edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Forgotten Realms Commander

Dungeons of Death

Commander precon · Forgotten Realms Commander · 2021 · led by Sefris of the Hidden Ways

Main theme: Creatures matter · Synergy 3.8/5 (connected) · Bracket 3 · Sefris of the Hidden Ways works with 37 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 a little more: synergy 3.8 → 4.2 of 5, from connected to tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.8 → 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.

First, to reach bracket 1–2

  1. Take out Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker: With Radiant Solar, Karmic Guide and Phantom Steed, Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker makes an infinite combo, which bracket 1–2 doesn't allow. Put in Pious Evangel // Wayward Disciple: When a permanent hits the graveyard thanks to Pious Evangel, Sefris of the Hidden Ways triggers

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 Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  4. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  5. 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 Immovable Rod: Immovable Rod is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Extract Brain: Extract Brain is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Rod of Absorption. Put in Dimir Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Dimir Signet counts as ramp.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Rod of Absorption: Rod of Absorption works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Ayara, First of Locthwain: When a creature hits the graveyard thanks to Ayara, First of Locthwain, Sefris of the Hidden Ways triggers
  2. Take out Midnight Pathlighter: Midnight Pathlighter works with 2 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life
  3. Take out Reassembling Skeleton: Reassembling Skeleton works with 8 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Haliya, Guided by Light: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Haliya, Guided by Light gains you 1 life

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 3.8 → 4.2 of 5, from connected to tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.8 → 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 Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  4. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  5. 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 Immovable Rod: Immovable Rod is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Extract Brain: Extract Brain is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Rod of Absorption. Put in Dimir Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Dimir Signet counts as ramp.
  3. 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.
  4. Take out Bucknard's Everfull Purse: Bucknard's Everfull Purse 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 Component Pouch: Component Pouch 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 Rod of Absorption: Rod of Absorption works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Ayara, First of Locthwain: When a creature hits the graveyard thanks to Ayara, First of Locthwain, Sefris of the Hidden Ways triggers
  2. Take out Midnight Pathlighter: Midnight Pathlighter works with 2 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life
  3. Take out Reassembling Skeleton: Reassembling Skeleton works with 8 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Haliya, Guided by Light: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Haliya, Guided by Light gains you 1 life

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 3.8 → 4.4 of 5, from connected to tight. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.8 → 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 Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  4. Take out Port Town: Port Town enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  5. 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 Immovable Rod: Immovable Rod is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Extract Brain: Extract Brain is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Rod of Absorption. Put in Dimir Signet: Ramp: you were 2 short; Dimir Signet counts as ramp.
  3. 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.
  4. Take out Bucknard's Everfull Purse: Bucknard's Everfull Purse 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 Component Pouch: Component Pouch 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 Dungeon Map: Dungeon Map 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.
  7. Take out Minimus Containment: Minimus Containment is weaker ramp than Lion's Eye Diamond. Put in Lion's Eye Diamond: Lion's Eye Diamond is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Arcane Endeavor: Arcane Endeavor is weaker card draw than Rhystic Study. Put in Rhystic Study: Rhystic Study 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 Rod of Absorption: Rod of Absorption works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Ayara, First of Locthwain: When a creature hits the graveyard thanks to Ayara, First of Locthwain, Sefris of the Hidden Ways triggers
  2. Take out Midnight Pathlighter: Midnight Pathlighter works with 2 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Daxos, Blessed by the Sun: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun gains you 1 life
  3. Take out Reassembling Skeleton: Reassembling Skeleton works with 8 cards in this deck, 1 of them on its theme. Put in Haliya, Guided by Light: When Sefris of the Hidden Ways enters, Haliya, Guided by Light gains you 1 life

Opens a route: Baron Helmut Zemo. 9 of its cards reach Curator of Mysteries through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: ramp 11 of 13.

The decklist

Creatures

Ashen Rider · Baleful Strix · Burnished Hart · Cataclysmic Gearhulk · Champion of Wits · Clay Golem · Cloudblazer · Curator of Mysteries · Doomed Necromancer · Eternal Dragon · Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker · Hostage Taker · Karmic Guide · Merfolk Looter · Meteor Golem · Midnight Pathlighter · Minn, Wily Illusionist · Mulldrifter · Murder of Crows · Necrotic Sliver · Nihiloor · Obsessive Stitcher · Phantasmal Image · Phantom Steed · Plaguecrafter · Radiant Solar · Reassembling Skeleton · Ronom Unicorn · Shriekmaw · Solemn Simulacrum · Sun Titan · Sunblast Angel · Wall of Omens

Instants and sorceries

Arcane Endeavor · Despark · Extract Brain · Forbidden Alchemy · Grave Endeavor · Necromantic Selection · Revivify · Swords to Plowshares · Unburial Rites · Utter End · Vanish into Memory · Victimize

Artifacts and enchantments

Arcane Signet · Bucknard's Everfull Purse · Commander's Sphere · Component Pouch · Dungeon Map · Fellwar Stone · Immovable Rod · Lightning Greaves · Minimus Containment · Propaganda · Rod of Absorption · Sol Ring · Thorough Investigation · Wand of Orcus · Wayfarer's Bauble

Lands

Arcane Sanctum · Azorius Chancery · Choked Estuary · Command Tower · Darkwater Catacombs · Dimir Aqueduct · Esper Panorama · Evolving Wilds · Exotic Orchard · Geier Reach Sanitarium · High Market · 5 Island · Nimbus Maze · Orzhov Basilica · 7 Plains · Port Town · Prairie Stream · Sunken Hollow · 7 Swamp · Terramorphic Expanse · Thriving Heath · Thriving Isle · Thriving Moor

Other Forgotten Realms Commander precons