2/24/25 - This is my take on a Zurgo deck. I built it today and ran it at my LGS' weekly event. It's a 1v1 event, but with multiplayer rules as opposed to 'French' rules. It's probably similar to a lot of others: you want to get Zurgo out as quickly as possible, and win in 3 swings or fewer. My deck went 4-0 this week, but we could use some improvements. I feel like his biggest weakness is spot removal, and so because he is the cornerstone of our strategy, we must protect him at all costs. I'll be tinkering with this, while adding more wrath and evasion effects.
3/3/15 - Played Zurgo at my LGS' weekly event again, going 3-0 this week. Trample certainly helped once my opponent had blockers in play. Adding some additional protection (Emerge Unscathed, Apostle's Blessing) was a huge bonus. Only added two wrath effects for this week, Arcbond and Crux of Fate. Ajani, Caller of the Pride also replaced Liliana Vess. I like where this deck is sitting right now. Only changes for the next even will be removing Godo, and replacing with Stonehewer Giant, and I'm even iffy about that. Also removing a Plains and adding Godless Shrine. Note: Trailblazer's Boots are in reality O-Naginata. For some reason Tapped Out won't allow me to add O-Naginata.
3-4-2015 Burnished Hart and Pilgrim's Eye are cut for Commander's Sphere and Vessel of Endless Rest. C-Sphere and Vessel both get Zurgo out a turn early, where Hart and P-Eye were for late games. Zurgo is all about turns 3-6 when possible :) Also going to test replacing Battle Mastery with Unquestioned Authority.
6-2-2015 Entered in all of the changes I've made over the last few months. Most of the changes were adding more ramp effects and protection effects.. Zurgo remains a very potent glass cannon, and averages a win on turn 5. Fasted win has been on turn 2. Currently have a wish list of: Arid Mesa, Badlands, Scrubland, Damnation, Blood Pet and Skirk Prospector, the last two being in there for more mana ramp.
The deck pretty much does nothing if Zurgo if shut down, which is why we have so many protection effects. If you're tutoring, it should probably be for a protection spell, unless you know for certain you can win that turn with a different spell.
Sidenote: Manalith is actually O-Naginata. TappedOut still does not recognize this card name :/
6-9-2015 Took out Arcbond and Steelshaper's Gift, added Skirk Prospector and Stave Off. Went 4-0 tonight :)
6-18-2015 Arcbond is back in, Earthquake is out. Also took out O-Naginata (aka Manalith) and put in a newly aquired Damnation.
6-19-2015 I took out Weathered Wayfarer. My reasoning was, having it in my opening hand encourages me to keep a hand with too few lands. It is also only good when I am on the draw, is slow to use, and dies to basically any removal spell. Drawing this late game is basically a dead card. I replaced it with Undying Evil, another protectiom spell for Zurgo. Most people will not see that coming, if all I leave untapped is a Swamp. :)
