Art by Gene Luen Yang
Commander deckGR
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.
Asked for“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.”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 62 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Kibo, Uktabi Prince
2GLegendary Creature — Monkey Noble
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Card Draw
9
Viridian Revel
1GGEnchantment
Draws a card every time an opponent's artifact goes to the graveyard.
Beast Whisperer
2GGCreature — Elf Druid
Draws cards whenever you cast your Ape and Monkey creatures.
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
3GLegendary Creature — Squirrel
Uncounterable indestructible draw engine on combat damage.
Return of the Wildspeaker
4GInstant
Massive draw based on your largest buffed Ape.
Rishkar's Expertise
4GGSorcery
Draws cards equal to your buffed creature's power and casts a free spell.
Vanquisher's Banner
5Artifact
Buffs chosen tribe (Apes) and draws a card on every tribal spell.
Removal
13
Vandalblast
RSorcery
Destroys all opponent artifact tokens to trigger Kibo counter buffs.
Gorilla Shaman
RCreature — Ape Shaman
Ape creature that destroys 0-mana artifact tokens for just 1 mana.
Uktabi Orangutan
2GCreature — Ape
Classic Ape that destroys an artifact on enter-the-battlefield.
Kogla, the Titan Ape
3GGGLegendary Creature — Ape
Massive Ape threat that removes creatures and destroys artifacts on attack.
Silverback Elder
2GGGCreature — Ape Shaman
Incredible Ape powerhouse that repeatedly destroys artifacts or ramps.
Hit-Monkey
3GLegendary Creature — Monkey Assassin
Ape creature that destroys target nonland permanent with no rules text.
Creeping Corrosion
2GGSorcery
Mass artifact wipe that puts +1/+1 counters on all Apes via Kibo.
Bane of Progress
4GGCreature — Elemental
Massive artifact and enchantment board wipe on a creature.
Liquimetal Coating
2Artifact
Turns any opponent permanent into an artifact to be destroyed for Kibo triggers.
Liquimetal Torque
2Artifact
Ramp that turns opponent nonland permanents into artifacts for targeted destruction.
Wave of Vitriol
5GGSorcery
Wipes all artifacts and nonbasic lands, triggering massive Kibo pumps.
Threats/Wincons
22
Bloodroot Apothecary
2GCreature — Squirrel Druid
Core build-around that inflicts toxic counters whenever opponents sacrifice noncreature tokens.
Sardian Avenger
1RCreature — Goblin Warrior
Gains trample/power from opponent artifacts and deals damage whenever their artifacts are destroyed.
Fangren Marauder
5GCreature — Beast
Gains 5 life whenever any opponent's artifact goes to the graveyard.
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
RLegendary Creature — Monkey Pirate
Agile Monkey that generates Treasures and exile-casts cards.
Scrounging Bandar
1GCreature — Cat Monkey
Cat Monkey that moves +1/+1 counters onto key creatures.
Tree Monkey
GCreature — Monkey
Cheap 1-drop Monkey with reach to receive Kibo's tribal counters.
Zodiac Monkey
1GCreature — Monkey
Evasive Monkey creature for early damage and counter stacking.
Hidden Gibbons
GEnchantment
Turns into a cheap 4/4 Ape when an opponent casts an instant spell.
Uktabi Wildcats
4GCreature — Cat
Ape creature scaling with forest count and possessing regeneration.
Gorilla Chieftain
2GGCreature — Ape
Resilient Ape creature with built-in regeneration.
Gorilla Berserkers
3GGCreature — Ape Berserker
Ape creature with rampage and trample for aggressive attacks.
Summit Apes
3GCreature — Ape
Ape creature that gains stats and evasion when controlling a mountain.
Taurean Mauler
2RCreature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey that grows rapidly whenever opponents cast spells.
Realmwalker
2GCreature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey that lets you cast tribal creatures off the top of your deck.
Chameleon Colossus
2GGCreature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape/Monkey with protection and repeatable power doubling.
Universal Automaton
1Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
1-drop Changeling Ape/Monkey to receive early Kibo counters.
Roaming Throne
4Artifact Creature — Golem
Doubles all trigger effects of your commander and chosen Ape/Monkey type.
Coat of Arms
5Artifact
Gives massive tribal static stat buffs to all your Apes and Monkeys.
Herald's Horn
3Artifact
Reduces cost of named tribe and provides free card draw from top.
Rhythm of the Wild
1RGEnchantment
Makes creatures uncounterable and gives riot for haste or counters.
Utility
8
Titania's Song
3GEnchantment
Turns all noncreature artifact tokens into 0/0 creatures, killing them instantly and triggering sacrifice/death effects.
Tempting Contract
4Artifact
Gives opponents Treasure artifact tokens every turn to fuel your sacrifice punishment.
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
Provides indestructible and hexproof protection for your entire board.
Tamiyo's Safekeeping
GInstant
Inexpensive single-target protection for Kibo or Bloodroot Apothecary.
Tyvar's Stand
XGInstant
Versatile protection spell that can double as a lethal power pump.
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Grants hexproof and haste to keep Kibo safe and active.
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Free equip cost granting shroud and haste to key creatures.
Karn, the Great Creator
4Legendary Planeswalker — Karn
Stops opponents from activating artifact tokens like Bananas, Clues, or Treasures, locking them for destruction.
