<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.markzug.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Zug</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome to Combo Week here on EDHREC! Combo voting is live from April 8th to 12th. So <a href="https://edhrec.com/combo-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go vote on combos</a> to tell us where you think they should fall in the Bracket System.</p>
<p>Combos in Commander tend to be prevalent at higher level tables, typically alongside powerful and expensive staples. However, adding these kinds of impactful interactions shouldn't have to empty your wallet. Whether you're looking for more ways to close out a game, or you're just trying to bring one of your favorite decks up to a <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new Bracket</a>, this list will be here to help.</p>
<p>As I put this together, I wanted to highlight five monocolored combos that offer useful payoffs, feature commonly played cards for popular archetypes, and cost around $3 in total, while only requiring two or three cards to pull off.</p>
<p>So, with all that in mind, join me, <a href="https://linktr.ee/pillowfortmtg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks</a>, as we look at some interactions that'll break the <em>game</em> without breaking the <em>bank</em>.</p>
<h3>Felidar Guardian | Restoration Angel</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Felidar Guardian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Restoration Angel"></div></div>
<p>If you're looking to power up a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/blink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blink</a> deck, then pairing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restoration Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Restoration Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> together can make for a game altering turn. Here's how the steps work with these two:</p>
<h4 class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboListTitle">Steps</h4>
<ol class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboList list-decimal">
<li>With Restoration Angel on the battlefield, cast Felidar Guardian.</li>
<li>When Felidar Guardian enters, its enter ability triggers. Target Restoration Angel.</li>
<li>When Restoration Angel re-enters, its enter ability triggers. Target Felidar Guardian.</li>
<li>Repeat from step 2.</li>
</ol>
<p>This interaction creates infinite enters and leaves triggers for your board. That can generate you a crazy amount of advantage when paired with a commander like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galadriel, Light of Valinor" href="#" target="_blank">Galadriel, Light of Valinor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or just result with you closing out the game if you happen to have a pinging effect like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warleader&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Warleader&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play. All of which is great, especially when you consider that these two cards fit very well in the Blink archetype already, making it a simple combo to include in your deck.</p>
<h3>Naru Meha, Master Wizard | Ghostly Flicker</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Naru Meha, Master Wizard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghostly Flicker"></div></div>
<p>Our next combo will cost you seven mana to carry out, but it'll offer you a whole lot of value in the process. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naru Meha, Master Wizard" href="#" target="_blank">Naru Meha, Master Wizard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can combo with several different cards, but I'm going to focus on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for this entry. Let's take a look at what this pair can do.</p>
<h4 class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboListTitle">Steps</h4>
<ol class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboList list-decimal">
<li>Cast Ghostly Flicker.</li>
<li>Holding priority, cast Naru Meha.</li>
<li>When Naru Meha resolves, it'll enter and trigger. Target the Ghostly Flicker that's still on the stack, with the copy targeting Naru Meha and another permanent.</li>
<li>Resolve the copy of Ghostly Flicker, blinking Naru Meha, and another permanent.</li>
<li>Repeat from step 3.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naru Meha, Master Wizard" href="#" target="_blank">Naru Meha, Master Wizard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enters and makes a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Flicker" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Flicker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which'll resolve before the original. That means her and the other permanent you target will always re-enter at a time where you can copy the original Ghostly Flicker over and over. With this combo, you get infinite landfall triggers, magecraft triggers, enters and leaves the battlefield triggers, as well blinking your creatures, artifacts, and lands any number of times.</p>
<p>Those last two examples allow you tap your mana rocks or lands to float mana before they blink again, which is what leads to getting infinite mana; this combo is intense.</p>
<h3>Gravecrawler | Pitiless Plunderer | Phyrexian Ghoul</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gravecrawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pitiless Plunderer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Ghoul"></div></div>
<p>Black is my favorite color in all of <em>Magic</em>, but its broad combo potential on a budget was a bit difficult to nail down. However, something that caught my eye was the interaction between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pitiless Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Pitiless Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for its ability to close out a game.</p>
<h4 class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboListTitle">Steps</h4>
<ol class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboList list-decimal">
<li>Have all three creatures on the battlefield. Activate Phyrexian Ghoul by sacrificing Gravecrawler.</li>
<li>When Gravecrawler dies, Pitiless Plunderer triggers, creating a Treasure token.</li>
<li>Resolve the Phyrexian Ghoul ability, giving it +2/+2 until end of turn.</li>
<li>Sacrifice the Treasure token, adding <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</li>
<li>Cast Gravecrawler from your graveyard by paying <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="textWithMagicSymbol-module-scss-module___XIflq__imageContainer"><span class="sr-only">.</span></span></li>
<li>Repeat.</li>
</ol>
<p>This sequence offers a lot of effects, but the biggest one for black-based decks is all of those death triggers. There're so many popular cards that can lower the tables' life totals when your creatures leave play, sealing the game for you. Pair this with a classic card 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> and you have a win right there.</p>
<p>Also, if you already control a Zombie and a free sacrifice outlet, this combo isn't dependent on having the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make it work. Simply putting Gravecrawler and the Plunderer in a deck that has a lot of Zombies and a few creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Viscera Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Viscera Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, will make this combo a whole lot easier to pull off.</p>
<h3>Combat Celebrant | Sandstorm Crasher</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Combat Celebrant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sandstorm Crasher"></div></div>
<p>Our red combo is a bit of a glass canon, but it honestly feels pretty on brand for this color. Pairing up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Celebrant" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Celebrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sandstorm Crasher" href="#" target="_blank">Sandstorm Crasher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can bring you infinite combat steps... as long as people can't block and kill your creatures - which could be more doable than you might think.</p>
<p>So let's look at the process of this one.</p>
<h4 class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboListTitle">Steps</h4>
<ol class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboList list-decimal">
<li>Have both on the battlefield, and not summoning sick. Declare Combat Celebrant and Sandstorm Crasher as attackers, choosing to exert Sandstorm Crasher and Combat Celebrant as they attack. Combat Celebrant and Sandstorm Crasher each trigger.</li>
<li>Resolve the Sandstorm Crasher trigger, creating a token copy of Combat Celebrant that is tapped and attacking.</li>
<li>Resolve the Combat Celebrant trigger, untapping all other creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.</li>
<li>Repeat during each combat phase using the Combat Celebrant tokens.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, the biggest thing for ensuring this plan works is keeping your Crasher and at least one version of your Celebrant safe at all times. Who knows, you may be in a game where someone only has a couple small value creatures that you can easily send attackers at, while the rest of the table has to deal with your wider board.</p>
<p>I'm considering adding both of these into my deck for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Jolly Balloon Man" href="#" target="_blank">The Jolly Balloon Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> so it can finally be the villain everyone assumes it already is.</p>
<h3>Scurry Oak | Ivy Lane Denizen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scurry Oak"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ivy Lane Denizen"></div></div>
<p>We'll wrap up with green, and honestly, I love the simplicity of this one. When you combine <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scurry Oak" href="#" target="_blank">Scurry Oak</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ivy Lane Denizen" href="#" target="_blank">Ivy Lane Denizen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/plus-1-plus-1-counters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1+/+1 counter</a> deck, you get yourself an insane amount of value for such a low cost.</p>
<h4 class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboListTitle">Steps</h4>
<ol class="comboList-module-scss-module__mEvZsa__comboList list-decimal">
<li>Have Ivy Lane Denizen on the battlefield. Cast Scurry Oak.</li>
<li>When Scurry Oak enters, Ivy Lane Denizen triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Scurry Oak.</li>
<li>Scurry Oak's last ability triggers, allowing you to create a 1/1 Squirrel token.</li>
<li>This Squirrel token triggers Denizen. Put the new counter on Scurry Oak.</li>
<li>Repeat from step 3.</li>
</ol>
<p>With these few easy steps, you get infinite creature tokens. Plus, you can simply break the chain by targeting one of those Squirrels with a counter once you're completely satisfied.</p>
<p>Many of the sets in recent years have featured counters as one of their main themes for green, so there's more and more great commanders being printed all the time for this strategy. Just look at the huge number of <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tmt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle</a></em> legends, and you'll find a good home for this tree filled with an <em>unbelievable</em> number of chittering friends.</p>
<h2>My Final Thoughts on Budget Combos</h2>
<p>Well, I hope you enjoyed my list of fun budget combos in each piece of the color pie. If you're looking to power up a deck from one Bracket to the next, then adding a few combos can help you do that. Plus, some of these combos can be paired together in multicolored decks, so start mixing and matching.</p>
<p>If you're looking for more budget content from me, you can find it right <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/tyler-bucks?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here on EDHREC</a> as well as on my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzUtnBZogc1TSttr8eLUK_w/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Pillow Fort</a>. Be sure to stay tuned on both of those platforms, because I'm planning to put out a whole lot of content centered around <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Secrets of Strixhaven</a> </em>as the weeks go on.</p>


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