edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › March of the Machine Commander

Cavalry Charge

Commander precon · March of the Machine Commander · 2023 · led by Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir

Main theme: Knight tribal · Synergy 4.0/5 (tight) · Bracket 1–2 · Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir works with 40 of its cards

Upgrades at bracket 1–2

No Game Changers and no infinite combos: the level of an unchanged precon. Game Changers are cards on WotC's official list of cards that make a deck much stronger.

8 swaps, and after them the report reads the deck at bracket 1–2.

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 4.0 → 4.1 of 5, still tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.9 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Choked Estuary: Choked Estuary makes only blue or black. Put in Raffine's Tower: Raffine's Tower enters tapped and makes white, blue or black.
  2. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Shineshadow Snarl: Shineshadow Snarl enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Temple of Deceit: Temple of Deceit enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Temple of Enlightenment: Temple of Enlightenment enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Temple of Silence: Temple of Silence enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Promise of Loyalty: Promise of Loyalty is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 1 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Vanquisher's Banner makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Maul of the Skyclaves: Maul of the Skyclaves works with no other card in this deck; Zhalfirin Lancer works with 19 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Zhalfirin Lancer: While you control Zhalfirin Lancer, Wintermoor Commander counts it and gets bigger

Upgrades at bracket 3

Up to three Game Changers, and no two-card infinite combo that costs 6 or less.

11 swaps, and after them the report reads the deck at bracket 3.

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 4.0 → 4.1 of 5, still tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.9 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Choked Estuary: Choked Estuary makes only blue or black. Put in Raffine's Tower: Raffine's Tower enters tapped and makes white, blue or black.
  2. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Shineshadow Snarl: Shineshadow Snarl enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Temple of Deceit: Temple of Deceit enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Temple of Enlightenment: Temple of Enlightenment enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Temple of Silence: Temple of Silence enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Promise of Loyalty: Promise of Loyalty is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 1 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Vanquisher's Banner makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.
  2. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane Signet is weaker ramp than Smothering Tithe. Put in Smothering Tithe: Smothering Tithe is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  3. Take out Fellwar Stone: Fellwar Stone is weaker ramp than Chrome Mox. Put in Chrome Mox: Chrome Mox is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  4. Take out Fractured Powerstone: Fractured Powerstone is weaker ramp than Mana Vault. Put in Mana Vault: Mana Vault is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Maul of the Skyclaves: Maul of the Skyclaves works with no other card in this deck; Zhalfirin Lancer works with 19 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Zhalfirin Lancer: While you control Zhalfirin Lancer, Wintermoor Commander counts it and gets bigger

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

14 swaps, and after them the report reads the deck at bracket 4–5.

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 4.0 → 4.1 of 5, still tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.9 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Choked Estuary: Choked Estuary makes only blue or black. Put in Raffine's Tower: Raffine's Tower enters tapped and makes white, blue or black.
  2. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Shineshadow Snarl: Shineshadow Snarl enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Temple of Deceit: Temple of Deceit enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Temple of Enlightenment: Temple of Enlightenment enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Temple of Silence: Temple of Silence enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Promise of Loyalty: Promise of Loyalty is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 1 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Vanquisher's Banner makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.
  2. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane Signet is weaker ramp than Smothering Tithe. Put in Smothering Tithe: Smothering Tithe is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  3. Take out Fellwar Stone: Fellwar Stone is weaker ramp than Chrome Mox. Put in Chrome Mox: Chrome Mox is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  4. Take out Fractured Powerstone: Fractured Powerstone is weaker ramp than Mana Vault. Put in Mana Vault: Mana Vault is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  5. Take out Ichor Elixir: Ichor Elixir is weaker ramp than Mox Diamond. Put in Mox Diamond: Mox Diamond is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  6. Take out Orzhov Signet: Orzhov Signet is weaker ramp than Grim Monolith. Put in Grim Monolith: Grim Monolith is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Fell the Mighty: Fell the Mighty is weaker board wipe than Cyclonic Rift. Put in Cyclonic Rift: Cyclonic Rift is board wipe too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Maul of the Skyclaves: Maul of the Skyclaves works with no other card in this deck; Zhalfirin Lancer works with 19 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Zhalfirin Lancer: While you control Zhalfirin Lancer, Wintermoor Commander counts it and gets bigger

Opens a route: Windrider Wizard. 7 of its cards reach Vodalian Wave-Knight through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: ramp 12 of 13.

The decklist

Creatures

Acclaimed Contender · Adeline, Resplendent Cathar · Arvad the Cursed · Aryel, Knight of Windgrace · Corpse Knight · Elenda and Azor · Ethersworn Adjudicator · Exsanguinator Cavalry · Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight · Haakon, Stromgald Scourge · Herald of Hoofbeats · Hero of Bladehold · Josu Vess, Lich Knight · Knight Exemplar · Knight of the Last Breath · Knight of the White Orchid · Knights of the Black Rose · Liliana's Standard Bearer · Locthwain Lancer · Midnight Reaper · Murderous Rider // Swift End · Order of Midnight // Alter Fate · Silverwing Squadron · Smitten Swordmaster // Curry Favor · Syr Elenora, the Discerning · Syr Konrad, the Grim · Valiant Knight · Vodalian Wave-Knight · Vona, Butcher of Magan · Wintermoor Commander · Worthy Knight · Xerex Strobe-Knight

Instants and sorceries

Despark · Distant Melody · Fell the Mighty · Painful Truths · Path of the Enigma · Path to Exile · Promise of Loyalty · Pull from Tomorrow · Read the Bones · Return to Dust · Swords to Plowshares · Time Wipe · Unbreakable Formation

Artifacts and enchantments

Arcane Signet · Chivalric Alliance · Commander's Sphere · Conjurer's Mantle · Fellwar Stone · Fractured Powerstone · Herald's Horn · Ichor Elixir · Knights' Charge · Maul of the Skyclaves · Mind Stone · Orzhov Signet · Sigiled Sword of Valeron · Sol Ring · Vanquisher's Banner

Lands

Arcane Sanctum · Bojuka Bog · Choked Estuary · Command Tower · Evolving Wilds · Exotic Orchard · 6 Island · Myriad Landscape · Path of Ancestry · 8 Plains · Port Town · Prairie Stream · Shineshadow Snarl · Sunken Hollow · 5 Swamp · Temple of Deceit · Temple of Enlightenment · Temple of Silence · Temple of the False God · Terramorphic Expanse · Thriving Heath · Thriving Isle · Thriving Moor

Other March of the Machine Commander precons