They're goblins, but better by user6359079

Format: Commander

Commander: Ovika, Enigma Goliath

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 58

Deck overview

This deck is an explosive Izzet spellslinger strategy centered on Ovika, Enigma Goliath. The primary game plan focuses on ramping smoothly into Ovika on Turn 5, then leveraging its ability to generate 1/1 hasty Phyrexian Goblin tokens whenever noncreature spells are cast. Once Ovika enters the battlefield, cheap cantrips, rituals like Battle Hymn and Brightstone Ritual, and draw engines like Skullclamp chain together into massive storm sequences. These turns produce dozens of tokens that overwhelm opponents through direct combat or enter-the-battlefield burn from cards like Impact Tremors, Agate Instigator, and Weftstalker Ardent. Built-in protection from Ovika's Ward ability pairs with a robust suite of efficient counterspells to shield the setup. Even if the commander is removed, redundant Magecraft engines and graveyard recursion through Underworld Breach and Past in Flames ensure the deck can rebuild and close out games quickly.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Agate Instigator
  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Arcane Bombardment
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archaeomancer
  • 1 Archmage Emeritus
  • 1 Archmage of Runes
  • 1 Battle Hymn
  • 1 Big Score
  • 1 Brainstorm
  • 1 Brightstone Ritual
  • 1 Cascade Bluffs
  • 1 Chaos Warp
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Deflecting Swat
  • 1 Devilish Valet
  • 1 Echocasting Symposium
  • 1 Eldrazi Monument
  • 1 Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Expressive Iteration
  • 1 Faithless Looting
  • 1 Frostboil Snarl
  • 1 Gamble
  • 1 Gitaxian Probe
  • 1 Goblin Bombardment
  • 1 Idol of Oblivion
  • 1 Impact Tremors
  • 1 Imperial Recruiter
  • 1 Improvisation Capstone
  • 1 Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia
  • 11 Island
  • 1 Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis
  • 1 Lightning Bolt
  • 1 Magnus the Red
  • 1 Mana Drain
  • 1 Mana Geyser
  • 1 Merchant Scroll
  • 1 Mindbreak Trap
  • 1 Misleading Signpost
  • 12 Mountain
  • 1 Mystic Sanctuary
  • 1 Mystical Tutor
  • 1 Negate
  • 1 Opt
  • 1 Ovika, Enigma Goliath
  • 1 Past in Flames
  • 1 Personal Tutor
  • 1 Phyrexian Altar
  • 1 Ponder
  • 1 Pongify
  • 1 Preordain
  • 1 Raid Bombardment
  • 1 Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway
  • 1 Riverpyre Verge
  • 1 Scalding Tarn
  • 1 Scorched Geyser
  • 1 Seething Song
  • 1 Shivan Reef
  • 1 Skirk Prospector
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorcerer Class
  • 1 Spellseeker
  • 1 Steam Vents
  • 1 Storm-Kiln Artist
  • 1 Stormcarved Coast
  • 1 Sulfur Falls
  • 1 Surge to Victory
  • 1 Swan Song
  • 1 Talisman of Creativity
  • 1 Training Center
  • 1 Underworld Breach
  • 1 Urza's Saga
  • 1 Vandalblast
  • 1 Volcanic Vision
  • 1 Weftstalker Ardent