Gargos Vicious Watcher Commander Deck Tech

[@C0medySeniorz]

"and im drawing more cards than the blue player" i honestly had to put in a reliquary tower with how much i discard with my hydra deck

[@anthonydelfino6171]

"We finally have a hydra commander!"

[@ThunderhorsE1213]

Animar

[@victorbourguignon6897]

Morophon XD

[@alexanderneimeth4538]

As soon as you said “as long as we’re proliferating” i knew what was coming you monster. No matter how awesome

[@malocaptain2852]

I got Gargos in the prerelease and i already was thinking a lot about commander hydra tribal. Very interesting video thank you!

[@Just_a_Danish_viking]

I just love that in commander, green is almost and somtimes better at drawing cards then blue

[@maelstromcarl]

Can you please pilot this deck on the next Game Knights that they invite you to? This honestly is one of the most versatile mono-green decks I've ever seen! As always, thanks for the great content :)

[@FireFlamberge]

We might be casting every Green* Hydra in the game. There's a few really good ones that sadly can't get into this deck.

[@Eckendenker]

they really should have given it some red activation cost or smth

[@SomeGuy-cn5vm]

R.I.P. Apocalypse Hydra

[@ODedonlife]

R.I.P. Phytohydra

[@CosmicConical]

Rip hydroid krasis

[@zach1313]

Another part to the deck could be taking advantage of Gargos’s second ability by targeting your own creatures. Ordeal of Nylea ramps you and also synergizes with +1/+1 counters. Setessan Tactics can wipe the board with the right setup. Withstand Death and Blossoming Defense protect your creatures. Warrior’s Lesson gets you 2 Gargos fights and can draw you 2 cards Titanic Brawl can be 1 mana for 2 fights at instant speed.

[@OvAeons]

i was a little sad he did not go into the fight aspect of hydras...

[@ikaros110]

hey man, have you since then tinkered with that idea? I built my first deck today which is a hydra build with self target enchantments. Would love to hear some ideas on that if you have perused the idea longer! Anyway, have a nice day :D

[@LexFrank-Arcaneium]

green has always been my favorite color ever since i started playing during the theros block. my first rare ever was mistcutter hydra, and +1/+1 counters on hydras has always been my favorite flavor win (bc they grow more heads lol). this commander is some serious nostalgia for me, im in love with it!

[@stein192]

fun fact, the oldest hydra got "head counters" instead +1/+1 counter, then they simplyfied the mechanic

[@snakeman830]

Hydra Broodmaster is unfortunately a nonbo with Unbound Flourishing. The first copy of the Monstrosity ability resolves, making it monstrous, then the second copy resolves and does nothing because the hydra is already monstrous.

[@dicorockhimself]

It's fine I'd still drop it in sense it's one hell of late game pay out

[@freekill1018]

@@dicorockhimself yeah it's too good not to run lol

[@acutefailure1]

I am doing r and d on a hydra commander home brew and I'm thinking about using Zaxara as my commander instead for the color flexibility and the token synergy. This video has been VERY helpful. Thanks a million

[@TheCanuckGamer]

I feel like the part that wasnt focused on is crazy good... any spell you cast that targets one of your creatures basically becomes a removal spell

[@SimonLewis_photography]

Just built my Gargos deck and cant wait to play it! There are a few cards you mention here that i didnt include so very useful dech tech and will defo be tweaking my Fail Hydra deck now!

[@SergeantBrowning]

Been waiting for this guy for years

[@Bored_Barbarian]

Weird that he doesn’t have A targeting sub theme for gargos’ second ability

[@Bored_Barbarian]

Freddy Gläser look up Monstrous Onslaught from Kaladesh. Combine that, some giant hydras (which aren’t too hard for this deck) and Heoric Intervention for massive fight triggers

[@FlashKillerX]

Bare in mind Gargos can only fight so much before he dies. He only has 7 toughness so you’re gonna have to go seriously hard into sources of indestructible if you want to take advantage of that removal. Imo it’s almost a n entirely different deck if you build it that way and smashing face with dudes seems more fun personally. Plus why bother fighting every creature if you’re just gonna be trampling over most of them anyway?

[@FlashKillerX]

Freddy Gläser It’s good but I’m sure it’s a bit unnecessary in most games. Indestructible or first strike would probably be better in most situations but deathtouch indestructible with fight spells would be strong. Problem is opponents will have indestructible creatures too

[@ExplosiveFetus]

@@FlashKillerX I use instant buffs like growth cycle. You can use multiple and you get an extra +2 per copy in the graveyard, so it keeps his HP up. It's great for clearing out flying creatures, which tend to be weaker. Or use rabid bite and you can fight two separate weaker creatures the opponent might be holding back to use ability with. It definitely is a different deck, but still really powerful.

[@ianosborne2500]

@@ExplosiveFetus I'm guessing you aren't playing Commander then if you're using more than one Growth Cycle in your deck.

[@nonbo_mtg3328]

I built a kresh edh deck about a year ago and have been tweaking it ever since..it is a HYDRA TRIBAL! Kresh is so good as a Hydra commander, that this new hydra is a part of my 99

[@arbhall7572]

As soon as I saw Unbound Flourishing in Horizons, Ive been planning an EDH Hydra tribal deck. Now I have the commander I really wanted! I really didnt want to use the new Changeling commander.

[@katoteshikumei]

A hydra? With a LOT of mana available? Even able to double abilities? This just screams Chameleon Colossus!

[@Zenith8924]

great idea!

[@DarthSmirnoff]

Thanks for doing a budget-ish version of this deck. I pulled Gargos in one of my sealed events, and it did some good work for me, so I'm looking forward to doing a commander deck with him(her?).

[@casually_lurking]

From when Kalonian was in Standard, playing an Anzan +1/+1 deck. Swung with two, went from two 64/64's to two 256/256 (with trample). Gods be do I live that card.

[@theonedraven8007]

my buddy threw this list together after seeing the list, and now we are doing a 4 mono colored edh match Red: mono red lathliss tribal Green: hydra tribal White: human tribal black: zombie tribal

[@theonedraven8007]

@@ravensshade goblins are boring, and black was already taken by zombies

[@FalseOracle617]

Am building mono-blue Sphinx Tribal with my gorgeous Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign foil as commander.

[@theonedraven8007]

@@FalseOracle617 i didnt even think of sphinxes O: the new one in 2020 looks fun

[@FalseOracle617]

@@theonedraven8007 Unesh is fuckin bonkers

[@NameIsAce]

"I'M DRAWING MORE CARDS THAN THE BLUE PLAYER"

[@DesolateTitan]

I switched to hydra elf tribal to help with ramp and cheapen the cost.

[@jobywonkanobi]

Me and my friends just got into commander (im new only playing modern for a little over a year, they have been playing for 2 decades) and i did make a hydra deck with gargos as a commander. Me and my friend were just summoning not attacking just waiting for the right move and then it happened. I got genisis hydra to get me Nyxbloom ancient which triples any mana thats tapped next turn i had twenty something devotion and Nyxthos shrine to NYX which i used on Domesticated hydra which has monstrosity and upon activating it with the mana i had turned it from a 3/3 to (and this is true no joke) a 69/69 with trample. Needless to say that was game all we could do was laugh at this card that had four spindown dice on it to track it's power. We love commander now it's so much fun and it really lets you get more value out of your library rather than trying to track down playsets of certain cards if your new to MTG try it out

[@ChillyJack]

Fyi, Unbound Flourishing doesn't work with Hydra Broodmaster. The copy of the ability resolves, making it Monstrous, then the original activation sees it's already Monstrous and does nothing.

[@minispiel19]

Chilly Jack you may choose new targets for the copy, so you can target a different hydra for the copy.

[@ChillyJack]

@@minispiel19 Monstrosity does not target, it can only be applied to the creature whose Monstrosity ability is being activated, so you can't apply it to another target.

[@Dovahninja]

Being a lifelong hydra player I am super stoked to try this out!

[@nakedbanana7056]

Have any recommendations on a tried and true Hydra Edh deck?

[@XwingRed4]

You might consider: Wrap in Vigor (protection from certain mass board wipe); Bow of Nylea (death touch and some graveyard recycle); Rancor because Rancor; Endless One because is X and for the Lulz.

[@radapox]

That intro is just...ugh amazing.

[@adriane.torres2822]

Finally, I'm putting to work my hydra collection. Gargos is the tribal commander that many of us were waiting for. Mana reflections is out of my budget, So i'm running Caged Sun; also. Boundless Realms and Wrap in Vigor are good budget alterntatives; God-Eternal Rhonas is a mayor trolling for maximum damage; Ironscale Hydra is also fine addtion; and don't forget good ol' Bow of Nylea, it gives to your creatures deathtouch, plus with 4 options to choose.

[@nicholaslong885]

Finally, a hydra commander. Great video.

[@dakotamcintire7419]

Personal recommendation. Include a green elemental reincarnation called Vigor.

[@Zenith8924]

oof yes!

[@RaphaelLamour]

Strange... the link of the deck ins't working.

[@captainchunk69]

It's not working for me either

[@matthewbennington7217]

Link not working for me either

[@Lycandros]

Seems the decklist doesn't yet exist on the page.

[@Cryonicity]

Strange... the link of the deck is **GONE**

[@kapittsalt]

Burgle burgle up vote new href plzor

[@Alice_Haukea]

Not that I expect Hydra stuff to jump in price, but I'm happy i have the deck already. I built tribal Hydras a month or so ago for fun. Got bored because it felt like it was missing something. Now with this new card, I found what I was missing; a good general. Time to rebuild the deck.

[@greed0and0fear]

Best combat trick in this deck? Berserk! Swinging with a big dude, they chump, you Berserk for lethal.....its absolutely nuts! Especially since they wont see it coming. Having only one mana up in a big mana deck is SUUUUUPER conspicuous. Best part is there are quite a few sac-draw abilities in here that you can swing for lethal then turn it into card advantage before its destroyed at EoT. SO good

[@SventFulgur]

Dang it DJ! I took apart my Pulukranos Hydra Tribal almost a year and a half ago and he you are making me want to rebuild it! 🤣

[@scaner411]

Monstrous Onslaught (AER) is a flavor win in any hydra tribal deck

[@Richthofen100]

So the mana reduction from Gargos (4) goes to x ? So if you cast a Hydra with XGG for just GG you get a 4/4 hydra? is that correct?

[@Noah-tg3vf]

Yes, it reduces the total cost by 4 which applies to X

[@Jocken333]

Think of it like this: you declare i cast for x=4, then the cost is 4GG, then cost reduction applies and it goes to GG. Also, maybe run emerald medallion?

[@Richthofen100]

Ah ok good explaination

[@S1l3nT8081]

I love Heroes Bane and I once managed to get it to 660/660 and give it Trample. I used Bramblewood Paragon which granted any creature that I control with +1/+1 counters on them Trample

[@averybreeze2451]

I actually bought practically every hydra available about 4 days ago. I'm really thankful I did it then before this video came out, because I feel like the prices will increase

[@Roylucky13]

Love it been waiting for a decent Hydra tribal general!

[@darylchiu9030]

Gargos lacks Red. He goes into my Rosheen Meanderer fire breathing Hydras. Regardless if he's commander or relegated to the 99, he's an absolute unit who'll make hydras you control swoler by default.

[@darylchiu9030]

True. Surrak would also give me an option to run the unholy abomination that spits in the face of divinity that is Hydroid Krasis. :v

[@ChaoticLapras]

Animar is also a good temur hydra commander

[@djv4498]

love the channel, love hydras!!!!!

[@TheDepleteduranium]

I would love to see an update to this concidering all the new releases

[@fgsl13]

I like the recurring auras for "removal": Rancor, Aspect of Mongoose and Whip Silk

[@tonionitoklan4872]

Felipe Gontijo I know right? People can win on turn 1!!

[@kindalllowder3595]

Dude, do one for Vilis, Broker of Blood! That demon is just ridiculous! It's basically Griselbrand!

[@princeofhumbugs6657]

Shame it doesn't have blue. Would love Bioessence and the jellyfish hydra. Simic Ascendancy would also be a fun win con. Still looks hella fun and high on my list of commanders to build.

[@Zindrazi]

Already started my hydra edh and it’s in the works

[@TripsAhoy]

Hail Hydra!!!!

[@kirbbar2258]

Man... A Triumph of the Hordes in this deck would be... Well, you would win.

[@adochild93]

Big, green stompy hydras? I’m in!

[@LonelyKidLim]

Does 2:51 really works that way? my understanding was X represents amount of mana you spent for this summon, and since u spent 0 for X, then X is 0, meaning it's 0 +1/+1 counters. I may be wrong, just wanted to clear this doubt

[@joranmoore5663]

Wait a minute. Genesis Hydra doesn't work at all with its tribe? ....So digging through 19 cards and coming across Whiptongue Hydra - which is basically a free board wipe - doesn't work at all? Or, what if we grabbed Phyrexian Hydra?

[@helicopter160]

Joran Moore just because it can get good cards doesn’t man it synergizes with its tribe. The core aspect of hydras is X cost for counters. Genesis hydra does not synergize with it

[@RaginKavu]

Here's a truly despicably delicious thing to do: Equip Balde of Selves to Hydra Omnivore. Add Rancor for some extra spice. ;)

[@Darwingreen5]

Or gargos, that way you can just keep reducing the cost your play for X-cost hydras.

[@RaginKavu]

@@Darwingreen5 the tokens get exiled at the end of the combat (phase). Unless you have a Vedalken Orrery in play, you won't be able to benefit from all the copies. That, and all the tokens would go to the grave, as they're all legendaries, and so would Gargos.

[@thomhitzelberger7876]

Helm of the Hosts would work though!

[@eqwhite21]

Building my own version of that deck, missing a few hydras

[@Curran_Kleen_Brown]

Welllll..... looks like I gotta make this deck. It makes me happy....

[@JB-sc3fr]

Jumbo! I see the value of this as a commander. I really want to add it to a new deck. I feel it is about time to make Rosheen. Double up those X spells and counters

[@ivernedit]

RELEASE THE KRACK-.....RELEASE THE HYDRA!

[@edwinquinones9356]

Hail Hydra!

[@44hydras28]

*Unearthly screaming* I NEED IT

[@Te_LaSoul]

Would proliferate cards like evolution sage be good in a hydra deck?

[@SimonLewis_photography]

Absolutely, especially if you have one out when you cast Traverse the Outlands!

[@MrJC1122]

Not much focus on his second ability?

[@sykorixgraveborn7142]

I can see gargos going up in valie in the future, he is my favorite card of m20

[@venomouzelite4380]

Here is a working decklist: decks.tcgplayer.com/magic/freeform/jumbocommander/gargos--vicious-watcher-hail-hydra/1356803

[@SimonLewis_photography]

OOOF! Just tested my hydra deck and managed on turn 8 to swing in for 1205 damage! My Angel/Dragon deck was going to win next turn too so perfect timing!

[@nelsonmesa6785]

Do you still have this hydra deck?

[@nightmareofcat]

Built a 5 color hydra deck months ago. Put the new ones in a few days ago and holy crap batman is it dumb.

[@DragonKnightASN]

Also I’m not saying it’s fair magic but vigor with lightning greaves or any other 0 equip card and you can board lock with his fight ability

[@SomeGuy-cn5vm]

I’m not sure if that works since Gargos’ ability doesn’t trigger off of abilities.

[@DragonKnightASN]

Some Guy lightning greaves has a zero equip cost so lightning greaves targets gargos triggering his ability then instead of taking damage he gets 1 1 counters

[@DragonKnightASN]

Some Guy also if you look up the equip rule it says “(cost)attach equipment to target creature”

[@SilentRoar21]

Equip is an ability. Gargos' fight is only triggered by spells

[@jasonallen5318]

I prefer my Rosheen Meanderer deck, It's Red & Green with X cost Hydras coupled with X cost burn and board wipes with lots of Mana Flare type abilities. Gargos is definitely one of the 99 though.

[@pifruto9964]

ended up with an 10e154 hydra playing a version of this deck of mine (with selvala and heroes bane) Lost that game because no trample unfortunately :(

[@angrytroutfish696]

I would replace rishkar’s experitse with soul's majesty because it targets ( you get to fight something) and you still get to draw all those cards

[@williamdesade6667]

Or you could run both. Cast expertise, draw into majesty and cast it for free from expertise.

[@juliocarrasco8144]

great video....please decklist please

[@LeKrutes]

The buttom have is also a very nice ability.

[@keisukebajipup4072]

Everybody gangster till blightbeetle shows up

[@michaeloneill9650]

Hydras is my favorite tribe to play They can be so broken sometimes

[@florianw116]

Imagine if Gargos had a random UR activated ability, just to improve its color identity.

[@SomeGuy-cn5vm]

Yeah, guess we’re stuck with Animar for Temur hydras.

[@nicholaslong885]

Still don't understand how if its 4 less for hydras to cast, does it put 4 +1+1 counts on any Hydra that has X when you cast it?? Then YOU as a player add on top for the 4 so you now pay X. I hope this makes seance and dome one can answer me.

[@MrThus1234]

Hey DJ! Quick Question! If you wanted to boost this deck from the ~$200 range to the $300-$400 range, what are some replacements/inclusions you'd throw in? Just curious, as I was looking into making a more fun and less competitive deck to build to jam with my friends.

[@captainchunk69]

I think Doubling Season and Primordial Vigor would be 2 solid additions and they are kinda costly.

[@MrThus1234]

@@captainchunk69 dang, I didn't even think of Primordial Vigor.

[@captainchunk69]

@@MrThus1234 I built a version of this a week before M20 to see if I liked it. Was hoping for DJs list to see what I missed. I also added Rites of Itlimoc and Shrine to Nykthros

[@MrThus1234]

@@captainchunk69Shrine is definitely a shoe-in. Rites makes a lot of sense (especially because Gaea's Cradle may as well be a nonexistent card for somebody with my income).

[@captainchunk69]

@@MrThus1234 you and me both brother. I can make a deck for around 3-400, but I cant spend that on 1 card

[@puffin-onehandedgamer1164]

instead of mana reflection you can thow in Caged Sun. it's only 10-11 $ while mana reflection is almost 4 times that at 38 $. Caged sun costs the same amount of mana AND it gives your creatures a +1/+1 counter (because you play mono green you choose green), so its a much better card. the deck list isn't linked properly.

[@jamesshort8338]

Can you cheat a hydra into the field and cast a instant to put a 1/1 counter before it dies

[@haldir1991]

You're already doing so many good videos about these new commanders but ... are you going to do one for Kykar, Wind's Fury ? Would love to see your view on it. Keep up with the good work ! :)

[@rsg6565]

I'm building Gruul Hydras, hopefully you just didn't cause all the cards I still need to spike overnight.

[@afspeellijstnaruto]

i made a mono green big badass creature deck 3 weeks ago and i bought quite a few hydras for it (got like 10 or so). Most are pretty cheap from what i have seen. But.....if only i knew it a bit earlier that this legendary hydra was gonna be launched. I would have w8ted and just make a damned hydra deck ( i rly love tribals... :c)

[@tmdblya]

Dude, the minute Gargos was spoiled, hydra prices started climbing. This channel’s impact is like tears in the ocean.

[@afspeellijstnaruto]

@@tmdblya ya i know :/

[@rsg6565]

I was only unable to find, two of out of the rest of what I was looking for and neither being missing will hurt that much. Thankfully prices don't always move that quick so nothing had changed, yet. The comment was slightly serious but mostly a joke. I know he can't control how people react to a deck tech.

[@tmdblya]

@@rsg6565 Well, joke's on me. I waited until yesterday to order up my hydras and they are in short supply. TCG was completely out of Lifeblood Hydra and I snagged the last one from CardKingdom. :-O

[@BadGamers2024]

How do you feel about Gargos in the 99 with Morophon as the commander? How do you approach this kind of buid?

[@minispiel19]

This is so epic!

[@seanwilliams7236]

I feel like Gargos Voltron with Instants could be kinda silly

[@lqmayock1]

DJ is the man!!!

[@toasty3032]

where is the deck list?

[@Atogatog-j9v]

This is a great deck, but can you please explain to me how the general's ability makes the x cost on hydras automatically equal to four?

[@stein192]

Reduction cost effects actually work as "extra generic mana" to discount spells, so Xmc cost spells are casted adding the reduction to X before you pay your mana. It's like you have some extra mana usable only for casting Hydra spells while the commander is on the battlefield. Awsome,right?

[@zaecobthegeek1839]

What about Urza's Incubator?

[@jaredbartlett556]

Is there a link to the decklist? The one in the description isn't working.

[@fireriot8597]

Hey when we getting the first sliver commander deck?

[@CrazyMentor94]

Decklink please =D

[@RaphaelLamour]

Morophon isn't a better hydra commander because you can add blue+red? Great color for hydras!

[@williamdesade6667]

Just go Animar at that point.

[@primalchaotix3715]

Added nature’s will which is dumb as hell and selvala :D

[@xarshoon7157]

Shit I want to draw more cards than the blue guy Especially since I am the blue guy

[@SomeGuy-cn5vm]

The Council of Eight System “There’s a finite amount of fun to be had and I want all of it”

[@mattsmith5436]

Hey that's what I named my gargos decks

[@TheBlackdragon936]

Let’s see it in play.

[@acutefailure1]

Thank you.

[@heliaxx]

I want a Red/Green Hydra commander!

[@navelwarfare3247]

Rosheen Meanderer has your back, buddy.

[@AgentFulgoreBasedDepartment]

Ulasht, The Hate Seed would be the commander for a R/G hydra commander. it’s great for spot removal too.

[@erikbonham1592]

Hey man, can we get a working decklist link?

[@NecoChris]

Uncage the Menagerie for X=3 get Eternal Witness recur Uncage the Menagerie is a play i like to do all the time!

[@DragonKnightASN]

Is it sad I cut most of the hydras in this deck down to 9 and most of them didn’t contain x so I ended up cutting unbound flourishing

[@DragonKnightASN]

Huge flavor lost but I just couldn’t justify leaving it in without having more x spells

[@jessemartinez6776]

How much would this deck cost