Varina, Queen of the Dead (duplicated from Hokochu) by hokochu

Format: Commander

Commander: Varina, Lich Queen

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 40

Deck overview

This Esper Zombie deck is commanded by Varina, Lich Queen and focuses on tribal aristocrats synergy, token generation, and graveyard reanimation. Early turns establish low-cost Zombie creatures and mana rocks to prepare for deploying Varina on Turn 4. Once active, Varina's attack triggers filter through the library, loading the graveyard with high-value targets while padding life totals. The primary win condition centers on infinite sacrifice loops using Gravecrawler, Phyrexian Altar, and drain payoffs such as Corpse Knight, Wayward Servant, or Plague Belcher. Alternatively, the deck can overwhelm tables with mass reanimation spells like Patriarch's Bidding and Zombie Apocalypse, converting a stacked graveyard into immediate board dominance and life drain through Gray Merchant of Asphodel. The list features robust removal and high engine resilience against board wipes, though it remains vulnerable to stack-based interaction and targeted graveyard hate.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Accursed Marauder
  • 1 Alhammarret's Archive
  • 1 Apprentice Necromancer
  • 1 Arcane Sanctum
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archghoul of Thraben
  • 1 Bitter Triumph
  • 1 Bladestitched Skaab
  • 1 Bone Miser
  • 1 Buried Alive
  • 1 Carrion Feeder
  • 1 Cemetery Reaper
  • 1 Champion of the Perished
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Corpse Knight
  • 1 Crypt of Agadeem
  • 1 Cryptbreaker
  • 1 Damnation
  • 1 Death Baron
  • 1 Diabolic Intent
  • 1 Diregraf Captain
  • 1 Diregraf Colossus
  • 1 Drowned Catacomb
  • 1 Entomb
  • 1 Eternal Taskmaster
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Fleshbag Marauder
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Graveborn Muse
  • 1 Gravecrawler
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Grim Tutor
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Headless Rider
  • 1 Infernal Grasp
  • 4 Island
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Lazotep Reaver
  • 1 Liliana, Untouched by Death
  • 1 Lord of the Accursed
  • 1 Lord of the Undead
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Mausoleum Secrets
  • 1 Midnight Reaper
  • 1 Necroduality
  • 1 Noxious Ghoul
  • 1 Pact of the Serpent
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Patriarch's Bidding
  • 1 Phyrexian Altar
  • 1 Plague Belcher
  • 1 Plaguebearer
  • 4 Plains
  • 1 Polluted Delta
  • 1 Pongify
  • 1 Raffine's Tower
  • 1 Rapid Hybridization
  • 1 Relentless Dead
  • 1 Rooftop Storm
  • 1 Shadow of the Grave
  • 1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Stroke of Midnight
  • 1 Sunken Ruins
  • 12 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Undead Augur
  • 1 Undead Warchief
  • 1 Varina, Lich Queen
  • 1 Vona's Hunger
  • 1 Warren Soultrader
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Wayward Servant
  • 1 Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver
  • 1 Zombie Apocalypse