If you enjoyed this MTG listcicle, others for your key demographic can be found here: Must Have Green Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/-yiK0jYOfVA/w-d-xo.html Must Have White Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/vnEL92Eiqec/w-d-xo.html Must Have Red Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/RsJ9tBLpiCc/w-d-xo.html
Great video. Years ago, when I played, I used to buy my cards from MTG Fanatic website but they seem to have gone since then. Who is good to buy from now?
I feel that all black decks should include a copy of the card “Swamp”. It allows you to tap it and add one black mana for absolutely no cost. An incredible include in any black deck, and one that should not be overlooked.
One of my favourite black cards of all time is Tragic Slip. I think its criminally underated. 1 black mana at instant speed to basically kill anything seeing as how morbid is NOT hard to trigger in a game.
In my playgroup, we refer to "Tragic Slip" as "Banana Peel," and one of the best feelings is when someone says, "I'll move to combat," replying with, "Ulamog slips on a Banana Peel."
Think he means if you had access to all cards, what can you run in a black Mana containing commander deck. Minus power 9s. I've had the same deck for 5 years. Once in a while I get a powered up card to replace the cheaper versions of it. But only l if I have spare cash and bills/savings are all set. If even then.
My pick is "exsanguinate" Casting it for 10 when you're at 1 life against 3 opponents is an incredible rush. Also it's still reasonably priced around $7 last I checked
My personal favorite effect of this type is Debt to the Deathless. Granted it costs a tooooon of mana, but managing to get it off where x is 8 against 3 opponents....beautiful. Granted I've only ever done it twice lol still remember though
"Ya know who i think of when it comes to being ambitious, ruthless, cuthroat, and possibly evil ready to do anything to achieve their goal? MY SPONSOR AUDUBLE of course" Way to sell the virtue of that sponsorship prof, lol
A black card I always play and recomend is read the bones. The fact it gets you 4 cards deep is so fantastic and the amount of times it gets overlooked is absurd
About animate read and reanimate: try the card Necromancy! It's the same effect for 2B, basically you enchant a creature from any graveyard and it enters the battlefield under your control (but without the -1-0). Also, you can play it at instant speed if you sac the creature at the end of turn. Great surprise blocker.
@@k9commander Though I don't think WotC would print these cards, they can choose the price of the item without consulting the effect of second hand market.
@@Killrbladez The Brawl decks are suppose to sell for around 20-25 dollars. Game stores I see them in are selling them for around $40. (If you see a price on-line for less than that, check the delivery cost.) Wizards could print these and set the price for around $25 dollars. You won't find them for that price at your LGS. The total price of the cards chosen by the Professor total roughly $96 on the secondary market. (I found a cheaper Shriekmaw.) Even if the prices were (unlikely) halved after the news of the reprints, that is $48. The stores would likely sell it for $30-$45 in that situation. Still above what they should be selling it for. Wizards has to be careful with reprints when it comes to items like Spellbooks. If it's nothing but good stuff, the stores will mark up the prices. At best they can reprint 1 good stuff card and 9 cheap stuff. Say, a demonic Tutor and 7 black cards that average around $2 or less. Hopefully, the upcoming Commander Legends set can fix some of these issues. They can reprint some of the high costing commander cards by putting them in the rare and mythic slots. If they reprint Rhystic Study, it will likely be up-shifted to Rare or Mythic Rare.
Some of my favorite black cards in commander: Victimize: Excellent reanimation value. Unearth: Reanimate's younger brother, with cycling when you don't need it. Black Market: Insane mana generation. Phyrexian Reclamation: WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS CARD? The amount of resilience this card grants your deck is staggering. Dismember: great targeted removal, even for pesky indestructibles. Dark Imposter: Repeatable unconditional exile effect? Yes, please.
I agree with almost all of those! I think Dark Imposter is a little slow. It can work depending on your meta. But I run almost all of those in all of my decks that have black. Phyrexian Reclamation is a black staple and should go in every black deck. Instant speed recurrable recursion that's cheap (although just to the hand)? Who wouldn't want it? I also need to pick up a few Unearths. Didn't know that card existed. :D
just learned about the Reclamation because of this comment. i feel like you reunited me with a long-lost soulmate i never knew i had. oh wait, you did!
Doesn't always make the cut in multicolor decks; if you are even running two colors, Gary can be a bit underpowered and not be worth the slot. Remember...the criteria is must haves regardless of how much or how little Black you're running. The Reaper King would find Gary useless. Hero's DOwnfall, Animate Dead, and Demonic Tutor would still be very very useful, however.
@@XCodes Modestly agree, though I think HD was selected because it's targeted PW removal or Creature...which is a bignupside. Yeah, BB sucks for a WBURG commander....but that text is always relevant.
Either a card is strictly better, or it isn't. Saying 'almost strictly better' is a redundant description - it's the same as saying 'better'. You are correct in your assessment that Murderous Rider/Swift End is better in most cases since it comes with the addition of the creature. But, there could be a time when the loss of 2 life does matter, so we can't describe one as strictly better than the other.
I think Dark Ritual is a great card to run in any black commander deck. Gaining three mana for one is a great tempo swing that is overlooked. In the early rounds of the game it can put you very far ahead.
Crypt Ghast, Altar's Reap. I love these cards. Even if it's a deck of two or more colors, would Dark Ritual be considerable? Priest of Forgotten Gods, or whatever her name is, is also fantastic.
@@timothyhedgpeth2361 turn 1: lay swamp, tap it for Dark Ritual. Use one of the 3 floating black mana for Sol Ring. Use the last two black mana and tap Sol Ring for Crypt Ghast. Turn two, lay swamp. Now, you have 4 black mana and two generic on turn two, in a black deck. Must have
Why not both? Demonic at the least should be reprinted over and over again until it isn't a $30 card. Vampiric can join the ride too considering how both are just outright staples.
@@hiddenleaf414 I'm so glad you literally can afford to pay $300 for a box to have the *random* chance of pulling it. If I'm complaining about $30, why do you think I can afford $300?
Dark RItual, while very iconic, just doesn't have the thrust in a Singleton format like Commander...so it's exclusion makes sense. You've got a valid point on Yawgmoth's Will though; virtually any deck can use it regardless of commitment to Black. I think it might deserve the #2 slot more than Blood/Bond, TBH.
Dark Ritual is awesome. Two mana for essentially FREE? You can do a lot with that, even if it's just B mana. I use it and Cabal Ritual, as well as Dark Petition. If it gives me free mana, it's mana ramp and it's getting me to where I need to get to faster. If it isn't mana being put towards a W for me, it's going towards interrupting you/the board.
You have rocks like mana crypt, mana vault, and sol ring in commander, which are dark rits on a stick. It's still really nice to break curve and get out like, an early planeswalker or commander though. I'd argue thats the best use for Dark Rit, and you aren't really likely to find it early enough. I still run it a lot because, well, its Dark Rit and it feels wrong not to. But its usefulness is kind of limited in EDH.
If you're playing mono black, or anything without blue, I'd suggest ancient craving, night's whisper, read the bones & sign in blood. Some of my favorite black card draw spells, really good flavor-wise too. Being able to draw you cards just as good as any blue cantrip, assuming you're willing to pay a little life.
I think bolas's citadel is a must run in black. Sure 3 black black black is expensive but it can literally end games as you cycle through your deck and then explosive win by sacrifing 10 non land perms and doing 10 to everyone
I completely agree with your picks! Here is some honorable mentions I thought of: Bubbling Muck Dark Ritual Murder Mutilate Tragic Slip Doom Blade Go For The Throat Grasp Of Darkness Vampire Nighthawk Sheoldred, Whispering One Crypt Ghast Massacre Wurm Abhorrent Overlord Skirsdag High Priest Lashwrythe Greed
Massacre Girl has quicky become a favorite of mine. It can work as a panic button and becomes a great board wipe leaving you with one creature on your side if done right. Depending on what your opponents have in play it can uickly kill everything or most everything instantly.
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is the top of my list for cards belonging in any black commander deck. Demonic Tutor is a close second IF you are trying to build the strongest deck possible. There are decks I refuse to run Demonic Tutor in since they are already powerful enough (Gitrog, I'm looking at you) and I'd like to try and restrain the power level. I also don't have enough copies to run in all my black commander decks. Regarding Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood, I would never run those in a deck where life gain is not already a theme. I have tried them in a vampire tribal deck (they also had flavor points there), but it always felt awful drawing one of them. Individually, they were usually a dead draw as they are basically a do nothing enchantment. Unless your deck is built around tutoring this combo out or has other ways of generating value from one of the enchantments, there are better cards you could play. Urborg, Cabal Coffers, and Exsanguinate will often do just as good a job at killing all your opponents. The difference is that 2 of those 3 cards don't take up a spell slot and all of them can still do good things without the other two (Cabal Coffers is questionable outside two color decks). Of course, commander isn't always the place to run the "best" deck. If you want to run this combo, go for it. I just think it is far from a must-run.
Abuelo Vinagres yeah like I understand the power of these cards, but I can’t afford a demonic tutor and phyrexian arena and Sanguine Bond. Hell honestly at my current budget a Dictate of Erabos is decently expensive (yes I know it’s under $10, but I’m really pushing budget right now), though I could still make it work
Tom Hansen I don’t believe in making proxy’s unless I already own the card. Cause if I just make a proxy for a card I want what stops me from proxying a Gaia’s cradle or any other expensive good card. Once I own a card though I’m willing to proxy it
Xcalibur 30 I run proxies only to test a deck with my pals in order to know of it’s worthy to invest in the real ones. But I only proxy cards I know I can afford and adjust the deck before spending those bucks.
your top 10 is very good. in addition: Jet Medallion Cabal Coffers + Urborg + Expedition Map Bojuka Bog Gary Dark Ritual Vilis Razaketh Ratchet Bomb / Blast Zone
Solid video! I'd always nice to see a new video from you. One thing I'd like to see maybe in the future would be a list of color combo commanders. Show what you think is the best per color combo and then show a few cards that would support the commander. Anyway, great job professor!
I am actually opposed to Demonic Tutor, but that's cause I want to popularize no-tutor commander. Tutors go against one of the core fundamentals of the format: varied game play. They make games play out the same way, especially when it comes to combo decks. Commander was designed with 100 card singleton decks so that games wouldn't be the same every time. So what I like to do is have commander games with the only things that can search libraries be things that can get basic lands only. That means green doesn't lose a big piece of it's color identity, and allows for decent fixing, and makes the games much more varied.
Ok I am 90% with you. I totally agree with varied gameplay! There are too many people wherever I go that play out their decks the EXACT same way and do so with a smile on their face. It’s frustrating and unoriginal. Commander games should be definitely be varied. It’s more fun in my opinion. That being said, I like being able to tutor for whatever the current situation presents. I can play with tutor effects and still have a versatile style of play
Great video Prof! Black has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember - solid list :) I don't know about EVERY black deck, but I recently started running Black Market in my Yawgmoth deck and it can get insane really quickly... If you combo with Mikeaus and two other non-human creatures you can generate infinite black mana. Albeit, it does require you to have some board presence, but it's still really fun and effective - considering at that same time if one of those non-human creatures is say... Blood Artist, you can also draw your whole deck and drain your opponents out, and if you didn't win from that, you can cast every black card from your hand with the infinite mana you made from Black Market the following turn.
Bond/Blood was the combo that sold me on mtg, and combos in general. It still resides in my first commander deck, as it began in my first deck, a 60 card WB.
Torment of Hailfire is a staple black card in all of my playgroups black decks. Great way to weaken people or just finish them if they dont have enough permanents or cards in hand
Commander does NOT need even more powerful black spells floating around. Although I suppose, if you must have crazy powerful ones, everyone should get access to them
I agree with this assessment. The Prof may have written this list a while ago and hasn't updated it in a few months as a possibility, and didn't update it when ELD came out.
Never//Return being a sorcery is a significant downside. Downfall vs. Rider is essentially a question of if your deck has any instant or sorcery synergies. If you're playing something like Narset, for an easy example, missing out on being able to snag your kill spell can hurt. In a vacuum Rider probably pulls ahead but it's closer than what people think.
I totally agree for the most part, personally! Running a reanimate/zombie build, spark harvest would be the play I believe. Side note! (You are very helpful! My girlfriend and my self are learning commander! And brawler! Thank you for the videos!
Some of the cards I feel are must haves: Twilight Prophet - More affordable ($$$) than Dark Confidant, this also gains you life potentially. Not to mention you drain your opponent! Gary - A Must for any sort of ETB abuse, reanimate, or just pure value based decks. If you can abuse it, do it! Bolas's Citadel - Even with BBB in its CMC, it is a power house! Playing lands off the top smooths out draws and having a very large life total can help to churn through your deck Crypt Ghast - Even if you are in 3 colors, Crypt Ghast will net you additional mana, meaning you always have something left to do. Not to mention Extort Grave Titan - Honestly one of the BEST commander cards! a 6 mana 6/6 with deathtouch AND making 4 power among 2 guys. So for 6 mana, you make 10/10 among 3 creautres! Read the Bones - One of the "Best" draw spells in black. 2 life and 2 cards isn't anything new, but you won't see a lot of black cards being able to scry your worst, dead draws to th bottom, or dig for an answer to the threat on the table
While not specifically "black" in color, Urborg and Cabal Coffers are must-have staple lands for any mono-black deck, or a deck where black is prominent. Other notable creatures - Phyrexian Obliterator, Butcher of Malakir, Vampire Hexmage, Vampire Nighthawk, Priest of Forgotten Gods, Crypt Ghast, Nirkana Revenant. Other notable spells - Damnation, Tragic Slip, Torment of Hailfire, Exsanguinate, Sign in Blood, Ad Nauseum. Notable enchantments - Bitterblossom, Bolas's Citadel, Koskun Falls, No Mercy, Death Pits of Rath, Bloodchief Ascension, Painful Quandary, Necrogen Mists, Pestilence, Contamination.
Phyrexian arena is too slow for even regular play, I would go with greed, arguels blood fast, or even Grim haruspex, which can work in every black deck
@@XCodes if you have creatures and board wipes along with targeted removal that are common, hell even if you just have your commander, which usually will be a creature too, Grim haruspex is always great. It's an insurance policy in all my black decks. I like blood fast, it's cheap to get out early and to use when needed and has always pulled through for me so I disagree with that too.
@@MegaSlapster combined with necro I agree its good, but there are much better ways to have your hands full, and be more active in filling it faster. Arena is too passive with only letting you draw one extra card per turn while the cards I mentioned let's you put more into hand per turn, even other players turn, and are cheap to get out.
Erebos, God of the Dead is literally a superior Greed. It has the ability from Greed. While also being indestructible. While also preventing your opponents from gaining life. While also turning into a beefy boi at high devotion levels. There is no reason to run greed if you have this card, unless you want both for some reason
Honestly, one of the most underplayed black cards for commander is "Silence the believers". BB2 for an instant with "Strive - This spell cost 2B more to cast for each target beyond the first" Exile any number of target creatures and all auras attached to them. Having an exile effect for pesty indestructible creatures and exiling all auras is really a must have for commander players in black.
Ophiomancer is a card I just love. It deters attacking and serves as an engine for all cards needing us to sacrifice things. I for one like to combine it with Contamination in my Pox EDH
Black Market is excellent ramp, especially in commander where board wipes are common. Arguel's Blood Fast is consistent card draw, although better hope you don't trigger the flip. Revel in Riches is both ramp and a hilarious win condition (especially in BW decks with Smothering Tithe).
If you enjoyed this MTG listcicle, others for your key demographic can be found here:
Must Have Green Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/-yiK0jYOfVA/w-d-xo.html
Must Have White Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/vnEL92Eiqec/w-d-xo.html
Must Have Red Commander Cards: th-cam.com/video/RsJ9tBLpiCc/w-d-xo.html
1) Black Tutor
2) Black Tutor
3) Black Tutor
4) Black Tutor
5) Black Tu....
Hell, ya'll get the point.
Blacks is all about tutors in EDH.
Great video. Years ago, when I played, I used to buy my cards from MTG Fanatic website but they seem to have gone since then. Who is good to buy from now?
I feel that all black decks should include a copy of the card “Swamp”. It allows you to tap it and add one black mana for absolutely no cost. An incredible include in any black deck, and one that should not be overlooked.
True but the swamp itself is not a black card.
my man spitting facts
Snow-Covered Swamp > Swamp
#SorryNotSorry
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Which set is that from?
One of my favourite black cards of all time is Tragic Slip. I think its criminally underated. 1 black mana at instant speed to basically kill anything seeing as how morbid is NOT hard to trigger in a game.
Agreed, goes in every black deck I own and because it's so underrated, no one ever sees it coming
"I have an indestructible monster powerhouse, come and try to kill it if ye dare!"
-13/-13 GG 2 EEZY
In my playgroup, we refer to "Tragic Slip" as "Banana Peel," and one of the best feelings is when someone says, "I'll move to combat," replying with, "Ulamog slips on a Banana Peel."
Tragic Slip is a must-run in any format. I see you are a man of world aswell.
Agreed 🥴
If we're allowing combos, I would've included Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth + Cabal Coffers.
Those arent technically black cards tho
One of my favorite combos in my deck and an absolute banger combo in a k'rrik deck
I like to combo Urborg with Crypt Ghast for mana ramp to the extreme.
Bitterblossom + Contamination = nice combo too
Cabal coffers should’ve been mentioned
Ι've replaced all of my Hero's Downfalls with Murderous RIders since the extra body with lifelink almost always is worth the 2 life
Fully agree
More flavor in my Minotaurtribal
THIS DOOD GETS IT
*BOTH*
Bolas' Citadel is one of the most powerful cards black has received in a long time. I feel like it deserves at least an honorable mention somewhere.
Love how you used a demon that would naturally die to a -5-5 deluge activation if you hadn't used its activated ability 😂
My thought exactly 😂😅
But then the other creatures would be 4/4
(Demonic tutor) "It's hard to justify not running a copy"
Justification: It's $26.
I'll raise you one 25 cent Diabolic Tutor
Think he means if you had access to all cards, what can you run in a black Mana containing commander deck. Minus power 9s.
I've had the same deck for 5 years. Once in a while I get a powered up card to replace the cheaper versions of it. But only l if I have spare cash and bills/savings are all set. If even then.
Yikes. My LGS is selling Demonic Tutor's for $10 - $15 a pop.
Go play yu gi oh poor man
I got a Collectors Edition one. Nobody cares if it’s not tournament legal.
My pick is "exsanguinate" Casting it for 10 when you're at 1 life against 3 opponents is an incredible rush. Also it's still reasonably priced around $7 last I checked
Its not reasonably priced, this is an uncommon
My personal favorite effect of this type is Debt to the Deathless. Granted it costs a tooooon of mana, but managing to get it off where x is 8 against 3 opponents....beautiful. Granted I've only ever done it twice lol still remember though
Counter spell it and you just tapped out for nothing, circumstantial card
@@koreyg8552 thats why you use boseiju in those decks lol
@@koreyg8552 you can literally say that for any card with cmc 6+ that doesn't have “can't be countered“ in the text, weak argument.
"Ya know who i think of when it comes to being ambitious, ruthless, cuthroat, and possibly evil ready to do anything to achieve their goal? MY SPONSOR AUDUBLE of course"
Way to sell the virtue of that sponsorship prof, lol
A black card I always play and recomend is read the bones. The fact it gets you 4 cards deep is so fantastic and the amount of times it gets overlooked is absurd
In one or two color decks, Gary is always welcome.
Prof: "It is essentially a doomblade."
Terror: "Am I a joke to you?"
The good old days when Terror was relevant
Why not run both?
Terror can stay in its corner back in the 90s
@@elyasmacherawb no one puts baby, er, terror in the corner.
@@Cujucuyo it's great in commander, as long as you're not playing against black. Or artifacts.
Honorable mention to Decree of Pain!
About animate read and reanimate: try the card Necromancy! It's the same effect for 2B, basically you enchant a creature from any graveyard and it enters the battlefield under your control (but without the -1-0).
Also, you can play it at instant speed if you sac the creature at the end of turn. Great surprise blocker.
I forgot about necromancy. Good card.
i really like how well the theme of the sponsorship part matches with the video, made it quite interesting
Hear that WOTC? Here is your Spell Book: Black primer
Not gonna happen. If they do, the Black Spellbook is going to cost way more than $20.
Hush, you will buy and pay exactly what they say you will.
@@k9commander Though I don't think WotC would print these cards, they can choose the price of the item without consulting the effect of second hand market.
@@Killrbladez
The Brawl decks are suppose to sell for around 20-25 dollars. Game stores I see them in are selling them for around $40. (If you see a price on-line for less than that, check the delivery cost.)
Wizards could print these and set the price for around $25 dollars. You won't find them for that price at your LGS.
The total price of the cards chosen by the Professor total roughly $96 on the secondary market. (I found a cheaper Shriekmaw.) Even if the prices were (unlikely) halved after the news of the reprints, that is $48. The stores would likely sell it for $30-$45 in that situation. Still above what they should be selling it for.
Wizards has to be careful with reprints when it comes to items like Spellbooks. If it's nothing but good stuff, the stores will mark up the prices. At best they can reprint 1 good stuff card and 9 cheap stuff. Say, a demonic Tutor and 7 black cards that average around $2 or less.
Hopefully, the upcoming Commander Legends set can fix some of these issues. They can reprint some of the high costing commander cards by putting them in the rare and mythic slots. If they reprint Rhystic Study, it will likely be up-shifted to Rare or Mythic Rare.
I feel read the bones should have gotten an honorable mention
Jose Luis Mckenna also sign in blood
Don't forget about Ambition's Cost and Ancient Craving!
Honestly I like it better than Phyrexian Arena.
@@games-or7ig Night's Whisper over Sign in Blood. Probably one of the most underrated cards in EDH.
As well as gray merchant of asphodel, or gary
Some of my favorite black cards in commander:
Victimize: Excellent reanimation value.
Unearth: Reanimate's younger brother, with cycling when you don't need it.
Black Market: Insane mana generation.
Phyrexian Reclamation: WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS CARD? The amount of resilience this card grants your deck is staggering.
Dismember: great targeted removal, even for pesky indestructibles.
Dark Imposter: Repeatable unconditional exile effect? Yes, please.
Murkaeus THANKS!
I agree with almost all of those! I think Dark Imposter is a little slow. It can work depending on your meta. But I run almost all of those in all of my decks that have black. Phyrexian Reclamation is a black staple and should go in every black deck. Instant speed recurrable recursion that's cheap (although just to the hand)? Who wouldn't want it?
I also need to pick up a few Unearths. Didn't know that card existed. :D
Strands of Night goes well along with P. Reclamation
just learned about the Reclamation because of this comment. i feel like you reunited me with a long-lost soulmate i never knew i had.
oh wait, you did!
@@asimpletrashgoblin8109 Black Market is awesome. Bubbling Muck has gotten me out of situations more than once as well.
ahhh yes, the routinely, and classically forgotten black card "demonic tutor"
Bolas' Citadel, it's too good not to run in a black edh deck.
All my black EDH have a DJ Bolas table.
Citadel has gotten me out of many tough spots. Gray followed by the Citadel, so satisfying.
@@raycruz1309 why not citadel then Gary?
Works both ways I suppose, 3 extra devotion and a mana free casting are some significant perks of casting Gray second though.
The triple black can be a little too much to ask in any 3 or more color deck tho
0: Gary, merchant of asphodel
Doesn't always make the cut in multicolor decks; if you are even running two colors, Gary can be a bit underpowered and not be worth the slot. Remember...the criteria is must haves regardless of how much or how little Black you're running.
The Reaper King would find Gary useless. Hero's DOwnfall, Animate Dead, and Demonic Tutor would still be very very useful, however.
@@XCodes Modestly agree, though I think HD was selected because it's targeted PW removal or Creature...which is a bignupside.
Yeah, BB sucks for a WBURG commander....but that text is always relevant.
Gary is rad.
To the nay sayers: Black don't need no other colours.🖕
Absolutely not, Gary is evil... that's why he's in my deck
or as I like to call him, gay merchant of a$$ 😎
I love the way Prof says "again".
This channel is the only channel where I like to listen to the sponsorship shoutouts. The Professor just does it exquisitely.
Hero's Downfall: *joins the game*
Me: *laughs in Bedevil*
Isn't Murderous Rider almost strictly better version of Hero's Downfall in EDH? 2 life for "drawing" a mediocre creature seems like a good bargain.
Either a card is strictly better, or it isn't. Saying 'almost strictly better' is a redundant description - it's the same as saying 'better'. You are correct in your assessment that Murderous Rider/Swift End is better in most cases since it comes with the addition of the creature. But, there could be a time when the loss of 2 life does matter, so we can't describe one as strictly better than the other.
Effectively?
Yes.
Strictly?
No.
@@djnewellmit "Saying 'almost strictly better' is a redundant description"
god damn how pretentious can you get
@@Kurse_of_Kall well I mean he's right
No.
I think Dark Ritual is a great card to run in any black commander deck. Gaining three mana for one is a great tempo swing that is overlooked. In the early rounds of the game it can put you very far ahead.
Crypt Ghast, Altar's Reap. I love these cards. Even if it's a deck of two or more colors, would Dark Ritual be considerable?
Priest of Forgotten Gods, or whatever her name is, is also fantastic.
Crypt ghast is a must run
@@timothyhedgpeth2361 turn 1: lay swamp, tap it for Dark Ritual. Use one of the 3 floating black mana for Sol Ring. Use the last two black mana and tap Sol Ring for Crypt Ghast. Turn two, lay swamp. Now, you have 4 black mana and two generic on turn two, in a black deck.
Must have
Also magus of the coffers with a cabal coffers. Perfect hand right there
@@timothyhedgpeth2361 Or 'Mikaeus, Unhallowed'... or... Army of the Damned
+1 to Priest. If you're doing anything with tokens and use B mana, it's awesome. It's also a lot easier to fit into a deck than Crypt Ghast.
I’m gonna need 1 and a Black to bring me back from that joke.
Honestly, Demonic Tutor needs to be reprinted in Commander Legends.
More like vampiric. Or imperial seal.
Imperial tutor and vampiric tutor are indeed more needed than demonic tutor
Why not both? Demonic at the least should be reprinted over and over again until it isn't a $30 card. Vampiric can join the ride too considering how both are just outright staples.
Literally pulled 2 from UMA which just came out a year ago. Ask for cards that actually need reprinted.
Imperial Seal, Vampiric Tutor.
@@hiddenleaf414 I'm so glad you literally can afford to pay $300 for a box to have the *random* chance of pulling it. If I'm complaining about $30, why do you think I can afford $300?
I own most of those cards and yes, black is my favorite colour. I feel great :3
Gratz on 500k prof, also please keep getting sponsors. I think most people understand how rough monetization is ATM.
I feel urborg, tomb of yawgmoth or cabal coffers should have got a spot
@@coreys9598 beautiful
@Mad Goldsmith I’m dead
dark ritual and yawgmoth's will are pretty hard to beat
Dark RItual, while very iconic, just doesn't have the thrust in a Singleton format like Commander...so it's exclusion makes sense.
You've got a valid point on Yawgmoth's Will though; virtually any deck can use it regardless of commitment to Black. I think it might deserve the #2 slot more than Blood/Bond, TBH.
Dark Ritual is awesome. Two mana for essentially FREE? You can do a lot with that, even if it's just B mana. I use it and Cabal Ritual, as well as Dark Petition. If it gives me free mana, it's mana ramp and it's getting me to where I need to get to faster. If it isn't mana being put towards a W for me, it's going towards interrupting you/the board.
You have rocks like mana crypt, mana vault, and sol ring in commander, which are dark rits on a stick. It's still really nice to break curve and get out like, an early planeswalker or commander though. I'd argue thats the best use for Dark Rit, and you aren't really likely to find it early enough. I still run it a lot because, well, its Dark Rit and it feels wrong not to. But its usefulness is kind of limited in EDH.
"What is you have a 6/6?" Chooses a 6/6 that enters the battlefield with two -1/-1 counters on it, and can put -1/-1 counters on opponents
I know, if I were to pick a 6/6 in black, it would probably be Sheoldred. Anyone got a better one?
Bola's Citadel ! Such a strong card that nearly always has to be dealt with the moment it hits the board
All my black Commander's decks have Dark Ritual.
I've been making a mono-black deck so this video was uploaded at the perfect time!
You know what they say. Once you go black.. you usually come back to a multi colored build.
Unfortunately I feel this hard. Black is good for two things unfortunately.
If you're playing mono black, or anything without blue, I'd suggest ancient craving, night's whisper, read the bones & sign in blood. Some of my favorite black card draw spells, really good flavor-wise too. Being able to draw you cards just as good as any blue cantrip, assuming you're willing to pay a little life.
"59 seconds ago"
well hot damn
Congrats
@@genmasaotome3503 oh thank thank
When pondering the sacrificial possibilities at the breadth of black sorcery, Audible comes to mind.
I see that copy of Ravnica: Inquisition on yo shelf👀
I think bolas's citadel is a must run in black. Sure 3 black black black is expensive but it can literally end games as you cycle through your deck and then explosive win by sacrifing 10 non land perms and doing 10 to everyone
Shout out to audible, the real OG funding all my favourite TH-camrs!
I completely agree with your picks! Here is some honorable mentions I thought of:
Bubbling Muck
Dark Ritual
Murder
Mutilate
Tragic Slip
Doom Blade
Go For The Throat
Grasp Of Darkness
Vampire Nighthawk
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Crypt Ghast
Massacre Wurm
Abhorrent Overlord
Skirsdag High Priest
Lashwrythe
Greed
Finally someone who remembers the classics
I'm sure it's been said and everyone knows it but Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Cabal Coffers are immediate picks.
Only if you have land tutors or in mono black.
Definitely agree!
My favorite mass removal in black is in Garruk’s wake, more expensive but one sided makes it fun! I play it in every black deck!
i like using "in garruk wake" in decks that can use black, a full 1 sided wipe if you got the mana
Plague Wind is very similar if you want two!
Like this series, hope white isn't the last colour you cover.
I always run Torment of Hailfire in any of my black edh decks
In my Razaketh deck I would Torment for 100 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
You must be fun to play with. Lol
@@VexylObby Depends on which deck I run 😆😆
Massacre Girl has quicky become a favorite of mine. It can work as a panic button and becomes a great board wipe leaving you with one creature on your side if done right. Depending on what your opponents have in play it can uickly kill everything or most everything instantly.
Bolas' citadel 👀
THis and Command the dreadhorde, in my orzhoz deck
If The professor doesn't voice a least one NPC in the upcoming MTG MMORPG, I will riot harder than the Gruul clans on Ravnica.
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is the top of my list for cards belonging in any black commander deck. Demonic Tutor is a close second IF you are trying to build the strongest deck possible. There are decks I refuse to run Demonic Tutor in since they are already powerful enough (Gitrog, I'm looking at you) and I'd like to try and restrain the power level. I also don't have enough copies to run in all my black commander decks.
Regarding Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood, I would never run those in a deck where life gain is not already a theme. I have tried them in a vampire tribal deck (they also had flavor points there), but it always felt awful drawing one of them. Individually, they were usually a dead draw as they are basically a do nothing enchantment. Unless your deck is built around tutoring this combo out or has other ways of generating value from one of the enchantments, there are better cards you could play. Urborg, Cabal Coffers, and Exsanguinate will often do just as good a job at killing all your opponents. The difference is that 2 of those 3 cards don't take up a spell slot and all of them can still do good things without the other two (Cabal Coffers is questionable outside two color decks). Of course, commander isn't always the place to run the "best" deck. If you want to run this combo, go for it. I just think it is far from a must-run.
Great list! Thanks for sharing. I've always loved Animate Dead. :)
"It's hard to justify not running a copy".
Well, say that to my wallet, Fancy Prof. :'v
Abuelo Vinagres yeah like I understand the power of these cards, but I can’t afford a demonic tutor and phyrexian arena and Sanguine Bond. Hell honestly at my current budget a Dictate of Erabos is decently expensive (yes I know it’s under $10, but I’m really pushing budget right now), though I could still make it work
Xcalibur 30 I only buy cards under $4 dollars each. I know that feeling. :u
@@xcalibur3092 make proxies, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to enjoy using these cards for a cheaper price.
Tom Hansen I don’t believe in making proxy’s unless I already own the card. Cause if I just make a proxy for a card I want what stops me from proxying a Gaia’s cradle or any other expensive good card.
Once I own a card though I’m willing to proxy it
Xcalibur 30 I run proxies only to test a deck with my pals in order to know of it’s worthy to invest in the real ones. But I only proxy cards I know I can afford and adjust the deck before spending those bucks.
This guy is my go to to know what I need know and build what to get or miss review and learn 👍
Congrats on 500K subs prof!
your top 10 is very good. in addition:
Jet Medallion
Cabal Coffers + Urborg + Expedition Map
Bojuka Bog
Gary
Dark Ritual
Vilis
Razaketh
Ratchet Bomb / Blast Zone
Solid video! I'd always nice to see a new video from you. One thing I'd like to see maybe in the future would be a list of color combo commanders. Show what you think is the best per color combo and then show a few cards that would support the commander. Anyway, great job professor!
This is just me within my playgroup but I LOVE imp's mischief in any black deck.
"I am soooo ollllld". hahaha. me too prof, me too.
Nice. I like these videos. They make me realize I'm missing a ton of must-have cards.
Hair is growing back quickly.. :)
you should update this video every year...great job!!
I am actually opposed to Demonic Tutor, but that's cause I want to popularize no-tutor commander. Tutors go against one of the core fundamentals of the format: varied game play. They make games play out the same way, especially when it comes to combo decks. Commander was designed with 100 card singleton decks so that games wouldn't be the same every time. So what I like to do is have commander games with the only things that can search libraries be things that can get basic lands only. That means green doesn't lose a big piece of it's color identity, and allows for decent fixing, and makes the games much more varied.
Ok I am 90% with you. I totally agree with varied gameplay! There are too many people wherever I go that play out their decks the EXACT same way and do so with a smile on their face. It’s frustrating and unoriginal. Commander games should be definitely be varied. It’s more fun in my opinion. That being said, I like being able to tutor for whatever the current situation presents. I can play with tutor effects and still have a versatile style of play
Great video Prof! Black has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember - solid list :)
I don't know about EVERY black deck, but I recently started running Black Market in my Yawgmoth deck and it can get insane really quickly... If you combo with Mikeaus and two other non-human creatures you can generate infinite black mana. Albeit, it does require you to have some board presence, but it's still really fun and effective - considering at that same time if one of those non-human creatures is say... Blood Artist, you can also draw your whole deck and drain your opponents out, and if you didn't win from that, you can cast every black card from your hand with the infinite mana you made from Black Market the following turn.
That music reminds me...
I should go check up on the Kill Count series. Been a while; I'm sure I've missed some episodes.
I like Mutilate in my mono black EDH too and my beseech the Queen is nice too. Ty for the nice video :)
Bond/Blood was the combo that sold me on mtg, and combos in general. It still resides in my first commander deck, as it began in my first deck, a 60 card WB.
The lack of Living Death in this list is criminal
Torment of Hailfire is a staple black card in all of my playgroups black decks. Great way to weaken people or just finish them if they dont have enough permanents or cards in hand
love the content prof but i can’t in good conscience support amazon
Idk why but that crowd sound bite for phx arena made me spazz. Good list.
Commander does NOT need even more powerful black spells floating around. Although I suppose, if you must have crazy powerful ones, everyone should get access to them
I actually really liked your Audible plug.
Vampire Nighthawk. Two black and a colorless for flying, deathtouch, and lifelink.
That's a great list. I would throw force of despair in for removal too. I love it. Especially against green ramp decks.
Some really great choices. Just wish Read the Bones, Night's Whisper, or Sign in Blood had made the list.
TCC video on my Birthday! Day gets better and better!
why heroe's downfall and not murderous rider? rider can be a creature when needed
I agree with this assessment. The Prof may have written this list a while ago and hasn't updated it in a few months as a possibility, and didn't update it when ELD came out.
I love how ridiculous Murderous Rider is in my Meren deck:p
He probably should have mentioned Never//Return too
Never//Return being a sorcery is a significant downside.
Downfall vs. Rider is essentially a question of if your deck has any instant or sorcery synergies. If you're playing something like Narset, for an easy example, missing out on being able to snag your kill spell can hurt.
In a vacuum Rider probably pulls ahead but it's closer than what people think.
@@oliver5732 definitely. Exactly same text and mana cost on Never, and has the return mode afterwards too.
Also a 5th of the cost.
I totally agree for the most part, personally! Running a reanimate/zombie build, spark harvest would be the play I believe. Side note! (You are very helpful! My girlfriend and my self are learning commander! And brawler! Thank you for the videos!
Some of the cards I feel are must haves:
Twilight Prophet - More affordable ($$$) than Dark Confidant, this also gains you life potentially. Not to mention you drain your opponent!
Gary - A Must for any sort of ETB abuse, reanimate, or just pure value based decks. If you can abuse it, do it!
Bolas's Citadel
- Even with BBB in its CMC, it is a power house! Playing lands off the top smooths out draws and having a very large life total can help to churn through your deck
Crypt Ghast - Even if you are in 3 colors, Crypt Ghast will net you additional mana, meaning you always have something left to do. Not to mention Extort
Grave Titan - Honestly one of the BEST commander cards! a 6 mana 6/6 with deathtouch AND making 4 power among 2 guys. So for 6 mana, you make 10/10 among 3 creautres!
Read the Bones - One of the "Best" draw spells in black. 2 life and 2 cards isn't anything new, but you won't see a lot of black cards being able to scry your worst, dead draws to th bottom, or dig for an answer to the threat on the table
For commander gotta say Price of Fame
2 mana. Destroy target commander. Surveil 2.
Congrats on 500k subscribers!
While not specifically "black" in color, Urborg and Cabal Coffers are must-have staple lands for any mono-black deck, or a deck where black is prominent.
Other notable creatures - Phyrexian Obliterator, Butcher of Malakir, Vampire Hexmage, Vampire Nighthawk, Priest of Forgotten Gods, Crypt Ghast, Nirkana Revenant.
Other notable spells - Damnation, Tragic Slip, Torment of Hailfire, Exsanguinate, Sign in Blood, Ad Nauseum.
Notable enchantments - Bitterblossom, Bolas's Citadel, Koskun Falls, No Mercy, Death Pits of Rath, Bloodchief Ascension, Painful Quandary, Necrogen Mists, Pestilence, Contamination.
Bolas's Citadel is an artefact
@@IoriYagami1988 true, but has black in its casting cost though.
Oh sh*t the last time i saw the prof was at game knights and there he had long hair and now i am traumatised.
Makeing bad jokes on purpose to utilize them for comedic effect,
A+ in my book
Phyrexian arena is too slow for even regular play, I would go with greed, arguels blood fast, or even Grim haruspex, which can work in every black deck
Too slow...for regular play...
phyrexian arena is great at keeping your hand full though, and is especially useful in combination with necropot
@@XCodes if you have creatures and board wipes along with targeted removal that are common, hell even if you just have your commander, which usually will be a creature too, Grim haruspex is always great. It's an insurance policy in all my black decks. I like blood fast, it's cheap to get out early and to use when needed and has always pulled through for me so I disagree with that too.
@@MegaSlapster combined with necro I agree its good, but there are much better ways to have your hands full, and be more active in filling it faster. Arena is too passive with only letting you draw one extra card per turn while the cards I mentioned let's you put more into hand per turn, even other players turn, and are cheap to get out.
Erebos, God of the Dead is literally a superior Greed. It has the ability from Greed. While also being indestructible. While also preventing your opponents from gaining life. While also turning into a beefy boi at high devotion levels. There is no reason to run greed if you have this card, unless you want both for some reason
Honestly, one of the most underplayed black cards for commander is "Silence the believers". BB2 for an instant with "Strive - This spell cost 2B more to cast for each target beyond the first" Exile any number of target creatures and all auras attached to them. Having an exile effect for pesty indestructible creatures and exiling all auras is really a must have for commander players in black.
Well, Ad Nauseam and Doomsday are definitely two Magic cards.
I mean those are build around cards, you cant just slap in an ad nauseum or a doomsday especially, and call it a day.
I'm a personal fan of Dark Confidant!
Predictions:
Vampiric tutor
Imperial seal
Demonic tutor
Doomsday
Diabolic intent
Damnation
Beseech the queen
Dark petition
If not for the inclusion for Damnation and those top-heavy picks, I'd think this was a "Black in cEDH Primer" X-D
But yes, tutors are good.
Ad Nauseum and Necropotence instead of Beseech and Dark Petition
@@oliver5732 And Toxic Deluge instead of Damnation.
Ophiomancer is a card I just love. It deters attacking and serves as an engine for all cards needing us to sacrifice things.
I for one like to combine it with Contamination in my Pox EDH
Black Market is excellent ramp, especially in commander where board wipes are common.
Arguel's Blood Fast is consistent card draw, although better hope you don't trigger the flip.
Revel in Riches is both ramp and a hilarious win condition (especially in BW decks with Smothering Tithe).
Yawgmoth's Will is deece.
A few cards I believe are also a must have for black, regardless of color restriction:
•Head Games
•Vampire Nighthawk
•Torment of Hailfire
Plus points for including what I now consider to be the hands down creepiest version of Demonic Tutor ever made
Whiny internet voice 7:35 : "But carnifax demon enters with two - 1/-1 counters! It can't survive a toxic deluge x=5!"
But seriously good video prof
Logical voice: "It removes its own counters."