Art by Alexander Gering
Commander deckB
Elim Garak, Simple Tailor
Trigger Elim Garak's dilemma drain ability repeatedly using modal spells and triggered modal permanents, supported by a potent mono-black life drain and control shell.
Asked for“Elim Garak, Simple Tailor commander deck”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 60 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Elim Garak, Simple Tailor
2BLegendary Creature — Cardassian Rogue
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Crypt Ghast
3BCreature — Spirit
Doubles mana from Swamps and offers extort drain
Nirkana Revenant
4BBCreature — Vampire Shade
Doubles Swamp mana and acts as a massive threat
Card Draw
10
Black Market Connections
2BEnchantment
Modal trigger every precombat main phase that drains and provides card advantage, mana, and tokens
Dread Presence
3BCreature — Nightmare
Triggers a modal choice whenever a Swamp enters to draw cards or drain life
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
1BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Draws cards on combat damage and provides a late-game sink
Morbid Opportunist
2BCreature — Human Rogue
Consistent card draw off creature deaths
Ayara, First of Locthwain
BBBLegendary Creature — Elf Noble
Draw engine that drains opponents whenever black creatures enter
Removal
12
Erebos's Intervention
XBInstant
Modal removal or graveyard hate that triggers Garak
Profane Command
XBBSorcery
Chooses two modes to trigger Garak while removing creatures, recurring threats, or draining life
Funeral Charm
BInstant
One-mana instant with three distinct modes to trigger Garak on demand
Feed the Swarm
1BSorcery
Essential enchantment and creature removal in mono-black
Hero's Downfall
1BBInstant
Reliable instant-speed creature and planeswalker removal
The Meathook Massacre
XBBLegendary Enchantment
Scalable board sweeper that continuously drains on creature deaths
Threats/Wincons
19
Rankle, Master of Pranks
2BBLegendary Creature — Faerie Rogue
Hasty flyer that lets you choose one or more modes upon combat damage to trigger Garak
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
2BLegendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
Weaponizes Garak's life gain into direct opponent life loss
Marauding Blight-Priest
2BCreature — Vampire Cleric
Drains all opponents whenever Garak's ability gains life
Sanguine Bond
3BBEnchantment
Turns Garak's life gain triggers into massive targeted damage
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
Gains life whenever Garak drains life, creating an infinite combo with life-drain effects
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
Devastating life drain based on heavy black devotion
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Punishes opposing draws and pads life total on personal draws
Bloodchief Ascension
BEnchantment
Easily charged by Garak's drain to deal lethal passive damage
Torment of Hailfire
XBBSorcery
Game-ending finisher fueled by mono-black mana doublers
Zulaport Cutthroat
1BCreature — Human Rogue Ally
Drain insurance against opposing board wipes
Bastion of Remembrance
2BEnchantment
Resilient enchantment drain trigger on creature deaths
Kokusho, the Evening Star
4BBLegendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Large flying threat that drains each opponent for 5 upon death
Dauthi Voidwalker
BBCreature — Dauthi Rogue
Unblockable attacker that exiles opposing cards and casts them
Aetherflux Reservoir
4Artifact
Converts life gained from Garak into laser blasts to eliminate players
Bolas's Citadel
3BBBLegendary Artifact
Enables rapid casting from the library powered by high life totals
Braids, Arisen Nightmare
1BBLegendary Creature — Nightmare
Forces opponents to sacrifice or take damage while drawing cards
Opposition Agent
2BCreature — Human Rogue
Shuts down opposing tutors and steals their best cards
Utility
9
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Hexproof and haste protection for key creatures
Whip of Erebos
2BBLegendary Enchantment Artifact
Grants lifelink to the team and recurs creatures from graveyard
Phyrexian Reclamation
BEnchantment
Repeatable creature retrieval paid for with Garak's life gain
