Art by Mark Zug
Saved commander deck
Chainer, Dementia Master
Fill the graveyard via self-mill and discard, then use Chainer's ability to reanimate powerful creatures at instant speed for explosive value and combat finishers.
Prompt: A $300 Chainer, Dementia Master commander deck — a graveyard-focused reanimator deck with self-mill, recursion engines, and big reanimation targets.
Commander
1 cards
Chainer, Dementia Master
{3}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Minion
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
11 cards
Crypt Ghast
{3}{B}Creature — Spirit
Doubles mana from Swamps and provides Extort.
Burnished Hart
{3}Artifact Creature — Elk
Creature-based land ramp that can be reanimated.
Solemn Simulacrum
{4}Artifact Creature — Golem
Provides a land on entry and a card on death.
Bontu's Monument
{3}Legendary Artifact
Reduces creature costs and provides life drain.
Card Draw
8 cards
Grim Haruspex
{2}{B}Creature — Human Wizard
Draws cards when non-token creatures die.
Midnight Reaper
{2}{B}Creature — Zombie Knight
Enables card draw from creature deaths.
Disciple of Bolas
{3}{B}Creature — Human Wizard
Sacrifice a big reanimated creature for massive draw and life gain.
Harvester of Souls
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Demon
Repeated card draw in a high-attrition deck.
Morbid Curiosity
{1}{B}{B}Sorcery
Sacrifice a high-CMC reanimated target to draw many cards.
Removal
9 cards
Plaguecrafter
{2}{B}Creature — Human Shaman
Forcing sacrifices keeps hexproof threats in check.
Ravenous Chupacabra
{2}{B}{B}Creature — Beast Horror
Powerful ETB removal that can be looped with Chainer.
Life's Finale
{4}{B}{B}Sorcery
Board wipe that doubles as a graveyard enabler for opponents.
Overseer of the Damned
{5}{B}{B}Creature — Demon
Removal on a stick that generates tokens.
Meteor Golem
{7}Artifact Creature — Golem
Handles non-creature permanents when reanimated.
Threats/Wincons
22 cards
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
Primary win condition via life drain loops.
Kokusho, the Evening Star
{4}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Massive life swing when it dies or is exiled.
Sepulchral Primordial
{5}{B}{B}Creature — Avatar
Reanimates the best creatures from opponents' graveyards.
Abhorrent Overlord
{5}{B}{B}Creature — Demon
Generates a massive flying army upon entry.
Butcher of Malakir
{5}{B}{B}Creature — Vampire Warrior
Dictate Edict effect on a large body.
Noxious Gearhulk
{4}{B}{B}Artifact Creature — Construct
Removal and life gain on a heavy hitter.
Massacre Wurm
{3}{B}{B}{B}Creature — Phyrexian Wurm
Wipes small boards and punishes opponents for deaths.
Sheoldred, Whispering One
{5}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Edict effect and free reanimation every turn.
Dreadhound
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Demon Dog
Self-mill synergy that pings opponents for deaths.
Syr Konrad, the Grim
{3}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Knight
Pings opponents when creatures move in or out of graveyards.
Archfiend of Depravity
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Demon
Keeps opponent creature counts low.
Vile Entomber
{2}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie Warlock
Tutor on a stick for the graveyard.
Utility
10 cards
Viscera Seer
{B}Creature — Vampire Wizard
Free sacrifice outlet to protect creatures from Chainer's exile clause.
Carrion Feeder
{B}Creature — Zombie
Low cost sacrifice outlet to repeat ETB/Death triggers.
Woe Strider
{2}{B}Creature — Horror
Sacrifice outlet that provides scry and its own recursion.
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Provides haste and protection for Chainer.
Altar of Dementia
{2}Artifact
Sacrifice outlet that mills yourself or opponents.
Bolas's Citadel
{3}{B}{B}{B}Legendary Artifact
Allows casting from the deck, high synergy with life gain.
Tortured Existence
{B}Enchantment
Efficient way to discard big threats while recovering utility.
Bog Witch
{2}{B}Creature — Human Spellshaper
Discard outlet that provides ramp/Dark Ritual effects.
