Art by Mark Zug
Saved commander deck
Maralen of the Mornsong
Prevent opponents from drawing cards or casting the cards they tutor for while using Maralen to assemble a game-ending combo like Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood.
Prompt: Maralen, Fae Ascendant
Commander
1 cards
Maralen of the Mornsong
{1}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Elf Wizard
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
12 cards
Crypt Ghast
{3}{B}Creature — Spirit
Extends mana pool significantly through swamps.
Card Draw
10 cards
Necropotence
{B}{B}{B}Enchantment
Bypasses Maralen's no-draw clause by putting cards into hand.
Peer into the Abyss
{4}{B}{B}{B}Sorcery
Powerful effect that can target self for the win or an opponent for the kill.
Phyrexian Arena
{1}{B}{B}Enchantment
Steady card advantage if played before the commander.
Black Market Connections
{2}{B}Enchantment
Versatile source of ramp, tokens, and draw.
Stinging Study
{4}{B}Instant
Draws cards equal to Maralen's mana value at instant speed.
Removal
11 cards
Feed the Swarm
{1}{B}Sorcery
The only reliable way for black to remove enchantments.
Toxic Deluge
{2}{B}Sorcery
Best board wipe for dealing with indestructible or tall boards.
Baleful Mastery
{3}{B}Instant
Versatile removal; drawback is negated if Maralen is out.
Feed the Serpent
{2}{B}{B}Instant
Exile removal for troublesome creatures or planeswalkers.
Threats/Wincons
14 cards
Opposition Agent
{2}{B}Creature — Human Rogue
Hard locks opponents when Maralen is in play by stealing their tutors.
Sanguine Bond
{3}{B}{B}Enchantment
Combo piece with Exquisite Blood for an instant win.
Exquisite Blood
{4}{B}Enchantment
Combo piece with Sanguine Bond and triggers off Maralen's life loss.
Teferi's Puzzle Box
{4}Artifact
Empties opponents' hands permanently when they cannot draw replacements.
Psychosis Crawler
{5}Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Secondary win condition that profits from the tutor effects.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
{4}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Demon
Punishes opponents for tutoring with Maralen.
Dreadhound
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Demon Dog
Punishes creature-heavy metas and provides a clock.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
Massive life swing and reliable finisher.
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
{2}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Extremely potent with any draw effects and offsets Maralen's life loss.
Kokusho, the Evening Star
{4}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Powerful deterrent and massive life drain upon death.
Bloodchief Ascension
{B}Enchantment
Easily energized by Maralen's life loss to drain opponents.
Fate Unraveler
{3}{B}Enchantment Creature — Hag
Passive damage to keep pressure on opponents.
Aetherflux Reservoir
{4}Artifact
Storm finisher or simple targeted removal using buffered health.
Bolas's Citadel
{3}{B}{B}{B}Legendary Artifact
Allows playing cards from the top since drawing is impossible.
Utility
14 cards
Vampiric Tutor
{B}Instant
Finds a response or combo piece before Maralen hits the board.
Demonic Tutor
{1}{B}Sorcery
Essential black staple to find the missing lock piece.
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Provides Shroud and Haste for the commander.
Whispersilk Cloak
{3}Artifact — Equipment
Unblockable and Shroud to keep the Fae alive.
Imp's Mischief
{1}{B}Instant
Black's only way to redirect spells and protect pieces.
Expedition Map
{1}Artifact
Tutors for utility lands like Cabal Coffers or Reliquary Tower.
Praetor's Grasp
{1}{B}{B}Sorcery
Steals win conditions or answers from opponents libraries.
Diabolic Intent
{1}{B}Sorcery
Sacrifice a token or utility creature to find a combo piece.
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
{3}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Zombie Snake
Creature tutor that provides a decent body.
Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire
{2}{B}Legendary Creature — Demon Rogue
Repeatable tutor on a stick using the Boast mechanic.
