Zurgo Helmsmasher
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on July 27, 2014, 3:24 p.m. by phc
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/cards/khans-of-tarkir/23317-zurgo-helmsmasher
I think he'd make a decent commander, you'd want to give him deathtouch and trample to maximise his ability to soak up +1/+1 counters. I'm thinking voltron would be the way to go with him. He does seem pretty vulnerable to removal on your opponent's turns. He needs something to give him hexproof, shroud or indestructible to keep those counters. Even with his two toughness he looks to be pretty well costed. A seven power general that can attack on turn five. It seems like you could take down a player early on with commander damage.
MagicalHacker says... #4
Dude, check this idea out
Sure voltron is cool, but with the fact that he has no way to protect himself from sorcery removal means that the strategy of voltron could potentially open yourself up to card disadvantage and etc. I already have been known to consider commanders without protection of some sort as weak voltrons (and I may be becoming infamous for it...) so this is what I see for him...
Board wipes. On you turn, destroy all creatures/lands, and swing with this guy every turn after that.
Board wipe commander with a commander that actually likes that... :) I'm a happy camper.
July 27, 2014 3:53 p.m.
The only reason he makes sense in EDH is being a color combination that doesn't have a lot of commanders to choose from. I think he is solid by himself, but really he isn't an ideal fit for a commander unless the entire deck is built around winning on commander damage, and in which case, there are probably better choices unless you are dead set on running R/W/B. He doesn't compliment other strategies or effect the game in anyway besides swinging for 7 turn 5, which a wide array of decks can not only handle, but pull off themselves just as easily. On top of this, your right, he is sort of vulnerable. At least they threw in the kind of indestructible, but all it really does is let him attack without fear of repercussions that turn.
Long story short, I'd say he is better as a beatstick in a R/W/B EDH deck headed by a different commander than commanding the deck himself. Give me Tariel, Reckoner of Souls over him any day.
July 27, 2014 3:55 p.m.
I had a similar idea to MagicalHacker because R/W/B has access to the most, and best, wraths. You can literally kill EVERYTHING to get Zurgo through. You can also do stuff like Burning Anger or give him an ability to ping creatures + deathtouch so he can get absurdly large. And remember, since you are probably on the Zurgo Voltron plan, you do have access to Stoneforge Mystic and Steelshaper's Gift to go grab your good equipment like Lightning Greaves or Darksteel Plate :).
July 27, 2014 4:01 p.m.
Cataclysm this guy in and watch the faces roll. Keep an equipment on him for extra damage.
July 27, 2014 4:18 p.m.
I like the wrath idea. My girlfriend has a similar strategy with her Avacyn deck. Worldslayer would be a great wincon with Zurgo.
July 27, 2014 4:25 p.m.
Yeh but without potential it's not going to stop anyone from just killing him. That's the problem with creatures without protection - they just die.
July 27, 2014 4:26 p.m.
He has the potential to make a splash in Standard aggro, but I don't see much else in him. The wrath idea is interesting, but wouldn't it be easier to just use a commander that always has indestructible? Like Tajic, or one of fifteen gods?
July 27, 2014 5:23 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #12
Three colors has it's advantages and disadvantages compared to two colors.
July 27, 2014 6:39 p.m.
I image the reason you'd want to use him over one of the fifteen gods is so you don't have to worry about devotion post board wipe. Especially a board wipe that gets rid of all permanents. As for tajic, I'd use him over tajic for two reasons. First, it opens up black as a color possibility, second, he has 7 power to tajic's 2. So post board wipe he's MUCH bigger of a threat.
July 27, 2014 6:40 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #14
I honestly could see him as a pretty good general for an midrange 1v1 deck. Access to powerful removal, discard, stoneforge mystic, bob, and lots of card advantage could make for a very versatile deck.
July 27, 2014 8:51 p.m.
mowservision says... #15
The dega colors are tops for creature control, there's so much spot/mass removal available. You could make a very mean voltron.
July 28, 2014 4:48 a.m.
Turn 4: Iroas, God of Victory
Turn 5: Zurgo.
Now it's a T5 7-power hasty with indestructible and "Can't be chumped." Too bad Boros Charm is going out.
July 28, 2014 5:38 a.m.
Ijustliketolift says... #17
Fulcrum what do you mean Boros Charm is going out. We are talking about EDH correct?
August 5, 2014 10:19 p.m.
I was thinking specifically standard when I wrote that.
August 5, 2014 10:50 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #20
Oh, I never posted my decklist (shameless plug) MagicalHacker - Zurgo Helmsmasher
mowservision says... #2
Here is the link
July 27, 2014 3:36 p.m.