edhseer Commander synergy, explained

Precons › Commander 2020

Timeless Wisdom

Commander precon · Commander 2020 · 2020 · led by Gavi, Nest Warden

Main theme: Card draw · Synergy 2.9/5 (developing) · Bracket 3 · Gavi, Nest Warden works with 4 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 2.9 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.1 → 4.3 of 5, still on target; no longer short on card advantage, now 7 short on interaction, was 6. 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 Fierce Guardianship: Fierce Guardianship 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 Sphinx's Tutelage: When Sphinx's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token

Lands

  1. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  2. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  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 Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Zenith Flare: Zenith Flare is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Vnwxt, Verbose Host counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Fluctuator: Fluctuator is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as card advantage.
  3. Take out Crystalline Resonance: Crystalline Resonance is next on the report's cut list. Put in Teferi's Ageless Insight: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Ageless Insight counts as card advantage.
  4. Take out Agitator Ant: Agitator Ant is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Teferi's Tutelage: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Tutelage counts as card advantage. When Teferi's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.
  5. Take out Abandoned Sarcophagus: Abandoned Sarcophagus is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Aether Syphon: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Aether Syphon counts as card advantage. When Aether Syphon makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Lightning Rift: Lightning Rift works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 18 cards, 16 of them on it. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token

Upgrades at bracket 3

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

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

Its cards work together more: synergy 2.9 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.1 → 4.3 of 5, still on target; still 6 short on interaction, 1 short on card advantage, was 5. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  2. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  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 Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane 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.
  2. Take out Azorius Signet: Azorius 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.

Card advantage

  1. Take out Zenith Flare: Zenith Flare is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Vnwxt, Verbose Host counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Fluctuator: Fluctuator is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as card advantage.
  3. Take out Crystalline Resonance: Crystalline Resonance is next on the report's cut list. Put in Teferi's Ageless Insight: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Ageless Insight counts as card advantage.
  4. Take out Agitator Ant: Agitator Ant is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Teferi's Tutelage: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Tutelage counts as card advantage. When Teferi's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.
  5. Take out Abandoned Sarcophagus: Abandoned Sarcophagus is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Sphinx's Tutelage: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Sphinx's Tutelage counts as card advantage. When Sphinx's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.

Cards that work together

  1. Take out Lightning Rift: Lightning Rift works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 18 cards, 16 of them on it. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token

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 2.9 → 3.7 of 5, from developing to connected. It is a little more consistent: Build 4.1 → 4.3 of 5, still on target; still 6 short on interaction, 1 short on card advantage, was 5. That is what this page measures: how well the deck holds together, not how strong it is.

Lands

  1. Take out Azorius Chancery: Azorius Chancery enters tapped. Put in Hallowed Fountain: Hallowed Fountain never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  2. Take out Izzet Boilerworks: Izzet Boilerworks enters tapped. Put in Cascade Bluffs: Cascade Bluffs never enters tapped and makes blue or red.
  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 Plains: Plains makes only white. Put in Mystic Gate: Mystic Gate never enters tapped and makes white or blue.
  6. Take out Mountain: Mountain makes only red. Put in Rugged Prairie: Rugged Prairie never enters tapped and makes white or red.

Ramp

  1. Take out Arcane Signet: Arcane 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.
  2. Take out Azorius Signet: Azorius 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.
  3. Take out Boros Signet: Boros Signet 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.
  4. Take out Izzet Signet: Izzet 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 Zenith Flare: Zenith Flare is next on the report's cut list. Works with nothing else in this deck. Put in Vnwxt, Verbose Host: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Vnwxt, Verbose Host counts as card advantage.
  2. Take out Fluctuator: Fluctuator is next on the report's cut list. Its only links come from cards that make others cheaper, or easier to find or bring back. Put in Phial of Galadriel: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Phial of Galadriel counts as card advantage.
  3. Take out Crystalline Resonance: Crystalline Resonance is next on the report's cut list. Put in Teferi's Ageless Insight: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Ageless Insight counts as card advantage.
  4. Take out Agitator Ant: Agitator Ant is next on the report's cut list. Works with 4 other cards: with 3 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Teferi's Tutelage: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Teferi's Tutelage counts as card advantage. When Teferi's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.
  5. Take out Abandoned Sarcophagus: Abandoned Sarcophagus is next on the report's cut list. Works with 5 other cards: with 4 again and again, with 1 just once or in the background. Put in Sphinx's Tutelage: Card advantage: you were 5 short; Sphinx's Tutelage counts as card advantage. When Sphinx's Tutelage makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token.

Board wipes

  1. Take out Descend upon the Sinful: Descend upon the Sinful 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 Lightning Rift: Lightning Rift works with 1 card in this deck, none of it on its theme; Niv-Mizzet, Parun works with 18 cards, 16 of them on it. Put in Niv-Mizzet, Parun: When Niv-Mizzet, Parun makes a player draw a card, The Locust God makes a token

Opens a route: Cool but Rude. 15 of its cards reach Hoofprints of the Stag through it.

Also short, against a typical Commander deck: interaction 7 of 13, card advantage 14 of 19.

The decklist

Creatures

Agitator Ant · Akim, the Soaring Wind · Brallin, Skyshark Rider · Cryptic Trilobite · Curator of Mysteries · Eternal Dragon · Ethereal Forager · Herald of the Forgotten · Isperia, Supreme Judge · Mercurial Chemister · Nimble Obstructionist · Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind · Portal Mage · Psychosis Crawler · Rooting Moloch · Savai Thundermane · Shabraz, the Skyshark · Spellpyre Phoenix · Sun Titan · Surly Badgersaur · The Locust God · Valiant Rescuer · Vizier of Tumbling Sands

Planeswalkers

Chandra, Flamecaller

Instants and sorceries

Akroma's Vengeance · Boon of the Wish-Giver · Decree of Justice · Descend upon the Sinful · Dismantling Wave · Fierce Guardianship · Hieroglyphic Illumination · Migratory Route · Neutralize · Slice and Dice · Windfall · Zenith Flare

Artifacts and enchantments

Abandoned Sarcophagus · Arcane Signet · Astral Drift · Azorius Signet · Bonder's Ornament · Boros Signet · Cast Out · Commander's Sphere · Crystalline Resonance · Drake Haven · Fluctuator · Hoofprints of the Stag · Izzet Signet · Lightning Rift · Martial Impetus · New Perspectives · Ominous Seas · Psychic Impetus · Raugrin Crystal · Reconnaissance Mission · Shiny Impetus · Sol Ring · Spirit Cairn · Tectonic Reformation

Lands

Ash Barrens · Azorius Chancery · Boros Garrison · Command Tower · Desert of the Fervent · Desert of the Mindful · Desert of the True · Drifting Meadow · Exotic Orchard · Forgotten Cave · Hostile Desert · Irrigated Farmland · 5 Island · Izzet Boilerworks · Lonely Sandbar · 6 Mountain · Myriad Landscape · Mystic Monastery · 4 Plains · Prairie Stream · Reliquary Tower · Remote Isle · Secluded Steppe · Shivan Reef · Skycloud Expanse · Smoldering Crater · Temple of the False God

Other Commander 2020 precons