Gitrog
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[[The Gitrog Monster]] has been a staple in cEDH since its release on March 23, 2016. Known for its complex, yet powerful combo lines, Gitrog leverages lands as both resources and tools for card advantage, turning them into a core mechanic of its unique strategy. It operates as a fast combo deck with the flexibility to grind in longer games, excelling in diverse metagames.
This primer serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and piloting Gitrog. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to master its intricacies or a newcomer intrigued by its one-of-a-kind playstyle, this primer will help you unlock the full potential of the deck.
Why Play The Gitrog Monster?
Strengths
Explosive Potential: Gitrog consistently threatens wins as early as turn 3.
Resilience: Combos through disruption and adapts to interaction-heavy pods.
Value Engine: Combines a reliable draw engine with powerful recursion.
Unique Playstyle: Leverages intricate land-based synergies, making it one of the most mechanically challenging and rewarding decks in cEDH.
Graveyard Utilization: Capitalizes on recursion and dredge mechanics for unparalleled card advantage.
Weaknesses
Steep Learning Curve: Requires mastery of complex interactions and rules.
Reliance on Commander: Struggles without access to [[The Gitrog Monster]].
Weak to Graveyard Hate: Vulnerable to cards like [[Rest in Peace]] and [[Leyline of the Void]].
Limited Interaction: Lacks the stack-based interaction of blue decks.
Game Plan
Primary Goal
Gitrog's main strategy revolves around leveraging its draw trigger whenever a land card is put into the graveyard. By combining this ability with [[Dakmor Salvage]], a discard outlet, and a shuffle effect (e.g., [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]]), you can loop to draw your deck and assemble a win condition.
Game Plan by Phases
Early Game
Mulligan Strategy: Look for hands with ramp, draw engines, or a fast path to [[The Gitrog Monster]].
Examples: [[Sol Ring]], [[Mana Vault]], [[Dark Ritual]].
Avoid: Land-heavy hands or hands without ramp and card advantage.
Objective: Ramp aggressively to resolve Gitrog by turn 3 or earlier. Set up recursion tools like [[Life from the Loam]] or card advantage engines.
Mid Game
Grind Value: Use Gitrog’s ability to draw cards from fetch lands, [[Bazaar of Baghdad]], or dredge effects.
Assemble Combo: Tutor for [[Dakmor Salvage]], a discard outlet (e.g., [[Putrid Imp]]), and a shuffle effect.
Adapt to Table Dynamics:
Against fast combo: Race to execute your combo first.
Against stax: Leverage removal like [[Abrupt Decay]] or combo through stax pieces.
Late Game
Combo Execution: Transition from value generation to assembling the Dakmor Salvage loop.
Backup Plans: If primary lines are disrupted, rely on alternative win conditions like [[Finale of Devastation]] or [[Orcish Bowmasters]] loops.
Combos and Win Conditions
Primary Combo: Dakmor Salvage Loop
Requirements
[[The Gitrog Monster]] on the battlefield.
[[Dakmor Salvage]] in hand.
A discard outlet (e.g., [[Putrid Imp]]).
A shuffle effect (e.g., [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]]).
Execution
Discard [[Dakmor Salvage]] to the outlet, triggering Gitrog’s draw ability.
Replace the draw with Dakmor’s dredge ability.
Mill two cards; if a land is milled, Gitrog triggers another draw.
Repeat, using the shuffle effect to replenish the library as needed.
Draw your deck and assemble a win condition.
Infinite Mana Loops
[[Lotus Petal]] Loop (Main Phase)
This sequence generates infinite mana using [[Lotus Petal]].
Requirements:
An empty stack, graveyard, and library
You must have successfully drawn your entire deck before initiating this loop
Procedure:
Cast [[Lotus Petal]].
Discard any land, holding priority on the associated draw trigger.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]] (or another Eldrazi Titan), resolving only the shuffle trigger.
Discard and dredge [[Dakmor Salvage]], placing the draw trigger below the shuffle trigger, and then resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Discard and dredge [[Dakmor Salvage]] again, placing the draw trigger below the shuffle trigger. This time, hold priority on the shuffle trigger before it resolves.
Crack [[Lotus Petal]] for any color of mana.
Resolve the shuffle trigger and all three pending draw triggers.
After these steps, your board state returns to its original setup, but you have now gained one additional floating mana.
Repeat this process as needed to accumulate infinite mana.
Instant Speed: [[Dark Ritual]] Loop
This line closely mirrors the [[Lotus Petal]] loop, with the primary difference being the timing of your cast (instant speed) and your chosen card ([[Dark Ritual]]). If [[Orcish Bowmasters]] is still available but you do not have [[Dark Ritual]], substitute it with [[Culling the Weak]] + [[Orcish Bowmasters]], adding an extra draw trigger before Step 5 and casting [[Orcish Bowmasters]] prior to [[Culling the Weak]].
Requirements:
Empty graveyard and library
You must have successfully drawn your entire deck before initiating this loop
Procedure:
Discard any land, holding priority on the associated draw trigger.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]], resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Discard and dredge [[Dakmor Salvage]], placing the draw trigger below the shuffle trigger, and then resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Discard and dredge [[Dakmor Salvage]] again, placing the draw trigger below the shuffle trigger. Hold priority on the shuffle trigger.
Cast [[Dark Ritual]].
Resolve the shuffle trigger and all three pending draw triggers.
You have now netted mana and can repeat the process as needed to generate infinite mana at instant speed.
Instant Speed: [[Crop Rotation]] Loop
Requirements:
One green mana available
A total of two or more creatures in play
Access to a target land you wish to put into play (e.g., [[Gaea’s Cradle]] if needed)
Procedure:
Discard a land, holding priority on the associated draw trigger.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]], resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Discard and dredge [[Dakmor Salvage]], stacking the draw trigger beneath the shuffle, and resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Repeat Step 3 until you have six draw triggers stacked.
Resolve two draw triggers, drawing your chosen land and [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]], leaving your library empty.
Discard any nonland card.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]], resolve only the shuffle trigger.
Discard the chosen land (e.g., [[Gaea’s Cradle]]), resolve the draw trigger to draw a card.
Cast [[Crop Rotation]], sacrificing a land. Resolve the associated draw trigger, but hold priority on the spell.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]], resolve the shuffle trigger.
Resolve [[Crop Rotation]], tutoring the chosen land.
Resolve two draw triggers.
Discard [[Kozilek, Butcher of Truth]].
Resolve two more draw triggers.
Tap your newly tutored land for mana.
Once you have [[symbol:infinity-g]], repeat the combo with another land that taps for [[symbol:b]] to make [[symbol:infinity-b]].
On subsequent iterations, you can sacrifice the tutored land to [[Crop Rotation]] again and discard it later on to continuously generate the mana you need.
Win Conditions
1. Orcish Bowmasters Loops
Cast [[Orcish Bowmasters]].
Use the Dakmor loop to repeatedly ping opponents for 1 damage until they are eliminated. Use [[Assassin’s Trophy]] or another destroy effect to destroy [[Orcish Bowmasters]], refill your library with a shuffle titan, draw your deck again, and recast.
2. Finale of Devastation
Generate infinite mana via [[Crop Rotation]] or [[Dark Ritual]] loops.
Cast [[Finale of Devastation]] spending [[symbol:infinity-c]], giving your creatures haste and a lethal power boost.
3. Assassin’s Trophy Lock
Use loops to repeatedly cast [[Assassin’s Trophy]], destroying all opponent permanents.
Tips and Tricks
Dredge Tutoring
Use [[Golgari Grave-Troll]] or [[Life from the Loam]] to find Dakmor Salvage by dredging through the library.
Bazaar of Baghdad
Activate Bazaar, replacing draws with dredges, to fill your graveyard and generate Gitrog triggers.
Hands to Mulligan
Land-heavy with no action.
Interaction-heavy without ramp or card draw.
Lacking a clear path to Gitrog.
Matchups
Fast Combo
Race to your combo; prioritize fast mana and early tutors.
Use limited interaction sparingly.
Control
Play around counterspells by holding interaction until the last possible moment.
Grind value with dredge and card advantage engines.
Stax
Focus on removal and finding lines to combo through disruption.
Leverage Gitrog’s draw triggers to maintain card advantage.
Conclusion
The Gitrog Monster is a quintessential cEDH deck for players who enjoy mastering complex combos and leveraging unique mechanics. Its ability to balance explosive plays with grindy value makes it a formidable choice in any pod. While the learning curve is steep, the payoff for understanding its intricacies is well worth the effort. Dive into the swamp and embrace the frog!
References:
Collaborative Gitrog Primer
