18. Gifts Unforgiven

Format: Commander

Commander: Zedruu the Greathearted

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 34

Deck overview

This Zedruu the Greathearted deck is a specialized political control deck designed around the 'bad gifts' archetype. It deploys detrimental permanents—such as Steel Golem, Aggressive Mining, Illusions of Grandeur, and Nine Lives—and transfers control of them to opponents using Zedruu's activated ability or sorcery swaps like Donate. In exchange, Zedruu rewards you with steady card draw and life gain every upkeep. Defensive pillars such as Propaganda, Ghostly Prison, and board sweepers protect your life total while you assemble your pieces. Opponents are systematically eliminated one by one: creature decks are paralyzed by Steel Golem, mana bases are choked by Aggressive Mining, and lethal life loss is triggered by bouncing or destroying donated Illusions of Grandeur and Nine Lives. While the deck lacks fast infinite combos and requires multiple turns to close out all three players, its ability to lock down key threats makes it a formidable control force.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 Aggressive Mining
  • 1 Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos
  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Arid Mesa
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Battlefield Forge
  • 1 Blasphemous Act
  • 1 Boros Signet
  • 1 Bronze Bombshell
  • 1 Cascade Bluffs
  • 1 Chef's Kiss
  • 1 City of Brass
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Cursed Recording
  • 1 Cyclonic Rift
  • 1 Darksteel Mutation
  • 1 Delaying Shield
  • 1 Delusions of Mediocrity
  • 1 Deserted Beach
  • 1 Donate
  • 1 Dovin's Veto
  • 1 Eagle Vision
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Exchange of Words
  • 1 Experimental Frenzy
  • 1 Ferrous Lake
  • 1 Final Showdown
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Floodfarm Verge
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Grid Monitor
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Harmless Offering
  • 1 Illusions of Grandeur
  • 4 Island
  • 1 Izzet Signet
  • 1 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
  • 1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Loran of the Third Path
  • 1 Mana Confluence
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Marina Vendrell's Grimoire
  • 1 Moderation
  • 4 Mountain
  • 1 Mystic Gate
  • 1 Nine Lives
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 1 Pendant of Prosperity
  • 4 Plains
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Raugrin Crystal
  • 1 Reflecting Pool
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Riverpyre Verge
  • 1 Role Reversal
  • 1 Ruby Medallion
  • 1 Rugged Prairie
  • 1 Rust Elemental
  • 1 Sacred Foundry
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Scalding Tarn
  • 1 Shifting Grift
  • 1 Shivan Reef
  • 1 Skycloud Expanse
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Steam Vents
  • 1 Steel Golem
  • 1 Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant
  • 1 Stormcarved Coast
  • 1 Sunbillow Verge
  • 1 Sundown Pass
  • 1 Sunscorched Divide
  • 1 Supreme Verdict
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Transcendence
  • 1 Trouble in Pairs
  • 1 Untimely Malfunction
  • 1 Vedalken Plotter
  • 1 Vivi Ornitier
  • 1 Well of Lost Dreams
  • 1 Zedruu the Greathearted