Balin, Loremaster

Commanders that run Balin, Loremaster most

Deck counts from EDHREC.

• Thorin, King of Durin's Folk: 6,293 decks
• Dáin of the Ancient Halls: 1,657 decks
• Thorin Oakenshield: 888 decks
• Dwalin, Weaponmaster: 460 decks
• Bifur, Melodic Rider: 417 decks
• Bruenor Battlehammer: 181 decks
• Giott, King of the Dwarves: 163 decks
• Depala, Pilot Exemplar: 85 decks

Often played with Balin, Loremaster

Cards that show up in the same decks on EDHREC.

• Eagle's Rescue
• Druid of the Emerald Grove
• Bombur, Gentle Dreamer
• Bilbo Baggins, Burglar
• Gimli, Mournful Avenger
• Dwarven Mattock
• Thorin, Company's Leader
• Óin the Brave
• Iron Hills Stalwart
• Dori, Bearer of Friends

Rulings

• 2026-06-29: If your third legendary, Saga, or artifact permanent enters the battlefield and then one of those permanents leaves the battlefield immediately afterwards (most likely due to the "legend rule" or due to being a creature with 0 toughness), you get an enduring story before it leaves the battlefield.
• 2026-06-29: Once you have an enduring story, you have it for the rest of the game, even if you lose control of some or all of your storied permanents. The enduring story designation is on the player and can't be removed by any effect.
• 2026-06-29: You may choose to discard your hand even if your hand contains zero cards.
• 2026-06-29: If you control three legendary, Saga, and/or artifact permanents but don't control a permanent with storied, you don't get an enduring story. For example, if you controlled three artifacts, lost control of two, then cast Thorin Oakenshield, you won't have an enduring story.
• 2026-06-29: A single permanent can only count once toward the three legendary, Saga, and/or artifact permanents needed to get an enduring story, even if it has more than one of those qualities. If you control one permanent that is a legendary artifact and a second permanent that is a Saga, you will only have two of the three permanents required to get an enduring story.
• 2026-06-29: The decision to discard your hand is made during the resolution of the ability, so there is no opportunity for an opponent to respond between choosing to discard your hand and drawing cards.
• 2026-06-29: A permanent is any object on the battlefield, including tokens and lands. Spells and emblems aren't permanents.
• 2026-06-29: Storied isn't a triggered ability and doesn't use the stack. Players can respond to a spell that will give you your third legendary, Saga, and/or artifact permanent, but they can't respond to you getting an enduring story once you control that third permanent.