Art by Adam Paquette
Commander deckBG
Varolz, the Scar-Striped
Utilize the Scavenge keyword to transfer +1/+1 counters from graveyard creatures onto a persistent Zombie army and powerful enchantments.
Asked for“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.”
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 · 60 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
1Varolz, the Scar-Striped
1BGLegendary Creature — Troll Warrior
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
11
Rishkar, Peema Renegade
2GLegendary Creature — Elf Druid
Turns creatures with counters into mana dorks.
Card Draw
8
Skullclamp
1Artifact — Equipment
Powerful draw engine in a deck with recursive small creatures.
Inspiring Call
2GInstant
Draws cards based on creatures with counters and provides protection.
Greater Good
2GGEnchantment
Allows you to turn huge creatures into a massive new hand.
Garruk's Uprising
2GEnchantment
Provides trample to your large creatures and draws cards on entry.
Return of the Wildspeaker
4GInstant
Massive card draw based on the power of your largest non-human creature.
Cryptbreaker
BCreature — Zombie
A low-cost zombie that acts as a discard outlet and engine for card draw.
Removal
12
Polukranos, Unchained
2BGLegendary Creature — Zombie Hydra
Uses counters for removal and scales with the graveyard.
Poison-Tip Archer
2BGCreature — Elf Archer
Deathtouch reach blocker that drains opponents on deaths.
Walking Ballista
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Counter-based damage engine and mana sink.
Triskelion
6Artifact Creature — Construct
Provides targeted pinging using +1/+1 counters.
Deathsprout
1BBGInstant
Combines targeted creature removal with land ramp in Golgari colors.
Cemetery Desecrator
4BBCreature — Zombie
A high-power zombie that can remove counters or destroy permanents based on mana value.
Noxious Ghoul
3BBCreature — Zombie
An effective way to clear the board of non-zombie creatures as you play your deck.
Binding the Old Gods
2BGEnchantment — Saga
Removes a non-land permanent and ramps for a forest on the second chapter.
Threats/Wincons
16
Lotleth Troll
BGCreature — Zombie Troll
Discard outlet that grows with +1/+1 counters and regenerates.
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
1BGLegendary Creature — Human Warrior
Ensures +1/+1 counters stay on the board when creatures die.
Gravecrawler
BCreature — Zombie
Recursive zombie that works well with sacrifice outlets.
Death Baron
1BBCreature — Zombie Wizard
Grants deathtouch and a power boost to the zombie hoard.
Champion of the Perished
BCreature — Zombie
Scales quickly as more zombies enter the battlefield.
Forgotten Ancient
3GCreature — Elemental
Generates massive amounts of counters to distribute.
Kalonian Hydra
3GGCreature — Hydra
Doubles counters on all creatures when it attacks.
Carrion Feeder
BCreature — Zombie
Sacrifice outlet that grows its own +1/+1 counters.
Hydra's Growth
2GEnchantment — Aura
Exponentially increases counters on a single threat.
Hangarback Walker
XXArtifact Creature — Construct
Sticky threat that produces flyers upon death.
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
3BBBLegendary Creature — Zombie Cleric
Provides undying and a massive buff to your non-human zombies.
Undead Warchief
2BBCreature — Zombie
Reduces the cost of your zombies and provides a significant power/toughness anthem.
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
BBGGLegendary Creature — Zombie Elf
Scales with your graveyard and can sacrifice large creatures to drain opponents.
Benevolent Hydra
XGGCreature — Hydra
Functions as a secondary Hardened Scales effect on a creature body.
Utility
13
Winding Constrictor
BGCreature — Snake
Increases the number of +1/+1 counters placed on creatures.
Hardened Scales
GEnchantment
Efficient enchantment that doubles down on counter generation.
Corpsejack Menace
2BGCreature — Fungus
Doubles all +1/+1 counters placed on creatures.
The Ozolith
1Legendary Artifact
Preserves +1/+1 counters from creatures that leave the battlefield.
Eternal Witness
1GGCreature — Human Shaman
Essential recursion for lost enchantments or creatures.
Heroic Intervention
1GInstant
Protects your highly-invested creatures from board wipes.
Bear Umbra
2GGEnchantment — Aura
Protects your commander and untaps lands for more plays.
Branching Evolution
2GEnchantment
Doubles the amount of counters placed on creatures.
Whip of Erebos
2BBLegendary Enchantment Artifact
Grants lifelink and allows temporary reanimation.
Golgari Charm
BGInstant
Offers protection from board wipes, removal for small tokens, or enchantment destruction.
Gravebreaker Lamia
4BEnchantment Creature — Snake Lamia
Tutors a card directly to the graveyard for Varolz to scavenge later.
Vigor
3GGGCreature — Elemental Incarnation
Converts damage dealt to your creatures into +1/+1 counters.
