Commander Breakdown: Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph
Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph may have three arms, but he only needs one finger to point you to victory—by pinging your way to the top of the table! This deck is built around maximizing Ghyrson’s ability to amp up 1-damage effects, turning every prod, poke, and precision ping into a steamroller of value and lethal combos.
Game Plan & Lines
The goal is simple: deploy Ghyrson, assemble a ping engine (Goblin Sharpshooter, Prodigal Sorcerer, or even Thermo-Alchemist, anyone?), and then let the value flood in. With Ghyrson’s extra damage, every 1-damage effect becomes 3, mowing down utility creatures, opposing mana dorks, and sometimes entire armies. From there, you assemble infinite (or at least mathematically impressive) loops using combos like Curiosity + Niv-Mizzet, Freed from the Real + pingers, or classic Impact Tremors shenanigans.
Deterministic win conditions are present, usually requiring two to three pieces. The deck leverages tutors smartly, though it doesn’t go full cEDH: think Mystical Tutor and Fabricate, not Vampiric Tutor into Ad Nauseam. Removal density is a bit light—but who needs removal when you’re just… removing problems from the board with every ping?
Strengths
- Redundancy: Nearly every card either pings, increases your ping potential, or draws you to more pingers. If you ever wanted to see a one-damage effect do the heavy lifting, this is the deck for you.
- Combo Finish: Multiple lines exist, so you can adapt your route to victory depending on the game state (and how spicy you’re feeling).
- Spicy Tech: Expect to see some unconventional picks—perhaps a Sigil of Sleep for extra bounce, or the ever-memeable Blasphemous Act to finish things with a bang.
Weaknesses
- Speed: The deck is streamlined but not turbo-charged. Expect a turn 5-7 win most games unless you get a nut draw.
- Fast Mana: There’s only one true fast mana piece, so those hoping for a Moxen-fueled joyride will have to settle for Izzet Signet.
- Removal Density: With so much space dedicated to pingers and combo, you may find yourself wishing for an extra Chaos Warp or two.
Verdict
Powerful, flexible, and hilariously on-theme. If you enjoy creative lines and want to ping your way to infamy, this is a top-tier choice for a 7/10 pod. Just don’t be surprised if your friends start packing more creature removal after facing this master of micro-damage.
