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Ghoulcalled Gisa - EDH

Commander / EDH

aliandrah


Maybeboard


Are you looking to create disposable creature bombs? Are you looking to control a massive zombie horde? Do you want to play zombie tribal, but the cost of Death Baron and Lord of the Undead make you want to cry? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, then this deck is for you!

Your general strategy with this deck is as follows:

  • T2. Ramp

  • T3. Drop a super-efficient creature. It's downsides don't matter, since it won't stick around for long

  • T4. Play Ghoulcaller Gisa and swing for ~6 damage

  • T5. Play an equipment, equip, and swing for ~9 damage

  • T6. At the end of the last opponent's turn or in response to removal, activate Gisa and create 10-24 power in zombies. Repeat using less-efficient creatures that can be recurred

An example of a great hand for this deck is as follows:

With this hand, you're looking at having at least 9x 2/2 Zombie tokens on turn 5 and have probably already swung for 12+ damage. Depending on your play group, this is often a point in the game when other players are still holding back removal to save mana for setting up bigger plays.

Important strategies to note:

  • Dictate of Erebos/Butcher of Malakir + any sacrifice outlet - An on-demand board wipe, given how many tokens you'll usually have lying around. Throw in Grave Betrayal and now it's like you're playing Marchesa, the Black Rose.
  • Thornbite Staff + any mana doubler - Enjoy your zombie army. I've generated 60+ zombies in a single turn just by having a mediocre equipment around at the same time. If you happen to have Coat of Arms on board, well... It's nasty.
  • Shriekmaw/Fleshbag Marauder - Don't misplay these cards. Played correctly, Shriekmaw reads, "1BB, T: Put three 2/2 Zombie creature tokens on to the battlefield. Destroy target non-black, non-artifact creature," while Fleshbag reads, "2BB, T: Put three 2/2 Zombie creature tokens on to the battlefield. Each player sacrifices a creature." Make sure you're evoking Shriekmaw and make sure you're responding to their EtB's with Gisa's ability.
  • 3CMC mana rocks are heavily advised against - Why? Because skipping from 3 to 5 mana actually screws with this deck's curve pretty badly. Skipping T4 is a huge monkey wrench in the overall plan.

Strategies to fear:

  • Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - As with many token-focused strategies, it's an uphill struggle once she hits the board. The only cards that can save your zombies from her are Bad Moon and Risen Executioner. Any other anthem creature will die to her, taking your zombie army with it.
  • Board wipes - Duh. Many considerations have been made for Warping Wail to help cover up this weakness, but no testing has been done yet. Given how easily Gisa can go from zero to hero thanks to equipment, it's often more of a setback than a death pact. For this reason, be extra wary Akroma's Vengeance, Austere Command, and other similar board wipes. Losing all of your zombies and all of your equipment can be a hard thing to come back from.

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Date added 9 years
Last updated 8 years
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

7 - 0 Mythic Rares

36 - 0 Rares

22 - 0 Uncommons

9 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.92
Tokens Centaur 3/3 G w/ Pro Black, Minion X/X B, Phyrexian Germ 0/0 B, Zombie 2/2 B
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