Art by Gene Luen Yang
Saved commander deck
Kibo, Uktabi Prince
Give opponents Bananas and Treasure tokens with Kibo and Tempting Contract, then destroy or force them to sacrifice those artifacts to trigger Bloodroot Apothecary, Viridian Revel, and Kibo's massive +1/+1 counters on your Ape and Monkey army.
Prompt: Build a focused Gruul Commander deck with Monkey, Awakened to Emptiness (Kibo, Uktabi Prince) as commander and Bloodroot Apothecary as a core build-around. The deck must tightly combine THREE themes: Ape/Monkey tribal, giving artifact tokens to opponents, and punishing opponents for sacrificing or losing those artifacts. Prioritize Apes and Monkeys because Kibo actually buffs them; avoid random creatures that do not support the plan. Create Bananas, Treasures, Clues, Food or other noncreature tokens under opponents' control, then punish them with Bloodroot Apothecary, poison counters, damage, or other effects when those tokens are sacrificed. Also destroy or force opponents to lose artifacts so Kibo repeatedly puts +1/+1 counters on my Apes and Monkeys. Include Hit-Monkey if useful. Every card should support at least one theme, preferably two or three. Add synergistic ramp, draw, protection and interaction. Avoid generic artifact cards or unrelated Gruul staples.
Commander
1 cards
Kibo, Uktabi Prince
{2}{G}Legendary Creature — Monkey Noble
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10 cards
Simian Spirit Guide
{2}{R}Creature — Ape Spirit
Fast mana burst that is also an Ape.
Card Draw
9 cards
Viridian Revel
{1}{G}{G}Enchantment
Draws a card every time an opponent's artifact goes to the graveyard.
Beast Whisperer
{2}{G}{G}Creature — Elf Druid
Draws cards whenever you cast your Ape and Monkey creatures.
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
{3}{G}Legendary Creature — Squirrel
Uncounterable indestructible draw engine on combat damage.
Return of the Wildspeaker
{4}{G}Instant
Massive draw based on your largest buffed Ape.
Rishkar's Expertise
{4}{G}{G}Sorcery
Draws cards equal to your buffed creature's power and casts a free spell.
Sylvan Library
{1}{G}Enchantment
Consistent turn-by-turn card filtering and draw.
Vanquisher's Banner
{5}Artifact
Buffs chosen tribe (Apes) and draws a card on every tribal spell.
Removal
13 cards
Vandalblast
{R}Sorcery
Destroys all opponent artifact tokens to trigger Kibo counter buffs.
Gorilla Shaman
{R}Creature — Ape Shaman
Ape creature that destroys 0-mana artifact tokens for just 1 mana.
Uktabi Orangutan
{2}{G}Creature — Ape
Classic Ape that destroys an artifact on enter-the-battlefield.
Kogla, the Titan Ape
{3}{G}{G}{G}Legendary Creature — Ape
Massive Ape threat that removes creatures and destroys artifacts on attack.
Silverback Elder
{2}{G}{G}{G}Creature — Ape Shaman
Incredible Ape powerhouse that repeatedly destroys artifacts or ramps.
Hit-Monkey
{3}{G}Legendary Creature — Monkey Assassin
Ape creature that destroys target nonland permanent with no rules text.
Creeping Corrosion
{2}{G}{G}Sorcery
Mass artifact wipe that puts +1/+1 counters on all Apes via Kibo.
Bane of Progress
{4}{G}{G}Creature — Elemental
Massive artifact and enchantment board wipe on a creature.
Liquimetal Coating
{2}Artifact
Turns any opponent permanent into an artifact to be destroyed for Kibo triggers.
Liquimetal Torque
{2}Artifact
Ramp that turns opponent nonland permanents into artifacts for targeted destruction.
Wave of Vitriol
{5}{G}{G}Sorcery
Wipes all artifacts and nonbasic lands, triggering massive Kibo pumps.
Threats/Wincons
22 cards
Bloodroot Apothecary
{2}{G}Creature — Squirrel Druid
Core build-around that inflicts toxic counters whenever opponents sacrifice noncreature tokens.
Sardian Avenger
{1}{R}Creature — Goblin Warrior
Gains trample/power from opponent artifacts and deals damage whenever their artifacts are destroyed.
Fangren Marauder
{5}{G}Creature — Beast
Gains 5 life whenever any opponent's artifact goes to the graveyard.
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
{R}Legendary Creature — Monkey Pirate
Agile Monkey that generates Treasures and exile-casts cards.
Scrounging Bandar
{1}{G}Creature — Cat Monkey
Cat Monkey that moves +1/+1 counters onto key creatures.
Tree Monkey
{G}Creature — Monkey
Cheap 1-drop Monkey with reach to receive Kibo's tribal counters.
Zodiac Monkey
{1}{G}Creature — Monkey
Evasive Monkey creature for early damage and counter stacking.
Hidden Gibbons
{G}Enchantment
Turns into a cheap 4/4 Ape when an opponent casts an instant spell.
Uktabi Wildcats
{4}{G}Creature — Cat
Ape creature scaling with forest count and possessing regeneration.
Gorilla Chieftain
{2}{G}{G}Creature — Ape
Resilient Ape creature with built-in regeneration.
Gorilla Berserkers
{3}{G}{G}Creature — Ape Berserker
Ape creature with rampage and trample for aggressive attacks.
Summit Apes
{3}{G}Creature — Ape
Ape creature that gains stats and evasion when controlling a mountain.
Taurean Mauler
{2}{R}Creature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey that grows rapidly whenever opponents cast spells.
Realmwalker
{2}{G}Creature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey that lets you cast tribal creatures off the top of your deck.
Chameleon Colossus
{2}{G}{G}Creature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey with protection and repeatable power doubling.
Universal Automaton
{1}Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
1-drop Changeling Ape/Monkey to receive early Kibo counters.
Roaming Throne
{4}Artifact Creature — Golem
Doubles all trigger effects of your commander and chosen Ape/Monkey type.
Shared Animosity
{2}{R}Enchantment
Massively pumps your attacking Ape/Monkey army.
Coat of Arms
{5}Artifact
Gives massive tribal static stat buffs to all your Apes and Monkeys.
Herald's Horn
{3}Artifact
Reduces cost of named tribe and provides free card draw from top.
Rhythm of the Wild
{1}{R}{G}Enchantment
Makes creatures uncounterable and gives riot for haste or counters.
Utility
8 cards
Titania's Song
{3}{G}Enchantment
Turns all noncreature artifact tokens into 0/0 creatures, killing them instantly and triggering sacrifice/death effects.
Tempting Contract
{4}Artifact
Gives opponents Treasure artifact tokens every turn to fuel your sacrifice punishment.
Heroic Intervention
{1}{G}Instant
Provides indestructible and hexproof protection for your entire board.
Tamiyo's Safekeeping
{G}Instant
Inexpensive single-target protection for Kibo or Bloodroot Apothecary.
Tyvar's Stand
{X}{G}Instant
Versatile protection spell that can double as a lethal power pump.
Swiftfoot Boots
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Grants hexproof and haste to keep Kibo safe and active.
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Free equip cost granting shroud and haste to key creatures.
Karn, the Great Creator
{4}Legendary Planeswalker — Karn
Stops opponents from activating artifact tokens like Bananas, Clues, or Treasures, locking them for destruction.
