Art by Mark Zug
Commander deckB
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.
Asked for“Maralen, Fae Ascendant”
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 · 61 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
1Maralen of the Mornsong
1BBLegendary Creature — Elf Wizard
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
12
Card Draw
10
Necropotence
BBBEnchantment
Bypasses Maralen's no-draw clause by putting cards into hand.
Peer into the Abyss
4BBBSorcery
Powerful effect that can target self for the win or an opponent for the kill.
Phyrexian Arena
1BBEnchantment
Steady card advantage if played before the commander.
Black Market Connections
2BEnchantment
Versatile source of ramp, tokens, and draw.
Stinging Study
4BInstant
Draws cards equal to Maralen's mana value at instant speed.
Removal
11
Toxic Deluge
2BSorcery
Best board wipe for dealing with indestructible or tall boards.
Baleful Mastery
3BInstant
Versatile removal; drawback is negated if Maralen is out.
Feed the Serpent
2BBInstant
Exile removal for troublesome creatures or planeswalkers.
Threats/Wincons
14
Opposition Agent
2BCreature — Human Rogue
Hard locks opponents when Maralen is in play by stealing their tutors.
Sanguine Bond
3BBEnchantment
Combo piece with Exquisite Blood for an instant win.
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
Combo piece with Sanguine Bond and triggers off Maralen's life loss.
Teferi's Puzzle Box
4Artifact
Empties opponents' hands permanently when they cannot draw replacements.
Psychosis Crawler
5Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Secondary win condition that profits from the tutor effects.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
4BBLegendary Creature — Demon
Punishes opponents for tutoring with Maralen.
Dreadhound
4BBCreature — Demon Dog
Punishes creature-heavy metas and provides a clock.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
Massive life swing and reliable finisher.
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Extremely potent with any draw effects and offsets Maralen's life loss.
Kokusho, the Evening Star
4BBLegendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Powerful deterrent and massive life drain upon death.
Bloodchief Ascension
BEnchantment
Easily energized by Maralen's life loss to drain opponents.
Fate Unraveler
3BEnchantment Creature — Hag
Passive damage to keep pressure on opponents.
Aetherflux Reservoir
4Artifact
Storm finisher or simple targeted removal using buffered health.
Bolas's Citadel
3BBBLegendary Artifact
Allows playing cards from the top since drawing is impossible.
Utility
14
Vampiric Tutor
BInstant
Finds a response or combo piece before Maralen hits the board.
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Provides Shroud and Haste for the commander.
Whispersilk Cloak
3Artifact — Equipment
Unblockable and Shroud to keep the Fae alive.
Expedition Map
1Artifact
Tutors for utility lands like Cabal Coffers or Reliquary Tower.
Praetor's Grasp
1BBSorcery
Steals win conditions or answers from opponents libraries.
Diabolic Intent
1BSorcery
Sacrifice a token or utility creature to find a combo piece.
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
3BBLegendary Creature — Zombie Snake
Creature tutor that provides a decent body.
Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire
2BLegendary Creature — Demon Rogue
Repeatable tutor on a stick using the Boast mechanic.
