The Best Bird Combos in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gau, Feral Youth" href="#" target="_blank">Gau, Feral Youth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CEgl%C4%97+Mosakait%C4%97%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eglė Mosakaitė</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to our deck tech featuring one of <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>'s most unique characters. Gau grew up in the Veldt, an area teeming with dangerous monsters, where he was left there by his father. Despite this unceremonious parting, Gau grew up and learned to fend for himself. Despite being largely detached from society and the nearby town of Mobliz, Gau becomes an unlikely ally of The Returners. In the upcoming <em>Magic</em> <em>Final Fantasy</em> set, Gau has his own card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gau, Feral Youth" href="#" target="_blank">Gau, Feral Youth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and in this article we're exploring a way to build Gau into a recursion machine.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gau, Feral Youth"></div></div></p>
<h2><strong>What Does Gau, Feral Youth Do?</strong></h2>
<p>Gau is a 2/2 Human Berserker that costs <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to cast. He has two abilities that work in tandem to produce a unique effect in red. The first is a triggered ability that reads, "Whenever Gau attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it." This ability is not unique, with dozens of other cards having the same or similar abilities. The second ability, however, is unique for a red card, reading "At the beginning of each end step, if a card left your graveyard this turn, Gau deals damage equal to its power to each opponent." Effects that care about cards leaving the graveyard exist in <em>Magic</em>, but mainly in black.</p>
<p>The strategy of this deck centers around triggering Gau's second ability as much as possible using artifact recursion, taking advantage of the fact that Gau can trigger every end step, not just <em>your</em> end step, for maximum damage.</p>
<p>The deck has three distinct components to facilitate this objective. The first is recurring artifacts, either to your hand or to the battlefield, satisfying the condition for Gau to trigger at the end step. The second is to allow Gau to attack while staying protected, to get the boost from its first ability and to perhaps deal some extra damage. The third is to boost Gau's power so when he does trigger, it will pack a bigger punch. In the way we're using Gau for this deck, there are several red commanders that have decks built in similar fashions. Examples include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slobad, Iron Goblin" href="#" target="_blank">Slobad, Iron Goblin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Gau's Shiny Treasures</h2>
<p>The core pieces of this deck involve causing cards to leave your graveyard as often as possible. This deck mainly uses artifact recursion pieces to accomplish this, and red and colorless have many options for this purpose. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Trawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Trawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are pivotal to this objective, and can be triggered or activated at instant speed so Gau will trigger during an opponent's turn. The deck also uses many utility artifacts like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ichor Wellspring" href="#" target="_blank">Ichor Wellspring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prized Statue" href="#" target="_blank">Prized Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to get extra advantage from the constant cycle of artifacts leaving and entering the battlefield. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slobad, Iron Goblin" href="#" target="_blank">Slobad, Iron Goblin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark-Clan Ironworks" href="#" target="_blank">Krark-Clan Ironworks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serve as sacrifice outlets, allowing cards like Scrap Trawler to then trigger with ease.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Welder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slobad, Iron Goblin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ichor Wellspring"></div></div></p>
<p>While the main purpose of the deck centers around recurring artifacts, several other effects are also included that can help Gau trigger. The deck contains several cards with flashback, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isengard Unleashed" href="#" target="_blank">Isengard Unleashed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as casting them for their flashback costs will cause them to leave the graveyard. Some other notable ways to trigger Gau include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elixir of Immortality" href="#" target="_blank">Elixir of Immortality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, among many others.</p>
<p>This deck also includes cards with the sole purpose of helping Gau deal more damage when it does trigger. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work extremely well in this deck, boosting Gau's power by a large amount due to the number of artifacts the deck contains. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another very useful buff piece that should be fairly cheap to cast. While these cards boost Gau's power directly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="City on Fire" href="#" target="_blank">City on Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other cards simply amplify the damage dealt by Gau, causing a similar effect overall.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettlecyst"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Mastery"></div></div></p>
<p>Several cards are also included to protect Gau when it attacks, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whispersilk Cloak" href="#" target="_blank">Whispersilk Cloak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, with Gau only costing <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, he won't be outlandishly expensive to recast even if he's wiped off the board a couple times. Many of the buff effects (like the Equipment mentioned earlier) are also not very expensive to reattach to Gau, so him being wiped off the board is nowhere near game-ending. While keeping Gau around is best to stack counters from attacking, the deck can still function fine with just using external buffs.</p>
<h2>How Will Gau End the Game?</h2>
<p>The main way Gau plans to end the game is by damage dealt with its second ability. Over the course of the game, Gau should be able to be buffed and fling a considerable amount of damage at opponents. Even if he isn't heavily buffed, dealing damage during each end step can quickly add up to a devastating amount if left unchecked. The deck does contain a few pieces of redundancy that can also fling damage, and possibly end the game on their own. This includes cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fuming Effigy" href="#" target="_blank">Fuming Effigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Fireweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Fireweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can supplement Gau's damage or continue to deal damage if Gau happens to leave the battlefield.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fuming Effigy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Fireweaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ingenious Artillerist"></div></div></p>
<p>This deck does contain some other possible win conditions. One such condition is combat damage, as we're constantly attacking (hopefully) with Gau and maybe other creatures, which can be amplified by the damage increasers and possibly end a game. This method, of course, isn't the primary focus or an overly reliable plan, but it could work in a pinch.</p>
<p>The deck also contains several combos that, when paired with some payoffs, can end the game on the spot. According to <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/find-my-combos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook's Find My Combos</a> feature, this deck contains eight infinite combos. These combos can largely trigger Reckless Fireweaver or similar cards repeatedly, leading to infinite damage and thus ending the game. Let's work through one of the simplest combos in the deck:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirrorworks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Retriever"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark-Clan Ironworks"></div></div></p>
<p>To perform this combo, cast Myr Retriever for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. When it enters, Mirrorworks and Reckless Fireweaver trigger, dealing one damage to each opponent and triggering you to pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to copy Myr Retriever. You can then sacrifice the nontoken Myr Retriever to Krark-Clan Ironwroks for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-c" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-c" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. Myr Retriever will trigger, allowing you to return another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. Then, repeat the same process with the token Myr Retriever, instead returning the nontoken Myr Retriever to your hand. From here, repeat the combo infinitely until the game ends from Reckless Fireweaver's damage. Below are a few other possible combos in this deck, thanks to help from <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook</a>.</p>
<div id="1020-1117-2866-4659-5034" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1020-1117-2866-4659-5034" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Scrap%20Trawler%22%2C%22Myr%20Retriever%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%2C%22Sol%20Ring%22%2C%22Junk%20Diver%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20blinking%20of%20artifacts%20you%20control%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%200%22%2C%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%5D&id=1020-1117-2866-4659-5034&color=C&extraRequirementCount=0"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<div id="1020-2866-4659-5346" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1020-2866-4659-5346" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Crime%20Novelist%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%2C%22Myr%20Retriever%22%2C%22Scrap%20Trawler%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%2C%22Infinite%20%2B1%2F%2B1%20counters%20on%20Crime%20Novelist%22%2C%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20red%20mana%22%5D&id=1020-2866-4659-5346&color=R&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<div id="1721-3210-4659" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="1721-3210-4659" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Scrap%20Mastery%22%2C%22Codex%20Shredder%22%2C%22Krark-Clan%20Ironworks%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20magecraft%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20mana%20artifacts%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%5D&id=1721-3210-4659&color=R&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<p>With that out of the way, let's get to the fun part: the deck.</p>
<h2>Gau, Feral Youth's Artifact Déjà Vu - Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gau&#039;s Artifact Déjà Vu" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gau, Feral Youth
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adaptive Omnitool
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Codex Shredder
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Dowsing Device // Geode Grotto
*1 Elixir of Immortality
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Genesis Chamber
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mimic Vat
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Mycosynth Wellspring
*1 Mystic Forge
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Prized Statue
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Throne of Eldraine
*1 Unlicensed Hearse
*1 Whispersilk Cloak
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Demand Answers
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Isengard Unleashed
*1 Reckless Handling
*1 Scrap Mastery
*1 Trash for Treasure
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 City on Fire
*1 Fiery Emancipation
*1 Pia&#039;s Revolution
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Crime Novelist
*1 Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer
*1 Feldon of the Third Path
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Fuming Effigy
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Gogo, Mysterious Mime
*1 Ingenious Artillerist
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Junk Diver
*1 Metalwork Colossus
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Reckless Fireweaver
*1 Ruin Grinder
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scrap Welder
*1 Slobad, Iron Goblin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Tersa Lightshatter
*1 Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith
*1 Workshop Assistant
*1 Yidaro, Wandering Monster
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Great Furnace
*27 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This deck is a fun way to explore a unique card while having a legitimate chance of winning a few games. It fits well into Bracket 3 - being reasonably strong while not being excruciating to play against. It's probably not going to fare well against ultra-polished Bracket 4/5 decks, but it fits well for the average casual player who wants to play something unique and different. It is worth noting that Gau is not the optimal recursion commander - cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormod, the Desecrator" href="#" target="_blank">Tormod, the Desecrator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have far more options and are generally more useful.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, Commander is about having fun, especially in a casual environment. Gau allows you to have fun while pioneering a reasonably strong deck. However, if you're looking for an extremely strong or polished commander, especially for cEDH, I would recommend checking out Tormod or other options instead. Perhaps, if Gau was in Rakdos, you could make it a lot stronger and accomplish this, but it doesn't seem to be possible with it in mono-red.</p>


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