Pongify
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Instant
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Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander (TDC)
Pongify shows a +20.2 percentage-point win-rate delta between games where it's cast (53.6%) and games where it sits in the library all game (33.3%), the strongest early signal of impact we track for a one-mana removal spell.
Pongify costs one blue mana and destroys any creature, leaving a 3/3 Ape token in its place. Across 123 tracked games on Playgroup Live, decks that cast it won 53.6% of their participations, compared to 33.3% when the card never left the library. That +20.2-point delta is a directional signal worth paying attention to, even as the sample remains small.
The card sits in only 5% of tracked decks, so it is far from a staple. But those who run it clearly deploy it at high-leverage moments. The median first-cast turn is 7, and 41% of drawn copies are cast the same turn they are drawn. The other 59% wait a median of one additional turn before being used, consistent with a removal spell held until the right threat appears.
Battlefield stickiness is near zero, as expected for an instant: Pongify resolves, goes to the graveyard, and leaves a 3/3 Ape behind for the opponent. The graveyard is the final destination for 26 of the 130 instances brought to games. Its strongest representation is in mono-blue and Simic commanders, where creature removal is otherwise hardest to find.
- 5% inclusion rate across tracked Commander decks
- +20.2pp win-rate lift when cast vs. sitting in the library all game
- 76% of drawn Pongifies are cast before the game ends
- T7 median first-cast turn, reflecting reactive play patterns
- 41% of drawn copies cast the same turn they are drawn
- 28 total casts observed across 123 tracked games
First-cast turn
n=39The "good card" funnel
196 broughtOf 130 Pongify instances brought to games, 29 were drawn, 28 of those were cast, and just 1 remained on the battlefield at game's end, as expected for an instant that resolves immediately.
Players who cast this card win 56% of the time (n=39) , vs 37% when it never left the library (n=139).
Final zone distribution
196 instances93 of 130 Pongify instances ended in the library, the expected structural outcome for a singleton in a 100-card deck. The 26 graveyard finishes confirm it resolves and fires when it does get drawn.
Top commanders running this card
by deck count-
1
Quandrix, the Proof
9 decks
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2
Krang, the All-Powerful
8 decks
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3
Lonis, Cryptozoologist
8 decks
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4
Omo, Queen of Vesuva
7 decks
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5
Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph
6 decks
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6
Vivi Ornitier
6 decks
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7
Xyris, the Writhing Storm
6 decks
-
8
Flubs, the Fool
5 decks
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9
Prismari, the Inspiration
5 decks
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10
Rielle, the Everwise
5 decks
The commander distribution is moderately concentrated at the top, with Krang and Lonis each at 8 decks, but it spreads across at least 10 distinct commanders, most of them Simic or mono-blue.
How often is Pongify drawn in a Commander game? ▾
Pongify was drawn in 29 of the 130 instances it was brought to tracked games, a draw rate of 22.3%. That is normal for a singleton in a 100-card deck. Of those 29 drawn copies, 28 were cast before the game ended, giving a draw-to-play rate of 75.9%. Players rarely hold it once they have it in hand.
Does casting Pongify actually correlate with winning? ▾
In 28 participations where Pongify was cast, the player won 15 times, a win rate of 53.6%. In 93 participations where it stayed in the library, the win rate was 33.3%. The delta is +20.2 percentage points. Both sample sizes are below the threshold for a conclusive claim, so treat this as a directional signal. The baseline win rate in a 4-player pod is roughly 25%, so both numbers are above baseline.
What turn does Pongify usually get cast? ▾
The median first-cast turn is 7, with the middle 50% of casts falling between turns 5 and 8. Only 1 of 28 observed casts happened on turn 1. This is consistent with Pongify being held reactively until a high-value target presents itself, rather than used at the first opportunity.
Why is Pongify used in Commander if it gives the opponent a 3/3 Ape? ▾
Blue is the color least equipped for creature removal in Commander. One mana to destroy any creature, with no targeting restriction, is a rate that blue decks rarely get access to. The 3/3 Ape token is a real cost, but opponents' commanders and key creatures routinely outclass a vanilla 3/3. In mono-blue and Simic shells especially, Pongify fills a removal slot that would otherwise be empty.
Is Pongify legal in Commander? ▾
Yes, Pongify is legal in Commander with no restrictions. It is also legal in Legacy, Modern, Vintage, Historic, Timeless, and several other formats. It is not legal in Standard, Pioneer, Pauper, or Pauper Commander.
Which commanders most commonly run Pongify? ▾
Krang, the All-Powerful and Lonis, Cryptozoologist each lead with 8 decks in the Playgroup Live sample, followed by Quandrix, the Proof at 7 and Xyris, the Writhing Storm at 6. The pattern skews toward Simic and mono-blue commanders, where instant-speed creature removal is scarce and the cost of giving up a 3/3 Ape is most acceptable.