edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2016

Open Hostility

Commander precon · Commander 2016 · 2016 · led by Saskia the Unyielding

Synergy 2.8/5 (developing) · Bracket 1–2 · Saskia the Unyielding works with 8 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 2.8 → 3.8 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.0 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, still 1 short on board wipes, 6 short on card advantage, was 7. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  3. Take out Dragonskull Summit: Dragonskull Summit can enter tapped. Put in Badlands: Badlands never enters tapped and makes black or red.
  4. Take out Sunpetal Grove: Sunpetal Grove can enter tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  5. Take out Rootbound Crag: Rootbound Crag can enter tapped. Put in Mossfire Valley: Mossfire Valley never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Ramp

  1. Take out Clan Defiance: Clan Defiance is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Evolutionary Escalation: Evolutionary Escalation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Golgari Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Golgari Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Treacherous Terrain: Treacherous Terrain is next on the report's cut list. Put in Orzhov Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Orzhov Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Gruul Signet: Gruul Signet doesn't make white and black, which the deck is short of for its spells. Put in Arcane Signet: Arcane Signet is the same ramp and makes white and black, which the deck is short of for its spells.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Charging Cinderhorn: Charging Cinderhorn is next on the report's cut list. Works with 8 other cards: with 7 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order: Card advantage: you were 7 short; Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order counts as card advantage.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Frenzied Fugue: Frenzied Fugue works with no other card in this deck; Rankle and Torbran works with 30 cards, 23 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Rankle and Torbran: Beastmaster Ascension gives Rankle and Torbran bigger stats
  2. Take out Conqueror's Flail: Conqueror's Flail works with no other card in this deck; Tor Wauki the Younger works with 18 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Tor Wauki the Younger: Beastmaster Ascension gives Tor Wauki the Younger bigger stats
  3. Take out Everlasting Torment: Everlasting Torment works with no other card in this deck; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus works with 21 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Beastmaster Ascension gives Solphim, Mayhem Dominus bigger stats
  4. Take out Breath of Fury: Breath of Fury works with 8 cards in this deck, 2 of them on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 19 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: Beastmaster Ascension gives Soul-Scar Mage bigger stats

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.8 → 3.8 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.0 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, still 1 short on board wipes, 6 short on card advantage, was 7. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  3. Take out Dragonskull Summit: Dragonskull Summit can enter tapped. Put in Badlands: Badlands never enters tapped and makes black or red.
  4. Take out Sunpetal Grove: Sunpetal Grove can enter tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  5. Take out Rootbound Crag: Rootbound Crag can enter tapped. Put in Mossfire Valley: Mossfire Valley never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Ramp

  1. Take out Clan Defiance: Clan Defiance is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Evolutionary Escalation: Evolutionary Escalation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Treacherous Terrain: Treacherous Terrain is next on the report's cut list. Put in Golgari Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Golgari Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Gruul Signet: Gruul 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.
  5. Take out Fellwar Stone: Fellwar Stone 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Charging Cinderhorn: Charging Cinderhorn is next on the report's cut list. Works with 8 other cards: with 7 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order: Card advantage: you were 7 short; Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order counts as card advantage.

Interaction

  1. Take out Sylvan Reclamation: Sylvan Reclamation 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 Frenzied Fugue: Frenzied Fugue works with no other card in this deck; Rankle and Torbran works with 30 cards, 23 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Rankle and Torbran: Beastmaster Ascension gives Rankle and Torbran bigger stats
  2. Take out Conqueror's Flail: Conqueror's Flail works with no other card in this deck; Tor Wauki the Younger works with 18 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Tor Wauki the Younger: Beastmaster Ascension gives Tor Wauki the Younger bigger stats
  3. Take out Everlasting Torment: Everlasting Torment works with no other card in this deck; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus works with 21 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Beastmaster Ascension gives Solphim, Mayhem Dominus bigger stats
  4. Take out Breath of Fury: Breath of Fury works with 8 cards in this deck, 2 of them on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 19 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: Beastmaster Ascension gives Soul-Scar Mage bigger stats

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

16 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 2.8 → 3.8 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 3.7 → 4.0 of 5, from close to on target; no longer short on ramp, still 1 short on board wipes, 6 short on card advantage, was 7. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Orzhov Basilica: Orzhov Basilica enters tapped. Put in Desolate Mire: Desolate Mire never enters tapped and makes white or black.
  2. Take out Gruul Turf: Gruul Turf enters tapped. Put in Fire-Lit Thicket: Fire-Lit Thicket never enters tapped and makes red or green.
  3. Take out Dragonskull Summit: Dragonskull Summit can enter tapped. Put in Badlands: Badlands never enters tapped and makes black or red.
  4. Take out Sunpetal Grove: Sunpetal Grove can enter tapped. Put in Bountiful Promenade: Bountiful Promenade never enters tapped and makes white or green.
  5. Take out Rootbound Crag: Rootbound Crag can enter tapped. Put in Mossfire Valley: Mossfire Valley never enters tapped and makes red or green.

Ramp

  1. Take out Clan Defiance: Clan Defiance is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Arcane Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Arcane Signet counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Evolutionary Escalation: Evolutionary Escalation is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Boros Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Boros Signet counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Treacherous Terrain: Treacherous Terrain is next on the report's cut list. Put in Golgari Signet: Ramp: you were 3 short; Golgari Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Gruul Signet: Gruul 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.
  5. Take out Fellwar Stone: Fellwar Stone 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Charging Cinderhorn: Charging Cinderhorn is next on the report's cut list. Works with 8 other cards: with 7 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order: Card advantage: you were 7 short; Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order counts as card advantage.

Interaction

  1. Take out Sylvan Reclamation: Sylvan Reclamation 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 Frenzied Fugue: Frenzied Fugue works with no other card in this deck; Rankle and Torbran works with 30 cards, 23 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Rankle and Torbran: Beastmaster Ascension gives Rankle and Torbran bigger stats
  2. Take out Conqueror's Flail: Conqueror's Flail works with no other card in this deck; Tor Wauki the Younger works with 18 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Tor Wauki the Younger: Beastmaster Ascension gives Tor Wauki the Younger bigger stats
  3. Take out Everlasting Torment: Everlasting Torment works with no other card in this deck; Solphim, Mayhem Dominus works with 21 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Solphim, Mayhem Dominus: Beastmaster Ascension gives Solphim, Mayhem Dominus bigger stats
  4. Take out Breath of Fury: Breath of Fury works with 8 cards in this deck, 2 of them on its theme; Soul-Scar Mage works with 19 cards, 14 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Soul-Scar Mage: Beastmaster Ascension gives Soul-Scar Mage bigger stats

Opens a route: Akroan Crusader. 1 of its cards reach Mentor of the Meek through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: board wipes 1 of 2, card advantage 7 of 14, ramp 10 of 13.

The decklist

Creatures

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death · Ankle Shanker · Brutal Hordechief · Charging Cinderhorn · Dauntless Escort · Den Protector · Iroas, God of Victory · Korozda Guildmage · Managorger Hydra · Mentor of the Meek · Mirror Entity · Mycoloth · Primeval Protector · Quirion Explorer · Ravos, Soultender · Sakura-Tribe Elder · Selesnya Guildmage · Stalking Vengeance · Stonehoof Chieftain · Sylvok Explorer · Tana, the Bloodsower · Taurean Mauler · Thelonite Hermit · Thunderfoot Baloth · Tymna the Weaver · Wight of Precinct Six · Wild Beastmaster · Wilderness Elemental · Zhur-Taa Druid

Instants and sorceries

Abzan Charm · Artifact Mutation · Aura Mutation · Boros Charm · Clan Defiance · Crackling Doom · Divergent Transformations · Farseek · Grab the Reins · Grave Upheaval · Lavalanche · Naya Charm · Order // Chaos · Rampant Growth · Shamanic Revelation · Sylvan Reclamation · Terminate · Treacherous Terrain · Utter End

Artifacts and enchantments

Beastmaster Ascension · Blind Obedience · Breath of Fury · Commander's Sphere · Conqueror's Flail · Everlasting Torment · Evolutionary Escalation · Fellwar Stone · Frenzied Fugue · Gruul Signet · Lightning Greaves · Necrogenesis · Skullclamp · Sol Ring · Sunforger

Lands

Ash Barrens · Caves of Koilos · Command Tower · Dragonskull Summit · Evolving Wilds · Exotic Orchard · 5 Forest · Grand Coliseum · Gruul Turf · Jungle Shrine · Karplusan Forest · Mosswort Bridge · 5 Mountain · Nomad Outpost · Orzhov Basilica · 3 Plains · Rootbound Crag · Sandsteppe Citadel · Savage Lands · Spinerock Knoll · Sunpetal Grove · 3 Swamp · Terramorphic Expanse · Windbrisk Heights

Other Commander 2016 precons