Gandalf, Goblins' Bane
HOB · mythic · Released 2026-08-14
Power
Tier shown as baseline → best-case (in its ideal shell). The score (-8 to 19) is a rank signal derived from tier + kind + atoms; browse by it on the cards page.
Derived from the 7 atoms below.
above rate
meaningful alone
wants support
can take over a game
multiple modes
broadly useful
easily answered
Commander Bracket
Archetypes
Roles
Risks
Mechanics
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Typal
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Structural
Rationale
Gandalf is a 2/3 for {2}{R} that pings all opponents and grows whenever you cast a noncreature spell — an exceptional spellslinger payoff that rapidly becomes a serious threat. The Flameshape adventure front-loads value by exiling two cards face-down that any Wizard you control lets you play, providing card advantage and future flexibility. Together the package is a self-enabling engine: Flameshape sets up resources, Gandalf taxes opponents every spell cast, and a high-spell-density deck turns him into a must-answer finisher.
Learnings (3)
Flameshape's exiled cards can be played as long as you control ANY Wizard — not just Gandalf himself — so if Gandalf dies the window persists provided another Wizard is on board.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
The ping triggers once per noncreature spell regardless of targets, so in multiplayer Commander each spell shocks the entire table, making even modest spell counts deal significant life damage across multiple opponents.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
Flameshape is a sorcery-speed adventure, so it must resolve before Gandalf enters the battlefield; plan sequencing carefully to ensure a Wizard is present when you want to cast the exiled cards.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
Popularity
- EDHREC rank: #19,380