Overview
Aura of Courage is a voltron deck: it loads a single creature with Equipment and Auras and attacks. Galea, Kindler of Hope has vigilance, lets you look at the top card of your library any time, and lets you cast Aura and Equipment spells from the top of your library. When you cast an Equipment spell this way, it gains "When this Equipment enters, attach it to target creature you control." Every land you do not draw is a spell you can cast.
The 99 cards are 15 creatures, 18 artifacts, 17 enchantments, 7 instants, 4 sorceries and 38 lands. Almost the whole deck is Equipment and Auras, with only 15 creatures to carry them. The deck has plenty of cheap ways to draw cards from Auras and Equipment, such as Sram, Senior Edificer, Puresteel Paladin and Auras that draw a card when they enter like Angelic Gift and Shielding Plax, and it has hexproof and protection pieces such as Swiftfoot Boots and Heroic Intervention.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about mana and cheap pieces. Paradise Druid, Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Utopia Sprawl, Wild Growth, Fertile Ground and Nature's Lore ramp you, and Basilisk Collar, Explorer's Scope, Sword of the Animist and Robe of Stars are cheap Equipment. Fleecemane Lion, Knight of Autumn and Catti-brie of Mithral Hall are efficient carriers.
The middle of the game is about stacking pieces on one creature and drawing cards. Behemoth Sledge, Holy Avenger and Moonsilver Spear give strong bonuses, Rancor and Verdant Embrace make creatures bigger, Winged Boots, Gryff's Boon and Angelic Gift give flying, and Mantle of the Ancients returns Auras and Equipment from your graveyard. Psychic Impetus and Sword of Hours grow the creature every turn.
The late game is about a huge attacker and sweepers that spare it. Argentum Armor gives +6/+6 and destroys a permanent whenever it attacks, Belt of Giant Strength and Colossus Hammer make a creature enormous, and Winds of Rath destroys all creatures that aren't enchanted. Valiant Endeavor and Realm-Cloaked Giant // Cast Off reset the board in different ways.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: The deck has a lot of free value from Galea, Puresteel Paladin and Sram, and many pieces that protect the equipped creature, such as Robe of Stars, Heroic Intervention and Swiftfoot Boots. It also has interaction, including Bant Charm, Valorous Stance, Kenrith's Transformation, Imprisoned in the Moon and Acidic Slime.
Weaknesses: A deck with only 15 creatures puts all its eggs in one basket, so removal on the equipped creature can cost you several cards. Several of the best pieces, such as Argentum Armor, cost a lot of mana to cast and to equip, so the deck can be slow against fast opponents.
Want to improve it? See the Aura of Courage upgrade guide: eleven swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Galea, Kindler of Hope build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Aura of Courage decklist?
The Aura of Courage precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Galea, Kindler of Hope. The full Aura of Courage decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Aura of Courage released?
Aura of Courage was released on July 23, 2021 as part of Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander.
Who is the commander of Aura of Courage?
Aura of Courage is led by Galea, Kindler of Hope, a Bant (W/U/G) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Aura of Courage?
The 99 cards besides Galea, Kindler of Hope include 15 creatures.
How many lands does Aura of Courage have?
Aura of Courage has 38 lands in the 99 cards besides Galea, Kindler of Hope, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Aura of Courage precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.