Deconstructed build / 100-CARD BUILD

Gonti,
Canny Acquisitor

Sultai

A little borrowed ambition.

Trade the opening for a Shinobi. Browse the deconstructed build’s cards and rules.

Explore the 100-card deck ↓

MEET YOUR COMMANDERGonti, Canny Acquisitor

Gonti, Canny Acquisitor · Featured commander

STRATEGY · 3 PHASES

How this build plays

This deconstructed build used evasive combat to stock an exile hand, cost reductions to cast from it, and blink effects to revisit theft creatures. The historical list is preserved rather than presented as currently assembled.

01SET THE STAGE
Get one creature through
Changeling Outcast cannot be blocked, making it a reliable way to trigger Gonti when it connects. Felix Five-Boots makes that combat-damage trigger happen an additional time. Gonti triggers per player hit by one or more creatures, rather than once for every attacker.
- Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
- Changeling Outcast
- Felix Five-Boots
Rules text for these cards
Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Spells you cast but don't own cost {1} less to cast. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, look at the top card of that player's library, then exile it face down. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.
Changeling Outcast
Changeling (This card is every creature type.) This creature can't block and can't be blocked.
Felix Five-Boots
Menace, ward {2} If a creature you control dealing combat damage to a player causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
02BUILD THE ENGINE
Trade the opening for a Shinobi
An unblocked Changeling Outcast can pay Fallen Shinobi’s ninjutsu return cost. If the Shinobi then deals combat damage, its own trigger exiles two cards to play without their mana costs that turn. This permission expires at end of turn, unlike Gonti’s ongoing permission for its own exiled cards.
- Changeling Outcast
- Fallen Shinobi
- Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Rules text for these cards
Changeling Outcast
Changeling (This card is every creature type.) This creature can't block and can't be blocked.
Fallen Shinobi
Ninjutsu {2}{U}{B} ({2}{U}{B}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top two cards of their library. Until end of turn, you may play those cards without paying their mana costs.
Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Spells you cast but don't own cost {1} less to cast. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, look at the top card of that player's library, then exile it face down. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.
03CARRY IT THROUGH
Reopen the vault
Pair Deadeye Navigator with Gonti, Lord of Luxury to spend {1}{U} blinking the latter and repeat its four-card selection. The commander discounts spells you do not own from these caches. Blink costs and colored requirements still need mana; this pair alone does not generate it.
- Deadeye Navigator
- Gonti, Lord of Luxury
- Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Rules text for these cards
Deadeye Navigator
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as Deadeye Navigator is paired with another creature, each of those creatures has "{1}{U}: Exile this creature, then return it to the battlefield under your control."
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Deathtouch When Gonti enters, look at the top four cards of target opponent's library, exile one of them face down, then put the rest on the bottom of that library in a random order. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.
Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Spells you cast but don't own cost {1} less to cast. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, look at the top card of that player's library, then exile it face down. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.

Explore this build

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Gonti, Canny Acquisitor

Spells you cast but don't own cost {1} less to cast. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, look at the top card of that player's library, then exile it face down. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.

Aetherize

Return all attacking creatures to their owner's hand.

Agent of Treachery

When this creature enters, gain control of target permanent. At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more permanents you don't own, draw three cards.

Arcane Denial

Counter target spell. Its controller may draw up to two cards at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. You draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

Arcane Signet

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Assassin's Trophy

Destroy target permanent an opponent controls. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Auton Soldier

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it isn't legendary, is an artifact in addition to its other types, and has myriad. (Whenever it attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may create a token copy that's tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control. Exile the tokens at end of combat.)

Bala Ged Recovery

Return target card from your graveyard to your hand. This land enters tapped. {T}: Add {G}.

Baleful Strix

Flying, deathtouch When this creature enters, draw a card.

Beast Within

Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Beast creature token.

Brainstealer Dragon

Flying At the beginning of your end step, exile the top card of each opponent's library. You may play those cards for as long as they remain exiled. If you cast a spell this way, you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it. Whenever a nonland permanent an opponent owns enters the battlefield under your control, they lose life equal to its mana value.

Breeding Pool

({T}: Add {G} or {U}.) As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped.

Bridgeworks Battle

Target creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn. It fights up to one target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) As this land enters, you may pay 3 life. If you don't, it enters tapped. {T}: Add {G}.

Changeling Outcast

Changeling (This card is every creature type.) This creature can't block and can't be blocked.

Clever Impersonator

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any nonland permanent on the battlefield.

Coiling Oracle

When this creature enters, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land card, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, put that card into your hand.

Command Tower

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Conjurer's Closet

At the beginning of your end step, you may exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.

Counterspell

Counter target spell.

Cunning Rhetoric

Whenever an opponent attacks you and/or one or more planeswalkers you control, exile the top card of that player's library. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.

Curse of the Swine

Exile X target creatures. For each creature exiled this way, its controller creates a 2/2 green Boar creature token.

Cyber Conversion

Turn target creature face down. It's a 2/2 Cyberman artifact creature.

Deadeye Navigator

Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.) As long as Deadeye Navigator is paired with another creature, each of those creatures has "{1}{U}: Exile this creature, then return it to the battlefield under your control."

Dimir Signet

{1}, {T}: Add {U}{B}.

Disciple of Freyalise

When this creature enters, you may sacrifice another creature. If you do, you gain X life and draw X cards, where X is that creature's power. As this land enters, you may pay 3 life. If you don't, it enters tapped. {T}: Add {G}.

Displace

Exile up to two target creatures you control, then return those cards to the battlefield under their owner's control.

Displacer Kitten

Avoidance — Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, exile up to one target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.

Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius

Spells you cast from your graveyard or from exile cost {2} less to cast. Plotting cards from your hand costs {2} less.

Drowned Catacomb

This land enters tapped unless you control an Island or a Swamp. {T}: Add {U} or {B}.

Elder Brain

Menace Whenever this creature attacks a player, exile all cards from that player's hand, then they draw that many cards. You may play lands and cast spells from among the exiled cards for as long as they remain exiled. If you cast a spell this way, you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.

Essence Flux

Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. If it's a Spirit, put a +1/+1 counter on it.

Exotic Orchard

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Fallen Shinobi

Ninjutsu {2}{U}{B} ({2}{U}{B}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top two cards of their library. Until end of turn, you may play those cards without paying their mana costs.

Farseek

Search your library for a Plains, Island, Swamp, or Mountain card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.

Felix Five-Boots

Menace, ward {2} If a creature you control dealing combat damage to a player causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.

Fellwar Stone

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Forest

({T}: Add {G}.)

Ghostly Flicker

Exile two target artifacts, creatures, and/or lands you control, then return those cards to the battlefield under your control.

Golgari Signet

{1}, {T}: Add {B}{G}.

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Deathtouch When Gonti enters, look at the top four cards of target opponent's library, exile one of them face down, then put the rest on the bottom of that library in a random order. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.

Hinterland Harbor

This land enters tapped unless you control a Forest or an Island. {T}: Add {G} or {U}.

Hostage Taker

When this creature enters, exile another target creature or artifact until this creature leaves the battlefield. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.

Infernal Grasp

Destroy target creature. You lose 2 life.

Irenicus's Vile Duplication

Create a token that's a copy of target creature you control, except the token has flying and it isn't legendary.

Island

({T}: Add {U}.)

Island

({T}: Add {U}.)

Llanowar Wastes

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {B} or {G}. This land deals 1 damage to you.

Nature's Lore

Search your library for a Forest card, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Necroblossom Snarl

As this land enters, you may reveal a Swamp or Forest card from your hand. If you don't, this land enters tapped. {T}: Add {B} or {G}.

Negate

Counter target noncreature spell.

Oblivion Sower

When you cast this spell, target opponent exiles the top four cards of their library, then you may put any number of land cards that player owns from exile onto the battlefield under your control.

Opulent Palace

This land enters tapped. {T}: Add {B}, {G}, or {U}.

Overgrown Tomb

({T}: Add {B} or {G}.) As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped.

Phantasmal Image

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it's an Illusion in addition to its other types and it has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."

Quantum Misalignment

Create a token that's a copy of target creature you control, except it isn't legendary. Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Rejuvenating Springs

This land enters tapped unless you have two or more opponents. {T}: Add {G} or {U}.

Reliquary Tower

You have no maximum hand size. {T}: Add {C}.

Resculpt

Exile target artifact or creature. Its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token.

Rogue Class

(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.) Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of that player's library face down. You may look at it for as long as it remains exiled. {1}{U}{B}: Level 2 Creatures you control have menace. {2}{U}{B}: Level 3 You may play cards exiled with this Class, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast those spells.

Rogue's Passage

{T}: Add {C}. {4}, {T}: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.

Sakashima of a Thousand Faces

You may have Sakashima enter as a copy of another creature you control, except it has Sakashima's other abilities. The "legend rule" doesn't apply to permanents you control. Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)

Savvy Trader

When this creature enters, exile target permanent card from your graveyard. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled. Spells you cast from anywhere other than your hand cost {1} less to cast.

Shipwreck Marsh

This land enters tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {U} or {B}.

Simic Signet

{1}, {T}: Add {G}{U}.

Sink into Stupor

Return target spell or nonland permanent an opponent controls to its owner's hand. As this land enters, you may pay 3 life. If you don't, it enters tapped. {T}: Add {U}.

Siphon Insight

Look at the top two cards of target opponent's library. Exile one of them face down and put the other on the bottom of that library. You may play the exiled card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell. Flashback {1}{U}{B}

Slither Blade

This creature can't be blocked.

Sol Ring

{T}: Add {C}{C}.

Spark Double

You may have this creature enter as a copy of a creature or planeswalker you control, except it enters with an additional +1/+1 counter on it if it's a creature, it enters with an additional loyalty counter on it if it's a planeswalker, and it isn't legendary.

Strionic Resonator

{2}, {T}: Copy target triggered ability you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. (A triggered ability uses the words "when," "whenever," or "at.")

Swamp

({T}: Add {B}.)

Talisman of Curiosity

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {G} or {U}. This artifact deals 1 damage to you.

Talisman of Dominance

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {U} or {B}. This artifact deals 1 damage to you.

Talisman of Resilience

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {B} or {G}. This artifact deals 1 damage to you.

Thief of Sanity

Flying Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, look at the top three cards of that player's library, exile one of them face down, then put the rest into their graveyard. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.

Three Visits

Search your library for a Forest card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Toxic Deluge

As an additional cost to cast this spell, pay X life. All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn.

Triton Shorestalker

This creature can't be blocked.

Underground River

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {U} or {B}. This land deals 1 damage to you.

Undergrowth Stadium

This land enters tapped unless you have two or more opponents. {T}: Add {B} or {G}.

Up the Beanstalk

When this enchantment enters and whenever you cast a spell with mana value 5 or greater, draw a card.

Villainous Wealth

Target opponent exiles the top X cards of their library. You may cast any number of spells with mana value X or less from among them without paying their mana costs.

Watery Grave

({T}: Add {U} or {B}.) As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped.

Whispersilk Cloak

Equipped creature can't be blocked and has shroud. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.) Equip {2}

Windfall

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

Woodland Cemetery

This land enters tapped unless you control a Swamp or a Forest. {T}: Add {B} or {G}.

Yavimaya Coast

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {G} or {U}. This land deals 1 damage to you.

Commander

1 card

1×Gonti, Canny AcquisitorLegendary Creature — Aetherborn Rogue · OTC #1

Instant

14 cards

1×AetherizeInstant · ZNC #23 1×Arcane DenialInstant · DRC #70 1×Assassin's TrophyInstant · ECC #119 1×Beast WithinInstant · SOC #263 1×CounterspellInstant · TMP #57 1×Cyber ConversionInstant · WHO #38 1×DisplaceInstant · EMN #55 1×Essence FluxInstant · SOI #61 1×Ghostly FlickerInstant · AVR #57 1×Infernal GraspInstant · SOC #216 1×NegateInstant · M15 #71 1×ResculptInstant · STX #51 1×Sink into StuporInstant · MH3 #241 1×Siphon InsightInstant · OTC #242

Creature

24 cards

1×Agent of TreacheryCreature — Human Rogue · M20 #43 1×Auton SoldierArtifact Creature — Alien Soldier · WHO #36 1×Baleful StrixArtifact Creature — Bird · 2XM #191 1×Brainstealer DragonCreature — Dragon Horror · PLST #OTC-127 1×Changeling OutcastCreature — Shapeshifter · ZNC #40 1×Clever ImpersonatorCreature — Shapeshifter · C19 #82 1×Coiling OracleCreature — Snake Elf Druid · BLC #250 1×Deadeye NavigatorCreature — Spirit · AVR #47 1×Disciple of FreyaliseCreature — Elf Druid · MH3 #250 1×Displacer KittenCreature — Cat Beast · CLB #63 1×Doc Aurlock, Grizzled GeniusLegendary Creature — Bear Druid · OTJ #201 1×Elder BrainCreature — Horror · CLB #573 1×Fallen ShinobiCreature — Zombie Ninja · NCC #338 1×Felix Five-BootsLegendary Creature — Ooze Rogue · OTC #6 · *F*1×Gonti, Lord of LuxuryLegendary Creature — Aetherborn Rogue · PLST #KLD-84 1×Hostage TakerCreature — Human Pirate · OTC #231 1×Oblivion SowerCreature — Eldrazi · M3C #158 1×Phantasmal ImageCreature — Illusion · AFC #89 1×Sakashima of a Thousand FacesLegendary Creature — Human Rogue · TLE #18 1×Savvy TraderCreature — Human Citizen · OTC #69 1×Slither BladeCreature — Snake Rogue · AKH #71 1×Spark DoubleCreature — Illusion · MSC #279 1×Thief of SanityCreature — Specter · GRN #205 1×Triton ShorestalkerCreature — Merfolk Rogue · OTC #121

Artifact

12 cards

1×Arcane SignetArtifact · EOC #53 1×Conjurer's ClosetArtifact · C13 #239 1×Dimir SignetArtifact · SCD #263 1×Fellwar StoneArtifact · ECC #141 1×Golgari SignetArtifact · RAV #262 1×Simic SignetArtifact · MKC #236 1×Sol RingArtifact · M3C #305 1×Strionic ResonatorArtifact · C19 #224 1×Talisman of CuriosityArtifact · MH1 #232 1×Talisman of DominanceArtifact · MSC #219 1×Talisman of ResilienceArtifact · M3C #314 1×Whispersilk CloakArtifact — Equipment · DST #160

Sorcery

11 cards

1×Bala Ged RecoverySorcery · ZNR #180 1×Bridgeworks BattleSorcery · MH3 #249 1×Curse of the SwineSorcery · SOC #192 1×FarseekSorcery · FIC #302 1×Irenicus's Vile DuplicationSorcery · CLB #78 1×Nature's LoreSorcery · 5ED #316 1×Quantum MisalignmentSorcery · MSC #152 1×Three VisitsSorcery · MSC #181 1×Toxic DelugeSorcery · MSC #161 1×Villainous WealthSorcery · OTC #249 1×WindfallSorcery · IMA #77

Land

35 cards

1×Breeding PoolLand — Forest Island · RNA #246No mana cost 1×Command TowerLand · SOC #129No mana cost 1×Drowned CatacombLand · WHO #274No mana cost 1×Exotic OrchardLand · PIP #264No mana cost 6×ForestBasic Land — Forest · SOS #271No mana cost 1×Hinterland HarborLand · LTC #317No mana cost 4×IslandBasic Land — Island · BRO #281No mana cost 2×IslandBasic Land — Island · J25 #84No mana cost 1×Llanowar WastesLand · M3C #354No mana cost 1×Necroblossom SnarlLand · SOC #389No mana cost 1×Opulent PalaceLand · C19 #264No mana cost 1×Overgrown TombLand — Swamp Forest · ECL #266No mana cost 1×Rejuvenating SpringsLand · MSC #260No mana cost 1×Reliquary TowerLand · PLG20 #1 · *F*No mana cost 1×Rogue's PassageLand · PLST #MIC-179No mana cost 1×Shipwreck MarshLand · WHO #305No mana cost 5×SwampBasic Land — Swamp · VOW #273No mana cost 1×Underground RiverLand · CM2 #275No mana cost 1×Undergrowth StadiumLand · TMC #80No mana cost 1×Watery GraveLand — Island Swamp · EOE #261No mana cost 1×Woodland CemeteryLand · TDC #412No mana cost 1×Yavimaya CoastLand · M15 #249No mana cost

Enchantment

3 cards

1×Cunning RhetoricEnchantment · CMM #864 1×Rogue ClassEnchantment — Class · AFR #230 1×Up the BeanstalkEnchantment · WOE #195

PREGAME CONVERSATION · Deconstructed

Commander Bracket Assessment

Rules-Based Bracket: No raised minimumEstimated Power Bracket: Mid 3–High 3

Based on the 100-card main deck; sideboard excluded. The Rules-Based Bracket is the lowest bracket this card list allows under Commander bracket rules. The Estimated Power Bracket is a personal estimate of how strongly the deck plays. It is not an official rating.

Evidence and limitations

Rules-Based Bracket · minimum

No raised minimum found in the checked restrictions. This does not establish Exhibition intent, Core fit or absence of every possible combo.

Exact Game Changers: None.

Mass land denial registry: None identified in the checked registry. Modal or repeated-land targeting still requires a pregame discussion.

Your extra-turn cards: None identified in the checked registry. Opponent turns from Emrakul or gifts are not counted as your own chain.

Confirmed early two-card lethal or turn-chain flags are not inferred from keywords. This is a lower bound, not a complete combo solver or permission to delay a consistently early line until turn seven. Agreed Rule Zero / Exhibition exceptions are outside this ordinary-restriction check.

Estimated Power Bracket · Mid 3–High 3

Estimated from the card list alone, not from tracked win rates or game results.

Evasive attackers and Felix repeat exile-card advantage; blink revisits theft creatures. Mana rocks and land ramp support a commander-dependent combat engine rather than a tightly tutored compact finish.

Assembly and timing: Gonti costs five, Felix five, and Deadeye six before activation costs. These are staged resource investments, with no verified cheap early two-card win.

Recovery and constraints: Blink, clones and recovery offer redundancy, but exiled opposing cards vary by pod. This is a deconstructed historical list, not observed current play.

Curve: 3.09 average nonland mana value. Cheap mana/land-search text: Arcane Signet · Dimir Signet · Fellwar Stone · Golgari Signet · Nature's Lore · Simic Signet · Sol Ring · Talisman of Curiosity · Talisman of Dominance · Talisman of Resilience · Three Visits. This text-derived reading aid is not an official score.

Search-library evidence: Farseek · Nature's Lore · Three Visits. This includes restricted and land searches; efficient tutor overlap is reviewed separately above. There is no official tutor-count cap.

Fast mana indicators: Sol Ring. Conditional free interaction: None identified in the checked registry. Conditions and resource costs still apply.

Key cards: Changeling Outcast · Felix Five-Boots · Deadeye Navigator · Gonti, Lord of Luxury.

Official sources checked 2026-10-31; criteria update 2025-10-21, Game Changers update 2026-02-09. Method and official source links. Brackets 4 and 5 share structural freedom; competitive intent cannot be inferred from these counts.