Pinging over several turns usually got too much attention from the other 3 players. Looking for ways to sit back and then try to make a big play instead but isn't an infinite combo. A storm strategy is an option, but don't really want to do that. Making 1/1 creatures might be another option, but I feel like I've already made so many creature attack decks.
The main options:
- Razorkin Needlehead and forcing opponents to draw. Wheels work well to force draw, but the trouble is it's a crapshoot what we'll draw into. Not really any good redundancy.
- Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Brallin, Skyshark Rider
and discarding enough of our own cards.
- Impact Tremors or Witty Roastmaster or Molten Gatekeeper and pumping out creatures.
- Flame Fusillade finisher when everyone is low and we have lots of permanents.
- Stick to a pinger strategy but try tutoring for curiosity / Orph. Eye fast and then running lots of protection for Ghyrson to try to keep him and the pingers alive.
- Could do a package of 2 or 3 lines with just the tightest
Just making a deck engine that draws until we find Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Brallin and a discard outlet probably isn't the most interesting.
Possible Board Wipe Lines to include
Package
- A: Repercussion We want 0 creatures up for this one.
- A: Hissing Iguanar We want Ghyrson out to boost.
- A: Gimli, Counter of Kills We want Ghyrson out to boost.
- B: Blasphemous Act
- B: Chain Reaction
- B: Hour of Devastation
Any A+B can potentially work with the right board state. Weakness is opponents with few creatures. It's good to have some board wipes anyway, right?
Pros: Plays to one of Ghyrson's strengths of keeping creatures under control. Potentially explosive. Not inf combo.
Cons: Bringing Ghyrson out to do a board wipe means he'll probably get killed if not well protected. Pseudo-combo. Not a lot of tutors for the payoffs (Repercussion, Gimili, or Iguanar) compared to instant/sorcery/artifact.
Possible Draw/Discard Lines to Include
- 6 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + Razorkin Needlehead + Jace's Archivist. 6 CMC assumed Jace's Archivist was cast the previous turn and lived. 13 cards in hand is 39 damage.
- 8 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + Razorkin Needlehead + Windfall. More damage if someone has a lot of cards in hand. 13 cards in hand is 39 damage.
- 8 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + Razorkin Needlehead + Day's Undoing. 21 Damage per opponent. Clone or similar on Razorkin Needlehead bumps it up to 42.
- 8 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + (Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Brallin, Skyshark Rider
) + (Ghostly Pilferer or Aquamoeba or Ghostly Wings or Patchwork Gnomes or Cephalid Inkshrouder). Needs enough cards in hand to discard for lethal. 3 damage per card discarded.
- 9 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + (Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Brallin, Skyshark Rider
) + Windfall or another wheel or just us drawing a bunch and then going to our discard step.
- 15 CMC: Enter the Infinite + (Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Brallin, Skyshark Rider
). Don't have a "no maximum hand size", resolve EtI, then play GHB, then go to discard step. Could potentially do it with 12 mana with a few mana positive rocks in deck and Inner Fire. Should have some mana to defend Glint-Horn Buccaneer.
Pros: Interesting mechanic. Wheels draw based on max hand size instead of 7 have synergy with mass bounce. Seemed better when I thought Iron Maiden word work with Ghyrson.
Cons: Draw payoff doesn't have any good redundancy (Psychosis Cralwer is about all). Wheels can whiff. Seems like it would lead to just drawing as much as possible to build a large hand. Wheels are contrary the goal of building a winning hand before trying to win all on one turn.
Creature Generation
Any A+B with Ghyrson out can be lethal. Pro: More tutors. Con: Can take a lot of mana to get to lethal. Won't work with a -1/-1 type effect on the board like Elesh Norn
.
- 15 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + (Impact Tremors or Witty Roastmaster or Molten Gatekeeper) + (Song of Totentanz or Tempt with Vengeance or Goblin Offensive). Total damage = 12*X, assuming 3 opponents. For X=10 on Song of Totentanz, Impact tremors does 10 to each opponent for 30. Ghyrson adds 20x3, then the 10 hasty rats do 10 and Ghyrson adds 20 for 120 total.
Kyren Negotiations is a possible include to finish things off.
Other Options
- 7 CMC: Iron Maiden + Cyclonic Rift or other mass bounce. Can also just be used to punish decks that draw a bunch and use "no maximum hand size" effects. Counting this as 7 CMC since Cyclonic Rift can be cast at end step before our turn and then put down Iron Maiden on our turn. Ghyrson doesn't add damage because Iron Maiden's gather text is worded like Viseling X damage where X is cards in hand minus 4
- 10 CMC: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph + Sardian Avenger + Vandalblast. Only scary for anyone with lots of artifacts or low on life. Most players will probably have some rocks at least.
- 8 CMC: Iron Maiden + Devastation Tide
- Flame Fusillade Good way to close out a game when everyone is low on life and you have enough permanents.
- 26 CMC Crackle of Power does 40 dmg to 3 opponents. Just listing this for comparison.
All Mass Bounce Options I could find
Mass Bounce
HP