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Back in Black

Hello fellow Magic players and brewers! I'm Brian, your usual host of Brew For Your Buck, where we value engineer a decklist by removing the top ten most expensive cards and swap them with a package of budget cards to give the deck a unique twist. You can check out the series here, but that isn't what you really clicked for. It's set review season! This is my first one for EDHREC, and I am so excited to present to you the newest black cards coming to Commander in Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)! Without further ado, let's get started!

Mythics

Ashiok, Wicked ManipulatorAshiok, Wicked Manipulator

Kicking things off big, we have the set's only Planeswalker. Five mana, five starting loyalty is a decent rate, and they have the typical card advantage/defend themself abilities. What I'm most excited about for Ashiok is their static ability. My mind first went to the combo potential with K'rrik, Son of YawgmothK'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, and Bolas's CitadelBolas's Citadel. Just make sure you've got your win-con accessible otherwise you'll just exile yourself out of the game. Outside of those two cards, Ashiok seems worth a try in the 99 of any exile-matters decks. It's nice to get the obligatory "good in ProsperProsper" card out of the way early. One rules clarification: you can't pay life you don't have, so don't think Ashiok can help you dome people right off the bat with Aetherflux ReservoirAetherflux Reservoir!

Beseech the MirrorBeseech the Mirror

Holy cannoli. I expect this to be one of the chase cards in the set. Besides terrorizing constructed formats by being copies five through eight of SheoldredSheoldred and The One RingThe One Ring, this is guaranteed to also make a splash in Commander. It's a Diabolic TutorDiabolic Tutor that with just a little bit of work, puts whatever you grab straight to the board! The flexibility of the fodder for Bargain makes paying the cost pretty negligible. At the bare minimum, you're probably running a lot of mana-rocks in black/X decks outside of maybe Golgari. The triple black casting cost makes it a little bit tough to run in 3+ color decks, but in mono-black or two color black decks it just seems like a windmill slam. I'm certainly picking this one up for my K'rrikK'rrik deck where it's completely busted, and I expect to pay a pretty penny for it.

Virtue of PersistenceVirtue of Persistence

The best thing about the Adventure mechanic is the built in "extra card". Ninety-nine cards is a lot, but still finite, and cards that pull double duty let us squeeze every little bit value out of each slot. This black piece of the Virtue cycle is an excellent example. The removal side is nothing to write home about; it's sorcery-speed and only kills smallish creatures. Not useless, but not DismemberDismember. However, the enchantment side is an extremely powerful reanimation effect, one I'd be happy to include in nearly any black deck. So, if you think about this card as a great reanimation spell that also comes with an extra removal spell that doesn't use a card slot, then yeah, this card is sweet.

Rares

Blightwing BanditBlightwing Bandit

The first of the cards from the WOE precon decks, Blightwing Bandit intersects a lot of different archetypes. The body is decent and exiling the cards face-down will leave your opponents squirming, wondering what you stole. I do think it's better in the version of the precon running Alela, Cunning ConquerorAlela, Cunning Conqueror rather than the face commander Tegwyll, Duke of SplendorTegwyll, Duke of Splendor. Leaning into a draw-go playstyle is pretty typical for Faeries decks, though this card isn't restricted to just that. This is worth considering in the 99 of Theft decks (TashaTasha comes to mind) and exile-matters decks like Umbris, Fear ManifestUmbris, Fear Manifest and yes, ProsperProsper. I knew he'd come up again.

Court of LocthwainCourt of Locthwain

I like how this references the previous CourtCourt cycle from Commander Legends by introducing the Monarch into the game, then triggering on your upkeep with a bonus if you managed to keep the crown for a turn cycle. As for the effect, a free spell each upkeep seems great, but you really need to make sure you're able to keep the crown. Otherwise, this is an overcosted Phyrexian ArenaPhyrexian Arena that isn't even drawing cards from your own deck. One upside is that the you aren't restricted to the card you exiled that turn. So, if you retake and keep the crown, you can cast a big thing exiled from a previous turn for free. Like Blightwing BanditBlightwing Bandit, I'd give this a shot in Theft or Exile decks.

Faerie BladecrafterFaerie Bladecrafter

Unlike the last two cards, this one is far more niche. You probably aren't putting this in anything but a dedicated Faerie deck, but at least it can fuel itself at the bare minimum. In the best case, you're getting three counters on this per turn as it will trigger for each opponent you hit with a Faerie. With exiling removal so prevalent these days, I wouldn't always count on the death trigger, but it can get big fast and provide some reach for a deck that is otherwise relying on a lot of chip damage to win.

Gumdrop PoisonerGumdrop Poisoner

Like we talked about with Virtue of PersistenceVirtue of Persistence, cards with an Adventure pull double duty in your deck. "Double duty" might be underselling Gumdrop Poisoner. Clearly it's most at home in Lifegain decks, but I think this could be good in other applications, especially Sacrifice decks. It puts two permanents into play all on its own, and you definitely don't mind sacrificing and recurring the body after it's sniped something. This card has a bunch of little things going for it, which add up to a pretty great inclusion into a lot of decks.

Lich-Knights' ConquestLich-Knights' Conquest

This is a really neat take on a mass reanimation spell. It seems like an easy inclusion in any black-based Token deck like ThalisseThalisse or ChatterfangChatterfang, letting you cash in the mass amount of tokens for anything you want to recur. I also like it in more niche Sacrifice decks that have a lot of crossover with card types. For example, see the new Anikthea, Hand of ErebosAnikthea, Hand of Erebos precon. Lich-Knights' ConquestLich-Knights' Conquest will fill your graveyard with enchantments to "reanimate" with Anikthea, and bring back any of your enchantresses or value creatures at the same time.

Lord Skitter's BlessingLord Skitter's Blessing

A cheaper Phyrexian ArenaPhyrexian Arena with a pretty tough condition to meet. You need a creature out when you cast it, and you need that creature to live for a turn cycle or it does literally nothing. I guess it procs any Celebration triggers and double triggers Constellation, so you can squeeze a little extra value out of it there. If you're in a black-based Aura deck or adding it to a Rat typal deck for flavor purposes, maybe this makes the cut, otherwise I'd ask for a different blessing from the Rat Noble in your life.

Lord Skitter, Sewer KingLord Skitter, Sewer King

Speaking of, we have the Sewer King himself! Sadly, I like him about as much as his BlessingBlessing. As a commander, I don't think he quite stacks up against the likes of AshcoatAshcoat, Marrow-GnawerMarrow-Gnawer, or the other Rat KingRat King. One super-pumps your Rats, one is way better at making tokens, and the other draws you more Rats, so I'd rather have one of them in command zone. However, Lord Skitter makes an easy include in the 99 of any Rat deck as a flavorful, graveyard-hating, token-making three drop.

Malevolent WitchkiteMalevolent Witchkite

Wow, this card is awesome. In general it's a slightly worse God-Eternal BontuGod-Eternal Bontu, and I expect it to play the same. Getting to burst draw and bringing a big monster with it is just the thing I want to do in Commander. Sure, you need the fodder, but by the time this comes down you probably don't need mana-rocks any more, and if you're playing this in a dedicated Sacrifice deck (which you totally should) there should be plenty of tokens to feed it too. This also seems like a sweet card in Dragon decks, especially if you can easily find it with something like Sarkhan's TriumphSarkhan's Triumph when you need to refill your hand.

Nettling NuisanceNettling Nuisance

Another precon card, this one is narrow like Faerie BladecrafterFaerie Bladecrafter but wow, is it a lot more fun. Why it makes a very strange 4/2 Pirate token is beyond me, but I'm here for it. It captures the pranking and chaotic nature of the Faeries so well; giving your opponents creatures to smack each other with while you keep your eyes on victory. Just make sure there aren't too many of them left when you're facing down your final opponent, since by then all those Pirates ARRRR coming for you. On a personal deck building note: this is going into my Piru, the VolatilePiru, the Volatile deck which wants to give my opponents creatures and then use Piru in conjunction with RepercussionRepercussion to kill everyone at once, and I won't care at all that it's the only Faerie in the deck.

Rankle's PrankRankle's Prank

The best application for this card is killing someone with the second mode and telling them they've been prankled. You're trading the mana and the card on top of everything else you lose upon resolution, so hopefully you've got a good reason to be casting this. Maybe best reserved for Group Slug decks like Mogis, God of SlaughterMogis, God of Slaughter.

Specter of MortalitySpecter of Mortality

This is a... flying Massacre WurmMassacre Wurm? Okay, it's not that good, but a flexible board wipe on a creature shouldn't be overlooked. Self-mill decks with a high creature count or Reanimator decks that can use it over and over will make the best use of this. It's also probably definitely in the top 10 best Specters ever printed so throw it into those UrgorosUrgoros decks too.

Spiteful HexmageSpiteful Hexmage

This seems like a really cool card for black-based aggro decks in constructed formats, but I'm not quite sure about it's usefulness in Commander. Just like Lord Skitter's BlessingLord Skitter's Blessing it will trigger Celebration and Constellation, and for only one mana, which is a bit of a bonus. Maybe if you're in some sort of Auras-matter aggro deck like Killian, Ink DuelistKillian, Ink Duelist? Otherwise this seems like a pretty bad draw late in the game.

Tangled ColonyTangled Colony

Our newest piñata card might seem difficult to use on first glance. It dies into Rats equal to the damage dealt to it, but it can't block, so how are you getting damage marked on this card? Well, this is really a secret Rakdos card, because you'll want to jam it into a deck that is running red, damage-based board wipes. This card is just waiting to be Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Acted, Chain ReactionChain Reactioned or Star of ExtinctionStar of Extinctioned. If you are playing Hornet NestHornet Nest in your deck, or you'd really like to but you're not in green, this is the card for you.

Tegwyll's ScouringTegwyll's Scouring

These days we've come to expect an overcosted, on-theme board wipe in our precon decks. I like this one better than most, though. Casting a sweeper at instant speed is powerful because you can rebuild before at least one, if not all, of your opponents. This will even refund you the flyers you had to tap to do it. Holding up six mana is not great, but if you're doing the Draw-Go thing anyways, it shouldn't be too taxing. So yes, this fits everything Faerie decks want to do (instant speed, flying creatures) making it a cool themed if not the most generically powerful card.

Uncommons & Commons

Ashiok's ReaperAshiok's Reaper

A sort of reverse Enchantress effect for black, though we already have Femeref EnchantressFemeref Enchantress in the typical enchantment colors. Then again, that's a $25 Reserved List card and this is an uncommon, so if you have black in your enchantment deck (that AniktheaAnikthea precon is loving the follow up from this set) this seems like a great addition, and a budget one at that.

Back for SecondsBack for Seconds

The best reanimation spells are the ones that let you cheat mana costs. The likes of ReanimateReanimate and Animate DeadAnimate Dead are tough to compete with, and I'm not saying Back for Seconds does so, but it's worth noting that you can get a slight mana discount on one of the targets in addition to putting the other back into your hand. This could be a good replacement for Call of the Death-DwellerCall of the Death-Dweller depending on the makeup of the rest of your deck.

Experimental ConfectionerExperimental Confectioner

I always knew PippinPippin loved food, but experimental Food seems to really sate his appetite. With these two out and three Food to begin the loop, you can draw your whole deck! This card is just asking to be broken in other ways, so maybe I'll feature it in a combo package in an upcoming Brew For Your Buck article. If you know of any other combos with it, let me know in the comments!

Old FlitterfangOld Flitterfang

Flitterfang can join RutsteinRutstein and StickfingersStickfingers in their slow march toward the inevitable Old (something) -typal deck. In all seriousness, this uncommon legend seems like a pretty sweet include into any Food deck, since it'll trigger EACH end step for ANY creature dying. A great engine to keep that Food train rolling. Also, if you've been waiting for a legendary Rat Faerie to lead your deck featuring both those types, well... here you go.

Twisted Sewer-WitchTwisted Sewer-Witch

Rat decks really get a boost with this set. Although this isn't a Rat itself, an anthem and board wipe insurance for five mana seems like a decent finisher for a go-wide deck like Rats. If for some reason you also have an enchantment subtheme or other ways to abuse the Role tokens, even better!

Rowan's Grim SearchRowan's Grim Search

Is this black Dig Through TimeDig Through Time? As I said before, paying a Bargain cost seems negligible in Commander, and by doing so here you get to look at FOUR cards at instant speed with the upside of binning all of them and getting to look at two more. If you're running Read the BonesRead the Bones in a deck that cares about putting stuff in the graveyard, this seems like a pretty strict upgrade.

Scream PuffScream Puff

1/10 for inclusion into a Commander deck. 10/10 for card name and flavor text.

Warehouse TabbyWarehouse Tabby & Wicked VisitorWicked Visitor

Enchanted EveningEnchanted Evening sacrifice loops anyone?

Wrap-Up

Thanks for coming along with me for my first set review, I really hope I can do more for you all in the future. Wilds of Eldraine looks like a great return to the plane. I really like Bargain as a mechanic, especially in a color like black where sacrificing stuff is just another normal game action. Greatness, at any costGreatness, at any cost!

Anything you think I got wrong? Any commons or uncommons you think should have made the list? If you have any feedback for me I'm always reading and responding in the comments below, so please chime in! If you want more content, check out any of my articles or follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck! Since we don't have any more EDH-relevant cards to discuss, I'll see you next time!

The EndThe End

You can follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck.

Brian Cain

Brian played Magic intermittently between 2003 and 2017 when he fully embraced his love for Commander. Finding ways to maximize the value of each piece of cardboard in the deck is one of his favorite things to explore, especially if it involves putting lands in the graveyard! Outside of Magic, Brian works as a consultant in the marine industry, turning his passion for boats and ships into a career.