Hidden Gems for The Ur-Dragon
Welcome to another edition of Hidden Gems, where we dive into Magic’s ever-deepening archives to unearth overlooked, underappreciated, and long-forgotten treasures for Commander.
Today’s guest of honor is
#1. Changelings
Dragons tend to be more expensive, so the first obstacle of building a functional deck is figuring out the early game. There’s plenty of ramp worth including, but also several small “Dragons” that can help flesh out this end of the curve.
| Realmwalker | ||
| Taurean Mauler | ||
| Mirror Entity | ||
| Crib Swap |
#2. Elminster
Getting multiple Dragons to stay on the battlefield is a difficult task, making it harder to trigger The Ur-Dragon’s second ability. Only a few cards create lots of Dragons in one go, and Elminster happens to be one of them. If you can hit a high mana-value card, a bounty of little Dragon Faeries will be at your command. With your army of Ur-babies, you can dig deep for an Ur-Mommy and your opponents will know no greater fear.
| Elminster | ||
| Elminster (Borderless) |
#3. Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
At four mana (Thanks again, Ur-Daddy!), this little instigator can put in some work. If you can get it down early, it will help you control the board by making your opponents turn on each other. It’ll grow and draw cards if left unchecked, practically paying for itself and stalling the game until your mana base can pay for bigger and scarier Dragons.
| Firkraag, Cunning Instigator | ||
| Firkraag, Cunning Instigator (Extended Art) |
#4. Spit Flame
This isn’t the most glamorous pick, but removal can keep you alive in the early game. The key here is that this spell is repeatable. And card advantage is a girl’s best friend. Once your mana base is established, you might even be able to cast it multiple times in one turn by playing it, playing a Dragon, returning it, and casting it again. Four damage can kill a lot of things, and eight damage can kill most everything else.
| Spit Flame | ||
| Spit Flame |
That’s all for this week. Good luck building your Dragon decks, you crazy kids. Just remember—whenever you build a typal deck, always, always, ALWAYS look at changelings. And
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Further Reading:
Magic Cards to Buy Now - Dragons, Goblins, Pirates, and Elves
Adam started playing Magic on his 14th birthday, when Judgment just released and the game's first Gorgon was born (It's a girl!). Since then, he's delved deep into Commander, written for television and film, and learned how to drive. He's published two YA Fantasy novels, Rainbringer and The Broken Pantheon. His favorite card is Repay In Kind, which is really all you need to know.
