In the world of Magic: The Gathering, cEDH (Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander) is the format where only the strongest decks survive. Players looking for speed, consistency, and explosive plays often lean toward well-known staples. However, Magda, Brazen Outlaw has emerged as a surprisingly powerful commander in the cEDH scene. With her treasure-generating abilities and access to powerful combo lines, Magda offers a mono-red strategy that can hang with the best. This topic dives deep into what makes Magda cEDH-viable, how her combos work, and how to build around her for maximum efficiency.
Who Is Magda, Brazen Outlaw?
Magda, Brazen Outlaw is a legendary dwarf printed in Kaldheim. At just two mana, she brings a lot to the table:
- Cost: 1R (one generic, one red)
- Power/Toughness: 2/1
- Abilities: Other Dwarves you control get +1/+0. Whenever a Dwarf you control becomes tapped, create a Treasure token. Sacrifice five Treasures: Search your library for an artifact or Dragon card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
These abilities might seem modest at first, but in cEDH, the ability to generate mana, search your library, and drop a game-winning artifact or creature directly onto the field gives Magda significant potential.
Why Play Magda in cEDH?
In a format dominated by multicolored commanders and stacks of infinite combos, playing a mono-red dwarf tribal deck might seem unorthodox. However, Magda breaks the mold by offering:
- Fast mana productionthrough treasure tokens
- Tutor abilityfor combo pieces or stax hate
- Low mana cost, allowing early deployment and replayability
- Surprise factormany players underestimate her threat level
Magda works well with cards that tap creatures for value, creating a loop of mana and tutoring. She can pivot from value-based ramp to a fast combo win very quickly, making her a solid contender in cEDH pods.
Core Combos with Magda, Brazen Outlaw
The real power of Magda lies in her treasure synergy and tutor ability. Once she creates five treasures, she can fetch key artifacts that lead to infinite loops or instant wins. Below are the most important combo lines to know.
Magda + Dwarves + Tappers
Start with Magda on the battlefield and a few dwarves (or creatures that can be turned into dwarves). Use cards like:
- Universal Automaton
- Birgi, God of Storytelling
- Springleaf Drum
- Paradise Mantle
With these tools, you can repeatedly tap dwarves for mana and make treasures. Once you reach five treasures, sacrifice them to search for:
- Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
- Dockside Extortionist
- Staff of Domination
Kiki-Jiki plus creatures that untap him (like Zealous Conscripts) can create infinite tokens. Staff of Domination can turn treasures into infinite mana and card draw. The game usually ends here.
Dockside Extortionist Line
Dockside Extortionist is a core part of many cEDH combos, and Magda makes him even better. By using cards like:
- Cloudstone Curio
- Runaway Steam-Kin
- Glinthorn Buccaneer
You can create loops where Dockside is bounced and replayed to generate infinite treasures. Magda can then use those treasures to search for combo pieces or end the game on the spot with an artifact likeAetherflux ReservoirorWalking Ballista.
Important Cards in a Magda cEDH Deck
Mana Acceleration
- Jeweled Lotus
- Mox Amber
- Chrome Mox
- Rite of Flame
- Desperate Ritual
Fast mana is essential in cEDH, and red offers some of the most explosive options. These cards help you play Magda on turn 1 and enable early combos or value engines.
Support Creatures
- Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
- Skirk Prospector
- Goblin Engineer
- Imperial Recruiter
- Fervent Champion
These creatures either accelerate your game plan or help tutor for combo pieces. Many are dwarves or synergize directly with tapping strategies.
Tutors and Draw
- Gamble
- Wheel of Fortune
- Faithless Looting
- Jessica’s Will
- Experimental Synthesizer
Magda herself acts as a tutor, but backup redundancy in a mono-red deck is important. These cards provide consistent access to key pieces or refill your hand.
Stax and Interaction Options
In cEDH, dealing with other players’ fast strategies is crucial. Red has access to unique disruption that fits well in a Magda shell.
Stax and Disruption
- Blood Moon
- Magus of the Moon
- Roiling Vortex
- Pyroblast / Red Elemental Blast
- Null Rod (can be tutored with Magda!)
Using Magda to fetch hate pieces like Null Rod or Ensnaring Bridge can stall opponents long enough to assemble your combo safely. The flexibility of her tutor ability shouldn’t be underestimated.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Magda cEDH
Strengths
- Fast combo potential
- Strong tutor engine in the command zone
- Low mana curve for quick deployment
- Surprises opponents unfamiliar with the deck
Weaknesses
- Mono-red has fewer options for removal and counterplay
- Vulnerable to creature wipes or early stax pieces like Cursed Totem
- Reliant on artifacts, which can be shut down
- Needs careful sequencing to avoid resource loss
Despite these weaknesses, a well-piloted Magda deck can win quickly and consistently, even at top tables.
Magda, Brazen Outlaw is not just a fun tribal commander she’s a legitimate threat in cEDH. With her ability to generate treasures and tutor out win conditions, she brings explosive speed and flexibility to a mono-red strategy. Players who enjoy combo-centric play, fast starts, and underdog commanders will find great success with Magda. While she may not yet be a top-tier staple, her potential in tuned hands is undeniable. As the cEDH meta evolves, Magda continues to prove that even outlaws can break into the highest levels of competition.