB triggers!

The Human Inhabitants of Skysail (Our ETB Value Engines)

These are the heart and soul of the city, each contributing their skills when they enter (or re-enter thanks to Yorion!).

The Defenders & Leaders: We need skilled protectors!

Elite Guardmage: A 4-mana 2/3 flyer that gains 3 life and draws a card on ETB. Imagine this as a seasoned sky-captain returning from patrol, bringing good news and bolstering morale. Yorion loves bringing these back for more!

Soul Warden: A classic. This Human Cleric gains us life whenever *any* creature enters, including all our Humans re-entering with Yorion. She’s the spiritual heart of Skysail, her presence strengthening the community’s resolve. While a bit pricier for a common ($2.48), the sheer amount of life gained with Yorion can be game-changing.

Daysquad Marshal: For 4 mana, this Human Soldier brings another 1/1 Human Soldier token with it. Perfect for representing a unit leader arriving with their squad, bolstering Skysail’s numbers with each flicker.

Perimeter Sergeant (from Ikoria!): A 3/2 for 3 that buffs other attacking Humans. While not an ETB for Yorion, its flavor text about Skysail’s guards is perfect, and it makes our flickered Humans hit harder.

Lossarnach Captain: Though from Middle-earth, this Human Soldier’s ability to tap down an opponent’s creature whenever a Human ETBs is incredible with Yorion’s mass flicker. We’ll say Yorion recruited this tactical genius! Plus, it makes a Human Soldier token every upkeep.

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar: Another champion! Her power grows with our Human count, and she creates attacking Human tokens for each opponent when we attack. A true leader for Skysail’s forces.

The Specialists & Support Crew:

Drannith Healer (Ikoria!): “Whenever you cycle another card, you gain 1 life.” With a cycling subtheme, this Human Cleric keeps Skysail resilient. Its own cheap cycle makes it flexible.

Valiant Rescuer (Ikoria!): Its flavor text about Skysail’s rules is amazing! “Whenever you cycle another card… create a 1/1 Human Soldier.” More defenders through resourcefulness!

Snare Tactician (Ikoria!): “Whenever you cycle a card, tap target creature an opponent controls.” The flavor text about impairing foes is perfect. This, with Rescuer and Healer, makes our cycling cards incredible value.

Oji, the Exquisite Blade: Gains life and scries on ETB. More importantly, its ability to flicker one of our creatures whenever we cast our second spell each turn is another way to reuse those precious ETBs, independent of Yorion!

Cloudblazer: A Human Scout that draws two and gains 2 life on ETB. A staple Yorion target, representing scouts returning with good news.

Mu Yanling, Wind Rider: Creates a Vehicle token on ETB (a Skysail skiff!), makes all our Vehicles fly, and draws cards when our flyers connect. A perfect leader for Skysail’s aerial fleet.

Donal, Herald of Wings: Copies nonlegendary flying creatures we cast! Great for doubling up on ETB flyers.

Keensight Mentor (Ikoria!): Gives Yorion vigilance on ETB (since Yorion is non-Human), and can then pump all our vigilant creatures. The flavor of a mentor training Skysail’s guardians is spot on, and Yorion flickering it for a guaranteed vigilance counter is a neat trick.

Airlift Chaplain (Ikoria!): Mills and can return a Plains or small creature to hand on ETB. Represents rescue missions or securing new landing sites for Skysail.

Knight of the White Orchid: A classic ramp/catch-up Human Knight on ETB, fetching a Plains.

Jo Grant: A resourceful Human Soldier who gives our historic cards cycling and gets bigger when we cycle. Perfect for turning late-game artifacts or legendaries into new cards.

Bazaar Trademage (Ikoria!): A flying Human Wizard that loots (draw 2, discard 3) on ETB. Represents Skysail’s bustling trade, sifting through goods.

Burdened Aerialist: This Human Pirate ETBs with a Treasure and gains flying when we sacrifice a token. A resourceful Skysail trader or scout!

Aerial Engineer: Gets +2/+0 and flying if we control an artifact. Represents the skilled technicians keeping Skysail aloft.

Facet Reader (Ikoria!): A Human Wizard who loots by tapping, themed around Ikoria’s crystals. The flavor text is perfect for strategic Skysail.

Reverent Hoplite: Creates Human Soldier tokens based on our devotion to white when it ETBs. Represents a mass rallying of Skysail’s defenders.

Skysail’s Technology & Magic (Artifacts & Enchantments)

These cards represent the tools, vessels, and enchantments that define Skysail.

Flight Enablers:

Levitation & Favorable Winds: Global flying for our team and a buff! These are the ambient magic or tech keeping everyone airborne. Both are enchantments, so Yorion flickers them to re-trigger constellation!

One With the Wind & Soaring Hope: Auras that grant flying and other benefits. “Soaring Hope” especially captures Skysail’s resilience after Orn’s destruction.

The Sky-Fleet (Vehicles): These are the detachable ships of Skysail!

Bomat Bazaar Barge & Hulldrifter: Both ETB and draw cards – perfect for Yorion to flicker, representing trade vessels returning with goods/info.

Mobile Homestead: The name is perfect! Attacks to potentially ramp a land.

Skybox Ferry: A solid flying Vehicle with cycling to enable our cycling subtheme.

Golden Argosy: This is a key engine! Yorion can crew it, and when the Argosy attacks, it flickers Yorion, who then returns and flickers *everything else*. A repeatable mass-ETB trigger!

The Prydwen, Steel Flagship: Our command vessel! When other artifacts (like those Yorion flickers) ETB, it creates Human Knight tokens. An amazing synergy!

Weatherlight: The legendary skyship! Deals combat damage to find us more historic cards (artifacts, legendaries, Sagas).

Skysail’s Tools & Resources:

Navigator's Compass (Ikoria!): ETB lifegain, and can fix mana by changing a land’s type. Thematic and useful.

Stonespeaker Crystal (Ikoria!): Ramps for {C}{C} and can be sacrificed for graveyard hate and a card draw. Represents Ikoria’s crystal tech.

Ornithopter of Paradise & Ornithopter: The “Orn” connection is great flavor, even though I doubt this is where the name comes from. Paradise provides mana, and the original is a free artifact for synergies.

Wayfarer's Bauble: Classic budget ramp, perfect for a “Wayfaring” city.

Crystal Shard (Ikoria!): Repeatable bounce for our ETB creatures or to disrupt opponents, using Ikoria’s crystal magic.

Cloud Key: The name is perfect! Reduces the cost of our chosen spell type.

Horn of Gondor: Represents Yorion’s golden horn, ETBs with a Human Soldier, and makes more based on your Human count!

Enchanting the Skies:

Skybind: A constellation card that flickers a non-enchantment when it or another enchantment ETBs. Amazing with Yorion resetting multiple enchantments!

Trade Routes: Perfect name! Lets us bounce lands (to reuse ETB lands or MDFC spell sides) or loot away excess lands.

Reconnaissance Mission: Draws cards when our flyers connect. Has cycling to enable our subtheme.

Escape Protocol (Ikoria!): The ultimate cycling payoff! Pay {1} when you cycle to flicker an artifact or creature. This with our other cycling cards is a massive value engine.

Defensive Maneuvers & Resourcefulness (Interaction & Support)

Skysail needs to protect itself and adapt!

Interaction Spells:

Decoy Gambit (Ikoria!): The flavor text is pure Skysail! Bounces an opponent’s creature unless they let you draw.

Gust of Wind (Ikoria!): Often costs just {U} to bounce a nonland permanent and draw a card. The flavor text is key.

Light of Hope (Ikoria!): Versatile one-mana instant – lifegain, enchantment removal, or a +1/+1 counter. The art feels like or may even is Skysail.

Coordinated Maneuver (Ikoria!): Modal instant – damage based on your creature count or enchantment removal.

Aether Tradewinds: Bounces one of yours (for ETB reuse) and one of an opponent’s. The name is perfect.

Release to the Wind: Exiles a nonland permanent, and its owner can recast it for free! Great for reusing your own expensive ETB creatures or as tempo removal.

Scatter to the Winds: Counterspell with Awaken to turn a land into a hasty Elemental – Skysail animating its defenses!

Swallow Whole (Ikoria!): Thematic removal where Yorion (or a defender) “eats” a tapped creature and gets a +1/+1 counter.

Token Doubling:

Visions of Glory: Creates a Human token for each creature you control, with a cheap flashback thanks to Yorion’s mana value. Represents a mass rallying of Skysail’s defenders.

How It Should Play (Theory)

The game plan is to establish a board of Human ETB creatures and value artifacts/enchantments. Use early interaction and cycling to control the board and smooth draws. Cast Yorion to flicker your board for a massive burst of value – drawing cards, creating tokens, gaining life, tapping down opponents’ creatures, and ramping. Then, use your replenished hand and board state to control the game and win through combat with your flying Human army (potentially buffed by anthems or led by a large Yorion/Adeline), or via the sheer card advantage and resilience the deck provides. The Vehicles provide alternative threats and utility.

Engines like Golden Argosy + Yorion, or Escape Protocol + cyclers + ETB creatures, can provide ongoing, turn-after-turn value.

Meeting the Budget

This entire sky-faring armada, packed with thematic gems and synergistic engines, is currently estimated to cost $47.81 (TCG average priceasof 5/20/25) . Showing that a deeply flavorful, mechanically interesting, and fun Commander deck is absolutely achievable without needing to spend hundreds on staples.

Call for Feedback!

As this is a Theory Brew, it’s fresh from the Skysail design docks and hasn’t faced the real-world threats of Ikoria (or your LGS) yet! What are your thoughts on this high-flying, ETB-driven, lore-packed concept?

Does the Skysail theme come through clearly?

Are there any budget Azorius ETB Humans, flying enablers, or Ikoria-themed gems I might have overlooked?

How do you think the cycling subtheme will play out with the ETB focus?

I’d love to hear your insights and suggestions in the comments below!

Conclusion: Setting Sail on the Winds of Hope

I’m incredibly excited about this Yorion “Protector of Skysail” concept. Taking a commander’s lore, especially the evocative details of Skysail, and translating that into a unique, synergistic, and budget-friendly deck. The idea of Yorion leading a flying city of resourceful Humans, constantly adapting and reassembling to meet challenges, is just so cool.

Hopefully, this theory craft has inspired you, and hopefully we’ll see Skysail take to the actual tables for a “Battle Tested” report in the future!

Thanks for stopping by ThemEDH, and happy brewing!