This is my take on Gishath that started as a silly, fun deck and has become my second favorite EDH deck. by far. It's a very linear deck but it's very effective at what it does. Gishath hits and cheats out big dinosaurs to win. But while it's very basic let's delve into it regardless and explains some of the nuances I took on Gishath. Gishath is the one reason dinosaur tribal works because he does such a fantastic job at cheating into play value and using it to swing and win. He hits like a truck and has a mini keyword soup on top of it that make connecting far easier.

Voltron/Protection-

The main differences I made on my list from other Gishath decks I see is here. I tend to see lists with inordinate ramp and as many dinosaurs as they could fit in. I have a meager twenty two, which I admittedly would like higher but we'll get back to that, but instead have some very useful cards to let Gishath hit more Xenagos, God of Revels, protect him Lightning Greaves, and Swiftfoot Boots, or both Champion's Helm, Conqueror's Flail. They overlap with Yavimaya Hollow(which is so underrated as that "can't be regenerated" clause is overlooked and forgotten so you can survive wipes with at least Gishath who rebuilds the board from there), while Boros Charm can preserve a board or give a lethal double strike. And obviously as a Gishath deck we're running a double strike granting gamut in Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion, Duelist's Heritage, Goring Ceratops, and the aforementioned Boros Charm.

Recursion-/Topdeck Abuses-

The only other place my deck branches out is the recursion which is a mainstay of any deck of mine. Eternal Witness and Naya Charm are likely self explanatory but Elixir of Immortality let's us shuffle the entire graveyard back in to cheat it in again while Noxious Revival works beautifully with Gishath as you cast it after blockers when hitting and for G/2 life you cheat a dino into play. Even more ridiculous is Reinforcements which can cheat three fatties in. For that reason top of deck tutors are preferable in Gishath with Forerunner of the Empire being obvious(and sadly not a dino himself!) while Congregation at Dawn can set up a win all on its own. Sensei's Divining Top and Sylvan Library let you not draw dinos so Gishath can cheat them in

Haste/Land Value-

This deck is cramped for slots with all the ramp so the lands cover this slack! Sunhome does a lot, Slayers' Stronghold is amazing power, haste, and vigilance for a fatty, Kessig Wolf Run can be a lethal blowout with gishath or let a fatty lacking it swing for the win, Stirring Wildwood gives us some overhead protection most notably blocking Derevi profitably, Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep should see more play in general for its politics and first strike might not be double strike but is still nice and it enters untapped while making red. Rogue's Passage is godly for ensuring connections, and lastly Flamekin Village gives haste and makes red and sometimes enters untapped as we do have three changelings that are part elemental so don't forget that! For Regisaur Alpha should need zero explanation in Gishath. Swiftfoot Boots, Lightning Greaves, and Xenagos all also grant haste! Gishath already has it so I don't see a need for too much else.

Beyond that-

There's not a ton left. A good chunk of the deck is ramp so the fatties can do their job. You have some draw to restock but the deck largely relies on the card advantage Gishath provides. I largely forewent the Enrage route as it seemed too clunky/situational/low payoff for my tastes but Ripjaw Raptor and Silverclad Ferocidons can be abused a bit with Zacama, Primal Calamity, Staff of Nin, Raging Swordtooth, Raging Regisaur, and the Forerunner. Speaking of Zacama ie removal this deck is very light on it. Zacama can be a creature clearer, enrage abuser, or aura shards knock off, and gain life if nothing is left to melt. Krosan Grip, Sylvan Reclamation, Thrashing Brontodon, Beast Within, and Vandalblast handle artifacts/enchantments while the deck has two wipes in Blasphemous Act and Wakening Sun's Avatar. This deck wants to build a critical board state so too many wipes become dead cards and the recursion can let us reuse them if need be. Single target removal is also light as this deck wants to ramp and attack not react but Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile (and if desperate Naya Charm is a bolt!) give us some.

Desired Help-

I mostly need help in the cuts department. Future additions I want to ponder are: Greater Good(definitely0, Thundering Spineback, Decimate, Majestic Heliopterus,and more! Suggestions I overlooked would be great too! Thanx so much for reading and, if you did, upvoting! This deck still needs tinkering but dinos are ready to rip apart opponents.

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94% Casual

Competitive

Revision 45 See all

(5 years ago)

-1 Champion's Helm main
+1 Colossal Majesty main
+1 Crush Contraband main
+1 Grasslands main
+1 Mountain Valley main
-1 Return to Dust main
+1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits main
-1 Slayers' Stronghold main
-1 Sylvan Library main
-1 Windswept Heath main
Top Ranked
  • Achieved #28 position overall 6 years ago
Date added 7 years
Last updated 5 years
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

6 - 0 Mythic Rares

45 - 0 Rares

28 - 0 Uncommons

11 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 4.03
Tokens Beast 3/3 G, City's Blessing, Dinosaur 3/3 G, Monarch Emblem
Folders Gishath edh, cool, dinoMIGHT, Dinoswars, EDH, EDH Inspiration, decks i like, Favorite Decks
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