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Meren Takes Us to Nel Toth

Commander / EDH BG (Golgari) Bracket 4 Reanimator

Stodge17

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Creature (33)

Instant (4)

Land (33)

Enchantment (6)

Commander (1)

Commander: Meren of Clan Nel Toth

Sorcery (18)

Artifact (5)

Sideboard

Creature (5)

Sorcery (1)

A Funny Story from the Swamps of Nel Toth

Meren sighed as she examined the guest list for her annual “Graveyard Gala.”

“Let’s see… Protean Hulk? Check. He always brings friends. Razaketh? Only if we cater souls. Ooze? As long as he doesn’t copy Kokusho again and explode.”

The evening was off to a good start until Syr Konrad challenged everyone to a “death match” — literally. Every creature that died echoed through the venue like a haunted speaker system.

Massacre Wurm got tipsy and insulted Avenger of the Fallen’s tokens, leading to a very one-sided brawl.

At some point, Walking Ballista overheard Mikaeus saying, “You’d be nothing without me,” and promptly went infinite out of spite.

Meren made a mental note: next year’s event would be invite-only… and maybe outside the graveyard.

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Playstyle and Primer — June 1, 2025
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Meren Takes Us to Nel Toth — Primer & Playstyles

Commander:

Meren of Clan Nel Toth – Your necromantic MVP. Generates value by recurring creatures and building experience counters. With her on the board, every creature death is fuel for the graveyard engine.

Primary Win Conditions

  1. Protean Hulk Combo

Once Protean Hulk dies, fetch: • Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Walking Ballista (if enough mana available), or • Necrotic Ooze, Phyrexian Devourer, and Walking Ballista into graveyard to prep for…

  1. Necrotic Ooze Combo

Requires Necrotic Ooze on field, and Phyrexian Devourer + Walking Ballista in the graveyard: • Exile top cards with Devourer’s ability ? put counters on Ooze. • Remove counters with Ballista’s ability to ping opponents. • Loop for lethal.

Note: Make sure Devourer’s death clause doesn’t interfere — only exile enough cards to finish the game or go just under the 7 power threshold.

  1. Razaketh Line

With Razaketh on the field (via reanimation or tutoring): • Sacrifice creatures to tutor up whatever you need: • Entomb to dump combo pieces. • Victimize/Animate Dead/Necromancy for reanimation. • Protean Hulk for more value. • Living Death for massive reanimation swing.

This often leads directly into win-con assembly or a board reset in your favor.

  1. Drain & Smash

Sometimes you don’t need infinite loops. You can: • Drain life with Syr Konrad, the Grim, Kokusho, the Evening Star, and The True Scriptures. • Overwhelm with Massacre Wurm, Archon of Cruelty, or Avenger of the Fallen. • Stick Mikaeus + anything undying for value loops. • Go wide with value and smash face if the board state allows.

Playstyles Based on Opening Hands

Ramp Hand

Example: Sol Ring, Golgari Signet, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Dark Ritual

Goal: Get Meren out early (turn 2–3) and start accumulating experience counters quickly. Start setting up for a quick Hulk/Devourer dump.

Control Hand

Example: Assassin’s Trophy, Toxic Deluge, Fleshbag Marauder, Deathcap Glade

Goal: Stall the board and chip away value while preparing your graveyard. This path sets you up to pivot into combos after wiping the board.

Graveyard Setup Hand

Example: Entomb, Buried Alive, Stitcher’s Supplier, Necrotic Ooze

Goal: Quickly load the graveyard with combo pieces and support cards. Reanimate them by turn 4-5. Ooze combo becomes a real threat early.

Tutor Hand

Example: Grim Tutor, Final Parting, Jarad’s Orders

Goal: Tutor directly into your wincons. Use Meren to recur utility creatures and sac outlets. Tutor for Living Death, then laugh maniacally.

Reanimator Hand

Example: Reanimate, Animate Dead, Exhume, Archon of Cruelty

Goal: Reanimate a big threat early and ride that momentum. If you’ve got Archon, Kokusho, or Razaketh in hand or grave, you’re already spooky.

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97% Casual

Competitive