In 2017, Wizards of the Coast followed up their massively successful Commander 4-color precons with a typal theme, spotlighting some of the most beloved creature types in Magic. The chosen creature types were Vampires, Cats, Wizards, and Dragons. While Vampires proved to be a hit, Dragons were the standout of the set--and for good reason. Dragons, one of Magic's most popular tribes, finally received their ultimate champion. I'm Levi from The Thought Vessel Show, and this week on Commander Kryptonite we will be looking at The Ur-Dragon, its deck, and ultimately, how to slay these dragons.

The Ur-Dragon

First, let's examine The Ur-Dragon. Its eminence ability is the most notable feature, functioning even while the commander is in the command zone. The ability reads: "Eminence -- As long as The Ur-Dragon is in the command zone or on the battlefield, other Dragon spells you cast cost {1} less to cast." This subtle yet impactful effect accelerates your dragons, letting them hit the battlefield a turn earlier.

The second ability further cements The Ur-Dragon's dominance: "Whenever one or more Dragons you control attack, draw that many cards. Then you may put a permanent card from your hand onto the battlefield." This ability provides card advantage while cheating expensive permanents into play, bypassing counterspells and mana restrictions. Additionally, The Ur-Dragon itself is a massive 10/10 flying creature, capable of becoming a one-shot kill with minimal buffs and double strike. Here's an example of an average Ur-Dragon deck you might run into.

The Deck

Scheming with Raffine | Commander | EDHRec Average List

• Commander (1)
• 1 The Ur-Dragon

• Creatures (29)
• 1 Ancient Copper Dragon
• 1 Ancient Gold Dragon
• 1 Ancient Silver Dragon
• 1 Atarka, World Render
• 1 Balefire Dragon
• 1 Bladewing the Risen
• 1 Dragonlord Dromoka
• 1 Dragonspeaker Shaman
• 1 Firespitter Whelp
• 1 Goldspan Dragon
• 1 Hellkite Courser
• 1 Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient
• 1 Lathliss, Dragon Queen
• 1 Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm
• 1 Old Gnawbone
• 1 Ramos, Dragon Engine
• 1 Rith, Liberated Primeval
• 1 Rivaz of the Claw
• 1 Roaming Throne
• 1 Savage Ventmaw
• 1 Scalelord Reckoner
• 1 Scion of the Ur-Dragon
• 1 Scourge of Valkas
• 1 Silumgar, the Drifting Death
• 1 Terror of the Peaks
• 1 Tiamat
• 1 Twinflame Tyrant
• 1 Two-Headed Hellkite
• 1 Utvara Hellkite

• Planeswalkers (2)
• 1 Sarkhan Unbroken
• 1 Sarkhan, Soul Aflame

• Instants (6)
• 1 Cyclonic Rift
• 1 Heroic Intervention
• 1 Luminous Rebuke
• 1 Sarkhan's Triumph
• 1 Swords to Plowshares
• 1 Teferi's Protection

• Sorceries (9)
• 1 Crux of Fate
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Farseek
• 1 Fiery Annihilation
• 1 Kodama's Reach
• 1 Nature's Lore
• 1 Rampant Growth
• 1 Rite of the Dragoncaller
• 1 Three Visits

• Enchantments (6)
• 1 Dragon Tempest
• 1 Garruk's Uprising
• 1 Kindred Discovery
• 1 Rhythm of the Wild
• 1 Smothering Tithe
• 1 Temur Ascendancy

• Artifacts (8)
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Banner of Kinship
• 1 Chromatic Lantern
• 1 Dragon's Hoard
• 1 Herald's Horn
• 1 Lightning Greaves
• 1 Orb of Dragonkind
• 1 Urza's Incubator

• Lands (35)
• 1 Arid Mesa
• 1 Blood Crypt
• 1 Bloodstained Mire
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Cavern of Souls
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Crucible of the Spirit Dragon
• 1 Exotic Orchard
• 1 Forest
• 1 Hallowed Fountain
• 1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
• 1 Island
• 1 Jetmir's Garden
• 1 Ketria Triome
• 1 Misty Rainforest
• 1 Mountain
• 1 Overgrown Tomb
• 1 Path of Ancestry
• 1 Plains
• 1 Sacred Foundry
• 1 Scalding Tarn
• 1 Secluded Courtyard
• 1 Steam Vents
• 1 Stomping Ground
• 1 Swamp
• 1 Temple Garden
• 1 The World Tree
• 1 Three Tree City
• 1 Unclaimed Territory
• 1 Verdant Catacombs
• 1 Watery Grave
• 1 Windswept Heath
• 1 Wooded Foothills
• 1 Zagoth Triome
• 1 Ziatora's Proving Ground

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The deck centers around powerful flying dragons and the synergies inherent to their tribe. It prioritizes ramp to reach higher mana values quickly, allowing dragons to hit the battlefield as early as possible. Given the depth of the dragon tribe, individual card choices often come down to personal preference.

Key dragons include Dragonlord Dromoka, which provides lifegain and prevents opponents from interacting at instant speed, and Atarka, World Render, which gives all your dragons double strike when they attack. Utvara Hellkite and Lathliss, Dragon Queen can flood the board with additional dragons, creating a lethal attack.

Strengths

The Ur-Dragon decks excel in four key areas: evasion, size, damage output, and synergy.

• Evasion: Dragons dominate the skies, making them hard to block effectively.
• Size: Unlike many flyers, dragons don't sacrifice power for their evasion; they hit hard and fast.
• Damage Output: Beyond combat, dragons also deal non-combat damage through cards like Terror of the Peaks and Scourge of Valkas, which can target creatures, planeswalkers, or players, keeping the board clear or speeding up the clock for opponents.
• Synergy: Being a typal deck, The Ur-Dragon leverages an extensive array of typal synergies, amplifying its overall power. Being able to slide cards in like Path of Ancestry, Kindred Summons, and Kindred Discovery just add to the power of this deck.

Weaknesses

Despite its strengths, The Ur-Dragon has vulnerabilities. Its power draws attention early in the game, often making the dragon player a target. The deck's slow start is another drawback, as it takes time to ramp into its high-cost threats. Furthermore, the deck struggles against combo strategies and spellslinger decks, which can win on the stack before dragons can dominate the battlefield.

Cards to Watch Out For

1. Dragon Tempest

   This card provides all dragons with haste and deals non-combat damage to any target whenever a dragon enters the battlefield. Left unchecked, it can end games quickly.

2. Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm

   Miirym doubles every dragon you play by creating a token copy. With Ward 2, it's challenging to remove and often justifies a board wipe to neutralize its impact.

3. Crux of Fate

   A must-have in most Ur-Dragon decks, this board wipe can destroy all non-dragons while leaving your dragons untouched. If you can't counter it, prepare with spells like Heroic Intervention or Teferi's Protection to mitigate its devastating effect.

4. Utvara Hellkite

   Arguably the strongest dragon in the deck aside from Miirym, Utvara Hellkite generates a 6/6 dragon token for each dragon that attacks. If left unchecked, it can overwhelm the board in a single combat phase.

5. Scourge of Valkas

   Similar to Dragon Tempest, Scourge of Valkas deals damage equal to the number of dragons you control whenever a dragon enters the battlefield. It can target creatures, players, or planeswalkers, offering unparalleled board control and burst damage.

Slaying the Dragons

To defeat The Ur-Dragon, you must deviate from typical Commander strategies. While the dragon player is ramping and "doing nothing," attack aggressively. Every free attack counts. If they cast a Gilded Lotus, destroy it. The goal is to pressure the dragon player into playing defensively and keeping up blockers.

Removing haste enablers like Dragon Tempest is critical, as they allow the dragon player to deliver lethal damage unexpectedly. Rally the table to focus on dragon removal, and if the opportunity arises to eliminate the dragon player, seize it. The longer the game drags on, the more it favors the dragon deck's high mana curve.

Commander Kryptonite

Ironically, the best tool against The Ur-Dragon is found in the deck itself: Crux of Fate. For just five mana, this board wipe can clear away all dragons or all non-dragons, depending on your needs.

Another effective silver bullet is Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund, which allows you to steal all dragons on the battlefield. If you can resolve this card, it often flips the game in your favor.

There you have it! If there's a commander you'd like to see featured on Commander Kryptonite here at CoolStuffInc, send us an email at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com. Happy Dragon Hunting!