This deck is a diamond rank deck that has managed to rip apart opposing ramp type decks into puny pieces. And while the Gyruda Meta is hardly something new, this deck makes usage of a new card from the 2021 core set, that I am absolutely ASTOUNDED hasn't been more frequently discussed, which deals with Gyruda's weakness, mainly being a lack of board wiping.
[Massacre Wurm] is a creature with the ability to -2/-2 the entire board, dismantling Goblin meta decks in one fell swoop, killing elf decks in Historic, and destroying practically every go wide deck that would normally give big ramp decks like Gyruda trouble.
This deck is both viable in Standard AND Historic, being able to smack both game modes around in Arena like Godzilla on steroids.
As with all Gyruda decks, this deck is made primarily with the function of getting Gyruda out by turn 4 (or five if you're forced to use the companion effect) and then using his massively powerful ability to bring in another powerful creature, while also using Thassa to blink him and get more massive tools from your even cost creature deck.
The generic creatures in this deck include heavy hitters like Ghalta, Questing Beast, and Serpent of the Yawning Depths. But the biggest change thanks to 2021, is the Massacre Wurm. A creature perfectly capable of functioning as the better alternative to Extinction event. Getting BOTH a massive creature onto the field AND wiping the board of annoying goblins and the like, makes it an absolutely DEVASTATING counter to go wide type decks like Elves and Goblins, especially since Thassa can also blink him to kill larger enemies with 3 to 4 toughness, meaning his synergy with both Gyruda and Thassa are especially amazing. You could say this deck does have the ability to function even without playing Gyruda, since just summoning these creatures alone without using a mill effect is very viable. In fact, just bringing in Ghalta on a normal ramp tends to be enough to beat down opponents on a a good day, circumventing the weakness of Gyruda being a one trick pony who can't function without always being in your hand to start milling for tools.
Difference between standard and historic versions:
Historic's only difference from it's Standard version is that it includes Ghalta and Ulamog. In Standard, Ghalta can easily be replaced with either a few more ramps or another even cost big creature, preferably 2 more Massacre Wurms to give your deck more of an edge against the metas such as Goblins and other go wide red decks.
Win Conditions.
Turns 1-3: Ramp (T2, Elf/growth spiral, T3, Migration Path, is the most preferable ramp path, try to use Migration path to put most if not all of your swamps on the field just in case you need to send out Massacre wurm instead of Gyruda to give yourself breathing room).
Turn 4: Gyruda comes out, and either:
A. Ulamog is also summoned, which pretty much means your opponent is done for, especially if Shatter the Sky is their only counter against your creatures. After Gyruda's initial mill, two or three attacks should be enough for Ulamog to mill your opponent to death.
B. Massacre Wurm comes out and destroys your opponent's go wide deck, leaving them in a heap of trouble with little way out, especially if they have an elf deck.
C. Serpent of the Yawning Depths comes out, Gyruda is unblockable now, hit for 12 damage next turn. (win might take longer like this, but your opponent won't have much in the ways of stopping you unless they use up half the instants in their hands, run Shatter the Sky, or bounce cards like Brazen Borrower, especially if you have Thassa out already, which allows her to jump in and perhaps hit for 18 instead of just 6.)
D. Thassa comes out, Thassa then blinks Gyruda for any of the above win conditions, with C now being more ideal in this condition thanks to Thassa's effect.
E. If the above conditions don't win the game as fast as you like, even Ulamog, as he isn't immune to abilities that prevent his abilities from activation, you can always summon in Ghalta for an assist. or even blink and mill in a Questing Beast/Ghalta. Not scoring the win immediately isn't always bad, as your creatures are all so huge it's nearly impossible to deal with them.
