Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser | Art by Darren Tan

Wombo Combo returns once again, exploring the best combo cards in Commander, as ranked by EDHREC and Commander Spellbook. This week, we venture into the school halls, learning the best combo cards from the new Secrets of Strixhaven set.

Secrets of Strixhaven is our second visit to the magical school of Strixhaven, located on the plane of Arcavios. The set has a strong focus on instants and sorceries, similar to the original Strixhaven: School of Mages, and gives us a plethora of new effects to play with.

Whether you're looking for a new commander or to upgrade an existing one, let's explore the best combo cards from Secrets of Strixhaven to improve your deck!

#10: Pensive Professor

Number of Combos: 19

Drawing cards is a paramount action in Magic, and Pensive ProfessorPensive Professor provides a strong method for doing so in +1/+1 counter and proliferate themed decks. Simply place a +1/+1 counter on it, either with its increment ability or any other method, and get a card in return.

When paired with an inverted effect, found on cards like Lyla, Holographic AssistantLyla, Holographic Assistant and Wizard ClassWizard Class, you'll easy draw your library and get a decently large creature. Pensive Professor can also steal Psychic FrogPsychic Frog's ability to place a counter on itself, with the help of Agatha's Soul CauldronAgatha's Soul Cauldron.

#9: Stensian Sanguinist

Number of Combos: 27

ExsanguinateExsanguinate is an extremely popular card in Commander, currently featured in over 308,000 decks. Stensian SanguinistStensian Sanguinist gives you the option to cast Exsanguinate repeatedly using the prepared mechanic. This mechanic lets you cast a copy of the spell if the creature is prepared to do so, after which the creature becomes unprepared.

Exsanguinate is a staple card in Rowan, Scion of WarRowan, Scion of War decks, and alongside Peer into the AbyssPeer into the Abyss and Skirge FamiliarSkirge Familiar. Stensian Sanguinist serves as excellent redundancy while also giving the option of repeatable casting.

#8: Yavimaya Bloomsage

Number of Combos: 28

ChannelChannel may currently be banned in Commander, but Yavimaya BloomsageYavimaya Bloomsage lets you cast it anyway after you jump through a few hoops. Getting a creature with power seven or greater (in green, no less) is very easily accomplished, meaning preparing Bloomsage shouldn't be an issue for most green decks.

Channel is a favorite card in other formats to end games, such as the legendary combo alongside FireballFireball. In Commander, better options include using Torment of HailfireTorment of Hailfire, Comet StormComet Storm, or Exsanguinate, which we just discussed above.

#7: Topiary Lecturer

Number of Combos: 35

Functionally, Topiary LecturerTopiary Lecturer is interchangeable for combos involving Marwyn, the NurturerMarwyn, the Nurturer or Viridian JoinerViridian Joiner, where you just need a mana dork to produce large amounts of mana. This'll setup easy two-card combos with Staff of DominationStaff of Domination or Umbral MantleUmbral Mantle, giving you infinite alongside other benefits.

Topiary Lecturer can also find a home in Ashaya, Soul of the WildAshaya, Soul of the Wild decks, using Scryb RangerScryb Ranger to untap it. While it has an innate method to boost its power, cards like Colossus HammerColossus Hammer or ColossificationColossification can spike the mana gained each time.

#6: Bogwater Lumaret

Number of Combos: 36

Bogwater LumaretBogwater Lumaret fits into a group of so-called "Soul Sister" effects, named after Soul WardenSoul Warden and similar cards. Simply gaining life whenever a creature enters is a strong way to trigger certain cards, including Trudge GardenTrudge Garden.

The life also easily offsets life payments, typically found in Warren SoultraderWarren Soultrader or Carnival of SoulsCarnival of Souls combos. The lifegain can also simply be an additional result for combos providing infinite enter the battlefield (ETB) triggers, and then funneled into Channel or Aetherflux ReservoirAetherflux Reservoir for additional effect.

#5: Daydream

Number of Combos: 42

Blink decks love redundancy, making DaydreamDaydream a welcomed inclusion. Blinking a creature for one mana with the benefit of a +1/+1 counter being placed on it is great value, and the ability to use flashback later is even better.

Abdel Adrian, Gorion's WardAbdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward and Preston, the VanisherPreston, the Vanisher are perfect fits, using the blinking effect to trigger them. Daydream can also be copied by Dualcaster MageDualcaster Mage, who can then be blinked and repeat the process.

#4: Zealous Lorecaster

Number of Combos: 77

Zealous LorecasterZealous Lorecaster joins ArchaeomancerArchaeomancer and similar cards as methods of recursion for instants and sorceries. These cards are commonly included in Ghostly FlickerGhostly Flicker and Devastating OnslaughtDevastating Onslaught combos as simple ways to recur them and cast them again.

You'll also want easy ways to produce mana, which can be handled by instants and sorceries (including Mana GeyserMana Geyser) or external effects like Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist. While Zealous Lorecaster does cost more mana than Archaeomancer, it provides the benefit of fitting into mono-red decks, including commanders such as Rionya, Fire DancerRionya, Fire Dancer.

#3: Cauldron of Essence

Number of Combos: 78

We spoke about "Soul Sisters" earlier, but Cauldron of EssenceCauldron of Essence falls into the counterpoint group of Blood ArtistBlood Artist style effects, where you gain life (and typically, one or more opponents also lose life) whenever a creature dies. Both of these effects are interchangeable so long as a combo produces both ETB triggers and death triggers.

The additional life loss is a massive benefit, allowing combos to end the game immediately rather than needing another piece. Cauldron of Essence does also provide limited recursion, which can work wonders in recursion decks or to recover creatures that were slapped with a MurderMurder.

#2: Quintorius, History Chaser / Garrison Excavator

Number of Combos: 110

Back in Strixhaven: School of Mages, Quintorius, Field HistorianQuintorius, Field Historian gave us the ability to create creature tokens as cards leave our graveyard. In this set, Quintorius returns as Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser and gives us the same effect on a planeswalker. Garrison ExcavatorGarrison Excavator also provides a similar effect, making 2/2 Spirits as opposed to 3/2 Spirits.

For our purposes, all these cards are interchangeable for combos involving Screams from WithinScreams from Within, Nether TraitorNether Traitor and Reassembling SkeletonReassembling Skeleton, among others. Both cards also provide great payoffs for recursion and graveyard manipulation decks, similar to Tormod, the DesecratorTormod, the Desecrator.

#1: Berta, Wise Extrapolator

Number of Combos: 123

Berta, Wise ExtrapolatorBerta, Wise Extrapolator adds mana whenever +1/+1 counters are placed on it, giving it a more limited version of Crystalline CrawlerCrystalline Crawler's ability. While each placement of counters only nets one mana, this is plenty for many Crystalline Crawler combo lines to use Berta instead.

This includes combos containing Ghave, Guru of SporesGhave, Guru of Spores and Animation ModuleAnimation Module. Reducing the cost to proliferate is another handy use, making Viral DrakeViral Drake and ClockspinningClockspinning other excellent inclusions.

Berta also turns infinite proliferating into infinite mana of any color(s) you desire, making it a convenient payoff for many combos that you can fetch from the command zone.

Honorable Mentions

If you can't get enough of the cards from this set, have a few more options:

1. Molten-Core MaestroMolten-Core Maestro: An extremely strong inclusion for Storm and Magecraft decks that also goes infinite with certain buyback spells, including Searing TouchSearing Touch.

2. Changing LoyaltyChanging Loyalty: An easy way to recur creatures like Brotherhood OutcastBrotherhood Outcast. Serves as a redundant piece for Kaya's GhostformKaya's Ghostform and other similar Auras.

3. Advanced ReconstructionAdvanced Reconstruction: Makes casting Eternal ScourgeEternal Scourge, Squee, the ImmortalSquee, the Immortal, or airbended spells much easier, and can give you infinite damage in some cases.

This wraps up our look at the best combo cards found in Secrets of Strixhaven! Be sure to let me know below what you think about the set and the cards found on this list. As always, 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!