The UR-Dragon demands a strong selection of dragons that impact the board state not only through token generation or combat effects. But also dragons that provide utility, such as a source of protection to other dragons or a source of card draw. I created the list because I believe these are the most optimal picks for your deck that will win you more games.
In a Rush? Here’s the Top 6 Dragons
Best Token Generating Dragons
Creating the Brood
Token Generation In Any Dragon Deck
Dragon tokens in a dragon strategy are the bread and butter of how most dragon decks win. They overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers, triggering bonuses like doubled damage or card draw effects. Need to bait removal? Send in the tokens! These fiery reinforcements keep the pressure on your opponents to look for answers or be bathed in dragon fire. So embrace the brood, for with each token hatched, your dragon reign grows ever closer.
Why These Cards Synergize With Ur-Dragon
Utvara, Hellkite
Utvara Hellkite, brings a basic combat stage to an impending doom for your opponents. You are creating 6/6 flying dragon tokens with every attack from all of your attacking dragons. This not only doubles the size of your board but also provides blockers that can deter opponents from swing backs. When Ur-Dragon is on the battlefield this card shines, you will draw so many cards from the tokens this dragon generates.
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm, This is the bread and butter of your UR-Dragon deck; she has resilience with Ward Two and can create a copy of a dragon you play. For instance, when Old Gnawbone enters the battlefield, you will get an exact copy of it, disregarding the legendary rule per Miirym. Then, when you attack, you get double the treasure you initially would. This ability effectively doubles each dragon’s threat, potentially overwhelming opponents very quickly.
Lathliss, Dragon Queen
Lathliss, Dragon Queen, stands as the matriarch of this draconic trifecta. Her ability to create a 5/5 dragon token with every new non-token dragon entering the battlefield makes her a solid addition to a mostly dragon deck. Moreover, her last ability offers a mana sink to bolster your dragon’s power to swing for large amounts of damage. Just like Utvara Hellkite, this can generate alot of card draw from the tokens it generates.
Sample Hands
Best Card Draw Dragons
Drawing Power from the Skies
Card Draw In Any Dragon Deck
In a Dragon Commander deck, card draw is like dragonfire – essential for fueling your aerial assault. Enter card-draw dragons – majestic dragons who dominate the skies and replenish your hand, keeping the strategies swirling like a cyclone. With these card-draw dragons in your arsenal, your hand will brim with possibilities, each turning into a smoldering ember waiting to ignite your next devastating play.
Why These Cards Synergize With Ur-Dragon
Dragonlord Ojutai
Dragonlord Ojutai, with hexproof while untapped offers strong resilience to ensure you can use her second ability. This is an anticipate type of effect—looking into the top three cards of your library and choosing the best card to put in your hand for your situation.
Ancient Silver Dragon
Ancient Silver Dragon has a game-winning effect when it connects to an opponent; I would throw in effects such as Temur Ascendancy to have a better chance to get this effect immediately before someone removes it. With the ability to draw 20 cards in one turn (on average, 10+ cards a turn), you will continue to draw cards every time this dragon connects. With the UR dragon out, you will draw into a solid dragon to slam down that turn.
Zurgo and Ojutai
Zurgo and Ojutai, This is Dragonlord Ojutai but with haste. It also doesn’t have to be the dragon that connects with an opponent; it can be any dragon to trigger the card filtering and drawing effect. Another good part about this dragon is its sweet bounce effect to protect an important dragon from your opponent’s removal. This dragon is an auto-include with any UR-Dragon deck.
Sample Hands
Best Protection Dragons
Hardening The Scales
Protection In Any Dragon Deck
While your dragons soar, enemies plot. But fear not, for these scaly guardians stand watch, warding off spells. With these winged defenders, your skies remain clear, your dragons untrammeled by enemy spells. Let them fly free, for these dragons scales are shields, their silence a weapon, and their fury a burning inferno against those who dare trespass in your draconic domain.
Why These Cards Synergize With Ur-Dragon
Scalelord Reckoner
Scalelord Reckoner, with its ability to destroy a nonland permanent an opponent controls whenever a dragon you control becomes the target of a spell or ability, it serves as a deterrent against opponents targeting your dragons. The reckoner ensures that any action against your dragons comes at a price, turning each of your dragons into a potential trigger for a free vindicate.
Dragonlord Dromoka
Dragonlord Dromoka, the un-counterable dragon grand abolisher. This dragon ensures no opponent can cast spells on your turn effectively giving you free rein to cast any amount of dragons without the fear of removal or counter magic. If counter magic is rampant in your playgroup, throw him in and see them panic; if there is no counter magic, you can always swap him out.
Rith, Liberated Primeval
Rith, Liberated Primeval, a guardian of the skies, giving ward two to your other dragons. This defensive trait, coupled with its ability to create additional dragon tokens if an opponent’s creature or planeswalker was dealt excess damage, is just a cherry on top. This dragon is the definition of power creep and should always be put into any dragon deck. In The UR-Dragon deck this card is played early so you can develop a board along with protecting your other dragons that come in later in the game.
Sample Hands
Best Removal Dragons
Deadly Descents
Removal In Any Dragon Deck
In a Dragon Commander deck, your reign ascends not just through fiery skies, but also through clearing them of lesser creatures. These dragons bring brutality to the battlefield, ensuring your path to victory is paved with dust and smoldering scales. Creatures who dare challenge your reign are melted, vaporized, or simply swept aside. Your dragons not only rule the skies, but also sculpt the battlefield to your will, ensuring every inch reflects your fiery dominance.
Why These Cards Synergize With Ur-Dragon
Terror of the Peaks
Terror of the Peaks, a dragon everyone loves but also hates. With its ability to deal damage equal to the power of any creature (even tokens) entering the battlefield under your control to any target, it creates opportunities to ping opponents by 7 or 8 from just casting your dragons or creating dragon tokens.
Balefire Dragon
Balefire Dragon, is the embodiment of a scorched earth policy. Each of its attacks can swiftly destroy an opponent’s board as long as they are not flying. Dealing 6 damage to enemies ground units will set them so far behind to a point where they cannot comeback to win. Run haste enablers to ensure you can deal damage to an opponent as soon as this dragon comes onto the board.
Silumgar, the Drifting Death
Silumgar, the Drifting Death, drifting death is a suitable name for this dragon with hexproof, as it will remain elusive to targeted removal. With every attack with your dragons, before blockers are declared, your opponent creatures’ stats get reduced by -1/-1. This effect comes in handy against indestructible creatures like Avacyn, Angel of Hope, or deck strategies that create a lot of tokens.
Sample Hands
Best Treasure Generating Dragons
The Dragon‘s Hoard
Treasure Generation In Any Dragon Deck
With these treasure-laden dragons, treasures become your weapon. In each combat step, your dragons mint their currency, fueling your other dragons’ might and ensuring your dominion over the battlefield. Remember, in a dragon deck, treasure is not just hoarded; it’s unleashed in a torrent of fire and fury! So make sure your dragons are clear from removal and board wipes, and give them haste so you can benefit from their treasures.
Why These Cards Synergize With Ur-Dragon
Old Gnawbone
Old Gnawbone, is a mere powerhouse. Converting each damage that connects with an opponent into treasures. Your follow up on your 2nd main phase with these tokens is game altering.
Goldspan Dragon
Goldspan Dragon, flies onto the battlefield with haste, and then when it attacks or is targeted by a spell you create a treasure. However, the second ability that makes each of your treasure under your control doubles its mana, is what makes this dragon go from unplayable to mandatory in any UR-Dragon deck.
Ancient Copper Dragon
Ancient Copper Dragon, like its cousins Ancient Brass Dragon and Ancient Silver Dragon, has a game-altering effect when it connects. Just the thought of creating 20 mana out of nowhere strikes fear into opponents and will be drawing attention. However, if they cannot answer it, and this effect goes off, you are very close to finishing the game in a victory.
Sample Hands
The Dragons that Round off the Deck
The Toolbox of Utility
These dragons will synergize with any Ur-Dragon deck as they are versatile and provide utility to your deck. If you haven’t played with any of these try them out as I think they will help you win more games.
Conclusion
Piloting the UR-Dragon Commander deck is an epic adventure in each session. With its five-color flexibility, you have the creative freedom to craft a deck that can be highly competitive or casually fun. The thrill of deploying these dragons is unmatched, each one a testament to the deck’s potential for winning the game out of nowhere.