In the world of Magic: The Gathering, synergy refers to the combination of different cards or strategies that work together to create a powerful effect. Synergy is what makes certain decks more powerful than others, and it’s what can take your game to the next level. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding how to create and use synergies in your deck can give you a significant advantage over your opponents. In this guide, we’ll explore the concept of synergy in Magic, and provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to unlock its full potential. So, let’s get started and discover the power of synergy in Magic!
Understanding Synergy in Magic: The Gathering
What is Synergy?
Definition of Synergy
In the context of Magic: The Gathering, synergy refers to the interaction between multiple cards or card effects that result in a more powerful or beneficial outcome than if each card were used independently. This can include card combinations that generate a powerful board state, generate additional resources, or create a strategic advantage for the player.
Importance of Synergy in Magic: The Gathering
Synergy plays a crucial role in Magic: The Gathering as it allows players to build powerful and efficient decks by combining cards that work well together. Synergies can be found within a single deck or across multiple decks, and can often provide a significant advantage over opponents who lack these strategic interactions. Understanding and leveraging synergies is key to building successful decks and achieving victory in the game.
Types of Synergy
When it comes to synergy in Magic: The Gathering, there are three main types that players should be aware of: card-card synergy, land-card synergy, and card-board synergy. Each type of synergy offers unique benefits and opportunities for players to optimize their deck building and gameplay strategies.
Card-Card Synergy
Card-card synergy refers to the interaction between two or more cards in a player’s deck that work together to produce a powerful effect. This type of synergy is often the result of careful deck building and can include combinations of cards that generate benefits such as card draw, additional mana, or combat tricks. For example, a deck that includes both Goblin Chainwhirler and Lightning Bolt can create a powerful board presence by tapping the Goblin Chainwhirler to deal damage to multiple targets and then using Lightning Bolt to remove any remaining threats.
Land-Card Synergy
Land-card synergy refers to the interaction between a player’s land cards and their spells or abilities. This type of synergy can provide additional benefits such as ramping up mana, filtering the deck, or generating card advantage. For example, a deck that includes Temple of the False Prophet and Cryptolith Rite can generate a significant amount of mana and card advantage by using the Rite’s ability to draw cards when a land is tapped.
Card-Board Synergy
Card-board synergy refers to the interaction between a player’s spells or abilities and their board presence. This type of synergy can provide benefits such as protecting creatures, generating additional combat tricks, or pumping up creatures for even more damage. For example, a deck that includes Aether Vial and Lava Coil can generate a significant amount of value by using the Vial to recur the Coil and deal even more damage to an opponent’s creatures.
By understanding the different types of synergy in Magic: The Gathering, players can build decks that are optimized for their preferred playstyle and take full advantage of the many different interactions between cards and board states.
Maximizing Synergy with Card Selection
Choosing Cards for Synergy
Selecting the right cards for synergy is a crucial aspect of maximizing the power of synergy in Magic: The Gathering. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the right cards for synergy:
- Understanding Card Abilities: It is essential to understand the abilities of each card before choosing it for synergy. This includes understanding the card’s mana cost, the conditions under which it can be played, and the effects it has on the game.
- Identifying Synergistic Cards: Look for cards that complement each other’s abilities. For example, if you have a card that creates tokens, you may want to pair it with a card that increases the power of those tokens.
- Evaluating Card Effectiveness: Evaluate the effectiveness of each card in terms of its ability to achieve your game goals. Consider factors such as the card’s power level, the timing of its effects, and the value it provides in relation to its mana cost.
By following these guidelines, you can choose cards that work together to create powerful synergies and gain an advantage over your opponents.
Building a Synergistic Deck
Building a Synergistic Theme Deck
A theme deck is a deck built around a specific theme or strategy. For example, a deck focused on the mechanic “delve” or a deck focused on the color red. Building a synergistic theme deck requires careful consideration of the cards chosen and their interactions with each other. This can be achieved by selecting cards that share a common theme or mechanic and building the deck around them. For example, a delve theme deck could include cards like Abundance, Efficient Changeling, and Necropotence to enable a fast and efficient delve strategy.
Building a Synergistic Commander Deck
A commander deck is a deck that is built around a specific commander, a card that serves as the leader of the deck and can be used to cast other cards in the deck. Building a synergistic commander deck requires selecting a commander that fits the desired strategy and building the deck around it. For example, a commander that generates tokens could be paired with cards that produce multiple tokens such as Growing Rites of Itlimoc and Mana Crypt. The commander could also be paired with cards that generate additional mana, such as Sol Ring and Black Market.
Building a Synergistic Standard Deck
Standard is a format that rotates every few months, which means that certain cards are banned and others are rotated out of the format. Building a synergistic standard deck requires staying up to date with the current rotation and selecting cards that work well together in the current format. For example, a standard deck could be built around a specific strategy such as aggro, control, or midrange. This can be achieved by selecting cards that share a common theme or strategy and building the deck around them. For example, an aggro standard deck could include cards like Goblin Chainwhirler, Lightning Bolt, and Shock to enable a fast and efficient aggro strategy.
Playing with Synergy: Strategies and Tactics
Synergistic Mana Base
When it comes to playing with synergy in Magic: The Gathering, having a well-crafted mana base is essential. A synergistic mana base refers to a land base that enables you to play your cards with maximum efficiency. In this section, we will discuss various ways to build a synergistic mana base.
Choosing Lands for Synergy
When building your mana base, it is crucial to choose lands that complement your deck’s strategy. For instance, if you are playing a deck that relies heavily on creature combat, you may want to include more forests to help you cast your creatures faster. Similarly, if you are playing a deck that focuses on card draw, you may want to include more islands to help you draw more cards.
It is also essential to consider the color of your spells when choosing lands. For example, if you are playing a deck that focuses on red spells, you may want to include more red sources to help you cast your spells more quickly.
Using Shocklands and Evolving Wilds
Shocklands and Evolving Wilds are two popular lands that can help you build a synergistic mana base. Shocklands are dual-colored lands that can be tapped for either of their two colors. This can be incredibly useful when you need to cast a specific spell but only have one color available.
Evolving Wilds is another land that can be incredibly useful in a synergistic mana base. This land can tap for any color of mana, making it a versatile addition to any deck.
Utilizing Terramorphic Expanse
Terramorphic Expanse is a land that can transform into any color of mana, making it incredibly versatile. This land can be especially useful in decks that require a lot of flexibility in their mana base.
For example, if you are playing a deck that focuses on artifacts, you may want to include Terramorphic Expanse to help you cast your artifacts more quickly. Similarly, if you are playing a deck that focuses on enchantments, you may want to include Terramorphic Expanse to help you cast your enchantments more quickly.
In conclusion, building a synergistic mana base is essential when playing with synergy in Magic: The Gathering. By choosing lands that complement your deck’s strategy, using Shocklands and Evolving Wilds, and utilizing Terramorphic Expanse, you can build a mana base that helps you play your cards with maximum efficiency.
Card Interactions
In Magic: The Gathering, card interactions play a crucial role in determining the outcome of a game. By understanding the intricacies of card interactions, players can unlock the power of synergy and gain a significant advantage over their opponents.
Card Combos
Card combos refer to the interaction between two or more cards that produce a powerful effect when played together. These combos can be created by combining different card types, such as creature and sorcery, or by playing cards with specific abilities that complement each other.
For example, the combo of “Parallel Lines” and “Chord of Calling” allows players to draw multiple cards and create a large army of creatures, while the combo of “Pact of Negation” and “Mind’s Desire” can completely shut down an opponent’s deck by negating all of their spells and drawing cards.
Card Chains
Card chains refer to the interaction between two or more cards that are played in a specific order to produce a powerful effect. These chains can be created by playing cards with specific abilities that trigger when other cards are played, or by playing cards that have cumulative effects when played in a specific order.
For example, the chain of “Snapcaster Mage” and “Terminus” allows players to return a creature from their graveyard to their hand, while also destroying all of their opponent’s permanents. Another example is the chain of “Stony Silence” and “Counterspell,” which allows players to counter an opponent’s spell and draw a card, while also preventing that opponent from playing any more lands for the rest of the game.
Card Sequences
Card sequences refer to the interaction between two or more cards that are played in a specific order to produce a powerful effect. These sequences can be created by playing cards with specific abilities that trigger when other cards are played, or by playing cards that have cumulative effects when played in a specific order.
For example, the sequence of “Tooth and Nail” and “Rakdos’s Shadowcaster” allows players to untap their creatures and give them +1/+1 counters, while also dealing damage to their opponent. Another example is the sequence of “Lightning Bolt” and “Chain Lightning,” which allows players to deal damage to multiple targets and create a chain of damage that can be devastating.
By understanding the different types of card interactions, players can develop powerful strategies and tactics that can help them win games of Magic: The Gathering. Whether it’s combining cards to create powerful combos, chaining cards to produce devastating effects, or sequencing cards to create powerful synergies, the possibilities are endless.
Playing Around Synergy
Recognizing Synergistic Strategies
When playing against a deck that employs synergistic strategies, it is crucial to identify the core theme or mechanic that ties the deck together. By recognizing the synergistic strategies of your opponent, you can better prepare your own deck and make informed decisions during the game.
Playing Against Synergistic Decks
When playing against a synergistic deck, it is essential to disrupt the flow of the opponent’s strategy. This can be achieved by targeting key cards or players that are crucial to the synergistic theme of the deck. For example, if the opponent’s deck relies heavily on artifacts, you can use cards that destroy artifacts or gain advantage by removing them from the game.
Countering Synergistic Decks
One effective way to counter synergistic decks is to play cards that disrupt the opponent’s ability to generate or maintain synergies. This can include cards that disrupt the opponent’s mana base, remove key cards from the game, or otherwise hinder the opponent’s ability to execute their strategy. Additionally, playing cards that can generate advantage or disrupt the opponent’s board state can help you gain an edge in the game.
Post-Combat Synergy
Post-combat synergy refers to the interactions and effects that occur after a combat phase. This section will delve into the strategies and tactics surrounding attacking with synergistic creatures, defending against synergistic creatures, and utilizing post-combat effects.
Attacking with Synergistic Creatures
When attacking with synergistic creatures, players must consider the number of attackers, the target’s toughness, and any additional effects that may be triggered by the attack. Some strategies include:
- Blasting with tokens: Using tokens to overwhelm the opponent’s defenses, exploiting their weaknesses.
- Pumping up the team: Enhancing the attacking creatures’ power or toughness through effects like +1/+1 counters or anthem abilities.
- Swarming with evasive creatures: Using creatures with evasion abilities, such as flying or reach, to bypass the opponent’s defenses.
Defending Against Synergistic Creatures
When defending against synergistic creatures, players must anticipate the attacker’s strategy and plan accordingly. Some tactics include:
- Baiting and snaring: Using cards that can lock down or control the attacking creatures, such as Counterspell or Fog effects.
- Trading up: Choosing creatures with higher toughness to withstand the attack and potentially trade the attacker for a better advantage.
- Overloading and bounce: Using effects like Overload or Bounce to remove the attacking creatures from combat and gain stage control.
Utilizing Post-Combat Effects
Post-combat effects refer to abilities that activate after a combat phase. These effects can include:
- Healing: Restoring life points to damaged creatures or players.
- Board control: Effects that manipulate the battlefield, such as destroying or exiling creatures.
- Card advantage: Gaining more cards in hand or drawing additional cards.
By understanding and leveraging these post-combat effects, players can further optimize their strategies and gain an edge in the game.
Synergy in Various Formats
Commander
Commander Rules
The Commander format is a popular variant of Magic: The Gathering that emphasizes casual, social play and creative deck building. It is played with a 100-card deck, and the player starts with a “commander” – a legendary creature or planeswalker that stays on the battlefield and can be commanded to become an enchantment, creature, or artifact. The game is won by being the first player to reach 21 points of damage, although some house rules allow for different victory conditions.
Synergy in Commander Format
In Commander, card synergies play a crucial role in building successful decks. Since players have access to a large pool of cards, they can create unique and powerful combinations that are not possible in other formats. For example, a deck built around the commander “Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God” can include a variety of powerful dragon-themed cards that work together to create a formidable board presence.
Commander Deck Building for Synergy
Effective deck building in Commander requires a deep understanding of card synergies and how to maximize their impact on the game. This includes knowing which cards work well together, as well as how to use them in combination to achieve a specific game plan. For example, a deck focused on ramping up mana to cast large creatures can include cards like “Mana Crypt” and “Black Lotus” to help achieve this goal.
When building a Commander deck, it’s important to consider the synergies between your commander and the rest of your deck. Your commander should be the centerpiece of your deck and the cards you choose should complement its abilities and theme. For example, a deck built around the commander “Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice” could include a variety of cards that generate card advantage, such as “Bazaar of Baghdad” and “Duplicant”.
Overall, synergy plays a crucial role in the success of a Commander deck. By understanding how different cards work together and building a deck around them, players can create powerful and unique strategies that are tailored to their playstyle and preferences.
Draft
Understanding Booster Draft
Booster draft is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering where players each draft a deck from a pool of randomly sorted cards. In this format, players take turns drafting cards from a row of facedown cards until each player has a deck of 40 cards. This format requires quick decision-making and strategic thinking to build a deck that is both powerful and synergistic.
Drafting for Synergy
Drafting for synergy involves selecting cards that work well together to create a powerful deck. To achieve this, players should focus on drafting cards that have complementary abilities or that fit into a specific strategy. For example, if a player is drafting a tribal deck, they should prioritize drafting cards that have synergies with their chosen tribe.
Building a Synergistic Sealed Deck
In the sealed deck format, players are given a set of boosters and must build a deck using only the cards from those boosters. Building a synergistic sealed deck requires careful consideration of the cards available and how they can work together to create a powerful deck. Players should look for cards that have complementary abilities or that fit into a specific strategy to create a deck that is both powerful and synergistic.
Standard
Understanding Standard Format
The Standard format is one of the most popular and widely played formats in Magic: The Gathering. It consists of the most recent sets released by Wizards of the Coast, with a few exceptions for iconic cards that have been banned or restricted. The Standard format encourages innovation and experimentation, as players can explore new strategies and deck concepts using the latest cards.
Drafting for Synergy in Standard
Drafting is a popular way to play Magic: The Gathering, as it allows players to build decks on the fly and adapt to their opponents’ strategies. In a Standard draft, players will typically open multiple packs of cards and choose one card from each pack to build their deck. To draft for synergy in Standard, it’s essential to identify key themes and mechanics in your chosen color combination and prioritize cards that work well together.
Once you’ve drafted your cards, it’s time to build a synergistic Standard deck. The key to success in Standard is to identify the key themes and mechanics in your chosen color combination and build around them. Here are some tips for building a synergistic Standard deck:
- Prioritize cards that work well together. For example, if you’re playing a red and green deck, prioritize cards that synergize with one another, such as Beastmaster Ascension and Putrefy.
- Consider the mana base. A well-built mana base is crucial in Standard, as it allows you to play your cards more efficiently and consistently. Make sure you have enough sources of mana to cast your spells, and consider using lands with tapped and untapped sides to optimize your mana production.
- Test your deck and make adjustments as needed. Standard is a constantly evolving format, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest strategies and card choices. Test your deck against a variety of opponents and make adjustments as needed to improve its performance.
Modern
Understanding Modern Format
Modern is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to use cards from the past two decades. It is a non-rotating format, meaning that all cards are legal to use in the format, as long as they meet the deck construction rules. Modern is a fast-paced format that encourages aggressive gameplay and strategic decision-making.
Drafting for Synergy in Modern
Drafting is a popular way to build a Modern deck, as it allows players to select cards that work well together and create a cohesive strategy. When drafting for synergy in Modern, it is important to consider the overall theme and strategy of the deck, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each card.
One effective strategy is to focus on a specific tribe or theme, such as Elves or Merfolk, and build a deck around those cards. This allows players to take advantage of powerful synergies within the tribe or theme, and create a powerful and cohesive strategy.
Another effective strategy is to focus on a specific mechanic, such as the fetchlands or the fetchlands and the like, and build a deck around those cards. This allows players to take advantage of powerful synergies within the mechanic, and create a powerful and cohesive strategy.
Building a Synergistic Modern Deck
When building a synergistic Modern deck, it is important to consider the overall strategy and theme of the deck, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each card. It is also important to consider the mana base and the synergies between the cards in the deck.
It is also important to consider the sideboard and how the deck can adapt to different matchups. Having a well-rounded sideboard can help the deck to perform well against a variety of opponents.
Overall, building a synergistic Modern deck requires careful consideration of the overall strategy and theme of the deck, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each card. By focusing on a specific tribe or theme, or a specific mechanic, and building a deck around those cards, players can take advantage of powerful synergies and create a powerful and cohesive strategy.
FAQs
1. What is synergy in Magic: The Gathering?
In Magic: The Gathering, synergy refers to the interaction between two or more cards that work together to produce a powerful effect. These interactions can come from cards having similar themes, abilities, or colors. Synergy can lead to powerful combinations of cards that can take down an opponent quickly.
2. How do I identify synergies in Magic: The Gathering?
Identifying synergies in Magic: The Gathering requires an understanding of the mechanics and themes of different cards. You can start by looking at the color of the cards and identifying cards that share a common color. For example, blue and black are often associated with control and countermagic, while red and green are often associated with aggression and creature combat.
You can also look for keywords and abilities that are shared between cards. For example, if you have a deck with multiple cards that have the “trampling” ability, you can create a synergy by pairing them with other cards that can increase their power, such as cards with the “double strike” ability.
Finally, you can also look for synergies between specific card types, such as artifacts and enchantments, or creatures and sorceries.
3. What are some examples of synergies in Magic: The Gathering?
There are many examples of synergies in Magic: The Gathering, but some of the most popular include:
* Blue and red: This combination is often referred to as “burn and draw,” and involves using spells with lightning bolt counters to deal damage while also drawing cards to dig for more answers.
* Green and black: This combination is often referred to as “beast and blood,” and involves using creatures with combat tricks and abilities to take down an opponent quickly.
* Artifacts and enchantments: This combination involves using artifacts to create an army of creatures or to manipulate the battlefield, while enchantments are used to control the board and disrupt an opponent’s plans.
* Creatures and planeswalkers: This combination involves using creatures to generate a strong board presence, while planeswalkers are used to manipulate the game state and provide protection for your creatures.
4. How do I build a deck that takes advantage of synergies?
To build a deck that takes advantage of synergies, you need to identify the theme or mechanics of the cards you want to include in your deck. Once you have identified the theme, you can start building your deck around it.
It’s important to have a balance of cards that work together and cards that can stand on their own. You also want to make sure that your deck has a good mix of spells, creatures, and artifacts to provide a balanced approach to the game.
When building your deck, make sure to test it thoroughly to ensure that the synergies work as intended and that the deck is able to handle a variety of matchups.
5. Can I use cards from different sets to create synergies?
Yes, you can use cards from different sets to create synergies. In fact, this is one of the most exciting aspects of Magic: The Gathering, as it allows you to combine cards from different themes and mechanics to create unique and powerful combinations.
When using cards from different sets, it’s important to make sure that the synergies you create are still effective and consistent with the rules of the game. It’s also important to test your deck thoroughly to ensure that it is able to handle a variety of matchups.
6. What are some common mistakes to avoid when building a deck with synergies?
One common mistake when building a deck with synergies is to focus too much on the synergies and not enough on the overall game