edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2013

Nature of the Beast

Commander precon · Commander 2013 · 2013 · led by Marath, Will of the Wild

Main theme: Landfall · Synergy 2.4/5 (developing) · Bracket 1–2 · Marath, Will of the Wild works with 2 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.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.4 → 3.2 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.2 of 5, from close to on target; 6 short on card advantage, was 7, still 2 short on interaction, 2 short on ramp, was 6. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out New Benalia: New Benalia enters tapped and makes only white. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Guildgate: Selesnya Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Savannah: Savannah never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Sungrass Prairie: Sungrass Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  4. Take out Gruul Guildgate: Gruul Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  5. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Boros Guildgate: Boros Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Mystic Barrier: Mystic Barrier is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest: Ramp: you were 6 short; Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest counts as ramp. When a land enters thanks to Fetch Quest, Rampaging Baloths makes a token.
  2. Take out Curse of Predation: Curse of Predation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Curse of the Forsaken: Curse of the Forsaken is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fiery Justice: Fiery Justice is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 6 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Behemoth Sledge: Behemoth Sledge works with no other card in this deck; Woodland Liege works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Woodland Liege: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Woodland Liege draws you 1 card
  2. Take out Druidic Satchel: Druidic Satchel works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Emeria Shepherd works with 15 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Emeria Shepherd: When Avenger of Zendikar enters thanks to Emeria Shepherd, it makes a token
  3. Take out One Dozen Eyes: One Dozen Eyes works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Icetill Explorer works with 7 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Icetill Explorer: Icetill Explorer puts cards into the graveyard that Restore can bring back
  4. Take out Witch Hunt: Witch Hunt works with no other card in this deck; Totem Speaker works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Totem Speaker: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Totem Speaker gains you 3 life

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 more: synergy 2.4 → 3.2 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.3 of 5, from close to on target; 6 short on card advantage, was 7, 2 short on ramp, was 6, 1 short on interaction, was 2. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out New Benalia: New Benalia enters tapped and makes only white. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Guildgate: Selesnya Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Savannah: Savannah never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Sungrass Prairie: Sungrass Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  4. Take out Gruul Guildgate: Gruul Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  5. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Boros Guildgate: Boros Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Mystic Barrier: Mystic Barrier is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest: Ramp: you were 6 short; Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest counts as ramp. When a land enters thanks to Fetch Quest, Rampaging Baloths makes a token.
  2. Take out Curse of Predation: Curse of Predation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Curse of the Forsaken: Curse of the Forsaken is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fiery Justice: Fiery Justice is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 6 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  5. Take out Sol Ring: Sol Ring 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.

Card advantage

  1. 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.

Interaction

  1. Take out Hull Breach: Hull Breach is weaker removal than Aura Shards. Put in Aura Shards: Aura Shards is removal too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Behemoth Sledge: Behemoth Sledge works with no other card in this deck; Woodland Liege works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Woodland Liege: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Woodland Liege draws you 1 card
  2. Take out Druidic Satchel: Druidic Satchel works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Emeria Shepherd works with 15 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Emeria Shepherd: When Avenger of Zendikar enters thanks to Emeria Shepherd, it makes a token
  3. Take out One Dozen Eyes: One Dozen Eyes works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Icetill Explorer works with 7 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Icetill Explorer: Icetill Explorer puts cards into the graveyard that Restore can bring back
  4. Take out Witch Hunt: Witch Hunt works with no other card in this deck; Totem Speaker works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Totem Speaker: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Totem Speaker gains you 3 life

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 more: synergy 2.4 → 3.2 of 5, from developing to connected. It is more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.3 of 5, from close to on target; 6 short on card advantage, was 7, 2 short on ramp, was 6, 1 short on interaction, was 2. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out New Benalia: New Benalia enters tapped and makes only white. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  2. Take out Selesnya Guildgate: Selesnya Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Savannah: Savannah never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  3. Take out Selesnya Sanctuary: Selesnya Sanctuary enters tapped. Put in Sungrass Prairie: Sungrass Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  4. Take out Gruul Guildgate: Gruul Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  5. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Boros Guildgate: Boros Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Mystic Barrier: Mystic Barrier is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest: Ramp: you were 6 short; Bramble Familiar // Fetch Quest counts as ramp. When a land enters thanks to Fetch Quest, Rampaging Baloths makes a token.
  2. Take out Curse of Predation: Curse of Predation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Curse of the Forsaken: Curse of the Forsaken is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fiery Justice: Fiery Justice is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 6 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  5. Take out Sol Ring: Sol Ring 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.

Card advantage

  1. 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.

Interaction

  1. Take out Hull Breach: Hull Breach is weaker removal than Aura Shards. Put in Aura Shards: Aura Shards is removal too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Behemoth Sledge: Behemoth Sledge works with no other card in this deck; Woodland Liege works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Woodland Liege: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Woodland Liege draws you 1 card
  2. Take out Druidic Satchel: Druidic Satchel works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Emeria Shepherd works with 15 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Emeria Shepherd: When Avenger of Zendikar enters thanks to Emeria Shepherd, it makes a token
  3. Take out One Dozen Eyes: One Dozen Eyes works with 2 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Icetill Explorer works with 7 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Icetill Explorer: Icetill Explorer puts cards into the graveyard that Restore can bring back
  4. Take out Witch Hunt: Witch Hunt works with no other card in this deck; Totem Speaker works with 4 cards, 3 of them on it. Put in Totem Speaker: When a Beast enters thanks to Rampaging Baloths, Totem Speaker gains you 3 life

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: card advantage 7 of 14, ramp 7 of 13, interaction 10 of 12.

The decklist

Creatures

Archangel · Avenger of Zendikar · Baloth Woodcrasher · Crater Hellion · Deadwood Treefolk · Drumhunter · Eternal Dragon · Gahiji, Honored One · Grazing Gladehart · Krosan Tusker · Krosan Warchief · Magus of the Arena · Mayael the Anima · Mold Shambler · Naya Soulbeast · Rakeclaw Gargantuan · Rampaging Baloths · Ravenous Baloth · Spellbreaker Behemoth · Spitebellows · Terra Ravager · Valley Rannet

Instants and sorceries

Boros Charm · Cultivate · Fiery Justice · Fireball · From the Ashes · Harmonize · Hull Breach · Naya Charm · One Dozen Eyes · Rain of Thorns · Restore · Savage Twister · Slice and Dice · Slice in Twain · Sprouting Vines · Street Spasm · Tempt with Discovery · Wrath of God

Artifacts and enchantments

Behemoth Sledge · Curse of Chaos · Curse of Predation · Curse of the Forsaken · Darksteel Mutation · Druidic Satchel · Fires of Yavimaya · Mystic Barrier · Seer's Sundial · Sol Ring · Spawning Grounds · Swiftfoot Boots · Tower of Fortunes · War Cadence · Warstorm Surge · Where Ancients Tread · Witch Hunt

Lands

Boros Garrison · Boros Guildgate · Command Tower · Contested Cliffs · Drifting Meadow · Evolving Wilds · 8 Forest · Forgotten Cave · Gruul Guildgate · Homeward Path · Jungle Shrine · Khalni Garden · Mosswort Bridge · 5 Mountain · Naya Panorama · New Benalia · Opal Palace · 4 Plains · Rupture Spire · Secluded Steppe · Selesnya Guildgate · Selesnya Sanctuary · Slippery Karst · Smoldering Crater · Temple of the False God · Tranquil Thicket · Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree · Vivid Crag

Other Commander 2013 precons