Deckbuilding Contest Finalists - May 2025

Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness - Final Fantasy Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CTyler+Jacobson%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Jacobson</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>? This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza, and what the heck is a Moogle?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moogles&#039; Valor"></div></div>
<p><i>Humanoid kitty cat guys? I thought that was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>???</i></p>
<p>This week: when is it okay to break a deal?</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
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<div><em>I only recently started playing Magic: The Gathering and ever since have been a big fan of your column!</em></div>
<div><em>Here is the story:</em></div>
<div><em>I regularly go to the open Commander nights at my LGS to learn to play against the different decks and get inspirations for new ones. Last week, I had a game where I tried out my most recent addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I know, I know, I have read the very flavourful Reddit rants about that commander and it already makes me some sort of the Bolas, but the deck's philosophy appeals to me and it was a good budget deck to build.</em></div>
<div><em>Anyway, the particular situation. The game had already developed quite a bit (partially due to me giving people the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boldwyr Heavyweights" href="#" target="_blank">Boldwyr Heavyweights</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other group hug cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hired Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Hired Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), but the table had no real sense for politics. So when I would ask something like "let's strike a deal about who gets this next card" people would not engage in that other than complain when they would be targeted.</em></div>
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<div><em>The only one engaging at one point was the opponent taking their turn before me (Ben), who did not use his <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on my commander in exchange for me not giving him a creature next turn. The turns progress and at one point the opponent before Ben goes all in on him with a flyer threatening enough damage to kill him, if it wasn't for Ben's reach creature. With me having an untapped <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the battlefield and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eater of Days" href="#" target="_blank">Eater of Days</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the graveyard, I decide to use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Go for the Throat" href="#" target="_blank">Go for the Throat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on Ben's reach creature so that he dies to the other opponent's flyer, then tap my commander and give that attacking opponent the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eater of Days" href="#" target="_blank">Eater of Days</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He responds by surrendering.</em></div>
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<div><em>However, after the game, Ben complained quite strongly about me betraying him like that, claiming that I would have never won if he had not spared my commander and asking what the point for politics was if it was disregarded like that. He consequentially refused to play another game with me for me a) playing such a mean deck and b) disregarding deals like that. I agree, it hurt me to basically betray the only guy that actually engaged in some politics (a part of the game I really enjoy), but I had a chance to win, so I took it.</em></div>
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<div><em>Since I am new to the scene, I was rather surprised by his reaction and I am now wondering if I broke some sort of "code of conduct" by winning through betrayal. The other members of the round were not too happy either but that might have stemmed from my commander itself, they reacted quite strongly when they were given even the weaker parts of the deck like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Wumpus" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Wumpus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I even offered to play a rather straight-forward deck without much politics but Ben did not want to give it another go.</em></div>
<div><em>So I ask you, wise Mike,<strong> am I the Bolas? Not necessarily for identifying a win condition and executing it, even though that requires to betray a fellow player, but especially doing that when I combined it with an already toxic deck that apparently many people hate to play against?</strong></em></div>
<div><em>Yours sincerely,</em></div>
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<div><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Jolly Balloon Man" href="#" target="_blank">The Jolly Balloon Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></em></div>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Beamtown Bullies"></div></div>
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<h2>HOWDY, JBM!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>I'll give to ya straight, bud. You stepped in it. It happens, it's a bit of a rite of passage, in a sense. The way you did it is pretty well like an "all of it at once" approach and I think this is a great submission.</p>
<p>Let's start with the choice of commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a real groaner. It's one of those cards that comes with an expectation that you're going to be playing <em>that</em> kind of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. And it's exactly what you described with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boldwyr Heavyweights" href="#" target="_blank">Boldwyr Heavyweights</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Wumpus" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Wumpus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eater of Days" href="#" target="_blank">Eater of Days</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being very popular cards in the deck. I know you recognize that your choice in commander is a little on the mean side and I'll give it to you. It's a salt inducing card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grand Arbiter Augustin IV" href="#" target="_blank">Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jon Irenicus, Shattered One" href="#" target="_blank">Jon Irenicus, Shattered One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is the kind of deck you bring up in the rule zero convo and propose it rather than declare it. It's one of those that some players just don't want to play against. If the Bullies having haste isn't enough of an indication that it's a creature people want to get off the board quickly, I don't know what is.</p>
<p>I think Ben choosing not to play more games with you is fair. He didn't enjoy politics, doesn't like the commander you picked, your preferred play style, etc. I say it all the time on the podcast and in this column: if you don't feel like playing with someone, nobody is going to force you to. You can express that it's not of interest to you and find another pod.</p>
<p>Next, the concept of politics in Commander games isn't everybody's cup of tea. Another thing that can come up in the rule zero convo is whether players are into politicking in the game and striking deals. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Beamtown Bullies" href="#" target="_blank">The Beamtown Bullies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a deck that encourages politics in the gameplay which, at many tables, is welcome. That said, some pilots present the deck as a political deck but use their commander as a bit of a "gun on the table" - you're bullying your opponents with whatever your leverage is. An <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eater of Days" href="#" target="_blank">Eater of Days</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be in your graveyard and flashed to the whole table with a "who wants to play ball?" Some tables might not enjoy that kind of play style to begin with. Let alone...</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hunted Wumpus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boldwyr Heavyweights"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eater of Days"></div></div>
<p>When you asked about whether you'd broken a [sort of unspoken] "code of conduct," you hit the nail on the head. When you're politicking and making deals at a table with Commander players, you're expected to keep your word. There are very few instances where you can go back on a deal and frankly, in some circles, even saying <em>that</em> much is pushing it. You're all trying to win in some way and if you make a deal, it's a momentary truce wherein the involved parties are meant to benefit. The thing is, you hit a few markers for loopholes. For example, you promised you wouldn't target Ben on his turn with your commander's ability and you technically kept your word; but you did kill him. You didn't lie, you just didn't engage in a move that is in the spirit of the bargain given that this strategy is only possible if Ben hadn't kept up his end of it.</p>
<p>Some people say that if there's an opening for a win that you should take it even if you've made a deal. In this case though, given the fact that Ben allowed you to keep the thing that took the game for you, I think it's in poor taste. <em>Even though</em>, if you had had the Bullies destroyed, your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Go for the Throat" href="#" target="_blank">Go for the Throat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could have still ended the game for him and you'd potentially get another turn from the attacking player, who's to say that they wouldn't have just come your way if Ben had made that play? Also, if Ben teased a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that he didn't use, did he also tap out so he couldn't destroy any of the attacking creatures? This would be a bad play if a deal hadn't been struck and I guess he thought he had just enough to not die this turn cycle...right?</p>
<p>I think Ben's play here is questionable, if I'm being honest. If the whole game, nobody's indulged in politicking, why start now? Why not wait to crack the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as you're ending your turn to ensure the Bullies can't do anything to him? The downside of only getting one side of the story!</p>
<p>Either way, breaking a deal is a thing you do when you're new to the game whether on purpose or by accident. Apologize and try your best to keep it from happening again. I think your question tells me you don't want to be a Bolas, but in this case you unfortunately are. I think it's temporary though. *wink* ding sound effect.</p>


Am I The Bolas? - Burning Your Word

Zombify Your Opponents With This Budget Gisa, the Hellraiser Commander Deck

Final Fantasy Deck Tech: Terra, Magical Adept

Scions &#038; Spellcraft Precon Guide - Final Fantasy

Vivi Ornitier Commander Deck Tech

<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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