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Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant: Deck Archetype Performance Breakdown
In the sprawling multiverse of Commander, there are a few choices that feel mischievous, clever, and just a tad cheeky all at once. Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant is one of those curiosities that invites players to contemplate tempo, control, and the accidental snowball of value from a single, low-cost artifact. With a mere single mana and a flash aura, this legendary artifact can tilt the board in surprising ways, especially when paired with decks that lean into stalling, recycling, or artifact-centric engines. 🧙♂️🔥💎
What the card does, in plain terms
Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant is a rare, colorless legendary artifact from the Dominaria United Commander set. It costs {1} and has the word Flash, which immediately signals surprise interrupts and tempo plays. Its first power is a game-slowing kicker: If a player would begin an extra turn, that player skips that turn instead. That means the Pendant acts as a pseudo-staxy clockbreaker for anyone who tries to push a second, or even seventh, turn in a given round. The real value, though, often shows up in its rear-guard ability: for {4} and tap, you exile Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant to return to the battlefield tapped all artifact, creature, enchantment, and land cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn. It’s a one-time reset button with a very specific timing window, which can spark explosive value when used thoughtfully. 🎲⚔️
Two practical takeaways emerge immediately. First, the pendant doesn’t care about color or your command zone—it's a clean, colorless tool that interacts with the game’s tempo in a way most nonland removals can only dream of achieving. Second, its final ability rewards careful planning around what you’ve sacrificed to the grave this turn; you’ll want to orchestrate a play that makes the most of a “graveyard reassemble” moment rather than a random reanimate jumble.
Archetype performance: where Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant shines
- Prison and stax-heavy decks — The extra-turn sap is a built-in counter to opponents who rely on chain-plays or wheel effects to reset their resources. In a tempo-leaning prison shell, this artifact buys critical moments to tax, tax again, and then reset the pace with a covert tempo swing. It pairs nicely with token producers, land denial, and resource-rich hand disruption that keeps opponents from flipping the script. The ability to deny an extra turn while preparing a swing-back makes it an intriguing tempo anchor in long games.
- Artifact-centric graveyard engines — If your deck stacks artifacts in the graveyard or regularly recycles them via sac outlets, Gerrard's ability to return those cards on a turn you choose can be devastatingly efficient. You can set up turns where you exile the Pendant, recapture multiple artifacts, and refill your battlefield with essential threats or accelerants—often tapping out opponents’ defenses in the process. The synergy is particularly clean when the deck contains multiple artifacts that fetch value upon re-entry or that create loop-like effects when returned tapped.
- Budget-friendly commander shells — Despite its niche, Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant sits in a budget-friendly spectrum, with EDHREC and price data pointing to a mid-range value that doesn’t require a top-end staple collection to leverage. Its rarity is a reminder that powerful asymmetry can live inside a compact mana cost, making it an appealing inclusion for players building around a theme rather than raw power. In a world where speed often dictates the table, this card’s slow, strategic play can shine in multi-player formats. 💎
- Graveyard-recycling and synergy decks — The first effect is a tempo anchor in decks that lean into “graveyard recursions” for artifacts and utility permanents. The second effect, while conditional, rewards a plan that already has a machine-like feel: you orchestrate a turn where your graveyard is full of the right cards to pull back, and you’re ready to slam a captured battlefield with artifacts, creatures, and lands that matter for your strategy. In practice, this is less about brute force and more about timed, engine-driven plays that swing the entire table in your favor. 🧙♂️
Playstyle guidance: how to maximize impact
- Count your extras — Since the pendant’s first ability hinges on players beginning extra turns, the best value comes when the table frequently edges into extra turns due to blink effects, untap tricks, or command-zone snowballing. Use the moment to either close lines of play or set up your next big return from the grave. 🧭
- Plan your exile turn — The exile-and-return effect is powerful when timed to recover a handful of key permanents that were just put into the graveyard that turn. A well-timed exile can re-weave your engine just as you need it, especially if you have a handful of artifacts that become threats upon re-entry. Think ahead about which cards you want back on the battlefield tapped to maximize board impact.
- Keep flash-enabled surprises — Flash is a built-in surprise factor. Save a few answers for opponents who might try to push a game-winning line during your opponents’ turns, and be prepared to throw in a late-game tempo swing when the moment arises. 🧙♂️⚔️
- Curate your graveyard — If you intend to use the second ability, track what you’ve put there this turn. Cards that matter upon re-entering, or that benefit from being tapped on entry, will multiply the payoff. A deliberate graveyard build helps you turn Gerrard’s Pendant from a tempo tool into a board-reset engine.
Flavor, lore, and design notes
The Hourglass motif evokes a timeless theme: time itself can be bent, paused, or reset with the right artifact. Sam Burley’s artwork gives the piece a ceremonial gravitas befitting a legendary artifact—one that can literally pause a tournament’s tempo and force players to rethink their lines. The set within Dominaria United Commander nods to relationships between history and power, where even a moment’s delay can change the course of a game. The card’s colorless identity reinforces the idea that raw timing and cunning can outpace color-based plans—an appealing rule-breaker for many players who enjoy tinkering with archetypes beyond the usual wheelhouse. 🎨
Market snapshot and deck-building notes
As a rare, Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant sits at a modest price point, with market estimates around a dollar or so in USD and a similar footprint in Euro. While not a staple of every table, its niche utility makes it a delightful pick for commanders who like to bend the rules of tempo and resource management. Its presence in a deck can also signal to opponents that you value timing and sequencing as much as raw card power. For those who track deck-building analytics, its edhrec_rank sits in the mid-range comfort zone—enough to be noticed without dominating the conversation. ⚡
In terms of the broader Commander landscape, Gerrard’s Hourglass Pendant offers a unique lens on how artifacts and graveyard interactions can be exploited to create powerful, but carefully drafted, game states. If you’re planning a strategy that thrives on disruption, tempo, and a dash of misdirection, this artifact is a worthy companion. And if you’re scouting accessories for your gaming desk, consider the practical upgrade of a reliable non-slip mouse pad—our pick helps keep your hands steady during those tense, thinky turns. 🧙♂️🎲
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