Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master | Art by Irvin Rodriguez

What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?
-- Gollum, riddle #1

I am so stoked about the upcoming Magic set The Hobbit. My journey to Magic: The Gathering would have been a bit more convoluted, or even non-existent, if it weren't for a very young Bennie Smith falling in love with Middle-earth many years ago. I've already dug into my excitement of The Hobbit with several deck techs, and this week I'm back for another one.

It could be argued that Gollum was an unsung hero of The Lord of the Rings, but back in the days of The Hobbit ol' Gollum was a villainous bump on the road of Bilbo's great adventure, with the two squaring off in a battle of wits deep in the depths of the Misty Mountains with riddles.

What Does Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master Do?

Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master comes attached with a mini-game, which are often a ton of fun in a game of Commander. When Gollum enters, choose odd or even. Whenever an opponent casts a spell with mana value of the chose quality, choose one that hasn't been chosen: put a +1/+1 counter on Gollum; each opponent loses two life and you gain two life; or draw a card. This is like a checklist, and each one you choose can't be chosen again... until Gollum leaves the battlefield and comes back again as a "new" copy of Gollum with a new checklist.

In a game of Commander you've got at the very least three cards that you know your opponents are playing with their commanders, so choosing odd or even can lean on that knowledge.

I expect the draw a card ability will be chosen first since that's just a very powerful effect, and next would likely be that +1/+1 counter, making Gollum a sizeable and threatening attacker or blocker; having Gollum die is a great way to "reset" the Halfling Horror.

Key Cards for Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master

When first filling out the deck I wanted more Gollum cards. Gollum, Obsessed StalkerGollum, Obsessed Stalker has some nice life drain attached to your life gain in a turn that Riddle Master might have provided, while Gollum, Patient PlotterGollum, Patient Plotter offers a sacrifice outlet for Riddle Master if it ends up in the graveyard.

Gollum, Scheming GuideGollum, Scheming Guide brings another mini-game when it attacks that can potentially draw a card and make it unblockable. Gollum the AbandonedGollum the Abandoned has life drain attached, and it can also act as a sacrifice outlet when it's in the graveyard.

Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.
-- Gollum, riddle #2

Gollum has been tempted by the Ring for forever, so Call of the RingCall of the Ring is an flavorful way to draw extra cards. The new card My PreciousMy Precious has an Adventure that provides another sacrifice outlet and card draw, and the Equipment side provides excellent protection and bypassing of blockers. The reprinted Bilbo's RingBilbo's Ring similarly provides card draw, protection, and unblockability, and I just love that the equip cost is much cheaper for Halflings.

Claim the PreciousClaim the Precious and Gollum's BiteGollum's Bite aren't incredibly efficient removal spells, but they're too flavorful to overlook.

The Torment of GollumThe Torment of Gollum provides intel on an opponent's hand, which can help you choose odd or even for Gollum's game. Barrow-BladeBarrow-Blade is a criminally underplayed Equipment that can let Gollum make better attacks or blocks.

I added more ways to reset Gollum, and SkullclampSkullclamp killing it (assuming no +1/+1 counter) to draw two cards is an excellent way to do so. Helm of the HostHelm of the Host is expensive to play and equip but totally worth spitting out extra copies of Gollum each combat.

Malakir RebirthMalakir Rebirth, Undying MaliceUndying Malice, Not Dead After AllNot Dead After All, and Feign DeathFeign Death are cheap instant spells that let a dying Gollum pop back to the battlefield with a reset checklist.

I went looking for more sacrifice outlets, and Susur Secundi, Void AltarSusur Secundi, Void Altar is a great reusable source once it's been fully stationed. Village RitesVillage Rites and Corrupted ConvictionCorrupted Conviction serve as one-shot instant Skull Clamp-style card draw.

Viscera SeerViscera Seer and Umbral Collar ZealotUmbral Collar Zealot are efficient creatures with cheap sacrifice abilities that provide some library selection.

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.
-- Gollum, riddle #3

We've got more instant sacrifice card draw cards with Deadly DisputeDeadly Dispute, along with Nasty EndNasty End, which can draw even deeper if you sacrifice a legendary creature such as Gollum.

Braids, Arisen NightmareBraids, Arisen Nightmare is another way to "reset" Gollum by sacrificing it to hopefully draw some cards. VictimizeVictimize can also sacrifice Gollum to bring back two creatures, or you can use it to bring Gollum back from the graveyard. The free side of Flare of MaliceFlare of Malice is another way to cash in Gollum.

Ayara, First of LocthwainAyara, First of Locthwain and Ghoulcaller GisaGhoulcaller Gisa are two more ways to sacrifice Gollum for very nice effects. Gollum's three power to make three 2/2 Zombies for Gisa is clutch!

With all the dying going on, I've tapped Marionette ApprenticeMarionette Apprentice and Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat to dome your opponents for one life each time.

We love drawing a card or making a Treasure when our creature dies, so thanks Grim HaruspexGrim Haruspex, Pitiless PlundererPitiless Plunderer, and Morbid OpportunistMorbid Opportunist!

Kingpin, Wilson FiskKingpin, Wilson Fisk gives a whopping two Treasures each turn when our creature is sacrificed. High-Society HunterHigh-Society Hunter is a sacrifice outlet and a card draw engine tied to a substantially sized (and growing) flying threat.

Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking
-- Gollum, riddle #4

Outside of sacrificing Gollum to reset it, I wanted some of black's good sacrificial fodder, so I tapped Haunt of the Dead MarshesHaunt of the Dead Marshes, Reassembling SkeletonReassembling Skeleton, and the often overlooked Nine-Lives FamiliarNine-Lives Familiar!

I've got some life gain options in the "win the game" section below, but I've supplemented it with the sacrifice outlet el]High Market[/el] and Consuming CorruptionConsuming Corruption, which is incredible in a mono-black deck.

How Does This Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master Commander Deck Win?

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.
-- Gollum, riddle #5

I've often felt guilty about playing Exsanguinate since it can feel like a cheesy win, but playing Stensian SanguinistStensian Sanguinist means I've got to jump through a few hoops to get there, which feels much better! Plus the creature's ability means you can attack with a small creature your opponents aren't going to want to block. Being able to cast multiple Exsanguinates in a game is a pretty good recipe for winning the game. Playing Gray Merchant of AsphodelGray Merchant of Asphodel and then getting it back from the graveyard can often end games, too.

I know Kokusho, the Evening StarKokusho, the Evening Star is expensive, but if you own a copy you definitely want to find a slot for it here since it's a big flying creature with a potent dies trigger that can add up to big life swings. Lastly, there's Blackblade ReforgedBlackblade Reforged, which can turn any versions of Gollum into a serious threat in the late game.

Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master Commander Deck List

Conclusion

This deck built around Gollum, Riddle MasterGollum, Riddle Master is very clearly a Core (Bracket 2) deck that is designed to grind value over the course of a long and interactive game. In truly black fashion, it's got plenty of pinpoint removal (along with a battlefield sweeper) to ensure the game goes long enough for the value to seal the deal, along with lots of card draw to keep the gas pedal pressed. If this sounds like the sort of deck you enjoy (or you're a big fan of Gollum), give this deck a look!

What other cards would you consider to be excellent inclusions in this Gollum deck? Would you rather run one of the other Gollum versions as the commander instead?

Which legends from The Hobbit are you most excited to build new Commander decks around?

Riddle Answers

Gollum riddle #1: a mountain

Gollum riddle #2: wind

Gollum riddle #3: darkness

Gollum riddle #4: fish

Gollum riddle #5: time

If you're wondering why I've only included these particular riddles, it's because the other riddles from the book were told by the tricksy Baggins, and we hates him! (not really)

Read more:

How Good is The Hobbit For Commander?

Most Precious Commanders from The Hobbit