All Hallows' Eve by Xregion21

Format: Commander

Commander: Istvan, Butcher of Eln

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 33

Deck overview

This deck is a mono-black Voltron and attrition strategy helmed by Istvan, Butcher of Eln. Istvan possesses built-in immunity to all combat damage dealt to him by creatures and grows by two +1/+1 counters whenever an opponent's creature dies. The deck exploits this synergy by deploying a dense package of edict creatures such as Fleshbag Marauder, Plaguecrafter, and Accursed Marauder, clearing enemy boards while rapidly swelling Istvan into a lethal threat. Asymmetric board wipes like Massacre Wurm and control pieces like Archfiend of Depravity continuously starve opponents of creature development. Once Istvan reaches high power, evasion enablers like Shizo, Death's Storehouse, Rogue's Passage, and Nemesis Mask ensure unblockable combat connections, while equipment like Blackblade Reforged and Nightmare Lash accelerate his clock. Backed by solid recursion lands and card engines like Harvester of Souls, the deck grinds down opposing defenses and closes games through lethal commander damage.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Accursed Marauder
  • 1 All Hallow's Eve
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Depravity
  • 1 Astarion's Thirst
  • 1 Blackblade Reforged
  • 1 Blight Rot
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Bubbling Muck
  • 1 Butcher's Cleaver
  • 1 Cabal Coffers
  • 1 Castle Locthwain
  • 1 Champion's Helm
  • 1 Clackbridge Troll
  • 1 Command Beacon
  • 1 Consuming Corruption
  • 1 Crypt Rats
  • 1 Dance of the Dead
  • 1 Demon's Disciple
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Desert of the Glorified
  • 1 Dread
  • 1 Dread Presence
  • 1 Fear
  • 1 Filth
  • 1 Fleshbag Marauder
  • 1 Go for the Throat
  • 1 Gravelighter
  • 1 Hammer of Nazahn
  • 1 Harvester of Souls
  • 1 Haunted Cloak
  • 1 Hunted Bonebrute
  • 1 Imp's Mischief
  • 1 Istvan, Butcher of Eln
  • 1 Jack-o'-Lantern
  • 1 Liliana's Triumph
  • 1 Mandate of Abaddon
  • 1 Mask of Griselbrand
  • 1 Massacre Girl
  • 1 Massacre Girl, Known Killer
  • 1 Massacre Wurm
  • 1 Memorial to Folly
  • 1 Merciless Executioner
  • 1 Mire in Misery
  • 1 Mithril Coat
  • 1 Necrosynthesis
  • 1 Nemesis Mask
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Nightmare Lash
  • 1 No Mercy
  • 1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
  • 1 Phyrexian Obliterator
  • 1 Plaguecrafter
  • 1 Qarsi Revenant
  • 1 Read the Bones
  • 1 Realm of Koh
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Royal Assassin
  • 1 Season of the Witch
  • 1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
  • 1 Slaughter Specialist
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Shatter
  • 1 Spymaster's Vault
  • 20 Swamp
  • 1 Sword of the Animist
  • 1 Tainted Strike
  • 1 Tarrian's Soulcleaver
  • 1 Terror
  • 1 The Black Gate
  • 1 Tomb Fortress
  • 1 Tormod's Crypt
  • 1 Tragic Slip
  • 1 Uncle Istvan
  • 1 Urborg
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Volrath's Stronghold
  • 1 Vorpal Sword
  • 1 Will of the Abzan
  • 1 Witch's Clinic
  • 1 Witch's Cottage