Art by Alexander Ostrowski
Commander deckBGU
Teval, Arbiter of Virtue
Leverage +1/+1 counter synergies and powerful dragons from the Tarkir block to overwhelm opponents with an resilient Abzan board presence.
Asked for“I want to play a Teval, Arbiter of Virtue deck with mostly cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm.”
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
1Teval, Arbiter of Virtue
2BGULegendary Creature — Spirit Dragon
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
13
Golgari Signet
2Artifact
Efficient color fixing and mana acceleration for Golgari.
Talisman of Resilience
2Artifact
Cheap two-mana ramp that produces black or green immediately.
Rishkar, Peema Renegade
2GLegendary Creature — Elf Druid
Distributes +1/+1 counters and turns counter-laden creatures into mana dorks.
Card Draw
15
Rishkar's Expertise
4GGSorcery
draws based on greatest power and casts a free spell
Beast Whisperer
2GGCreature — Elf Druid
Draws a card whenever you cast a creature spell.
Return of the Wildspeaker
4GInstant
Massive card draw based on highest power or a lethal overrun effect.
Armorcraft Judge
3GCreature — Elf Artificer
Draws cards for each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter.
Moldervine Reclamation
3BGEnchantment
Draws cards and gains life whenever your creatures die.
Deathreap Ritual
2BGEnchantment
Triggers card draw on every end step if a permanent died.
Removal
9
Crux of Fate
3BBSorcery
iconic Tarkir board wipe targeting dragons or non-dragons
Tear Asunder
1GInstant
Exiles target artifact or enchantment, with kicked flexibility for any nonland permanent.
Reclamation Sage
2GCreature — Elf Shaman
Creature-based artifact or enchantment destruction.
Noxious Gearhulk
4BBArtifact Creature — Construct
Destroys a creature on entry while gaining life and offering a threat.
Threats/Wincons
14
Foe-Razer Regent
5GGCreature — Dragon
dragon that fights on entrance and grows from fighting
Corpsejack Menace
2BGCreature — Fungus
doubles all +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures
Kalonian Hydra
3GGCreature — Hydra
doubles counters on all creatures when attacking
Forgotten Ancient
3GCreature — Elemental
accumulates counters quickly and redistributes them
Tuskguard Captain
2GCreature — Human Warrior
grants trample to all creatures with counters
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
1BGLegendary Creature — Human Warrior
Golgari Tarkir legend that preserves +1/+1 counters when creatures die.
Loyal Guardian
4GCreature — Rhino
Adds +1/+1 counters to all creatures on combat step if commander is out.
Overwhelming Stampede
3GGSorcery
Overrun effect that scales off your largest creature's power.
Scourge of Nel Toth
5BBCreature — Zombie Dragon
Recursive dragon threat that synergizes with sacrifice and grave strategies.
Eldrazi Monument
5Artifact
Grants flying, indestructible, and power boosts to seal games.
Champion of Lambholt
1GGCreature — Human Warrior
Grows with +1/+1 counters and makes your entire army unblockable.
Utility
10
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
protects commander and key threats with hexproof
Winding Constrictor
BGCreature — Snake
Amplifies all +1/+1 counter placement on your permanents.
Evolution Sage
2GCreature — Elf Druid
Proliferates counters onto all your creatures whenever lands enter.
Primal Vigor
4GEnchantment
Doubles the amount of +1/+1 counters put on creatures.
Eternal Witness
1GGCreature — Human Shaman
Returns key cards from the graveyard to hand.
Hydra's Growth
2GEnchantment — Aura
Doubles +1/+1 counters on target creature every turn.
Meren of Clan Nel Toth
2BGLegendary Creature — Human Shaman
Provides constant graveyard recursion for creatures.
