Rocco
Deck Statistics
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Metashare
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[[Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer]] is a versatile Naya commander that serves as a toolbox and a win condition in the command zone. Rocco’s ability to tutor creatures directly onto the battlefield enables the deck to adapt to varying game states while assembling combos efficiently. The deck leverages Food Chain, creature-based combos, and proactive stax elements to create a flexible and resilient game plan.
Whether you're stalling the game with hate pieces or accelerating into a turn-two win attempt, Rocco provides a consistent and adaptable approach to cEDH.
Why Play Rocco?
Strengths
Toolbox Commander: Access to nearly any needed creature at any time.
Resilient to Stax: Can win around most stax effects, especially with Food Chain lines.
Flexible Combo Lines: Multiple overlapping win conditions, including Food Chain and Kiki-Jiki lines.
Creature-Based Hate: Plays some of the best creature-based stax pieces in the format.
Weaknesses
ETB and Tutor Dependence: Vulnerable to effects like [[Opposition Agent]] and [[Drannith Magistrate]].
Mana-Intensive: Requires significant resources to cast Rocco multiple times or tutor for higher-cost creatures.
No Blue: Limited access to counterspells and stack interaction.
Game Plan
Plan A: Food Chain Combo
The deck's primary win condition revolves around [[Food Chain]] and infinite creature mana.
Assemble Food Chain: Tutor for [[Academy Rector]] with [[Rocco, Caberetti Caterer]] to fetch Food Chain.
Infinite Creature Mana: Use [[Squee, the Immortal]] with Food Chain to generate infinite mana.
Win with Rocco: Cast Rocco repeatedly to tutor for combos like [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] + [[Village Bell-Ringer]], [[Squee, the Immortal]], [[Academy Rector]], [[The Jolly Balloon Man]], and other combo pieces.
Plan B: Kiki-Jiki Combos
[[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] forms the core of the deck's secondary win conditions.
Assemble Kiki Lines:
Main Line: Tutor [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] and [[Village Bell-Ringer]] to create infinite hasty tokens.
Alternate Line: Use [[Splinter Twin]] with untappers like [[Village Bell-Ringer]] or [[Fear of Missing Out]].
Win with Combat Damage: Generate infinite tokens and swing for lethal.
Plan C: Midrange Stax
When unable to push for a fast win, pivot into a stax and value plan.
Deploy Hate Pieces: Tutor creatures like [[Deafening Silence]], [[Collector Ouphe]], or [[Drannith Magistrate]] to disrupt opponents.
Grind with Value: Use recursion and incremental advantage through cards like [[Wirewood Symbiote]] and [[Ranger-Captain of Eos]].
Key Lines and Combos
[[Food Chain]]
Requirements: [[Food Chain]], [[Squee, the Immortal]], and Rocco in the command zone.
Execution:
Tutor [[Squee, the Immortal]] with Rocco.
Cast and exile Squee repeatedly with Food Chain to generate infinite mana.
Cast Rocco for arbitrarily large X values to assemble your win condition.
Kiki-Jiki + Untapper
Requirements: [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] and an untapper (e.g., [[Village Bell-Ringer]], [[Felidar Guardian]]).
Execution:
Cast Kiki-Jiki.
Copy the untapper with Kiki-Jiki, using its ETB to untap Kiki.
Repeat for infinite tokens and win with combat damage.
Jolly Balloon Man + Village Bell-Ringer
Requirements: [[The Jolly Balloon Man]], and [[Village Bell-Ringer]] and at least 1 mana dork without summoning sickness.
Execution:
Cast [[The Jolly Balloon Man]] and [[Village Bell-Ringer]].
Float mana from all your mana dorks.
Pay [[symbol:1]] to activate [[The Jolly Balloon Man]] targeting [[Village-Bell Ring]].
[[Village Bell-Ringer]]’s triggered ability will untap all your creatures.
Repeat for infinite tokens and win with combat damage. You will also create infinite mana if your mana dorks generate more than [[symbol:1]].
Pod Lines
Requirements: [[Vivien on the Hunt]] or [[Birthing Pod]], a creature with CMC 3.
Execution:
Sacrifice a 3-drop to fetch [[Felidar Guardian]].
Blink the Pod/Vivien with Felidar Guardian.
Sacrifice Felidar Guardian to fetch [[Karmic Guide]], returning Felidar Guardian.
Repeat to fetch [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] and complete the combo.
Splinter Twin
Requirements: [[Splinter Twin]] and [[Village Bell-Ringer]] or [[Fear of Missing Out]] without summoning sickness.
Execution:
Option 1: [[Village Bell-Ringer]]
Cast [[Splinter Twin]] targeting [[Village Bell-Ringer]].
Activate [[Village Bell-Ringer]] to create a copy of itself.
[[Village Bell-Ringer]]’s triggered ability will untap all your creatures.
Repeat for infinite tokens and win with combat damage. You will also create infinite mana if you have any mana dorks without summoning sickness.
Option 1: [[Fear of Missing Out]]
Cast [[Splinter Twin]] targeting [[Fear of Missing Out]].
Activate [[Fear of Missing Out]] to create a copy of itself.
Discard and draw a card with [[Fear of Missing Out]]’s triggered ability.
Attack with the copy of [[Fear of Missing Out]], untapping the [[Fear of Missing Out]] enchanted with [[Splinter Twin]].
Repeat to win with combat damage. Due to [[Fear of Missing Out]]’s enter the battlefield ability, you must have enough cards in deck to continue attacking until you deal lethal damage to each opponent.
[[Wirewood Symbiote]] Value
Requirements: [[Wirewood Symbiote]], a mana dork, and Rocco.
Execution:
Cast Rocco for X=1 to tutor [[Wirewood Symbiote]].
Use Symbiote to bounce Rocco, untap the dork, and recast Rocco.
Chain into higher-X tutors or grind value with incremental plays.
Mulligans
What to Keep
Fast Start: [[Carpet of Flowers]], [[Mana Vault]], [[Enlightened Tutor]], [[Food Chain]].
Early Food Chain setup.
Value Hand: [[Esper Sentinel]], [[Bloom Tender]], [[Wirewood Symbiote]].
Stax and value pivot.
Combo Setup: [[Eladamri’s Call]], [[Green Sun's Zenith]], [[Treasonous Ogre]], [[Ranger-Captain of Eos]].
Flexible hand for any plan.
What to Mull
Hands without ramp or clear game plan.
Overly reactive hands with no proactive elements.
Conclusion
[[Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer]], brings unparalleled flexibility and utility to the cEDH table. With a win condition in the command zone, multiple combo layers, and robust hate piece options, Rocco excels in adapting to pod dynamics and pressing advantages. For players who value decision-making and adaptability, this deck offers both a challenge and immense rewards.
References:
Rocco Food Chain Stax
Rocco Tutor Chains
New Catering
