Combo MTG decks are designed to win instantly by assembling specific card interactions—often going from harmless to game-ending in a single turn. In Commander, this strategy thrives due to the format’s singleton nature, tutors, and long multiplayer pacing, giving players the time and tools to set up a kill.
Whether you’re into clean 2-card combos or explosive multi-step engines, Combo EDH is a thinking player’s archetype. With help from premium-quality proxies at Abyss Proxy Shop, you can easily build or test the most efficient win conditions without investing hundreds on cards like Thassa’s Oracle or Dockside Extortionist.
⚙️ What Is Combo MTG?
Combo MTG refers to decks that win by creating a loop or interaction that produces an infinite result (damage, mana, tokens, draw) or a deterministic win. The entire deck is built to assemble and protect this combo line.
In Commander, combos come in two main forms:
- Fast and Fragile: Win early, vulnerable to disruption (common in cEDH).
- Value to Combo: Builds incremental value, then transitions to a combo win.
Explore all Commander combos by visiting Commander Spellbook and browse combo card prices at MTGGoldfish Combo Decks.
🧠 Best Combo Commanders in EDH
Combo MTG strategies are often defined by their commanders. Here are some top-tier choices:
- Thassa’s Oracle + Demonic Consultation (Thrasios/Tymna, Inalla)
- Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy – Infinite mana outlets galore.
- Urza, Lord High Artificer – Combo control machine.
- Korvold, Fae-Cursed King – Draws into loops and sacrifice wins.
- Food Chain Commanders – Prossh, Tazri, General Tazri
- Melek, Izzet Paragon / Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain – Spellslinging into storm wins.
Abyss Proxy Shop carries beautiful and play-tested proxy versions of many of these powerful cards, letting you explore high-tier decks without high-tier cost.
🧨 Popular MTG Combo Cards
Combo decks typically revolve around specific cards that either form loops or break the game state. Here are staples you’ll find across multiple builds:
Infinite Mana Enablers
- Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal (with mana rocks)
- Peregrine Drake + Deadeye Navigator
- Dockside Extortionist + Temur Sabertooth
Infinite Draw or Win
- Thassa’s Oracle + Tainted Pact / Demonic Consultation
- Laboratory Maniac + Draw Combo
- Kiki-Jiki + Zealous Conscripts (or Splinter Twin)
Tutors and Enablers
- Demonic Tutor
- Birthing Pod / Eldritch Evolution
- Yawgmoth’s Will / Underworld Breach
- Ad Nauseam / Peer into the Abyss
Many of these are expensive, but Abyss Proxy Shop lets you test combos using detailed, full-art proxies that hold up across competitive tables.
🔁 Combo Examples in Commander
Here are some powerful examples of how Combo MTG wins games:
⚡ Isochron Reversal
- Isochron Scepter imprints Dramatic Reversal
- With 2+ mana from rocks like Sol Ring and Mana Vault, you get infinite mana
- Win with Blue Sun’s Zenith, Thrasios, or Walking Ballista
🧬 Oracle Consultation
- Thassa’s Oracle + Demonic Consultation
- Exile your library, resolve Oracle’s ETB trigger for instant win
🛠️ Dockside Loop
- Dockside Extortionist + Temur Sabertooth or Cloudstone Curio
- Create infinite Treasures, mana, or ETB triggers
🔥 Kiki Combo
- Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts
- Create infinite hasty creatures for combat win
Find proxy combos, alt-art commanders, and full decklists at Abyss Proxy Shop’s Combo Collection.
💵 Budgeting Combo MTG Decks
Combo MTG is notorious for having pricey staples. Here’s how to build on a budget:
- Replace Demonic Tutor with Diabolic Tutor or Profane Tutor
- Use Peregrine Drake instead of Palinchron
- Replace Dockside Extortionist with Treasure Nabber or Mana Geyser
- Use Flickerform and Ghostly Flicker with ETB creatures
Or better yet, playtest and proxy full combo lines with the help of Abyss Proxy Shop, where power meets affordability.
🧷 How to Protect and Assemble Combos
Successful Combo EDH decks:
- Tutor efficiently: Cards like Demonic Tutor, Mystical Tutor, Finale of Devastation are critical.
- Use cheap interaction: Swan Song, Veil of Summer, and Silence help force wins.
- Include redundancy: Backup pieces like Spellseeker, Solve the Equation, or Wishclaw Talisman boost consistency.
🛡️ How to Counter Combo Decks
Facing a Combo MTG player? Use these tools:
- Stax pieces – Rule of Law, Collector Ouphe, Drannith Magistrate
- Graveyard hate – Rest in Peace, Dauthi Voidwalker, Bojuka Bog
- Stack interaction – Dispel, Mindbreak Trap, Force of Will
- Land disruption – Armageddon and Back to Basics in hatebears decks
These slow combo down and buy your table time to respond.
🔁 Combo MTG in the Commander Meta
- Power Level: Very High — popular in cEDH and high-power pods
- Speed: Ranges from turn 3 (cEDH) to turn 8+ (casual)
- Cost: Expensive — optimized combo decks can be $1,000+
But with Abyss Proxy Shop, you can get everything from Oracle Consultation to Isochron loops in high-quality proxy format—ideal for casual testing or full-blown pod competition.