Monke by toechango

Format: Commander

Commander: Red Ghost, Intangible Genius

Bracket: 2

DeckCheck Threat Index: 31

Deck overview

This Izzet deck is an engine-driven spellslinger and token strategy commanded by Red Ghost, Intangible Genius. The core identity revolves around running 20 copies of Sphinx's Approach to consistently satisfy 'second card drawn' triggers on every turn. Cost reducers such as Goblin Electromancer, Stormcatch Mentor, and Geist of Saint Thalia allow the deck to chain draw spells at minimal mana investment. Drawing two cards per turn creates 3/3 Ape tokens with haste, which rapidly scale into lethal attackers via Shared Animosity and Balmor, Battlemage Captain. Additionally, exiling five copies of Sphinx's Approach tutors Sphinx of the Chimes or Sphinx of the Second Sun directly onto the battlefield, creating explosive draw turns by discarding duplicate Approaches. The deck achieves reliable Turn 4 assembly, Turn 6 critical pressure, and Turn 8 combat finishes while maintaining strong resilience through sheer card volume.

Decklist (94 cards)

  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Balmor, Battlemage Captain
  • 1 Big Score
  • 1 Blasphemous Act
  • 1 Brainstorm
  • 1 Brainsurge
  • 1 Chaos Warp
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Faerie Mastermind
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Frantic Search
  • 1 Frostcliff Siege
  • 1 Geist of Saint Thalia
  • 1 Gitaxian Probe
  • 1 Goblin Electromancer
  • 1 Hermes, Overseer of Elpis
  • 1 Iron Lad, Young Avenger
  • 18 Island
  • 1 Kindred Discovery
  • 1 Longshot, Rebel Bowman
  • 1 Minn, Wily Illusionist
  • 1 Mischievous Mystic
  • 10 Mountain
  • 1 Pongify
  • 1 Quantum Riddler
  • 1 Raise the Palisade
  • 1 Rapid Hybridization
  • 1 Red Ghost, Intangible Genius
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Riverpyre Verge
  • 1 Scorched Geyser
  • 1 Shared Animosity
  • 1 Shivan Reef
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sphinx of the Chimes
  • 1 Sphinx of the Second Sun
  • 20 Sphinx's Approach
  • 1 Steam Vents
  • 1 Stormcarved Coast
  • 1 Stormcatch Mentor
  • 1 Sulfur Falls
  • 1 Talisman of Creativity
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Training Center
  • 1 Unstoppable Plan
  • 1 Valeria Richards, Precocious
  • 1 Wonder