Walking BallistaWalking Ballista | Art by Daniel Ljunggren

Wombo Combo returns yet again to chronicle Commander's best combo cards using EDHREC and Commander Spellbook data! This week, we'll focus on the scaling and variable nature of spells that have in their mana costs.

costs let you set how much mana you'll pay, generally for a scaling effect such as drawing more cards, placing additional counters, and the like. These spells also work great as win conditions, using Crackle with PowerCrackle with Power or ExsanguinateExsanguinate effects to close out a game.

spells are also a prominent feature in the upcoming Secrets of Strixhaven set, with one of the Commander precons having them as a primary focus. Whether you want to build or upgrade an existing deck, let's see what spells you should consider including.

#10: Stonecoil Serpent (and Similar)

Number of Combos: 44+

Deck Inclusions: 84,720 decks (1%)

There are a plethora of creatures which allow you to pay mana, and have them enter with that many +1/+1 counters. While we'll talk about quite a few of these creatures below due to their additional effects, Stonecoil SerpentStonecoil Serpent and variants keep it simple. These cards utilize their zero toughness for easy combos, negating the need for a sacrifice outlet in many cases.

Without anthem effects, you can cast them for , causing them to enter as a 0/0 and die as a state-based action. Cards like Enduring RenewalEnduring Renewal and MortuaryMortuary utilize this to great effect, as do Pitiless PlundererPitiless Plunderer and Blood ArtistBlood Artist style cards.

#9: Doppelgang

Number of Combos: 47

Deck Inclusions: 46,803 decks (2.47%)

Copy spells are fairly commonplace in commander, but DoppelgangDoppelgang is a much stronger version. Not only can you make multiple copies of a permanent, you can also choose multiple permanents to copy.

Notably, you can copy Mystic SanctuaryMystic Sanctuary or Eternal WitnessEternal Witness along with mana producing permanents for a simple infinite combo, provided you have enough mana to begin. Dualcaster MageDualcaster Mage is a simpler alternative, copying the spell on the stack to continually make tokens.

There's also a simple win condition, using Doppelgang to make three BiovisionaryBiovisionary tokens to win the game at the end step.

#8: Benevolent Hydra

Number of Combos: 52

Deck Inclusions: 39,103 decks (1%)

Many -cost creatures place +1/+1 counters on themselves, so any card synergizing with +1/+1 counters is a great accompaniment. Enter Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra, which increases +1/+1 counters that are put on your creatures by one.

There's a plethora of cards benefiting from this effect, like VigorVigor to get more benefit from damage, or making Marath, Will of the WildMarath, Will of the Wild combos easier to execute. Most of the cards on this list can pair with Benevolent Hydra for an infinite combo, so it's a perfect inclusion for combos in a cost themed deck.

#7: Hangarback Walker

Number of Combos: 52

Deck Inclusions: 84,188 decks (1%)

Functioning similar to Stonecoil Serpent in many respects, Hangarback WalkerHangarback Walker has some more combo utility due to its other ability, which creates creature tokens when it dies with +1/+1 counters on it.

While these counters can come from casting it, effects from Bloodspore ThrinaxBloodspore Thrinax style cards can also place the counters. This'll allow easy combos with Nim DeathmantleNim Deathmantle and Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar. The tokens can also be used with Clock of OmensClock of Omens to untap other artifacts.

#6: Astral Cornucopia

Number of Combos: 57

Deck Inclusions: 93,893 decks (1.11%)

You've probably heard of ManalithManalith, which has spurred a large selection of -cost artifacts that tap to add mana of any color. In fact, there's dozens of these Manalith effects, and Astral CornucopiaAstral Cornucopia happens to be one of them.

With Cornucopia, you pay three times to put X charge counters on it, and add X mana each time you tap it. This flexibility lets you pour more mana into Cornucopia for a bigger mana rock, and you can use proliferate effects to make it bigger.

Astral Cornucopia functions similar to most mana rocks, enabling easy combos with Filigree SagesFiligree Sages, Voltaic ConstructVoltaic Construct, and Tezzeret the SeekerTezzeret the Seeker, among others.

#5: Farmer Cotton

Number of Combos: 63

Deck Inclusions: 520 as commander (#1,925); 48,864 as card (2.71%)

Around these parts, Halflings and Food reign supreme. Farmer CottonFarmer Cotton gives you both, scaling with how much mana is spent to cast it. Pairing it with token increasers, including the likes of Parallel LivesParallel Lives or Academy ManufactorAcademy Manufactor, makes combos a breeze.

Samwise GamgeeSamwise Gamgee can also be very helpful, using its ability as a RegrowthRegrowth effect thanks to the generated Foods. The Foods can also be produce mana on their own if you include A Realm RebornA Realm Reborn or Jaheira, Friend of the ForestJaheira, Friend of the Forest alongside Farmer Cotton.

#4: Nature's Rhythm

Number of Combos: 89

Deck Inclusions: 109,080 decks (4.09%)

Nature's RhythmNature's Rhythm will fetch you whatever creature you're missing at the time, provided you can pay enough mana. What sets it apart from its counterparts is the harmonize ability, allowing a second fetch while tapping a creature to discount the cost.

If there's one card that wants creatures put onto the battlefield without casting them, it's Preston, the VanisherPreston, the Vanisher. Nature's Rhythm allows you to trigger Preston easily (and twice using harmonize), useful for Felidar GuardianFelidar Guardian and Fiend HunterFiend Hunter related combos.

#3: Grenzo, Dungeon Warden

Number of Combos: 153

Deck Inclusions: 4,518 as commander (#551); 4,140 as card (0.21%)

Cards that care about the bottom of your library are uncommon in Magic, but Grenzo, Dungeon WardenGrenzo, Dungeon Warden is the king of this effect. Grenzo can grab you any creature you want if you manipulate your library to put beneficial creatures on the bottom. Some creatures, like Timestream NavigatorTimestream Navigator, do this already without other intervention.

You can always use other cards, including Soldevi DiggerSoldevi Digger and The Cauldron of EternityThe Cauldron of Eternity, to manually manipulate your library so Grenzo can grab whatever creatures you want. Popular choices of creatures include WorkhorseWorkhorse, Priest of GixPriest of Gix, and Threefold ThunderhulkThreefold Thunderhulk.

#2: Cryptic Trilobite

Number of Combos: 335

Deck Inclusions: 18,532 decks (0.22%)

Cryptic TrilobiteCryptic Trilobite has a double mana cost but also generates you colorless mana to spend on abilities. This mana can be poured into a plethora of cards, from Ghave, Guru of SporesGhave, Guru of Spores to Bristly Bill, Spine SowerBristly Bill, Spine Sower. Bristly Bill has the right idea by doubling the +1/+1 counters, giving you more mana to work with.

These effects, as well as proliferation using Lulu, Stern GuardianLulu, Stern Guardian and similar cards, are critical to Cryptic Trilobite's success. As a fallback, you can also use it in the same avenue as Stonecoil Serpent for redundancy.

#1: Walking Ballista

Number of Combos: 348

Deck Inclusions: 229,429 decks (2.72%)

While Cryptic Trilobite gives you mana, Walking BallistaWalking Ballista gives you something that's potentially better: damage. Damage easily wins games, and serves as an easy payoff for infinite +1/+1 counter or proliferating combos.

VigorVigor also loves this effect, where you can target Ballista with its own damage, and then add an extra counter with Benevolent HydraBenevolent Hydra for infinite +1/+1 counters and subsequently infinite damage.

Mikaeus, the UnhallowedMikaeus, the Unhallowed is also a perfect pairing, removing the +1/+1 counter each time for damage, allowing undying to trigger again. Giving Walking Ballista lifelink is another solid option, and creates beautiful synergy with Heliod, Sun-CrownedHeliod, Sun-Crowned for infinite life and damage.

Honorable Mentions

Has not marked the spot thus far? Have a few more options:

1. Another RoundAnother Round: Blinking spell that can blink permanents multiple times. Perfect for Abdel Adrian, Gorion's WardAbdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward or Preston, the VanisherPreston, the Vanisher.

2. Mimeoplasm, Revered OneMimeoplasm, Revered One: A pseudo-clone that can steal abilities from multiple creatures, like Kami of Whispered HopesKami of Whispered Hopes and Horseshoe CrabHorseshoe Crab.

3. Altered EgoAltered Ego: An actual clone that also enters with +1/+1 counters. Copying Enduring ScalelordEnduring Scalelord or Felidar GuardianFelidar Guardian makes for simple two-card combos.

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