Astarion by ReclaimerRae

Format: Commander

Commander: Astarion, the Decadent

Bracket: 3

Deck overview

This is an Orzhov lifegain/drain deck helmed by Astarion, the Decadent, built around the classic "gain life, opponents lose life" engine. The primary game plan is to establish a repeatable life-gain source - lifelink vampires, extort triggers, or drain creatures like Blood Artist and Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim - then convert that life into table-wide damage through Sanguine Bond, Defiant Bloodlord, Cliffhaven Vampire, and the commander's end-step Feed/Friends choice. The deck's cleanest win is the Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood infinite loop, with Vizkopa Guildmage and Defiant Bloodlord serving as redundant combo pieces. Secondary paths include massive X-spells (Exsanguinate, Debt to the Deathless) and combat damage from a growing vampire board amplified by Bloodletter of Aclazotz and The Wind Crystal. It's a midrange value deck that wins through incremental drain and a fragile two-card combo.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Amalia Benavides Aguirre
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Astarion's Thirst
  • 1 Astarion, the Decadent
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Bloodbond Vampire
  • 1 Bloodletter of Aclazotz
  • 1 Bloodthirsty Aerialist
  • 1 Cliffhaven Vampire
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Cordial Vampire
  • 1 Crossway Troublemakers
  • 1 Cruel Celebrant
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Debt to the Deathless
  • 1 Defiant Bloodlord
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Drana's Emissary
  • 1 Edgar, Charmed Groom // Edgar Markov's Coffin
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elenda's Hierophant
  • 1 Elenda, Saint of Dusk
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Fracture
  • 1 Fumigate
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Honored Heirloom
  • 1 Indulging Patrician
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Kaya's Wrath
  • 1 Legion Lieutenant
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lunar Convocation
  • 1 Mark of the Vampire
  • 1 Markov Purifier
  • 1 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
  • 1 Mortify
  • 1 Nighthawk Scavenger
  • 1 Olivia's Wrath
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 16 Plains
  • 1 Quietus Spike
  • 1 Ragged Recluse // Odious Witch
  • 1 Read the Bones
  • 1 Sanctum Seeker
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood
  • 1 Scoured Barrens
  • 1 Sign in Blood
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate
  • 16 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 The Cruelty of Gix
  • 1 The Darkness Crystal
  • 1 The Eldest Reborn
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Tithe Drinker
  • 1 Utter End
  • 1 Vampire Nighthawk
  • 1 Village Rites
  • 1 Vizkopa Guildmage
  • 1 Welcoming Vampire
  • 1 Well of Lost Dreams