How to Play the Black-Red Dragon Treasure Deck in Commander

Bracket 3 · Our Smaug the Impenetrable decklist · Treasure

Our Smaug list is Rakdos Treasure. Smaug is an indestructible dragon that makes a Treasure for every point of noncombat damage he is dealt, so the deck burns its own commander on purpose.

The deck hits Smaug with Cut Propulsion, Self-Destruct, Pyrohemia and board wipes, turns the damage around with Blazing Sunsteel, Brash Taunter and Pain for All, and spends the Treasure on Exsanguinate, Torment of Hailfire or a Revel in Riches win.

Strategy
Treasure
Bracket
3
Avg. mana value
3.35
Lands
36
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01The Commander

Smaug the Impenetrable is a seven-mana 8/7 with flying, indestructible and haste. Whenever Smaug is dealt noncombat damage, you create that many Treasure tokens.

Indestructible means your own burn and wipes never kill him. Blasphemous Act makes 13 Treasures, Star of Extinction makes 20, and Cut Propulsion makes 16 because Smaug flies.

Only noncombat damage makes Treasure. Damage from blockers does nothing on its own, but Blazing Sunsteel can turn any damage into more damage.

02How This Deck Wins

  1. 1

    Ramp to seven

    Rocks like Sol Ring and Rakdos Signet plus early Treasure from Xorn, Smaug the Magnificent and Big Score get Smaug out fast. He has haste, so he swings right away.

  2. 2

    Burn your own dragon

    Cut Propulsion, Self-Destruct, Fire Covenant, Pyrohemia and Pestilence all turn into piles of Treasure.

  3. 3

    Cash in the hoard

    Pour the Treasure into Exsanguinate, Torment of Hailfire or Crackle with Power, or hold ten and win at upkeep with Revel in Riches.

03Deck at a Glance

Bracket 3 · Treasure · 100 cards

Composition

  • Commander1
  • Creatures21
  • Instants & sorceries24
  • Artifacts & enchantments18
  • Planeswalkers0
  • Lands36
  • Tokens3

Mana Curve

00
41
192
163
114
85
26
37+

Color Split

71colored
symbols
  • Black 25%
  • Red 75%

By the Numbers

3.35avg. mana value
36lands (19 basic)
2Game Changers
3token types included

Cards by Role

Hit Smaug9
Damage Redirection and Pingers13
Treasure Makers15
Finishers, Mana and Cards18
Interaction and Protection8

04Hit Smaug

Every point of damage is a Treasure.

Cut PropulsionSmaug deals twice his power to himself. Sixteen Treasures.
Self-Destruct8 to any other target and 8 Treasures.
Pyrohemia{R}: 1 damage to everything, and Smaug pays you back.
Pestilence{B}: 1 damage to everything, and Smaug pays you back.
Star of Extinction20 damage to every creature. Smaug survives with 20 Treasures.

Also in this role

Fire Covenant
Chain Reaction
Blasphemous Act
Crackle with Power

05Damage Redirection and Pingers

Turn damage and Treasure into lost life.

Blazing SunsteelWhenever Smaug is dealt damage, he deals that much to any target.
Pariah's ShieldDamage to you is dealt to Smaug instead.
Brash TaunterFight Smaug, then send 8 damage at an opponent.
Pain for AllWhenever Smaug is dealt damage, he deals that much to each opponent.
Ingenious ArtilleristEach opponent takes damage for every artifact that enters.

Also in this role

Reckless Fireweaver
Weftstalker Ardent
Mayhem Devil
Mirkwood Bats
Nadier's Nightblade
Marionette Apprentice
The Sackville-Bagginses
Crime Novelist

06Treasure Makers

More Treasure, faster.

XornOne extra Treasure every time you make Treasure.
Academy ManufactorEvery Treasure comes with a Clue and a Food.
Goldspan DragonTreasures tap for two mana.
Smaug the MagnificentA Treasure every upkeep and damage equal to your Treasures on attack.
Alchemist's TalentTwo Treasures, then double Treasure mana and damage on Treasure-cast spells.

Also in this role

Smaug, Wicked Worm
Ancient Copper Dragon
Cavern-Hoard Dragon
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Professional Face-Breaker
Rain of Riches
Big Score
Unexpected Windfall
Deadly Dispute
Black Market Connections

07Finishers, Mana and Cards

Spend the hoard to end the game.

Revel in RichesWin at upkeep with ten Treasures.
ExsanguinateEach opponent loses X and you gain it all.
Torment of HailfireA huge X grinds every opponent down.
Hellkite TyrantSteals artifacts on hit and wins at upkeep with twenty.
The One RingA turn of protection, then a growing stream of cards.

Also in this role

Dawnsire, Sunstar Dreadnought
Jeska's Will
Night's Whisper
Dragon's Desire
Mana Geyser
Seething Song
Dark Ritual
Sol Ring
Arcane Signet
Fellwar Stone
Rakdos Signet
Talisman of Indulgence
Ruby Medallion

08Interaction and Protection

Burn that also clears the way.

Lightning BoltThree damage to anything, Smaug included.
Chain LightningThree damage for one mana.
Chaos WarpAnswers any permanent, even an indestructible one.
Deflecting SwatFree redirect while you control Smaug.
Hexing SquelcherYour spells can't be countered and your creatures get ward.

Also in this role

Abrade
Bolt Bend
Swiftfoot Boots

09Combos and Key Interactions

+

Smaug the Impenetrable + Blazing Sunsteel

Once Smaug is dealt any damage, Sunsteel has him deal that much to any target. Target Smaug himself and he makes Treasure and triggers Sunsteel again, as many times as you like. Add Reckless Fireweaver or Ingenious Artillerist and every Treasure damages each opponent.

+

Smaug the Impenetrable + Pyrohemia

Each {R} activation hits Smaug for 1, which makes a Treasure to pay for the next one, but you take 1 too. Equip Pariah's Shield to Smaug and your damage goes to him instead, so each activation nets a Treasure and you can repeat it until your opponents are dead.

+

Smaug the Impenetrable + Brash Taunter

Taunter fights Smaug. Smaug takes 1 for a Treasure, and Taunter sends Smaug's 8 damage to target opponent.

10How to Play

Opening hand

Keep hands with three or four lands and a mana rock or Treasure maker. Smaug needs seven mana, so ramp matters more than anything else.

1

Early gameturns 1-3

Play rocks like Sol Ring and Talisman of Indulgence, and Treasure makers like Xorn or Smaug the Magnificent.

2

Mid gameturns 4-7

Cast Smaug and attack with haste. Hold Cut Propulsion or Self-Destruct to turn him into a pile of Treasure.

3

Late gameturn 8+

Use the Treasure for Exsanguinate, Torment of Hailfire or Crackle with Power, or win with Revel in Riches.

Tips

  • Smaug only makes Treasure from noncombat damage.
  • Pyrohemia and Pestilence hit you too, so watch your life without Pariah's Shield.
  • Star of Extinction and Blasphemous Act kill your other creatures, so cast your payoffs after.
  • Deflecting Swat and both modes of Jeska's Will need you to control a commander.

Common mistakes

  • Burning Smaug before Reckless Fireweaver or Ingenious Artillerist is out.
  • Spending Treasure early when Revel in Riches wants ten at upkeep.
  • Expecting Treasure from combat damage. Smaug makes none from blockers.
  • Wiping the board and losing your pingers before the big Treasure turn.

Watch out for

  • Exile and shuffle effects on Smaug.
  • Artifact wipes that clear your Treasure.
  • Graveyard and tuck removal on your commander.
  • Lifegain decks that outlast your burn.

11Bracket and Rule 0

1Exhibition
2Core
3Upgraded
4Optimized
5cEDH
Bracket3

Our list runs 2 Game Changers (Jeska's Will, The One Ring), within the Bracket 3 limit of three.

This is a Bracket 3 (Upgraded) style deck with two Game Changers, Jeska's Will and The One Ring.

Flag the combos at Rule 0: Smaug with Blazing Sunsteel makes unlimited Treasure once he is dealt damage, Smaug with Pyrohemia or Pestilence and Pariah's Shield deals unlimited damage, and Revel in Riches and Hellkite Tyrant are alternate wins.

12Full Decklist

Every card in our Smaug the Impenetrable proxy deck (100 cards). Hover or tap a name to see the card.

Commander

  • 1Smaug the Impenetrable5BR

Creatures (21)

  • 1Hexing Squelcher1R
  • 1Magda, Brazen Outlaw1R
  • 1Marionette Apprentice1B
  • 1Reckless Fireweaver1R
  • 1The Sackville-Bagginses1B
  • 1Academy Manufactor3
  • 1Crime Novelist2R
  • 1Ingenious Artillerist2R
  • 1Mayhem Devil1BR
  • 1Nadier's Nightblade2B
  • 1Professional Face-Breaker2R
  • 1Weftstalker Ardent2R
  • 1Xorn2R
  • 1Mirkwood Bats3B
  • 1Smaug the Magnificent2RR
  • 1Brash Taunter4R
  • 1Goldspan Dragon3RR
  • 1Smaug, Wicked Worm3BR
  • 1Ancient Copper Dragon4RR
  • 1Hellkite Tyrant4RR
  • 1Cavern-Hoard Dragon7RR

Instants (13)

  • 1Dark RitualB
  • 1Lightning BoltR
  • 1Abrade1R
  • 1Deadly Dispute1B
  • 1Self-Destruct1R
  • 1Chaos Warp2R
  • 1Cut Propulsion2R
  • 1Deflecting Swat2R
  • 1Fire Covenant1BR
  • 1Seething Song2R
  • 1Big Score3R
  • 1Bolt Bend3R
  • 1Unexpected Windfall2RR

Sorceries (11)

  • 1Chain LightningR
  • 1Crackle with PowerXXXRR
  • 1ExsanguinateXBB
  • 1Night's Whisper1B
  • 1Torment of HailfireXBB
  • 1Jeska's Will2R
  • 1Chain Reaction2RR
  • 1Dragon's Desire2RR
  • 1Mana Geyser3RR
  • 1Star of Extinction5RR
  • 1Blasphemous Act8R

Artifacts (11)

  • 1Sol Ring1
  • 1Arcane Signet2
  • 1Blazing Sunsteel1R
  • 1Fellwar Stone2
  • 1Rakdos Signet2
  • 1Ruby Medallion2
  • 1Swiftfoot Boots2
  • 1Talisman of Indulgence2
  • 1The One Ring4
  • 1Dawnsire, Sunstar Dreadnought5
  • 1Pariah's Shield5

Enchantments (7)

  • 1Black Market Connections2B
  • 1Pain for All2R
  • 1Alchemist's Talent3R
  • 1Pestilence2BB
  • 1Pyrohemia2RR
  • 1Rain of Riches3RR
  • 1Revel in Riches4B

Lands (36)

  • 1Blazemire Verge
  • 1Blood Crypt
  • 1Bloodstained Mire
  • 1Bojuka Bog
  • 1Command Tower
  • 1Dark Fortress
  • 1Dragon-Cursed Halls
  • 1Dragonskull Summit
  • 1Foreboding Ruins
  • 1Graven Cairns
  • 1Haunted Ridge
  • 1Luxury Suite
  • 1Mines of Moria
  • 12Mountain
  • 1Smoldering Marsh
  • 1Sulfurous Springs
  • 7Swamp
  • 1Tainted Peak
  • 1Treasure Vault
Smaug the Impenetrable proxy deck cover

Get the deck

Smaug the Impenetrable Treasure proxy deck

Smaug turns your own burn into treasure. Ramp, hit your dragon, and spend the hoard.

Every card in this guide is shown exactly as it prints in the deck you get, sleeve-ready, with tokens.

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Every card named in this guide is in our deck, and every image is our own proxy card, rendered from the art in this deck.