In the world of MTG, Eldrazi remains one of the most feared creature types. These huge monsters often come stapled with a multitude of devastating triggered abilities that can easily take over games. Despite their incredible potential, though, the biggest Eldrazi are often disregarded in more competitive environments due to their hefty mana values.
Yet Zhulodok, Void Gorger has still sneakily posted some elite cEDH results recently. This Commander is quite underrated, and with the right support around it, is a massive threat.
Triggering Zhulodok Repeatedly
The main goal behind this Zhulodok deck is to reliably and continuously get value from this Eldrazi’s triggered ability. The obvious problem, however, is that filling your deck with tons of high-cost spells makes your game plan incredibly clunky. Fortunately, there are some workarounds for this issue.
The simplest way to speed things up is to utilize your abundance of mana rocks to your advantage. From Mox Opal to Thran Dynamo, this deck is designed to get you to seven mana as quickly as possible. The presence of Tron lands, Ancient Tomb, and Ugin’s Labyrinth further help the cause, too.
If you’re lucky, you may be able to set up an infinite mana combo by pairing Basalt Monolith with Rings of Brighthearth or Forsaken Monument. This way, casting Kozilek, the Great Distortion, and other huge bombs is very much within reach.
Notably, though, Zhulodok’s ability still triggers even if you cast a big spell at a discount. With this in mind, artifact-themed payoffs like Mycosynth Golem, Metalwork Colossus, and Excalibur, Sword of Eden are essential inclusions in this archetype. Not of this World is also one of this deck’s strongest tools, helping protect Zhulodok from removal for free while simultaneously triggering double Cascade.
Over time, besides simply generating tons of value and board presence, Zhulodok’s Cascade triggers make it easier to assemble game-winning combos. For example, finding Mystic Forge, Sensei’s Divining Top, and Glaring Fleshraker sets you up to deal lethal damage to each opponent and draw your deck.
Powerful Gameplan with Limitations
As a whole, Zhulodok decks are in a rather interesting position in cEDH. On one hand, it’s natural for players to be wary of the downsides to playing a slower colorless archetype. Without access to free Counterspells and other forms of interaction, you have little recourse versus a fast Storm draw. On top of that, fighting through artifact hate pieces like Null Rod can be a nuisance given your reliance on mana rocks.
On the flip side, however, this archetype is well-suited to dominate grindy games. With access to so many heavy hitters, your opponents are going to struggle to counter or remove every bomb you play. Not to mention, the elite cast triggers of Zhulodok, Ugin, Eye of the Storms, and various Eldrazi Titans make traditional Counterspells look foolish.
So, in spite of its weaknesses, these strengths have ultimately helped Zhulodok win multiple cEDH tournaments over the past month. While not perfect by any means, it’s nice to see colorless Eldrazi get a chance to shine in such a cutthroat environment.
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