Astarion by FJ_13

Format: Commander

Commander: Astarion, the Decadent

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 28

Deck overview

This Orzhov deck leverages lifegain synergies, incremental life drain, and end-step doubling effects to control the board and eliminate opponents. Led by Astarion, the Decadent, the strategy establishes early card flow and life totals through cards like Braids, Arisen Nightmare and Dreadhorde Invasion, then transitions into landing powerful mid-game threats. The deck turns combat damage and drain into lethal strikes by pairing Astarion's Feed ability or Archfiend of Despair with heavy combat tools like Quietus Spike. A strong removal suite featuring Swords to Plowshares, Despark, and Winds of Abandon answers opposing threats while keeping the board manageable. Although the deck lacks stack interaction and fast mana, its consistent lifelink buffers, strong individual card quality, and steady attrition allow it to outlast aggressive strategies and close out games systematically over a few decisive combat turns.

Decklist (100 cards)

• 1 Abigale, Eloquent First-Year
• 1 Accursed Marauder
• 1 Ajani's Pridemate
• 1 Arbiter of Woe
• 1 Arcane Signet
• 1 Archfiend of Despair
• 1 Archon of Cruelty
• 1 Astarion, the Decadent
• 1 Blessed Ghoul
• 1 Bloodthirsty Aerialist
• 1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
• 1 Braids, Arisen Nightmare
• 1 Breathe Your Last
• 1 Cast Away Doubt
• 1 Caves of Koilos
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Darksteel Mutation
• 1 Dazzling Angel
• 1 Decanter of Endless Water
• 1 Despark
• 1 Dreadhorde Invasion
• 1 Elenda, Saint of Dusk
• 1 Embalmed Ascendant
• 1 Enter the Avatar State
• 1 Eviscerator's Insight
• 1 Exotic Orchard
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Fetid Heath
• 1 Fiendish Panda
• 1 Fight On!
• 1 Fruit of Tizerus
• 1 Fumigate
• 1 Generous Gift
• 1 Germinate Recruits
• 1 Gollum, Riddle Master
• 1 Grave Venerations
• 1 Grim Servant
• 1 Isolated Chapel
• 1 Kor Celebrant
• 1 Leech Collector // Bloodletting
• 1 Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
• 1 Mai, Scornful Striker
• 1 Malboro
• 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
• 1 Massacre Girl, Most Wanted
• 1 Meditation Puzzle
• 1 Morgul-Knife Wound
• 1 My Precious // Allure of Power
• 1 Nadier's Nightblade
• 1 Night's Whisper
• 1 Nirkana Assassin
• 1 Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel
• 1 Ob Nixilis, the Ascended
• 1 Origin of Black Widow
• 1 Pain 101
• 1 Path to Exile
• 14 Plains
• 1 Quietus Spike
• 1 Redeem
• 1 Refurbish
• 1 Revitalize
• 1 Risky Shortcut
• 1 Screeching Soulbreaker
• 1 Social Snub
• 1 Sol Ring
• 14 Swamp
• 1 Swords to Plowshares
• 1 Temple of Silence
• 1 Too Evil to Stay Dead
• 1 Troop of Ponies
• 1 Vindictive Triumph
• 1 Well of Lost Dreams
• 1 Whitemane Lion
• 1 Winds of Abandon