Mazirek's Blood Bank | V-OJT

Commander / EDH* Aristocrats BG (Golgari) Counters Land Destruction Multiplayer Sacrifice Tokens Tokens

Beebles

Lands (37)

• 1x Bala Ged Recovery  ^Flip
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Deathcap Glade
• 1x Fabled Passage
• 4x Forest
• 1x Golgari Rot Farm
• 1x Guildless Commons
• 1x High Market
• 1x Inkmoth Nexus
• 1x Khalni Garden
• 1x Llanowar Reborn
• 1x Lotus Field
• 1x Nurturing Peatland
• 1x Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
• 1x Overgrown Tomb
• 1x Phyrexian Tower
• 1x Prismatic Vista
• 1x Skemfar Elderhall
• 1x Strip Mine
• 4x Swamp
• 1x Swarmyard
• 1x Thespian's Stage
• 1x Twilight Mire
• 1x Undergrowth Stadium
• 1x Urza's Saga
• 1x Verdant Catacombs
• 1x Wooded Foothills
• 1x Woodland Cemetery
• 1x Woodland Chasm

Sac Outlet (14)

• 1x Ashnod's Altar
• 1x Braids, Arisen Nightmare
• 1x Deadly Dispute
• 1x Diabolic Intent
• 1x God-Eternal Bontu
• 1x High Market
• 1x Lich-Knights' Conquest
• 1x Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1x Natural Order
• 1x Phyrexian Tower
• 1x Pox
• 1x Smallpox
• 1x Yahenni, Undying Partisan
• 1x Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Life (7)

• 1x Beledros Witherbloom
• 1x Gala Greeters
• 1x High Market
• 1x Lathril, Blade of the Elves
• 1x Moldervine Reclamation
• 1x Pest Infestation
• 1x Wolverine Riders

Tutors (6)

• 1x Crop Rotation
• 1x Diabolic Intent
• 1x Natural Order
• 1x Pattern of Rebirth
• 1x Pir's Whim
• 1x Urza's Saga

Recursion (3)

• 1x Aftermath Analyst
• 1x Bala Ged Recovery  ^Flip
• 1x Lich-Knights' Conquest

Cash In The Counters (16)

• 1x Bloodtracker
• 1x Crystalline Crawler
• 1x Devoted Druid
• 1x Goldvein Hydra
• 1x Hangarback Walker
• 1x Iridescent Hornbeetle
• 1x Kami of Whispered Hopes
• 1x Lathril, Blade of the Elves
• 1x Marionette Master
• 1x Marwyn, the Nurturer
• 1x Nested Shambler
• 1x One with the Kami
• 1x Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
• 1x Scurry Oak
• 1x The Ozolith
• 1x Walking Ballista

Ramp (15)

• 1x Awakening Zone
• 1x Black Market Connections
• 1x Crystalline Crawler
• 1x Defiler of Vigor
• 1x Devoted Druid
• 1x Gala Greeters
• 1x Incubation Druid
• 1x Kami of Whispered Hopes
• 1x Marwyn, the Nurturer
• 1x Natural Balance
• 1x Pir's Whim
• 1x Pitiless Plunderer
• 1x Rishkar, Peema Renegade
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Tireless Provisioner

Draw/Filter (13)

• 1x Black Market Connections
• 1x Bloodtracker
• 1x Braids, Arisen Nightmare
• 1x Court of Garenbrig
• 1x Deadly Dispute
• 1x God-Eternal Bontu
• 1x Idol of Oblivion
• 1x Inspiring Call
• 1x Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1x Moldervine Reclamation
• 1x Rishkar's Expertise
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Treasure (8)

• 1x Black Market Connections
• 1x Deadly Dispute
• 1x Gala Greeters
• 1x Goldvein Hydra
• 1x Old Gnawbone
• 1x Pitiless Plunderer
• 1x Tireless Provisioner
• 1x Vraska, the Silencer

Big Mana (3)

• 1x Ashnod's Altar
• 1x Beledros Witherbloom
• 1x Old Gnawbone

Protection (3)

• 1x Inspiring Call
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Swarmyard

Commander (1)

Creature Tokens (15)

• 1x Animation Module
• 1x Awakening Zone
• 1x Beledros Witherbloom
• 1x Bitterblossom
• 1x Black Market Connections
• 1x Hangarback Walker
• 1x Iridescent Hornbeetle
• 1x Lathril, Blade of the Elves
• 1x Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1x Marionette Master
• 1x Nested Shambler
• 1x One with the Kami
• 1x Pest Infestation
• 1x Scurry Oak
• 1x Wolverine Riders

Interaction (14)

• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Braids, Arisen Nightmare
• 1x Grave Pact
• 1x Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1x Natural Balance
• 1x Pest Infestation
• 1x Pir's Whim
• 1x Pox
• 1x Smallpox
• 1x Strip Mine
• 1x Vona's Hunger
• 1x Walking Ballista
• 1x Woodfall Primus
• 1x Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

When Things Die (11)

• 1x Grave Pact
• 1x Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1x Marionette Master
• 1x Moldervine Reclamation
• 1x One with the Kami
• 1x Pattern of Rebirth
• 1x Pitiless Plunderer
• 1x Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Tarrian's Soulcleaver
• 1x Vraska, the Silencer

More +1/+1 Counters (7)

• 1x Court of Garenbrig
• 1x Defiler of Vigor
• 1x Doubling Season
• 1x Hardened Scales
• 1x Kami of Whispered Hopes
• 1x Rishkar, Peema Renegade
• 1x Tarrian's Soulcleaver

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Maybeboard

Creature Tokens (15)

• 1x Dreadhorde Invasion
• 1x Fain, the Broker
• 1x Garruk, Cursed Huntsman
• 1x Herd Baloth
• 1x Hooded Hydra
• 1x Hunting Triad
• 1x Necrogenesis
• 1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
• 1x Pentavus
• 1x Spawning Pit
• 1x Szat's Will
• 1x Tend the Pests
• 1x Tendershoot Dryad
• 1x Valentin, Dean of the Vein  ^Flip
• 1x Woe Strider

Interaction (12)

• 1x Deadly Brew
• 1x Dictate of Erebos
• 1x Garruk, Cursed Huntsman
• 1x Grim Hireling
• 1x Necrogenesis
• 1x Priest of Forgotten Gods
• 1x Retribution of the Ancients
• 1x Szat's Will
• 1x Urborg Justice
• 1x Valentin, Dean of the Vein  ^Flip
• 1x Wave of Vitriol
• 1x Witch of the Moors

When Things Die (7)

• 1x Blade of the Bloodchief
• 1x Dictate of Erebos
• 1x Fangren Marauder
• 1x It That Betrays
• 1x Revel in Riches
• 1x Tergrid, God of Fright  ^Flip
• 1x Valentin, Dean of the Vein  ^Flip

Lands (5)

• 1x Crystal Vein
• 1x Drownyard Temple
• 1x Emergence Zone
• 1x Lotus Vale
• 1x Spawning Bed

Other (4)

• 1x Herald of Anguish
• 1x Nadier, Agent of the Duskenel
• 1x Strands of Night
• 1x World Shaper

Bank Counters (1)

• 1x Servant of the Scale

Evasion (1)

• 1x Eldrazi Monument

Sac Outlet (15)

• 1x Eldrazi Monument
• 1x Fain, the Broker
• 1x Fiend Artisan
• 1x Gift of Doom
• 1x Krav, the Unredeemed
• 1x Phyrexian Altar
• 1x Plumb the Forbidden
• 1x Priest of Forgotten Gods
• 1x Razaketh, the Foulblooded
• 1x Reprocess
• 1x Ruthless Knave
• 1x Skyclave Shadowcat
• 1x Spawning Pit
• 1x Sylvan Safekeeper
• 1x Woe Strider

More +1/+1 Counters (9)

• 1x Blade of the Bloodchief
• 1x Fain, the Broker
• 1x Forgotten Ancient
• 1x Ivy Lane Denizen
• 1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
• 1x Servant of the Scale
• 1x Silkguard
• 1x Tribute to the World Tree
• 1x Valentin, Dean of the Vein  ^Flip

Protection (9)

• 1x Eldrazi Monument
• 1x Gift of Doom
• 1x Gyome, Master Chef
• 1x Revel in Riches
• 1x Silkguard
• 1x Slippery Bogbonder
• 1x Spike Weaver
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Sylvan Safekeeper

Other Tokens (6)

• 1x Fain, the Broker
• 1x Grim Hireling
• 1x Gyome, Master Chef
• 1x Revel in Riches
• 1x Ruthless Knave
• 1x Tireless Tracker

Ramp (3)

• 1x Grim Hireling
• 1x Heronblade Elite
• 1x Viridian Joiner

Big Mana (1)

• 1x Phyrexian Altar

Cash In The Counters (13)

• 1x Bloodspore Thrinax
• 1x Etched Oracle
• 1x Forgotten Ancient
• 1x Herd Baloth
• 1x Heronblade Elite
• 1x Hooded Hydra
• 1x Lifeblood Hydra
• 1x Mindless Automaton
• 1x Pentavus
• 1x Retribution of the Ancients
• 1x Spike Feeder
• 1x Spike Weaver
• 1x Viridian Joiner

Draw/Filter (13)

• 1x Disciple of Bolas
• 1x Etched Oracle
• 1x Garruk, Cursed Huntsman
• 1x Krav, the Unredeemed
• 1x Lifeblood Hydra
• 1x Mindless Automaton
• 1x Plumb the Forbidden
• 1x Priest of Forgotten Gods
• 1x Reprocess
• 1x Skyclave Shadowcat
• 1x Tireless Tracker
• 1x Tribute to the World Tree
• 1x Woe Strider

Life (7)

• 1x Disciple of Bolas
• 1x Fangren Marauder
• 1x Gyome, Master Chef
• 1x Krav, the Unredeemed
• 1x Lifeblood Hydra
• 1x Spike Feeder
• 1x Valentin, Dean of the Vein  ^Flip

Recursion (6)

• 1x Deadly Brew
• 1x Life / Death
• 1x Ramunap Excavator
• 1x Splendid Reclamation
• 1x Veinwitch Coven
• 1x Witch of the Moors

Tutors (3)

• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Fiend Artisan
• 1x Razaketh, the Foulblooded

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This big bug is out for blood...

Welcome to my Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest deck

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Origin

I've always had a soft spot for the "sacrifice matters" theme and have tried in in a few decks as a side-dish, but I never got around building around it as the main course. Recent tinkering with other brews made me reconsider Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest as a commander and rejuvenated those sacrifice matters deck ideas. It feels nice to put those sacrifice-themed cards in a deck again.

It’s also great to finally have a deck centred around +1/+1 counters. I loved the idea of a deck where +1/+1 counters can be banked up as a currency that can be traded in for all sorts of benefits, so that was another aim with this build.

Lastly I figured out that Mazirek allows for a way to play Massive Land Destruction (MLD) in EDH without totally wrecking games. This was a great incentive to continue with this build, because I really liked playing Land Destruction decks back in the day, and I'd love to have an EDH deck that punishes greedy land-ramp decks in a fair way.

So this is my take at the big bug Mazirek: a deck that combines +1/+1 counter farming with sacrifice matters and fair land destruction.

Deck Premise

With this deck I want to bank up +1/+1 counters and cash them in for value. There is quite a group of cards that can do that: cards like Crystalline Crawler and Devoted Druid turn them into mana, Hangarback Walker and Nadier, Agent of the Duskenel turn them into creatures, and Bloodtracker turns them into cards. Then there are those cards that allow us to bank up counters for later use, like Reyhan, Last of the Abzan and The Ozolith. The general idea is to get a few of these cards out there, add Mazirek to the board and start saccing some stuff!

Since Mazirek trigger works when things are sacrificed, we run a bunch of token generators such as Bitterblossom that generate sac fodder, as well as free sacrifice outlets like Ashnod's Altar that can sac our own stuff at will. Most of our hate cards, such as Pox as well as a lot of our lands cards are sacrifice-based also, adding to the counter production. Lastly there are cards that trigger when something dies, like Pitiless Plunderer.

I want to set up a board state where I can get a lot of +1/+1 counters via Mazirek and then get all sorts of value via the counter banks and and cards with triggers, leading to different possible lines of play:

• We can cripple our opponent's board with our mass sacrifice spells, such as Vona's Hunger and Grave Pact, giving the deck strong board control options. Combined with Mazirek, these spells allow for the most explosive of plays, adding huge amounts of counters to our creatures.
• Some of these spells, like Pox, also take out a part of our opponent's mana bases, while our deck is prepared to either mitigate the blow or to turn land loss into an advantage (more on that later).
• Treasures work really well with Mazirek’s ability, so cards like Tireless Provisioner and Pitiless Plunderer are valuable includes. Old Gnawbone is just hilarious, and cheating it out with Natural Order or Pattern of Rebirth really puts fuel to our fires. And Marionette Master can turn all those treasures into a lethal weapon.
• Playing Liliana, Dreadhorde General with Doubling Season out will pretty much end the game.
• We can use God-Eternal Bontu to sacrifice all our lands if combined with Natural Balance or World Shaper, generating a lot of sac triggers and hilarious turns.
• With help of the modular-type creatures we make Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest a lethal attacker and eliminate a player via commander damage. Inkmoth Nexus is an easier-to-achieve variant of this strategy.
• And we can just amass an army of small critters, pump them with Mazirek's ability and swing!

Then there are the following infinite combo routes that can finish the job if the game drags out too long:

• Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest/Blade of the Bloodchief + Ashnod's Altar + Animation Module = infinite counters + infinite death triggers and infinite mana. The combo is also possible with another sac outlet and Crystalline Crawler or just with any sac outlet and One with the Kami. Add Moldervine Reclamation or Liliana, Dreadhorde General to draw your deck and/or Walking Ballista to finish the game.
• Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest + Woodfall Primus + a sac outlet let us blow up all non-creature permanents, letting us win through land destruction.

Less Lands Matter

There were 2 related ideas floating around before I started this deck that I did not have a home for yet:

1. I don't like it that lands have become a safe haven in our playgroup for ramping. I wanted to attack land bases, but do it in a way that does not destroy all lands. I wanted to punish greedy decks that just ramp lands like there's no tomorrow without having a contingency plan.
2. With Lotus Field printed I felt I could do something interesting with this card. Apart from fixing your mana, it also reduce your land count. We've been learned to assume that in EDH more lands is better. However, due to Lotus Field I was wondering if I could somehow turn having less lands into a resource.

These ideas clicked into place when reconsidering Mazirek, where MLD is already going to give you value if it is sacrifice-based. Pox and Smallpox synergize with these ideas, but there is one other Land Destruction card that truly rewards having less lands.

Enter a little played reserved list card called Natural Balance. It is the prime example of a fair land destruction spell, punishing the ever rampant land ramp decks and helping that one deck that got land screwed in the early game (Yay, MLD that is not breaching the social contract \0/). However, it becomes especially delicious when combined with lands like Lotus Field, Golgari Rot Farm. They turn Natural Balance into a big land ramp spell while destroying the ramp advantage of your opponents. The lands it finds enter the battlefield untapped to boot! You could be playing this at turn 6 with just 3 lands in play while your opponents might already have 8. It's plays like this that I love to build decks around, even if it only happens every now and then.

“Hmm… maybe lotuses this year.”

This is where having as few lands in play as possible has value. The less lands we have, the more value we are getting from Natural Balance. Less lands will also help to mitigate our land loss of a Pox. This is why I don't run any ramp cards that search out additional lands from the library. A nice thing about this theme as that the main way to reduce your land count comes from the lotus lands, which already synergize well with our commander. Thespian's Stage can copy them without triggering their ETB, while cards like Crystal Vein and Urza's Saga also net us value while keeping our land count lower than our opponents.

If you like this theme, also check my Akiri, Fearless Voyager Deck where I included it as well, as it’s probably more valuable in white decks.

Land Graveyard Synergy

Because of Natural Balance, Pox and the sac lands, there are some cards here that give us more benefits of lands being sacrificed. Lands like Drownyard Temple get us value when going to the bin, and World Shaper/Ramunap Excavator get us our compost back into play. I still have to play around with this theme to see how much of it can be in this deck without damaging the +1/+1 counters synergy too much.

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Other Topics

Why Mazirek?

Mazirek is a unique commander in that it cares about people sacrificing permanents. This is what makes Mazirek an interesting choice for a deck as it is hard to create a similar build with another commander. It is also a commander that allows for a lot of different builds, so it is unlikely to bump into another list and feel like you've played against that deck before. These are characteristics I enjoy in any commander. Plus, he's a big bug that makes small critters huge! What's not to like?

Meta

I play commander with a set playgroup in a kitchentable setting. We have added one house rule: no infinite card combo's of 2 or less cards (like Tooth and Nail based combo's). We also try to keep a check on excessive stax or denial strategies. This usually enables that everyone has a chance to try out their creations and have some fun.

Intended Power Level

I tried to make a deck similar in power level compare to the majority of my playgroup, which is somewhere between Mid and High. I like the majority of my decks to be at that power level in order to play the deck in more situations and still make sure everyone has a good time. This deck can do some powerful stuff, but usually not until after most of the table has had a chance to give their decks a go.

Category (Jank - Low - Mid - High - Competitive)

Mid/High

Closing Thoughts

I'm always happy if you leave some feedback. Any cards that you think I should run given the deck's premise and themes? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Also, feel free to upvote the deck if you liked it!

Upvote & Support This Deck!

GL & HF

Beebles

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Not done yet? Have a look at my other stuff!

My Other Decks

{R} {G} [Primer] Mina & Denn's Rampaging Roil | V-MKM Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 174 | 85 COMMENTS | 25800 VIEWS | IN 69 FOLDERS A Wicked Moving Landmass Engine of Doom	{W} {U} {R} Malcolm, Siren of The Flying Dutchman | V-LCI Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 97 | 31 COMMENTS | 7491 VIEWS | IN 42 FOLDERS A Ghostly Adventure of Endless Treasure
{W} {G} [Primer] Karametra's Short-Term Memory | V-MKM Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 77 | 15 COMMENTS | 9286 VIEWS | IN 27 FOLDERS A Gimmicky Storm Value Combo Triggerfest	{W} {R} Hit Me Baby! | Akiri Damage Ricochet | V-WOE Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 76 | 23 COMMENTS | 6782 VIEWS | IN 35 FOLDERS A Weapons & Damage Pinball Machine
{B} {R} {G} Sek'Kuar's Hasty Mob Ball of Death | V-J22 Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 62 | 11 COMMENTS | 6299 VIEWS | IN 30 FOLDERS A Snowballing Sacrifice & Steal Contraption	{W} {R} {G} Samut, Inspiring Warleader | V-LCI Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 46 | 13 COMMENTS | 6433 VIEWS | IN 24 FOLDERS A Swift Flurry of Tap/Untap Shenanigans
{B} {G} Mazirek's Blood Bank | V-OJT Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 35 | 6 COMMENTS | 4657 VIEWS | IN 18 FOLDERS A Sacrifice-based +1/+1 Counter Exchange	{W} {G} ♫ Scry Me to the Moon ♫ | V-LCI Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 33 | 9 COMMENTS | 2216 VIEWS | IN 13 FOLDERS Only Look to the Top
{B} {U} Silumgar's Vile Offering | V-MOM Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 29 | 16 COMMENTS | 3712 VIEWS | IN 14 FOLDERS A Manipulating & Misdirecting Elder Dragon	{U} {R} Niv-Mizzet, Passive Ping-Win | V-CLB Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 19 | 21 COMMENTS | 4921 VIEWS | IN 6 FOLDERS The Patient & Contemplative Firemind
{W} {B} Vish Kal Wears His Sunglasses At Night | V-MKM Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 17 | 6 COMMENTS | 3009 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS A Careful Balance of Life & Death	{W} {G} Sigarda, Host of Dreaming Will | V-CMM Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 15 | 13 COMMENTS | 3762 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS An Enchanted Warrior With The Purest Will
{W} {U} {G} Roon, Hum of the Universe | V-WOE Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 13 | 2979 VIEWS | IN 10 FOLDERS The Value Control Blink Rhinoceros	{G} Maro Multani, the Elemental of Surprise | V-MKM Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 13 | 6 COMMENTS | 3010 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS An Explosion of the Power of the Forest
{C} {R} Daretti's Rocks, Bombs & Blasts | V-LTR Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 6 | 3 COMMENTS | 1702 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS A Scandalous Scrapheap Challenge	{B} {R} Anje's Wholesome Reanimation Machine | V-LTR Commander / EDH Beebles SCORE: 3 | 444 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS Gears of Discard and Reanimation

My EDH Guide

Below you can find my latest attempt at modelling the EDH landscape. Check out the primer for a full writeup of the guide. Feedback is always welcome!

The EDH Multiverse - A Model of the EDH Landscape Commander / EDH* Beebles SCORE: 338 | 24 COMMENTS | 22480 VIEWS | IN 130 FOLDERS

Top Ranked	Achieved #6 position overall 2 years ago Achieved #4 position in Commander / EDH 2 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Aristocrats 2 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH BG (Golgari) 2 years ago
Date added	4 years
Last updated	2 weeks
Legality	This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	12 - 0 Mythic Rares 54 - 0 Rares 19 - 0 Uncommons 6 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.33
Tokens	City's Blessing, Construct 0/0 C, Eldrazi 10/10 C, Eldrazi Spawn 0/1 C, Elf Warrior 1/1 G, Faerie Rogue 1/1 B, Food, Insect 1/1 G, Pest 1/1 BG, Plant 0/1 G, Servo 1/1 C, Shapeshifter 3/2 C, Spirit 1/1 C, Squirrel 1/1 G, The Monarch, Thopter 1/1 C, Treasure, Zombie 2/2 B
Folders	Golgari ideas, EDH, Great Decks, Keep an Eye On, B/G Ideas, definitely, Saved, Saved Decks, EDH, Intriguing Decks