The Commander
You don't lose unspent red mana as steps and phases end.
Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, discard a card, then draw a card. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, Ashling deals 2 damage to each opponent and each creature they control. If it's the third time, add 
.
Guide
Gameplan
Cast a high volume of cheap instants and sorceries to trigger Magecraft multiple times each turn, looting into more gas, pinging the table for 2 on the second cast, and ramping into on the third. Hold red mana across phases to chain spells, copy effects, and eventually loop a big damage spell or storm count to close the game.
Strengths
- Mono-red spellslinger payoff that doubles as card filtering, removal, and ramp
- Mana that persists across phases enables explosive chained turns and instant-speed combo
- Magecraft triggers off copies too, so copy spells multiply value and damage
- Discard-then-draw loots away dead cards and fuels graveyard recursion
Weaknesses
- Mono-red lacks true card advantage outside the loot, so it can run out of gas
- No built-in protection for Ashling; she dies to spot removal easily
- The 2-damage ping is small and symmetrical only to opponents' creatures, not always reaching life totals fast
- Vulnerable to counterspells and graveyard hate that shut off recursion engines
Key Cards
- Birgi, God of Storytelling — Adds a red mana on every spell cast, pairing with Ashling's mana retention to enable explosive storm turns.
- Underworld Breach — Recasts cheap spells from the graveyard to chain Magecraft triggers and combo off.
- Jeska's Will — Refills your hand and floods you with red mana that Ashling lets you keep across phases.
- Twinning Staff — Doubles your copy spells, multiplying Magecraft resolutions for extra damage and the bonus.
- Sundial of the Infinite — Lets you end phases on demand to abuse retained red mana while resetting trigger counts.
- Reverberate — A cheap copy spell that itself triggers Magecraft and copies your best burn to push lethal.
Upgrade Path
Add fast mana and rituals (Mana Geyser, Pyretic Ritual, Desperate Ritual) to enable single-turn storm kills, plus copy enablers like Twinning Staff and Increasing Vengeance to multiply triggers. Include recursion (Underworld Breach, Past in Flames) and a closing payoff (Aetherflux Reservoir, Grapeshot) so your chains end the game. Round out with cantrips and protection like Pyroblast to keep Ashling and your engine safe.
Core Cards
The most-played cards for this commander, built from aggregated deck data (the Mythic Graph). Build public decks to seed it.
Win Conditions
- ▸Chaining Magecraft pings and copied burn spells to drain all opponents
- ▸Storming off with Underworld Breach and rituals for lethal damage
- ▸Big X burn spells copied multiple times via Twinning Staff and copy effects
- ▸Aetherflux Reservoir or similar storm payoffs fueled by high spell counts
Archetypes
- Spellslinger — Magecraft rewards casting a deck full of cheap instants and sorceries for damage, cards, and mana.
- Storm — Retained red mana plus rituals and recursion let you cast many spells in one turn for repeated triggers.
- Combo — Mana that persists across phases enables loops with Underworld Breach and free-spell engines.
- Burn — The 2-damage ping plus copied burn spells grinds the whole table down.
Combos
- Sozin's Comet + Aggravated Assault + Ashling, Flame Dancer
→ Infinite combat phases, Infinite red mana, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Avatar Roku, Firebender + Aggravated Assault + Ashling, Flame Dancer
→ Infinite combat phases, Infinite red mana, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Firebending Student + Aggravated Assault + Ashling, Flame Dancer
→ Infinite combat phases, Infinite red mana, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Zuko, Firebending Master + Aggravated Assault + Ashling, Flame Dancer
→ Infinite untap of creatures you control, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite combat phases
- Sun Warriors + Aggravated Assault + Ashling, Flame Dancer
→ Infinite ETB, Infinite combat phases, Infinite red mana
Combos via Commander Spellbook.
Related Commanders
Same color identity (R), by popularity.
