Art by Matt Stewart
Saved commander deck
Marchesa, the Black Rose
Utilize Marchesa's Dethrone ability to place +1/+1 counters on creatures, making them immortal through her recursion ability while using proliferate to scale their power.
Prompt: A $600 Marchesa, the Black Rose commander deck — a +1/+1 counters deck with proliferate, counter doublers, and creatures that scale into massive threats.
Commander
1 cards
Marchesa, the Black Rose
{1}{U}{B}{R}Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10 cards
Talisman of Indulgence
{2}Artifact
Fast mana that also helps lower life for Dethrone.
Talisman of Dominance
{2}Artifact
Fast mana that also helps lower life for Dethrone.
Talisman of Creativity
{2}Artifact
Fast mana that also helps lower life for Dethrone.
Card Draw
10 cards
Mulldrifter
{4}{U}Creature — Elemental
Easy to recur with Marchesa for repeated draw.
Baleful Strix
{U}{B}Artifact Creature — Bird
Defensive flyer that replaces itself.
Midnight Reaper
{2}{B}Creature — Zombie Knight
Draws cards when nontoken creatures die.
Removal
12 cards
Glen Elendra Archmage
{3}{U}Creature — Faerie Wizard
Infinite negate engine with Marchesa.
Bedevil
{B}{B}{R}Instant
Versatile instant speed removal for artifacts, creatures, or planeswalkers.
Drown in the Loch
{U}{B}Instant
A flexible modal spell that acts as either a counterspell or creature removal in the mid-to-late game.
Threats/Wincons
16 cards
Pontiff of Blight
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie Cleric
Extort helps manage life totals while being a huge body.
Walking Ballista
{X}{X}Artifact Creature — Construct
Scales with counters and provides targeted damage.
Hangarback Walker
{X}{X}Artifact Creature — Construct
Scales with counters and creates flyers on death.
Chasm Skulker
{2}{U}Creature — Squid Horror
Grows with card draw and leaves behind tokens.
Iron Apprentice
{1}Artifact Creature — Construct
Cheap creature that passes its counters along.
Arcbound Worker
{1}Artifact Creature — Construct
Modular creature that synergizes with robot themes.
Drana, Liberator of Malakir
{1}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Vampire Ally
Places counters on the whole attacking team.
Scourge of the Throne
{4}{R}{R}Creature — Dragon
Additional combat steps and Dethrone synergy.
Yahenni, Undying Partisan
{2}{B}Legendary Creature — Aetherborn Vampire
Free sac outlet that becomes indestructible and grows.
Puppeteer Clique
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Faerie Wizard
Steals opponents' graveyards; persists then recurs.
All Will Be One
{3}{R}{R}Enchantment
Turns Every +1/+1 counter placement into damage.
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
{3}{B}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Zombie Cleric
Provides undying as a backup to Marchesa's ability.
Woe Strider
{2}{B}Creature — Horror
A reliable free sacrifice outlet that provides a token and allows for deck smoothing via scrying.
Embercleave
{4}{R}{R}Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Provides a massive power boost and double strike to facilitate Dethrone triggers and lethal damage.
Utility
13 cards
Uncivil Unrest
{4}{R}Enchantment
Doubles damage and provides Riot for immediate counters.
Thrummingbird
{1}{U}Creature — Phyrexian Bird Horror
Reliable early game proliferate.
Herald of Secret Streams
{3}{U}Creature — Merfolk Warrior
Makes all creatures with counters unblockable.
Fain, the Broker
{2}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Warlock
Versatile counter manipulator and sac outlet.
Viscera Seer
{B}Creature — Vampire Wizard
Zero-mana sacrifice outlet for recursion loops.
Carrion Feeder
{B}Creature — Zombie
Sacrifice outlet that grows itself with counters.
Spark Double
{3}{U}Creature — Illusion
Clones Marchesa or another legendary threat without the legend rule.
Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus
{2}{U}{U}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Doubles all proliferate triggers.
Metallic Mimic
{2}Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
Enters with a counter on chosen type (usually Human or Wizard).
Sage of Fables
{2}{U}Creature — Merfolk Wizard
Allows drawing cards by removing counters and gives Wizards counters.
Vigean Graftmage
{2}{U}Creature — Vedalken Wizard Mutant
Graft allows it to place counters on other creatures coming into play, ensuring they are protected by Marchesa immediately.
