Posted by William & Calvin

Hello Commandercast staple listeners! If you’re like being tricky, sneaky, and stabbing your foes while their back is turned, then you’ll just love today’s Dimir episode!

Wait….I could’ve sworn it said Dimir on the schedule. How’d we switch to Gruul? ANYWAYS, it was a fun episode to record all the same!

Subtlety, thy name is not Gruul

Rival’s Duel host Eric Bonvie joins us, as does rookie staff writer Jonathan Marshall.

Truth be told, I’m not that big an expert on running wild and smashing everything in site so I’m going to hit these tribal elders up for some wisdom that I hope helps you guys out too. We’ll look at Bloodthirst and bloodrush, general Gruul stratedgies (surprisingly more complex than just SMASH), and share some of our favorite Gruul tech.

It’s a new guild format right after the Ib!

Commandercast season 12 Episode 4

Recording January 22, 2014

Guests:

Eric – Some Canadian guy

Jonathan – New staff writer for Commandercast, “Kitchen Table Tactics”

Favorite Commander:

Eric: Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Jonathan: Zedruu the Greathearted

Favorite Planeswalker:

Eric #1: Vraska the Unseen

Jonathan #2: Garruk, Primal Hunter because saying “Jace” is a cop out

News:

Week 4 of Commandercast shows.

New Born of the Gods spoilers

New show by Calvin and Eric????

Community: Bloodthirst + Bloodrush = review

Bloodthirst: less value than you’d like

Bloodrush: Better with certain cards

Wrecking Ogre: The nuts. Play if you want to run Hatred, but in red.

Skarrgan Skybreaker’s interaction with Bloodrush.

Rumbling Slum not bloodthirst, but gets around the necessity for combat

Bloodrush + Genesis recycle cards for fun and profit

Combat tricks –

Blood thirst – Skaargan skybreaker

Bloodrush – Wrecking Ogre

Strategy: Gruul’s general strategy and game plan

1) smash things – Permanent removal and lack of creatures

Decimate, Fissure, Twister, Aftershock, Zealous Conscripts, Helm of Possession,

2) smash things – Getting things back to re-smash over and over

Charmbreaker Devils, Goblin Welder[card], [card]Regrowth, Eternal Witness, Genesis

3) smash things – Evasion and should checking

Trample and deathtouch

1) Be aggressive. Always keep pushing your opponents. Keep up the pressure!

2) Weaknesses? What weaknesses? Not as much recursion? Not a problem. Not enough removal? You do if you dig deep enough. Card draw nope? Card draw very yes!

3) Play to your strengths: Fast starts (fast creatures and super ramp), 2-for-1’s (ETB dudes and great gruul spells), and tons of hate that shut down your opponent’s strategy (Burning Tree Shaman, Spell Breaker Behemoth).

Use the incremental advantage in Birthing Pod, Greater Good, Survival of the Fittest to improve your long game.

Technology: Favorite Gruul tech

William: Bloodbraid Elf, Orcish Lumberjack, Rubblebelt Raiders, Centaur Rootcaster

“I’m here to cut trees and make mana and I’m all outta trees.”

Jonathan: Abundance, Dragon Broodmother (because what’s an EDHcast without a Dragon), Hull Breach, Sylvan Hierophant

Eric: Vexing Shusher, Kessig Wolf Run, Wilderness Elemental, Chandra, Pyromaster

Calvin: Voracious Cobra, Wolfbriar Elemental, Runes of the Deus, Deglamer

Outtro/Contacts:

William – Email: Commandercast(at)gmail(dot)com // twitter: (at)Commandercast

Calvin – Email: captainredzone(at)gmail(dot)com // twitter: (at)captainredzone

Eric – Email: noleclauson(at)gmail(dot)com // twitter: (at)MtGNole

Jonathan – Email: kitchentabletactics(at)gmail(dot)com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download