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# Rydia, Summoner of Mist Breaks Bracket 2 Containment
- URL: https://blog.edhlab.gg/rydia-breaks-bracket-2-containment/
- Published: 2026-04-24T16:02:29.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-10T21:48:11.000Z
- Description: "Clever girl."
- Author: Michael Basus
- Tags: Deckbuilding

[ Playtest This Deck Now! ](https://edhlab.gg/playtest?deckId=90612&ref=blog.edhlab.gg) [ View on EDHLAB ](https://edhlab.gg/decks/90612?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) 

Winning can sometimes feel unsatisfying. Your opponents struggled valiantly, maybe they slowed your advance by aiming some removal at your board, but it was futile. The end was coming. Without some luck of the draw they could do nothing to stop it, and that wasn't your intention. You wanted a "battlecruiser" kind of game, where everyone has fun and the eventual victor isn't clear until the final turns of the game. That wasn't what happened.

Sometimes you want to look back and see where it all went wrong.

![](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/9/99450143-6ab5-463d-9e04-e8e6703a8b92.jpg?1748706673) 

Turn 1:
• Play [Stomping Ground](https://scryfall.com/card/exp/9/stomping-ground?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) tapped

I built [Rydia, Summoner of Mist](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/239/rydia-summoner-of-mist?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) almost reflexively when *Final Fantasy* was released. One of my favorite characters from Final Fantasy 4 was fully rendered in two new illustrations and she got her own card that represents her in-game abilities and her story.

The cEDH community briefly considered her as a new top contender to bust into the meta. Low mana cost: check. Card selection in the command zone: check. Sometimes, that's enough. But it turned out that in Gruul colors, it simply wasn't enough.

That's fine, I didn't want her to have a cEDH reputation to ruin her casual credentials.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn2.png)

Turn 2:
• Play [Mountain](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/575/mountain?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Cast [Rydia, Summoner of Mist](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/504/rydia-summoner-of-mist?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)

*Final Fantasy* and its Commander companion product brought lots of Saga creatures to the game. They almost perfectly translate the summon mechanic from the Final Fantasy series into *Magic* card form. But most importantly, I get to see some of my old favorites; [Shiva](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/362/summon:-shiva?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), [Ifrit](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/369/summon:-gf-ifrit?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), [Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/356/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), [Knights of Round](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/359/summon:-knights-of-round?ref=blog.edhlab.gg). Unfortunately, so few of those classic summons are in Rydia's colors.

So how do I build a thematic-but-effective Rydia "summoner" deck?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn3.png)

Turn 3:
• Play [Bloodstained Mire](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/352/bloodstained-mire?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• Sacrifice [Bloodstained Mire](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/352/bloodstained-mire?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) to fetch [Taiga](https://scryfall.com/card/olgc/2017EU/taiga?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• Cast [Fanatic of Rhonas](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/458/fanatic-of-rhonas?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)

Looking through Scryfall at [every green and red Saga ever printed](https://scryfall.com/search?q=type%3Asaga+ci%3Agruul&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name&ref=blog.edhlab.gg), the answer appeared.

![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/6/d/6d84e2d4-38bf-4d46-99a6-37c2dda66b16.jpg?1698988748) ![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/back/6/d/6d84e2d4-38bf-4d46-99a6-37c2dda66b16.jpg?1698988748) 

I've long avoided playing with Dinosaurs in *Magic*. It's not that I dislike those fascinating beasts — at some point, I was young and loved raptors and, in particular, the impossible-to-pronounce *Archaeopteryx* — it's just that Dinosaurs was one of the first changes to *Magic* that didn't feel true to the game's original theme. Earlier sets were always thematically dialed-in to '90s-era dark fantasy, which is partly why *Innistrad* is considered one of the best sets of all time.

*Ixalan* broke new ground. We got Pirates, Dinosaurs, conquistador-style Vampires in white, and nature-aligned Merfolk in green. It was a spectacle, but also a step in a less serious, more experimental direction for *Magic*'s core themes. Once a game that usually took itself very seriously, now *Magic* gave its adult fanbase the privilege — or burden — of playing with dinosaurs again like we were seven years old.

By the time *Final Fantasy* came out, I had tread so much ground in my years of deckbuilding for Commander and yet I was still avoiding the t-rex in the room. It was time to build Dinos.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn4.png)

Turn 4:
• Play [Thornspire Verge](https://scryfall.com/card/dsk/333/thornspire-verge?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• Cast [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s chapter 1 ability triggers and mills five cards

[Welcome to . . . // Jurassic Park](https://scryfall.com/card/rex/7/welcome-to-jurassic-park?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) built the bridge between Sagas and Dinosaurs. That doesn't mean they sit comfortably in the same list together. They're generally ambivalent to each other. Outside of Rydia's activated ability, neither of them really benefits from being in the graveyard unless you use the transformed side of Welcome to . . . // Jurassic Park or [Intrepid Paleontologist](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/193/intrepid-paleontologist?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s activated ability.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn5.jpg)

Turn 5:
• [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s chapter 2 ability triggers and returns three lands from the graveyard to the battlefield
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger three times
• Activate Rydia to return [Summon: Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/1/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) from the graveyard to the battlefield
• Attack Seat 1's [Ajani, Nacatl Avenger](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/back/0/d/0d16e8e0-31b2-4389-afd6-783c501f6fa0.jpg?1770635063&ref=blog.edhlab.gg) with [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) (7 damage)

Gruul is notorious for being "stompy." Ramp is plentiful and put to good use casting creatures that pass the vanilla test with flying colors.

![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/e/5/e5881485-7935-427e-911e-843f198d94dc.jpg?1775114918) ![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/5/b/5b11ec26-9e07-45e1-bcaa-5d44d1231586.jpg?1738356473) ![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/3/a/3a198715-4f82-409d-add0-e0200a88d708.jpg?1738357587) 

The pressure from big creatures such as [Agonasaur Rex](https://scryfall.com/card/dft/151/agonasaur-rex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) mounts quickly, and once life totals are getting low, I can cast one of green's many overrun options. For Rydia, I chose [Pathbreaker Ibex](https://scryfall.com/card/c15/38/pathbreaker-ibex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg). Should I ever find a chance to discard [Anger](https://scryfall.com/card/fic/289/anger?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) to one of Rydia's landfall triggers, he's an immediate and repeatable [Overwhelming Stampede](https://scryfall.com/card/c15/196/overwhelming-stampede?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) on a body. Ibex is vulnerable to removal — a well-timed [Swords to Plowshares](https://scryfall.com/card/fic/256/swords-to-plowshares?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) can stop the stampede before it starts — but that's what I was building for. I elected for Bracket 2-appropriate telegraphed wins.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn6.png)

Turn 6:
• [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s chapter 3 ability triggers and gives +8/+8 and trample to [Fanatic of Rhonas](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/458/fanatic-of-rhonas?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) until end of turn. [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) dies
• Attack Seat 3 with [Summon: Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/1/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) (9 damage)
• Attack Seat 1 with [Fanatic of Rhonas](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/458/fanatic-of-rhonas?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) (9 damage)
• Activate Rydia to return [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) from the graveyard to the battlefield
• [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s chapter 1 ability triggers and mills five cards
• Play [Urza's Saga](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/259/urzas-saga?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger

This wasn't the first time I'd played this deck. I've played it at a Bracket 2 table and lost. I had 128 [Scute Swarms](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) on the battlefield at the time, yet I couldn't penetrate the winning player's defenses. I had board superiority, and as the Gruul deck at the table, that made sense.

This time was different. Three of us joined the lobby expecting Bracket 3-level decks, and I joined intending to play a deck meant for Bracket 2 that could probably tread water in Bracket 3\. I wanted to play an active, but underpowered deck. I wanted everyone to have fun and "do the thing." Something went wrong.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn7.png)

Turn 7:
• Draw two cards with [Summon: Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/1/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s chapter 3 trigger
• Sacrifice [Bloodstained Mire](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/352/bloodstained-mire?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) in response to Summon: Titan's chapter 2 trigger to fetch [Mountain](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/575/mountain?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• Return four lands from the graveyard to the battlefield with [Summon: Titan](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/373/summon:-titan?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'s trigger
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger four times
• Attack Seat 1 with [Summon: Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/1/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) (9 damage)
• Cast [Pathbreaker Ibex](https://scryfall.com/card/spg/91/pathbreaker-ibex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Play [Forest](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/576/forest?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• Cast [Etali, Primal Conqueror](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/137/etali-primal-conqueror-etali-primal-sickness?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Free cast [Topiary Stomper](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/290/topiary-stomper?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), [Enlightened Tutor](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/6/enlightened-tutor?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), [Dryad of the Ilysian Grove](https://scryfall.com/card/m3c/225/dryad-of-the-ilysian-grove?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), and [Scute Swarm](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) with Etali's enters trigger
• Play [Boseiju, Who Endures](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/412/boseiju-who-endures?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) as second land for turn
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger
• [Scute Swarm](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) triggers, creating one copy (two total)
• Seat 3 casts [Path to Exile](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/198/path-to-exile?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) targeting [Pathbreaker Ibex](https://scryfall.com/card/spg/91/pathbreaker-ibex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Seat 3 copies [Path to Exile](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/198/path-to-exile?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) with a [Spider-Verse](https://scryfall.com/card/spm/93/spider-verse?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) trigger, targeting [Summon: Bahamut](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/1/summon:-bahamut?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Search for two basic lands
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger twice
• [Scute Swarms](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) trigger twice, creating six copies (eight total)

I love tuning my decks. Even ones that aren't meant to win quickly or combo off — I want to see them do their best and see all the synergy pieces work together and support each other. Could it be that putting an unassuming uncommon legendary at the helm of a Dinosaurs and Sagas deck tipped the scales?

Card selection is not card draw, but when you have one or more ways to use your graveyard as an extension of your hand, rummage effects become card-positive instead of card-neutral. I built Rydia with this idea in mind.

![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/2/0/20b7357c-7afc-466a-b74c-a7a8a4c5a4b1.jpg?1754063915) ![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/b/d/bd3a735a-5f51-41af-99d1-92296cec7b22.jpg?1562631784) ![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/5/c/5c0aa3eb-0aa8-42da-b437-a3f336df585d.jpg?1636224278) 

Threshold is an old mechanic, and [Far Wanderings](https://scryfall.com/card/tor/125/far-wanderings?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) is an old card. Once you reach that breakpoint of seven cards in your graveyard, it becomes one of the most efficient land ramp spells in the game, giving you an as-of-yet unbeaten three lands for three mana. Mono-green and Gruul have some of the best landfall payoffs ever printed. Rydia herself has a strong landfall ability. Far Wanderings is one of those perfect-fit cards.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/c7/acc71293-498d-4254-bbba-cb24647f9096/content/images/2026/04/Turn8.png)

Turn 8:
• Search my library for [Dino DNA](https://scryfall.com/card/rex/20/dino-dna?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) with [Urza's Saga's](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/259/urzas-saga?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) chapter 3 trigger
• Recast [Rydia, Summoner of Mist](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/504/rydia-summoner-of-mist?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Cast [Entish Restoration](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/163/entish-restoration?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), sacrificing a [Forest](https://scryfall.com/card/fin/576/forest?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) to fetch three basic lands
• Discard and draw to Rydia's landfall trigger three times
• [Scute Swarms](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) trigger three times, creating 56 copies (64 total)
• Cast Dryad's Revival targeting [Agonasaur Rex](https://scryfall.com/card/dft/151/agonasaur-rex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Cast [Agonasaur Rex](https://scryfall.com/card/dft/151/agonasaur-rex?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)
• Play [Disciple of Freyalise](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/250/disciple-of-freyalise-garden-of-freyalise?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) on its land side
• [Scute Swarms](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/308/scute-swarm?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) trigger, creating 64 copies (128 total)
• **Opponents concede** after I point out the [Anger](https://scryfall.com/card/fic/289/anger?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) in my graveyard that grants all my creatures haste

Not only did Rydia do well at the bracket above what she was designed for, she even *overperformed* there. My opponents were good sports and one asked, innocently enough, if this was really a Bracket 3 deck (and not a Bracket 4 deck). They had a good laugh when I told them it was actually made for Bracket 2.

Undoubtedly, it's time to graduate Rydia to Bracket 3\. I was in such a resilient position that two of my biggest creatures got removed and it didn't matter (Seat 3 probably should have [Path](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/198/path-to-exile?ref=blog.edhlab.gg)'d my Scute Swarm, but that might not have changed the end result). The overall card quality in my Rydia deck is too high for Bracket 2, and her ability to constantly select for better cards while fueling graveyard synergies gives her an edge starting on turn three.

Rydia and her summons unintentionally broke free of Bracket 2 containment.

![](https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/2/b/2be38927-637b-4dce-b228-83ce4f50c4a4.jpg?1698988775) 

Thanks for taking this trip through a memorable game with me. I'll be back with a Bracket 2 to 3 upgrade guide for Rydia, Summoner of Mist, adding more reliable card advantage for when my hand is empty, a faster way to close out the game than the telegraphed threat of Pathbreaker Ibex, and more varied removal for the more diverse threats I'll see in Bracket 3.

View the [decklist](https://edhlab.gg/decks/90612?ref=blog.edhlab.gg) on EDHLAB and add it to your favorites to try it out in [multiplayer](https://edhlab.gg/multiplayer/lobby?ref=blog.edhlab.gg), or in our full-table [Playtester](https://edhlab.gg/playtest?ref=blog.edhlab.gg).

Below is the full decklist, preserved forever in amber like a prehistoric mosquito:

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