Drana, Liberator of Malakir

Legendary Creature — Vampire Ally

Flying, first strike

Whenever this deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each attacking creature you control.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

Last_Laugh on Oops! All female! Marchesa

7 months ago

Nice deck but I do have a few suggestions for you.

Theft:

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector is far and away the best theft option available to Marchesa.

Captivating Crew is a repeatable theft effect.

Seize the Spotlight will rarely steal creatures... but that means you draw 3 cards essentially for free.

Alternate +1+1 Counter Sources:

Thran Vigil only works on your turn but this thing puts in some serious work if you're aggressively sac'ing stuff. Be aware that your final creature re-entering can't target itself so you need 2+ creatures re-entering for this card to do anything.

Vigean Graftmage looks underwhelming but it can come down before and immediately protect Marchesa and/or it's 2 free sacs per turn (itself + 1 other) to abuse etb's or death triggers (High Society Hunter, Grim Haruspex, Sower of Temptation, etc.)

I guess Spark Double goes here. This card seriously feels custom made for Marchesa. It either copies Marchesa for double Dethrone or it abuses your best etb/death triggers every turn thanks to that automatic +1+1 counter.

Anduril, Narsil Reforged is a bit pricier, but it lets you attack away from the Throne while still getting counters on attack. Drana, Liberator of Malakir is an acceptable alternative thanks to first strike getting those counters before regular combat damage but you do have to get through to an opponent.

Card Draw: Danny Pink is an absolute powerhouse here.

Anyways, let me know if you're picking up what I'm putting down or if you need help suggesting cuts. Feel free to check out my Marchesa list. It's etb/death trigger abuse and I've had the deck built for roughly 10 years now so I'm pretty familiar with all Marchesa's archetypes. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on Marchesa's Undying Sac

1 year ago

Alternate sources of +1+1 counters enables you to sacrifice the same creatures on everyone's turn instead of once per round and being less reliant on attacking to get those counters is HUGE here. I run all these personally (except Drana, which got dropped for the sword).

Unspeakable Symbol gets used in response to removal or to abuse an etb/death trigger. Don't proactively put counters on everyone or you will run out of life quick. This card is quite simply amazing here when used correctly.

Sage of Fables immediately protects Marchesa and any other wizards you have.

Metallic Mimic typically names humans or wizards to protect Marchesa but the creature type can be reset with a simple sac.

Vigean Graftmage looks unassuming but he allows you to abuse any etb/death trigger on everyone's turn and it's 2 free triggers per turn for stuff like Grim Haruspex (itself and 1 other creature).

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed is about as budget friendly as he'll ever be. It's well worth a spot if you splurge on occasion.

Uncivil Unrest is the best card printed for sacrifice Marchesa decks in a loooong time. This thing borderline feels like you're cheating somehow lol.

Anduril, Narsil Reforged if it's in your budget and/or Drana, Liberator of Malakir as a perfectly usable budget alternative. These both allow you to swing at any opponent instead of only attacking the highest life.

Thran Vigil only works on your turn, but it either protects your guys after you sac on your turn or it let's you sac them 1 more time on an opponent's turn.

Feel free to check out my list for inspiration. I've had Marchesa built for about 9 years now and I'm still loving the deck. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on

1 year ago

I've had really good results with a +1+1 counter subtheme. Anduril, Narsil Reforged, Shadrix Silverquill, Felidar Retreat, Archangel of Thune, Drana, Liberator of Malakir, and Nykthos Paragon (an enchantment and Alela conveniently has lifelink) are my go-wide +1+1 counters and Felisa, Fang of Silverquill / Breena, the Demagogue are my single target/support guys.

Reconnaissance is amazing here. Swing with EVERYONE safely, deal combat damage in most situations, and have every one of those creatures untapped by the end of combat.

Vault of the Archangel effects combat in your favor even if you don't activate it. Just the unspoken threat of potential activation makes people think twice and when it is activated, you'll gain huge chunks of life.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Alela's Aerodynamics: A Crash Course

plakjekaas on Pattern Recognition #303 - Allies …

1 year ago

Not even a mention of the most played ally, of which everyone says: Wait that's an ally?

Zulaport Cutthroat is probably the best ally ever printed, and my first prerelease deck ever had two of them. And 3 Kalastria Healer. And a Drana, Liberator of Malakir and somehow even a prerelease promo of Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. That's right, there's an ally-supporting planeswalker!

That deck was so enjoyable, I haven't skipped a prerelease since.

kouzios on good for her

1 year ago

As is tradition, I will proceed to suggest a variety of cards that are likely not worth adding.

Akroma's Will sweet card, protection is very rude with master of cruelties as well

Boros Charm I know it's in your sideboard, but the card is really nice. Direct planeswalker damage is nice, only 2 mana for all permanents (not just creatures) get indestructible is great, double strike can be given to opposing creatures. Great card, for 2 mana it's a steal

Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle would be a nice additional source of graveyard recursion if you had more historic cards

Faith's Reward eh I used to be a bigger fan of this card than I am now, but it applies to non-creature permanents too so it's cute.

Rapacious Guest is a card i would cut to get to 100 cards in the deck, but it would probably be there before cuts.

Mentor of the Meek Another sideboard card, but a little surprised you don't have it in main. It's annoying that it sort-of feels like a self-tax card, but it's good draw in your colors, and a hit for your commander. I get why it would be cut though

Orcish Bowmasters if only it wasn't $30. Cheap, good hit, makes an extra creature on top of it, and a sort-of hate card.

Gray Merchant of Asphodel Look, it's not amazing for you, but it's power is 2 or less and i like the card.

Robber of the Rich is a hit for your commander, gives value, and has reach for some dumb reason. It's like a gonti.

Kheru Mind-Eater, well it's a hate card, value, and a commander hit. Not mind blowing, but hey.

Dockside Extortionist Jesus if it wasn't $70...

Esper Sentinel It's rhystic study on a creature, woo. Also not cheap, but hey.

Skyclave Apparition recursion friendly exile card, and it's "up to" so optional.

Mirror Entity Sometimes, hitting face is a nice win con too.

Drana, Liberator of Malakir another face-hitter, but it's flying first strike so it probably survives resurrection in combat, and it hitting first buffs your other creatures too. Little nonbo with your power 4 or greater board clear.

Duplicant I have to mention this card, it's 6 mana but if you just recur it who cares, it's a 2 power creature that exiles a creature then becomes that creature's power, so it attacks big (in theory).

To some degree I've ignored the "hate bear" theme here, but hey I'm just a little guy, what can I do.

Last_Laugh on Marchesa - You made this? I made this.

2 years ago

Chaos Warp and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel are your best options (along with Feed the Swarm) for dealing with problematic enchantments like Solemnity or Rest in Peace.

Seize the Spotlight won't typically steal creatures... but that means you draw 3 essentially free. This card is amazing here.

The other thing I'm noticing is your creature's avg. cmc is really high (3.96 discounting Metamorph and Mulldrifter). That means on average you won't play a single creature before Marchesa hits the field.

A few low drops I'd suggest include:

Vigean Graftmage lets you abuse any etb/death trigger on everyone's turn.

Grim Haruspex is the best draw engine by FAR here.

Drana, Liberator of Malakir allows you to swing at lower life totals while getting your counters before regular combat damage thanks to first strike.

Imperial Recruiter looks up a surprisingly good toolbox of answers. Couple it with Vigean above or Metallic Mimic on humans for extreme brokenness.

Oona's Blackguard's discard is brutally effective here.

Phantasmal Image needs no explanation.

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector costs 4 but is your best theft effect here BY FAR.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. I've been playing Marchesa for over 8 years now and there's a buttload of posts to sift through for more ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

RiotRunner789 on Cards Like Grand Cenobite?

2 years ago

Drana, Liberator of Malakir: Note the first strike will give most of your creatures a counter before they deal damage.

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed: Most of your buffs are nonhuman anyway.

SefTheReject on

2 years ago

All suggestions are mono black vampires and fit more of an aristocrats build.

Lords - Captivating Vampire buffs the squad and gives the ability of stealing an opponent’s creature

Vampire Nocturnus buffs the squad, gives evasion and since you’re mono black can play with the top of your library visible

1 drops - Knight of the Ebon Legion is the best 1 drop vamp imo. Can buff itself, gains permanent buffs and doubles as removal mid-late game

Viscera Seer a great sac target and let’s you scry 1

Vampire Cutthroat has skulk and lifelink

Vampire Lacerator a 2/2 for 1, you take one damage unless your opponent has 10 or less life

Indulgent Aristocrat a decent buffer with a sac engine

Guul Draz Vampire gains a buff if the opponent has 10 or less life

Pulse Tracker opponent takes 1 damage when it attacks

2 drops - Cordial Vampire not a lord in name, but has that buffing ability and triggers when ANYTHING dies. Buffs the team more efficiently than any lord imo.

Bloodghast a vital piece imo, it can’t block, but comes back when you play a land

Blood Artist a key piece for an aristocrat build, combos great with cordial and Vito

Asylum Visitor for card draw and the ability to come back

Kalastria Highborn great addition for a drain and gain/aristocrat build

Vraan, Executioner Thane combos great with Vito

Stromkirk Condemned can buff the team for a turn

Vampire Hexmage great sideboard piece for dealing with counters

Gifted Aetherborn might be favorite vampire, but doesn’t fit an aristocrat build

3 drops - Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord the only walker you need. Buffs, gives deathtouch & lifelink to a vampire, acts as a Lightning Helix and you cheat out a vampire

Silversmote Ghoul is a perfect target for Sorin’s second ability and comes back at the end of your end step

Vampire Nighthawk one of the best vampires imo, has evasion, deathtouch and lifelink, but doesn’t fit the aristocrat build

Nighthawk Scavenger a vampire goyf

Drana, Liberator of Malakir has evasion, first strike and buffs attacking creatures

Lands - Cavern of Souls an absolute MUST for any tribal build

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth flips things to swamps

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx is great for all devotion the build will have

Castle Locthwain for card draw later

Prismatic Vista, Verdant Catacombs, Polluted Delta, Marsh Flats & Bloodstained Mire to fetch and thin out your deck to keep the gas flowing.