Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers | Art by Aaron J. Riley
It's time for a team up for the ages, because Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers are here to bring along some big stompy threats. Gruul () is known for its giant creatures who can push through a lot of damage quickly. This TMNT team-up takes that to the next level, by cheating something out whenever they attack.
As I've looked over some of the deck lists already built around this commander, I've noticed how pricey some of the inclusions are in the 99. With that in mind, join me Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as I cover all of the big stompy creatures that you can pick up for this deck, without breaking the bank!
What Does Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers Bring to the Table?
Looking at Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers you might be intimidated by their mana cost. However, this deck is filled with nearly twenty ways to accelerate your mana in order to get them into play as soon as possible. Once you move to combat, you'll be cheating out one of the many huge creatures that make up this list.
This deck is filled with board protection, card advantage, removal, and as I mentioned a whole lot of ramp. However, today we'll be looking at the big creatures that're the real stars of the show. While we could fill this list with a lot of cheap value critters, I purposefully only included creatures that'll be exciting to hit off of the commander's effect.
So, let's take a look at them now.
Key Cards for Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers
The Big Stompy Finishers
- End-Raze ForerunnersEnd-Raze Forerunners: Here's a good example of a creature that's great to cheat out with your commander, while also still being great to cast from your hand once your board is filled with threats. Buffing your team and giving them trample could close out the game in a single combat.
- Pyrewood GearhulkPyrewood Gearhulk: The effect this brings when it hits the board is incredibly strong. Even though the vigilance won't help if this enters during combat, powering up your team, giving them menace and stopping damage prevention may just win you the game.
- Angrath's MaraudersAngrath's Marauders: Pairing this creature with your commander alone means that it will be hitting for fourteen damage. That effect just gets even better the more and more big threats that enter your board.
- Terror of Mount VelusTerror of Mount Velus: Hitting this Dragon off the top of your library would definitely change the game. Swinging in with a 5/5 doublestriker that gives that same keyword to the rest of your team is a lot of damage to drive through out of nowhere.
- Ghalta, Primal HungerGhalta, Primal Hunger: Here's a legend that's great to cheat out for free, while also having the possibility to be easily cast from your hand, since this deck is filled with some pretty high-powered creatures.
- Darksteel ColossusDarksteel Colossus: While an 11/11 with trample and indestructible is incredible in this list, the fact that it shuffles back into your library if it ends up in your graveyard will ensure you always have a creature to hit with your commander.
Big Stompy Mana Acceleration
- Goreclaw, Terror of Qal SismaGoreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma: This creature assists with casting your commander faster, while also helping you get the big creatures that are stuck in your hand into play. Plus, its attack trigger adds even more upside in the deck.
- The Earth KingThe Earth King: While this might not be the greatest card to hit off of your commander, it is powerful to have in play early sine it'll ramp you more and more as the game goes on.
- Regal BehemothRegal Behemoth: Since your commander can cheat this Behemoth in, it'll likely lead to a big post-combat, since it "doubles" the amount of mana your lands produce right away.
Big Stompy Card Advantage
- Combustible GearhulkCombustible Gearhulk: Here's an interesting opportunity for your opponents to gamble a little. Since this deck contains some massive creatures, there's a good chance that this'll always draw you three cards, since people won't want to risk taking too much damage.
- Garruk's PackleaderGarruk's Packleader: This is another creature that's good to get down before your commander and still pretty nice to hit off the top. Once it's in play, you'll be in a solid spot for drawing another card whenever a big threat hits your board.
- Disciple of FreyaliseDisciple of Freyalise: If you happen to have a big creatures in play, you could cash them in for a hand refill and some life. Plus, this can always just be a land if need one at that time.
Big Stompy Token Generators
- Worldspine WurmWorldspine Wurm: I'm ecstatic that this card is cheap enough to fit into a budget deck like this. Having it enter play for free, already attacking, makes it brutal for the rest of the table to deal with, especially since it leaves behind those big tokens when it dies.
- Giant AdephageGiant Adephage: Dropping this Insect during combat could ensure that you're creating a whole lot of giant tokens to start taking over the board. Reminder, those tokens also make copies of themselves when they hit.
- Avenger of ZendikarAvenger of Zendikar: I'm sure you could tell so far that if this deck is doing its thing, it'll become the threat at the table. Having this creature hit the board, and give you a large number of blockers, may be the thing that keeps your life total safe.
Big Stompy Interaction
- Dragonlord AtarkaDragonlord Atarka: Flipping this Dragon off the top of your library will definitely be a way to impact a lot of pieces on your opponents' boards. Plus, an 8/8 flyer with trample is a very strong threat to have enter the battlefield for free.
- Titan of IndustryTitan of Industry: This creature offers up a whole lot of effects when it hits your board. Protection, a token, five life and destroying an artifact or enchantment, which are all incredibly useful abilities to have during a game.
- Gruul RagebeastGruul Ragebeast: Keeping all the creatures we've talked about so far in mind, imagining them entering and fighting your opponents' value pieces. Now whenever you're cheating a big threat onto the battlefield, you're also controlling the board.
Commander Deck List for Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers
Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers - EDHREC Budget Deck Tech
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers
Creatures (18)
- 1 Angrath's MaraudersAngrath's Marauders
- 1 Avenger of ZendikarAvenger of Zendikar
- 1 Combustible GearhulkCombustible Gearhulk
- 1 Darksteel ColossusDarksteel Colossus
- 1 Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of FreyaliseDisciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise
- 1 Dragonlord AtarkaDragonlord Atarka
- 1 End-Raze ForerunnersEnd-Raze Forerunners
- 1 Garruk's PackleaderGarruk's Packleader
- 1 Ghalta, Primal HungerGhalta, Primal Hunger
- 1 Giant AdephageGiant Adephage
- 1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal SismaGoreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
- 1 Gruul RagebeastGruul Ragebeast
- 1 Pyrewood GearhulkPyrewood Gearhulk
- 1 Regal BehemothRegal Behemoth
- 1 Terror of Mount VelusTerror of Mount Velus
- 1 The Earth KingThe Earth King
- 1 Titan of IndustryTitan of Industry
- 1 Worldspine WurmWorldspine Wurm
Enchantments (5)
- 1 Bitter WorkBitter Work
- 1 Fall of Gil-galadFall of Gil-galad
- 1 Garruk's UprisingGarruk's Uprising
- 1 Utopia SprawlUtopia Sprawl
- 1 Wild GrowthWild Growth
Sorceries (20)
- 1 BushwhackBushwhack
- 1 Chain ReactionChain Reaction
- 1 CultivateCultivate
- 1 Elven FarsightElven Farsight
- 1 Esper Origins // Summon: Esper MaduinEsper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin
- 1 ExploreExplore
- 1 FarseekFarseek
- 1 Genesis WaveGenesis Wave
- 1 Green Sun's TwilightGreen Sun's Twilight
- 1 Last Night TogetherLast Night Together
- 1 Migration PathMigration Path
- 1 Rampant GrowthRampant Growth
- 1 Rishkar's ExpertiseRishkar's Expertise
- 1 Search for TomorrowSearch for Tomorrow
- 1 Selvala's StampedeSelvala's Stampede
- 1 Shared RootsShared Roots
- 1 Skyshroud ClaimSkyshroud Claim
- 1 Stump Stomp // Burnwillow ClearingStump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing
- 1 Track DownTrack Down
- 1 Vastwood SurgeVastwood Surge
Instants (14)
- 1 Big ScoreBig Score
- 1 Blossoming DefenseBlossoming Defense
- 1 Chaos WarpChaos Warp
- 1 Defend the RiderDefend the Rider
- 1 HarrowHarrow
- 1 Hunter's InsightHunter's Insight
- 1 ReclaimReclaim
- 1 Return of the WildspeakerReturn of the Wildspeaker
- 1 Samut's SprintSamut's Sprint
- 1 Shower of ArrowsShower of Arrows
- 1 Snakeskin VeilSnakeskin Veil
- 1 The Last Agni KaiThe Last Agni Kai
- 1 Titan's StrengthTitan's Strength
- 1 Withstand DeathWithstand Death
Artifacts (6)
- 1 BrainstoneBrainstone
- 1 Heaped HarvestHeaped Harvest
- 1 Lifecrafter's BestiaryLifecrafter's Bestiary
- 1 Lumbering WorldwagonLumbering Worldwagon
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 Sonic ScrewdriverSonic Screwdriver
Lands (36)
- 1 Bonders' EnclaveBonders' Enclave
- 1 Cinder GladeCinder Glade
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Conduit PylonsConduit Pylons
- 1 Crystal GrottoCrystal Grotto
- 1 Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard
- 1 Game TrailGame Trail
- 1 Hidden GrottoHidden Grotto
- 1 Karplusan ForestKarplusan Forest
- 1 Kessig Wolf RunKessig Wolf Run
- 1 Mossfire ValleyMossfire Valley
- 1 Promising VeinPromising Vein
- 1 Rootbound CragRootbound Crag
- 1 Sheltered ThicketSheltered Thicket
- 1 Temple of AbandonTemple of Abandon
- 1 The Grey HavensThe Grey Havens
- 1 Wooded RidgelineWooded Ridgeline
- 16 ForestForest
- 3 MountainMountain
In Closing
So, that's my list for Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersRaph & Mikey, Troublemakers, jammed full of big stompy threats. If you're excited for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, stay tuned right here on EDHREC for my upcoming Bulk Up article. In it, I'll cover all the best commons and uncommons from the set, so you don't pass up any great cards hidden in those boosters.
If you want to see more budget content from me, you can find it on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort.
Tyler Bucks
Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks has been playing Magic and creating lighthearted content for over a decade. With a focus on building Commander decks on a budget, he is always looking for new ways to save cash! When he isn't shuffling through bulk bins (so you don't have to), he can be found on the Magic YouTube channel 'The Pillow Fort'!
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