edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Forgotten Realms Commander

Draconic Rage

Commander precon · Forgotten Realms Commander · 2021 · led by Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients

Main theme: Dragon tribal · Synergy 4.0/5 (tight) · Bracket 3 · Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients works with 26 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 2 swaps bring it down.

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

Its cards work together a little less: synergy 4.0 → 3.8 of 5, from tight to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.8 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 2 short on interaction, 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 Warstorm Surge: With Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients, Warstorm Surge makes an infinite combo, which bracket 1–2 doesn't allow. Put in Artist's Talent: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Artist's Talent doubles the damage
  2. Take out Scourge of Valkas: With Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients, Scourge of Valkas makes an infinite combo, which bracket 1–2 doesn't allow. Put in Twinflame Tyrant: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Twinflame Tyrant doubles the damage

Lands

  1. Take out Game Trail: Game Trail enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Spire Garden: Spire Garden never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Kindred Summons: Kindred Summons is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vexing Puzzlebox: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Vexing Puzzlebox counts as card advantage. When Vexing Puzzlebox rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  2. Take out Gratuitous Violence: Gratuitous Violence is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Contested Game Ball: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Contested Game Ball counts as card advantage. When Scourge of Valkas is dealt damage, Contested Game Ball untaps itself.

Interaction

  1. Take out Decree of Savagery: Decree of Savagery is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Interaction: you were 6 short; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus counts as interaction.
  2. Take out Maddening Hex: Maddening Hex is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Clay Golem: Interaction: you were 6 short; Clay Golem counts as interaction. When Clay Golem rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  3. Take out Wulfgar of Icewind Dale: Wulfgar of Icewind Dale is next on the report's cut list. Works with 10 other cards: with 8 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Slight Malfunction: Interaction: you were 6 short; Slight Malfunction counts as interaction. When Slight Malfunction rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  4. Take out Neverwinter Hydra: Neverwinter Hydra is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Chomping Changeling: Interaction: you were 6 short; Chomping Changeling counts as interaction.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Indomitable Might: Indomitable Might works with no other card in this deck; Quest for Pure Flame works with 15 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Quest for Pure Flame: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Quest for Pure Flame doubles the damage
  2. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Soul-Scar Mage doubles the damage
  3. Take out Berserker's Frenzy: Berserker's Frenzy works with 2 cards in this deck, all of them on its theme; Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it. Put in Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage doubles the damage

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 4.0 → 4.3 of 5, still tight. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.9 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 1 short on interaction, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Game Trail: Game Trail enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Spire Garden: Spire Garden never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Ramp

  1. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane 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.
  2. Take out Gruul Signet: Gruul 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Kindred Summons: Kindred Summons is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vexing Puzzlebox: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Vexing Puzzlebox counts as card advantage. When Vexing Puzzlebox rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  2. Take out Gratuitous Violence: Gratuitous Violence is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Artist's Talent: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Artist's Talent counts as card advantage. When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Artist's Talent doubles the damage.
  3. Take out Colossal Majesty: Colossal Majesty 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.

Interaction

  1. Take out Decree of Savagery: Decree of Savagery is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Interaction: you were 6 short; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus counts as interaction.
  2. Take out Maddening Hex: Maddening Hex is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Clay Golem: Interaction: you were 6 short; Clay Golem counts as interaction. When Clay Golem rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  3. Take out Wulfgar of Icewind Dale: Wulfgar of Icewind Dale is next on the report's cut list. Works with 10 other cards: with 8 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Slight Malfunction: Interaction: you were 6 short; Slight Malfunction counts as interaction. When Slight Malfunction rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  4. Take out Neverwinter Hydra: Neverwinter Hydra is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Chomping Changeling: Interaction: you were 6 short; Chomping Changeling counts as interaction.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Indomitable Might: Indomitable Might works with no other card in this deck; Quest for Pure Flame works with 15 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Quest for Pure Flame: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Quest for Pure Flame doubles the damage
  2. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Soul-Scar Mage doubles the damage
  3. Take out Berserker's Frenzy: Berserker's Frenzy works with 2 cards in this deck, all of them on its theme; Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it. Put in Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage doubles the damage

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

14 swaps, and after them the report reads the deck at bracket 3. These are the same swaps as at bracket 3: none of the stronger cards bracket 4–5 allows does any of these jobs strictly better, so aiming higher changes nothing for this deck.

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 4.0 → 4.3 of 5, still tight. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.9 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 1 short on interaction, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Game Trail: Game Trail enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Spire Garden: Spire Garden never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Ramp

  1. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane 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.
  2. Take out Gruul Signet: Gruul 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Kindred Summons: Kindred Summons is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vexing Puzzlebox: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Vexing Puzzlebox counts as card advantage. When Vexing Puzzlebox rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  2. Take out Gratuitous Violence: Gratuitous Violence is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Artist's Talent: Card advantage: you were 2 short; Artist's Talent counts as card advantage. When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Artist's Talent doubles the damage.
  3. Take out Colossal Majesty: Colossal Majesty 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.

Interaction

  1. Take out Decree of Savagery: Decree of Savagery is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Interaction: you were 6 short; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus counts as interaction.
  2. Take out Maddening Hex: Maddening Hex is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Clay Golem: Interaction: you were 6 short; Clay Golem counts as interaction. When Clay Golem rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  3. Take out Wulfgar of Icewind Dale: Wulfgar of Icewind Dale is next on the report's cut list. Works with 10 other cards: with 8 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Slight Malfunction: Interaction: you were 6 short; Slight Malfunction counts as interaction. When Slight Malfunction rolls a die, Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients deals 1 damage.
  4. Take out Neverwinter Hydra: Neverwinter Hydra is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Chomping Changeling: Interaction: you were 6 short; Chomping Changeling counts as interaction.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Indomitable Might: Indomitable Might works with no other card in this deck; Quest for Pure Flame works with 15 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Quest for Pure Flame: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Quest for Pure Flame doubles the damage
  2. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Soul-Scar Mage doubles the damage
  3. Take out Berserker's Frenzy: Berserker's Frenzy works with 2 cards in this deck, all of them on its theme; Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage works with 20 cards, 15 of them on it. Put in Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage: When Scourge of Valkas deals noncombat damage, Tomik, Izzet Sparkmage doubles the damage

Opens a route: War Elemental. 1 of its cards reach Outpost Siege through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: interaction 6 of 12, card advantage 12 of 14.

The decklist

Creatures

Anger · Atarka, World Render · Bogardan Hellkite · Chameleon Colossus · Chaos Dragon · Demanding Dragon · Dragonborn Champion · Dragonlord's Servant · Dragonmaster Outcast · Dragonspeaker Shaman · Druid of Purification · Earth-Cult Elemental · Hoard-Smelter Dragon · Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient · Neverwinter Hydra · Opportunistic Dragon · Savage Ventmaw · Scourge of Valkas · Shivan Hellkite · Skyline Despot · Skyship Stalker · Taurean Mauler · Terror of Mount Velus · Thunderbreak Regent · Vengeful Ancestor · Wulfgar of Icewind Dale

Instants and sorceries

Beast Within · Berserker's Frenzy · Chain Reaction · Cultivate · Decree of Savagery · Explore · Kindred Summons · Klauth's Will · Magmaquake · Rampant Growth · Return of the Wildspeaker · Return to Nature · Rile · Rishkar's Expertise · Shamanic Revelation · Spit Flame · Wild Endeavor

Artifacts and enchantments

Arcane Signet · Bag of Tricks · Barbarian Class · Colossal Majesty · Commander's Sphere · Component Pouch · Dragon's Hoard · Garruk's Uprising · Gratuitous Violence · Gruul Signet · Heirloom Blade · Indomitable Might · Maddening Hex · Outpost Siege · Sol Ring · Sword of Hours · Warstorm Surge

Lands

Cinder Glade · Command Tower · Crucible of the Spirit Dragon · Desert · Exotic Orchard · 15 Forest · Game Trail · Gruul Turf · Haven of the Spirit Dragon · Mossfire Valley · Mosswort Bridge · 12 Mountain · Path of Ancestry · Underdark Rift

Other Forgotten Realms Commander precons