Combo Watch: Necromancy + Worldgorger Dragon

Welcome back to another instalment of Combo Watch, the Mana Forge column where we break down the most interesting combos in the Commander format. Today we're looking at a format classic that's stepping back into the spotlight thanks to a surprisingly accessible price tag: Worldgorger Dragon + Necromancy, for a combined total of around €11.

How the combo works

Both cards share a mono-black color identity, so we're working within a tight, easy-to-slot package.

The principle is the same as the infamous loop with Animate Dead: Necromancy is an enchantment that functions exactly like an instant-speed reanimation spell (when cast on an opponent's turn), but more importantly, just like Animate Dead, it stays on the battlefield as an Aura that "keeps the reanimated creature alive."

Here's the loop step by step:

1. Worldgorger Dragon is in your graveyard.
2. You cast Necromancy and return the Dragon to the battlefield.
3. Worldgorger Dragon's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers: it exiles all other permanents you control, including Necromancy itself.
4. When Necromancy leaves the battlefield, the creature it was attached to also leaves and goes to the graveyard.
5. The exiled permanents return to the battlefield — including Necromancy, which comes back as an Aura with no creature attached.
6. You can attach Necromancy to Worldgorger Dragon in your graveyard again, restarting the loop.

Each iteration of the loop causes all of your lands and permanents to flicker in and out of the battlefield. This means every land continuously untaps and retaps: infinite mana of every color your lands can produce. To break out of the loop, you either need another creature in your graveyard (target it with Necromancy instead of the Dragon) or an outlet to convert the infinite mana into a win — classics include Torment of Hailfire, Exsanguinate, or simply activating Phyrexian Altar or something similar.

⚠️ Warning: if you have no alternative creature in your graveyard and no outlet, the loop is mandatory and you could end up drawing the game. Make sure your deck includes at least one way to "exit" the loop.

Where to slot it in

The color identity is mono-black, so there's a huge pool of compatible commanders. Here are five that synergise particularly well:

• Liliana, Heretical Healer — frequently tutors into the graveyard and has a natural affinity for death loops.
• Chainer, Dementia Master — reanimates creatures from the graveyard himself, making him perfect for building the setup.
• Syr Konrad, the Grim — with the infinite loop running, every creature entering and leaving the graveyard drains each opponent: a built-in win condition.
• Acererak the Archlich — loves bouncing in and out of play; the loop lets him complete every dungeon.
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician — absolute control with infinite mana, sacrifice, and unlimited draw.

Lines of play and protection

The combo requires two things: Worldgorger Dragon in your graveyard and Necromancy in hand (or access to it). Black excels at both.

Setup: use Entomb, Buried Alive, or Reanimate to get the Dragon into your graveyard at the right moment. Necromancy has the added advantage of being castable at flash speed on an opponent's turn, making it much harder to interact with.

Protection: black has access to Cabal Ritual, Dark Ritual, and counterspell effects like Imp's Mischief or Withering Boon to protect the combo. Alternatively, Veil of Summer is an option in green splashes — though that doesn't apply here since we're firmly mono-black.

The best time to go off is at the end of an opponent's turn, taking advantage of Necromancy's flash, so that when your turn begins you already have infinite mana at your disposal.

Budget vs. premium versions

The good news is that Worldgorger Dragon at €1.44 is practically a steal for what it does. Necromancy at €9.77 is the bigger expense, but it remains reasonable for a card this versatile in the format. There's no historical pricing data to work with, so no speculation here: you buy it because you play it, full stop.

Verdict

Recommended bracket: 3+. This combo is fast, consistent, and has very few moving parts. In brackets 3 and 4 it is absolutely legitimate, while at more casual tables it can feel miserable to be on the receiving end of without any preparation. If you're playing mono-black and want a reliable, affordable combo, Necromancy + Worldgorger Dragon is one of the strongest choices you can make.

Mana Forge rating: 8/10 — outstanding efficiency for the price.