Volrath: No School, like Old School

Commander / EDH Fear Goodstuff Mono-Black Reanimator Shadow Suicide Black Theme/Gimmick Voltron Vorthos

Asgeren

Creature (18)

• 1x Apprentice Necromancer
• 1x Ascendant Evincar
• 1x Avatar of Woe
• 1x Baron Sengir
• 1x Colossus of Sardia
• 1x Dauthi Trapper
• 1x Draco
• 1x Filth
• 1x Graveborn Muse
• 1x Hypnox
• 1x Lord of the Pit
• 1x Phage the Untouchable
• 1x Scion of Darkness
• 1x Shauku, Endbringer
• 1x Soldevi Adnate
• 1x Spirit of the Night
• 1x Stratadon
• 1x Teeka's Dragon

Sorcery (10)

• 1x Ancient Craving
• 1x Ashes to Ashes
• 1x Bubbling Muck
• 1x Decree of Pain
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Grim Tutor
• 1x Imperial Seal
• 1x Infernal Contract
• 1x Mutilate
• 1x Syphon Mind

Enchantment (16)

• 1x Animate Dead
• 1x Cover of Darkness
• 1x Dauthi Embrace
• 1x Dragon Shadow
• 1x Greed
• 1x Infernal Darkness
• 1x Necromancy
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Pestilence
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x Shade's Form
• 1x Sleeper's Guile
• 1x Soul Channeling
• 1x Strands of Night
• 1x Tortured Existence

Artifact (11)

• 1x Defense Grid
• 1x Grim Monolith
• 1x Jet Medallion
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Mana Vault
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Nevinyrral's Disk
• 1x Null Brooch
• 1x Scroll Rack
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Thran Dynamo

Commander (1)

Land (36)

• 1x Ancient Tomb
• 1x Barren Moor
• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Deserted Temple
• 1x Lake of the Dead
• 1x Petrified Field
• 1x Safe Haven
• 1x Strip Mine
• 23x Swamp
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Terrain Generator
• 1x Volrath's Stronghold
• 1x Wasteland
• 1x Winding Canyons

Instant (8)

• 1x Dark Ritual
• 1x Darkness
• 1x Hatred
• 1x Necrologia
• 1x Shallow Grave
• 1x Snuff Out
• 1x Vampiric Tutor
• 1x Withering Boon

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{B} My Pure Old School Volrath Deck {B}

I have for the longest time been wanting to build a black deck using only cards from Scourge or older, for pure burnt paper boxes nostalgia and absolute {B} Rock 'n' Roll!

I chose Volrath the Fallen as commander - he is my all-time favourite antagonist in MTG and looked crazy fun, being able to discard Draco and such, for 1-shot voltron kills and cheat in big bad beasties such as Hypnox or classic Lord of the Pit for old-school flavour with Animate Dead or other such spells afterwards. - just maybe don't do that with Phage the Untouchable...

Uses mostly enchantments such as Dauthi Embrace or Dragon Shadow for evasion to get through enemy lines.

Has some different kinds of protection like Shade's Form, Null Brooch and Darkness. Plus reanimation, to get our commander back in action, hopefully with flash or haste.

All cards newer than Scourge (last of the old border sets) are banned in this decklist for old school purist reasons.

{B} - TACTICS - {B}

With Volrath's superior intellect, he easily manipulates anyone.

Basic tactic should be to keep it cool and take your time, explosive plays too early can cost you the game easily by making you a big target. The strongest play isn't always the best play. Also politics play a big part in this deck since you can possibly one-shot someone, so making deals or threatening/bluffing goes a long way.

{B} - BIG 13 BEASTIES - {B}

Volrath's favourite beasties to devour and unleash upon enemies.

• Draco +16/+16 = -1 CMD DMG Until death.

• Hypnox +11/+11 = 4 CMD DMG Until death.

• Stratadon +10/+10 = 5 CMD DMG Until death.

• Colossus of Sardia +9/+9 = 6 CMD DMG Until death.

• Teeka's Dragon +9/+9 = 6 CMD DMG Until death.

• Spirit of the Night +9/9+ = 6 CMD DMG Until death.

• Baron Sengir +8/+8 = 7 CMD DMG Until death.

• Scion of Darkness +8/+8 = 7 CMD DMG Until death.

• Avatar of Woe +8/+8 = 7 CMD DMG Until death.

• Lord of the Pit +7/+7 = 8 CMD DMG Until death.

• Phage the Untouchable +7/+7 = 8 CMD DMG Until death.

• Shauku, Endbringer +7/+7 = 8 CMD DMG Until death.

• Ascendant Evincar +6/+6 = 9 CMD DMG Until death.

With 9+ Power an opponent gets put on a one-turn clock with Volrath's power alone.

{B} - RECURSION - {B}

Get beasties back for Volrath to consume or command at his pleasure.

• Phyrexian Reclamation - gets Volrath or a beastie back into hand to be discarded again for damage.

• Tortured Existence - gets Volrath or a beastie back into hand to be discarded again for damage.

• Shallow Grave - gets a beastie, utility creature or Volrath with haste{ENERGY}.

• Animate Dead - gets a beastie or utility creature.

• Necromancy - gets a beastie or utility creature.

• Strands of Night - Amazing card in this deck! Gets beasties or Volrath onto the battlefield with Flash{ENERGY}.

• Volrath's Stronghold - Volrath's crib also gets a beastie back into hand to be discarded again for damage.

• Apprentice Necromancer - gets a beastie, utility creature or Volrath with haste{ENERGY}.

{B} - EVASION - {B}

Evasion tools mainly for Volrath to get through enemy lines and inflict indescribable pain.

• Dauthi Trapper - Practically the same as unblockable.

• Dauthi Embrace - Practically the same as unblockable and with instant use.

• Filth - Use to pump Volrath so he can go hug his fellow black players. <3

• Cover of Darkness - gives fear and isn't destroyed if Volrath is.

• Dragon Shadow - also gives fear, and is free after first cast.

• Sleeper's Guile - also gives fear, and can be cast again if lost.

• Pestilence - Pump Volrath, use this to clear board - then murder someone! (Mutilate also works for this, but you will of course inflict less damage)

• Ashes to Ashes - Great if opponent thinks he's safe with a few indestructable blockers.

{B} - UTILITY - {B}

"How fascinating it is to watch the machinations of one’s own mind play themselves out." - Volrath

• Soul Channeling - Regenerates Volrath, good against boardwipes or as a detergent.

• Shade's Form - OG Totem armor for Volrath + the nice ability to pump him.

• Null Brooch - Protects Volrath when he's smashing face from pesky instants or boardwipes.

• Safe Haven Saves Volrath from being exiled, taken or trapped.

• Scroll Rack - Dig deep, control your draw - Very good in this deck.

• Winding Canyons - Gets Volrath out with Flash{ENERGY}.

• Imperial Seal - Find key piece, such as Cabal Coffers.

• Grim Tutor - Also find key piece such as Necropotence.

• Demonic Tutor - Also find key piece such as Tortured Existence.

• Vampiric Tutor - Also find key piece such as Draco.

• Petrified Field - Saves Cabal Coffers, which is often a target.

• Defense Grid - Leaves Volrath able to do your evil on your turn.

• Infernal Darkness - Messes with opponents mana, very good if you need to catch up.

• Darkness - Great classic protection.

MANA RAMP (10 Spells, 3 Land):

• Bubbling Muck

• Dark Ritual

• Cabal Coffers - Classic Big Mana

• Ancient Tomb

• Lake of the Dead - Amazing Burst Ramp

• Soldevi Adnate - Pump Volrath huge, murder someone, then sac him for BIG mana and then just reanimate him.

• Thran Dynamo

• Mind Stone

• Jet Medallion

• Grim Monolith

• Mana Vault

• Mana Crypt

• Sol Ring

CARD DRAW (10 Spells):

• Greed

• Mind Stone

• Ancient Craving

• Decree of Pain

• Syphon Mind

• Necrologia - So in style! and probably the best draw card - I usually sink 10-15 life into this.

• Phyrexian Arena

• Necropotence - Since the cards do go into the graveyard before being exiled, we can return the cards we need to our hand or the table, with the various spells we have that does that, before they are lost in oblivion.

• Infernal Contract - The life loss is usually very much worth the 4 cards.

• Graveborn Muse

SINGLE TARGET REMOVAL (5 Spells):

• Snuff Out

• Withering Boon Very good at surprising opponents - I mean, a black counterspell!

• Ashes to Ashes

• Shauku, Endbringer

• Avatar of Woe

BOARD WIPES (5 Spells):

• Decree of Pain

• Nevinyrral's Disk

• Mutilate

• Pestilence

• Ascendant Evincar - Good against tokens or small combo pieces.

{B} - WINCONS - {B}

“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.” - Volrath

• Volrath the Fallen - Voltron IS the main way this deck wins.

• Phage the Untouchable - As cool back-up voltron if Volrath is indisposed.

• Hatred - Very good to finish off the last opponent.

• BIG 13 BEASTIES - Good old fashioned beatdown.

This is my pet deck and I always appreciate suggestions to make the deck more effective, fun and flavorful, just please keep in mind that the cards need to be from "Scourge" or older, thanks!

Top Ranked	Achieved #3 position overall 3 years ago Achieved #2 position in Commander / EDH 3 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Goodstuff 3 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Mono-Black 3 years ago
Date added	4 years
Last updated	1 week
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	43 - 0 Rares 21 - 0 Uncommons 13 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	4.05
Folders	My decks, Commander, snazy (EDH), Old-School EDH, Other Decks, Old School, edh, My Favorites, Ref. Decks, Old School