Emperor of Bones

Creature — Skeleton Noble

At the beginning of combat on your turn, exile up to one target card from a graveyard.

{1}{B}: Adapt 2. (If this creature has no +1/+1 counters on it, put two +1/+1 counters on it.)

Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on Emperor of Bones, put a creature card exiled with Emperor of Bones onto the battlefield under your control with a finality counter on it. It gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.

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
Freeform	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (4)

TheVectornaut on King of the Skull Servants

1 month ago

As a fellow enjoyer of Grass Looking Greener (mostly Lightsworn but also some Zombie/Vampires, PK+Paleos, and Skull Servants), I do think the idea is interesting. You're always going to be in a bit of a battle between thematic consistency and power level. For instance, a grave-counting creature like Wight of Precinct Six or Nighthowler would fit the idea of King growing with more guys in the yard, but they would also be disappointingly weak right now since you don't have a lot of mass self-mill at the moment (Stitcher's Supplier and Overlord of the Balemurk are the first things that comes to my mind). On the subject of getting what you want in the GY, it probably is best to have a few more ways of getting specific targets buried at least. With Entomb off the table in modern, I could see Unmarked Grave being the best cheap option instead of or in addition to Buried Alive. This only negatively affects Maha who I already think is worse than reanimator staples like Archon of Cruelty or Sire Of Insanity. Fewer legendaries also makes Persist a great choice. There's also Lively Dirge if you want to stick to the low mana value plan and can afford to pay more mana. Finally, I'm partial to Burning-Rune Demon as a way to extend into more reanimations while being a reasonable threat in its own right. I think it would be cool to run more skeletons for the theme too, although most aren't that helpful. Cards like Reassembling Skeleton or Persistent Specimen could be sac fodder to a Victimize or Hell's Caretaker. Another one that I know can be good in black reanimator is Emperor of Bones, although he has some unfortunate anti-synergy with other cards in the deck like Twilight Diviner. Death Baron is always an option if you find the Corpses of the Lost backup plan doesn't have enough oomph.

Some final notes: It may be more consistent to focus on just the Xu-Ifit negated reanimations. That would involve going up to 4 Death's Shadow and adding in some similar options like Moonshadow or Yargle and Multani. The EDHRec page for Varolz, the Scar-Striped could be a place to start. That all said, having the more powerful effects of non-negated creatures may still be worth the inconsistency of the two plans not always meshing whan you need them to. You do want to have the best options available in either case though. My first cut suggestions would be Gloom Sower, Avatar of Woe, Inkwell Leviathan, and lastly Maha, Its Feathers Night. Finally, I second cutting some lands and would suggest Bitter Triumph as a replacement for Cast Down that comes with a Cabal Therapy option built-in.

capwner on Grog (Jerk Edition)

1 month ago

Looks like modern goodstuff but also has some of that oldschool grixis feel and some smooth interactions, I like this! I'm questioning Street Wraith since it only seems good with Riddlers and you are already losing life to your manabase and thoughtseize. I recommend something else in the slot Emperor of Bones is good as it can hit opponents' creatures, Snapcaster Mage is always nice for grixis, or maybe something that mills cards like Ripples of Undeath or Stitcher's Supplier/Flare of Malice. Orcish BowmastersGC+Chthonian Nightmare is another engine you could consider. I've also found Surgical Extraction to be a little lukewarm recently precisely because of the prevalence of frog in reanimator lists, unless you are using it in conjunction with e.g. a lot of artifact destruction to remove Amulets or similar. Good ol' Fatal Push might make sense too. I think you're on the right track with sb board wipes, could use The Meathook Massacre as another option if u need more. Maybe split up your sb counterspells and try some Mystical Dispute, Strix Serenade, Flusterstorm in the board? That's all I got, nice concept!

YourNeighborhoodGhost on -1/-1 Counter Precon Upgrade

1 month ago

Emperor of Bones and Evolution Witness would fit well i think.

Fluggleshmuggits on Cube Eternal

1 year ago

IN
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
Loran of the Third Path
Recruiter of the Guard
White Orchid Phantom
Leyline Binding
Recruitment Officer
Bloodthirsty Adversary
Bomat Courier
Bitter Reunion
Barrowgoyf
Insatiable Avarice
Sheoldred's Edict
Emperor of Bones
Caustic Bronco

OUT
Solemn Recruit
Cathar Commando
Oketra the True
Imposing Sovereign
Faith's Fetters
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Pyromancer's Goggles
Otherworldly Outburst
Thrill of Possibility
Night's Whisper
Painful Truths
Liliana's Triumph
Cabal Interrogator
Pain Seer