<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artofmtg.com/artist/victor-adame-minguez/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to another edition of <em>Beyond the Multiverse! </em>This week, I'm back with another deck to share, this time built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/spm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em></a>.</p>
<p>I'd like to address something first. In a recent article, I was going to incorporate <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em> (<em>DnD</em> going forward) cards into the <em>Universes Beyond</em> card pool. However, the more I approached it, the more it didn't feel right. A handful were in the initial decklist for this article (I'll cover those in the in-universe section), but eventually cut them.</p>
<p>I turn to you, the reader. Do you count <em>DnD </em>cards as <em>Universes Beyond?</em> Why or why not? I'd appreciate some input on the matter.</p>
<p>Without further ado, let's get right into it.</p>
<h2>At the End of the Spider-Verse</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gwen Stacy"></div></div>
<p>Gwen was one of the only versions of her that remain alive across the Marvel Multiverse, having been bitten by a radioactive spider. However, unlike Uncle Ben, who always takes the fall in other Spider-Man stories, it's Peter Parker himself who dies, having turned into a lizard mutant in an attempt to emulate Spider-Gwen.</p>
<p>She would go on to travel across said multiverse either fighting battles or (in one case) being a student without her spider-powers.</p>
<p>Our card for today focuses on one theme: exile! Gwen wants us to cast cards or play lands from exile, so she gets bigger. With that, and several keywords to her name, we have ourselves a unique angle on Voltron.</p>
<p>So, where do we begin?</p>
<h2>World-Hopping</h2>
<p>Exile effects (and their payoffs) tend to be red-aligned, so it's natural that most of the deck will feature the color. To begin, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> skips our draw step, but we get the top two cards to play from exile for the turn. That way, if our hand runs dry, we can always dip into our exile-pool (if you will), and cast stuff from there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triple Triad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ecstatic Beauty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Wasteland"></div></div>
<p>Even casting our opponents' stuff works, too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stolen Strategy|pip|192" href="#" target="_blank">Stolen Strategy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fun cards that allow us to cast our opponents' cards. Since Ghost-Spider (the half we'll be focusing on anyway) doesn't care how many times we trigger the payoff, she can get huge really fast if done right. Gwen Stacy herself is nice for when we want to kickstart our exile-pool shenanigans.</p>
<p>Though, we'll want to transform her quickly to reap the benefits.</p>
<p>Like I touched on above, we can steal our opponents cards! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strago and Relm" href="#" target="_blank">Strago and Relm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are slow for this, but we can cast the card without paying for it. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ian Malcolm, Chaotician" href="#" target="_blank">Ian Malcolm, Chaotician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> punishes those greedy drawing players by creating a literal exile pool. Keep in mind that everyone will have access to the cards exiled with him.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ecstatic Beauty" href="#" target="_blank">Ecstatic Beauty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works with the suspend mechanic, which is yet another way to cast from exile. We'd get the top three cards, but it might be best to suspend this card, so we'll have enough mana to cast whatever we hit.</p>
<p>Another good card for this is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Flux" href="#" target="_blank">The Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The first chapter kills a creature, but most of the time, it'll fuel our exile pool. The last chapter, assuming the Saga sticks around, gives us six mana to work with. However, we've got to be exiling for a cause, right?</p>
<h2>Exploring Alternate Realities</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flaming Tyrannosaurus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cait Sith, Fortune Teller"></div></div>
<p>As with any deck that cares about exiling cards, we want some payoffs. Our commander's one of them (assuming we're working with Ghost-Spider, that is), but what others? Unfortunately, the <em>Universes Beyond </em>card pool doesn't allow for much, but we can make do.</p>
<p>The best we get are cards that have the <em>paradox</em> mechanic. There's a few in our colors, and the best of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flaming Tyrannosaurus" href="#" target="_blank">Flaming Tyrannosaurus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is a major threat in the build. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iraxxa, Empress of Mars" href="#" target="_blank">Iraxxa, Empress of Mars</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surge of Brilliance" href="#" target="_blank">Surge of Brilliance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are another two. Beyond those, it's slim pickings.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we have a few others like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cait Sith, Fortune Teller" href="#" target="_blank">Cait Sith, Fortune Teller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who works into our game plan. He exiles the top card, and buffs Ghost-Spider equal to exiled card's mana value, meaning more commander damage can be dealt. Of course, we can also play that card for that turn only.</p>
<h2>Gwen Stacy // Ghost-Spider Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Spider-Gwen" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gwen Stacy // Ghost-Spider
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder
*1 Cait Sith, Fortune Teller
*1 Chaos Terminator Lord
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Flaming Tyrannosaurus
*1 Headliner Scarlett
*1 Ian Malcolm, Chaotician
*1 Keeper of Secrets
*1 Lightning, Security Sergeant
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Strago and Relm
*1 Summon: Esper Valigarmanda
*1 The Tenth Doctor
*1 The Twelfth Doctor
*1 Yasmin Khan
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Apple of Eden, Isu Relic
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 River Song&#039;s Diary
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Big Score
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Counterflux
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Cyber Conversion
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Haste Magic
*1 Opera Love Song
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Surge of Brilliance
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Ultimate Magic: Holy
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Call Forth the Tempest
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Ecstatic Beauty
*1 Ensnared by the Mara
*1 Inspiring Refrain
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Monastery Raid
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Time Wipe
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Furious Rise
*1 Stolen Strategy
*1 The Flux
*1 The Lost and the Damned
*1 Triple Triad
*1 Wild Wasteland
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Glacial Fortress
*6 Island
*6 Mountain
*1 Mystic Monastery
*1 Path of Ancestry
*6 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Reflecting Pool
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Triumph
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Other Wonders</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodthirster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Tenth Doctor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call Forth the Tempest"></div></div>
<p>Like I said, the list is mostly red cards because this is in red's wheelhouse. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Terminator Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Terminator Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will give Ghost-Spider double strike, making our job easier. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodthirster" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodthirster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will assist with this, too, if we can reap multiple combat steps.</p>
<p>Another double striker is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder|fca|50" href="#" target="_blank">Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who will also grant lifelink. Be aware that he must attack to get the trigger repeatedly. Also, for as long as Ghost-Spider sticks around, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Furious Rise|fic|294" href="#" target="_blank">Furious Rise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will net us a card on each of our end steps.</p>
<p>Another card for this deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call Forth the Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Call Forth the Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The card's ridiculously expensive to cast, but it wipes our opponents' boards if we hit a high enough mana value. Even better if we can cast this from exile, because then our commander gets three +1/+1 counters. One way to do this is through <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Tenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Tenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who also works with her. Meanwhile, he works on getting cards suspended to cast later on.</p>
<p>From the same release, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ensnared by the Mara" href="#" target="_blank">Ensnared by the Mara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will force our opponents into a tough choice: We either steal a card from each of them (cast from exile, of course), or we ding them for damage equal to the number of cards exiled by this spell. How deliciously evil!</p>
<p>Lastly, for a repeatable source of +1/+1 counters on our commander, albeit slow, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Refrain|who|216" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Refrain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will draws us cards, then exile itself.</p>
<h2>Beyond the Spider-Verse</h2>
<p>Recall what I said at the beginning of the article, about the <em>DnD </em>cards? Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delayed Blast Fireball" href="#" target="_blank">Delayed Blast Fireball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful wipe that we can simply cast from exile without having to foretell it. Even then, it still does five damage instead of two.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Delayed Blast Fireball"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarevok&#039;s Tome"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Passionate Archaeologist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarevok&#039;s Tome" href="#" target="_blank">Sarevok&#039;s Tome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> taps for mana, and exiles cards to cast. However, if we complete a dungeon (helps when it gives the initiative), we get two for the price of one. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nalfeshnee" href="#" target="_blank">Nalfeshnee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span><span class="card-text-card-name"> will copy any card we cast, not play, from exile, including permanents (though we lose the copies at the end of turn). </span></p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspired Tinkering" href="#" target="_blank">Inspired Tinkering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while expensive to cast, gives us three cards to cast, and three Treasure tokens to help us cast stuff. What a deal! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Passionate Archaeologist" href="#" target="_blank">Passionate Archaeologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for as long as our commander's out, will hit an opponent for every card we cast from exile.</p>
<p>There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wand of Wonder" href="#" target="_blank">Wand of Wonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we have to roll the die to try and get all of them. The worst we can get is one, which isn't bad. Also, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild-Magic Sorcerer" href="#" target="_blank">Wild-Magic Sorcerer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets us cascade once each turn, given we cast something from exile.</p>
<p>Outside of those, there's some other cards we could use. Among them is a card I'd like to run, but no incentive to build: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plargg and Nassari" href="#" target="_blank">Plargg and Nassari</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. We steal three cards, but cast only two from among them on each upkeep.</p>
<p>I'm not going to be exhaustive here. There's a lot of cards that can work with the theme, and it'll only get more support over time.</p>
<h2>Back to Our Reality</h2>
<p>Exile, for sure, is a fun deck, especially when it pops off. I'm positive that Gwen/Ghost-Spider will find her place within the archetype sooner or later. Like I said, let me know in the comments if you would count <em>DnD </em>as <em>Universes Beyond</em>, and if you'd like me to treat them as such (for our purposes).</p>
<p>Anyway, I did have a recommendation earlier in the year. I was going to write an article for it, but the <em>Final Fantasy</em> spoilers drowned it out for a good while. Join me next time as we tackle that at last.</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="3dikaaCnAt"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/my-response-to-the-professors-spider-man-video/">My Response to The Professor's Spider-Man Video</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;My Response to The Professor&#039;s Spider-Man Video&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/my-response-to-the-professors-spider-man-video/embed/#?secret=tUI6uGwxpg#?secret=3dikaaCnAt" data-secret="3dikaaCnAt" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Gu87z9IAxZ"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/j-jonah-jameson-commander-deck-tech/">J. Jonah Jameson Commander Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;J. Jonah Jameson Commander Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/j-jonah-jameson-commander-deck-tech/embed/#?secret=97tJmMd3QS#?secret=Gu87z9IAxZ" data-secret="Gu87z9IAxZ" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="4po5lftRk5"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-dog-commanders-of-magic/">The Dog Commanders of Magic</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;The Dog Commanders of Magic&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-dog-commanders-of-magic/embed/#?secret=y800qiSbJh#?secret=4po5lftRk5" data-secret="4po5lftRk5" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Gwen Stacy / Ghost-Spider Commander Deck Tech

Building a Bracket 4 Deck with Gwenom, Remorseless

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <i>| </i>Art by <a href="https://xabigaztelua.com/">Xabi Gaztelua</a></em></p>
<p>My favorite thing about Commander is that every player I know has their own thing. The vast array of strategies available in the format inevitably results in players latching on to a handful of archetypes that are distinctly them. Everyone I play with can easily identify cards or decks that I'd play. This leaves room for me to subvert their expectations by showing up with something that's wildly abnormal for me. Mono-red aggro is totally outside of my normal range, but Spider-Gwen isn't! In this deck tech, I'm going to build a sweet mono-red deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a five-mana 4/4 with menace. Whenever she attacks, she deals X damage to the defending player, where X is the number of attacking creatures. A deck helmed by Ghost-Spider has a clear incentive to go really, really wide.</p>
<p>I spent a while thinking about how I could put a lot of creatures into play, and it came to me almost instantly: Goblins!</p>
<p>From a flavor standpoint, I think Gwen Stacy and Goblins are a bit of an unusual pairing, but I don't think that'll bother me much as I'm attacking with a massive band of Goblins and dealing 30 damage with Gwen's attack trigger, though.</p>
<h2>Key Cards For Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</h2>
<p>The first step in this deck's plan is making a lot of tokens. Thankfully, I know a certain Goblin who specializes in just that.</p>
<h3>Gwen Stacy's... Goblin Army?</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko&#039;s Command"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best creature in the deck, hands down. Once he hits the board and starts exponentially growing the horde of Goblins, this deck becomes nearly unstoppable. It only takes one or two Krenko activations to run away with a game. He is to be protected at all costs.</p>
<p>There are a lot of two- or three-mana sorceries that just generate a few tokens, and these cards are often the best early game plays available to a deck like this. I'd take a turn-two <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko&#039;s Command" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko&#039;s Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> any day of the week. This deck doesn't even play Arcane Signet for that reason!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pashalik Mons"></div></div>
<p>The only thing that really scares me when I think about what a game with this deck looks like is opposing board wipes. I don't think Gwen, Krenko, or their army of Goblins will take very kindly to a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pashalik Mons" href="#" target="_blank">Pashalik Mons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> dissuades opponents from wiping away all of this deck's creatures with a very simple threat: every Goblin they kill is going to cause them to take damage. If it's just a few Goblins, that's fine. If it's 30, opponents might just decide to spend their mana doing something else.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Warchief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin King"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Chieftain"></div></div>
<p>One aspect of these Goblins strategies that I love is that it is very much quantity over quality. Most of the time, I don't actually care what the Goblin I'm casting does. It just needs to sit there and be a Goblin; if it can do something else for me, that's awesome! I've included a bunch of lords, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin King" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to do just that.</p>
<h3>Burn</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Purphoros, God of the Forge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hellrider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Bombardment"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't the only way to deal damage directly to opponents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> burns each opponent for two damage each time a creature enters the battlefield. With a token-generator like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play, Purphoros is capable of killing the table all by himself.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellrider" href="#" target="_blank">Hellrider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effectively adds an extra point of damage to each attacking creature. The floor for this card is making 1-power creatures deal two damage, and the ceiling is having a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell" href="#" target="_blank">Torbran, Thane of Red Fell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <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> in play and making those 1/1s do a lot more damage.</p>
<p>I like to think of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Bombardment" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Bombardment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an insurance policy. If an opponent points a removal spell at a creature, I'm at least going to get one more point of damage in on that creature's way out. It can also serve as a way to dissuade opponents from casting removal spells, as it puts them on the hook for additional damage.</p>
<h2>How Does This Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="City on Fire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell"></div></div>
<p>The easiest way to get a game over with is to slam a <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>, go to combat, and start turning creatures sideways. <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> triples the amount of damage that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s attack trigger deals. In the later stages of the game, that can be more than enough damage to kill a player on its own. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torbran, Thane of Red Fell" href="#" target="_blank">Torbran, Thane of Red Fell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very much the same, although adding two damage is significantly less impressive than multiplying it by three.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Full Throttle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overpowering Attack"></div></div>
<p>For a deck that is constructed around taking advantage of an attack trigger, additional combat steps are best friend material. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overpowering Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Overpowering Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> should each be able to quickly steal games out from under an opponent, no matter how commanding of a lead they have. There are even some neat tricks to be had with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fable of the Mirror-Breaker" href="#" target="_blank">Fable of the Mirror-Breaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being used to copy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and causing mayhem.</p>
<h2>Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gwen&#039;s Goblins" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Battle Cry Goblin
*1 Beetleback Chief
*1 Bloodmark Mentor
*1 Combat Celebrant
*1 Defiler of Instinct
*1 Fury
*1 General Kreat, the Boltbringer
*1 Goblin Chieftain
*1 Goblin Instigator
*1 Goblin King
*1 Goblin Matron
*1 Goblin Recruiter
*1 Goblin Warchief
*1 Hellrider
*1 Krenko, Mob Boss
*1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
*1 Legion Loyalist
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Mogg War Marshal
*1 Muxus, Goblin Grandee
*1 Oliphaunt
*1 Pashalik Mons
*1 Pinnacle Monk
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Searslicer Goblin
*1 Siege-Gang Commander
*1 Siege-Gang Lieutenant
*1 Simian Spirit Guide
*1 Spider-Punk
*1 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Cavalcade of Calamity
*1 City on Fire
*1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Painter&#039;s Studio
*1 Raid Bombardmend
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Lavaspur Boots
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Fire Crystal
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Calamity of Cinders
*1 Dragon Fodder
*1 Full Throttle
*1 Gamble
*1 Goblin Negotiation
*1 Goblin War Party
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Krenko&#039;s Command
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rally at the Hornburg
*1 Sundering Eruption
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Battle Hymn
*1 Bolt Bend
*1 Goblin Surprise
*1 Spikefield Hazard
*1 Stoke the Flames
*1 Tibalt&#039;s Trickery
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Valakut Awakening
*1 You See a Pair of Goblins
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Dwarven Mine
*20 Mountain
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
*1 Strip Mine
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 War Room
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Despite it falling outside the sort of decks I would usually be drawn to, I love this deck. I'm so happy I was able to take Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy, a fairly underwhelming starter deck commander, and find a good, if a little bizarre, strategy for it.</p>
<p>This deck, much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, is perfect to hand less experienced players. The overwhelming majority of the time, the player piloting this deck can just spend every turn casting all of the cards they have the mana for and attacking with everything and do pretty well for themselves. They might even learn a thing or two about proper sequencing along the way.</p>


Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></p>
<p>We may be over a month out from the full release of Magic's next Universes Beyond crossover, <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/spm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Spider-Man</em></a>, but that doesn't mean the cEDH community isn't already frantically parsing threw previews looking for competitive Commander's next splashy deck.</p>
<p>So, let's get started with Gwen Stacy, Jeskai's newest contender in the competitive arena.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gwen Stacy"></div></div>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>First off, a breakdown of an important development showcased on <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: the the blending of modal double-faced cards (MDFCs) with the transform mechanic.</p>
<p>Normally, MDFCS are restricted in that you choose one face of the card to play when you play it (or cast it), and then it's stuck that way as long as it's in play. Casting <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birgi, God of Storytelling" href="#" target="_blank">Birgi, God of Storytelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Well, you won't be able to see the backside - <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birgi, God of Storytelling" href="#" target="_blank">Harnfel, Horn of Bounty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - any time soon, even if an effect instructed you to "transform target permanent."</p>
<p>With <em>Magic</em>'s <em>Spider-Man</em> crossover, a new slate of cards (Gwen Stacy included) are being revealed which are both MDFCs and traditionally-transformable permanents. Choose one side to cast when you cast it, and - if you choose the front face - you can transform it later on, given some cost (or if an effect instructs you to do so). Alrighty, on to Gwen.</p>
<p>For <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Gwen Stacy is a legendary 2/1 Human Performer Hero creature that causes you to exile the top card of your library when it enters. For as long as you control this creature, you may play that card. Additionally, 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, you may transform Gwen Stacy into Ghost-Spider. Do this only at sorcery speed.</p>
<p>On the backside, Ghost-Spider is a legendary 4/4 Spider Human Hero with a mana cost of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. It has flying, vigilance, haste, and "Whenever you play a land from exile or cast a spell from exile, put a +1/+1 counter on Ghost-Spider."</p>
<p>Additionally, Ghost-Spider has the activated ability "Remove two counters from Ghost Spider: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn."</p>
<p>At first glance, Gwen Stacy is somewhere in between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh" href="#" target="_blank">Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in terms of the value-add for your deck. That is, a cheap creature that provides a small bonus on its own (that being the card exiled thanks to the enters trigger), but really it just exists to provide colors to your color identity and to enable early-game spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springleaf Drum" href="#" target="_blank">Springleaf Drum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Truth be told, for most of the game that is the case; Ghost-Spider is a pretty ineffective engine (cEDH isn't known for casting spells from exile). However, there are just enough cards that red already wants to be running, plus a select few which the deck cranks up to eleven, that make things more interesting.</p>
<p>Let's dig deeper.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>By and large, the key cards for this deck break down into two primary categories:</p>
<ol>
<li>Cards you want to look for to survive the early turns - those which will seed the front side of your commander on the battlefield.</li>
<li>Cards you want to look for to propel you through the midgame - those which bolster Ghost-Spider's role as an extra source of card advantage.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Early Support</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fierce Guardianship"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mox Amber"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Springleaf Drum"></div></div>
<p>With the rate at which cEDH players can deploy early mana these days, casting Gwen Stacy turn one is a pretty feasible goal, one which will reward you immensely if properly capitalized on.</p>
<p>Fierce Guardianship and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are two of the strongest interaction pieces in cEDH, both being free when you control your commander. By playing Gwen on the first turn reliably, this deck does a decent job of impersonating Rograkh in its Izzet-plus strategies (RogSi, RogThras, etc.) - setting you up with consistent interaction while the rest of the table gears up for their own game plans.</p>
<p>Similarly, a specialty suite of creature-dependent mana rocks, such as Mox Amber and Springleaf Drum, can be considered eternally active in this deck. Using Mox Amber as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mox Ruby" href="#" target="_blank">Mox Ruby</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> game after game is the exact kind of marginal boon which can take a deck from Bracket 4 to Bracket 5, and from cEDH obscurity to relevance.</p>
<h3>Exile Support</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grenzo, Havoc Raiser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Party Thrasher"></div></div>
<p>Moving to the mid-to-late game, when Gwen Stacy has become <span class="edhrecp__link only-back"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, several premier cards in red gain a new life, while other mid-tier engines become potent threats.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doubles as an opportunity to reliably put a counter on Ghost-Spider each turn, just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Party Thrasher" href="#" target="_blank">Party Thrasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card which will also give you card selection and ramp for the from-exile noncreature spells you cast. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Havoc Raiser" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Havoc Raiser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put a theoretically unlimited number of counters on Ghost-Spider each turn, limited only by your mana and the number of creatures which you can successfully connect with each turn.</p>
<p>Continuing the list of already-potent picks, I can't help but mention <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and, once again, Harnfel, Horn of Bounty. Both of these produce mass-instances of exiling cards, simultaneously serving as opportunities to place a massive number of counters on Ghost-Spider. Combining these with our aforementioned three, and this deck's red contingent shapes up as a full roster of both repeatable and en masse exile opportunities.</p>
<h2>How Does <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Win?</h2>
<p>Like all Jeskai decks out there, Gwen Stacy can pull off the tried-and-true <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Breach" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Breach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, backed up by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> so as to make the package singularly tutorable off of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gifts Ungiven" href="#" target="_blank">Gifts Ungiven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Intuition" href="#" target="_blank">Intuition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Similarly, this deck also runs the classic package of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dualcaster Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dualcaster Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> plus <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Duplication" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Duplication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (and/or any functional replacements, e.g., <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). That all being said, these combos are the standard.</p>
<p>Where Gwen Stacy really shines - and what makes this deck unique - is Ghost-Spider's interaction with the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo package.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isochron Scepter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dramatic Reversal"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Don't forget to throw in enough nonland permanents to tap for at least three mana in total.</em></p>
<p>First off, combo review. By imprinting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on Isochron Scepter, the Scepter functionally gains the ability to infinitely tap and untap all nonland permanents you control, provided nonland permanents you control can collectively add at least two mana.</p>
<p>Once your nonland permanents add three or more mana, you start netting additional mana at each iteration of the loop, effectively making this an infinite mana combo. This is because the imprinted copy of Dramatic Reversal which Isochron Scepter allows you to cast will untap the newly-tapped Isochron Scepter itself.</p>
<p>Ghost-Spider enters the equation here because of a little-known, but very important, part of how Isochron Scepter's ability works. When you cast a copy of the imprinted spell, that spell is cast from exile, as the copy which Isochron Scepter makes is copied in exile (the zone where the imprinted card exists).</p>
<p>As such, each iteration of the infinite combo will also put a +1/+1 counter on Ghost-Spider, leaving you with infinite mana and infinite counters on Ghost-Spider.</p>
<p>From here, you can remove counters in two-counter increments to exile through your deck, at which point either an arbitrarily large stack of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brain Freeze" href="#" target="_blank">Brain Freeze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> copies (since the storm count will be arbitrarily large) or an assembled Dualcaster combo will point you to victory.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> cEDH Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gwen Stacy // Ghost Spider" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gwen Stacy // Ghost-Spider
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archivist of Oghma
*1 Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Faerie Mastermind
*1 Grand Abolisher
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Imperial Recruiter
*1 Mockingbird
*1 Party Thrasher
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
*1 Recruiter of the Guard
*1 Simian Spirit Guide
*1 Spellseeker
*1 Treasonous Ogre
*1 Valley Floodcaller
*1 Vivi Ornitier
*1 Voice of Victory
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Gamble
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Merchant Scroll
*1 Molten Duplication
*1 Rite of Flame
*1 Sevinne&#039;s Reclamation
*1 Transmute Artifact
*1 Twinflame
*1 Wheel of Fortune
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Borne Upon a Wind
*1 Brain Freeze
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Desperate Ritual
*1 Dramatic Reversal
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Flare of Duplication
*1 Flusterstorm
*1 Force of Negation
*1 Force of Will
*1 Gifts Ungiven
*1 Into the Flood Maw
*1 Intuition
*1 Mental Misstep
*1 Muddle the Mixture
*1 Mystical Tutor
*1 Pact of Negation
*1 Pyretic Ritual
*1 Pyroblast
*1 Red Elemental Blast
*1 Silence
*1 Swan Song
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Whir of Invention
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Chrome Mox
*1 Defense Grid
*1 Isochron Scepter
*1 Lion&#039;s Eye Diamond
*1 Lotus Petal
*1 Mana Vault
*1 Mox Amber
*1 Mox Diamond
*1 Mox Opal
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Springleaf Drum
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 The One Ring
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Underworld Breach
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 City of Brass
*1 City of Traitors
*1 Command Tower
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Forbidden Orchard
*1 Gemstone Caverns
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*1 Plateau
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Starting Town
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Tundra
*1 Volcanic Island
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Wrap Up</h2>
<p>Well folks, that's a wrap on Gwen Stacy's <em>Magic</em> debut. My honest take? While Ghost-Spider is far from the strongest engine in a command zone right now, the flexibility provided by the Gwen Stacy herself is potent enough to more than make this deck a worthy contender in the halls of cEDH-Jeskai.</p>
<p>At the very least, an early enabler for mana and protection as you jam through an Underworld Breach combo is nothing to scoff at.</p>
<p>Couple that with midgame resiliency and the potential to make plenty of red staples into more-busted versions of their already stellar selves, and I think that Ghost-Spider has what it takes to put up results.</p>
<h3>More cEDH:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="IifdrOXHGE"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/evaluating-spider-punk-for-cedh/">Evaluating Spider-Punk for cEDH</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Evaluating Spider-Punk for cEDH&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/evaluating-spider-punk-for-cedh/embed/#?secret=12zhz94PYy#?secret=IifdrOXHGE" data-secret="IifdrOXHGE" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="7hJP2qmXOU"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/can-the-coliseum-format-fix-cedh/">Can the Coliseum Format Fix cEDH?</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Can the Coliseum Format Fix cEDH?&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/can-the-coliseum-format-fix-cedh/embed/#?secret=1HuUwJGTOi#?secret=7hJP2qmXOU" data-secret="7hJP2qmXOU" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="JqyH18SkuP"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-a-cedh-tournament/">How To Prepare for a cEDH Tournament</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;How To Prepare for a cEDH Tournament&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-a-cedh-tournament/embed/#?secret=6Feny3BciI#?secret=JqyH18SkuP" data-secret="JqyH18SkuP" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


Building Gwen Stacy for cEDH

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link reverse"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Ghost-Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></p>
<p>Spider-Gwen is my favorite character in the Spider-Man mythos. After the starter deck spoilers, I was a little worried. However, Gwen's card in the main set is a home run for me. In this deck tech, I'll be taking my first shot at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I have really high hopes for this one!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gwen Stacy"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Gwen Stacy Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of several cards with a mechanic unique to <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em>. She's both a transform card and a modal dual faced card. That is, you can cast both the Gwen Stacy and Ghost-Spider halves of the card and Gwen Stacy also has the option to transform into Ghost-Spider 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 class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</p>
<p>That ability has an interesting implication for command tax, as the first time Ghost-Spider dies, she can be cast as Gwen Stacy for only four mana and then transformed later rather than demanding an up-front investment of seven mana.</p>
<p>Gwen Stacy is a two-mana 2/1 that exiles the top card of your library on entry, and that card remains playable for as long as Gwen Stacy is on the battlefield. Notably, that card remains playable even after Gwen Stacy has transformed into Ghost-Spider.</p>
<p>The real star of the show is Ghost-Spider, a five-mana 4/4 with flying, vigilance, and haste. Ghost-Spider gets a +1/+1 counter each time you play a land or cast a spell from exile. Then, two counters (any kind) can be removed from Ghost-Spider to exile the top card of your library to be played until end of turn.</p>
<p>There are a lot of different directions to go here. I really like the idea of leveraging Ghost-Spider's evasion and built-in pump ability to create a sweet Voltron deck. It's going to feel like a much more aggressive version of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Man 2099" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Man 2099</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/spider-man-2099-commander-deck-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I wrote about last time</a>. The major difference is that Ghost-Spider is a menace in combat from the moment she hits the table.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Gwen Stacy</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kami of Celebration"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wild Wasteland"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun "Timmy" card that I don't often get to put into a deck and feel good about it. Here, I think he fits right in! Etali is able to create up to four Ghost-Spider triggers each time he attacks while also being a big scary Dinosaur that will soak up some of the removal opponents would rather be pointing at Ghost-Spider.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Celebration" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Celebration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an incredible, if a little over-costed, engine piece. Whenever a modified creature attacks, Kami of Celebration exiles the top card of your library to be played until end of turn, and whenever a spell is cast from exile, it puts a +1/+1 counter on target creature.</p>
<p>With Ghost-Spider in play, this will grant two +1/+1 counters per card played from exile. That means each card played from exile will provide enough +1/+1 counters to activate Ghost-Spider and exile another card.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wild Wasteland" href="#" target="_blank">Wild Wasteland</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another engine piece that creates some pretty wacky gameplay. It replaces the draw step with exiling two cards that can be played this turn. This practically guarantees a way to trigger Ghost-Spider each turn, at the cost of a being able to build a hand, something an aggressive deck like this isn't really looking to do anyways.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Passionate Archaeologist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unstable Amulet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Quintorius Kand"></div></div>
<p>Just like with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Man 2099" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Man 2099</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Passionate Archaeologist" href="#" target="_blank">Passionate Archaeologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a force in this deck. Any time Gwen Stacy is in play, Passionate Archaeologist provides an excellent source of burn damage that helps close out games. All it asks in return is that you cast spells from exile, something this deck will be doing frequently.</p>
<p>While there's no way to take advantage of the half of the card that cares about energy, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstable Amulet" href="#" target="_blank">Unstable Amulet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another source of burn that wears down opposing life totals as the deck does what it's supposed to. The only downside of it is that it will often be difficult to get good value from it if it's drawn in the later stages of the game.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quintorius Kand" href="#" target="_blank">Quintorius Kand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a planeswalker with three virtually useless loyalty abilities! But his passive ability is the real draw. Dealing two damage to each opponent and gaining two life whenever a spell is cast from exile can be very valuable, especially in grindy games where the life gain can buy extra turns.</p>
<h2>How Does This Gwen Stacy Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeska, Thrice Reborn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ozolith"></div></div>
<p>As with any Voltron deck, the win conditions are ways to make the commander deal extra damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat" href="#" target="_blank">Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Leadership" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Leadership</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska, Thrice Reborn" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska, Thrice Reborn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tavern Brawler" href="#" target="_blank">Tavern Brawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> all serve as ways to increase <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s damage output and create a very fast clock.</p>
<p>It should only take one or two attacks to kill a single player given how fast the +1/+1 counters pile up on Gwen. With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ozolith" href="#" target="_blank">The Ozolith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, removing Gwen doesn't even take care of the problem.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fear of Missing Out"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Full Throttle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Final Fortune"></div></div>
<p>Sometimes Ghost-Spider will need a way to eliminate multiple players in a single turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fear of Missing Out" href="#" target="_blank">Fear of Missing Out</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Full Throttle" href="#" target="_blank">Full Throttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Final Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> create that possibility through extra turns or combats. Combined, they could even create a scenario where all three opponents are eliminated in a single turn.</p>
<p>I think of these effects like a release valve. In a normal game, it will usually be possible to take it slow and kill one player at a time. Sometimes, everyone will have a terrifying board state and the pressure to do something about it will be extreme. The ability to remove two or more players in one go is one of the few ways to diffuse that pressure.</p>
<h2>Gwen Stacy Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gwen Stacy" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gwen Stacy
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Delayed Blast Fireball
*1 Dovin&#039;s Veto
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Final Fortune
*1 Fire Magic
*1 Flusterstorm
*1 Legion Leadership
*1 Saw It Coming
*1 Sink into Stupor
*1 Stubborn Denial
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Temur Battle Rage
*1 Ultimate Magic: Holy
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Birgi, God of Storytelling
*1 Bonehoard Dracosaur
*1 Brazen Borrower
*1 Cait Sith, Fortune Teller
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Fear of Missing Out
*1 Inti, Seneschal of the Sun
*1 Kami of Celebration
*1 Laelia, the Blade Reforged
*1 Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat
*1 Party Thrasher
*1 Pinnacle Monk
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
*1 Spider-Man 2099
*1 Spider-Punk
*1 Starwinder
*1 Urabrask, Heretic Praetor
*1 Urianger Augurelt
*1 Vega, the Watcher
*1 Witch Enchanter
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Passionate Archaeologist
*1 Showdown of the Skalds
*1 Tavern Brawler
*1 Valakut Exploration
*1 Wild Wasteland
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Jeska, Thrice Reborn
*1 Quintorius Kand
[/Planeswalkers]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 The Ozolith
*1 Two-Handed Axe
*1 Unstable Amulet
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Doomskar
*1 Expressive Iteration
*1 Glimpse the Impossible
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Cori Mountain Monastery
*1 Elegant Parlor
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*3 Island
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Mistrise Village
*1 Misty Rainforest
*2 Mountain
*1 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sunbillow Verge
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Training Center
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I'm really excited to start jamming games with my favorite character at the helm of my deck. I'm positive that there are going to be many waves of major adjustments to this deck as I get to integrate it into my weekly play rotation (and once it becomes available to play in the Brawl queue on <em>Arena</em>!).</p>
<p>This list should be a great starting point for anyone else that's as excited to play with this card as I am. I look forward to reading suggestions in the comments and would absolutely love to see what others have cooked up for this deck, especially other commander damage-focused builds.</p>
<h3>More <em>Spider-Man</em>:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="qnQAv6Q62s"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/tech-the-deck-spider-man-miles-morales/">Spider-Man, Miles Morales Commander Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Spider-Man, Miles Morales Commander Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/tech-the-deck-spider-man-miles-morales/embed/#?secret=0jGSRYtHgS#?secret=qnQAv6Q62s" data-secret="qnQAv6Q62s" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="BvNAptYYKC"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/venom-deadly-devourer-deck-tech/">Venom, Deadly Devourer Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Venom, Deadly Devourer Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/venom-deadly-devourer-deck-tech/embed/#?secret=qV8qLT396S#?secret=BvNAptYYKC" data-secret="BvNAptYYKC" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="cKoVPTMmSw"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/miles-morales-ultimate-spider-man-commander-deck-tech/">Miles Morales // Ultimate Spider-Man Commander Deck Tech</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Miles Morales // Ultimate Spider-Man Commander Deck Tech&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/miles-morales-ultimate-spider-man-commander-deck-tech/embed/#?secret=0GdUJyQc8O#?secret=cKoVPTMmSw" data-secret="cKoVPTMmSw" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


gwen stacy

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