<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artpad.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaime Jones</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victor Adame Minguez</a></em></span></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been the #1 commander for YEARS... and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> just snatched her crown. How'd it happen? Will it stick? And is there a hella awesome bunch of behind-the-scenes data about it? Check out the vid below <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PLuzLmfDE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">or on YouTube</a> to find all the answers.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Did the #1 Commander Just Get Usurped? | Magic: the Gathering | EDH Commander" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v_PLuzLmfDE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


Is There a New #1 Commander?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Tempest|c17|134" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by Willian Murai</em></p>
<p><em>Magic</em> is a complicated game; Commander, as a format, is especially so. When it comes to building decks, one of the easier on-ramps is to appeal to the familiar: start with cards that are designed to work with each other, that reference each other by name, and get a feel for how they play together. That’s the premise of this column; each week we build a deck around a creature type, which delivers on the “feel” of the type. Today, we’re talking about one of the more notorious creature types in all of <em>Magic</em>: Dragons.</p>
<p>According to the EDHREC stats, <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/kindred" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dragons are the most popular creature type</a>, with almost 73,000 decks built. They've been part of <em>Magic</em> since the beginning, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shivan Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shivan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as one of the more iconic early game finishers. More recently, there have been a few preconstructed decks providing specific support, as well as two <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em> sets, and a new Dragon-focused Tarkir set. It seems like Dragons are all over the multiverse, with each set adding to their ranks. While more than twice as many Dragons are in red as any other color, each color has solid representation, and our deck will highlight the full range of the type.</p>
<h2>Notable Dragons</h2>
<p>As mentioned, there have been a few Dragon-themed Commander decks, one of which supplied the second most-popular commander of all time: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <em>Eminence</em> is one of the strongest abilities in the game, operating from the command zone as long as our commander is there. Thankfully the ability is limited to typal decks, but our commander might just be the strongest of the lot, providing access to all five colors from its color identity and a universal cost reduction from its <em>eminence</em> ability. Even if we never cast it, that is a <em>ton</em> of value.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scavenger Regent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atarka, World Render"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silumgar, the Drifting Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dromoka, the Eternal"></div></div></p>
<p>The first trip to Tarkir provided a cycle of legendary Dragons that all trigger when a Dragon attacks. These abilities can trigger multiple times and they can stack, causing our flying horde to become deadlier and deadlier the more Dragons we have. This is where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> outshines other Dragon commanders: the discount lets us cast multiple spells in a turn, dominating the mid- to late-game.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ojutai, Soul of Winter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teneb, the Harvester"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bladewing the Risen"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrakkus the Butcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Steel Hellkite"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kolaghan, the Storm&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kolaghan, the Storm&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scourge of Valkas" href="#" target="_blank">Scourge of Valkas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help the deck hit the ground running. Kolaghan provides haste while Scourge deals damage when Dragons enter, so the Dragons can do more than sit there menacingly - although they do that quite well.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kolaghan, the Storm&#039;s Fury"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ganax, Astral Hunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scourge of Valkas"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Korlessa, Scale Singer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lathliss, Dragon Queen"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloomvine Regent" href="#" target="_blank">Bloomvine Regent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> represents a new type of Dragon introduced in the latest foray into Tarkir: the Omens. With its secondary sorcery side, the Regent is able to be an early-game <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a late-game Dragon, all in one card. Since we want both effects, it’s a natural fit!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunscorch Regent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rith, Liberated Primeval"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Utvara Hellkite"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthquake Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloomvine Regent"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Amareth, the Lustrous" href="#" target="_blank">Amareth, the Lustrous</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an unassuming but powerful Dragon. Since the deck is mostly permanents, including the Omen Dragons, there’s a strong likelihood of flipping more giant scaly beasties with the ETB effect.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sagu Wildling"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonlord Ojutai"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderbreak Regent"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Amareth, the Lustrous"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Broodmate Dragon"></div></div></p>
<p>One of the stronger <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em> additions was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lozhan, Dragons&#039; Legacy" href="#" target="_blank">Lozhan, Dragons&#039; Legacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is one of several other potent Dragon commanders, albeit without the speed or options that The Ur-Dragon provides. As a role-player, however, Lozhan slings damage and domes opponents for huge chunks.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scalelord Reckoner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeskai Shrinekeeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonlord Dromoka"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lozhan, Dragons&#039; Legacy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wasitora, Nekoru Queen"></div></div></p>
<h2>Dragon Support Cards</h2>
<p>As a popular creature type, there are many cards that specifically reference Dragons. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crucible of Fire" href="#" target="_blank">Crucible of Fire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is arguably the most on-the-nose. Making giant scaly monsters slightly giant-er may seem like it’s not doing much, but it’s actually quite solid in a deck that wants permanents and seeks to blot out the skies with flyers before opponents can stabilize.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Encroaching Dragonstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breaching Dragonstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crucible of Fire"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Tempest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Draconic Muralists"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarkhan&#039;s Triumph" href="#" target="_blank">Sarkhan&#039;s Triumph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Dragon tutor, which helps multifaceted decks like this find the piece they need when they need it. While some decks use tutors to find specific answers, we actually use it to find specific threats: haste enablers, direct damage, flying power…all of these are things we can find.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wrathful Red Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firespitter Whelp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonologist"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temur Ascendancy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarkhan&#039;s Triumph"></div></div></p>
<h2>Ramp Spells for Dragons</h2>
<p>Our primary role players are ramp spells. Dragons cost a lot of mana and we need fixing to cast them on time. In particular, the Orbs of Dragonkind provide additional effects when used to cast Dragons, which plan to do kind of a lot.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonstorm Globe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon&#039;s Hoard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carnelian Orb of Dragonkind"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jade Orb of Dragonkind"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lapis Orb of Dragonkind"></div></div></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a bit of a controversial inclusion nowadays, as there are far stronger turn-three plays. Here, however, it’s much more than a three-mana rock; it fixes our mana and lets us use lands of any kind to make mana of any color.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Lantern"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Signet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fellwar Stone"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonbroods&#039; Relic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pillar of Origins"></div></div></p>
<h2>Removal Spells</h2>
<p>The other type of role player we need is removal spells: ways to break parity and navigate clogged boards. One of our biggest obstacles is high-toughness, vigilant creatures, such as those created by Voltron decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crux of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Crux of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a one-sided board wipe (choosing non-Dragons to kill, of course), which is a particularly nasty way of leveraging our large flyers for a dominating board.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crux of Fate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disruptive Stormbrood"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Twinmaw Stormbrood"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spit Flame"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon&#039;s Fire"></div></div></p>
<p>The other major obstacle for us is troublesome noncreature permanents. Our attack with large creatures plan can be stuffed by a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or two, and our burn ‘em out plan can be squelched by a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Sanctity" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Sanctity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are solid catch-alls, which have the downside of giving the opponent a body. However, that downside is mitigated by the fact that the bodies we give don’t have flying!</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Osseous Exhale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beast Within"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Generous Gift"></div></div><br />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Piercing Exhale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonback Assault"></div></div></p>
<h2>The Ur-Dragon Deck List</h2>
<p>The game plan for our deck is fairly straightforward: make big Dragons; turn them sideways; win the game. We have ways, including our commander, to get them out faster, and ways to push them through using removal, until our opponents are buried in the shade of our scaly wings.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Ur-Dragon Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Ur-Dragon
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Amareth, the Lustrous
*1 Atarka, World Render
*1 Bladewing the Risen
*1 Bloomvine Regent // Claim Territory
*1 Broodmate Dragon
*1 Disruptive Stormbrood // Petty Revenge
*1 Draconic Muralists
*1 Dragonlord Dromoka
*1 Dragonlord Ojutai
*1 Dragonologist
*1 Dromoka, the Eternal
*1 Earthquake Dragon
*1 Firespitter Whelp
*1 Ganax, Astral Hunter
*1 Jeskai Shrinekeeper
*1 Kolaghan, the Storm&#039;s Fury
*1 Korlessa, Scale Singer
*1 Lathliss, Dragon Queen
*1 Lozhan, Dragons&#039; Legacy
*1 Ojutai, Soul of Winter
*1 Rith, Liberated Primeval
*1 Sagu Wildling // Roost Seek
*1 Scalelord Reckoner
*1 Scavenger Regent // Exude Toxin
*1 Scourge of Valkas
*1 Silumgar, the Drifting Death
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Sunscorch Regent
*1 Teneb, the Harvester
*1 Thrakkus the Butcher
*1 Thunderbreak Regent
*1 Twinmaw Stormbrood // Charring Bite
*1 Utvara Hellkite
*1 Wasitora, Nekoru Queen
*1 Wrathful Red Dragon
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Breaching Dragonstorm
*1 Crucible of Fire
*1 Dragon Tempest
*1 Dragonback Assault
*1 Encroaching Dragonstorm
*1 Temur Ascendancy
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Dragon&#039;s Fire
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Osseous Exhale
*1 Piercing Exhale
*1 Sarkhan&#039;s Triumph
*1 Spit Flame
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Carnelian Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Dragon&#039;s Hoard
*1 Dragonbroods&#039; Relic
*1 Dragonstorm Globe
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Jade Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Lapis Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Pillar of Origins
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Crux of Fate
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*8 Forest
*8 Island
*8 Mountain
*8 Plains
*8 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>


ur dragon

Is There a New #1 Commander?

Building a Dragon Commander Deck With The Ur-Dragon