In the world of MTG, there’s seemingly an endless number of huge monsters that can take over games. Unfortunately, many of these bombs cost a boatload of mana to cast, which makes their playability somewhat suspect.
Luckily, if winning games with big haymakers is your cup of tea, there’s an exciting archetype in Duel Commander that could be right up your alley. This deck features over 30 creatures that cost six or more mana and combines them with a ton of cheating mechanisms. With the help of one of the strongest mechanics in the game, this deck is more consistent than you might think.
Cheating for the Win
At a baseline, the primary game plan behind this Maelstrom Wanderer Duel Commander deck is to utilize the Cascade mechanic to your advantage. Nearly every card in this deck has a mana value of four or greater, except for a select few. This, essentially, forces cheaper Cascade effects to point at ways to cheat cards into play, whether it be Flash, Show and Tell, or Hypergenesis. While Cascading into Hypergenesis likely has the most upside, Show and Telling an Omniscience, or using Flash on Woodfall Primus, is a game-winning play.
If you don’t find one of your Cascade cards, there are still numerous cards at four and five mana that can cheat haymakers into play. Eureka does a great Hypergenesis impression, while Sneak Attack and Through the Breach can set up massive attacks right away. This deck even gets to incorporate Dream Halls, which enables you to cast Maelstrom Wanderer from the command zone for free.
If all else fails, hard-casting your massive bombs is a realistic goal. This deck features a bunch of lands like Sandstone Needle and Svyelunite Temple that can tap for two mana to help the cause. Additionally, some of the creatures in this deck, like Overlord of the Hauntwoods and Drownyard Lurker, can help ramp you towards your more impactful plays when necessary.
Fighting Through Hate
As a whole, what makes this deck scary to play against is its inevitability. Even if your opponent is able to counter Hypergenesis and other similar effects, your Commander’s cast trigger can singlehandedly bury them. Of course, if your opponent doesn’t have disruption at the ready, a turn two Flash or turn three Hypergenesis can close games in a heartbeat.
With this in mind, the best approach to beating this deck is to present a healthy mix of interaction and pressure. Spider-Man 2099 decks, for example, do a great job combining Counterspells with efficient threats, making the matchup difficult. Similarly, Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd shells can beat you down with disruptive creatures like Elite Spellbinder and Anointed Peacekeeper to keep you off-balance. Without much removal at your disposal, hate pieces like Containment Priest can singlehandedly ruin your day.
Considering just how popular Phelia and Spider-Man 2099 decks are currently in Duel Commander, Maelstrom Wanderer decks may not be in the best position. Nonetheless, if you’re expecting a Midrange-heavy metagame at your next event, this deck has a lot of potential. Pummeling your opponent’s face with enormous monsters before they know what hit them can be a ton of fun, so consider giving Maelstrom Wanderer a shot.
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