The theme to this deck is that insipid hiphop tune. I'm not trying to say this is a killer deck. Thought Gonti would make a great central figure for a funsies Kaladesh artifact-based deck with prominent use of vehicles and energy. Gonti is the figure doing that hiphop tune, living the life of exploitation and excess. Yeah, he's got the yachts, yeah he's got trains, yeah he's got the....Combustible Gearhulks?!
Grixis also has some great in-block planeswalkers who are users of his black market services and owe him something, though planeswalkers come and go through most storylines so I don't have to hold too tightly to block. Come to think of it, Black Market is a great card to throw in, too. I haven't looked to see if others have done this, though I'm sure some have. I'll keep filling in as I research in-block cards, but feel free to run with it and brew away, I can't stop laughing at this idea.
So here is the first completed run at a list. The idea is to focus on Gonti, grinding through the card advantage to keep lands coming out and get to the end game through a control platform, while keeping Gonti coming out repeatedly to further give me options that include enemy creatures (debt slaves) to power up his vehicles. Still laughing as I think of a spoof video that would show Gonti dancing around to the rap song and then making it rain with money coins and jewels while wearing headphones or chilling in his vehicles with his pups and aetherborn women all as his head bobs to the beat.
If Gonti & Filigree are your crewers you need to stick to crew 2 or less vehicles
Not if I use Gonti victims. With as much as he'll be coming in, I should be able to crew what I need. At least that's the hope.
Edit: Having said that, your point is taken and if I need to lower the crewing curve because Gonti's not working as I hoped, Fleetwheel Cruisers and Aethersphere Harvesters will both serve well in multiples.
Wait a few days and he can have a yacht from Ixalan.
(Hmmm... doesn't he need more gold and trinkets?)
Gold and trinkets is what he uses to enslave his victims, true, but there's only so many slots, lol. Not to mention those gearhulks had to cost a fortune! Who needs gold and trinkets when you stock that kind of power?
After thinking about curves, function, budget conciousness, evasion for the vehicles, what I already own, and effectively using all of the energy the deck creates, I changed up the vehicles. The following decklist also accounts for the few suggestions I've received. Evasion with lifelink for a 3/5 isn't sexy, but it's a solid mid-range option that works with everything else in the deck, even chaining plays like Baral's Expertise -> Yahenni's Expertise -> Aethersphere Harvester or some other three drop. I know Kaladesh wasn't the best received block, but this should allow me to play some of the fun elements. Any last ideas before I wrap the design?
Was thinking about Gonti's Machinations, and kinda feel it's a bit lackluster for 1v1 games even if its ability ends up a 6 point life swing. With two enemies, it's a 9 point swing, and a twelve point swing in a 4 person ffa. However, since I am unlikely to play my Gonti deck in games with three or more more opponents, the energy gain is probably similar to using Glint-Sleeve Siphoner. The life gain is nice, though, and the siphoner doesn't scale with more opponents, other than to have more resident vehicle pilots and some early creature beats.
I'm actually wondering if anyone has used both and has an opinion on which one will work best in 2v1 games, given the rest of my card choices. I'm leaning toward going against my normal tendencies, staying with less creatures, and keeping the Machinations.
Testing shows too many spirits coming into play early with the Forbidden Orchards, and mana seems to still be pretty-well fixed, so adding in a couple specialty lands for larger games at the end when I have mana to burn, and a couple rainbow fixers.
I'm about to find out on Friday, too, when my closest friends and I shuffle up. After testing, I have to say the biggest pleasant surprise is Baral's Expertise, though Yahenni's is also very nice. The chaining potential of both spells can let me both wreck the board state (given my meta's tendencies) and yet also begin to recover fastest from it. But Baral's in particular lets me flex my boardstate in so many ways, or else clear the way for gearhulks to hammer down. Really a versatile spell. I think this deck will work fine for my group's power levels.
Edit: Combustible Gearhulk is also really powerful. His etb damage averages about 7-9 damage in testing with my curve, so if someone absorbs a first hit, very likely the second gearhulk will net me cards. And Baral's Expertise and Fortuitous Find can help ensure I always have another to cast.
Hey everyone who helped me work on this deck. Last night I got to try it out in 2-HG. Mana did OK at the start, got out a couple F.Familiars out early. Yahenni's and Baral's Expertise held off their hordes while my partner and I stabilized board and life following an early Aggro assault. The Gearhulks soaked up a lot of their spot removal and then started to take over the game as I popped two Gonti's Machinations and swung life 24 points, along with my partner's additions. All in all, the deck did great and we ended up at about 57 life when we won. Thank you for your help, this deck is a blast!
Bahahaaaaa! Love this thing, and it seems far stronger in my group than I thought. Just dominated a four person FFA. Gonti stole and then used an Earwig Squad to neuter a rogue deck using its own bomb (that deck had it coming for a looong time, though). Chained Baral's Expertise to bounce one of my Combustible Gearhulks and a threat before chaining into Yahenni's Expertise to chain into Aethersphere Harvester. Stole two of my friend's giants with Confiscation Coup. Quickly after killed one player and whittled the other two within range of popping three Gonti's Machinations for the win. Thank you Kaladesh Grixis for some super fun mechanics!
Grixis also has some great in-block planeswalkers who are users of his black market services and owe him something, though planeswalkers come and go through most storylines so I don't have to hold too tightly to block. Come to think of it, Black Market is a great card to throw in, too. I haven't looked to see if others have done this, though I'm sure some have. I'll keep filling in as I research in-block cards, but feel free to run with it and brew away, I can't stop laughing at this idea.
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxuries
4 Filigree Familiar (every rapper and crime lord needs pups)
4 Combustible Gearhulk (enforcers)
Enchantments:
4 Gonti's Machinations
1 Black Market
Instants:
4 Unlicensed Disintegration
1 Saheeli Rai
1 Chandra, Pyrogenius
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast
1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
1 Ral Zarek
1 Tezzeret the Schemer
1 Tezzeret, Master of Metal
1 Aradra Express
1 Bomat Bazaar Barge
1 Consulate Dreadnought
1 Cultivator's Caravan
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Smuggler's Copter
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
4 Filigree Familiar (every rapper and crime lord needs pups)
4 Combustible Gearhulk (enforcers)
4 Noxious Gearhulk (enforcers)
Enchantments:
4 Gonti's Machinations
Instants:
4 Unlicensed Disintegration
Sorceries:
3 Baral's Expertise
3 Confiscation Coup
3 Yahenni's Expertise
3 Fortuitous Find
1 Fleetwheel Cruiser
1 Cultivator's Caravan
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Heart of Kiran
1 Aethersphere Harvester
Land:
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Izzet Boilerworks
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Desert
(Hmmm... doesn't he need more gold and trinkets?)
My meta: 3 or 4 player free for all, anything goes but boring games or broken decks cause a vote to end that game.
Edit: Having said that, your point is taken and if I need to lower the crewing curve because Gonti's not working as I hoped, Fleetwheel Cruisers and Aethersphere Harvesters will both serve well in multiples.
Gold and trinkets is what he uses to enslave his victims, true, but there's only so many slots, lol. Not to mention those gearhulks had to cost a fortune! Who needs gold and trinkets when you stock that kind of power?
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
4 Filigree Familiar
4 Combustible Gearhulk
4 Noxious Gearhulk
Enchantments:
4 Gonti's Machinations
Instants:
4 Unlicensed Disintegration
3 Baral's Expertise
3 Confiscation Coup
3 Yahenni's Expertise
3 Fortuitous Find
Vehicles:
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
4 Aethersphere Harvester
4 Rakdos Carnarium
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Izzet Guildgate
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Desert
I'm actually wondering if anyone has used both and has an opinion on which one will work best in 2v1 games, given the rest of my card choices. I'm leaning toward going against my normal tendencies, staying with less creatures, and keeping the Machinations.
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
4 Filigree Familiar
4 Combustible Gearhulk
4 Noxious Gearhulk
Enchantments:
4 Gonti's Machinations
Instants:
4 Unlicensed Disintegration
3 Baral's Expertise
3 Confiscation Coup
3 Yahenni's Expertise
3 Fortuitous Find
Vehicles:
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
4 Aethersphere Harvester
4 Rakdos Carnarium
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Izzet Guildgate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Shimmering Grotto
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Academy Ruins
4 Desert
Uhm... is it tough enough?
My meta: 3 or 4 player free for all, anything goes but boring games or broken decks cause a vote to end that game.
I'm about to find out on Friday, too, when my closest friends and I shuffle up. After testing, I have to say the biggest pleasant surprise is Baral's Expertise, though Yahenni's is also very nice. The chaining potential of both spells can let me both wreck the board state (given my meta's tendencies) and yet also begin to recover fastest from it. But Baral's in particular lets me flex my boardstate in so many ways, or else clear the way for gearhulks to hammer down. Really a versatile spell. I think this deck will work fine for my group's power levels.
Edit: Combustible Gearhulk is also really powerful. His etb damage averages about 7-9 damage in testing with my curve, so if someone absorbs a first hit, very likely the second gearhulk will net me cards. And Baral's Expertise and Fortuitous Find can help ensure I always have another to cast.
Enjoy the holidays...
My meta: 3 or 4 player free for all, anything goes but boring games or broken decks cause a vote to end that game.