Grub, Storied Matriarch Commander Deck Tech

Grub, Storied Matriarch | Art by Jesper Ejsing 

Greetings, Rakdos fanatics and Goblin aficionados. We have finally returned to Lorwyn-Shadowmoor in Lorwyn Eclipsed (ECL). Regardless of your affinity for day or night, there is much to like about the set. ECL introduces players to new Elf, Kithkin, Goblin, and Elemental cards with interesting mechanics and abilities.

What's most exciting to me about ECL is the inclusion of black and red Goblin cards. Boggart Mischief is an amazing kindred card that fuels its own triggered ability. Also, pairing Boggart Mischief with Boggart Cursecrafter can escalate life loss quickly if left unchecked.

However, Grub, Storied Matriarch captivated my attention as a double-sided commander option. Grub's stats aren't jaw-dropping, but its abilities have potential.

Join me as we explore the synergies and possibilities of Grub leading a creature tokens-themed Commander deck.

What Does Grub, Storied Matriarch Do?

Grub, Storied Matriarch is more than a 2/1 Goblin Warlock with menace for . What makes Grub distinct from other Goblins is the ability to place a Goblin card from your graveyard into your hand upon entering or transforming. Who doesn't love a repeatable Gravedigger effect?

Moreover, that Goblin card could be a Siege-Gang Commander, Boggart Shenanigans, or Boggart Mischief.

Grub's back side, Grub, Notorious Auntie, possesses an interesting attack trigger. When attacking as Grub, Notorious Auntie, you may blight one, which means to put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control. If you do, create a token copy of the blighted creature that's tapped and attacking.

Unfortunately, you'll have to sacrifice the token copy at the beginning of the end step, but there is an upside to creating token copies of Goblin creatures. For example, targeting Siege-Gang Commander with Grub's blight ability nets you an attacking 2/2 token copy with three 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens that stick around. When you need more Goblin copy fodder, transform Grub again to grab another Goblin card from your graveyard.

Grub's closest kin is Wort, Boggart Auntie. For one more mana, Wort returns a Goblin card from your graveyard to your hand at your upkeep. Further, fear replaces menace, and 2/1 improves to 3/3.

You may be thinking, "Should I choose Wort as my commander instead of Grub?" Well, you gain access to Grub's back side ability in addition to pulling Goblin cards from the graveyard via transforming.

One more Goblin commander is Grenzo, Dungeon Warden. What makes Grenzo appealing is its ability to put the bottom card of your library into your graveyard. If said card is a creature (hopefully a Goblin) with power less than or equal to Grenzo's power, it goes on the battlefield instead.

Although Grenzo's ability is powerful, it does require some setup. Thus, you'll want to run non-Goblin cards like Junktroller and Tomb Trawler to improve consistency.

Key Cards for Grub, Storied Matriarch

Token Creation

Fortuitously, Goblins provide ample support for creating creature tokens.

Longtime players may recall Goblin Marshal, a six-mana Goblin Warrior capable of dumping multiple 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens. Since Goblin Marshal's initial printing, Beetleback Chief, Siege-Gang Commander, Siege-Gang Lieutenant, and Sling-Gang Lieutenant have joined the fray.

Furthermore, ECL provided access to Sourbread Auntie, an alternative take on Beetleback Chief.

When it comes to recurring token production, you can lean on Legion Warboss and Howlsquad Heavy's abilities. Albeit, you may want a sacrificial outlet to avoid throwing Goblins aimlessly into combat. Additionally, Boggart Mob creates a 1/1 black Goblin Rogue creature token whenever a Goblin you control deals combat damage to a player.

I'm also a fan of General Kreat, the Boltbringer. You can attack with any Goblin to trigger General Kreat's first ability. While there's always Krenko, Mob Boss at the ready, playing it may make you public enemy number one.

Anthem Effects

What's better than controlling an army of 1/1 Goblin creature tokens? Growing those Goblin tokens into 2/2s or larger. Excitingly, you have a slew of anthem effects available.

The original Goblin anthem, Goblin King, gives +1/+1 and mountainwalk to your Goblins. You can also provide +1/+1 buffs with Goblin Chieftain, Mad Auntie, and Rundvelt Hordemaster.

Beyond Goblins, you have access to Patchwork Banner and ECL's Chronicle of Victory. Granting Goblin creatures +2/+2, first strike, and trample can turn the game in your favor. In addition, Chronicle of Victory provides a card draw effect to keep those Goblin cards flowing.

Card Advantage

Speaking of drawing cards, several Goblins possess built-in card advantage abilities.

Have you played with Rundvelt Hordemaster? It pumps the team and potentially replaces Goblin creatures that perish under your control.

Also at two mana is Conspicuous Snoop, which lets you play Goblin spells off the top of your library. Moving up the mana curve are Goblin Ringleader and the rising star, Gathering Stone.

At the top sits Muxus, Goblin Grandee. Not only can Muxus, Goblin Grandee grow into a formidable threat, but it also has an insane enters ability. Every Goblin creature card in the deck list below, except for Goblin Marshal, could end up on the battlefield thanks to Muxus.

Though Muxus is a fantastic Goblin card, it is not your only hope for victory.

How Does Grub, Storied Matriarch Win?

Power Enhancing

While creating a horde of Goblin creature tokens is helpful, it doesn't always break through opponents' defenses.

You can push your Goblins' power level into overdrive by leveraging cards like Collective Inferno, which doubles the damage of your Goblin creatures.

Giving your Goblin creatures +1/+1 from Goblin King and another boost from Collective Inferno will set you up for success.

You can further escalate damage with Shared Animosity. The more Goblins attack under your control with Shared Animosity, the higher their power goes. Thrillingly, pairing Shared Animosity with Dolmen Gate helps keep your attacking Goblins alive to fight another round.

Pinging

If brute force won't get you to the finish line, pinging is an alternative.

Goblin creature tokens can serve another purpose: triggering Impact Tremors. Indirect damage from Impact Tremors can stack up quickly when playing Siege-Gang Lieutenant, Krenko, Mob Boss, and Howlsquad Heavy. Moreover, the aforementioned General Kreat, the Boltbringer is Impact Tremors in creature form.

You can also ping opponents when Goblins you control meet their demise. Grave Venerations, Boggart Mischief, and Boggart Shenanigans are three enchantments that do just that! Grave Venerations provides incremental value by making you the monarch and pulling creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.

The death trigger damage keeps coming thanks to Boggart Cursecrafter and Pashalik Mons. Where Pashalik Mons distinguishes itself is by turning four mana and an existing Goblin into two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens.

You can accelerate the pinging damage using several zero-mana sacrifice outlets. Sling-Gang Lieutenant and Goblin Bombardment can both ping opponents while Goblin Trashmaster takes out their artifacts. An honorable mention goes to Warren Soultrader for turning Goblins and life into Treasure tokens. For two mana, you can utilize the abilities of Siege-Gang Lieutenant and Siege-Gang Commander.

No matter where you turn, there are bound to be sacrifice outlets and pinging effects to close out a game.

Grub, Storied Matriarch Commander Deck List

Conclusion

Grub, Storied Matriarch provides a transform ability engine to keep Goblins on the battlefield and attacking. However, keeping Grub alive may be challenging with its low power and toughness. Fortunately, you have a few support cards to keep Grub (and other Goblins) alive and well.

Mad Auntie's activated ability regenerates another Goblin. While tapping Mad Auntie limits its regenerating ability's usage, the ability does protect Grub from removal. A second regeneration source is Fallen Empire's Goblin Chirurgeon. Goblin Chirurgeon's regeneration ability is repeatable, with the only cost requiring you to sacrifice a Goblin. As long as you have multiple Goblins in play, it shouldn't be difficult to keep Grub and its protector, Goblin Chirurgeon, alive.

As a final word of wisdom, don't try regenerating creatures with enough -1/-1 counters to put them in the graveyard.

Read More:

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