Among the many powerful combinations in Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander (CEDH), few are as explosively efficient and ruthlessly consistent as the pairing of Vial Smasher the Fierce and Gleeful Grenadier. This duo blends direct damage and artifact-based synergies into a potent strategy capable of disrupting opponents and winning games with surprising speed. CEDH decks built around these two commanders aim for lethal outcomes through calculated aggression, leveraging mana efficiency, powerful burn spells, and clever artifact interactions. Understanding how this deck operates can elevate your game and help you navigate high-powered pods with confidence.
Understanding the Commanders
Vial Smasher the Fierce
Vial Smasher the Fierce is a legendary creature from Commander 2016. This Rakdos-aligned commander rewards casting spells on your turn by dealing random damage to an opponent whenever you cast your first spell each turn. Though the damage is random, it’s free value that scales incredibly well in multiplayer formats like CEDH. Vial Smasher is especially dangerous when combined with low-cost, high-impact spells that can be cast repeatedly across turns.
Gleeful Grenadier
Gleeful Grenadier is a more recent addition to the CEDH scene. While not originally designed with competitive play in mind, the Grenadier has found a niche among artifact-heavy, aggressive decks. Its ability to convert expendable artifacts into burst damage complements Vial Smasher’s trigger-based burn potential. In a deck filled with efficient, low-mana artifacts, this synergy becomes a dangerous win condition.
Core Strategy
At its heart, the Vial Smasher and Gleeful Grenadier deck aims to:
- Play high-efficiency spells to trigger Vial Smasher multiple times per rotation.
- Deploy artifact synergies that either generate value or convert into direct damage through the Grenadier.
- Disrupt opponents with discard, targeted removal, or stax pieces.
- Use burn and damage spells to end games quickly and unrelentingly.
The Rakdos color identity gives the deck access to a powerful suite of removal, rituals, tutors, and fast mana, which is essential in any CEDH deck aiming for early dominance.
Mana Base and Ramp
Fast Mana Options
Speed is everything in CEDH, and this deck capitalizes on it. Your ramp package should include:
- Sol Ring
- Mana Crypt
- Chrome Mox
- Lotus Petal
- Mox Opal
- Talisman of Indulgence
These cards allow early access to your commanders and crucial spells that can swing the game. Gleeful Grenadier particularly appreciates artifacts that can be sacrificed or replaced efficiently.
Land Base
Your mana base should prioritize speed and fixing. Include:
- Blood Crypt, Badlands, and other Rakdos duals
- Fetchlands like Bloodstained Mire and Marsh Flats
- Basics to play around Blood Moon and Back to Basics
- Utility lands such as Command Tower and Ancient Tomb
Don’t be afraid to run a lean mana base in favor of artifact ramp many CEDH lists operate on 2830 lands to maximize spell density.
Win Conditions
Commander Damage and Burn
Both commanders can output massive amounts of damage across a few turns. Vial Smasher can deal randomized chunks of life loss throughout the game, while Gleeful Grenadier turns spare artifacts into direct fire. When piloted with precision, the deck can chip down opponents steadily or explode in a single turn.
Combos and Synergies
- Dockside Extortionist + Sac Outlets: Generate infinite mana or infinite Grenadier damage depending on your setup.
- Underworld Breach + Brain Freeze + LED: A classic combo that fits well due to the deck’s low mana costs and efficient tutors.
- Revel in Riches: A cheeky alternate win condition that occasionally slips through in longer games.
The goal is to either win via incremental burn or pivot into a combo line that ends the game immediately.
Disruption Suite
To thrive in CEDH, interaction is vital. This deck runs an aggressive package of disruption including:
- Deflecting Swat: Redirect targeted spells for free.
- Pyroblast / Red Elemental Blast: Excellent anti-blue tools.
- Abrade: Doubles as artifact removal or spot damage.
- Deadly Rollick: Free creature removal when your commander is out.
- Thoughtseize / Duress: Discard-based control to shut down key pieces before they hit the board.
Tutor and Draw Support
Rakdos isn’t the best color combo for raw card draw, but it excels in tutoring. Cards like:
- Imperial Seal
- Gamble
- Diabolic Intent
- Dark Confidant
- Wheel of Fortune
are essential for maintaining momentum and finding win conditions quickly. The deck aims to outpace and outgun opponents before they can stabilize.
Key Matchups and Meta Considerations
Against Fast Combo Decks
Against decks like Rograkh / Tymna or Najeela turbo lists, speed and disruption are critical. You must aim to either race or interact with well-timed removal and discard.
Against Control
Longer games can be tricky, especially against decks with counterspell-heavy strategies. Preserve your resources and bait out interaction before going in for a lethal turn. Vial Smasher helps here by sneaking in passive damage over time.
Against Stax
Stax decks like Winota or Teferi can shut you down if you’re not prepared. Prioritize artifact ramp and keep Abrade, Feed the Swarm, and other answers handy to break parity and reestablish your board.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Explosive damage output
- High tutor density and card selection
- Fast mana options
- Built-in reach through Vial Smasher
Weaknesses:
- Limited interaction against certain control elements (no blue)
- Vulnerable to stax effects that tax spells or mana
- Random nature of Vial Smasher’s damage
Vial Smasher and Gleeful Grenadier make for an aggressive, effective team in CEDH. They combine to form a deck that punishes slow starts, pressures life totals, and leverages efficient spells for maximum impact. While not always at the top of meta tier lists, this build can outpace and outmaneuver even the most refined combos if piloted well. Whether you’re looking to explore Rakdos in CEDH or want a burn-focused deck with a competitive edge, this pairing is worthy of consideration. It delivers chaos, carnage, and clever play the hallmarks of a true CEDH threat.