In the 3-ink range, General Li Head of the Imperial Army works best for your game plan
I think this card is neat, and its cool seeing a Kiki-Jiki effect on a 3/3 for four mana in Standard
An 8/8 beater with trample and haste can punch through defenses quite well, and when The Balrog of Moria dies, you can exile a creature from each opponent at the cost of exiling the Balrog too
Hercules, Divine Hero would have fit the Resist theme really well, and theres already a nice cheap Hercules in here, so I guess thats another obvious upgrade
Shu Yun's Cantrips Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest | Illustration by David Gaillet Commander (1) Creatures (12) Archmage Emeritus Birgi, God of Storytelling Elsha of the Infinite Feather, the Redeemed Guttersnipe Kykar, Wind's Fury Mavinda, Students' Advocate Monastery Mentor Storm-Kiln Artist Talrand, Sky Summoner Young Pyromancer Willbreaker Instants (30) Brainstorm Brute Force Built to Smash Confound Counterspell Crimson Wisps Defiant Strike Defy Gravity Emerge Unscathed Expedite Fists of Flame Flawless Maneuver Generous Gift Gods Willing Infuriate Kazuul's Fury Keep Safe Leap Opt Path to Exile Sejiri Shelter Shadow Rift Shelter Sheltering Light Stubborn Denial Swords to Plowshares Titan's Strength Unleash Fury Valorous Stance Wear Sorceries (9) Cloak of Feathers Crash Through Distortion Strike Gitaxian Probe Ponder Reckless Charge Serum Visions Slip Through Space Wrath of God Enchantments (5) Aqueous Form Jeskai Ascendancy Rhystic Study Smothering Tithe Whirlwind of Thought Artifacts (11) Arcane Signet Azorius Signet Boros Signet Izzet Signet Leering Emblem Runechanter's Pike Sol Ring Swiftfoot Boots Talisman of Conviction Talisman of Creativity Talisman of Progress Lands (32) Adarkar Wastes Battlefield Forge Command Tower Fiery Islet Hallowed Fountain Hengegate Pathway Island x5 Mountain x5 Mystic Gate Mystic Monastery Needleverge Pathway Plains x4 Raugrin Triome Riverglide Pathway Sacred Foundry Sea of Clouds Shivan Reef Spectator Seating Steam Vents Sunbaked Canyon Training Center Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest offers a unique angle on combat-centric decks, picking non-creature spells over equipment
And, given that Explot is a mechanic in this set, it means that sacrificing this wont really be difficult to come by
