Welcome to the third (spooky) episode of our Brewing series, all dedicated to Halloween! In our first entry, we explored The Master of Keys, and in the second, commanders inspired by Marvel superheroes. Today, we guide you through five brand-new, terrifying decklists made for the scariest night of the year. With these decks, your game will be populated with sinister creatures and dark strategies, perfect for an unforgettable Halloween. And remember: if you have a “chilling” idea or want to contribute an article to our series, don’t hesitate to reach out. Fasten your cloaks, light the lanterns… and get ready to see what “tricks” or “treats” await you in these lists!
Zul Ashur, Lich Lord
This commander emerges straight from the dark depths of Foundations, an expansion still shrouded in mystery, promising to bring a horde of new undead into Centurion. Zul Ashur, Lich Lord stands out as a commander for Zombie tribal decks with a focus on reanimation, reviving fallen allies directly from the graveyard. His Ward ability — with a life point cost — makes it difficult for opponents to remove him without a price, creating a protective barrier that resonates perfectly with the macabre theme of the deck.
Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
Straight from Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander, Valgavoth is the perfect embodiment of a Rakdos deck that plays with fire — and life! This commander embraces the Life Bargain theme, an archetype that balances life loss and recovery, making opponents pay dearly for every misstep. Each time an opponent loses life for the first time on their turn, Valgavoth powers up and draws you a card.
The deck aims to deal damage while developing its board through menacing creatures and a peak of reanimator spells to bring back other monsters from the graveyard.
Arabella, Abandoned Doll
Arabella, from the eerie Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander expansion, brings the horror theme into a fierce Boros deck full of small warriors. The deck takes advantage of low-power creatures to maximize Arabella’s ability, allowing her to damage all opponents and gain life based on their number. A swarm strategy is ideal for Arabella, standing out as a commander capable of leading a swift and lethal assault.
With Arabella, every attack becomes more than just an attack: it’s a wave of direct damage that scorches opponents and empowers the player, bringing home the spoils of battle.
Clavileño, First of the Blessed
With Clavileño, First of the Blessed, Vampires transform into powerful Demons under the guidance of a dark and charismatic leader. This commander offers an intriguing and deadly ability: whenever you attack, you can choose an attacking Vampire (that isn’t already a Demon) and grant it demonic powers, making it a Demon in addition to its other types. Not only that, but when this empowered creature falls, you’re rewarded with a drawn card and an impressive 4/3 Vampire-Demon token with flying, ready to continue the aerial onslaught. Clavileño supports an aggressive and strategic playstyle, transforming Vampires into even more formidable forces and ensuring that every sacrifice on the battlefield is rewarded with resources and even more powerful creatures.
Winter, Cynical Opportunist
Another commander from the dark lands of Duskmourn, Winter, Cynical Opportunist focuses on filling your graveyard and maximizing the delirium mechanic. It’s a solid midrange deck capable of playing a grindy game, then unleashing its armies by reanimating permanents from the graveyard or casting heavily discounted spells thanks to the delve mechanic. Creatures like Grim Flayer and Tombstalker, along with the entire package of cycling creatures, will be ready to make an impact on the battlefield. Demonic Counsel can fetch the best card for any situation, and the various Lhurgoyfs will show no mercy to your opponents. A crazy and delirious deck, just the right ingredients for a worthy celebration of Samhain.
Whether you love Zombies, infernal creatures, or a horde of small warriors, these lists offer you the chance to explore the dark side of Centurion this Halloween season. Each commander fits the theme perfectly, bringing their own “trick” or “treat” to the battlefield. Don’t forget to keep the lights on and prepare your decks: Halloween has come to the world of Centurion!
