Thanks to Commander’s vast card pool, there are tons of different infinite combos you can run into. For this reason, highly played cards with lots of combo potential often put players on high alert. While this can often lead players to ruin your plans before they start, using obscure combo cards can catch players off guard. Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, an otherwise middling Planeswalker, is a budget example of this.
MTG Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
For the most part, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker offers an aggressive 4/4 Flying attacker that can double as emergency removal when necessary. While the Planeswalker can offer some synergy with cards like Kindred Discovery and Coat of Arms in Dragon Typal decks, you’ll generally want stronger synergies to run an otherwise mediocre card like this.
While niche, offering Indestructible has some applications with keyword Commanders. The new Marvel Super Heroes’ Super-Adaptoid, for example, can permanently gain Indestructible from Sarkhan, while Odric, Blood-Cursed can create a bunch of Blood Tokens.
Outside of being a fine attacking body, Sarkhan also offers a picky draw engine if you can get his Ultimate off. This is generally at its best in aggressive decks that naturally play their hands out quickly. Atarka, World Render, for example, can both take advantage of Sarkhan’s Hasty body and wants to hit the board quickly.
That said, there are some strategies that can synergize with Sarkhan’s Ultimate. Doctor Doom, King of Latveria, for example, can turn all of your extra discarded lands into damage. You can also use turn-ending effects like Sundial of the Infinite and Obeka, Brute Chronologist to avoid discarding your hand.
Becoming Legendary Infinitely
While Planeswalkers typically aren’t capable of creating infinite combos, Sarkhan’s unique ability to transform into a legendary creature does the trick. Partnered with Ratadrabik of Urborg and a sacrifice outlet, like Goblin Bombardment, you can create infinite death triggers and damage.
When Sarkhan is sacrificed by Goblin Bombardment, Ratadrabik will make a nonlegendary token copy of it, resetting your Planeswalker’s abilities. Since this will allow Sarkhan to become legendary on repeat, it creates a loop with Ratadrabik, creating endless sacrificial fodder. Thanks to this, a variety of different sacrifice outlets, like Phyrexian Altar and Altar of Dementia can create different infinite payoffs.
If you’re in Gruul, Sarkhan has another infinite combo available with Aerie Ouphes and any card that grants the Ouphes a +1/+1 counter on entry, like Grumgully, the Generous. Since Sarkhan is indestructible, you’ll be able to sacrifice Aerie Ouphes to itself infinitely while Persist gets offset by Grumgully. Alongside a card like Impact Tremors, this easily ends the game.
Attacking From a Different Angle
Between some sneaky infinites and a few different applications, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker has a decent chance of surprising your Commander table. Considering that the Planeswalker only appears in about 5,250 decks according to EDHREC, there’s a fair chance that some of your Commander pod has never seen this card before.
Thankfully, despite having a few reprints, Sarkhan is an extremely budget card to pick up as well. Available for as little as $0.22, you can assemble Sarkhan’s Gruul infinite for under a dollar. For its price point, Sarkhan can be an interesting offbeat tool to try.
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