Art by Peter Mohrbacher
Commander deckBG
Pharika, God of Affliction
Control the board with efficient deathtouch threats, oppressive removal, and potent lifegain engines to grind opponents down while Pharika provides political rattlesnake defense.
Asked for“Pharika, Golgari control. not much support for her snake thing, make a full sustain, health, deathtouch support deck. immaculate mana systen”
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 · 62 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
1Pharika, God of Affliction
1BGLegendary Enchantment Creature — God
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
11
Sakura-Tribe Elder
1GCreature — Snake Shaman
chump blocker that fuels Pharika's graveyard exile
Kodama's Reach
2GSorcery — Arcane
crucial ramp and land smoothing for high-impact turns
Wood Elves
2GCreature — Elf Scout
creature body that puts an untapped Forest directly into play
Card Draw
10
Phyrexian Arena
1BBEnchantment
reliable extra card per turn easily sustained by lifegain
Sylvan Library
1GEnchantment
exceptional card selection paid for by deck's life gain
Morbid Opportunist
2BCreature — Human Rogue
draws cards from frequent deathtouch creature trades
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
3GLegendary Creature — Squirrel
indestructible body that draws off unblocked deathtouch attacks
Ohran Frostfang
3GGSnow Creature — Snake
gives all attackers deathtouch and draws cards on hit
Beast Whisperer
2GGCreature — Elf Druid
replenishes hand whenever casting creature threats
Skullclamp
1Artifact — Equipment
turns 1/1 snake tokens or utility dorks into raw card draw
Removal
12
Culling Ritual
2BGSorcery
sweeps low-cost permanents and generates explosive mana
Binding the Old Gods
2BGEnchantment — Saga
removes any nonland permanent, ramps, and grants deathtouch
Threats/Wincons
22
Fynn, the Fangbearer
1GLegendary Creature — Human Warrior
lethal poison counter alternate win condition with deathtouch
Hooded Blightfang
2BCreature — Snake
drains life and snipes planeswalkers whenever deathtouch creatures attack
Chevill, Bane of Monsters
BGLegendary Creature — Human Rogue
rewards deathtouch trades with card draw and lifegain
Saryth, the Viper's Fang
2GGLegendary Creature — Human Warlock
grants attacking deathtouch and hexproof untap utility
Dina, Soul Steeper
BGLegendary Creature — Dryad Druid
drains opponents continuously whenever gaining life
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
massive life swing and finisher with black devotion
Whip of Erebos
2BBLegendary Enchantment Artifact
gives all creatures lifelink and recurs dead threats
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
primary sustain engine converting damage dealt into life
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
2BLegendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
turns every burst of lifegain into direct enemy burn
Zulaport Cutthroat
1BCreature — Human Rogue Ally
insulates board trades by draining each opponent
Vraska, Swarm's Eminence
2BGBGLegendary Planeswalker — Vraska
buffs deathtouch attackers and produces deathtouch tokens
Vraska, the Silencer
1BGLegendary Creature — Gorgon Assassin
turns dying enemy creatures into treasure ramp and value
Nighthawk Scavenger
1BBCreature — Vampire Rogue
flying deathtouch lifelink beater that scales with graveyards
Vampire Nighthawk
1BBCreature — Vampire Shaman
classic flying deathtouch lifelink board stabilizer
Glissa Sunslayer
1BGLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Zombie Elf
first strike deathtouch threat that draws, destroys enchantments, or removes counters
Elder Gargaroth
3GGCreature — Beast
massive sustain engine generating life, cards, and blockers
Bolas's Citadel
3BBBLegendary Artifact
topdeck storm engine converted by high health total
Massacre Wurm
3BBBCreature — Phyrexian Wurm
punishes wide boards with life loss while stabilizing combat
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
punishes opponent draw and rapidly sustains life total
Kokusho, the Evening Star
4BBLegendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
flying threat that drains table heavily upon death
Hornet Queen
4GGGCreature — Insect
creates an impenetrable wall of flying deathtouch blockers
Utility
7
Bow of Nylea
1GGLegendary Enchantment Artifact
gives attacking creatures deathtouch and offers lifegain or graveyard tucking
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
free protection and haste for critical sustain creatures
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
protects entire board from wipes and targeted removal
Golgari Charm
BGInstant
versatile sweeper, enchantment removal, or regeneration shield
Well of Lost Dreams
4Artifact
converts abundant lifegain triggers directly into massive card advantage
