Art by Adam Paquette
Saved commander deck
Varolz, the Scar-Striped
Utilize the Scavenge keyword to transfer +1/+1 counters from graveyard creatures onto a persistent Zombie army and powerful enchantments.
Prompt: Build a Commander deck that includes Ancient Ziggurat and focuses on putting +1/+1 counters on creatures. Include Lotleth Troll and other zombies. Pick good enchantments to enhance them.
Commander
1 cards
Varolz, the Scar-Striped
{1}{B}{G}Legendary Creature — Troll Warrior
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
11 cards
Rishkar, Peema Renegade
{2}{G}Legendary Creature — Elf Druid
Turns creatures with counters into mana dorks.
Card Draw
8 cards
Skullclamp
{1}Artifact — Equipment
Powerful draw engine in a deck with recursive small creatures.
Inspiring Call
{2}{G}Instant
Draws cards based on creatures with counters and provides protection.
Guardian Project
{3}{G}Enchantment
Consistent card draw for a creature-heavy deck.
Greater Good
{2}{G}{G}Enchantment
Allows you to turn huge creatures into a massive new hand.
Garruk's Uprising
{2}{G}Enchantment
Provides trample to your large creatures and draws cards on entry.
Return of the Wildspeaker
{4}{G}Instant
Massive card draw based on the power of your largest non-human creature.
Cryptbreaker
{B}Creature — Zombie
A low-cost zombie that acts as a discard outlet and engine for card draw.
Removal
12 cards
Polukranos, Unchained
{2}{B}{G}Legendary Creature — Zombie Hydra
Uses counters for removal and scales with the graveyard.
Dictate of Erebos
{3}{B}{B}Enchantment
Keeps the board clear when your zombies die.
Poison-Tip Archer
{2}{B}{G}Creature — Elf Archer
Deathtouch reach blocker that drains opponents on deaths.
Walking Ballista
{X}{X}Artifact Creature — Construct
Counter-based damage engine and mana sink.
Triskelion
{6}Artifact Creature — Construct
Provides targeted pinging using +1/+1 counters.
Deathsprout
{1}{B}{B}{G}Instant
Combines targeted creature removal with land ramp in Golgari colors.
Cemetery Desecrator
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
A high-power zombie that can remove counters or destroy permanents based on mana value.
Noxious Ghoul
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
An effective way to clear the board of non-zombie creatures as you play your deck.
Binding the Old Gods
{2}{B}{G}Enchantment — Saga
Removes a non-land permanent and ramps for a forest on the second chapter.
Threats/Wincons
16 cards
Lotleth Troll
{B}{G}Creature — Zombie Troll
Discard outlet that grows with +1/+1 counters and regenerates.
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
{1}{B}{G}Legendary Creature — Human Warrior
Ensures +1/+1 counters stay on the board when creatures die.
Gravecrawler
{B}Creature — Zombie
Recursive zombie that works well with sacrifice outlets.
Death Baron
{1}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie Wizard
Grants deathtouch and a power boost to the zombie hoard.
Champion of the Perished
{B}Creature — Zombie
Scales quickly as more zombies enter the battlefield.
Forgotten Ancient
{3}{G}Creature — Elemental
Generates massive amounts of counters to distribute.
Kalonian Hydra
{3}{G}{G}Creature — Hydra
Doubles counters on all creatures when it attacks.
Carrion Feeder
{B}Creature — Zombie
Sacrifice outlet that grows its own +1/+1 counters.
Grave Titan
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Giant
High power creature that produces zombie tokens.
Hydra's Growth
{2}{G}Enchantment — Aura
Exponentially increases counters on a single threat.
Rancor
{G}Enchantment — Aura
Provides trample and comes back if the creature dies.
Hangarback Walker
{X}{X}Artifact Creature — Construct
Sticky threat that produces flyers upon death.
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
{3}{B}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Zombie Cleric
Provides undying and a massive buff to your non-human zombies.
Undead Warchief
{2}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
Reduces the cost of your zombies and provides a significant power/toughness anthem.
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
{B}{B}{G}{G}Legendary Creature — Zombie Elf
Scales with your graveyard and can sacrifice large creatures to drain opponents.
Benevolent Hydra
{X}{G}{G}Creature — Hydra
Functions as a secondary Hardened Scales effect on a creature body.
Utility
13 cards
Winding Constrictor
{B}{G}Creature — Snake
Increases the number of +1/+1 counters placed on creatures.
Hardened Scales
{G}Enchantment
Efficient enchantment that doubles down on counter generation.
Corpsejack Menace
{2}{B}{G}Creature — Fungus
Doubles all +1/+1 counters placed on creatures.
The Ozolith
{1}Legendary Artifact
Preserves +1/+1 counters from creatures that leave the battlefield.
Eternal Witness
{1}{G}{G}Creature — Human Shaman
Essential recursion for lost enchantments or creatures.
Heroic Intervention
{1}{G}Instant
Protects your highly-invested creatures from board wipes.
Bear Umbra
{2}{G}{G}Enchantment — Aura
Protects your commander and untaps lands for more plays.
Branching Evolution
{2}{G}Enchantment
Doubles the amount of counters placed on creatures.
Parallel Lives
{3}{G}Enchantment
Doubles the efficiency of zombie token generation.
Whip of Erebos
{2}{B}{B}Legendary Enchantment Artifact
Grants lifelink and allows temporary reanimation.
Golgari Charm
{B}{G}Instant
Offers protection from board wipes, removal for small tokens, or enchantment destruction.
Gravebreaker Lamia
{4}{B}Enchantment Creature — Snake Lamia
Tutors a card directly to the graveyard for Varolz to scavenge later.
Vigor
{3}{G}{G}{G}Creature — Elemental Incarnation
Converts damage dealt to your creatures into +1/+1 counters.
