MTG - A Guide To Sygg, River Guide Commander / EDH for Magic: The Gathering

Want more deck techs for commander? Check out my guide to Sydri, Galvanic Genius here: • MTG - A Guide to Sydri...
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[@jamesthefront2246]

Hey Prof, I always come back to this video. It’s literally the best! Have you ever thought about making an updated video on your own Sygg deck? Or an offshoot, making a lore video about the Merrow of Lorwyn and Ixalan?

[@galahadtg7884]

I came back to this video for tips on how to build my own version of sygg!! Ever since i found your channel i've loved merfolk as a tribe and always wanted to build sygg and i finally have!!

[@xmishakx5163]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the great videos I recently went to a local card shop for Friday night magic and saw someone with a signed mat thought it was awesome of you to sign it, I know it made his day, keep up the great work!

[@TheDinoGamer]

I just feel like I need to say this. I’m so proud of how far you come Professor. It was because of you I got into commander and built my first deck with your guides. First video I’ve ever watched was your guide to Slivers, first time being introduced to them and I loved everything about them! Since enrolling to Tolarian Community College all those years ago to now you building your dream deck box! I’m so happy for you and you deserve it. I’ve never been crazy about merfolk but I am a fan of you. In your honor, I want my first Academic deck box to home a Syggs Riversguide deck. You are loved, you are appreciated and beyond. I wish you nothing but the very best. Thanks for everything you do.

[@jeffreyhubbard6199]

Hey Prof just a suggestion but could you start uploading these to Tappedout and leaving the link in the description?

[@himeeho]

Hey Prof, Thanks for being awesome and renewing my love for Magic.

[@AffinityForCommander]

A fantastic deck tech Professor! Can we see more EDH content in the future?

[@iMorands]

I'd love to see this deck on Game Knights

[@brannantisdale815]

maybe a precursor to Game Knights since Jimmy and Josh spoiled that the next episode was with Prof and Wedge? (shot back when they did the Iconic Masters sealed)

[@iMorands]

They did?! Nice! Wedge and Professor are my favorite guys, even though Cassius is growing on me as of late.

[@brannantisdale815]

SaSSolino They said it on the most recent poscast, yeah. Cassius is like the coolest but spikiest player I’ve seen

[@jamiekahle7201]

SaSSolino yaaaaaaas

[@iMorands]

Well, guess I got what I wanted! Woho!

[@drewconic9209]

Just built a sygg deck a week ago and it's the most fun I've had. Like ever in edh. I think merfolk are now my favorite. Now after watching this it gave me some ideas thank you!

[@davidroot1996]

I'm just getting into commander, and I've always loved Merfolk, and this deck looks really fun! Thanks for the detailed explanations, I'm definitely going to try this out!

[@cedhtv]

Yeay! THE professor is becoming more competitive. Love it.

[@BrandoCliftDean]

I finally understand why Prof loves merfolk so much. I was not a particular fan of this creature type before, but now I'm sold.

[@whiterabbit2786]

Sygg RG has been my commander for several years. He is, as you point out, flexible and innocuous looking.

[@Bored_Barbarian]

Yay. I’m building UW merfolks and will compare lists. Thanks Prof!

[@willk.2471]

Someone help, my friend won’t stop saying my Sygg deck is insyggnificant, please help

[@ValatY]

Don't mind him, it's the game you want to play. Your deck. Your heart & soul you put into the deck. The experiences you make along the way are important His opinion on the matter is insyggnificant

[@braxsensindelar1910]

You need to tell them that it's syggnificant to you. ❤🌹

[@DVS57REBEL]

I ran a sygg cmdr deck for 3 years. It was slow out the gate but if unchecked was overwhelming versatile and combo. Months ago i converted it into a 3 color merfolk tribal , Derevi @ the helm. Incorporates stax to build the board ramp heavy tap and untap abuse and around 28 plus merfolk spells for flavor and beats

[@otomustam7000]

Good video, I like to hear the professor's opinion on cards, I hope we'll get more in the future!

[@MrGorillafist]

I so wish there was a bant merfolk commander.

[@diegojesusmedinalopez3838]

DoubleHelixGamer yeah, so much needed, since Ixalan, those are the three colors that merfolks need for a commander :/

[@davidjcritser]

You can use Derevi. Its on flavor with its ability.

[@verak5261]

Thrasios/Tymna is by far the best commander for Merfolk.

[@darylchiu9030]

You can always run Thrasios and Sidar Kondo to have access to Bant colors. That and Thrasios is a Merfolk while Sidar Kondo grants evasion if that's your thing.

[@nanya524]

Could always run Jodah/Ramos to make it a 5 color merfolk deck. (There are red merfolk)

[@RadioSilver27]

I've been wanting to make a Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper commander deck for a while and this is an amazing template! Good stuff as always, Professor!

[@SmugLookingBarrel]

Just remember that once you give Sygg protection from either white or blue, you can't use his ability on him anymore.

[@joshwalker8984]

His ability is white, so only protection from white?

[@darkneko972]

abilities don't have colors themselves. Protection cares about the color of the SOURCE: Sygg is WU, so giving either pro W or pro U makes Sygg unable to target himself again

[@frajic5843]

Protection does not care about colors in the mana cost, only the color of the source

[@joshwalker8984]

The professor just went over it, "Targeted by spells or abilities of chosen color"...

[@Guavamente]

Lies! You CAN activate his ability in response at instant speed to add another color, but it has to be on the stack. If white or blue is added in response, then the first one will not resolve is another thing to keep in mind. Go ham with red, black or green though.

[@Dirtybob23]

Professor, I just started watching your videos a couple weeks ago. Thanks for being youerself and being so damn entertaining. Best, Skid

[@thewonderdoc2999]

I personally love the combo of Grimoire Thief+ Aura of Dominion. Like Codex Shredder it disencourages people to use tutors that go on top of their deck but it can blank as many of those as you have mana instead of just one a turn. Then Grimoire Thief can eat any other spells with the same name. Sometimes you also just get to the point were you can actually mill a player with this Aura of Dominion also gives you another thing to help create 1/1s with Stonybrook Schoolmaster and can combo with a heap of other cards. Best is that the activation cost is colourless.

[@joshsatterwhite1571]

If you like the voltron aspect of Sygg, I'd love to see your take on a deck that goes all-in on it's voltron strategy, like Rafiq or Bruna.

[@themagicofmagicthegatherin6533]

A great video! I enjoy seeing deck techs for lesser used Commanders. There are so many interesting white merfolk that don't get nearly enough attention due to people thinking merfolk are mostly blue, with green being added in Ixalan. Great video! Thank you for sharing. Also, glad you can admit that you're a dirty person for playing Infect!

[@conradburroughs]

I just about instantly purchased this deck from Card Kingdom. (I did remove the force of wills and a couple other expensive cards...). Looks like a ton of fun.

[@GuidingStarFarm]

You should definitely do more of your EDH deck techs. These are some of my favorite videos that you post, Prof.

[@lorisimbimbo9476]

Just keep going with edh deck techs! So inspiring!

[@EvolvedDinosaur]

I'd love to see your take on a colorless Eldrazi "tribal" deck

[@TheComicBookJoker]

Evolved Dinosaur How about a ‘Rakdos, Lord of Riots’ built as colorless-tribal?

[@michaelsagi202]

Thanks prof! I had a sygg for ages but didn't like the untap theme. Now I can have one of my favorite creatures at the helm

[@darkwateregg]

9:02 -- I like to think that this card is actually on flavor with the deck. He's not hunting merfolk, but instead simple fish. And when the local merfolk notice this happening, they step in to stop the cruelty and that's why we have merfolk entering the battefield.

[@colemonie]

I just built a Lazaav Dimir Mastermind deck and I'm loving it. it would be really cool to see what direction you take with it because there's a few different ways you can go. I chose a pseudo mill theme in order to give Lazaav lots of choices for copying but the win condition isn't to deck your opponents. milling everyone slowly and then slamming down a Rise of the Dark Realms is a pretty fun way to win.

[@violetblight69]

One thing I'd like to see is Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons. It's a different kind of Golgari commander, and one I plan on building soon

[@muzunomi]

Is this the commander you played in the upcoming game knights Prof?

[@uprun42]

who spoiled that in witch game knight episode id like to find it thx

[@muzunomi]

uprun42 Command zone mentioned they played with Prof in the upcoming game knights and they used personal decks

[@uprun42]

thx

[@jonahk1593]

Fluffy Derg Lol I just read your comment on game knights

[@kurtismcmillin4630]

Hello Professor! The commander I would love to see in one of your deck tech videos would have to be Najeela, the Blade-Blossom. After battle bond came out i started to look at the others cards that I wasn't able to draft with and see if any were commander worthy to me, and that was Najeela. She is a 3/2 legendary human warrior that is one red, and two colorless so I figured she was a mono red deck commander which was fine since I built an Etali, the primal storm EDH deck and found it really fun. So I read further and found that whenever a warrior attacks you get another 1/1 attacking warrior, pretty neat mechanic, but its her next ability that really gave me goosebumps. Tap one mana of every color to untap all attacking creatures and give them trample, lifelink, and haste until end of turn, then after this phase there is an additional combat phase, holy cow. Not only does Najeela give all attacking units combat buffs but also allows another combat phase that can be continuously paid for if enough mana is available, meaning if I have three of every color ready to go then there is going to be three combat phase in one turn. This sounded wonderful as I've always wanted to make a beat down deck but didn't know which way to go with it and didn't know what colors to go with, Najeela answered both of my questions as she gave me my beat down and allows me to use every color since every mana symbol is in her text like Jodah, the eternal arch mage, which I have also made into an EDH deck. So, the deck I want to make will be warrior themed to maximize Najeela's ability and keep it a mainly RED, WHITE, and GREEN with a splash of BLACK and involves every card that gives additional combat phases like Aggravated Assault, Breath of Fury, and Relentless Assault to really commence a beat down. TLDR: The commander I would love to see in one of your deck tech videos would have to be Najeela, the Blade-Blossom. I'll provide my concoction of a deck here, but would love to see what you come up with! Thanks for taking the time to read! Deck list Creatures: 33 Najeela, the Blade-Blossom /Commander Figure of Destiny Mardu Woe-Reaper Mogg Sentry Norin the Wary (For fun) Warden of the First Tree Wild Nacatl Ash Zealot Blood-Chin Rager Bramblewood Paragon Brightearth Banneret Champion of the Flame Chief of the Edge Chief of the scale Den Protector Hidden Dragonslayer Radha, Heir to Keld Rip-Clan Crasher Alesha, Who Smiles at Death Arashin Foremost Archetype of Aggression Champion of Lambholt Civic Wayfinder Combat Celebrant Devoted Crop-Mate Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist Grand Warlord Radha Iroas, God of Victory Jazal Goldmane Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer Lovisa Coldeyes Samut, Voice of Dissent Aurelia, The Warleader Artifacts: 18 Infiltration Lens Sol Ring Stoneforge Masterwork Conqueror's Flail Konda's Banner Lightning Greaves Swiftfoot Boots Sword of the Animist Treasure Map Chromatic Lantern Darksteel Ingot Darksteel Plate Heirloom Blade Obsidian Battle-Axe Sword of the Paruns Coat of Arms Prismatic Geoscope Vanquisher's Banner Sorceries: 9 Cultivate Diplomacy of the Wastes Far Wanderings Harvest Season Relentless Assault Seize the Day Waves of Aggression World at War Fury of the Horde Instants: 1 Savage Beating Enchantments: 11 Brave the Sands Path of Mettle Aggravated Assault Chaosphere Dense Foliage Radiant Destiny Breath of Fury Crescendo of War Glory of Warfare Raider's Spoils True Conviction Lands: 28 Forest x6 island x1 Mountain x11 Plains x7 Swamp x1 Mystifying Maze Windbrisk Heights

[@dankmas_4014]

You should do a commander video on Surrak Dragonclaw. Fighting is such a fun mechanic, and Surrak I feel gives us good opportunities for that theme. He protects our creatures, is a big guy himself, and makes our creatures more dangerous with trample.

[@thewalsh2k047]

Yes i would love more of These like Kumena and other commander decks

[@tieshaunntanner6846]

Thank you for the great video! Regarding the next one, I'd personally be really interested in a Muldrotha, the Gravetide deck!

[@Mar-eb6bn]

Slip a Rite of Replication in there and kick it on Master of Waves with a lot of devotion... gonna be a fun time. Also try putting a Paradise Mantle on your Stonybrook Schoolmaster when you have Intruder Alarm out to enjoy infinite mana and tokens.

[@leroysirene]

Hello Professor! Thank you very much for this insightful video. I love your channel! I have been learning a lot of quality game-playing thanks to your posts. :) I love Merfolk too and have been playing them since I very first started playing MTG back in high-school. This time I would like to ask for your insights about a mono-blue Merfolk Commander DeckTech. Is there any video on the theme coming anywhere soon? Thank you very much! And please, continue with this wonderful work yo do to all the MTG playing community!

[@TheCommanderDojo]

Great stuff Prof! Nice to see the Merfolk getting some love!

[@KnicKnac]

I had a Sygg EDH drck back in the day. He is very enjoyable to play.

[@TheJPKaram]

Great video, i missed your edh deck techs

[@Amyas80s]

I am updating mine soon with new merfolk that have been printed. Mine has a wizard sub tribal theme. The wizard interaction is very powerful once online.

[@kossetsu_7192]

Oh my, that's a good deck. Nice work Professor!

[@JeroenO129]

I play a voltron deck with Sygg, River Guide as the commander. Works amazing.

[@kobyhaigerty3157]

I'd love to see a Rakdos the Defiler deck tech! Let chaos and debauchery reign!

[@itsallenwow]

Great video Prof! I would love to see a Zurgo voltron as your next one!

[@awanderingtroll8724]

Good to see a commander video again A+ job

[@ryanb5738]

A Ghave, Guru of spores deck or a Slimefoot, the stowaway deck would be super fun to see! Saproling tribal all day!!!!

[@druidobianco9734]

I loved sygg river guide in tiny leader. I played it with a lot of cards you suggest in this video, it was strong competitive fast and in flavour. It doesn’t seem so effective in regular commander

[@ryanrobinson4287]

do Riku of Two Refections next! I would love to see the different ways you could completely abuse his copying effects

[@adamcoleiro3587]

Beautiful artwork on these cards would like to play with this deck

[@rjpico98]

I would love to see a deck tech based on Omnath, Locus of Rage. I'm usually an Aggro player, and I've been really interested on building an aggressive Gruul deck, but I didn't know which one to use until recently. I think that it would be a great deck that many people can enjoy.

[@andrewmarinkovich8657]

A deceptively evil deck, Professor. Very nice! Hope to see you play this on Game Knights!

[@brenopejon4880]

I love your videos Professor!!

[@beyonder6159]

That was my chosen deck from Lorwyn! I think it's time to make a commander from it!

[@w47765]

Why........why does sea hunter put the merfolk into play without sacrificing them at the end phase or something? That flavor text would suggest something like that but it doesn't.

[@UndeadZeratul]

While not a commonly used commander, I'd like to see how you'd build a colorless deck with Hope of Ghirapur at the helm!

[@fiddlewheelx]

Kinda like my favorite deck, Ghave, with the new fungi from Dominaria. It can be so many things, and change completely tacticwise midgame or even midcombat.

[@addambarcelos]

Cool to see deck tech here. Teneb would Be interesting to see.

[@chadsamuels6512]

As to what commander to deck tech next how about a concept instread. I would love to see your take on a simic deck that cheats things into play

[@MultiAsdag]

Pretty cool prof, you should take this deck to the next game knights you are invited to.

[@Arutima]

Since you have a ton of wizards and ton of sweet sweet Wizarding ATB effects, you might want to squeeze in Naban, Dean of Iteration as one of your 99.

[@kairenault]

Never got this early in your vids, prof. Keep up the good work!

[@erikhernandez2990]

A Ghave, Guru of Spores deck tech would be great since it's a commander that can be built multiple ways.

[@kevenborrero5274]

I would love to see you make a deck tech with Urgoros, the Empty One prof

[@mtglife8784]

I would love to see a darigaaz reincarnated commander deck tech. I'm trying to build one that can match one of my friends zaccama commander decks but its not going well really wish wizards would have given it any ability other than what is basically a suspend ability.

[@Nuke100]

I'm interested to see how you'd build a 5c commander deck. Progenitus in particular

[@ListlessCraving]

Hey professor, I love your deck tecs. I wonder if you would do a deck tec on Mistform Ultimus. It’s a very bizarre build and it’s actually really cheap to build. When ever I play Misty it becomes quite the conversation peace on the board.

[@quintongroth6893]

If you have door of destinies AND coat of arms (essentially does the same thing for only one more mana) your merfolk is going to power up when faster

[@Harv88]

I kept reading all the card abilties and mechanics and I just kept saying " Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus" what a terrifying deck this is.

[@ImaginationHobbies]

im really happy to see a commander video! idk if id call this powerful. but its definately looks fun

[@jaybles23b70]

Love it. Perfect merfolk build for me.

[@kbathory]

Awesome decktech Prof. Could you please do an edh tech on Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis? I always see'em on landfall g/r shells and I know you could build an amazingly fun deck with them

[@hadesloud3093]

I would like to see you take on a Dino Tribal deck with Gishath, Sun Avatar. I've built a really mean one but the deck has a big weakness through first 5 turns where I'm wide open

[@Shark-Fist]

I'd be very interested in seeing your take on a Shadowborn Apostle-centric EDH deck, be it the Shirei or the Athreos version.

[@cloaking111]

I'd like to see a deck tech on the Kaseto deck ran at the gameknights thing

[@95wargreymon]

I know it would be the third esper deck of the series but a Merieke Ri Beriet commander deck would be very interesting, I've been waiting for a deck analysis about her since the "underrated commanders" video from which 4 out of 5 of those commanders had a dedicated video

[@westez4617]

Love this deck, will be building this soon

[@zendahl874]

With the token generation and cards that activate from being tapped a good inclusion for a more grindy control build would be opposition. Tap a school master to tap your permanent... oh look! Two more Merfolk to tap stuff down.

[@dirk_dehmel_photography]

Nice thing, this Merfolk EDH. I want to see about a Sen Triplets Deck. Greetings

[@w00lster]

I would like to see what you would do with either Arahbo, Roar of the World, or Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist. Or a Muldrotha deck could also be really cool :). BTW love your videos :).

[@serafimb2319]

Alright professor! I have finished building my own Feldon deck. That is what i waited for before i politely ask you to show yours in a EDH deck tech now :) (so i can tell people i had a feldon deck before the professor talked about it) In my deck, i chose to research Feldon's background story and do a very flavor-heavy build (Worn Powerstone, Mouth of Ronom and obviously Feldon's Cane -to me- are just heartwarming to see in play). So i am very curious to see how your Feldon build turned out :)

[@pmf98]

Can you do your next deck tech on Marchesa the Black Rose please? Counters would definitely be a fun mechanic to explore.

[@MrSimpleman12]

I loved this video! Of course I'm partial to Sygg. 😋

[@shaunskinner6574]

Love this deck❤️ and I will be building something similar soon, thanks again professor for inspiration and great video content. My favorite commander is Roon of the Hidden realms, I would love to see how you would build around such a versatile commander as there are so many different ways to build a great deck with him. And since we all know you love cheap commanders, and White/Blue, how about Daxos? I have a voltron-ish, combat tricks and misdirection build and would enjoy seeing how you would build around him.

[@quentinchristensen3793]

"I'm here to eat fish food and kick butt, and I'm all out of fish food." 😂😂😂

[@geralf-mr.zombies7582]

I’m so playing this at my next commander night

[@camcamcam91]

:If you really want to get dirty, and I do..." Lol :)

[@flatline9737]

hey prof, could you make a full list of cards in this deck?

[@StarDoesntUpload]

I love it. Great deck professor.

[@madmanbenji]

Would love to see a Jodah Archmage Eternal deck tech

[@mufasao6776]

Queen Marchesa? It introduces the monarch each game, and if paired with No Mercy/Maze of Ith/ etc, you can make your opponent's spend resources on others while they still feel in control. Like a chess game, it's not about the best move, but the move worst for your opponent. Maybe Shu Yun? This commander lets me play Opt and Ponder and others, while still supporting an aggro theme. Maybe add Soulfire Grandmaster and Battlefield Thaumaturge for burn. Jeskai control also sounds fun, with Torpor Orb/ Containment Priest/ Rest in Peace/ etc. How about an azorius spirit deck for modern? With cards like Drogskol Captain and Rattlechains. I'm not a fan of modern, so a detailed deck tech from someone more engaged and practiced in modern would be the best.

[@gr3ndl3r]

i would love to see a competitive vampire tribal led by Olivia Voldaren, or a pillow fort aristocrat led by Obzedat, Ghost Council, maybe even a creature heavy stompy Surrak Dragonclaw deck.

[@LosRudosdelRock]

I want to see decks with Oloro or Arabo like Commanders please Professor.

[@kaiooliveira564]

Great deck tech Professor ! What about a darigaaz reincarnated deck with lots of land destruction,recursion and some good equipments?

[@cutoverbongo2238]

I'd like to see a deck tech on your kaseto snake deck :)

[@haidynwendlandt2479]

It's finally here!

[@jfk6920]

hey, professor, can u do an update on inner sleeves, thanks.

[@boopthief2668]

We need more deck guides for commander please