Black Reanimation / Control by Lethal241

Format: Commander

Commander: Balthor the Defiled

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 52

Deck overview

This Mono-Black Reanimator deck turns the graveyard into a second hand, utilizing Balthor the Defiled as a reliable mass reanimation engine from the command zone. The strategy focuses on stocking the graveyard quickly through efficient tutors like Buried Alive and Entomb, as well as self-mill engines like Mesmeric Orb and Doom Whisperer. Once the graveyard is primed with devastating payoffs, Balthor the Defiled activates for {B}{B}{B} to return all black creatures to play simultaneously. The primary win condition executes in a single explosive turn using Mogis's Marauder for haste and intimidate, Gray Merchant of Asphodel for massive life drain, and Archfiend of Despair or Syr Konrad, the Grim to eliminate all three opponents immediately. Supported by redundant mass reanimation spells, big mana from Cabal Coffers, and efficient black interaction, the deck presents consistent Turn 5 lethal pressure.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Abhorrent Overlord
  • 1 Altar of Dementia
  • 1 Angel of Suffering
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Despair
  • 1 Avacyn, Angel of Horror
  • 1 Balthor the Defiled
  • 1 Barrowgoyf
  • 1 Bitter Triumph
  • 1 Blasphemous Edict
  • 1 Breach the Multiverse
  • 1 Buried Alive
  • 1 Cabal Coffers
  • 1 Crypt of Agadeem
  • 1 Damnation
  • 1 Deadly Rollick
  • 1 Defile
  • 1 Doom Whisperer
  • 1 Elder Brain
  • 1 Entomb
  • 1 Feed the Swarm
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Funeral Rites
  • 1 Go for the Throat
  • 1 Grave Titan
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Hoarding Broodlord
  • 1 Imp's Mischief
  • 1 Incarnation Technique
  • 1 Infernal Grasp
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 Kaya's Ghostform
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lively Dirge
  • 1 Living Death
  • 1 Lord of the Void
  • 1 Maha, Its Feathers Night
  • 1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
  • 1 Massacre Wurm
  • 1 Matzalantli, the Great Door // The Core
  • 1 Mesmeric Orb
  • 1 Mogis's Marauder
  • 1 Morality Shift
  • 1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Out of the Tombs
  • 1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Ripples of Undeath
  • 1 Rise of the Dark Realms
  • 1 Rune-Scarred Demon
  • 1 Saw in Half
  • 1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
  • 1 Shriekmaw
  • 1 Sign in Blood
  • 1 Snuff Out
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Stitcher's Supplier
  • 1 Sudden Spoiling
  • 32 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Undead Butler
  • 1 Unmarked Grave
  • 1 Valgavoth, Terror Eater
  • 1 Victimize
  • 1 Vile Entomber
  • 1 Withering Torment