Gadwick, the Wizened *PRIMER*

Commander / EDH* Competitive Control Mono-Blue Primer Tempo Value Engine

Aystogon

Removal / Counters (18)

• 1x Pact of Negation
• 1x Chain of Vapor
• 1x Mental Misstep
• 1x Pongify
• 1x Rapid Hybridization
• 1x Spell Pierce
• 1x Swan Song
• 1x Arcane Denial
• 1x Counterbalance
• 1x Counterspell
• 1x Cyclonic Rift
• 1x Delay
• 1x Mana Leak
• 1x Muddle the Mixture
• 1x Narset's Reversal
• 1x Negate
• 1x Winds of Rebuke
• 1x Force of Negation

Tutors (9)

• 1x Mystical Tutor
• 1x Merchant Scroll
• 1x Reshape
• 1x Fabricate
• 1x Spellseeker
• 1x Thada Adel, Acquisitor
• 1x Tribute Mage
• 1x Trophy Mage
• 1x Whir of Invention

Win Con (4)

• 1x Dramatic Reversal
• 1x Isochron Scepter
• 1x Thassa's Oracle
• 1x Nexus of Fate *list*

Ramp (16)

• 1x Chrome Mox
• 1x Everflowing Chalice
• 1x Jeweled Amulet
• 1x High Tide
• 1x Mana Vault
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Coldsteel Heart
• 1x Dreamscape Artist
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Fractured Powerstone
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Prismatic Lens
• 1x Sapphire Medallion
• 1x Sky Diamond
• 1x Thought Vessel

Filters (10)

• 1x Brainstorm
• 1x Gitaxian Probe
• 1x Opt
• 1x Peek
• 1x Ponder
• 1x Portent
• 1x Serum Visions
• 1x Anticipate
• 1x Impulse
• 1x Frantic Search

Other (2)

• 1x Back to Basics
• 1x Vedalken Shackles

Commander (1)

Card Draw (10)

• 1x Mystic Remora
• 1x Sensei's Divining Top
• 1x Endless Atlas
• 1x Ghostly Pilferer
• 1x Pull from Tomorrow
• 1x Scroll Rack
• 1x Search for Azcanta  ^Flip
• 1x Archmage's Charm
• 1x Rhystic Study
• 1x Windfall

Lands (30)

• 1x Academy Ruins
• 1x Ancient Tomb
• 1x Cephalid Coliseum
• 26x Snow-Covered Island
• 1x Tolaria West

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When Gadwick, the Wizened enters the battlefield, draw X cards.

This ability is pretty sweet. Immediately it reminds us of something like Blue Sun'z Zenith. We cast it and draw a burst of cards immediately. Running a lot of ramp sort of incentives us to cast this for large x amounts but being a control player tells us otherwise. Opponents catching us with our mana tapped can also be a death sentence. Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Scepter in casting Gadwick, the Wizened allows us to draw our deck and win through various means. In a pinch we can just cast it for something like 0 or 1 when we need a blocker or put down some early pressure.

Whenever you cast a blue spell, tap target nonland permanent an opponent controls.

This ability is gravy. Sometimes its game ending. Sometimes people really want to activate their Selvala, Heart of the Wilds after their upkeep. Others want to swing with Taigam, Ojutai Master. These are strategies easily thwarted by simply playing our commander and continuing with our game plan. It doesn't take much from us to stop what their doing. This also pushes other to play things on their second main phase, which is something people should probably be doing already. There will be occasions where people play something like Howling Mine or Static Orb. When it comes up, it feels good that your blue commander is keeping the ever growing army of mooks banging against our life total.

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Introduction

You'll probably enjoy this deck if...

You'll probably enjoy this deck if you like to have a lot of interesting interactions. This deck is a lot like a swiss army knife, there's just so much that you can do. While this is not an exhaustive list of why you might like this deck, here are some things to note. Gadwick is not only a combo piece, but a card advantage in the command zone. Since there is a high density of instant speed cards in this deck, Gadwick can really slow down permanent based ramp decks along with creature combat based decks. This deck plays a lot like a control deck as well as a tempo deck. If you enjoy playing either of these types of decks, this deck might be for you.

You probably should avoid this deck if...

If you don't like playing blue or interacting much, this deck isn't for you. Its a little more on the slower side which may be a result of not having the optimal cards.

This deck is also my personally more competitive deck and I currently own all of the listed cards. While there is definitely a more optimal way of building Gadwick, the Wizened more competitively such as including the fast mana, better lands, better spells, I currently don't own them so their existence will mostly be glossed over.

Gameplay

Early game

As any deck, ramp is king early. As fast an as efficiently as possible. If you're able to ramp enough, you can often times use Gadwick, the Wizened to refill your hand with a few more cards. If you need to keep mana up, just make sure you play safely. Do remember that you won't be able to answer everything, and that's ok. Good hands will have a turn 1 play along with mana acceleration. Sensei's Divining Top, Search for Azcanta  , Mystic Remora, Ponder, etc. These are all excellent early and we run a high density of these value engines and can trips to be able to draw them early usually.

Mid Game

With enough interaction, usually this is where things tend to spice up. This is the time of the game where most things end up happening due to the presence of a relatively competent control deck. We run a few free counterspells to ensure we can land a larger value engine such as Midnight Clock or Rhystic Study. This is about the time where we can, if the opportunity allows it, to setup our combo to win.

Late Game

We've got all the cards, we just Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Sceptor. With out deck drawn, we have multiple win conditions that will win us the game. Thassa's Oracle and Nexus of Fate are our main win conditions.

Win Conditions

Primary Win Condition

Gadwick, the Wizened + Nexus of Fate
The main win condition involves using Nexus of Fate and Gadwick, the Wizened on the battlefield. After taking an unbounded amount of turns well have tapped all of the opposing permanents and killing everyone with combat damage.

Secondary Win Conditions

Thassa's Oracle with Gadwick, the Wizened or any other unbounded draw spell.
In the event that we have our main win condition removed from our library, we will opt for a Thassa's Oracle and win.

Other Win Conditions

Isochron Scepter Imprinted With Mystical Tutor + Nexus of Fate + Resolved Gadwick, the Wizened
Isochron Scepter Imprinted With Narset's Reversal + Nexus of Fate + Resolved Gadwick, the Wizened
This combination just costs a 9 mana, but it is another win condition.

Note: the easiest way to facilitate these win conditions is through Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Scepter

Settings

Date added	5 years
Last updated	3 years
Key combos	Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Scepter Gadwick, the Wizened + Nexus of Fate
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 0 Mythic Rares 25 - 0 Rares 23 - 0 Uncommons 22 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	1.89
Tokens	Ape 3/3 G, Bird 2/2 U, Frog Lizard 3/3 G
Folders	cheaper gadwick, Other Decks, Decks to Get