In the world of Magic: The Gathering, few Commander decks offer the same blend of charm, synergy, and strategic flexibility as Rin and Seri, Inseparable. Released as a preconstructed deck alongside Core Set 2021, this Naya-colored deck (red, white, and green) invites players to dive into a creature-heavy build that celebrates the lovable duality of cats and dogs. Rin and Seri themselves are not just iconic but also effective commanders, providing constant value through creature creation and combat synergy. The precon offers a fantastic starting point, especially for casual Commander games, and can be upgraded for competitive or themed play.
Understanding Rin and Seri, Inseparable
The Commander Breakdown
Rin and Seri is a 4-mana legendary creature with the following ability: Whenever you cast a Dog spell, you create a 1/1 green Cat token, and whenever you cast a Cat spell, you create a 1/1 white Dog token. On top of that, you can pay three mana (one red, one green, one white) and tap Rin and Seri to deal damage equal to the number of Dogs you control to any target, and you gain life equal to the number of Cats you control.
This dual-synergy effect rewards building a deck filled with Cat and Dog creatures, or creatures that create them. The design encourages constant creature generation, which helps flood the board with a balanced army and opens options for go-wide combat, token synergies, and life gain strategies.
The Precon Deck Overview
Core Themes
The original precon deck focuses heavily on the following mechanics and themes:
- Tribal Synergy: Cards that benefit either Cats or Dogs, or both
- Token Generation: Numerous ways to create tokens beyond Rin and Seri
- Go-Wide Strategy: Buffing the entire army with anthem effects
- Life Gain: Especially tied to Cat tokens and interaction with spells
- Removal and Utility: Moderate access to creature and artifact removal
Notable Cards in the Precon
Several cards stand out in the original preconstructed deck. While not high-tier in terms of raw power, they work well within the deck’s synergies:
- Pride Sovereign– A powerful Cat lord that can produce tokens and grow big
- Pack Leader– Buffs other Dogs and prevents them from dying in combat
- Alms Collector– Helps manage card advantage against draw-heavy opponents
- Mirror Entity– A win condition for a go-wide board
- Herald’s Horn– Offers tribal cost reduction and card advantage
Strengths and Weaknesses
Why Play Rin and Seri?
Rin and Seri appeals to players who enjoy overwhelming the board with creatures, particularly through tribal themes. The token generation from every Cat or Dog cast creates constant pressure and board presence. Additionally, the damage and life gain activated ability adds a layer of reach and sustainability that makes the deck hard to outlast in long games.
Challenges of the Precon
Despite its appeal, the precon deck has a few weaknesses out of the box:
- Low Power Ceiling: The deck lacks high-impact bombs or game-ending spells
- Limited Removal: It includes basic removal but could struggle against more complex threats
- Mana Base: The precon mana base is budget-friendly, meaning slow or inconsistent starts
- Tribal Support Gaps: Cats and Dogs don’t have the same deep tribal support as other tribes like Elves or Zombies
Upgrading the Deck
Improving the Mana Base
One of the first upgrades should be the mana base. Replacing tap lands with shock lands, check lands, and fetch lands improves speed and consistency. Suggested additions include:
- Temple Garden, Sacred Foundry, Stomping Ground
- Wooded Foothills, Windswept Heath
- Command Tower, City of Brass
Adding Tribal Payoffs
To enhance tribal synergy, consider adding more cards that benefit Cats and Dogs directly. Some great inclusions are:
- Arahbo, Roar of the World– Cat synergy and combat buffs
- Regal Caracal– Life gain and token production in one card
- Isamaru, Hound of Konda– A solid, low-cost Dog for fast aggression
- Ajani, Strength of the Pride– Planeswalker support for Cats and life gain
Token and Anthem Enhancements
Since Rin and Seri create tokens naturally, amplifying those effects boosts the deck’s efficiency. Useful additions include:
- Cathars’ Crusade– Turns every token into a massive buff for the whole team
- Felidar Retreat– Landfall trigger creates Cats or buffs the board
- Parallel Lives / Anointed Procession– Doubles token generation
Strengthening Interaction
The precon could use better reactive tools. Recommended upgrades include:
- Swords to Plowshares– Efficient removal
- Beast Within– Versatile and powerful
- Path to Exile– Staple removal in white
- Heroic Intervention– Board protection
Win Conditions and Strategy
Going Wide for the Win
The main route to victory in Rin and Seri precon is simple: flood the board and swing wide. Cards like Mirror Entity or Overrun-style effects can turn a modest token army into a lethal force. Maintaining momentum and protecting key creatures is critical to executing this strategy.
Burn and Drain
With the commander’s activated ability, you can also chip away at opponents’ life totals and remove problematic threats. When combined with token doublers, you can accumulate a high number of Dogs, making the damage output substantial.
Life Gain Resilience
Don’t underestimate the life gain potential of this deck. With plenty of Cats and spells triggering life gain, the deck can recover from aggression or control strategies. Life gain payoffs like Archangel of Thune can also become powerful upgrade paths.
Multiplayer Performance
Table Politics and Aggro
In multiplayer games, Rin and Seri decks tend to attract attention once the tokens start piling up. Early game plays often seem innocent, but once the synergy kicks in, the deck quickly snowballs. Smart players will aim to remove your commander or wipe the board. Be ready to defend key assets and diversify threats across your board state.
Interaction and Group Support
This deck also plays well in group settings with allies who don’t mind some token spam. Its charming flavor and synergy often win favor, especially in casual pods, making it a great deck for beginners or those introducing others to Commander.
Rin and Seri, Inseparable Precon is one of the most charming and mechanically rewarding tribal-themed Commander decks in Magic: The Gathering. With a foundation focused on Cats, Dogs, tokens, and synergies, it provides both fun and functional gameplay. Whether you keep it as a casual out-of-the-box experience or upgrade it for more competitive tables, Rin and Seri promise a balance of theme and performance. With proper upgrades to the mana base, token generation, and tribal support, this deck can shine brightly and bring both bite and purr to the battlefield.