









Overview:
This Gruul deck leverages Thromok the Insatiable as a central devour engine, combining token generation with sacrifice payoffs. The primary strategy involves flooding the board with tokens (via cards like Krenko, Mob Boss, Tendershoot Dryad, and Scute Swarm), then sacrificing them to Thromok for massive power/counters. Wins are achieved through commander damage, fling effects (Fling, Kazuul's Fury), or ETB/LTB damage amplifiers (Terror of the Peaks, Warstorm Surge). Thromok is essential as both a payoff and card draw enabler (via Greater Good, Momentous Fall), but the deck includes alternate threats like Craterhoof Behemoth and All Will Be One. Token doublers (Doubling Season, Parallel Lives) exponentially accelerate the plan.
Primer:
Core Strategy Execution:
- Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise), token generators (Scute Swarm, Jaheira, Friend of the Forest), or ramp (Skyshroud Claim, Three Visits). Prioritize Cryptolith Rite or Ashnod's Altar for explosive turns.
- Token Proliferation (Turns 3-5): Resolve key engines: Krenko, Mob Boss, Tendershoot Dryad, Avenger of Zendikar, or Awaken the Woods. Double tokens with Doubling Season/Parallel Lives. Use Rhythm of the Wild for haste/counters.
- Devour & Payoffs (Turns 4-6): Cast Thromok, devouring 5+ tokens to make him 25/25+. Immediately:
- Swing with trample (Rancor, Kessig Wolf Run) and Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar for multi-kill.
- Sacrifice to Fling/Kazuul's Fury for lethal damage.
- Draw 25+ cards with Greater Good/Momentous Fall to find wincons.
- Alternate Wins:
- Terror of the Peaks/Warstorm Surge + token spam or Thromok ETB.
- All Will Be One + counter generation (Thromok, Bloodspore Thrinax).
- Craterhoof Behemoth/Overwhelming Stampede for wide token kills.
Mulligan Priorities:
- Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including green sources.
- Prioritize early token generators or ramp (e.g., Scute Swarm + land, Cryptolith Rite, Ashnod's Altar).
- Look for at least one payoff: Thromok enabler (Defense of the Heart, Finale of Devastation) or damage outlet (Fling, Terror of the Peaks).
- Avoid hands lacking token production or with only high-CMC payoffs.
Key Tips:
- Protect Critical Engines: Use Swiftfoot Boots, Tamiyo's Safekeeping, or Heroic Intervention on Thromok/token doublers. The Ozolith preserves counters if Thromok dies.
- Sequence Sacrifices: Sac tokens to Ashnod's Altar for mana before devouring to Thromok. Post-devour, sacrifice Thromok to Greater Good for massive draw.
- Leverage Devour Synergies: Bloodspore Thrinax amplifies subsequent creatures. Skullmulcher draws cards on entry.
- Interaction Timing: Use Blasphemous Act with Stalking Vengeance for board wipe + damage. Pest Infestation answers artifacts/enchantments while generating tokens.
Weaknesses:
Critical
- Commander Reliance: Removal on Thromok cripples the primary wincon; recasting becomes prohibitively expensive without Command Beacon.
- Board Wipes: Mass removal (e.g., Damnation) devastates token boards and forces slow rebuilds.
- Anti-Token Tech: Torpor Orb/Hushbringer null ETB/LTB damage from Terror of the Peaks/Stalking Vengeance.
Moderate
- Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace disrupts Finale of Devastation recursion and Eternal Witness loops.
- Counter Manipulation: The Ozolith and All Will Be One are vulnerable to Vampire Hexmage or Karn's Bastion removal.
- Stax Effects: Rule of Law/Eidolon of Rhetoric limit token-spam turns.
Minor
- Artifact/Enchantment Focus: Key pieces (doublers, altars) are soft to targeted removal like Bane of Progress.
- Limited Stack Interaction: Minimal counterspells make combos harder to disrupt.
Most Important Cards:
- Ashnod's Altar (Mana generation & sacrifice outlet)
- Doubling Season (Token/counter amplification)
- Cryptolith Rite (Mana acceleration via tokens)
- Defense of the Heart (Tutors Thromok + payoff)
- Greater Good (Card draw engine with Thromok)
- Terror of the Peaks (Primary damage payoff)
- Krenko, Mob Boss (Explosive token generation)
- All Will Be One (Scalable damage from counters)
- Finale of Devastation (Tutor/wincon)
- The Ozolith (Counter preservation)
Attribute Ratings:
Speed: 7/10
- Can win T5-6 via Thromok fling or ETB damage with ideal token setup and doublers. Slower without key pieces (T7-8).
Resilience: 5/10
- Recovers poorly from board wipes; relies heavily on Thromok staying alive. Protection spells help but are limited.
Consistency: 6/10
- Multiple token generators and tutors (Finale, Green Sun's Zenith) provide redundancy, but wincons require specific board states.
Interaction: 4/10
- Efficient artifact/enchantment removal (Beast Within, Pest Infestation) and board wipes (Blasphemous Act), but minimal stack interaction.
Rating Justification:
The deck's explosive token generation enables T5-6 wins through Thromok synergies or damage amplifiers, aligning with the "Focused Competitive" speed benchmark. However, its heavy reliance on the commander and vulnerability to board wipes reduces resilience, preventing higher optimization tiers.
Power level: 7.0 - 7.5
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