Oji, the Exquisite Blade: Uncommon Planeswalker Interactions

Oji, the Exquisite Blade artwork from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Oji, the Exquisite Blade and the Planeswalker Intersection

In the colorful crosswinds of Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, a blue-and-white herald steps onto the battlefield with quiet precision. Oji, the Exquisite Blade is an uncommon legend whose presence invites a very specific kind of dance: a cadence of life gain, scrying clarity, and a blink-tastic echo that can loop a creature right back into play. With a mana cost of {2}{W}{U} and a stat line that reads 2/3, this Human Monk isn’t here to hit hard—he’s here to orchestrate value loops. And yes, the flavor text—“They walk the Path of Kensei with perfect balance.”—nails the calm focus of a player who loves subtle tempo plays as much as splashy chaos 🧙‍♂️🔥💎.

First impressions: entering the battlefield with intention

Oji’s etb ability is where the plan begins to unfurl. When he enters, you gain 2 life and scry 2. That small life cushion buys you another turn of breathing room in the midgame, while the scry 2 sharpens your read on the next two or three plays. In planeswalker-heavy strategies, that extra look at the top of the deck matters: it lets you smooth out the inevitable ebb and flow of big spells and emblem-based draws. The lifegain also matters in matchups where a stray loyalty-counter swing could threaten your board state; with Oji in play, you’re not just stabilizing—you’re refocusing your pace with surgical calm 🧭🎯.

They walk the Path of Kensei with perfect balance.

The second-spell trigger: a blink engine for planeswalker synergy

Oji’s marquee interaction—the trigger that fires when you cast your second spell each turn—opens a door for planeswalker-centric play. Cast your first spell, then your second (often a planeswalker drop or a potent noncreature spell), and you get to exile up to one target creature you control, returning it to the battlefield under its owner’s control. This isn’t just a blink for nostalgia’s sake; it’s a tactical reset. You can blink a creature with a valuable ETB, a creature you want to reuse later, or a token that you want to recycle into future value. The returning creature re-enters under its owner’s control, preserving your board presence while paying tribute to the classic, cerebral tempo that planeswalker-heavy games crave 🧙‍♂️⚔️.

Think of the planeswalker as the engine, and Oji as the conduit. When you cast a second spell (likely a planeswalker), the blink effect can protect key creatures or leverage ETB triggers in clever ways. For example, blinking a creature with a built-in enter-the-battlefield ability can re-tap its value into your curve. It’s not about rebounding a planeswalker themselves (you don’t blink planeswalkers with Oji, since they’re not creatures), but it is about weaving two-Spell turns into a looping, planeswalker-friendly battlefield who’s always one step ahead of removal and board resets. The result is a rhythm you can lean into during long tournaments or cozy kitchen-table bouts alike 🧩🎲.

Practical builds and strategies that honor planeswalker themes

In a blue-white blink tempo shell, Oji becomes a flexible anchor. Here are a few ways to lean into the synergy with planeswalkers, without forcing fragile combos into awkward corners:

Embrace the two-spell cadence. Build around drawing and filtering so you can reliably cast two spells per turn. Cards that untap or draw into more answers help keep the engine humming, while Oji’s scry on entry helps you locate those pieces faster.
Maximize ETB value through blinking. Use creatures with powerful ETB effects as your blink targets. When you exile and return them, their ETB triggers happen again, lining up with other planeswalker-driven plays—whether it’s drawing a card, creating a token, or stacking a loyalty-counter engine on your next planeswalker drop.
Protect and re-aim your plan with flicker effects. Pairing Oji with flicker enablers (like classic bounce-to-hand or instant-speed blink options) lets you keep your planeswalker plan intact while dodging removal on key pieces. It’s the kind of subtle, inexorable pressure that seasoned opponents respect 🛡️🪄.

Flavor, art, and the collector’s moment

And there’s more than just math and tempo here. Oji’s flavor text, the art by Andreas Zafiratos, and the quiet elegance of a Path of balance bring a certain zen to a crowded battlefield. The uncommon status hints at a card that doesn’t shout, but with every turn truly earns its keep. The Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate frame ties the card to a broader tapestry of legendary interactions, where monks, mages, and planewalkers share space under the same spellbook. For players who savor both art and mechanics, Oji is a welcome reminder that the game’s most memorable moments often come from patient, well-timed decisions rather than flashy single-turn plays 🖼️🎨.

From table to table: practical takeaways for your next session

If you’re considering including Oji in a planeswalker-forward strategy, here are some quick tips to keep in mind:

Count your second spells—plan for at least one nonland spell to set up the blink window, then maximize value with a planeswalker that advances your board state on the following turn.
Balance your blink targets. Favor creatures whose ETB effects align with your planeswalker plan—things that generate card advantage, draw, or tokens can scale beautifully as you re-enter them later in the game.
Keep a respectful eye on interactions with opponent removal. The blink can shield your important creatures, but timing matters; you don’t want to blink a key threat into a removal line that ruins your tempo.

For collectors and players who like a touch of elegance in their command zone, Oji offers a rare blend of utility and flavor. It’s the kind of card that rewards thoughtful play, celebrates planeswalker-centric decks, and gives you a few cool moments to savor—especially when you pull off a well-timed two-spell turn that leaves your board intact and your planeswalkers primed for the next chapter 🧙‍♂️💎.

While you’re thinking about the battlefield, you can also protect your gadgetry with style. If you’re on the move between games, consider grabbing a Phone Case with Card Holder — Polycarbonate, available in glossy or matte finishes — to keep your card collection handy and your phone safe at the same time. It’s a small touch that makes tournament days smoother and more stylish.

For more reading and context about the wider MTG design and art conversation surrounding planeswalkers and card interaction, check out these five stories from our network:

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Phone Case with Card Holder — Polycarbonate (Glossy or Matte)