The First. Hunter of monsters, Prince of Caliban. by Paddynice

Format: Commander

Commander: Maarika, Brutal Gladiator

Bracket: 3

Deck overview

Maarika, Brutal Gladiator is the centerpiece of a forced-combat voltron deck. The plan is to cast Maarika early, protect her with haste and hexproof, then use lure effects and instant-speed fight spells to force blocks and convert every blocked creature into a lost noncreature permanent via her excess-damage trigger. Secondary lines use Karlach, Fury of Avernus and Mr. Orfeo to double power and add a second combat, making 21 commander damage in one turn, or Aettir and Priwen plus Chandra's Ignition to clear the table. The hidden combat commander is Karlach, who provides the extra combat phase the deck needs to close out opponents. Without Maarika, the deck falls back on fight creatures and direct burn but lacks a true independent win.

Decklist (100 cards)

• 1 Aettir and Priwen
• 1 Aggravated Assault
• 1 Ancient Animus
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Archetype of Aggression
• 1 Assassin's Trophy
• 1 Barroom Brawl
• 1 Basilisk Collar
• 1 Beast Within
• 1 Birds of Paradise
• 1 Blood Crypt
• 1 Bloodstained Mire
• 1 Brash Taunter
• 1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
• 1 Bugenhagen, Wise Elder
• 1 Bushwhack
• 1 Chandra's Ignition
• 1 Chevill, Bane of Monsters
• 1 Cinder Glade
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Deadly Rollick
• 1 Deflecting Swat
• 1 Delighted Halfling
• 1 Demonic Tutor
• 1 Eternal Witness
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Exotic Orchard
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Fanatic of Rhonas
• 1 Farseek
• 1 Fellwar Stone
• 1 Fight for the Throne
• 5 Forest
• 1 Gimli's Reckless Might
• 1 Gruul Signet
• 1 Helm of the Host
• 1 Herd Heirloom
• 1 Heroic Intervention
• 1 Infiltration Lens
• 1 Inscription of Abundance
• 1 It's Clobberin' Time!
• 1 Karlach, Fury of Avernus
• 1 Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar
• 1 Khalni Ambush // Khalni Territory
• 1 Kodama's Reach
• 1 Kusari-Gama
• 1 Lightning Greaves
• 1 Llanowar Elves
• 1 Lure
• 1 Luxury Suite
• 1 Maarika, Brutal Gladiator
• 1 Morbid Opportunist
• 4 Mountain
• 1 Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder
• 1 Necropotence
• 1 Nemesis Mask
• 1 Neyith of the Dire Hunt
• 1 Overgrown Tomb
• 1 Phyrexian Arena
• 1 Pit Fight
• 1 Prizefight
• 1 Rakdos Signet
• 1 Rampant Growth
• 1 Rishkar's Expertise
• 1 Rising of the Day
• 1 Roar of Challenge
• 1 Rockfall Vale
• 1 Rootbound Crag
• 1 Saryth, the Viper's Fang
• 1 Savage Lands
• 1 Smoldering Marsh
• 1 Snuff Out
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Spire Garden
• 1 Stomping Ground
• 1 Stump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing
• 3 Swamp
• 1 Swiftfoot Boots
• 1 Tamiyo's Safekeeping
• 1 Terramorphic Expanse
• 1 The Last Agni Kai
• 1 The One Ring
• 1 Thornspire Verge
• 1 Three Visits
• 1 Ulvenwald Tracker
• 1 Undergrowth Stadium
• 1 Verdant Catacombs
• 1 Wooded Foothills
• 1 Woodland Cemetery
• 1 Ziatora's Proving Ground