Here's an abbreviated version of the list we came up with: Gods Some riff on the nine realms Many specific creature types (Elves, Dwarves, Giants, etc.) Specific weapons (hammers, axes, swords, etc.) Norse-style magic (runes, omens, zombies, etc.) Lots of fighting/combat-centric things Other resonant Viking things (helmets, boats, funerals, etc.) Cold climate It was a good list and gave us a lot to work on
Even just the fact that this is one of the few Commander archetypes which makes attacking and blocking really matter again is awesome, given that creature combat is among the most interesting and skill-testing parts of Magic gameplay
What differentiates it from other artifact payoffs is that it both costs a lot of nominal mana and protects itself via ward
Some are "dual lands" that tap for two colors or mana, such as Orzhov Guild Gate
And its by far the most popular franchise
This card is a wonderful early threat that your opponents need to answer