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Gandalf, Spark Starter
Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard
Reach When Gandalf enters, he deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.
4 / 3
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“Red's damage-dealing wizard control finisher with repeatable ETB pressure.”
Midrange
Intermediate
Commander damage, Combat damage
Tokens, Spellslinger
Strategy
Gandalf, Spark Starter is a flexible red control tool that punishes opponents the moment he lands. His entry damage is perfect for softening enemy creatures, finishing off problematic threats, or pinging planeswalkers—giving you instant value that doesn't rely on combat. You'll build this as a midrange deck that uses red's toolbox of efficient removal and damage spells alongside creatures that synergize with entering the battlefield, letting you chain value while Gandalf holds down the fort with reach.
The core gameplan revolves around casting creatures and spells that trigger ETB effects, then leveraging Gandalf as both a damage engine and a resilient blocker. You're not looking for a single explosive turn; instead, you're grinding through games by accumulating small advantages. Red's access to flicker effects and temporary bounce creates incredible repeat value with Gandalf, turning him into a repeatable damage source. Win through steady commander damage and incremental pressure from a stream of threats your opponents can't efficiently block.
Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Key Synergies
Budget Build
Skip expensive flickers like Ephemerate and use Ephemeral Shields, Teflon's Protege, or free alternatives like Sephid's revenge; lean on red's abundant 2-mana removal instead of pricey tutors.
Signature Cards
Inclusion = % of Gandalf, Spark Starter decks running this card. +lift = percentage-point boost over the format average.
Community Decks
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