edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Zendikar Rising Commander

Sneak Attack

Commander precon · Zendikar Rising Commander · 2020 · led by Anowon, the Ruin Thief

Main theme: Rogue tribal · Synergy 2.8/5 (developing) · Bracket 3 · Anowon, the Ruin Thief works with 35 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.

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 4.1 → 4.4 of 5, still on target; 5 short on interaction, was 6, 2 short on ramp, was 4. 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 Notion Thief: Notion Thief 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 Starving Revenant: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Starving Revenant makes each opponent lose 1 life

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Dismal Backwater: Dismal Backwater enters tapped. Put in Sunken Ruins: Sunken Ruins never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  4. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Underground Sea: Underground Sea never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Submerged Boneyard: Submerged Boneyard enters tapped. Put in Watery Grave: Watery Grave never enters tapped and makes blue or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Slither Blade: Slither Blade is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 4 again and again. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Changeling Outcast: Changeling Outcast is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 6 again and again. Put in The Soul Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; The Soul Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Mind Stone: Mind Stone also does card draw, and doesn't make black, which the deck is short of for its spells. Put in Talisman of Dominance: Talisman of Dominance is the same ramp and makes black, which the deck is short of for its spells, but does not do card draw.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Blackblade Reforged: Blackblade Reforged works with no other card in this deck; Thieves' Guild Enforcer works with 24 cards, 6 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Thieves' Guild Enforcer: Anowon, the Ruin Thief fills an opponent's graveyard toward the 8 or more cards Thieves' Guild Enforcer needs
  2. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Auntie's Snitch works with 11 cards, 3 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Auntie's Snitch: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Auntie's Snitch bigger stats
  3. Take out Oona, Queen of the Fae: Oona, Queen of the Fae works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Chasm Skulker works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Chasm Skulker puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  4. Take out Stolen Identity: Stolen Identity works with 8 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Nadir Kraken works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Nadir Kraken: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Nadir Kraken puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  5. Take out Whispersteel Dagger: Whispersteel Dagger works with 7 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Cloak and Dagger works with 6 cards, 5 of them on it. Put in Cloak and Dagger: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Cloak and Dagger 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 → 3.9 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.1 → 4.4 of 5, still on target; 5 short on interaction, was 6, 2 short on ramp, was 4. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Dismal Backwater: Dismal Backwater enters tapped. Put in Sunken Ruins: Sunken Ruins never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  4. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Underground Sea: Underground Sea never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Submerged Boneyard: Submerged Boneyard enters tapped. Put in Watery Grave: Watery Grave never enters tapped and makes blue or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Slither Blade: Slither Blade is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 4 again and again. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Changeling Outcast: Changeling Outcast is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 6 again and again. Put in The Soul Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; The Soul Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Mind Stone: Mind Stone also does card draw, and doesn't make black, which the deck is short of for its spells. Put in Talisman of Dominance: Talisman of Dominance is the same ramp and makes black, which the deck is short of for its spells, but does not do card draw.
  4. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane Signet 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.
  5. Take out Dimir Keyrune: Dimir Keyrune is weaker ramp than Mana Vault. Put in Mana Vault: Mana Vault 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 Scytheclaw: Scytheclaw works with no other card in this deck; Starving Revenant works with 29 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Starving Revenant: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Starving Revenant makes each opponent lose 1 life
  2. Take out Blackblade Reforged: Blackblade Reforged works with no other card in this deck; Thieves' Guild Enforcer works with 24 cards, 6 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Thieves' Guild Enforcer: Anowon, the Ruin Thief fills an opponent's graveyard toward the 8 or more cards Thieves' Guild Enforcer needs
  3. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Auntie's Snitch works with 11 cards, 3 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Auntie's Snitch: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Auntie's Snitch bigger stats
  4. Take out Oona, Queen of the Fae: Oona, Queen of the Fae works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Chasm Skulker works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Chasm Skulker puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  5. Take out Stolen Identity: Stolen Identity works with 8 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Nadir Kraken works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Nadir Kraken: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Nadir Kraken puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  6. Take out Whispersteel Dagger: Whispersteel Dagger works with 7 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Cloak and Dagger works with 6 cards, 5 of them on it. Put in Cloak and Dagger: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Cloak and Dagger bigger stats

Upgrades at bracket 4–5

No limits on Game Changers or combos.

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.8 → 3.9 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.1 → 4.5 of 5, still on target; 4 short on interaction, was 6, 2 short on ramp, was 4. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Dimir Aqueduct: Dimir Aqueduct enters tapped. Put in Darkwater Catacombs: Darkwater Catacombs never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  2. Take out Dimir Guildgate: Dimir Guildgate enters tapped. Put in Morphic Pool: Morphic Pool never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  3. Take out Dismal Backwater: Dismal Backwater enters tapped. Put in Sunken Ruins: Sunken Ruins never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  4. Take out Jwar Isle Refuge: Jwar Isle Refuge enters tapped. Put in Underground Sea: Underground Sea never enters tapped and makes blue or black.
  5. Take out Submerged Boneyard: Submerged Boneyard enters tapped. Put in Watery Grave: Watery Grave never enters tapped and makes blue or black.

Ramp

  1. Take out Slither Blade: Slither Blade is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 4 again and again. Put in Fellwar Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; Fellwar Stone counts as ramp.
  2. Take out Changeling Outcast: Changeling Outcast is next on the report's cut list. Works with 6 other cards: with 6 again and again. Put in The Soul Stone: Ramp: you were 4 short; The Soul Stone counts as ramp.
  3. Take out Mind Stone: Mind Stone also does card draw, and doesn't make black, which the deck is short of for its spells. Put in Talisman of Dominance: Talisman of Dominance is the same ramp and makes black, which the deck is short of for its spells, but does not do card draw.
  4. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane Signet 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.
  5. Take out Dimir Keyrune: Dimir Keyrune is weaker ramp than Mana Vault. Put in Mana Vault: Mana Vault is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.
  6. Take out Dimir Signet: Dimir Signet is weaker ramp than Mox Diamond. Put in Mox Diamond: Mox Diamond is ramp too, and one of the strongest cards in Commander: a Game Changer, which this bracket allows.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Distant Melody: Distant Melody 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.
  2. Take out Military Intelligence: Military Intelligence 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.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Aetherize: Aetherize 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 Scytheclaw: Scytheclaw works with no other card in this deck; Starving Revenant works with 29 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Starving Revenant: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Starving Revenant makes each opponent lose 1 life
  2. Take out Blackblade Reforged: Blackblade Reforged works with no other card in this deck; Thieves' Guild Enforcer works with 24 cards, 6 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Thieves' Guild Enforcer: Anowon, the Ruin Thief fills an opponent's graveyard toward the 8 or more cards Thieves' Guild Enforcer needs
  3. Take out Heirloom Blade: Heirloom Blade works with 3 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Auntie's Snitch works with 11 cards, 3 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Auntie's Snitch: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Auntie's Snitch bigger stats
  4. Take out Oona, Queen of the Fae: Oona, Queen of the Fae works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Chasm Skulker works with 14 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Chasm Skulker: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Chasm Skulker puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  5. Take out Stolen Identity: Stolen Identity works with 8 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Nadir Kraken works with 13 cards, 12 of them on it, and with your commander. Put in Nadir Kraken: When Anowon, the Ruin Thief makes a player draw a card, Nadir Kraken puts a +1/+1 counter on itself
  6. Take out Whispersteel Dagger: Whispersteel Dagger works with 7 cards in this deck, none of them on its theme; Cloak and Dagger works with 6 cards, 5 of them on it. Put in Cloak and Dagger: Anowon, the Ruin Thief gives Cloak and Dagger bigger stats

Opens a route: Skittering Skirge. 30 of its cards reach Heirloom Blade through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: interaction 6 of 12, ramp 9 of 13.

The decklist

Creatures

Changeling Outcast · Consuming Aberration · Enigma Thief · Faerie Vandal · Frogtosser Banneret · Gonti, Lord of Luxury · Invisible Stalker · Latchkey Faerie · Lazav, Dimir Mastermind · Marang River Prowler · Marsh Flitter · Master Thief · Merfolk Windrobber · Nighthowler · Nightveil Sprite · Notion Thief · Ogre Slumlord · Oona, Queen of the Fae · Oona's Blackguard · Scourge of Fleets · Sepulchral Primordial · Slither Blade · Soaring Thought-Thief · Stinkdrinker Bandit · Sure-Footed Infiltrator · Sygg, River Cutthroat · Syr Konrad, the Grim · Triton Shorestalker · Whirler Rogue · Zulaport Cutthroat

Instants and sorceries

Aetherize · Distant Melody · Endless Obedience · Extract from Darkness · Fact or Fiction · Fated Return · In Garruk's Wake · Murder · Necromantic Selection · Notorious Throng · Open into Wonder · Price of Fame · Rise from the Grave · Silumgar's Command · Soul Manipulation · Spinal Embrace · Stolen Identity

Artifacts and enchantments

Arcane Signet · Blackblade Reforged · Bonehoard · Commander's Sphere · Dimir Keyrune · Dimir Locket · Dimir Signet · Heirloom Blade · Military Intelligence · Mind Stone · Obelisk of Urd · Scytheclaw · Sol Ring · Whispersteel Dagger

Lands

Command Tower · Dimir Aqueduct · Dimir Guildgate · Dismal Backwater · 15 Island · Jwar Isle Refuge · Myriad Landscape · Rogue's Passage · Submerged Boneyard · 15 Swamp

Other Zendikar Rising Commander precons