Shabraz, the SkysharkShabraz, the Skyshark | Art by Paul Scott Canavan

Welcome back to Wombo Combo, where we look at EDH's best combo cards using data from EDHREC and Commander Spellbook. This edition, we look high into the sky at EDH's best Bird combo cards!

Birds are high-flying creatures (obviously) that can pack a punch in various aspects of Magic, from cost reducers to control to landfall, among others. The recent release of Final Fantasy saw many new Birds in the form of Chocobos, giving Bird decks many more options to include.

With this resurgence, let's see what Birds could fly into your next deck.

#10: Gilded Goose

Number of Combos: 23

Deck Inclusions: 117,276 decks (3.96%)

Gilded GooseGilded Goose is one of EDH's most popular Bird cards and is a perfect inclusion for decks caring about Food. It creates a Food upon entering, but also has activated abilities that can sacrifice a Food for mana or create another Food token.

These Food tokens can be used with Hazel's BrewmasterHazel's Brewmaster to gain a large amount of abilities - including the abilities of Gilded Goose itself. Alongside Academy ManufactorAcademy Manufactor and Gourmand's TalentGourmand's Talent, you can have a Food use both of Gilded Goose's ability to create an infinite combo.

You can also use Academy Manufactor with Gilded Goose in some Time SieveTime Sieve infinite turn lines.

#9: Lifecreed Duo

Number of Combos: 39

Deck Inclusions: 20,727 decks (1.04%)

Lifecreed DuoLifecreed Duo fits into a group of cards referred to as "Soul Sisters," named after Soul WardenSoul Warden and similar cards. These cards simply gain you life whenever a creature enters under your control.

This lifegain can be used for several purposes, such as regaining life payments from cards like Warren SoultraderWarren Soultrader. Another example is Archangel of ThuneArchangel of Thune, putting counters on Herd BalothHerd Baloth and similar cards. Lifecreed Duo can also trigger Trudge GardenTrudge Garden for a simple combo alongside Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar.

Soul Sisters are beneficial cards to have even when combos aren't possible, as having more life is rarely a negative.

#8: Kykar, Wind's Fury

Number of Combos: 39

Deck Inclusions: 10,084 as commander (#96); 30,097 as card (4.38%)

While Kykar, Wind's FuryKykar, Wind's Fury is a Bird, it generally focuses on Spirits and noncreature spells. Kykar creates a 1/1 Spirit creature token when you cast a noncreature spell, and then gives you the ability to sacrifice a Spirit for .

In many combos, this serves as a functional replacement for UrabraskUrabrask or Birgi, God of StorytellingBirgi, God of Storytelling, while adding some additional results from the creature tokens entering and dying. This pairs great with cost reducers, such as Mizzix of the IzmagnusMizzix of the Izmagnus, as well as buyback spells such as Haze of RageHaze of Rage.

Crown of FlamesCrown of Flames is another solid option to take advantage of the mana, with either a way to copy Kykar's trigger or a token doubler.

#7: Jhoira's Familiar

Number of Combos: 43

Deck Inclusions: 102,039 decks (1.6%)

Speaking of cost reducers, Jhoira's FamiliarJhoira's Familiar helps to make all your historic spells cheaper. Saving mana is always a positive, but it also helps to make certain cards free to cast.

This is where Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top comes into play...over and over again. Jhoira's Familiar causes Sensei's Divining Top to be free, meaning any form of top-deck effect (like The Reality ChipThe Reality Chip or Mystic ForgeMystic Forge) creates an easy and cheap way to draw your library using Sensei's Divining Top's second ability.

Jhoira's Familiar also causes Chromatic SphereChromatic Sphere to be free, meaning it can sustain itself in a combo using the mana it generates.

#6: Aetherstorm Roc

Number of Combos: 53

Deck Inclusions: 13,547 decks (0.46%)

Aetherstorm RocAetherstorm Roc is full of energy, giving you an energy counter whenever a creature enters under your control. It's is obviously built for energy decks to get extra energy to use for their own goals, and some of these goals can involve infinite combos.

If you have a second similar effect, such as that of Guide of SoulsGuide of Souls or a counter doubler, you can blink Aethergeode MinerAethergeode Miner infinitely. With Gonti's Aether HeartGonti's Aether Heart, you can create infinite combos using Automated Assembly LineAutomated Assembly Line.

The energy can also be used to cast creature spells infinitely with Primal PrayersPrimal Prayers.

#5: Shabraz, the Skyshark

Number of Combos: 79

Deck Inclusions: 2,837 as commander (#578); 17,372 as card (1.23%)

Haven't you ever sat down and said, "You know, I wish sharks could fly?" Well, consider Shabraz, the SkysharkShabraz, the Skyshark the answer to your prayers.

Shabraz takes advantage of drawing cards by gaining you one life and putting a +1/+1 counter on itself. It pairs with Brallin, Skyshark RiderBrallin, Skyshark Rider who takes advantage of discarding cards.

Shabraz creates a simple two-card combo with Marina Vendrell's GrimoireMarina Vendrell's Grimoire and Drogskol ReaverDrogskol Reaver, allowing you to easily draw your library and put some +1/+1 counters on Shabraz.

Shabraz's lifegain also serves as a quick way to trigger Famished PaladinFamished Paladin, which can be equipped with Quicksilver DaggerQuicksilver Dagger for another infinite card draw combo.

#4: Falco Spara, Pactweaver

Number of Combos: 90

Deck Inclusions: 3,920 as commander (#418); 9,635 as card (1.35%)

Falco Spara, PactweaverFalco Spara, Pactweaver is a top-deck effect, allowing you to cast spells from the top of your library if you remove a counter from a creature you control.

Earlier, we mentioned Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top as a perfect card for these effects, and Falco Spara can take full advantage of Sensei's Divining Top's second ability. All we need is a way to cover the mana cost, and a way to place a counter each iteration.

The mana can be easily covered by Jhoira's Familiar or another cost reducer, while the counter placement has many options. This includes persist or undying creatures, Devoted DruidDevoted Druid, Managorger HydraManagorger Hydra, and The Thirteenth DoctorThe Thirteenth Doctor among many other cards.

With the persist or undying creatures, you can simply sacrifice them to Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar to get the mana and the counter from the ability for the next iteration.

#3: Junk Diver

Number of Combos: 102

Deck Inclusions: 45,829 decks (0.72%)

Junk DiverJunk Diver may not have the prettiest job, but it's honest work, returning another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand when it dies. The best way to use this is to combo it with similar cards, like Myr RetrieverMyr Retriever, to infinitely cycle returning them using the other card's ability.

Here, you can lump in ways to cover the mana cost with cost reducers, or cards like Imotekh the StormlordImotekh the Stormlord and a mana sacrifice outlet. Mycosynth GolemMycosynth Golem also provides a convenient way to reduce the cost of the spells, and will generally make them free to cast.

You can also copy Junk Diver with Mendicant Core, GuidelightMendicant Core, Guidelight and use the token to return the original to your hand.

#2: Derevi, Empyrial Tactician

Number of Combos: 139

Deck Inclusions: 8,451 as commander (#134); 27,927 as card (3.92%)

Derevi, Empyrial TacticianDerevi, Empyrial Tactician has a simple ability to untap a permanent when it enters or when a creature you control deals combat damage to a player. This ability is important, but what's even better is Derevi's activated ability, allowing you to put it onto the battlefield from the command zone. This allows you to bypass the "commander tax," as you aren't casting Derevi and the additional cost will not be applied.

This removes a common barrier for command zone combos, allowing for easier combos with cards like Selvala, Heart of the WildsSelvala, Heart of the Wilds and a conventional sacrifice outlet. Derevi can also be used if it isn't your commander by blinking it with Emiel the BlessedEmiel the Blessed, or using the combat damage portion to pay for Najeela, the Blade-BlossomNajeela, the Blade-Blossom's ability, gaining infinite combat phases.

#1: Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle

Number of Combos: 166

Deck Inclusions: 1,414 as commander (#946); 60,978 as card (2.07%)

Teshar, Ancestor's ApostleTeshar, Ancestor's Apostle allows you to return a creature card with mana value three or less from your graveyard to the battlefield whenever you cast a historic spell. This ability makes it a perfect inclusion for artifact or legendary matters decks, and works perfect for recursion-based combos.

Cards like Junk Diver or Salvager of RuinSalvager of Ruin can be returned easily to gain another chance of triggering its ability. Bounce effects on cards like Aether ChannelerAether Channeler can return a historic card to your hand, allowing you then sacrifice Aether Channeler and cast the historic card to return it again.

Teshar can also help you rebound after a board wipe, especially if you have many cheap historic spells to cast. If you want to stay on the Bird theme, both Junk Diver and Jhoira's Familiar are popular and useful inclusions for a Teshar deck, and can pave the way for your avian victory lap.

Honorable Mentions

If the above cards didn't ruffle your feathers, perhaps these cards can:

1. Zinnia, Valley's VoiceZinnia, Valley's Voice: Provides an easy way to copy a creature spell, perfect for Peregrine DrakePeregrine Drake combos.

2. Tainted ObserverTainted Observer: The ability to pay to proliferate whenever a creature enters sets up easy Basking BroodscaleBasking Broodscale or Venser, Corpse PuppetVenser, Corpse Puppet combos.

3. Rimefeather OwlRimefeather Owl: A unique card that's instrumental for performing snow-based combos.

Thank you very much for reading this edition of Wombo Combo, and don't forget to check out Commander Spellbook for more EDH combos and visit the Commander Spellbook Discord to vote on the next edition of Wombo Combo and to submit your own EDH combos.

Until next time, happy comboing!