Gornog, the Red Reaper is a standout creature featured in Magic: The Gathering’s Foundations Jumpstart set. This mono-red commander is ideal for players looking to create a deck focused on Warrior creatures, often referred to as Kindred or Typal.
A deck centered around Gornog, the Red Reaper is all about combat strategy. This makes it a great option for those new to the game or for players seeking a straightforward approach. If you enjoy attacking with your cards, having Gornog at the helm will definitely suit your playstyle.
Decklist
| Commander: Gornog, the Red Reaper |
|---|
| Creatures |
| Adaptive Automaton |
| Archetype of Aggression |
| Arni Brokenbrow |
| Arni Metalbrow |
| Bloodmark Mentor |
| Boldwyr Intimidator |
| Brighthearth Banneret |
| Combat Celebrant |
| Flamerush Rider |
| Frenzied Saddlebrute |
| Goblin Wardriver |
| Kargan Intimidator |
| Karlach, Fury of Avernus |
| Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs |
| Laelia, the Blade Reforged |
| Lovisa Coldeyes |
| Markov Blademaster |
| Moraug, Fury of Akoum |
| Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion |
| Neheb, the Eternal |
| Ogre Battledriver |
| Paragon of Fierce Defiance |
| Professional Face-Breaker |
| Radha’s Firebrand |
| Roaming Throne |
| Taurean Mauler |
| Tiamat’s Fanatics |
| Torbran, Thane of Red Fell |
| Warchief Giant |
| Blasphemous Act |
| Coward // Killer |
| Disrupt Decorum |
| Fury of the Horde |
| Overpowering Attack |
| Relentless Assault |
| Seismic Stomp |
| Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure |
| World at War |
| Chaos Warp |
| Great Train Heist |
| Return the Favor |
| Savage Beating |
| Arcane Signet |
| Banner of Kinship |
| Coat of Arms |
| Dolmen Gate |
| Door of Destinies |
| Fellwar Stone |
| Hazoret’s Monument |
| Helm of the Host |
| Herald’s Host |
| Patchwork Banner |
| Ruby Medallion |
| Sol Ring |
| Vanquisher’s Banner |
| Wayfarer’s Bauble |
| Aggravated Assault |
| Berserkers’ Onslaught |
| City on Fire |
| Descent into Avernus |
| Goblin War Drums |
| Gratuitous Violence |
| Molten Echoes |
| Rage Reflection |
| Shared Animosity |
| Castle Embereth |
| Lands |
| x31 Mountain |
| Rogue’s Passage |
| War Room |
This deck comprises 29 creatures, nine sorceries, four instants, 14 artifacts, nine enchantments, and 34 lands. The majority of the creatures are Warriors, while the remaining cards are either supportive of the creature type or enable multiple combat phases for added triggers.
Key Cards
Gornog, the Red Reaper
Gornog is essential in this deck, primarily because it hinders your opponents’ blocking strategies. With each Warrior attack, Gornog transforms a creature into a Coward—a lasting effect until that creature leaves the battlefield.
Although being a Coward doesn’t impose any real restrictions on its own, you’ll want to pair this ability with other cards that capitalize on preventing Cowards from blocking. The higher the number of Cowards your opponents have, the stronger your attacking Warriors become, regardless of how many Cowards are on their side of the field.
Neheb, the Eternal
Neheb stands out as a means to ramp up in a Gornog-focused deck. Mono-red decks can struggle with mana generation, but Neheb’s ability turns the damage your opponents take into red mana that you can use. Coupled with Gornog’s ability to prevent blocks, Neheb can help you generate even more mana by dealing significant damage.
Molten Echoes
What makes Molten Echoes impactful is that you don’t need Gornog to attack to trigger its ability. It can create a token copy of a Warrior, enabling you to turn an opponent’s creature into a Coward without risking Gornog. The token will be exiled at the end of the turn, ensuring that it won’t stick around to be a target during combat. Additionally, token copies of Warriors contribute to the requirements for other permanents that rely on a specific count of creature types on the battlefield.
Coat of Arms
Since most creatures in this deck are Warriors, Coat of Arms significantly enhances their power by providing a +1/+1 boost for every Warrior on the battlefield. This effect stacks, so the more Warriors you have out, the larger their combined stats grow, making it a vital card that your opponents need to address quickly.
Aggravated Assault
Given the combat-centric nature of a Gornog deck, Aggravated Assault is a fantastic tool to initiate multiple combat phases during the same turn. As long as you have five mana available, you can take advantage of extra combats for additional swings.
How to Play the Deck
The strategy with a Gornog, the Red Reaper Commander deck centers around aggression. Constantly attack with your creatures while making your opponents’ strongest creatures Cowards to minimize their blocking options. The only cards available in mono-red that can turn creatures into Cowards are Gornog, Coward // Killer, Boldwyr Intimidator, and Kargan Intimidator. However, only Gornog can make its target permanently unable to block.
Permanents that boost stats are crucial for ensuring your creatures survive during combat. Cards like Coat of Arms, Banner of Kinship, and Adaptive Automaton can provide significant boosts and help create powerful creature combinations.
Taking extra combat phases can leverage your advantage, so utilizing cards like World at War and Great Train Heist can be beneficial for extending your offensive push. The primary win condition of this deck revolves around overwhelming your opponents with consistently aggressive combat. However, keep in mind the inherent challenge of mono-red’s slower setup; you may find it necessary to include numerous mana rocks for quicker access to spells to avoid being vulnerable in the early game. Also, the lack of life gain means you must manage your life total wisely throughout the match.