How Many Combos Are Too Many?

What Are Layered Combos?

Layered combos are a deck-building approach that uses multiple combos with overlapping pieces. The goal is to:

• Pivot between different combo lines depending on the board state.

• Maximize deck slots for interaction, ramp, draw, and tutoring.

• Minimize the number of dead cards in your deck.

When done properly, layering combos improves your deck’s ability to:

1. React to different gameplay scenarios.

2. Overcome disruption like stax effects.

However, there are trade-offs. Layered combos can:

• Result in slightly worse mulligans.

• Lead to less streamlined play patterns compared to decks with a singular combo focus.

Good Examples of Layered Combos

Sans-Blue Pod Decks

These decks, often led by commanders like [[Tymna the Weaver]] and [[Tana, the Bloodsower]], use cards like:

• [[Birthing Pod]]

• [[Vivien on the Hunt]]

• [[Survival of the Fittest]]

• Sometimes even [[Protean Hulk]]

These cards enable multiple overlapping combos, such as:

• [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] + [[Felidar Guardian]]

• [[Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker]] + [[Village Bell-Ringer]]

• [[Village Bell-Ringer]] + [[Splinter Twin]]

• [[Splinter Twin]] + [[Goblin Sharpshooter]]

By overlapping, these five cards support four distinct combos while also integrating with [[Protean Hulk]], [[Birthing Pod]], and [[Vivien on the Hunt]] lines.

Sultai Combo Decks

Decks like those led by [[Sidisi, Brood Tyrant]] combine multiple milling and recursion-based strategies, such as:

1. Thassa's Oracle Lines:

   • [[Demonic Consultation]] or [[Tainted Pact]] with [[Thassa's Oracle]].

2. Mill Lines:

   • [[Cephalid Illusionist]] + [[Lightning Greaves]] to mill your deck.

   • Use [[Narcomoeba]] and Sidisi's zombie ability to flashback [[Dread Return]], reanimating [[Thassa's Oracle]].

   • [[Hermit Druid]] can substitute for [[Cephalid Illusionist]] in this combo.

3. Doomsday Piles:

   • Create a pile with [[Thassa's Oracle]], [[Dread Return]], and [[Narcomoeba]], milling into them via Sidisi’s mill trigger.

These combos overlap key pieces, reducing dead cards while maintaining flexibility.

What Layered Combos Are NOT

Simply adding multiple combos into a deck without synergy or overlap is not layering. Decks that attempt this approach end up:

• Reducing the density of high-quality cards.

• Becoming less streamlined and efficient.

• Struggling with consistency.

Example of a Poorly Built Deck:

Imagine a deck with these disjointed combos:

• [[Thassa's Oracle]] + [[Demonic Consultation]] or [[Tainted Pact]]

• [[Underworld Breach]] + [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] + [[Brain Freeze]]

• [[Dualcaster Mage]] + [[Twinflame]]

• [[Food Chain]] + [[Eternal Scourge]] + a commander with a relevant ETB

• [[Dockside Extortionist]] + [[Emiel the Blessed]]

While each combo is viable individually, the lack of overlap results in too many dead cards and insufficient room for ramp, card draw, and interaction.

Combo Density in Non-Layered Decks

If your deck doesn’t use layered combos, follow these principles:

1. Limit to Two Primary Combos: A Plan A and Plan B are usually sufficient.

2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: Use combos that rely on high-quality cards with minimal dead pieces.

3. Consider a Combo-Less Plan C: Options like pivoting to combat or rebuilding Plan A/B can add resilience.

When to Add a Plan C Combo:

• The combos are exceptionally compact.

• All pieces are high-quality cards.

• No viable combo-less alternative exists.

If you find yourself with more than two non-overlapping combos, consider cutting the least efficient one to make room for more impactful cards.

Key Takeaways

1. Layered Combos: Use overlapping pieces to maximize flexibility and minimize dead cards.

2. Avoid Disjointed Combos: Too many unconnected combos hurt your deck’s efficiency.

3. Combo Density: Focus on quality over quantity, especially in non-layered decks.

Streamlining your deck by cutting inefficient combos and maximizing impactful cards like ramp, draw, tutoring, and interaction will significantly improve your deck’s performance.

Thank you for joining this lesson on combo density and layered combos!