<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Laboratory Maniac" href="#" target="_blank">Laboratory Maniac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.jasonfelix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Felix</a></em></p>
<p>The <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/introducing-the-commander-format-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Format Panel (CFP)</a> describes 2-Card Combos (TCCs) as two cards that can outright end the game, lock out opponents from playing the game, or are simply two cards that can go infinite. The intention is to bar lower Brackets from clear warping experiences like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Underworld Breach" href="#" target="_blank">Underworld Breach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>In addition to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bracket expectations</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>, Chaining Extra Turns, and Mass Land Denial, TCCs are aimed to better quantify just how much power is feasible in the lower Brackets. This way the Game Changer list doesn't need to include hundreds of cards and can instead focus on only the most egregious of cards and exploits.</p>
<p>But what makes something a TCC? Should all TCCs be treated equally? What about non-infinite 2-card combos?</p>
<p>We can touch upon a lot of nuances found in the TCC sub category, so let's start by defining out terms before moving on.</p>
<h2>What Do TCCs Look Like?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Basalt Monolith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forsaken Monument"></div></div>
<p>TCCs include any two cards that can end the game, lock players out, or go infinite. These combos can range from anything where two cards can kill three opponents in the same turn, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scourge of the Skyclaves" href="#" target="_blank">Scourge of the Skyclaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wound Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Wound Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, preventing your opponents from playing the game through locks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lavinia, Azorius Renegade" href="#" target="_blank">Lavinia, Azorius Renegade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knowledge Pool" href="#" target="_blank">Knowledge Pool</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or generating infinite instances of resources, damage, card draw, etc.</p>
<p>Generally, TCCs involve two cards that disproportionally push a game far into one player's favor while ending the game sooner than the pod anticipated. While decks ought not to be built to end a game at these designated times per se, Brackets state that players should expect Bracket 1-3 games to end at turns nine, eight, and six, respectively.</p>
<p>TCCs most often shatter player expectations by ending a game much sooner than the anticipated turn count Brackets suggest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chain of Smog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Professor Onyx"></div></div>
<p>Additionally, it's not enough for players to sandbag their TCCs until the suggested turn limit and win the game unannounced. Lower Bracket games are meant to be played gradually with players telegraphing their advantages and game plans. This is to say that throwing down your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Parun" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Parun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Niv-Mizzet, Visionary" href="#" target="_blank">Niv-Mizzet, Visionary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn nine in your Bracket 2 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arjun, the Shifting Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Arjun, the Shifting Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck isn't something your opponents should naturally expect.</p>
<p>The aforementioned TCCs are clear examples of two cards exploiting one another sufficiently to warp a game too dramatically for a lower Bracket experience. Brackets 1-3 aim to exclude interactions that end a game prematurely, out of nowhere, or are deemed too "unfun."</p>
<p>However, not all TCCs are equal. While some can wholly end a game on their own in a vacuum, what are we to do about TCCs that require additional steps, if not additional cards?</p>
<h2>Sometimes, TCCs Aren’t Just Two Cards</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exquisite Blood"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sanguine Bond"></div></div>
<p>A good example to start with is the popular <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguine Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguine Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo. With just two cards, the next instance of an opponent losing life or the combo's controller gaining life will end the game effectively immediately. And yet, despite the combo's notoriety, the two cards on their own don't actively contribute to ending a game.</p>
<p>The combo isn't complete until someone triggers either enchantment. Until then, there's still a Bracket 1-3 game to be had as long as the conditions aren't met.</p>
<p>I'll argue that this is still a TCC in spirit despite this due to the prerequisites being so simple to accomplish, as I'm sure many would also agree. The takeaway is that there seems to be the possibility of a TCC requiring sufficient prerequisites as to allow a TCC into Brackets 1-3 (specifically for non-thematic reasons in Bracket 1).</p>
<p>Take for example <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Charger" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Charger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Let's assume you had a source like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bear Umbra" href="#" target="_blank">Bear Umbra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that could repeatedly generate the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-5" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> necessary to indefinitely activate the Charger's triggered ability and gain an indefinite number of combats. In this case, your TCC requires around an additional seven lands to be considered a combo at all.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Approach of the Second Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reprieve"></div></div>
<p>The same thing happens if we replace Bear Umbra with a creature like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Old Gnawbone" href="#" target="_blank">Old Gnawbone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as now a minimum of seven damage <em>and</em> seven usable Treasures are required. One <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blind Obedience" href="#" target="_blank">Blind Obedience</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stops this combo in its tracks.</p>
<p>An important factor to note is that this combo isn't technically an infinite combo in either case as the TCC is limited by your opponents' life totals and whether or not their battlefields - whether through stax pieces previously mentioned or a wall of blockers - can either prevent or enable infinite combats.</p>
<p><em>Technically</em> speaking, it's possible for this TCC to not be infinite and to not end the game in a single turn, thus skirting the conditions to be categorized a TCC. Despite this, I'll agree that this still should be considered a TCC and thus excluded from lower Bracket games.</p>
<p>More examples can be found, but eventually we'll discover some combo that requires an amount of prerequisites that are so demanding or so numerous that they would water the combo down to the lower Brackets' power level.</p>
<p>Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scute Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Scute Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example. The only thing really limiting these ecological terrorists are how many lands you can play in a single turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Titania"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Staff of Domination"></div></div>
<p>Theoretically, you could construct a TCC with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the East Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the East Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the Swarm with the prerequisite that you play a bounce land like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Growth Chamber" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Growth Chamber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as your land for turn with the two creatures under your control, then returning the Chamber to your hand before Kodama's triggered ability resolves from the Swarm creating a token.</p>
<p>With the additional prerequisite of being able to grant your Swarm haste, perhaps through a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Concordant Crossroads" href="#" target="_blank">Concordant Crossroads</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you're able to end the game with what we'll consider a TCC* on turn six, a fairly reasonable expectation for Bracket 3.</p>
<h2>Prerequisites Are to TCCs as Brackets Are to Commander</h2>
<p>We've previously talked about <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/commander-philosophy-to-combo-or-not-to-combo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playing combos in the lower Brackets</a>, but what we didn't focus on in that discussion was whether TCCs can also fit into lower Bracket experiences. I believe that we can use a combo's prerequisites as a means to limit a combo's warping effect similar to how Brackets are used to tailor the desired Commander experience between a pod.</p>
<p>What if, in order to create a TCC* that can end the game on the spot with an infinite amount of mana, we needed <em>seventeen mana</em> to do so. Let's look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cogwork Assembler" href="#" target="_blank">Cogwork Assembler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Powerstone Shard" href="#" target="_blank">Powerstone Shard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In order for the Shard to tap for seven mana and thus allow us to infinitely activate the Assembler and generate infinite copies of any artifact creature with haste + infinite <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-c" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, we'll need to create six copies of the Shard to do so.</p>
<p>If we wanted to do so all at once, we'd need access to seventeen mana before copying Powerstone Shard. With seventeen mana, I believe that most players will anticipate game-ending moves to be made. Very little is unachievable with seventeen mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hushwing Gryff"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wormfang Manta"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Athreos, Shroud-Veiled"></div></div>
<p>Now, what if we had the means of gradually producing permanent copies of Powerstone Shard over multiple turns, perhaps with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mechanized Production" href="#" target="_blank">Mechanized Production</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, only this time we resolve Cogwork Assembler the turn we intend to win? Wouldn't this be sandbagging and go against telegraphing our plays, thus "wining out of nowhere" and going against lower Bracket intentions?</p>
<p>I'd argue that it <em>was</em> telegraphed. We've proven to be able to generate permanent copies of whatever artifact we please and have done so over multiple turns, allowing our opponents many opportunities to stop us from doing so. If they can't win against an opponent generating, say, one additional <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Metalwork Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Metalwork Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a turn, that's not on us.</p>
<p>They've been more than able to deal with our source of generating Powerstone Shard copies up to this point, and arguably <em>should</em> have by now. Especially if our source of copying is Mechanized Production, a <em>very</em> telegraphed victory condition.</p>
<p>This is but one example. Innumerable instances of TCCs requiring an already game-winning amount of influence can be presented and arguably justified to be allowed into the lower Brackets.</p>
<h2>Ask Not if You Can, but if You Should</h2>
<p>The one argument that stands against a TCC* in lower Brackets is the hard rule that players who don't want to engage with TCCs in any form should have the opportunity to do so. This is a foundational tenet of the Brackets that players ought to have a space safe from the saltier or grindier sides of Commander.</p>
<p>This safe space must remain. Despite the arguments we've discussed thus far, if someone remains apprehensive to playing with or against TCCs in any form, they ought to be granted such an environment that fosters this experience.</p>
<p>As is always the case, this remains a Rule Zero discussion. Does your group mind if your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is capable of nuking the table with an attacking <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Is everyone fine with expecting your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> partner deck to be capable of infecting everyone with instances like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maze&#039;s End"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reshape the Earth"></div></div>
<p>We can argue that TCCs and TCCs* ought to be accessible in all Brackets to an extent, but at the end of the day this discussion must be shared with our three opponents. The CFP may govern Commander with our best interests in mind, but they only offer guidance and leave it to us to cultivate our preferred play experiences.</p>
<p>But what do <em>you</em> think? How do you feel about playing with prerequisite-heavy-TCCs in lower Brackets? What are your thoughts on TCCs expanding beyond just two cards? Do you think this interpretation of TCCs can promote more enjoyable games?</p>
<p>I hope this article is helpful in exploring what TCCs can look like and how to play them differently. Find me on BlueSky at <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ajwicker4.bsky.social">@ajwicker4.bsky.social</a>, I'd love to hear from you and what your thoughts are.</p>
<p>Tune in next time to continue this deep dive in the Bracket system and more <em>Commander Philosophy!</em></p>


Commander Philosophy — 2-Card Combos in Lower Brackets

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.samburley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Burley</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to <em>Technically Playable</em>, where our mission statement is "Every commander is <em>technically</em> playable" (the best kind of playable). The way this works is every article will have a commander generated using EDHREC's random button, I'll talk through the card and then write about how we can build around it!</p>
<p>This week's random commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tayam, Luminous Enigma"></div></div>
<p>Initially, this article was going to be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sensational Spider-Man" href="#" target="_blank">Sensational Spider-Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but since that card isn't out for another month, I decided to take a very rare <em>Technically Playable</em> mulligan to look at something that has a little more time and experience behind it.</p>
<h2>Wombo Combo!</h2>
<p>Tayam is a deck that invites the deckbuilder to create some really interesting lines of play, especially when it comes to more competitive playgroups. In this section, I'll look at a handful of different combos that Tayam can use to win the game on the spot.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="687-4762" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-4762" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Devoted%20Druid%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%5D&id=687-4762&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p>This first combo uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to create infinite mana. While this combo only needs two cards to win, you also need to make sure that you've got some way to buff the Druid's toughness by +2 so that it doesn't die to its own -1/-1 counters.</p>
<p>This is often done with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Centaur Garden" href="#" target="_blank">Centaur Garden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shield Mate" href="#" target="_blank">Shield Mate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> since they're both cheap to put into play (the land of course costing you no mana to play) however you can also use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vines of Vastwood" href="#" target="_blank">Vines of Vastwood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to both buff the Druid and give it protection from removal at the same time.</p>
<p>Once you've buffed the Druid, simply tap it for mana three times, use that mana to activate Tayam, and remove the -1/-1 counters from the Druid. This will let you mill your whole deck and put any permanents that are three mana or less into play, including all of your lands. From here, you can put a win together with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and some kind of sacrifice outlet.</p>
<p>You can also use the Devoted Druid combo to set up and then use the combos below to finish the game.</p>
<div id="687-2012-2034-3644" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-2012-2034-3644" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Ashnod's%20Altar%22%2C%22Strangleroot%20Geist%22%2C%22Young%20Wolf%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%2C%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%5D&id=687-2012-2034-3644&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p>Similar to the first combo, the idea of this one is to mill your entire library while putting all of your permanents into play, but it achieves this slightly differently. Instead of using Tayam and one other card, it takes a few more pieces, but each of these can be put into play from Tayam's ability if you don't draw them or if they're milled or discarded some other way.</p>
<p>Instead of using the creatures to make the mana, instead we sacrifice both of our creatures with undying to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make four colorless mana. This can then be used to activate Tayam, remove the +1/+1 counters and vigilance counters given by Tayam from our undying creatures, and then repeat the loop. This fully mills our deck like the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, but also provides us with infinite colorless mana and infinite leave/enter the battlefield triggers to play with as well.</p>
<p>What makes this combo so great and flexible is that it doesn't need to be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Young Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strangleroot Geist" href="#" target="_blank">Strangleroot Geist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; in fact, any creature with undying or persist will work. This is great with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitchen Finks" href="#" target="_blank">Kitchen Finks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make infinite life or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geralf&#039;s Messenger" href="#" target="_blank">Geralf&#039;s Messenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to machinegun down everyone's life totals.</p>
<div id="687-2034-4626" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="687-2034-4626" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Tayam%2C%20Luminous%20Enigma%22%2C%22Promise%20of%20Bunrei%22%2C%22Ashnod's%20Altar%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colorless%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20creature%20tokens%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20self-mill%22%2C%22Put%20all%20permanents%20with%20a%20mana%20value%20of%203%20or%20less%20from%20your%20library%20and%20graveyard%20onto%20the%20battlefield%22%5D&id=687-2034-4626&color=WBG&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p>The last combo I want to highlight bears a close resemblance to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Young Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Young Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo, but with the distinct difference of using a card that's only in 0.25% of decks it can be in. This feels very apt for <em>Technically Playable</em>.</p>
<p>Like the undying/persist combo, this uses <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Promise of Bunrei" href="#" target="_blank">Promise of Bunrei</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make tokens that get vigilance counters from Tayam. You need any random creature in play and one spare mana before starting the combo. First, you sacrifice it to make mana and sacrifice the Promise to make some tokens. You can then activate Tayam, remove the vigilance counters from the tokens, and return Promise to the battlefield.</p>
<p>Loop this process by sacrificing the tokens to make more tokens and return the Promise over and over again. This will mill your whole deck, give you infinite mana, infinite tokens, basically infinite anything you can think of.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Devoted Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Young Wolf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Promise of Bunrei"></div></div>
<p>While each of these combos is really good by itself if you're going for a combo deck, I'd always say to make sure you have as much redundancy as possible. Each of these combos can set you up to win the game or can dig to find one of the other combos if you need a specific line of play to get through a particular stax piece, stopping you from winning, making them all useful in different ways and for different board states.</p>
<h2>Tayam the Value Engine</h2>
<p>It's clear from the combos above and <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=Tayam%2C+Luminous+Enigma&amp;utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tayam's extensive Commander Spellbook page</a> that we can easily build a combo-focused deck with this card, but personally, I'm a much bigger fan of a slow grind. I like the longer games you can have of Commander; they tend to offer more opportunities for swingy moments and stories you'll be telling in your playgroup for years to come.</p>
<p>This deck has a couple of routes you can go down. The first is one that you may want to run by your playgroup before committing to: The Tayam Edict deck. Using cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merciless Executioner" href="#" target="_blank">Merciless Executioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can get around hexproof and indestructible on your opponents' creatures, allowing you to easily remove their strongest cards without much trouble (unless they're playing a ton of tokens, of course).</p>
<p>In combination with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you can easily create a board state that locks your opponents out of playing any creatures. This is made even better by the fact that these cards are all three mana, allowing you to return them at instant speed with Tayam.</p>
<p>All you need to do is make sure you can make enough mana and generate enough counters to do this repeatedly. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Devoted Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Devoted Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works amazingly here, even without committing to the combo. You can also use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Roots" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Roots</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which doesn't combo like the Druid does, but it does contribute towards being able to replay a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> each turn.</p>
<p>You can also use other sacrifice outlets that give counters, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician" href="#" target="_blank">Yawgmoth, Thran Physician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which both generate counters when sacrificing, and of course, the proliferate ability on Yawgmoth can make for some really explosive turns.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fleshbag Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Pact"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yawgmoth, Thran Physician"></div></div>
<p>Now I said I like slow games, but everyone has to go home at some point. While I wouldn't play something quite as slow or punishing as the deck above, I would want to use Tayam as part of an engine to push my game plan forward.</p>
<p>I'd definitely run the mana generators like Devoted Druid and Wall of Roots, but alongside those I'd look to play more around +1/+1 counters with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terrasymbiosis" href="#" target="_blank">Terrasymbiosis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar" href="#" target="_blank">Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to draw through our deck and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyre Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Gyre Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kami of Whispered Hopes" href="#" target="_blank">Kami of Whispered Hopes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to generate all the mana I could ever need.</p>
<p>So that's mana and cards sorted, but how are we going to make sure we have enough counters to fuel Tayam? There are a lot of cards we could use to generate our own counters, but what if we instead used our opponents' game actions to do that? That way, we can hold up all of our mana to activate Tayam and dig through our deck for even more value.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Managorger Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Managorger Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the absolute best option for this since it gains counters whenever anyone plays a spell, as well a being the right mana cost to be hit with Tayam. While not the right mana cost, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forgotten Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Forgotten Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also does a very good job of hoarding counters while also being able to move them around to other creatures should that be necessary.</p>
<p>We can also use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of the Grove" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of the Grove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arwen, Weaver of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Arwen, Weaver of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to put loads of counters onto our creatures as they enter. This means that no matter what we hit off of Tayam's ability, we're almost always going to be able to do it again as long as we have the mana.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terrasymbiosis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyre Sage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Managorger Hydra"></div></div>
<p>As with all <em>Technically Playable</em> articles, this was a very quick look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a commander, and a few of the cards that can really make a deck with Tayam as the commander tick.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments below if you play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tayam, Luminous Enigma" href="#" target="_blank">Tayam, Luminous Enigma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, if you want to build a Tayam, Luminous Enigma deck, or even if you just enjoyed this article!</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="0QWhUjnBqR"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/technically-playable-arcee-sharpshooter/">Technically Playable - Arcee, Sharpshooter</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Technically Playable - Arcee, Sharpshooter&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/technically-playable-arcee-sharpshooter/embed/#?secret=NUIDHAtqBD#?secret=0QWhUjnBqR" data-secret="0QWhUjnBqR" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="f4NguvBoxn"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/dealing-lethal-commander-damage-with-commander-eesha/">Dealing Lethal Commander Damage With Commander Eesha</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Dealing Lethal Commander Damage With Commander Eesha&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/dealing-lethal-commander-damage-with-commander-eesha/embed/#?secret=3FNEovRX1W#?secret=f4NguvBoxn" data-secret="f4NguvBoxn" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="L3REc7k0Hq"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/technically-playable-kodama-of-the-north-tree/">Technically Playable - Kodama of the North Tree</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Technically Playable - Kodama of the North Tree&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/technically-playable-kodama-of-the-north-tree/embed/#?secret=grsCYyF9MH#?secret=L3REc7k0Hq" data-secret="L3REc7k0Hq" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


commander combo

Commander Philosophy — 2-Card Combos in Lower Brackets

Counters and Combos With Tayam, Luminous Enigma