How it grades
Fundamentals 67/100. Plays like Reanimator / graveyard and Aristocrats.
This reads as Reanimator / graveyard · Aristocrats, built around Meren of Clan Nel Toth. The graveyard is a second hand: stock it fast, then cheat the biggest things in it onto the battlefield for a fraction of their cost. Self-mill and discard are card selection, not card loss. Graveyard hate is the deck's nightmare, so diversify threats and keep a fair backup plan. Meren of Clan Nel Toth 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 (14 removal/protection effects (want 10+ for Reanimator / graveyard). Most of that is one kind of effect, so it counts for less); the first thing to tighten is ramp: 7 ramp effects (want 12+ for this curve for Reanimator / graveyard).
- A-Mana reliability
- BLand count
- A-Mana curve
- C+Ramp
- C+Card draw
- A+Interaction
- B-Commander synergy
- AWin conditions
- BCard quality
- A+Legality & size
Where it falls short
- BLand count38 lands. About 42 fits this curve for Reanimator / graveyard.
- C+Ramp7 ramp effects (want 12+ for this curve for Reanimator / graveyard).
- C+Card draw6 draw effects (want 10+ for Reanimator / graveyard).
- B-Commander synergyOnly 25 of 61 spells play into your commanders' plan; they want sacrifice, experience counters support. Counts the builds players run with your commanders (Aristocrats, Reanimator; from EDHREC).
- BCard qualityMedian EDHREC rank #5,459
Strong on mana reliability, mana curve, interaction, win conditions and legality & size.
94 cards graded: A- 6, B+ 16, B 52, B- 13, C+ 7. The command zone is the plan, so it isn't graded.
Upgrades
Made together, they take Plunder the Graves from C+ to B.
Skull ProphetBG$0.83
In place of Viridian Emissary: weakest slot in the deck (64/100)
Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 12+). Fuels your graveyard payoffs (11 in deck). Fits the graveyard build players run with your commanders.
Icetill Explorer2GG$22.14
In place of Primal Growth: weakest slot in the deck (69/100)
Top-5% staple by play data. EDHREC Reanimator / graveyard staple. Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 12+).
Pitiless Plunderer3B$4.92
In place of Wood Elves: weakest slot in the deck (71/100)
Pays off your sacrifice engine (11 producers). Chases the same sacrifice plan as your commanders. Fits the commander's plan.
Black Market3BB$6.27
In place of Golgari Signet: weakest slot in the deck (71/100)
Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 12+). Pays off your sacrifice engine (11 producers). Chases the same sacrifice plan as your commanders.
Liliana, Dreadhorde General4BB$9.08
In place of Phyrexian Rager: weakest slot in the deck (65/100)
Fills the draw gap (you're at 6 of 10+). Fuels your token payoffs (3 in deck). Pays off your sacrifice engine (11 producers).
Deathrite Shaman$8.71
In place of Barter in Blood: weakest slot in the deck (50/100)
Works with the commander directly. Fills the ramp gap (you're at 7 of 12+). Top-5% staple by play data.
Syr Konrad, the Grim3BB$1.78
In place of Tribute to the Wild: weakest slot in the deck (50/100)
Pays off your sacrifice engine (11 producers). Chases the same sacrifice plan as your commanders. Top-5% staple by play data.
Inspiring Call2G$0.39
In place of Corpse Augur: weakest slot in the deck (68/100)
Pays off your token engine (7 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Keeps the commanders alive.
Champion of Lambholt1GG$4.81
In place of Cloudthresher: its G cost is heavy for this mana base; expect it several turns late (51/100)
Pays off your token engine (7 producers). Pays off your go-wide engine (24 producers). Works with the commander directly.
Six2G$5.00
In place of Viridian Zealot: weakest slot in the deck (52/100)
Fuels your graveyard payoffs (11 in deck). Fits the graveyard build players run with your commanders. Top-5% staple by play data.
Save a copy to try them. The editor's Improve list has these and more, with the swaps one click each.
Decklist
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Prices are current market estimates, not what the sealed product costs. Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast.