Edgar Markov

Commander / EDH RBW (Mardu) Tribal Vampires

JeremyTheMiner

Creature (30)

• 1x Abzan Falconer
• 1x Ainok Bond-Kin
• 1x Asylum Visitor
• 1x Bishop of Binding
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Bloodcrazed Paladin
• 1x Bloodline Keeper  ^Flip
• 1x Bloodtracker
• 1x Captivating Vampire
• 1x Cordial Vampire
• 1x Cruel Celebrant
• 1x Drana, Liberator of Malakir
• 1x Falkenrath Noble
• 1x Forerunner of the Legion
• 1x Gifted Aetherborn
• 1x Indulgent Aristocrat
• 1x Insolent Neonate
• 1x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
• 1x Knight of the Ebon Legion
• 1x Legion Lieutenant
• 1x Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
• 1x Mer-Ek Nightblade
• 1x Olivia Voldaren
• 1x Olivia's Bloodsworn
• 1x Rakish Heir
• 1x Sadistic Skymarcher
• 1x Sanctum Seeker
• 1x Stromkirk Captain
• 1x Tithe Drinker
• 1x Vampire Nighthawk

Sorcery (4)

• 1x Austere Command
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Merciless Eviction
• 1x New Blood

Land (36)

• 1x Arid Mesa
• 1x Badlands
• 1x Blood Crypt
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Cavern of Souls
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Graven Cairns
• 1x Hall of Heliod's Generosity
• 1x Luxury Suite
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Path of Ancestry
• 1x Plateau
• 1x Rugged Prairie
• 1x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Savai Triome
• 1x Scrubland
• 1x Silent Clearing
• 2x Snow-Covered Mountain
• 3x Snow-Covered Plains
• 6x Snow-Covered Swamp
• 1x Strip Mine
• 1x Sunbaked Canyon
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Tainted Peak
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Vault of the Archangel

Enchantment (7)

• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Cathars' Crusade
• 1x Impact Tremors
• 1x Legion's Landing  ^Flip
• 1x Reconnaissance
• 1x Stensia Masquerade
• 1x Underworld Connections

Commander (1)

Artifact (13)

• 1x Bontu's Monument
• 1x Boros Signet
• 1x Chromatic Lantern
• 1x Door of Destinies
• 1x Icon of Ancestry
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Rakdos Signet
• 1x Sensei's Divining Top
• 1x Shadowspear
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x The Ozolith
• 1x Vanquisher's Banner

Instant (8)

• 1x Anguished Unmaking
• 1x Crackling Doom
• 1x Go for the Throat
• 1x Mortify
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Return to Dust
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Vampiric Tutor

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord

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Maybeboard

Creature (3)

• 1x Bloodthirsty Aerialist
• 1x Vampire of the Dire Moon
• 1x Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

Artifact (2)

• 1x Embercleave
• 1x Throne of the God-Pharaoh

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Diabolic Intent

Instant (3)

• 1x Boros Charm
• 1x Hide / Seek
• 1x Kaya's Guile

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord

Enchantment (2)

• 1x Retribution of the Ancients
• 1x Underworld Breach

Land (1)

• 1x Mana Confluence

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Deck Philosophy

I run a +1/+1 counters theme in my Edgar deck, using some of the Outlast creatures from Tarkir block (namely Abzan Falconer and Mer-Ek Nightblade) to make the Eminence tokens into beasts as soon as Edgar hits the board. Backing it up is a core of Rakish Heir, Stensia Masquerade, Stromkirk Captain, and Reconnaissance, in case I get mana screwed or can't get Edgar out for some reason.

I avoid planeswalkers. I know that many of the Sorins are commonly run in Edgar decks, but I haven't found much value in most of them. The only one I currently run is Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord, primarily for the graveyard recursion. Being able to give the Outlast creatures the Vampire type is a really nice bonus. I'm considering Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, but the jury is still out. His first +1 fits in nicely with the deck, but I'm not sure about the second +1 or the -3. With the -3 being a "put onto the battlefield" rather than a "cast without paying its mana cost", it doesn't give the Edgar trigger, which could be significant.

Important Synergies

• **Reconnaissance + First Strike Enablers:**

  Reconnaissance is an incredibly important card in this deck. On its own, it allows you to effectively Maze of Ith your own creatures to prevent death due to bad blocks, as well as providing pseudo-Vigilance. Combined with the deck's First Strike enablers (Stromkirk Captain and Stensia Masquerade) (or native First Strike creatures such as Edgar Markov and Drana, Liberator of Malakir), you can allow your creatures to deal damage during the First Strike Damage step, then activate Reconnaissance to remove them prior to Combat Damage, meaning that they deal damage but take no damage from blockers, and remain untapped after combat.

• **Abzan Falconer/Mer-Ek Nightblade + Counter Production:**

  This was a great piece of deck tech I initially picked up from The Command Zone, and I think that more Edgar Markov players really need to use it. Abzan Falconer and Mer-Ek Nightblade are both from Khans of Tarkir, and feature the _Outlast_ mechanic. In this case, _Outlast_ is irrelevant; it's the "Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it..." lines that matter. Using Edgar Markov's "_Whenever Edgar Markov attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on each Vampire you control._" ability, as soon as Edgar attacks all of your vampires gain flying (from Abzan Falconer) or deathtouch (from Mer-Ek Nightblade). Also within this mechanic set, we have access to first strike (from Ainok Bond-Kin), lifelink (from Abzan Battle Priest), and the ability to block two creatures (Cenn's Tactician). I initially ran Abzan Battle Priest, but replaced it with Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord when War of the Spark released to add graveyard recursion.

Previous Pitfalls

• **Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood**

  This is an extremely common combo in Edgar Markov decks. It's understandable, since half of the combo comes in the precon. There's a few problems with this combo here:

  • It's too expensive

  10 CMC is an eternity in this deck. When the average CMC is under 3, having a two card combo at 5 each is extremely hard to swallow. Many argue that you can play the two cards on consecutive turns, and that's true, but it's telegraphing.

  • It's too well known

  As soon as one of the pieces hits the stack, expect a counter or removal. People know this combo, and it's played in just about any life manipulation archetype that runs black.

  • It's too fragile

  Exquisite Blood is a truly unique card in Magic. There are many cards that can replicate the effect of Sanguine Bond, but Exquisite Blood is irreplaceable. If this combo is your win condition, and an opponent manages to exile Exquisite Blood, your plan is done.

• **Going Too Wide**

  Many Edgar Markov players feel that you should fill the deck with every one and two drop vampire ever printed. Given the power of Edgar's _Eminence_ ability, I can see where that thought comes from but I strongly disagree. I've tried to make sure that every creature does something other than trigger Edgar's _Eminence_.

Pending Changes

• IN:Savai Triome OUT:Nomad Outpost There is no reason to run the Khans wedge taplands in light of the Triomes, unless you're running both. The Triomes are strict upgrades, in two ways: they're fetchable, and they cycle. The only reason this hasn't happened yet is because I haven't ordered a foil Savai yet.

Date added	5 years
Last updated	4 years
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	8 - 0 Mythic Rares 45 - 0 Rares 30 - 0 Uncommons 6 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.72
Tokens	Vampire 1/1 B, Vampire 1/1 W, Vampire 2/2 B, Zombie 2/2 B