Combo Commander: How to Build a Winning Combo Deck

Combo decks are the most explosive archetype in Commander. Instead of winning through gradual value or combat, combo decks win by assembling a specific combination of cards that creates an infinite loop or an overwhelming advantage. If you love the thrill of assembling your combo and watching your opponents scramble to stop you, combo is the archetype for you.

What Makes a Good Combo Deck?

A good combo deck needs three things: a reliable combo, a suite of tutors to find your combo pieces, and protection to keep your combo safe from disruption.

The Combo

The combo is the heart of your deck. It's the combination of cards that wins you the game. Here are some common combo archetypes:

• Infinite mana combos: Combinations like Deadeye Navigator + Peregrine Drake or Basalt Monolith + Rings of Brighthearth that generate infinite mana.
• Infinite damage combos: Combinations like Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond or Torment of Hailfire + Relentless Rats that deal infinite damage.
• Infinite token combos: Combinations like Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts that create infinite tokens.
• Storm combos: Combinations like Grapeshot + Empty the Warrens that cast a large number of spells in a single turn.

Tutors

Tutors are essential for combo decks. They let you find your combo pieces consistently, even if they're buried deep in your deck. Here are some of the best tutors in Commander:

• Demonic Tutor: Search your library for any card and put it into your hand.
• Vampiric Tutor: Search your library for any card and put it on top of your library.
• Mystical Tutor: Search your library for an instant or sorcery card and put it on top of your library.
• Worldly Tutor: Search your library for a creature card and put it on top of your library.

Protection

Protection is essential for combo decks. Your opponents will try to disrupt your combo with counterspells, removal, and stax pieces. Here are some ways to protect your combo:

• Counterspells: Cards like Counterspell, Swan Song, and Force of Will can protect your combo from disruption.
• Bounce spells: Cards like Ghostly Flicker and Cloudshift can protect your combo pieces from removal.
• Hexproof and shroud: Cards like Teferi's Protection and Leyline of Sanctity can protect your combo from targeted disruption.

Best Combo Commanders

Kess, Dissident Mage

Kess is the ultimate combo commander. Her ability to recast instants and sorceries from your graveyard creates a powerful loop. With Kess on the battlefield, you can cast your combo pieces multiple times, making it easier to assemble your combo.

Thrasios, Triton Hero

Thrasios is a popular cEDH commander. His ability to draw you a card whenever you win a priority fight creates a powerful card advantage engine. With Thrasios on the battlefield, you can dig deep into your deck to find your combo pieces.

Narset, Parter of Veils

Narset is a combo commander that restricts your opponents' ability to draw cards. With Narset on the battlefield, your opponents will struggle to find answers to your combo.

Building a Combo Deck

Here's a step-by-step guide to building a combo deck:

1. Choose your combo: Pick a combo that you want to build around. Make sure it's reliable and can win the game.
2. Choose your commander: Pick a commander that synergizes with your combo. Look for card draw, tutors, or protection.
3. Add tutors: Run 8-12 tutors to help you find your combo pieces consistently.
4. Add protection: Run 8-10 protection spells to keep your combo safe from disruption.
5. Add ramp: Run 8-12 ramp sources to help you cast your expensive spells on time.
6. Add card draw: Run 8-12 card draw sources to help you find your best cards.
7. Test and iterate: Play your deck and see what works. Cut underperforming cards and add new ones.

Checking Your Combo Deck with Rate My Decks

When you analyze your deck with Rate My Decks, we detect your deck's archetype and compare it to the optimal build for that archetype. If your combo deck is running too few tutors, we'll flag it as a weakness. If your deck is missing key combo pieces, we'll recommend additions. We also detect combos using Commander Spellbook data and alert you if your deck contains any known combos.