Art by Gene Luen Yang
Commander deckGR
Kibo, Uktabi Prince
Force opponents to acquire and sacrifice noncreature artifact tokens like Bananas, then punish them using Bloodroot Apothecary's toxic triggers, Viridian Revel's card draw, and mass artifact destruction to mass-buff your Ape and Monkey tribe.
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 · 60 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
Tempting Contract
4Artifact
Gives opponents Treasures to incentivize them, feeding your artifact destruction triggers
Card Draw
10
Viridian Revel
1GGEnchantment
Draws a card whenever an opponent's artifact is put into a graveyard
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
3GLegendary Creature — Squirrel
Indestructible engine drawing cards when your Apes hit opponents
Beast Whisperer
2GGCreature — Elf Druid
Draws cards for casting your Ape and Monkey creatures
Return of the Wildspeaker
4GInstant
Draws cards based on your highest power Ape or acts as an overrun
Greater Good
2GGEnchantment
Sacrifice engine to cash in oversized Apes for massive card draw
Lifecrafter's Bestiary
3Artifact
Scries every turn and draws cards when casting creatures
Guardian Project
3GEnchantment
Consistent card draw for non-duplicate creature ETBs
Wheel of Fortune
2RSorcery
Refills hand while forcing opponents to discard artifacts/plans
Removal
10
Vandalblast
RSorcery
Asymmetrical mass artifact destruction that triggers Kibo for every opponent artifact
Seeds of Innocence
1GGSorcery
Destroys all artifacts for 2 mana without giving life for 0-CMC tokens
Wave of Vitriol
5GGSorcery
Forces sacrifice of all nonbasics and artifacts, triggering Kibo and Apothecary
Bane of Progress
4GGCreature — Elemental
Wipes all artifacts and enchantments while growing into a massive threat
Structural Assault
3RRSorcery
Destroys all artifacts and deals damage to all creatures based on artifacts destroyed
Threats/Wincons
22
Bloodroot Apothecary
2GCreature — Squirrel Druid
Core synergy piece that gives opponents toxic counters whenever they sacrifice noncreature tokens
Gorilla Shaman
RCreature — Ape Shaman
Ape that can repeatedly destroy 0-mana artifact tokens opponents control for one mana
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
RLegendary Creature — Monkey Pirate
Aggressive legendary Monkey that generates early mana advantage
Silverback Elder
2GGGCreature — Ape Shaman
Massive Ape that provides artifact destruction, creature ramp, or life gain on cast triggers
Kogla, the Titan Ape
3GGGLegendary Creature — Ape
High-impact Ape that destroys artifacts on attack and provides creature removal
Scrounging Bandar
1GCreature — Cat Monkey
Low-cmc Cat Monkey that synergizes with Kibo's +1/+1 counters
Uktabi Orangutan
2GCreature — Ape
Ape that destroys a target artifact on ETB to trigger Kibo's counters
Uktabi Wildcats
4GCreature — Cat
Ape scale threat that grows with lands and can regenerate
Grunn, the Lonely King
4GGLegendary Creature — Ape Warrior
Legendary Ape threat that doubles its stats when attacking alone
Simian Spirit Guide
2RCreature — Ape Spirit
Ape tribal body that can double as fast mana
Kird Chieftain
3RCreature — Ape
Ape lord that gives target creatures +2/+2 and trample
Fangren Marauder
5GCreature — Beast
Gains 5 life whenever an opponent's artifact goes to the graveyard
Roaming Throne
4Artifact Creature — Golem
Chooses Ape/Monkey to double Kibo's trigger when opponents lose artifacts
Metallic Mimic
2Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
Name Ape to enter as a buffed Ape lord for tribal synergy
Adaptive Automaton
3Artifact Creature — Construct
Enters as an Ape lord to buff all Apes and Monkeys
Chameleon Colossus
2GGCreature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape with double P/T pump ability
Realmwalker
2GCreature — Shapeshifter
Changeling Ape allowing top-deck casting of Ape/Monkey creatures
Hidden Gibbons
GEnchantment
Turns into a 4/4 Ape as soon as an opponent casts an instant
Utility
8
Titania's Song
3GEnchantment
Turns 0-CMC artifact tokens into 0/0 creatures, killing them immediately as state-based actions
Karn, Silver Golem
5Legendary Artifact Creature — Golem
Can animate opponents' 0-CMC artifact tokens into 0/0 creatures to kill them instantly for 1 mana
Monkey Cage
5Artifact
Artifact that explodes into multiple Ape tokens when a high-CMC creature enters
Tamiyo's Safekeeping
GInstant
Single-target protection for Kibo or Bloodroot Apothecary
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Haste and shroud protection for key commanders/creatures
Rhythm of the Wild
1RGEnchantment
Gives Apes riot (haste or counters) and makes creature spells uncounterable
