Combos Browse all Suggest
Legality
| Format | Legality |
| 1v1 Commander | 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 |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Planar Constructed | Legal |
| Quest Magic | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
The Balrog, Durin's Bane
Legendary Creature — Avatar Demon
This spell costs less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn.
Haste
The Balrog, Durin's Bane can't be blocked except by legendary creatures.
When The Balrog dies, destroy target artifact or creature an opponent controls.
Czarnian90 on
Hellegion, Shadows and Flames (Raphael)
3 days ago
Commander Update: Shadows Rise, Flames Burn
After several games against tough opponents, I’ve made a few changes to the deck and, more importantly, swapped the commander of the Hellegion. The Balrog, Durin's Bane is still very much part of the deck—playing him as a commander was fun and flavorful, but I wanted a leader who can impact my board more directly and help set the pace of the game. The Balrog remains a force of nature, and having him lurking in the deck, ready to be unleashed, still feels great. I believe he’ll continue to be a major threat even when he's not always leading the charge.
Raphael, Fiendish Savior steps in as the new commander, supporting the game plan more consistently. He helps stabilize the board, buffs my army, and sets the stage for the Balrog’s arrival. I run several cards that can fetch him straight from the deck—Blood Speaker, Demonlord Belzenlok, Rune-Scarred Demon, Icon of Ancestry, Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted, and others—so even as a lurking horror, he’s never too far away.
I also added more damage-dealing spells for better control and direct pressure on opponents. Beyond classics like Devil's Play, Terminate, and Dreadbore, I’ve added Hell to Pay and Rakdos's Return to punish hands and boards alike. On top of that, I doubled down on devil token synergy and death-triggered burn effects. These little fiends now serve not just as blockers or sac fodder, but as a win condition on their own—especially when paired with Raphael’s lifelink boost. Every dying devil becomes pain for the enemy and healing for me.
I’ve now included four versions of Ob Nixilis — yes, it’s a bit much, but each fills a unique role. This one Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted punishes card draw and bolsters removal. Tibalt, Rakish Instigator is still here too, classic devil support: fueling tokens and preventing opponents from healing the damage my demons and devils dish out. They don’t live long, but if timed right, their impact is massive.
I’ve also added some recursion (Oversold Cemetery) and a spicy alternate wincon in Liliana's Contract.
Some bigger demons were swapped out for stronger synergy or pure flavor—welcome Asmodeus the Archfiend, Balor, Kardur, Doomscourge, and others to the Hellegion.
Sadly, a few cards had to go — Imskir Iron-Eater, Archfiend of Sorrows, some regenerating skeletons, and a handful of artifacts are no longer marching with the legion.
I still have a few cards waiting on the bench—Burn Down the House, Rakdos Keyrune, Doom Whisperer, Overseer of the Damned, Skirsdag High Priest, Spawn of Mayhem, Breath of Malfegor — and I’ll be testing space for them soon.
In the long run, I’d love to add some heavier hitters and staples like Kindred Dominance, Altar of Shadows, Bontu's Monument, Krav, the Unredeemed, Rite of Belzenlok, Demonic Tutor, Sudden Spoiling, Grave Pact, Dark Prophecy, Attrition, Vilis, Broker of Blood, Razaketh, the Foulblooded, Pestilence Demon, Lord of the Void, Archfiend of Depravity, and especially Karlach, Fury of Avernus.
We’ll see where the Hellegion marches next—and who joins, or falls, along the way.
Amuneth on
The Dark Lord Rises
8 months ago
Replacements from Precon
Mountain => Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress
Boon of the Wish-Giver => March from the Black Gate
Deep Analysis => Call of the Ring
Goblin Dark-Dwellers => Dimir Signet
Goblin Cratermaker => Izzet Signet
Guttersnipe => Mauhur, Uruk-hai Captain
Inferno Titan => Rakdos Signet
Monstrosity of the Lake => Spiteful Banditry
Siege-Gang Commander => The Balrog, Durin's Bane
Summons of Saruman => Chromatic Lantern
Troll of Khazad-dum => Sauron, the Dark Lord
Rocketman988 on
Demon Till Your Dreams Come True
1 year ago
As far as the three demons you mentioned, the main reason I don’t run them is because the other cards I run do more than than them for my game plan. Demon of Death's Gate is basically just a big beater that I’ll never want to cheat into play with its alternative cost. Three other creatures on field will always be more valuable. If I have to reanimate a target anyways then, I’d rather reanimate Kuro, Pitlord, which offers more than just being a big beater. We just have too many good demons that are big bodies PLUS value to run something that is just a big body.
Likewise, Death-Rattle Oni will usually not kill much when he enters the field because our demons are bigger than chump blockers OR have evasion and go unblocked. If you play more cards similar to Pestilence Demon, I could see it, but just watch out about nuking your own creatures in addition. I would not play this demon just for a potential cheap creature to play, since with enough reanimation and rituals, you can just play higher quality demons in the slot.
The Balrog, Durin's Bane is a great card with awesome Rakdos synergy. Literally the only reason I’m not running it is because I can’t think of anything in my list I’d want to replace with it. If you have a recommendation, I’d love to hear it!
77hi77 on
Demon Till Your Dreams Come True
1 year ago
Rocketman988 that's a fantastic reply! Thanks so much! I have some time off this week and you bet I'll be rereading the Rakdos Game Theory section to figure out how to adapt it. If I can summarize that incredibly complex and nuanced section into one oversimplified sentence: We're relying on temporary mana (rituals and such), and we're making sure our opponents' board states are as slim as ours.
Did you ever toy with creatures that cheat themselves out? I keep thinking about Demon of Death's Gate, Death-Rattle Oni, and The Balrog, Durin's Bane. The 9/9 is a juicy Burnt Offering target that doesn't have any other effects, but I keep thinking about it. The Death-Rattle can be a 1 drop board wipe if you structure it right (like, Rakdos swing, Pestilence Demon). The Balrog has built in removal when we sac it, so it's currently in my deck but I've never successfully cast it. Did any of those cross your mind or do you find it's better to reanimate instead of creatures with built in ways to cheat themselves out?
Again, thanks a million and I'll link you to my deck!