This faith was rewarded with the shattering of the Helvault. Gisela's power not only returned, it increased dramatically. She was tasked with continuing the crusade against necromancers and their legions of undead, which she embraced with fervor and devotion.
As you might have gathered by the title and choice of general, this deck is all about the damage. It's a Voltron deck based all around Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, and contains some very fun combos completely wreck creatures and faces, sometimes simultaneously. This deck is capable of knocking as many as three opponents out all in one turn, and it's done it before. Thematically, it enjoys burning the world to a crisp.
This deck originally started as my very first EDH deck with Razia, Boros Archangel at the helm, which I had constructed from all of my old Boros cards from multiple casual decks. I had first built that deck in the spring of 2011 after seeing the official announcement of the original Commander product a few months prior. The deck itself was not entirely focused: I played a couple 1v1 games, winning a bit but also losing horribly to a truly committed EDH deck. After the C11 product hit shelves, I bought a couple of those decks and my Razia deck took a backseat to Tariel and Animar (now Maelstrom Wanderer).
Fast-forward to April 2012: Gisela is previewed in a Planeswalkers' Guide to Avacyn Restored. As a Magic player and avid fan of all sorts of RW decks and strategies, especially those featuring lots of burn, this was possibly the best night of my life. I immediately set out a decklist for Gisela and, over the summer of 2012, gathered the components of said deck. It was at that time very budget friendly, and I had named it something like, "Goldnight Attrition." However, it's gone through many changes since. In its current iteration, it is a straight-up Voltron deck that has fast mana, loads of answers and takes a special liking to single cards that combo with Gisela to put out 21 general damage in one swing.
This deck is by far my favorite deck, Gisela is my all-time favorite card, RW is my favorite color pair and causing ungodly amounts of damage is my favorite thing to do in Magic. This deck has also been featured in dailymtg's August 29, 2013 edition of Command Tower.
You Might Like This Deck If You:
- Like feeling like you're burning the world to the ground
- Are a majorly red-leaning Timmy
- Think angels are flipping sweet
- Find the combination of Red and White to be the best thing ever
- Favor Voltron strategies
- Enjoy playing up politics
You Might Not If You:
- Need card advantage to feel right
- Think blue's the best color
- Like grinding out games
- Often say, "Bah, humbug"
As implied by the title, this deck aims to take out opponents in one shot each. In order to accomplish this, this deck will want to start the game off ramping however possible and playing out equipment and enchantments. During this time, it is optimal to play defensively, as becoming a threat will draw the attention of the table and that could possibly lead to being knocked out before even playing Gisela.
When actually playing Gisela, it's necessary to be judicious in considering the board state, the politicking of the game thus far and the voltron capabilities immediately available. This deck has a decent amount of haste-enablers as well as vigilance-enablers specifically for the purpose of Gisela, majorly damaging if not outright one-shotting an opponent the first turn she's in play, and being able to block huge threats right after. Also, take particular care in ensuring Gisela's survivability: it becomes much more difficult to play an 11 or 13 CMC Gisela than a 7 CMC one.
In taking out opponents, the optimal way is to use a two-card combo with Gisela. As Melisandre (approximately) said in A Dance with Dragons, "the less effort you appear to put into it, the greater power you will appear to have." However, if this is not available to you, there are a multitude of other cards in this deck which will enable a kill in two or three hits, often while also providing additional value (like Swords or Warhammer). If Gisela somehow gets tucked or otherwise unobtainable, utility creatures can be suited up and used as well, and there are a couple alternate win conditions in Insurrection and Storm Herd.
This deck is most vulnerable to blue decks that like to take your stuff, and let me tell you, being killed by your own general is one of the worst feelings. To prevent theft, outright destroying Gisela may be required. Also, well-made and -played combo decks can be difficult to deal with. Mill decks could also be a problem if left for too long. For the most part though, this deck can hold its own against multiple opponents.
My name is Brian, I'm currently a college student at a small university in Cleveland, Ohio. My major is History, I work part-time at an on-campus coffee shop and have a summer job at Boy Scout camp near Canton, Ohio. My favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, favorite band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In Magic, my favorite color is red, always has been and always will be. I've been playing casually since around the time that Fifth Dawn was released, my first deck being an Eighth Edition pre-con called "Speed Scorch", built around goblins and burn. I didn't play Magic consistently until when Ravnica came out, and I immediately loved all things Boros. Gisela is my all-time favorite Magic card.
Changelog February 18th, 2014
- Nim Deathmantle out, Wild Ricochet in. I had originally put the Deathmantle in for recurring Gisela, but because I always send her to the Command zone anyway, all it's doing it being a small Voltron element with a higher-than-usual equip cost. When I realized I didn't have a Wild Ricochet in here yet, I found an extra and put it in.
February 19th, 2014
- In the Web of War out, Anger in. As recommended by Carthage below, I believe this will be a more effective source of haste. It will come down sooner than the enchantment, and will be far more durable than its predecessor thanks to a general lack of graveyard hate in my meta, though at the sacrifice of the +2/+0 trigger.
- Quietus Spike out, Grafted Exoskeleton (foil) in. The Spike was in here mainly as an experiment to see if it would be extra effective, but it really just draws hate and also causes Gisela to lose style points. The Exoskeleton however will be another two-card combo with Gisela, because Infect damage is still damage. With Gisela, this'll be more effective than a Blightsteel Colossus.
- Tenza, Godo's Maul out, Dawn Charm in. I'm sacrificing a bit of Voltron-y goodness here for an excellent answer card, as an equipment's useless without a creature, but this Charm will nearly always be useful. I took out Tenza in particular because of the low amount of legendary creatures in the deck, so if Gisela gets tucked or is otherwise unuseable, this would be especially useless.
- Vivid Lands out, Basic Lands in. I realized playing Vivid lands in a two-colored deck that already has a ton of fixing is a tad silly, and I like having quicker mana.
March 21st, 2014
Out: Boros Garrison, Thespian's Stage - The Garrison might've been nice for packing two mana into one land, but as of late, a couple players in my meta having been packing more LD, and I'd rather not let myself get two-for-oned. Thespian's Stage just wasn't doing quite enough for me. Traveler's Amulet, Wanderer's Twig - These guys were going to have to come out eventually. Each only gets me the one card and are total dead draws in the late game. Reforge the Soul - Whenever I'd draw this, I'd have something in my hand that I really didn't want to get rid of. Dreamstone Hedron - Powerful mana rock, but isn't streamlined enough for this deck. Sword of Vengeance, Quietus Spike - Despite being powerful Voltron equipments, these guys weren't doing enough. The Sword only gave +2 power and many abilities which weren't necessary, and the Spike didn't really jive with the deck's theme of one-shotting. Mammoth Umbra - It's nice and all, but too expensive for just the intended purpose of granting vigilance. Storm Herd - I had fun times with this card, but it's time to make room for better streamlining the deck.
In: High Market - Sac-outlet for Gisela. Also, shiny FTV version. Cavern of Souls - Makes Gisela uncounterable. Take that, blue. Land Tax - Four times out of five, this will put three free lands into my hand, thinning my deck and fixing my mana like a boss. Note, this card is in Italian. Thran Dynamo - One of the best mana rocks ever, without spending $80+. Acidic Soil - "Oh you just played Boundless Realms? I hope you don't mind taking 30." Not quite as good as it may seem with Gisela as the oracle text says this deals an amount of damage rather than 1 damage for each land, but still great. Chain Reaction, Magmaquake - Better board control. Also works pretty well with Repercussion. Dragon Scales, Ring of Thune - Vigilance on the cheap. Added bonuses of +1/+1 counters from the Ring, and an auto-recur trigger for whenever Gisela ETBs.
argentum armor is a one hit kill when equipped to gisela Boseiju, Who Shelters All will prevent insurrection and storm heard from being countered journeyer's kite will get you so many more lands than traveler's amulet or wanderer's twig mother of runes can be excellent protection for your fragile strategy glory can also act as protection anger can be a difficult to stop haste enabler stoneforge mystic is just about the best tutor you can get in this deck
@Carthage - I've used Argentum Armor in this deck before, but it majorly under-performed. It just takes too long to bust out and to equip it too. Journeyer's Kite I've used before too, but because I'm running far less basic lands than I used to in here, I'd much rather use that card slot on things that also get me non-basics. I'm purposely excluding SFM right now for two reasons: I try to run only a few tutors, I enjoy having variance in gameplay rather than running each game linearly, and also because it costs a pretty penny, I think around $30 right now. I may include SFM in the future if I find myself in a Spikier meta than where I currently am. The thing with your recommendation of Boseiju is that the chances of definitely having it in play when/if I draw one of those spells is pretty low. When I have games where I'm primarily playing permanents like Equipment and utility creatures, Boseiju just isn't worth it.
Mother of Runes, Anger, and Glory I'll definitely consider. I'm concerned that Mom probably wouldn't actually live long enough to see the later part of the game to fulfill her purpose. Glory may be worth it more than Mom is I think. The more I think about Anger, the more I'm convincing myself it would be better to slot in than In the Web of War, so that will probably happen.
I love Gisela! Mine is more like a combo deck starring Stuffy Doll and friends, but I'm interested to see yours too. I'd recommend Lightmine Field and Chain Reaction as additional ways to burn everything.
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Commander DecksUB Sygg - Stream of Answers UBGWU Phelddagrif - Hugs and Handshakes GWURW Gisela - Firebender RWB Endrek - Correct! 6,000 Thrulls BBU Wrexial - Wrist Deep In Your Graveyard BUGW Trostani - My Wife's Deck GWBR Lyzolda - Chaos Hug BR
WUBRG Reaper King - The Trouble With Tribals WUBRG
@Skeptical Mario - Thanks!! A Gisela combo deck focused more on spells and burn (I like to think mine's a combo-Voltron hybrid thing) sounds quite fun, and were I to build a second deck for her, I'd probably go more in that direction. I've actually had Lightmine Field in the deck before when I had a pillowfort subtheme, but have taken it out for more aggressive cards and because it's a huge nonbo with Storm Herd (which, contrary to what may seem, I do pop off occasionally and end the game pretty soon afterwards). Chain Reaction is one I've thought of but have avoided because it's more situational than Blasphemous Act. I'll definitely contemplate it though, and if my meta shifts to be more token based, I'll likely include it.
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Introduction & Deck History
You Might Like This Deck If You:
- Like feeling like you're burning the world to the ground
- Are a majorly red-leaning Timmy
- Think angels are flipping sweet
- Find the combination of Red and White to be the best thing ever
- Favor Voltron strategies
- Enjoy playing up politics
You Might Not If You:
- Need card advantage to feel right
- Think blue's the best color
- Like grinding out games
- Often say, "Bah, humbug"
7 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Lands 37
6 Mountain
6 Plains
1 Forgotten Cave
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Naya Panorama
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Ancient Amphitheater
1 Boros Guildgate
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1 Command Tower
1 Battlefield Forge
1 City of Brass
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Cathedral of War
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Mistveil Plains
1 Buried Ruin
1 Arid Mesa
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Temple of the False God
1 Homeward Path
1 High Market
1 Cavern of Souls
Ramp/Fixers/Card Advantage 14
1 Land Tax
1 Sol Ring
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Expedition Map
1 Elixir of Immortality
2 Armillary Sphere
2 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Eternal Dragon
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Burnished Hart
3 Browbeat
4 Thran Dynamo
4 Solemn Simulacrum
6 Staff of Nin
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
2 Boros Charm
2 Dawn Charm
2 Psychotic Fury
2 Shattering Pulse
3 Riot Control
3 Oblation
3 Orim's Thunder
3 Boros Fury-Shield
3 Chaos Warp
4 Return to Dust
4 Wild Ricochet
Other Answers 6
2 Magmaquake
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Chain Reaction
5 Rout
8 Insurrection
9 Blasphemous Act
Tutors 3
3 Sunforger
5 Stonehewer Giant
6 Godo, Bandit Warlord
Assembling Voltron 16
2 Swiftfoot Boots
2 Mask of Avacyn
2 Ring of Thune
2 Dragon Scales
3 Loxodon Warhammer
3 Sword of Fire and Ice
3 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Champion's Helm
3 Darksteel Plate
3 Scourge of the Nobilis
4 Crescendo of War
4 Anger
4 Overblaze
5 Observant Alseid
6 Aegis Angel
6 True Conviction
1 Banefire
3 Repercussion
3 Acidic Soil
4 Pyrohemia
Two-Card Combos w/Gisela 6
4 Seize the Day
4 Grafted Exoskeleton
4 Hedron Matrix
5 Wrecking Ogre
5 Heartless Hidetsugu
6 Ghostblade Eidolon
Strategy
Notable Card Interactions
Card Choices
Coming Soon!
Personal Bio
In Magic, my favorite color is red, always has been and always will be. I've been playing casually since around the time that Fifth Dawn was released, my first deck being an Eighth Edition pre-con called "Speed Scorch", built around goblins and burn. I didn't play Magic consistently until when Ravnica came out, and I immediately loved all things Boros. Gisela is my all-time favorite Magic card.
The Wish List
Heliod, God of the Sun - Durable way to give Gisela vigilance
Kor Haven, Maze of Ith - Fogz for dayz
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth - Anti-mill/late game fuel
Tithe - MOAR MANA
Stoneforge Mystic - Equipment tutor.
Plateau, Rugged Prairie - Better mana base
February 18th, 2014
- Nim Deathmantle out, Wild Ricochet in. I had originally put the Deathmantle in for recurring Gisela, but because I always send her to the Command zone anyway, all it's doing it being a small Voltron element with a higher-than-usual equip cost. When I realized I didn't have a Wild Ricochet in here yet, I found an extra and put it in.
February 19th, 2014
- In the Web of War out, Anger in. As recommended by Carthage below, I believe this will be a more effective source of haste. It will come down sooner than the enchantment, and will be far more durable than its predecessor thanks to a general lack of graveyard hate in my meta, though at the sacrifice of the +2/+0 trigger.
- Quietus Spike out, Grafted Exoskeleton (foil) in. The Spike was in here mainly as an experiment to see if it would be extra effective, but it really just draws hate and also causes Gisela to lose style points. The Exoskeleton however will be another two-card combo with Gisela, because Infect damage is still damage. With Gisela, this'll be more effective than a Blightsteel Colossus.
- Tenza, Godo's Maul out, Dawn Charm in. I'm sacrificing a bit of Voltron-y goodness here for an excellent answer card, as an equipment's useless without a creature, but this Charm will nearly always be useful. I took out Tenza in particular because of the low amount of legendary creatures in the deck, so if Gisela gets tucked or is otherwise unuseable, this would be especially useless.
- Vivid Lands out, Basic Lands in. I realized playing Vivid lands in a two-colored deck that already has a ton of fixing is a tad silly, and I like having quicker mana.
March 21st, 2014
Out:
Boros Garrison, Thespian's Stage - The Garrison might've been nice for packing two mana into one land, but as of late, a couple players in my meta having been packing more LD, and I'd rather not let myself get two-for-oned. Thespian's Stage just wasn't doing quite enough for me.
Traveler's Amulet, Wanderer's Twig - These guys were going to have to come out eventually. Each only gets me the one card and are total dead draws in the late game.
Reforge the Soul - Whenever I'd draw this, I'd have something in my hand that I really didn't want to get rid of.
Dreamstone Hedron - Powerful mana rock, but isn't streamlined enough for this deck.
Sword of Vengeance, Quietus Spike - Despite being powerful Voltron equipments, these guys weren't doing enough. The Sword only gave +2 power and many abilities which weren't necessary, and the Spike didn't really jive with the deck's theme of one-shotting.
Mammoth Umbra - It's nice and all, but too expensive for just the intended purpose of granting vigilance.
Storm Herd - I had fun times with this card, but it's time to make room for better streamlining the deck.
In:
High Market - Sac-outlet for Gisela. Also, shiny FTV version.
Cavern of Souls - Makes Gisela uncounterable. Take that, blue.
Land Tax - Four times out of five, this will put three free lands into my hand, thinning my deck and fixing my mana like a boss. Note, this card is in Italian.
Thran Dynamo - One of the best mana rocks ever, without spending $80+.
Acidic Soil - "Oh you just played Boundless Realms? I hope you don't mind taking 30." Not quite as good as it may seem with Gisela as the oracle text says this deals an amount of damage rather than 1 damage for each land, but still great.
Chain Reaction, Magmaquake - Better board control. Also works pretty well with Repercussion.
Dragon Scales, Ring of Thune - Vigilance on the cheap. Added bonuses of +1/+1 counters from the Ring, and an auto-recur trigger for whenever Gisela ETBs.
Boseiju, Who Shelters All will prevent insurrection and storm heard from being countered
journeyer's kite will get you so many more lands than traveler's amulet or wanderer's twig
mother of runes can be excellent protection for your fragile strategy
glory can also act as protection
anger can be a difficult to stop haste enabler
stoneforge mystic is just about the best tutor you can get in this deck
Mother of Runes, Anger, and Glory I'll definitely consider. I'm concerned that Mom probably wouldn't actually live long enough to see the later part of the game to fulfill her purpose. Glory may be worth it more than Mom is I think. The more I think about Anger, the more I'm convincing myself it would be better to slot in than In the Web of War, so that will probably happen.