Norin the Wary. Enough said, right?
As I was looking through cards with Norin in mind, one stuck out: Honor-Worn Shaku. It would be great in EDH or multiplayer, as I would be able to untap the artifact for mana on each player's turn (pretty much).
As I tried to find red cards to work with Norin, it just didn't work out. I don't think it would be nearly as fun to make an EDH deck around Norin. I will just stick with extended combos using him. Some fun thoughts:
Mage Slayer! Once both are down, equip cost doesn't make Norin vanish, and attacking would put both cards' triggers on the stack. I can deal damage to my opponent and then have Norin disappear instead of facing any kind of blockers! Then I just need to re-equip him each turn to repeat.
Other Equipment. Obsidian Battle Axe adds to Norin's Power without needing to re-equip (Norin the Wary is a Warrior). Explorer's Scope lets Norin look for a land without the unfortunate consequences like needing to face blockers.
Exalted. Angelic Benediction comes to mind, although making creatures tap if I am not even going to be blocked seems redundant, except in multiplayer. Other exalted cards could make Norin bigger for that Mage Slayer swing.
ABILITIES to pump Norin's power like Naya Battlemage. It needs to be ABILITIES and not auras or spells because Norin is too wary of casting. Glory of Warfare has the right colors.
All this sounds like a Naya-colored deck to include Norin (Red), Mage Slayer (Red+Green) and a bunch of the exalted cards (+White). Time of Need and Chord of Calling can find the boy if needed.
LANDS
5 Forest
2 Jungle Shrine
2 Kazandu Refuge
5 Mountain
6 Plains
1 Raging Ravine
1 Sunpetal Grove
1 Turntimber Grove
CREATURES
3 Akrasan Squire
2 Aven Squire
1 Ayumi, the Last Visitor
2 Bramblewood Paragon
1 Norin the Wary
1 Ornithopter
2 Qasali Pridemage
2 Seedcradle Witch
4 Soul Warden
2 Topan Ascetic
1 Ursapine
SPELLS
2 Adventuring Gear
1 Ajani Goldmane
2 Chord of Calling
2 Congregation at Dawn
2 Explorer's Scope
1 Glory of Warfare
1 Intimidation Bolt
1 Mage Slayer
2 Recollect
2 Time of Need
Notes: Pretty much the way I drew it up, with some broadening to make a few more cards make sense. Ornithopter and Ayumi are a couple more bodies to carry equipment. If losing to Norin the Wary beatdown is embarassing, losing to Ornithopter beatdown must be almost the same feeling. Ayumi is also a target for Time of Need, in case I get stuck with Norin in my hand, then at least it's not a dead card. The curve is low, so Seedcradle Witch is a great mana sink. Topan Ascetic has good synergy with an exalted strategy. I really wanted to use Quest for Renewal with Topan Ascetic, but that will have to be a strategy for another day.
