Commander - Kraj Combo

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30 34 0 35
Combo

Introduction

Why play one hyper-efficient combo when you can play all the combos?

The goal of this deck is to generate infinite mana,+1/+1 counters, or creature untaps, and then do silly things to win the game on the spot. Most of this is driven by the commander Experiment Krajimage, with Quicksilver Elementalimage playing a supporting role. I've tried to keep things on a budget, while also playing some of the random terrible cards that I already have in my collection. The deck keeps low to the ground, with the intent to put the commander on field on turn six or so. This won't win any cEDH games, but hopefully you'll find it a lot of fun.

 

The Combos

Most combos consist of three parts:

1. The commander, Experiment Krajimage or backup ability-thief Quicksilver Elementalimage.

2. A creature or land that taps for multiple mana. Blue mana is prioritized, since five of the six untappers require (U).

Ilysian Caryatidimage, Incubation Druidimage, Gyre Engineerimage, Oasis Ritualistimage and Ley Weaverimage tap to generate two or more mana without setup, while Kiora's Followerimage can untap a single land. Krosan Restorerimage straddles the line, generating infinite with Simic Growth Chamberimage and lands enchanted with New Horizonsimage or an Island enchanted with Wild Growthimage when there are fewer than 7 cards in the graveyard, and going infinite with any three lands when the threshold value is reached.

3. A creature able to untap itself.

Horseshoe Crabimage, Pili-Palaimage, Leech Bonderimage, Freed from the Realimage and Simic Ragwormimage fill this role. Each untaps for one mana (mostly U).

 

Freed from the Realimage is also a two-card infinite mana combo with any of the creatures that can generate two or more mana.

 

+1/+1 Counters

Kraj only gains the abilities of creatures with +1/+1 counters on them. While it can tap itself to put on that counter, it's generally best if the creature already has the counter when Kraj comes into play. There's a few ways to ensure that:

Renata, Called to the Huntimage and Bloodspore Thrinaximage give every incoming creature one or more +1/+1 counters. Durable Handicraftimage does the same for (1), Zameck Guildmageimage for (UG), Retreat to Kazanduimage does so on landfall, Hall of Oraclesimage does so on after an instant or sorcery spell is cast, and Oran-Rief, the Vastwoodimage gives a counter to incoming green creatures, while Ivy Lane Denizenimage puts a +1/+1 counter on any creature whenever a green creature comes in. New Frontiersimage is a one-off effects, while Neoformimage is gives a one-off birthing pod effect that comes with a +1/+1 counter. Ridgescale Tuskerimage puts counters on each of your creatures in play, and Durable Handicraftimage can do the same, if need be.

 

Wincons

Tap Experiment Krajimage to put infinite counters on all your creatures, then just go face.

With infinite untaps Experiment Krajimage can channel Prodigal Sorcererimage to do infinite damage to every player and every creature they control, at instant speed.

Infinite untaps also makes Teferi more annoying than usual, allowing his Disruptive Studentimage form to counter every spell your opponents play.

Infinite mana allows Lore Weaverimage to kill every opponent by making them draw their entire library +1.

Ambassador Laquatusimage will skip the drawing, and just mill out every other player.

Finale of Devastationimage is definitely overkill, but it gives haste! Also, infinite power and toughness.

Jade Mageimage is the perfect mana sink, making blockers in the early game and infinite saprolings once a combo is achieved.

Animation Moduleimage normally just makes chump blockers.  With infinite mana and either Renata, Called to the Huntimage, Bloodspore Thrinaximage or Durable Handicraftimage, the tokens go infinite.

With infinite Kraj untaps Scurry Oakimage can make infinite squirrels. It'll do the same if you ever get the Oak and Ivy Lane Denizenimage on the field at once, then play a green creature (or have Ivy Lane Denizenimage already on the field and play Scurry Oakimage).

 

Protection

To keep Experiment Krajimage alive we have Interveneimage, Stubborn Denialimage, Autumn's Veilimage, Spell Pierceimage and Barkhide Trollimage. Nurturing Licidimage performs double duty, either enchanting Kraj and giving it the ability to regenerate, or allowing Kraj to turn itself into an enchantment at will, dodging Path to Exileimage-style effects. Inspiring Callimage is both card draw and a way to guard against boardwipes during the setup turns.

The best protection is to assemble the combo from out of nowhere, which is why Emergent Zone, Vernal Equinoximage, Savage Summoningimage and Crashing Drawbridgeimage are also in the deck. Vivien, Champion of the Wild, Yeva, Nature's Heraldimage, etc. aren't in the deck but can be substituted in to also give flash, and of course Swiftfoot Bootsimage and Lightning Greavesimage offer other haste effects. Tidal Barracudaimage is a tentative inclusion; it gives everything every player casts flash (opening up instant-speed boardwipes), but prevents spells from being cast on your turn.

 

Tutors

Neoformimage is the best single creature tutor. Whatever we search for comes into play with a +1/+1 counter, ready to go, and the base list includes untappers and 2+ mana creatures at 2, 3, and 4 cmc. Evolutionary Leapimage is much more of a roll of the die, but it helps convert otherwise useless creature tokens into valuable combo pieces. Uncage the Menagerieimage on 3 will find a crab and a two-mana source, with room for one of the three-mana wincons (Prodigal Sorcererimage or Ambassador Laquatusimage). Incubation // Incongruityimage isn't good, but it is cheap, and helps us both dig or deal with a single threat.  Finale of Devastationimage is great, and also about half the deck's cost.  It can be pretty easily substituted for Chord of Callingimage, but I have the card from a War of the Spark prerelease.

 

What about X?

I've put every other relevant card that I could find in the maybeboard.  I don't think there's any wrong way to build this deck (I went on a pretty long tangent at one point, collecting land untappers and enchantments that made lands tap for more than one mana), and it's definitely better to work with the cards you have than buy 60-odd new ones.

 

A few wincons didn't make the cut, either because they were objectively terrible or because giving creatures infinite +1/+1 counters made them somewhat superfluous.

Temporal Adeptimage is in the first category. Infinite mana and untaps lets Experiment Krajimage channel Temporal Adeptimage and bounce every permanent your opponents control. Including lands. 

Wildheart Invokerimage can give infinite power/toughness and trample with only colourless mana. Probably worth including if you have a Kinnan or other non-Kraj/Quicksilver infinite mana combos.

Squirrel Nestimage makes infinite tokens with infinite land untaps.  Jade Mageimage is superior in just about every way.

Laboratory Maniacimage, Thassa's Oracleimage and Jace, Wielder of Mysteriesimage are just boring.

 

Upgrades

Keeping decks cheap keeps food on my table, but there's always room for more powerful cards.  I don't think there's a deck that Mana Cryptimage wouldn't make better, and Pemmin's Auraimage does everything Freed from the Realimage does and more. The deck feels pretty solid as-is, but if you want to go splurge on Earthcraftimage be my guest!

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Pamplemousse
Last Updated: 24 May 2022
Created: 10 Aug 2021
329 80 0

Commander - 1 cards (1 distinct)

$0.70

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