edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Secret Lair Drop

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

Commander precon · Secret Lair Drop · 2022 · led by Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom and Okaun, Eye of Chaos

Main theme: flip coin · Synergy 2.1/5 (developing) · Bracket 3 · Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom works with 7 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.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.1 → 3.0 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.6 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp, no longer short on interaction. 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 Gamble: Gamble 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 Breeches, the Blastmaker: Breeches, the Blastmaker puts cards into the graveyard that Goblin Engineer can bring back

Lands

  1. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Temple of Epiphany: Temple of Epiphany enters tapped. Put in Steam Vents: Steam Vents never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  3. Take out Sulfur Falls: Sulfur Falls can enter tapped. Put in Volcanic Island: Volcanic Island never enters tapped and makes blue or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Chandra's Ignition: Chandra's Ignition is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 4 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. Goblin Engineer can search up Phial of Galadriel.
  2. Take out Seize the Day: Seize the Day is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Temur Battle Rage: Temur Battle Rage is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Aetheric Amplifier: Ramp: you were 4 short; Aetheric Amplifier counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Planar Chaos: Planar Chaos is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Agility Bobblehead: Ramp: you were 4 short; Agility Bobblehead counts as ramp.

Interaction

  1. Take out Footfall Crater: Footfall Crater is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Judgment Bolt: Interaction: you were 1 short; Judgment Bolt counts as interaction. When you cast Judgment Bolt, it counts Lightning Greaves and deals more damage.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Chance Encounter: Chance Encounter works with no other card in this deck; Diviner's Wand works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Diviner's Wand: Goblin Engineer can search up Diviner's Wand
  2. Take out Mogg Assassin: Mogg Assassin works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Vnwxt, Verbose Host works with 17 cards, 13 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, Vnwxt, Verbose Host draws you 2 cards
  3. Take out Bloodsworn Steward: Bloodsworn Steward works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Toothy, Imaginary Friend works with 18 cards, 12 of them on it. Put in Toothy, Imaginary Friend: When Toothy, Imaginary Friend makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  4. Take out Frenetic Sliver: Frenetic Sliver works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Lyla, Holographic Assistant: Goblin Engineer can search up Lyla, Holographic Assistant

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.1 → 2.9 of 5, still developing. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.6 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp, no longer short on interaction. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Temple of Epiphany: Temple of Epiphany enters tapped. Put in Steam Vents: Steam Vents never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  3. Take out Sulfur Falls: Sulfur Falls can enter tapped. Put in Volcanic Island: Volcanic Island never enters tapped and makes blue or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Chandra's Ignition: Chandra's Ignition is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 4 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. Goblin Engineer can search up Phial of Galadriel.
  2. Take out Seize the Day: Seize the Day is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Temur Battle Rage: Temur Battle Rage is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Aetheric Amplifier: Ramp: you were 4 short; Aetheric Amplifier counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Planar Chaos: Planar Chaos is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Agility Bobblehead: Ramp: you were 4 short; Agility Bobblehead counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Long-Term Plans: Long-Term Plans is weaker card search than Mystical Tutor. Put in Mystical Tutor: Mystical Tutor is card search too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Interaction

  1. Take out Footfall Crater: Footfall Crater is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Judgment Bolt: Interaction: you were 1 short; Judgment Bolt counts as interaction. When you cast Judgment Bolt, it counts Lightning Greaves and deals more damage.
  2. Take out Counterspell: Counterspell is weaker counterspell than Force of Will. Put in Force of Will: Force of Will is counterspell too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Risky Move: Risky Move works with no other card in this deck; Breeches, the Blastmaker works with 28 cards, 15 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Breeches, the Blastmaker: Breeches, the Blastmaker puts cards into the graveyard that Goblin Engineer can bring back
  2. Take out Chance Encounter: Chance Encounter works with no other card in this deck; Diviner's Wand works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Diviner's Wand: Goblin Engineer can search up Diviner's Wand
  3. Take out Mogg Assassin: Mogg Assassin works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Vnwxt, Verbose Host works with 17 cards, 13 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, Vnwxt, Verbose Host draws you 2 cards
  4. Take out Bloodsworn Steward: Bloodsworn Steward works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Toothy, Imaginary Friend works with 18 cards, 12 of them on it. Put in Toothy, Imaginary Friend: When Toothy, Imaginary Friend makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  5. Take out Frenetic Sliver: Frenetic Sliver works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Lyla, Holographic Assistant: Goblin Engineer can search up Lyla, Holographic Assistant

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.1 → 2.9 of 5, still developing. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.6 → 5.0 of 5, still on target; no longer short on ramp, no longer short on interaction. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Temple of Epiphany: Temple of Epiphany enters tapped. Put in Steam Vents: Steam Vents never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  3. Take out Sulfur Falls: Sulfur Falls can enter tapped. Put in Volcanic Island: Volcanic Island never enters tapped and makes blue or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Chandra's Ignition: Chandra's Ignition is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 4 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. Goblin Engineer can search up Phial of Galadriel.
  2. Take out Seize the Day: Seize the Day is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Temur Battle Rage: Temur Battle Rage is next on the report's cut list. It works with other cards only once, when it is played: with Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Krark, the Thumbless. Put in Aetheric Amplifier: Ramp: you were 4 short; Aetheric Amplifier counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Planar Chaos: Planar Chaos is next on the report's cut list. Works with 1 other card: with 1 again and again. Put in Agility Bobblehead: Ramp: you were 4 short; Agility Bobblehead counts as ramp.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Long-Term Plans: Long-Term Plans is weaker card search than Mystical Tutor. Put in Mystical Tutor: Mystical Tutor is card search too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Interaction

  1. Take out Footfall Crater: Footfall Crater is next on the report's cut list. Works with 2 other cards: with 2 again and again. Put in Judgment Bolt: Interaction: you were 1 short; Judgment Bolt counts as interaction. When you cast Judgment Bolt, it counts Lightning Greaves and deals more damage.
  2. Take out Counterspell: Counterspell is weaker counterspell than Force of Will. Put in Force of Will: Force of Will is counterspell too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  3. Take out Negate: Negate is weaker counterspell than Fierce Guardianship. Put in Fierce Guardianship: Fierce Guardianship is counterspell too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Blasphemous Act: Blasphemous Act 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 Risky Move: Risky Move works with no other card in this deck; Breeches, the Blastmaker works with 28 cards, 15 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Breeches, the Blastmaker: Breeches, the Blastmaker puts cards into the graveyard that Goblin Engineer can bring back
  2. Take out Chance Encounter: Chance Encounter works with no other card in this deck; Diviner's Wand works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Diviner's Wand: Goblin Engineer can search up Diviner's Wand
  3. Take out Mogg Assassin: Mogg Assassin works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Vnwxt, Verbose Host works with 17 cards, 13 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, Vnwxt, Verbose Host draws you 2 cards
  4. Take out Bloodsworn Steward: Bloodsworn Steward works with 4 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Toothy, Imaginary Friend works with 18 cards, 12 of them on it. Put in Toothy, Imaginary Friend: When Toothy, Imaginary Friend makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  5. Take out Frenetic Sliver: Frenetic Sliver works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme. Put in Lyla, Holographic Assistant: Goblin Engineer can search up Lyla, Holographic Assistant

Opens a route: Windrider Wizard. 2 of its cards reach Niv-Mizzet, Parun through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: ramp 9 of 13, interaction 11 of 12.

The decklist

Creatures

Bloodsworn Steward · Frenetic Sliver · Goblin Archaeologist · Goblin Engineer · Goblin Kaboomist · Karplusan Minotaur · Krark, the Thumbless · Mogg Assassin · Niv-Mizzet, Parun · Sakashima the Impostor · Spark Double · Tavern Scoundrel · The Locust God · Tribute Mage · Yusri, Fortune's Flame

Planeswalkers

Daretti, Scrap Savant · Ral Zarek

Instants and sorceries

Blasphemous Act · Chandra's Ignition · Chaos Warp · Counterspell · Fabricate · Fiery Gambit · Gamble · Long-Term Plans · Muddle the Mixture · Negate · Ponder · Preordain · Reshape · Seize the Day · Serum Visions · Slip Through Space · Squee's Revenge · Stitch in Time · Temur Battle Rage · Vandalblast · Whir of Invention

Artifacts and enchantments

Arcane Signet · Boompile · Chance Encounter · Commander's Plate · Crooked Scales · Embercleave · Footfall Crater · Impulsive Maneuvers · Izzet Signet · Krark's Thumb · Lightning Greaves · Mind Stone · Mirror March · Planar Chaos · Propaganda · Risky Move · Shadowspear · Sol Ring · Swiftfoot Boots · Sword of Vengeance · Talisman of Creativity · Thought Vessel · Whispersilk Cloak

Lands

Academy Ruins · Buried Ruin · Cascade Bluffs · Command Tower · Desolate Lighthouse · Exotic Orchard · Flamekin Village · Great Furnace · Inventors' Fair · 7 Island · Izzet Boilerworks · 8 Mountain · Myriad Landscape · Path of Ancestry · Reliquary Tower · Rogue's Passage · Shivan Reef · Spinerock Knoll · Sulfur Falls · Temple of Epiphany · Temple of the False God · Tolaria West · Training Center · Wandering Fumarole

Other Secret Lair Drop precons