edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2011

Political Puppets

Commander precon · Commander 2011 · 2011 · led by Zedruu the Greathearted

Synergy 1.2/5 (loose) · Bracket 1–2 · Zedruu the Greathearted works with 3 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.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 1.2 → 3.2 of 5, from loose to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.8 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 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 Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  4. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  5. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.

Ramp

  1. Take out Gomazoa: Gomazoa is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 6 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.
  2. Take out Guard Gomazoa: Guard Gomazoa 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 Wall of Denial: Wall of Denial is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fog Bank: Fog Bank 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.
  5. Take out Prophetic Prism: Prophetic Prism costs 3 where Arcum's Astrolabe costs 2 and gets fewer mana for the mana. Put in Arcum's Astrolabe: Arcum's Astrolabe is the same ramp for 1 less mana and with more mana for the mana.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Plumeveil: Plumeveil works with no other card in this deck; The Locust God works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in The Locust God: The Locust God puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  2. Take out Dominus of Fealty: Dominus of Fealty works with no other card in this deck; Dream Trawler works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Dream Trawler: Dream Trawler puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  3. Take out Vow of Flight: Vow of Flight works with no other card in this deck; Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim: Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim makes fodder for Perilous Research
  4. Take out Crescendo of War: Crescendo of War works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  5. Take out Ruhan of the Fomori: Ruhan of the Fomori works with no other card in this deck; Chasm Skulker works with 15 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: Chasm Skulker makes fodder for Perilous Research
  6. Take out Vow of Lightning: Vow of Lightning works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind deals 1 damage
  7. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Ominous Seas works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Ominous Seas: Ominous Seas makes fodder for Perilous Research

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 1.2 → 3.2 of 5, from loose to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.8 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 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 Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  4. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  5. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.

Ramp

  1. Take out Gomazoa: Gomazoa is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 6 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.
  2. Take out Guard Gomazoa: Guard Gomazoa 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 Wall of Denial: Wall of Denial is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fog Bank: Fog Bank 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.
  5. Take out Prophetic Prism: Prophetic Prism costs 3 where Arcum's Astrolabe costs 2 and gets fewer mana for the mana. Put in Arcum's Astrolabe: Arcum's Astrolabe is the same ramp for 1 less mana and with more mana for the mana.
  6. Take out Darksteel Ingot: Darksteel Ingot 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.
  7. 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.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Plumeveil: Plumeveil works with no other card in this deck; The Locust God works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in The Locust God: The Locust God puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  2. Take out Dominus of Fealty: Dominus of Fealty works with no other card in this deck; Dream Trawler works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Dream Trawler: Dream Trawler puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  3. Take out Vow of Flight: Vow of Flight works with no other card in this deck; Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim: Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim makes fodder for Perilous Research
  4. Take out Crescendo of War: Crescendo of War works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  5. Take out Ruhan of the Fomori: Ruhan of the Fomori works with no other card in this deck; Chasm Skulker works with 15 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: Chasm Skulker makes fodder for Perilous Research
  6. Take out Vow of Lightning: Vow of Lightning works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind deals 1 damage
  7. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Ominous Seas works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Ominous Seas: Ominous Seas makes fodder for Perilous Research

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

20 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 1.2 → 3.2 of 5, from loose to connected. It is more consistent: Build 4.3 → 4.8 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, 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 Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  2. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  3. Take out Boros Garrison: Boros Garrison enters tapped. Put in Plateau: Plateau never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  4. Take out Island: Island makes only blue. Put in Ferrous Lake: Ferrous Lake never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  5. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.
  6. Take out Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.

Ramp

  1. Take out Gomazoa: Gomazoa is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Ramp: you were 6 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as ramp. When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Phial of Galadriel draws you 2 cards.
  2. Take out Guard Gomazoa: Guard Gomazoa 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 Wall of Denial: Wall of Denial is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Azorius Signet: Ramp: you were 6 short; Azorius Signet counts as ramp.
  4. Take out Fog Bank: Fog Bank 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.
  5. Take out Prophetic Prism: Prophetic Prism costs 3 where Arcum's Astrolabe costs 2 and gets fewer mana for the mana. Put in Arcum's Astrolabe: Arcum's Astrolabe is the same ramp for 1 less mana and with more mana for the mana.
  6. Take out Darksteel Ingot: Darksteel Ingot 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.
  7. 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.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Plumeveil: Plumeveil works with no other card in this deck; The Locust God works with 16 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in The Locust God: The Locust God puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  2. Take out Dominus of Fealty: Dominus of Fealty works with no other card in this deck; Dream Trawler works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Dream Trawler: Dream Trawler puts cards into the graveyard that Izzet Chronarch can bring back
  3. Take out Vow of Flight: Vow of Flight works with no other card in this deck; Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim: Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim makes fodder for Perilous Research
  4. Take out Crescendo of War: Crescendo of War works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, Parun deals 1 damage
  5. Take out Ruhan of the Fomori: Ruhan of the Fomori works with no other card in this deck; Chasm Skulker works with 15 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: Chasm Skulker makes fodder for Perilous Research
  6. Take out Vow of Lightning: Vow of Lightning works with no other card in this deck; Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind works with 12 cards, all of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind: When Perilous Research makes a player draw a card, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind deals 1 damage
  7. Take out Vow of Duty: Vow of Duty works with no other card in this deck; Ominous Seas works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Ominous Seas: Ominous Seas makes fodder for Perilous Research

Opens a route: Sleep Magic. 4 of its cards reach Martyr's Bond through it.

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

The decklist

Creatures

Arbiter of Knollridge · Azorius Guildmage · Brion Stoutarm · Chromeshell Crab · Court Hussar · Dominus of Fealty · False Prophet · Flametongue Kavu · Fog Bank · Goblin Cadets · Gomazoa · Guard Gomazoa · Izzet Chronarch · Jötun Grunt · Nin, the Pain Artist · Numot, the Devastator · Plumeveil · Rapacious One · Ruhan of the Fomori · Spurnmage Advocate · Vedalken Plotter · Wall of Denial · Wall of Omens · Windborn Muse

Instants and sorceries

Austere Command · Brainstorm · Breath of Darigaaz · Chaos Warp · Death by Dragons · Flusterstorm · Insurrection · Lash Out · Murmurs from Beyond · Oblation · Perilous Research · Pollen Lullaby · Punishing Fire · Reins of Power · Repulse · Scattering Stroke · Skyscribing · Spell Crumple · Trade Secrets · Vision Skeins · Whirlpool Whelm · Wild Ricochet

Artifacts and enchantments

Armillary Sphere · Champion's Helm · Crescendo of War · Darksteel Ingot · Dreamstone Hedron · Fellwar Stone · Ghostly Prison · Howling Mine · Journey to Nowhere · Lightning Greaves · Martyr's Bond · Prison Term · Propaganda · Prophetic Prism · Sol Ring · Soul Snare · Vow of Duty · Vow of Flight · Vow of Lightning

Lands

Azorius Chancery · Boros Garrison · Command Tower · Evolving Wilds · 12 Island · Izzet Boilerworks · 8 Mountain · 8 Plains · Terramorphic Expanse

Other Commander 2011 precons