edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2011

Counterpunch

Commander precon · Commander 2011 · 2011 · led by Ghave, Guru of Spores

Synergy 2.7/5 (developing) · Bracket 3 · Ghave, Guru of Spores works with 16 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.It starts at bracket 3, so the first swap brings it down.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.7 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.0 → 4.6 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, 2 short on card advantage, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

First, to reach bracket 1–2

  1. Take out Aura Shards: Aura Shards is on the official Game Changer list, which raises a deck's bracket; bracket 1–2 allows none, and this deck has 1. Put in High-Society Hunter: Ghave, Guru of Spores removes a counter from High-Society Hunter and makes a token

Lands

  1. Take out Golgari Rot Farm: Golgari Rot Farm enters tapped. Put in Bayou: Bayou never enters tapped and makes black or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Tribute to the Wild: Tribute to the Wild is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Celestial Force: Celestial Force is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 2 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Vampire Nighthawk: Vampire Nighthawk is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Deadly Recluse: Deadly Recluse is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Zahur, Glory's Past: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Zahur, Glory's Past counts as card advantage. Zahur, Glory's Past makes fodder for Ghave, Guru of Spores.
  3. Take out Chorus of the Conclave: Chorus of the Conclave is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Erebos, Bleak-Hearted: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Erebos, Bleak-Hearted counts as card advantage.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple works with 30 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Pious Evangel gains you 1 life
  2. Take out Vow of Wildness: Vow of Wildness works with no other card in this deck; Daxos, Blessed by the Sun works with 27 cards, 8 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.7 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.0 → 4.5 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, 3 short on card advantage, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Golgari Rot Farm: Golgari Rot Farm enters tapped. Put in Bayou: Bayou never enters tapped and makes black or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Tribute to the Wild: Tribute to the Wild is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Celestial Force: Celestial Force is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 2 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Darksteel Ingot: Darksteel Ingot 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.
  4. Take out Golgari Signet: Golgari Signet 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Vampire Nighthawk: Vampire Nighthawk is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Deadly Recluse: Deadly Recluse is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Zahur, Glory's Past: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Zahur, Glory's Past counts as card advantage. Zahur, Glory's Past makes fodder for Ghave, Guru of Spores.
  3. Take out Chorus of the Conclave: Chorus of the Conclave is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Erebos, Bleak-Hearted: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Erebos, Bleak-Hearted counts as card advantage.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple works with 30 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Pious Evangel gains you 1 life
  2. Take out Vow of Wildness: Vow of Wildness works with no other card in this deck; Daxos, Blessed by the Sun works with 27 cards, 8 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.7 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.0 → 4.5 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, 3 short on card advantage, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Golgari Rot Farm: Golgari Rot Farm enters tapped. Put in Bayou: Bayou never enters tapped and makes black or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Tribute to the Wild: Tribute to the Wild is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Celestial Force: Celestial Force is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 2 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Darksteel Ingot: Darksteel Ingot 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.
  4. Take out Golgari Signet: Golgari Signet 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.
  5. Take out Orzhov Signet: Orzhov Signet 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.
  6. Take out Selesnya Signet: Selesnya Signet 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Vampire Nighthawk: Vampire Nighthawk is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Deadly Recluse: Deadly Recluse is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Aura Shards. Put in Zahur, Glory's Past: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Zahur, Glory's Past counts as card advantage. Zahur, Glory's Past makes fodder for Ghave, Guru of Spores.
  3. Take out Chorus of the Conclave: Chorus of the Conclave is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Erebos, Bleak-Hearted: Card advantage: you were 6 short; Erebos, Bleak-Hearted counts as card advantage.
  4. Take out Harmonize: Harmonize is weaker card draw than The One Ring. Put in The One Ring: The One Ring is card draw too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple works with 30 cards, 11 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Pious Evangel gains you 1 life
  2. Take out Vow of Wildness: Vow of Wildness works with no other card in this deck; Daxos, Blessed by the Sun works with 27 cards, 8 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When a Saproling enters thanks to Ghave, Guru of Spores, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life

Opens a route: Swarmborn Giant. 2 of its cards reach Skullclamp through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: card advantage 4 of 10, ramp 10 of 12.

The decklist

Creatures

Aquastrand Spider · Celestial Force · Chorus of the Conclave · Dark Hatchling · Deadly Recluse · Fertilid · Golgari Guildmage · Hornet Queen · Karador, Ghost Chieftain · Monk Realist · Nantuko Husk · Penumbra Spider · Sakura-Tribe Elder · Scavenging Ooze · Selesnya Evangel · Selesnya Guildmage · Shriekmaw · Sigil Captain · Spawnwrithe · Spike Feeder · Squallmonger · Symbiotic Wurm · Teneb, the Harvester · Vampire Nighthawk · Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter · Yavimaya Elder

Instants and sorceries

Afterlife · Alliance of Arms · Bestial Menace · Cobra Trap · Cultivate · Death Mutation · Doom Blade · Footbottom Feast · Harmonize · Hex · Hour of Reckoning · Mortify · Nemesis Trap · Storm Herd · Syphon Flesh · Tribute to the Wild

Artifacts and enchantments

Acorn Catapult · Attrition · Aura Shards · Awakening Zone · Darksteel Ingot · Fists of Ironwood · Golgari Signet · Lightning Greaves · Necrogenesis · Oblivion Ring · Orzhov Signet · Selesnya Signet · Skullclamp · Sol Ring · Soul Snare · Vow of Duty · Vow of Malice · Vow of Wildness

Lands

Barren Moor · Command Tower · Evolving Wilds · 10 Forest · Golgari Rot Farm · Orzhov Basilica · 8 Plains · Rupture Spire · Secluded Steppe · Selesnya Sanctuary · 8 Swamp · Temple of the False God · Tranquil Thicket · Vivid Grove · Vivid Marsh · Vivid Meadow

Other Commander 2011 precons