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Lab Report 008: Necromantic Delight – A Deep Dive into Ghoulcaller Gisa

 

Lab Report 008: Necromantic Delight – A Deep Dive into Ghoulcaller Gisa

Ah yes… Ghoulcaller Gisa. A name that evokes shambling hordes, stitched abominations, and endless value. If you’ve ever wanted to cackle maniacally as you convert flesh into fodder and fodder into overwhelming advantage, you’re in the right place.

This deck is mono-black zombie aristocrats with a splash of pure glee. It doesn't rely on infinite combos or convoluted win cons—just classic synergy, flavorful play patterns, and the sheer joy of drowning the board in the undead. If you’re like me and enjoy making the worst versions of the best commanders, this one hits the sweet spot: strong enough to stand its ground, but janky enough to make every win feel earned.

Let’s crack open the graveyard and see what’s crawling out.

The Core Engine: Gisa and the Grave

At the heart of the deck is our beloved Gisa, who transforms any creature—friendly or otherwise—into a fresh crop of zombies. Pairing her with cards like:

  • Endless Ranks of the Dead (because what’s better than zombies? MORE zombies)

  • Graveborn Muse (draw power that feels like a cursed blessing)

  • Phyrexian Reclamation (so we can do it all again)

  • Black Market (because every death is a stepping stone to more mana)

…creates a self-feeding loop of death, resurrection, and profit.

Every creature is either a zombie, creates zombies, buffs zombies, or benefits from zombies dying. It's necromancy with a plan.

Removal That Feeds the Machine

Let’s talk board control. A deck like this can’t just sit back—sometimes you need to sweep the legs and reanimate the body.

  • Damnation, Toxic Deluge, and Black Sun’s Zenith let you reset the board while you rebuild faster than anyone else.

  • Sudden Spoiling is our gotcha card. It's saved me more than once from commander damage, Voltron nonsense, or even just an overzealous Craterhoof.

  • Fleshbag Marauder, Ravenous Rotbelly, and Stronghold Assassin ensure there’s always something dying—and that usually works in our favor.

Surprise, You’re Dead: Win Conditions

  • Gray Merchant of Asphodel is our zombie Oprah: “You get drained! You get drained! Everybody loses life!”

  • Pontiff of Blight + a go-wide zombie board = extort loops that slowly choke out the table.

  • Army of the Damned and Zombie Apocalypse are our big showstoppers—top-deck these after a long grind and suddenly you’re the table’s horror movie final boss.

Spooky Tech & Undead Flavor

Let’s not forget the spice:

  • Filth in the yard + Urborg (if we ever add it) = unblockable zombie army.

  • Wall of Blood + Mask of Griselbrand is a panic button or a bold draw play.

  • Vizier of the Scorpion gives our tokens deathtouch to discourage blocks (and keep Gisa fed).

  • Codex Shredder or Elixir of Immortality can loop key spells or save your graveyard from exile.

This is a deck that gets stronger the longer the game goes, thrives in messy board states, and always has a few tricks up its tattered sleeves.

Final Thoughts from the Grave

This deck isn't just fun—it’s a narrative. You feel like the villain in your own story, commanding swarms of undead with a twisted grin. You don’t just win—you outlast, out-value, and out-creep your opponents.

So if you ever see me pull out Ghoulcaller Gisa at the table, beware. I may not be playing the most powerful version… but I promise you, it’ll be the most memorable.

– MaD SaXXon, Tibalt’s Apprentice

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