Unspeakable Symbol

Combos Browse all Suggest

Legality

Format Legality
1v1 Commander Legal
Archenemy Legal
Canadian Highlander Legal
Casual Legal
Commander / EDH Legal
Commander: Rule 0 Legal
Custom Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Highlander Legal
Legacy Legal
Leviathan Legal
Limited Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Planar Constructed Legal
Planechase Legal
Premodern Legal
Quest Magic Legal
Tiny Leaders Legal
Vanguard Legal
Vintage Legal

Unspeakable Symbol

Enchantment

Pay 3 life: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

Craeter on Ode to the Oregon Trail

1 month ago

Ah okay, I wasn't even seeing the infinite combos but I see them now. I also run Spike Feederfoil in a Golgari deck for infinite life. That one uses Unspeakable Symbol + Corpsejack Menace or Doubling Season though for the infinite life combo. Your combo seems better since it's just a 2 card combo. Sunbond is interesting, also since it pairs up with the wardens. Maybe add Idyllic Tutor or Enlightened Tutor or Worldly Tutor to search for missing combo pieces. I may try to add Sunbond and some soul sisters to my Golgari deck if I can find the room.

Last_Laugh on Marchesa the Black Rose - Sacrifices must be made!

4 months ago

Not a bad start, but I do have several suggestions for you. I'll keep things budget friendly and break it down by category.

Finisher: Gray Merchant of Asphodel will end games. With alternate sources of +1+1 counters the lifegain doesn't matter at all. Even with an expensive Marchesa build, this is my #1 go-to finisher.

Alternate +1+1 Counter Sources: Vigean Graftmage is really good here. It comes down before and immediately protects Marchesa and it's 2 free sacs on each player's turn (itself plus 1 other). Sage of Fables likewise immediately protects Marchesa and allows you to abuse any wizard etb/death triggers every turn. Unspeakable Symbol is one you use in response to removal targeting anything without a counter (don't proactively put counters on everyone).

Card Draw: Grim Haruspex is easily your 2nd best draw engine here behind Danny Pink. Liliana's Standard Bearer will draw cards for everything that died the turn Marchesa returns it. Plumb the Forbidden helps you dodge non-destroy wraths (instant speed and pseudo dodging counterspells makes this card). Lethal Scheme helps you surprise protect up to 4 creatures without counters without tapping lands and to remove a creature while drawing some cards.

Enchantment Removal: Cards like Solemnity and Rest in Peace are the bane of Marchesa. Don't get caught with your pants down... Chaos Warp, Feed the Swarm, and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel are your only 3 realistic options and ALL 3 deserve spots.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas, I've had her built for about 9 years straight now so if you have any question, shoot. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated (especially Marchesa since it'd be upvote #200 lol). Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Belfore on Healing Therapy with Mr. Oloro

7 months ago

Things that can be useful with life gain. Kuro, Pitlord, Doom Whisperer, Greed, Staff of Compleation, Unspeakable Symbol, Vilis, Broker of Blood, Vona, Butcher of Magan. Just a few of the things I found with a quick search that could be interesting.

Last_Laugh on Marchesa's Undying Sac

8 months 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 Marchesa, Take Two

8 months ago

Canoptek Tomb Sentinel is versatile removal that hits enchantments.

Danny Pink is one of the best draw engines for Marchesa.

Plumb the Forbidden does card draw, life loss, and sacrifice at instant speed. I typically use it in response to boardwipes I can't come back from (exile, -X-X, sac, etc.).

I would also HIGHLY recommend getting Unspeakable Symbol into the deck. You don't use it to put counters on everyone proactively, you use it in response to boardwipes/spot removal.

Liliana's Standard Bearer is another great way to draw cards here.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on Marchesa, immortal army

10 months ago

Get Chaos Warp out of your maybeboard and into the deck. It along with Feed the Swarm and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel are your only answers to enchantments in these colors. I highly recommend all 3.

Unspeakable Symbol is worth its weight in gold here. Don't proactively put counters on everyone, just in response to removal as needed.

Uncivil Unrest is one of the grossest cards ever printed for Marchesa.

Danny Pink / Grim Haruspex are 2 of the best draw engines for this deck.

Anduril, Narsil Reforged is amazing here.

Feel free to check out my list for more ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on

10 months ago

Unspeakable Symbol is worth its weight in gold here. Don't proactively put counters on stuff, just in response as needed.

Feed the Swarm is 1 of your only answers to problematic enchantments in these colors. Canoptek Tomb Sentinel is an option too but without consistent sac outlets it falls off fast.

Last One Standing / Blasphemous Act are 2 boardwipes I'd highly recommend here.

Last_Laugh on Marchesa, Queen of Nazgul

1 year ago

I'd recommend taking a look at some other Marchesa lists for some ideas on random staples here.

Unspeakable Symbol is an absolute must have here. Don't add counters to everything, just in response to removal or to abuse any etb/death trigger.

Sneak Attack is amazing here. If you have a sac outlet, sac the creatures before your end step so they return on your end step instead of the next player's end step.

Sage of Fables/Metallic Mimic/Vigean Graftmage/Mikaeus, the Unhallowed all allow you to immediately protect creatures and/or abuse etb/death triggers on everyone's turn.

Grim Haruspex is really good at drawing cards here.

Kardur, Doomscourge is a hilarious (and kinda mean) etb to abuse.

Chaos Warp and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel (along with Feed the Swarm) are your only answers for problematic enchantments that shut Marchesa down like Solemnity or Rest in Peace.

I could go on, but feel free to check out my list for ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Load more