How it grades
Fundamentals 78/100. Plays like Vampire Tribal and Lifegain.
This reads as Vampire Tribal · Lifegain, built around Edgar Markov. A Vampire deck at heart: the creatures share a type on purpose, and lords, payoffs, and type-matters synergies make the whole board bigger than its parts. Tribal decks trade individual card power for critical mass, so keep the vampire count high and let the synergy pay the bills. Edgar Markov sits on the cEDH tier list, so the ceiling here is tournament-grade, and experienced tables will treat it that way. Its strongest fundamental is interaction (11 removal/protection effects (want 9+ for Vampire Tribal)); the first thing to tighten is ramp: 7 ramp effects (want 11+ for this curve for Vampire Tribal).
- A-Mana reliability
- BLand count
- B+Mana curve
- C+Ramp
- B-Card draw
- A+Interaction
- A+Commander synergy
- AWin conditions
- A-Card quality
- A+Legality & size
Where it falls short
- BLand count37 lands. About 41 fits this curve for Vampire Tribal.
- B+Mana curve21% of spells cost ≤2, 13% cost 6+.
- C+Ramp7 ramp effects (want 11+ for this curve for Vampire Tribal).
- B-Card draw7 draw effects (want 10+ for Vampire Tribal).
Strong on mana reliability, interaction, commander synergy, win conditions, card quality and legality & size.
93 cards graded: A- 7, B+ 33, B 45, B- 7, C+ 1. The command zone is the plan, so it isn't graded.
Upgrades
Made together, they take Vampiric Bloodlust from B to B+.
Welcoming Vampire2W$3.64
In place of Underworld Connections: weakest slot in the deck (67/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 7 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (15 producers). Top-5% staple by play data.
Mentor of the Meek2W$4.81
In place of Ambition's Cost: weakest slot in the deck (68/100)
Pays off the commanders' go-wide plan. Fills the draw gap (you're at 7 of 10+). Pays off your go-wide engine (15 producers).
Puresteel PaladinWW$2.40
In place of Read the Bones: weakest slot in the deck (71/100)
Pays off your artifact engine (10 producers). Fits the commander's plan. Works with the commander directly.
Storm-Kiln Artist3R$1.67
In place of Worn Powerstone: enters tapped: the slow version of its job (63/100)
Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 11+). Pays off your instant-and-sorcery engine (18 producers). Pays off your artifact engine (10 producers).
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose2B$10.48
In place of Consuming Vapors: weakest slot in the deck (51/100)
Pays off your lifegain engine (15 producers). Is a Vampire for your commanders' plan. Top-5% staple by play data.
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar1WW$2.84
In place of Bloodhusk Ritualist: weakest slot in the deck (54/100)
Fuels your token payoffs (4 in deck). Pays off your go-wide engine (15 producers). Top-5% staple by play data.
Mox Opal0$237.16
In place of Black Market: expensive for ramp: the help arrives late (70/100)
Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 11+). Pays off your artifact engine (10 producers). Top-5% staple by play data.
Black Market Connections2B$10.35
In place of Boros Signet: weakest slot in the deck (72/100)
Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 11+). Fuels your token payoffs (4 in deck). Top-5% staple by play data.
Decanter of Endless Water3$4.99
In place of Curse of Vitality: weakest slot in the deck (59/100)
Pays off your card-draw engine (9 producers). Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 11+). Top-5% staple by play data.
Idol of Oblivion2$3.24
In place of Syphon Mind: weakest slot in the deck (71/100)
Fits the token build players run with your commanders. Fills the draw gap (you're at 7 of 10+). Fuels your token payoffs (4 in deck).
Save a copy to try them. The editor's Improve list has these and more, with the swaps one click each.
Decklist
Commander 1
Creatures 26
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- B
- B
- B+
- B+
- B-
- B+
- A-
- B+
- B
- B
- B
Instants 7
- A-
- B
- B+
- A-
- B+
- B
- B+
Sorceries 11
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- C+
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
Artifacts 10
- B+
- B
- A-
- B
- B+
- B+
- B+
- A-
- A-
- B
Enchantments 8
- B
- B
- B+
- A-
- B
- B+
- B-
- B+
Lands 37
- B×3
- B×3
- B×2
- B×2
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B-
- B
- B
- B-
- B-
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B
- B+
- B-
- B
- B-
- B+
Prices are current market estimates, not what the sealed product costs. Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast.