Brewing a Ganax and Acolyte of Bahamut Deck on a Budget

<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>


Building a Dragon Commander Deck With The Ur-Dragon

Under the Radar - Silumgar, the Drifting Death

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sapphire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Sapphire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.joeslucher.com/">Joe Slucher</a>)</h6>
<h1>Dracarys</h1>
<p>Hello fellow brewer and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. For the last <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-stick-em-in-a-stew/">two</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/rebrew-for-your-buck-ratadrabiks-rings/">articles</a>, we've been focused on infinite combos to win immediately upon assembly. We've also been in Orzhov (white, black) both times. With that in mind, I went searching in the Izzet (blue, red) part of the color pie, looking for a commander that lends itself to a more casual, <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/making-magic/timmy-johnny-and-spike-2013-12-03">Timmy/Tammy-esque playstyle</a>. A good old fashioned Dragons deck just seemed to fit the bill. Fortunately we just had a new commander for this archetype released not too long ago:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarkhan, Soul Aflame"></div></div>
<p>Sarkhan is a great commander for a deck based around a creature type that tends to be higher on the mana curve. He only costs three mana, making him easy to cast early, and then he reduces the cost of all future Dragons. The copying ability is excellent too, especially in conjunction with attack or combat damage triggers since Sarkhan gives the Dragon it's copying "haste" by already existing on the battlefield. We can see that with some of the cards we are going to take out of the $354.53 list.</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($52.35)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terror of the Peaks" href="#" target="_blank">Terror of the Peaks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($29.73)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($25.07)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Incubator" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Incubator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($20.28)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Silver Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Silver Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($18.32)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavern-Hoard Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Cavern-Hoard Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($13.99)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeska&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Jeska&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($13.38)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balefire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Balefire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.73)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Utvara Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Utvara Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.50)</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldspan Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Goldspan Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.94)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 240px;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $204.29</strong></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steam Vents" href="#" target="_blank">Steam Vents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our only land that would qualify for a swap, which would bring our total savings to <strong>$217.68.</strong></p>
<h2><strong>Additions</strong></h2>
<p>Thinking about the cards we want to add, I want to be careful about keeping the Dragon count consistent. We need to add back seven Dragons since we took that many out. We'll look for Dragons with attack or combat damage triggers that we get right away once Sarkhan copies the Dragon we cast, but mostly our budget package this week is just looking to make our opponents dead as fast as possible.</p>
<h3><strong>Five-by-Five</strong></h3>
<p>Five drop Dragons are really valuable in this list, because we can curve Sarkhan straight into them. First up, the best curve topper in those <em>Arena</em> <em>Cube</em> red decks: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glorybringer" href="#" target="_blank">Glorybringer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.27). We can exert it and Sarkhan to snipe two creatures if needed or just bash for eight damage. Want to gain some political favor? Try out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hunted Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Hunted Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.53) to make a new friend via Knight tokens, then smack someone else in the face for twelve with Sarkhan and this five mana 6/6 flying haster. Or just smack the person you give the tokens to; those Knights don't fly. For more face-smashing, try out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics" href="#" target="_blank">Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.09). When these guys come down after Sarkhan, you're throwing eight damage at <strong>each</strong> opponent as early as turn four.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glorybringer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hunted Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Utility Dragons</strong></h3>
<p>Part of why I love doing these articles is finding cards that I didn't know existed. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Pillager" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Pillager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.10) is yet another one, but don't you think its name sounds like a black Nightmare instead of a red Dragon? Either way, this guy slots in as a good replacement for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Silver Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Silver Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a fraction of the price. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sapphire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Sapphire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.18) pulls double duty in the deck, being a useful though over-costed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> early and helping to find the right cards later. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vengeful Ancestor" href="#" target="_blank">Vengeful Ancestor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.29) can repeatedly goad your opponent's creatures, keeping the pressure off you while you're hitting everyone with your big flying monsters. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siege Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Siege Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.30) might seem a bit laughable in comparison with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balefire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Balefire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but it's way cheaper and does a pretty good impression. Plus the one time you absolutely WRECK the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcades, the Strategist" href="#" target="_blank">Arcades</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> player in your pod will make for a Commander story you'll be telling for years.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Pillager"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sapphire Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Siege Dragon"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Non-Dragon Dragon Support</strong></h3>
<p>With our required seven Dragons out of the way, let's look at our three supporting slots. My mind went straight to bonuses for creatures with flying, since all but four of our creatures have it. Things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of Evos Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of Evos Isle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravitational Shift" href="#" target="_blank">Gravitational Shift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windreader Sphinx" href="#" target="_blank">Windreader Sphinx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lofty Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Lofty Denial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be great (and budget) additions, but it just seemed too generic. We're a Dragon deck after all, let's do Dragon things!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shared Animosity" href="#" target="_blank">Shared Animosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.23) seems like an auto-include in a typal deck looking to attack, so I'm glad it's getting a reprint in the <em>Wilds of Eldraine</em> bonus sheet. In magical Christmasland, you could even attack with six 10/3 <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics" href="#" target="_blank">Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn five. Speaking of attacking creatures, if we need to draw cards look no further than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keep Watch" href="#" target="_blank">Keep Watch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.58). Not only can we use this on our turn if we're swinging out (which we'll be doing a lot of), but this will count for your opponents' creatures too. They don't even need to be attacking you! To bring it all home, we'll throw in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guild Artisan" href="#" target="_blank">Guild Artisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.10). This deck is as mana hungry as they come, so extra ramp is always needed. Since our plan is to be attacking with Sarkhan all the time, this is a small mana and money investment that fits our plan nicely.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shared Animosity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keep Watch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guild Artisan"></div></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Wrap Up and Savings</strong></h2>
<p>Let's take a look at what we saved:</p>
<table class="aligncenter" style="height: 384px; width: 81.6883%; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;" width="177"><strong>Out</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;" width="69"><strong> Price </strong></td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;" width="152"><strong>In</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;" width="73"><strong> Price </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;" width="177">Ancient Copper Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;" width="69"> $ 52.35</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;" width="152">Glorybringer</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;" width="73"> $ 0.27</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Terror of the Peaks</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 29.73</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Hunted Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.53</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Cyclonic Rift</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 25.07</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Tiamat's Fanatics</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.09</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Urza's Incubator</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 20.28</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Dream Pillager</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Ancient Silver Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 18.32</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Sapphire Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.18</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Cavern-Hoard Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 13.99</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Vengeful Ancestor</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Jeska's Will</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 13.38</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Siege Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Balefire Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 10.73</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Shared Animosity</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 1.23</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Utvara Hellkite</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 10.50</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Keep Watch</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.58</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;">Goldspan Dragon</td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"> $ 9.94</td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;">Guild Artisan</td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"> $ 0.10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;"><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.6673%; height: 24px;"><strong> $ 204.29</strong></td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;"><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"><strong> $ 3.67</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 22.5958%; height: 24px;" colspan="2" rowspan="4"><strong> </strong></td>
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;" width="152"><strong>Original Deck Price</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;" width="73"><strong> $ 354.53</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;"><strong>New Price</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"><strong> $ 140.52</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;"><strong>Total Savings</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"><strong> $ 214.01</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 24.178%; height: 24px;"><strong>% Savings</strong></td>
<td style="width: 5.31842%; height: 24px;"><strong>60%</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I hope you liked this straightforward, attack and smash Dragon deck. We cut a whopping 60% off the price of the deck, kept some sweet Dragon staples, and made you the scourge of durdle decks everywhere. Here's the final list:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Here Are My Dragons" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sarkhan, Soul Aflame
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Astral Dragon
*1 Atsushi, the Blazing Sky
*1 Blast-Furnace Hellkite
*1 Dragonlord&#039;s Servant
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Dragonspeaker Shaman
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dream Pillager
*1 Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
*1 Ganax, Astral Hunter
*1 Glorybringer
*1 Hellkite Tyrant
*1 Hunted Dragon
*1 Iymrith, Desert Doom
*1 Kolaghan Warmonger
*1 Lathliss, Dragon Queen
*1 Lozhan, Dragons&#039; Legacy
*1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
*1 Renari, Merchant of Marvels
*1 Sapphire Dragon // Psionic Pulse
*1 Scourge of Valkas
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Siege Dragon
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Thunderbreak Regent
*1 Tiamat&#039;s Fanatics
*1 Titan of Littjara
*1 Tyrant&#039;s Familiar
*1 Vengeful Ancestor
*1 Wrathful Red Dragon
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crucible of Fire
*1 Dragon Tempest
*1 Guild Artisan
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Reflections of Littjara
*1 Rising of the Day
*1 Shared Animosity
*1 There and Back Again
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Counterspell
*1 Draconic Lore
*1 Dragon&#039;s Fire
*1 Keep Watch
*1 Negate
*1 Pongify
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Sarkhan&#039;s Triumph
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Sarkhan, Fireblood
[/Planeswalkers]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Carnelian Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Dragon&#039;s Hoard
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Izzet Signet
*1 Lapis Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Orb of Dragonkind
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Creativity
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crucible of the Spirit Dragon
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
*6 Island
*1 Izzet Boilerworks
*14 Mountain
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Training Center
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<p>As usual, I'd love to hear your take on this deck, the BFYB process, commanders or themes you'd like to see, or anything else! Let me know down below in the comments; I'm usually pretty good about responding. If not I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck</p>
<p><em>Please note: card prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of writing, but prices can vary over time and between locations.</em></p>
<h3>Read more:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/recross-the-paths-the-scarab-god/">Recross the Paths - The Scarab God</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/nearly-identical-the-ur-dragon-or-tiamat/">Nearly Identical - The Ur-Dragon or Tiamat?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://commandersherald.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-sylvia-khorvath/">How To Train Your Dragon: Sylvia &amp; Khorvath</a></li>
</ul>


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Brew For Your Buck - Here Are My Dragons