Kaervek the Merciless
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Kaervek deals damage equal to that spell's mana value to any target.
How Kaervek the Merciless decks play in EDH
Kaervek the Merciless is a Rakdos commander in black and red costing 5BR, and its legendary creature - human shaman line shapes the whole deck around it. Its ability is narrow enough that the deck is usually built to protect it and repeat the effect, rather than to go wide. The cards below are the ones Kaervek the Merciless decks actually play most often, grouped by the job they do.
Most-played cards
20 cards · about $32.05Play rates from EDHREC. Prices from Scryfall, refreshed daily.
Ramp (1)
Card draw (1)
Removal (6)
Creatures (8)
Synergy & payoffs (3)
Lands (1)
Build the full 100
Grimoire generates a complete, Commander-legal Kaervek the Merciless decklist with a written strategy, a full mana base and live prices — from the whole card pool, or only from cards you already own.
Start with Kaervek the MercilessKaervek the Merciless deck questions
What colours can I use in a Kaervek the Merciless deck?
Kaervek the Merciless has a Rakdos colour identity, so every card in the deck must be black and red or colourless. That includes mana symbols in rules text, not just casting cost.
What are the best cards for Kaervek the Merciless?
The cards played most often in Kaervek the Merciless decks include Smaug, Wicked Worm, Turbulent Crater, Glóin the Mighty // Easy Pickings. The full list of staples above is grouped by the job each card does, so you can see the deck's skeleton rather than just a pile of names.
How much does a Kaervek the Merciless deck cost?
The 20 most-played cards shown above come to roughly $32.05 at current market prices. A complete 100-card build costs more, and Grimoire can generate a budget version instead if you set a price ceiling.
Can I build a Kaervek the Merciless deck from cards I already own?
Yes. Import your collection into Grimoire and choose "my cards" when you build. The generator will only use cards you actually own, and the Missing Cards page shows what you would need to buy to finish any list.