As the spoiler season for Tarkir: Dragonstorm draws to a close, it’s safe to say that we’ve been impressed. There are tons of powerful new cards that threaten to mix up the meta for multiple metagames, Standard especially. On top of these competitively viable cards, the set also has plenty of infinite combos.
Between the infinite mana generation that Kheru Goldkeeper provides and the new enchantment-based Underworld Breach combo, it’s clear that Tarkir: Dragonstorm isn’t just for the Dragon fans out there.
Now, we have yet another infinite combo piece, but it can do a lot more than just break a specific and very competitive mechanic. Warden of the Grove is powerful alongside any deck that has a lot of creatures entering the battlefield.
Warden of the Grove
For three mana, Warden of the Grove offers a very interesting payoff. Not only will this Hydra grow on each of your end steps, but it also threatens to grow your other creatures. Whether you want to create creature tokens or make your creatures bigger, Warden of the Grove’s Endure ability can provide a lot of value – so long as it survives a turn.
Notably, Warden of the Grove gets pretty silly alongside Elspeth, Storm Slayer from Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Any Endure effects will create twice as many tokens from having her in play. Alternatively, Elspeth’s zero ability can scale the effectiveness of Warden of the Grove’s Endure ability even faster than normal.
Even with just one +1/+1 counter on it, Warden of the Grove can start creating infinite combos. This card happens to synergize incredibly well with Persist. Warden of the Grove’s Endure ability can cancel out the -1/-1 counter that a Persist creature enters with, allowing you to Persist again.
Infinite Damage
When played together, Murderous Redcap, Warden of the Grove, and a sacrifice outlet are a quick way to end a game of Commander. Because Warden of the Grove cancels out the -1/-1 counter that Persist provides, with a free sacrifice outlet, Murderous Redcap can keep dying and coming back to life, killing everyone in the process.
While this is easily the most effective Persist loop, other Persist MTG cards can also create some powerful synergies. Glen Elendra Archmage can keep countering noncreature spells for one blue mana. Kitchen Finks can gain you infinite life. River Kelpie, a creature reprinted in the Tarkir: Dragonstorm Sultai Arisen deck, will draw your entire deck. Woodfall Primus can destroy every single noncreature permanent, including lands.
Puppeteer Clique might be the silliest choice of all. This will let you reanimate all of your opponent’s creatures and swing at them with them. It’s not nearly as powerful as some of your other options, but that doesn’t make it less fun.
Warden of the Grove in Commander
While best used alongside Persist combos, Warden of the Grove can be a real threat in some other Commander archetypes, as well. Putting the obvious Hydra Typal aside, Warden of the Grove could be decent in a Halena and Alena, Partners deck. Not only can your Hydra grow your Commander, but the Commander can grow Warden of the Grove in return, which will cause every creature you play to become massive.
Warden of the Grove is also interesting in a +1/+1 counter-themed deck. Once you start growing the Hydra, it will grow all of your other creatures in exchange. Warden of the Grove could also play well in a Flicker deck. Here, the Warden’s Endure effect would be used to create tokens instead of counters since creatures will just lose them when they Blink.
Ezuri, Claw of Progress is an interesting Commander for Warden of the Grove. The Hydra enters as a 2/2 a majority of the time, triggering Ezuri. You can then decide to either pump up the Warden of the Grove with Ezuri to create a legion of massive creatures or leave it small, so creating tokens with Endure will trigger Ezuri.
An Interesting Creature
While there are tons of applications for Warden of the Grove in Commander, it may not keep up with constructed. There is certainly a +1/+1 counter-theme deck available, but this Hydra is unlikely to be the thing to make it viable in the format.
While Persist-esque combos are competitively viable, Undying is instead the mechanic of choice that sees play at the moment. Warden of the Grove is unable to create loops with that mechanic.
Regardless, our new six-headed friend will certainly find a few homes across popular Commander archetypes. As snazzy as he looks, Warden of the Grove isn’t wearing any hats. The art just makes it look that way.