Best Game Closers For Goad Decks

When building a Magic: The Gathering deck, especially one centered around the intriguing mechanic of 'goad,' selecting the right game closers is absolutely crucial. Goad, a mechanic introduced in the Commander (2017 Edition) set, forces your opponents' creatures to attack each other if able, essentially turning their own board against them. This creates a dynamic and often hilarious gameplay experience, but without a solid plan to seal the deal, even the most cunning goad strategy can fizzle out. This article will dive deep into what makes a great game closer for your goad-themed decks, exploring various angles and providing examples to help you dominate your next Commander game. We'll cover everything from creature-based finishers to spells that capitalize on your opponents' forced aggression, ensuring your deck has the teeth it needs to take home the win. Understanding how to leverage the goad mechanic effectively is only half the battle; the other half is ensuring you have the right tools to close out the game once you've set the stage. Let's explore the best options available to make your goad deck a true contender!

Understanding the Goad Mechanic and Its Strategic Implications

Before we can effectively discuss game closers for goad decks, it's paramount to have a firm grasp on the goad mechanic itself. Introduced on a cycle of legendary creatures, goad causes each creature an opponent controls that attacked or blocked this turn to be goaded. A goaded creature must attack each combat if able, and must attack a player other than you if able. This means if you can force your opponents to attack each other, their creatures become liabilities to them rather than threats to you. The beauty of goad lies in its political potential; you can often manipulate the board state without directly attacking your opponents, letting them do the dirty work for you. This creates a unique play pattern where you're less of a direct threat initially, allowing you to build your board presence and set up your win conditions. However, this indirect approach means your opponents might still have powerful creatures that could eventually turn on you if not dealt with. Therefore, your game closers need to be able to capitalize on the chaos you've created or to simply overcome any lingering threats once the dust settles. Consider decks with a strong control element; goad can be a fantastic way to stall the game while you assemble your combo or powerful late-game threats. Conversely, in more aggressive goad builds, you might want finishers that can exploit the weakened states of your opponents' boards after they've been forced to attack each other. The key is to remember that goad is a tool, and like any tool, its effectiveness is determined by how well you wield it. Thinking about how your chosen game closers synergize with the forced combat of goad will lead to more consistent and decisive victories. The inherent advantage of goad is forcing interaction, and your win conditions should ideally amplify this forced interaction or provide a decisive blow after it has softened up your opponents.

Creature-Based Game Closers: Leveraging Forced Combat

When it comes to game closers for goad decks, creatures often offer the most straightforward and impactful way to close out a game. The beauty of goad is that it forces your opponents to attack. This means their board presence, which might otherwise be used to defend them or attack you, is now actively engaged in combat elsewhere. This opens up avenues for your creatures to attack unhindered or to finish off weakened opponents. A prime example is a creature with trample. If your opponent is forced to block your creature with a smaller attacker that was goaded, and your creature has trample, any excess damage will still go through to the opponent. Similarly, creatures that benefit from combat damage, such as those with lifelink or abilities that trigger on dealing damage, become excellent choices. Imagine a scenario where your opponents are forced to attack each other, leaving their life totals low. Your lifelink creature can then swing in for the win, gaining you crucial life and ending the game. Furthermore, creatures that have abilities that scale with the number of creatures or the combat step itself can be devastating. For instance, a creature that gets stronger for each attacking creature, or one that can give your other creatures evasion or bonus power, can turn a seemingly stable board into a swift victory. Massive power and toughness on your own creatures are always a solid bet, but consider creatures that can bypass blockers entirely or punish opponents for having creatures attack. Some creatures might have abilities like 'whenever a creature attacks, deal 1 damage to its controller,' which synergizes perfectly with goad. If your opponents are forced to attack, they're essentially dealing damage to themselves through your creature's ability. Finally, don't underestimate the power of creatures that can create additional combat steps or that have haste. Haste allows your finisher to come down and immediately impact the board, potentially ending the game on the spot. The more creatures you can force into combat, the more opportunities your finishers have to shine. Consider creatures that can generate tokens, as these can be used to crew vehicles, block for you, or even be sacrificed for value, all while your opponents' creatures are busy attacking each other. The goal is to have creatures that can either punch through the remaining defenses or capitalize on the weakened state of your opponents' life totals and boards. Don't be afraid to run creatures that are a bit over the top; in Commander, big finishers are often necessary to overcome multiple opponents and their defenses. Your goad strategy is designed to thin the herd and force interaction, so your finishers should be able to capitalize on that weakened battlefield.

Synergy with Goad: Overwhelming Force and Evasion

To truly maximize your game closers for goad decks, you need to think about how they directly synergize with the goad mechanic. The core of goad is forced combat, meaning your opponents' creatures will be busy attacking each other. This inherently thins out the number of creatures that can block your own attackers. Therefore, creatures with high power and toughness become significantly more effective. If an opponent is forced to attack with their best blocker, and you have a creature that can simply overpower it, or even trample over it, you've effectively removed their defensive capability. Similarly, evasion abilities like flying, menace, or unblockable become incredibly potent. If your opponents are locked into attacking each other, they might not have creatures with flying to block your aerial assault. Menace means they need two creatures to block, which might be difficult if their creatures are already committed to attacking. A creature that becomes unblockable under certain conditions, or simply has inherent unblockable, can be a surefire way to land that final blow. Consider cards that benefit from combat damage dealt to opponents. Effects like 'whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to an opponent, draw a card' or 'whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to an opponent, put a +1/+1 counter on it' can turn your finishing turn into a powerful engine. When your opponents are forced to attack each other, they are often weakening themselves and reducing their ability to block your final push. This creates an opportune moment for creatures with abilities that trigger on dealing damage or that gain benefits from combat. Think about creatures that can act as 'overrun' effects on a stick – creatures that can grant your other creatures +X/+X or other combat-related bonuses. If you've successfully goaded multiple creatures from multiple opponents, and then you unleash a threat that can pump your board, you can quickly end the game. The goal is to create a situation where your opponents are forced to commit their resources to attacking each other, leaving them vulnerable to your own decisive offensive. This is where proactive game closers that can exploit the chaos of goad truly shine.

Specific Creature Examples

Let's look at some concrete examples of creatures that excel as game closers for goad decks:

• Scythe Leopard (or any creature with a powerful enters-the-battlefield effect that grows): While not a traditional finisher, cards that can enter the battlefield and immediately put pressure on opponents or provide a significant board advantage are great. In a goad deck, creatures that can grow quickly or provide immediate value when they hit the board can help maintain momentum.
• Carnage Tyrant: This behemoth is nearly uncounterable and has trample and hexproof. It's a fantastic finisher that's hard to interact with once it hits the board, and trample ensures it will deal damage even if an opponent has a creature or two left to block. Its resilience means your opponents have to deal with it, drawing their attention away from each other.
• Terastodon / Woodfall Primus: These massive creatures can remove threats upon entering the battlefield, clearing the way for your other creatures or even themselves to close out the game. In a goad deck, removing a key blocker or threat allows your goaded creatures to do more damage to each other, or your own finishers to slip through.
• Craterhoof Behemoth: The quintessential finisher in many Commander decks, Craterhoof can end games instantly. If your opponents have committed their creatures to attacking each other, and you can cast Craterhoof followed by a few creatures (or even just have a few creatures on board), the combat damage boost can be lethal. The sheer power swing it provides is often insurmountable.
• Avenger of Zendikar: This card can create a significant army of Plant tokens, especially if you have other landfall triggers. These tokens, combined with goad forcing opponents' creatures elsewhere, can lead to a massive Craterhoof-like turn.
• Kokusho, the Evening Star: A classic finisher, Kokusho drains opponents for life when it dies. In a goad strategy, you can often force opponents to attack each other's boards, potentially leading to Kokusho being a target. If it dies, you gain significant life, and your opponents lose it, often pushing you closer to victory.

These creatures embody the principles of overwhelming force, resilience, and synergistic combat effectiveness that are crucial for closing out games in a goad-themed deck. Choosing a mix of these types of creatures can ensure your deck has a reliable path to victory.

Spell-Based Game Closers: Exploiting the Chaos

While creatures are a common path to victory, spell-based game closers for goad decks can offer a more explosive and sometimes more politically sound way to end games. The goad mechanic forces your opponents into a state of aggressive disarray, and spells can often capitalize on this chaos directly. Think about direct damage spells that can finish off weakened opponents. If your goad strategy has successfully chipped away at your opponents' life totals through forced combat, a well-timed burn spell can be the perfect way to seal the deal. Spells that benefit from the number of creatures on the board, or that deal damage based on creature power, can be particularly effective. For example, a spell that deals damage equal to the total power of all creatures on the battlefield could be devastating if your opponents have committed many creatures to attacking each other. Similarly, spells that allow you to take extra turns can be game-ending. If you can stabilize the board with goad and then take an extra turn, you can often use that time to deploy additional threats or spells to secure the win. Mass removal spells can also serve as surprising game closers. While goad aims to make opponents attack each other, sometimes a board gets out of hand. A well-timed wrath effect can clear the board, leaving your opponents vulnerable and allowing you to push for the win with your remaining threats or a newly cast finisher. Consider spells that directly punish aggressive behavior or that benefit from opponents attacking. Some cards might say 'whenever an opponent attacks you, draw a card' or 'whenever an opponent attacks, they lose life.' While these are often defensive, they can contribute to the cumulative damage needed to close out a game, especially when combined with goad forcing those attacks. Don't forget about combo finishers. Many goad decks operate by controlling the board and surviving until they can assemble a game-winning combo. These combos can range from infinite mana loops to creature-based combos that win the game on the spot. The beauty of a combo finisher is that it bypasses the need for traditional combat damage and can often win out of nowhere, leaving opponents unable to react. Finally, consider spells that offer significant card advantage or that tutor for your win conditions. If you can reliably draw into your best game closers or find them when you need them, your deck's consistency will skyrocket. The key with spell-based closers is to ensure they are efficient and can close out the game decisively, either by dealing direct damage, providing overwhelming advantage, or enabling a combo.

Synergy with Goad: Punishing Aggression and Enabling Combos

The synergy between spell-based game closers for goad decks and the goad mechanic is multifaceted. Goad forces opponents to attack, which means they are often overextending or committing their resources. This is where spells that punish aggression truly shine. Consider spells like Sulfuric Vortex or Price of Progress which deal damage based on certain conditions related to lands or life loss, which often happens in aggressive games. If your opponents are forced to attack each other, they might be bringing themselves into range of these 'punisher' effects. Furthermore, spells that allow you to gain value from your opponents' attacks are excellent. Cards that make you draw cards when creatures attack you, or that gain you life when they attack, can help you survive long enough to deploy your own win conditions. The ultimate synergy, however, comes from spells that can directly benefit from the chaos. If your opponents have many creatures attacking each other, spells that can tap down multiple creatures, or that deal damage based on the number of creatures on the board, become incredibly potent. Consider spells that can essentially 'steal' the momentum. For example, a spell that allows you to sacrifice creatures to deal damage can be game-ending if your opponents have clogged up the board attacking each other. For combo-oriented goad decks, the synergy is about creating a stable board state where your opponents are busy with each other, giving you the time and space to assemble your combo. Control elements often found in goad decks, like counterspells and removal, can protect your combo pieces. The forced combat of goad ensures that opponents are less likely to be able to disrupt your combo on their turn, as their creatures are busy attacking. Ultimately, spell-based finishers for goad decks are about exploiting the inherent instability that goad creates in your opponents' game plans. Whether through direct damage, board control, or combo enablement, spells can provide a decisive blow when your opponents are least prepared.

Specific Spell Examples

Here are some potent spell-based game closers for goad decks:

• Exsanguinate / Torment of Hail Fire: These X-costed black spells are classic finishers, especially in Commander. They allow you to drain your opponents for life, potentially winning the game outright. If your opponents have high life totals, or multiple opponents, these spells become incredibly effective at closing out the game after goad has weakened them.
• Comet Storm / Massive Burn Spells: Similar to Exsanguinate, these red X-costed spells can deal significant damage to one or multiple targets. If opponents have low life totals due to attacking each other, these can be lethal.
• Revel in Riches / Revel in Carnage: If you're playing a goad deck that generates tokens or benefits from creatures dying, cards like Revel in Riches can lead to an alternative win condition by accumulating treasure. Revel in Carnage is a punisher effect that can grow quite large.
• Nexus of Fate / Extra Turn Spells: While not direct damage, extra turn spells can be game-ending in many Commander decks. If you can stabilize the board with goad and then chain extra turns, you can deploy threats, cast finishers, or simply attack unimpeded until you win.
• Cyclonic Rift (Overload): This blue staple can reset the board, leaving your opponents with nothing. If your opponents have overcommitted to attacking each other, overloading Cyclonic Rift can leave them wide open for your own creatures or finishers.
• Insurrection: This powerful red spell steals all creatures your opponents control until end of turn. If your opponents have a massive board state due to attacking each other, casting Insurrection can turn their own forces against them for a lethal alpha strike.

These spells offer a variety of ways to close out the game, from direct damage and life drain to board resets and game-winning swings. Their effectiveness is amplified when your opponents are already engaged in chaotic combat thanks to the goad mechanic.

Building Your Goad Deck's Closing Strategy

Crafting a winning goad deck requires more than just stuffing it with cards that have the goad ability. Your game closers must be integrated thoughtfully into the deck's overall strategy. This means considering your deck's color identity, your general's abilities, and the general meta you expect to face. A deck that focuses on token generation might lean towards finishers like Craterhoof Behemoth or Avenger of Zendikar, where the sheer number of creatures can overwhelm opponents. If your deck has a strong control element, spells like Exsanguinate or Insurrection might be more appropriate, as they can finish the game after you've spent time disrupting your opponents. The key is synergy. How do your chosen finishers work with your goad enablers? Do they benefit from your opponents attacking? Do they bypass blockers that your opponents might have left? Your game closers should feel like a natural extension of your goad strategy, not tacked-on afterthoughts. It's also important to have a backup plan. What happens if your primary finisher is countered or removed? Having multiple win conditions or ways to protect your finishers is crucial for consistency. This might involve tutors to find your finishers, protection spells like Tamiyo's Safekeeping or Lightning Greaves, or even alternative win conditions. Don't be afraid to play cards that have multiple purposes. A creature that provides value early on but can also serve as a finisher later is ideal. Consider the speed of your meta. If games tend to be faster, you'll need more proactive and efficient closers. If games are slower and more grindy, you can afford to run more elaborate or powerful finishers that take longer to set up. Ultimately, the best game closers for your goad deck will be those that can consistently and decisively end the game, capitalizing on the unique advantages that goad provides. Testing and tweaking are essential; what works on paper might not always translate to the battlefield. Pay attention to how your games are ending – or not ending – and adjust your card choices accordingly. A well-tuned goad deck with potent game closers is a force to be reckoned with, capable of turning your opponents' own aggression against them and securing a decisive victory.

Balancing Goad and Finishers

The trickiest part of building a goad deck is finding the right balance between goad enablers and game closers. You need enough goad effects to force your opponents into attacking each other and creating chaos, but you also need a sufficient number of powerful finishers to actually win the game. If you have too many goad cards, you might find yourself with a board full of creatures attacking each other but no way to capitalize on the weakened states of your opponents. Conversely, if you have too many finishers and not enough goad, your opponents might not be forced to attack each other, and your finishers might be met with a formidable defense. A good starting point is to aim for around 10-15 dedicated goad cards and another 5-10 cards that function as primary game closers. This is a rough guideline, and the exact numbers will vary depending on your Commander and the specific strategy of your deck. For instance, if your Commander has a strong goad-related ability, you might need fewer dedicated goad cards. Similarly, if your finishers are also good at controlling the board early on, they can serve a dual purpose. Consider cards that can act as both enablers and closers. For example, a creature with a powerful combat damage trigger that also has evasion can both contribute to goading opponents and provide a finishing blow. Evaluate your mana curve. You want to be able to deploy your goad effects and then follow up with your finishers in a timely manner. If your finishers are all high-cost, you might need more ways to ramp or protect them. Similarly, if your goad effects are too slow, your opponents might be able to develop their boards before you can effectively use goad. Card advantage is also critical here. You need to draw into both your enablers and your closers. Cards that draw multiple cards or that tutor for specific cards can help you find the pieces you need, when you need them. The goal is to create a smooth curve where you can consistently apply pressure with goad and then transition into a winning position with your finishers. It's a delicate dance, but when executed properly, a goad deck can be incredibly rewarding to play, leading to unique and satisfying victories.

The Importance of Political Play

While this article focuses on the mechanical aspects of game closers for goad decks, it's impossible to ignore the crucial role of political play in Commander, especially with a strategy like goad. Goad inherently involves negotiation and manipulation. You're often nudging your opponents into attacking each other, which can be a powerful tool for diplomacy. By not being the immediate threat, you can position yourself as a helpful ally to whoever is currently under pressure from another player's goaded creatures. This can lead to temporary alliances, shared resources, and a general sense of 'us vs. them' where 'us' is you and whoever you're currently appeasing. Your game closers can then be deployed when the political landscape is most favorable. Perhaps you've convinced one player to attack another, weakening both, allowing you to swoop in with a finisher. Or maybe you've pointed out how Player C's giant creature is a threat to everyone, encouraging them to attack Player B, leaving Player C open for your own decisive move. Understanding the personalities and motivations of your opponents is key. Who is aggressive? Who is conservative? Who is easily swayed? By leveraging these traits, you can manipulate the board state to your advantage, creating openings for your closers. Your game closers can also be political tools. Announcing a massive threat like Craterhoof Behemoth can sometimes force opponents to use their removal on it, even if it means leaving another player unchecked. This can be a calculated risk, as it might draw attention to you, but it can also be a way to remove key threats or set up your win. Remember, in Commander, the game is as much about social interaction as it is about card synergy. A well-timed threat, combined with a clever political maneuver, can be far more effective than just playing the 'best' cards. Your goad deck, by its very nature, thrives in this environment, so embrace the politics and use it to pave the way for your game-closing strategy.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of the Goad Finish

In conclusion, game closers for goad decks are the linchpins that transform a fun, chaotic strategy into a consistent win condition. By understanding how the goad mechanic forces opponents into attacking each other, you can select finishers that capitalize on this forced interaction, whether through overwhelming combat power, spell-based damage, or devastating combo plays. Remember to prioritize creatures with evasion or trample, spells that punish aggression, and synergistic abilities that amplify the chaos your opponents are creating. The balance between goad enablers and your chosen finishers is crucial; too much of one can negate the effectiveness of the other. Furthermore, never underestimate the power of political play in Commander, as goad lends itself perfectly to manipulation and negotiation. By thoughtfully integrating your game closers, maintaining a healthy balance, and playing the political game, your goad deck can become a formidable force at any Commander table. Keep experimenting, keep refining, and enjoy the unique thrill of watching your opponents defeat each other before you deliver the final blow. The key to a successful goad deck lies not just in forcing combat, but in controlling the narrative and delivering the knockout punch when your opponents are at their most vulnerable. For further exploration into the strategic nuances of Commander and deck building, I highly recommend visiting MTG Wiki for comprehensive information on mechanics, cards, and lore, or checking out EDHREC for deckbuilding inspiration and popular card choices within the Commander format.