As the community of Magic: The Gathering eagerly anticipates the complete launch of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, players are already considering powerful enhancements for their Commander decks. While the focus often rests on flashy mythics and legendary dragons, there exists a wealth of wallet-friendly cards within this set that can discreetly elevate your 99. Whether your strategy revolves around dragons, graveyard recursion, or token synergies, these five concealed treasures—all of which are presently priced under $1 on TCGPlayer—deliver considerable value and adaptability for any Commander deck.

Let’s explore the top five overlooked cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm that merit inclusion in your upcoming deck enhancement.

Top 5 Hidden Gems from Tarkir: Dragonstorm for Commander (Under $1)

1. Flamehold Grappler (Jeskai – Red/White/Blue)
Mana Cost: 1URW | Creature – Human Monk

Flamehold Grappler is a spell-slinging juggernaut that rewards careful sequencing in your plays. Upon casting it, your next spell this turn is replicated without any additional mana costs. This ability is not only explosive in Jeskai burn or spellslinger decks, but it also unlocks combo potentials with cards such as City on Fire or Narset’s Reversal.

In Commander, where colossal, game-ending spells are typical, Flamehold Grappler can be the spark that transforms a decent turn into a game-winning one. Combine it with Temporal Trespass for consecutive turns, or use it to amplify powerful enchantments or instants. It’s a must-explore for any deck featuring red, white, and blue.

Best Commanders to Pair With:

– Elsha of the Infinite
– Narset, Enlightened Exile
– Captain America, First Avenger (custom/unofficial builds)

2. Kheru Goldkeeper (Sultai – Black/Green/Blue)
Mana Cost: 2BGU | Creature – Dragon

Kheru Goldkeeper is a dream for enthusiasts of graveyard strategies. This Sultai dragon generates Treasure tokens whenever cards exit your graveyard, making it an ideal choice for self-mill or reanimation tactics. It also possesses a built-in recursion feature: exile it from your graveyard to grant a creature flying and two +1/+1 counters.

In decks like Muldrotha, the Gravetide or Sidisi, Brood Tyrant, Kheru Goldkeeper acts as a value engine. Pair it with cards like Blossoming Tortoise or Ripples of Undeath to enhance graveyard interactions. It also synergizes wonderfully with upcoming cards from the Final Fantasy crossover, such as Sin, Spira’s Punishment, which exiles cards from your graveyard each turn.

Best Commanders to Pair With:

– Muldrotha, the Gravetide
– Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
– Zimone and Dina

3. Iridescent Tiger (Mono-White)
Mana Cost: 3WW | Creature – Cat

Initially, Iridescent Tiger might appear to be a high-cost vanilla creature, but its capacity to produce mana of any color upon casting makes it a hidden gem in five-color decks. In setups that rely on summoning high-cost creatures like The Ur-Dragon or Progenitus, the Tiger serves as a ramp spell in disguise.

The mana versatility it provides is particularly valuable in Domain or multicolor-intensive decks. Combine it with Leyline Immersion or Jodah, the Unifier to cheat in substantial threats. Moreover, if you replicate it with Flamehold Grappler, you could achieve a potential ten mana of any color—an explosive move in any game.

Best Commanders to Pair With:

– The Ur-Dragon
– Jodah, the Unifier
– Ramos, Dragon Engine

4. Strategic Betrayal (Mono-Black)
Mana Cost: 2B | Sorcery

Strategic Betrayal is a straightforward, efficient removal spell that exiles a creature along with its controller’s graveyard. In Commander, where graveyard recursion is prevalent, this card serves a dual purpose by eradicating a threat and inhibiting future plays.

What truly elevates this card is its capacity to bypass indestructible and protection effects. It offers a budget-friendly solution to troublesome commanders like Animar, Soul of Elements or Ghave, Guru of Spores. If you’re playing black, this is an obvious addition for your removal options.

Best Commanders to Pair With:

– K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
– Toshiro Umezawa
– Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

5. Shocking Sharpshooter (Mono-Red)
Mana Cost: 1R | Creature – Goblin Archer

Don’t be misled by its small stature—Shocking Sharpshooter is a potential game-changer in the right deck. This 1/3 creature deals 1 damage to each