Art by Chris Rahn
Commander deckBGU
Teval, the Balanced Scale
Maintain equilibrium on the board using efficient removal and recursion while draining opponents' life totals through steady token sacrifice synergies.
Asked for“Teval, the Balanced Scale”
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
1Teval, the Balanced Scale
1BGULegendary Creature — Spirit Dragon
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Commander's Sphere
3Artifact
flexible mana fixing that draws a card when sacrificed
Wayfarer's Bauble
1Artifact
Cheap colorless artifact ramp that puts a land directly into play
Worn Powerstone
3Artifact
Budget staple mana rock that produces two colorless mana
Card Draw
13
Morbid Opportunist
2BCreature — Human Rogue
draws cards whenever creatures die across all turns
Skullclamp
1Artifact — Equipment
Incredible draw engine when paired with small token or sacrifice creatures
Syphon Mind
3BSorcery
High-value draw spell that forces discard across all opponents
Disciple of Bolas
3BCreature — Human Wizard
Sacrifices a high-power creature to draw cards and regain life
Harvester of Souls
4BBCreature — Demon
Draws cards whenever non-token creatures die across the board
Removal
9
Feed the Swarm
1BSorcery
Essential black removal spell that hits both creatures and enchantments
Infernal Grasp
1BInstant
Cheap and unconditional creature removal at instant speed
Hero's Downfall
1BBInstant
Versatile instant-speed removal for creatures and planeswalkers
Toxic Deluge
2BSorcery
Format-defining cheap board wipe that bypasses indestructible
Plaguecrafter
2BCreature — Human Shaman
Edict effect on a creature that synergy-chains with reanimation
Fleshbag Marauder
2BCreature — Zombie Warrior
Classic sac-on-ETB creature that forces all opponents to sacrifice
Threats/Wincons
17
Marionette Master
4BBCreature — Human Artificer
drains life whenever artifacts or treasures leave the battlefield
Zulaport Cutthroat
1BCreature — Human Rogue Ally
drains opponents whenever your creatures die
Blood Artist
1BCreature — Vampire
drains life off any creature death on the board
Pitiless Plunderer
3BCreature — Human Pirate
generates immense treasure mana from dying creatures
Mirkwood Bats
3BCreature — Bat
burns all opponents whenever tokens enter or leave
Shriekmaw
4BCreature — Elemental
evokable creature removal that fuels death triggers
Ravenous Chupacabra
2BBCreature — Beast Horror
recurrable creature destruction on a body
Archon of Cruelty
6BBCreature — Archon
massive reanimation target that yields massive value
Butcher of Malakir
5BBCreature — Vampire Warrior
forces opponents to sacrifice creatures as yours die
Noxious Gearhulk
4BBArtifact Creature — Construct
destroys creatures and gains life upon entry
Pontiff of Blight
4BBCreature — Zombie Cleric
extort finisher that converts mana into massive life drain
Syr Konrad, the Grim
3BBLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Massive aristocrats payoff whenever creatures enter or leave the graveyard
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
Classic mono-black finisher that drains life equal to devotion
Sepulchral Primordial
5BBCreature — Avatar
Reanimates the best creature from each opponent's graveyard on ETB
Utility
13
Kaya's Ghostform
BEnchantment — Aura
cheap single-mana protection against exile and destruction
Dread Return
2BBSorcery
reanimation card with a flashback cost using creature tokens
Reanimate
BSorcery
Premier one-mana reanimation spell for any creature in a graveyard
Stitcher's Supplier
BCreature — Zombie
Cheap creature that fills the graveyard quickly on ETB and death
Viscera Seer
BCreature — Vampire Wizard
Zero-cost sacrifice outlet that provides scry filtering
Carrion Feeder
BCreature — Zombie
Cheap free sacrifice outlet that grows over time
Woe Strider
2BCreature — Horror
Free sacrifice outlet that brings a goat token and escapes from the grave
