edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2013

Eternal Bargain

Commander precon · Commander 2013 · 2013 · led by Oloro, Ageless Ascetic

Main theme: Lifegain · Synergy 3.1/5 (connected) · Bracket 3 · Oloro, Ageless Ascetic works with 25 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.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 3.1 → 4.0 of 5, from connected to tight. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.3 of 5, from close to on target; still 6 short on interaction, 1 short on ramp, was 7. 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 Serra Avatar: With Disciple of Griselbrand and Vizkopa Guildmage, Serra Avatar makes an infinite combo, which bracket 1–2 doesn't allow. Put in Marina Vendrell's Grimoire: When Oloro, Ageless Ascetic gains life, Marina Vendrell's Grimoire draws you that many cards

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Orzhov Guildgate: Orzhov Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  5. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Azorius Guildgate: Azorius Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  7. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Sea of Clouds: Sea of Clouds never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  8. Take out Swamp: Swamp makes only black. Put in Godless Shrine: Godless Shrine never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  9. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Scrubland: Scrubland never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Order of Succession: Order of Succession is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 7 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Phial of Galadriel gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  2. Take out Curse of Inertia: Curse of Inertia is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Oasis Gardener: Ramp: you were 7 short; Oasis Gardener counts as ramp. When Oasis Gardener gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  3. Take out Curse of Shallow Graves: Curse of Shallow Graves is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Solar Transformer: Ramp: you were 7 short; Solar Transformer counts as ramp. When Solar Transformer gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  4. Take out Tidal Force: Tidal Force is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Hierophant's Chalice: Ramp: you were 7 short; Hierophant's Chalice counts as ramp. When Hierophant's Chalice gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  5. Take out Crawlspace: Crawlspace is next on the report's cut list. Works with 3 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  6. Take out Tower Gargoyle: Tower Gargoyle 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 Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Brilliant Plan: Brilliant Plan costs 5 where Concentrate costs 4 and gets fewer cards for the mana. Put in Concentrate: Concentrate is the same card draw for 1 less mana and with more cards for the mana.

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together a little more: synergy 3.1 → 3.5 of 5, still connected. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.3 of 5, from close to on target; still 6 short on interaction, 1 short on ramp, was 7. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Orzhov Guildgate: Orzhov Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  5. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Azorius Guildgate: Azorius Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  7. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Sea of Clouds: Sea of Clouds never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  8. Take out Swamp: Swamp makes only black. Put in Godless Shrine: Godless Shrine never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  9. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Scrubland: Scrubland never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Order of Succession: Order of Succession is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 7 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Phial of Galadriel gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  2. Take out Curse of Inertia: Curse of Inertia is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Oasis Gardener: Ramp: you were 7 short; Oasis Gardener counts as ramp. When Oasis Gardener gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  3. Take out Curse of Shallow Graves: Curse of Shallow Graves is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Solar Transformer: Ramp: you were 7 short; Solar Transformer counts as ramp. When Solar Transformer gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  4. Take out Tidal Force: Tidal Force is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Hierophant's Chalice: Ramp: you were 7 short; Hierophant's Chalice counts as ramp. When Hierophant's Chalice gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  5. Take out Crawlspace: Crawlspace is next on the report's cut list. Works with 3 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  6. Take out Tower Gargoyle: Tower Gargoyle 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 Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Brilliant Plan: Brilliant Plan 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.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Famine: Famine 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.

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

17 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 3.1 → 3.5 of 5, still connected. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.3 of 5, from close to on target; still 6 short on interaction, 1 short on ramp, was 7. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  4. Take out Orzhov Guildgate: Orzhov Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fetid Heath: Fetid Heath never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  5. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Azorius Guildgate: Azorius Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  7. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Sea of Clouds: Sea of Clouds never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  8. Take out Swamp: Swamp makes only black. Put in Godless Shrine: Godless Shrine never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  9. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Scrubland: Scrubland never enters tapped and makes white or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Order of Succession: Order of Succession is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 7 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Phial of Galadriel gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  2. Take out Curse of Inertia: Curse of Inertia is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Oasis Gardener: Ramp: you were 7 short; Oasis Gardener counts as ramp. When Oasis Gardener gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  3. Take out Curse of Shallow Graves: Curse of Shallow Graves is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Solar Transformer: Ramp: you were 7 short; Solar Transformer counts as ramp. When Solar Transformer gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  4. Take out Tidal Force: Tidal Force is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Hierophant's Chalice: Ramp: you were 7 short; Hierophant's Chalice counts as ramp. When Hierophant's Chalice gains life, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic draws you 1 card.
  5. Take out Crawlspace: Crawlspace is next on the report's cut list. Works with 3 other cards: with 1 again and again, with 2 just once or in the background. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  6. Take out Tower Gargoyle: Tower Gargoyle 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 Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 7 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Brilliant Plan: Brilliant Plan 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.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Famine: Famine 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.

Opens a route: God-Pharaoh's Faithful. 24 of its cards reach Ajani's Pridemate through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: ramp 4 of 11, interaction 7 of 13.

The decklist

Creatures

Ajani's Pridemate · Augury Adept · Azorius Herald · Disciple of Griselbrand · Diviner Spirit · Divinity of Pride · Filigree Angel · Hooded Horror · Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon" · Marrow Bats · Myr Battlesphere · Phyrexian Delver · Phyrexian Gargantua · Raven Familiar · Razor Hippogriff · Serene Master · Serra Avatar · Sharding Sphinx · Sharuum the Hegemon · Sphinx of the Steel Wind · Stormscape Battlemage · Sydri, Galvanic Genius · Tidal Force · Tidehollow Strix · Tower Gargoyle · Vizkopa Guildmage · Wall of Reverence

Instants and sorceries

Brilliant Plan · Death Grasp · Deep Analysis · Dromar's Charm · Famine · Lim-Dûl's Vault · Order of Succession · Reckless Spite · Spinal Embrace · Survival Cache · Tempt with Immortality · Toxic Deluge

Artifacts and enchantments

Act of Authority · Cradle of Vitality · Crawlspace · Curse of Inertia · Curse of Shallow Graves · Curse of the Forsaken · Darksteel Mutation · Greed · Nevinyrral's Disk · Nihil Spellbomb · Obelisk of Esper · Phyrexian Reclamation · Pristine Talisman · Sanguine Bond · Sol Ring · Sun Droplet · Swiftfoot Boots · Thopter Foundry · Well of Lost Dreams

Lands

Arcane Sanctum · Azorius Chancery · Azorius Guildgate · Barren Moor · Command Tower · Dimir Guildgate · Esper Panorama · Evolving Wilds · 6 Island · Jwar Isle Refuge · Lonely Sandbar · Opal Palace · Orzhov Basilica · Orzhov Guildgate · 9 Plains · Rupture Spire · Springjack Pasture · 9 Swamp · Temple of the False God · Transguild Promenade

Other Commander 2013 precons