Shared Commander deck
Braids, Arisen Nightmare - community staples
Braids, Arisen Nightmare · B · 100 cards · 37 lands
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Bracket 3 - UpgradedCommander 1Creatures 43Instants 5Sorceries 6Artifacts 5Enchantments 3Lands 37
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Strategy
Braids asks every opponent an unfair question once per turn: match what you sacrificed, or hand you a card and two life. The deck is built so your half of that trade costs nothing - creatures that return themselves, artifacts that replace themselves, and tokens that were free to begin with. Played properly it is a draw engine and a drain engine at the same time, and it never stops.
Early: Set up the fodder before the commander. Jadar, Ophiomancer, Dreadhorde Invasion and Shambling Ghast all produce a body every turn for free, and Ichor Wellspring and Mycosynth Wellspring replace themselves when sacrificed. Dark Ritual and Jet Medallion get Braids out early; Crypt Ghast doubles the black mana that fuels everything after.
Mid: With Braids down, the end step trigger is the whole turn. Pick the card type your opponents can least afford to match - usually an enchantment or a land - and take whichever half they give you. Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat and Bastion of Remembrance mean every sacrifice on your side is damage regardless. Deadly Dispute, Village Rites and Corrupted Conviction let you sacrifice at instant speed in response to removal.
Late: K'rrik and Bolas's Citadel turn the life the deck accumulates into a huge turn. Sheoldred, the Apocalypse punishes the card draw Braids is already generating, and Gisa, Glorious Resurrector reclaims everything the table has lost. Massacre Wurm and Massacre Girl are the sweepers, and both are better for you than for anyone else because your creatures were meant to die.
Win conditions: Wins by draining the table two points at a time through Braids and the aristocrat payoffs, with Gray Merchant and Massacre Wurm as the closers.
- Reassembling Skeleton - Free sacrifice fodder every turn
- Blood Artist - Turns every sacrifice into drain
- Ichor Wellspring - Replaces itself when sacrificed
- Ophiomancer - A free body every upkeep
- Deadly Dispute - Instant-speed sacrifice and cards
- Sheoldred, the Apocalypse - Punishes the draw Braids generates
- Bolas's Citadel - Converts a high life total into a huge turn
- Gray Merchant of Asphodel - The finisher
~$496.50
estimated to build this deck
Commander (1)
Braids, Arisen Nightmare
Legendary Creature — Nightmare
At the beginning of your end step, you may sacrifice an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker. If you do, each opponent may sacrifice a permanent of their choice that shares a card type with it. For each opponent who doesn't, that player loses 2 life and you draw a card.
Creatures (43)
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$1.21
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures with decayed, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed. (It can't block. When it attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.)
Ophiomancer
Creature — Human Shaman
$0.95
At the beginning of each upkeep, if you control no Snakes, create a 1/1 black Snake creature token with deathtouch.
Reassembling Skeleton
Creature — Skeleton Warrior
$0.22
{1}{B}: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Bloodghast
Creature — Vampire Spirit
$0.93
This creature can't block.
This creature has haste as long as an opponent has 10 or less life.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Gixian Puppeteer
Creature — Phyrexian Warlock
$1.58
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
When this creature dies, return another target creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Creature — Zombie
$1.08
When this creature enters, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. (Each {B} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
Blood Artist
Creature — Vampire
$2.67
Whenever this creature or another creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Zulaport Cutthroat
Creature — Human Rogue Ally
$1.02
Whenever this creature or another creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Crypt Ghast
Creature — Spirit
$12.01
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
Whenever you tap a Swamp for mana, add an additional {B}.
Ayara, First of Locthwain
Legendary Creature — Elf Noble
$9.14
Whenever Ayara or another black creature you control enters, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
{T}, Sacrifice another black creature: Draw a card.
Pitiless Plunderer
Creature — Human Pirate
$3.75
Whenever another creature you control dies, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Morbid Opportunist
Creature — Human Rogue
$0.23
Whenever one or more other creatures die, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Syr Konrad, the Grim
Legendary Creature — Human Knight
$1.21
Whenever another creature dies, or a creature card is put into a graveyard from anywhere other than the battlefield, or a creature card leaves your graveyard, Syr Konrad deals 1 damage to each opponent.
{1}{B}: Each player mills a card. (They each put the top card of their library into their graveyard.)
Solemn Simulacrum
Artifact Creature — Golem
$0.27
When this creature enters, you may search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
When this creature dies, you may draw a card.
Accursed Marauder
Creature — Zombie Warrior
$0.28
When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a nontoken creature of their choice.
Plaguecrafter
Creature — Human Shaman
$0.36
When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker of their choice. Each player who can't discards a card.
Marionette Apprentice
Creature — Human Artificer
$2.62
Fabricate 1 (When this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.)
Whenever another creature or artifact you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, each opponent loses 1 life.
Viscera Seer
Creature — Vampire Wizard
$0.42
Sacrifice a creature: Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
Greedy Freebooter
Creature — Human Pirate
$0.89
When this creature dies, scry 1 and create a Treasure token. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom. A Treasure token is an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Massacre Wurm
Creature — Phyrexian Wurm
$1.81
When this creature enters, creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, that player loses 2 life.
Pawn of Ulamog
Creature — Vampire Shaman
$0.52
Whenever this creature or another nontoken creature you control dies, you may create a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token. It has "Sacrifice this token: Add {C}."
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
$78.85
Deathtouch
Whenever you draw a card, you gain 2 life.
Whenever an opponent draws a card, they lose 2 life.
Vraan, Executioner Thane
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Vampire
$0.35
Whenever one or more other creatures you control die, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Nether Traitor
Creature — Spirit
$0.84
Haste
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)
Whenever another creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay {B}. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Dauthi Voidwalker
Creature — Dauthi Rogue
$4.08
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)
If a card would be put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, instead exile it with a void counter on it.
{T}, Sacrifice this creature: Choose an exiled card an opponent owns with a void counter on it. You may play it this turn without paying its mana cost.
Shambling Ghast
Creature — Zombie
$0.35
When this creature dies, choose one —
• Target creature an opponent controls gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
• Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Gisa, Glorious Resurrector
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
$2.51
If a creature an opponent controls would die, exile it instead.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put all creature cards exiled with Gisa onto the battlefield under your control. They gain decayed. (A creature with decayed can't block. When it attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.)
Nine-Lives Familiar
Creature — Cat
$1.83
This creature enters with eight revival counters on it if you cast it.
When this creature dies, if it had a revival counter on it, return it to the battlefield with one fewer revival counter on it at the beginning of the next end step.
Warren Soultrader
Creature — Zombie Goblin Wizard
$16.4
Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Grim Haruspex
Creature — Human Wizard
$2.61
Morph {B} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, draw a card.
Butcher of Malakir
Creature — Vampire Warrior
$0.32
Flying
Whenever this creature or another creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice.
Fleshbag Marauder
Creature — Zombie Warrior
$0.19
When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.
Junji, the Midnight Sky
Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
$0.55
Flying, menace
When Junji dies, choose one —
• Each opponent discards two cards and loses 2 life.
• Put target non-Dragon creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. You lose 2 life.
Gravecrawler
Creature — Zombie
$1.29
This creature can't block.
You may cast this card from your graveyard as long as you control a Zombie.
Cult Conscript
Creature — Skeleton Warrior
$0.3
This creature enters tapped.
{1}{B}: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate only if a non-Skeleton creature died under your control this turn.
K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Horror Minion
$1.11
({B/P} can be paid with either {B} or 2 life.)
Lifelink
For each {B} in a cost, you may pay 2 life rather than pay that mana.
Whenever you cast a black spell, put a +1/+1 counter on K'rrik.
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
$18.58
Swampwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Swamp.)
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature of their choice.
Midnight Reaper
Creature — Zombie Knight
$0.23
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, this creature deals 1 damage to you and you draw a card.
Ravenous Chupacabra
Creature — Beast Horror
$0.41
When this creature enters, destroy target creature an opponent controls.
Priest of Forgotten Gods
Creature — Human Cleric
$0.6
{T}, Sacrifice two other creatures: Any number of target players each lose 2 life and sacrifice a creature of their choice. You add {B}{B} and draw a card. (Activate only as an instant.)
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric
$25.13
Protection from Humans
Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature and draw a card.
{B}{B}, Discard a card: Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Massacre Girl
Legendary Creature — Human Assassin
$0.59
Menace
When Massacre Girl enters, each other creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Whenever a creature dies this turn, each creature other than Massacre Girl gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Demon's Disciple
Creature — Human Cleric
$0.24
When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker of their choice.
Instants (5)
Deadly Dispute
Instant
$0.29
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Draw two cards and create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Village Rites
Instant
$0.28
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.
Draw two cards.
Culling the Weak
Instant
$6.88
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.
Add {B}{B}{B}{B}.
Corrupted Conviction
Instant
$0.37
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.
Draw two cards.
Sorceries (6)
Feed the Swarm
Sorcery
$0.22
Destroy target creature or enchantment an opponent controls. You lose life equal to that permanent's mana value.
Victimize
Sorcery
$0.55
Choose two target creature cards in your graveyard. Sacrifice a creature. If you do, return the chosen cards to the battlefield tapped.
Reanimate
Sorcery
$6.93
Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. You lose life equal to that card's mana value.
Demonic Tutor
Sorcery
$62.17
Search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then shuffle.
Unearth
Sorcery
$0.51
Return target creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Cycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Artifacts (5)
Ichor Wellspring
Artifact
$0.59
When this artifact enters or is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card.
Prized Statue
Artifact
$0.44
When this artifact enters or is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Mycosynth Wellspring
Artifact
$0.23
When this artifact enters or is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Bolas's Citadel
Legendary Artifact
$9.05
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
You may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library. If you cast a spell this way, pay life equal to its mana value rather than pay its mana cost.
{T}, Sacrifice ten nonland permanents: Each opponent loses 10 life.
Enchantments (3)
Treacherous Blessing
Enchantment
$0.37
When this enchantment enters, draw three cards.
Whenever you cast a spell, you lose 1 life.
When this enchantment becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.
Dreadhorde Invasion
Enchantment
$0.46
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life and amass Zombies 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
Whenever a Zombie token you control with power 6 or greater attacks, it gains lifelink until end of turn.
Bastion of Remembrance
Enchantment
$0.27
When this enchantment enters, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Lands (37)
Bojuka Bog
Land
$1.24
This land enters tapped.
When this land enters, exile target player's graveyard.
{T}: Add {B}.
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Legendary Land
$55.46
Each land is a Swamp in addition to its other land types.
Phyrexian Tower
Legendary Land
$28.43
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}, Sacrifice a creature: Add {B}{B}.
Witch's Cottage
Land — Swamp
$0.87
({T}: Add {B}.)
This land enters tapped unless you control three or more other Swamps.
When this land enters untapped, you may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
Cabal Stronghold
Land
$12.5
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}, {T}: Add {B} for each basic Swamp you control.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Legendary Land
$53.08
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}: Choose a color. Add an amount of mana of that color equal to your devotion to that color. (Your devotion to a color is the number of mana symbols of that color in the mana costs of permanents you control.)
Drownyard Temple
Land
$0.2
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
Legendary Land
$11.85
{T}: Add {B}.
Channel — {3}{B}, Discard this card: Mill three cards, then return a creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard to your hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
Castle Locthwain
Land
$4.07
This land enters tapped unless you control a Swamp.
{T}: Add {B}.
{1}{B}{B}, {T}: Draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
Mortuary Mire
Land
$0.29
This land enters tapped.
When this land enters, you may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
{T}: Add {B}.
Basic lands: 25 Swamp
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