Commander Masters Set Review - Black Reprints
Greatness at any cost...
Long the rallying cry of many a black mage. Pay life, sacrifice creatures, bleed yourself dry for the slightest advantage. No bridge is too far for a true devotee of the most sinister of magics, no cost too high.
Okay, the cost for sealed product might be a little too high, that's fair, but these reprints are sure to drive prices down for singles, so, as one of the Internet's foremost experts on necromancy, let me present to you my picks for the best black reprints Commander Masters. Given that this is my first article for Commander's Herald, I've elected to eschew the typical format and am giving you my top lucky number 13.
1. Deadly Rollick
Honestly I don't think anyone had any higher hopes than that the free spell cycle from Commander 2020 reprinted in this set. These cards have become absolute staples in almost every mid-high-power game of EDH, and three of them see play in every cEDH deck that has the ability to run them (the Grixis ones, go figure). The cycle's lack of availability (only have been printed once in aforementioned Ikoria precons) combined with extreme demand had driven the price of the majority of them up a ton, so these are an exceptional reprint. This is likely one of the best single target creature removal spells in Commander, if not the very best. Not to mention this amazing new art featuring Judith, the Scourge Diva.
2. Demonic Tutor
I don't think Demonic Tutor needs a ton of introduction as a card; it was originally printed in Alpha and is THE tutor. It's the reason we call tutors tutors. Like... I think that says it all right there. Regardless of its historical impact on the game, consistency is something tutors afford you in a 99-card singleton deck that is difficult to replicate any other way. Every black deck can and probably should run this card, as it is literally just a second copy of any other card in your deck for an additional 1B. Despite its number of reprints, price never drops on this card for long, and reprints are always welcome. You won't catch me dead without this card in every single list that can run it, and again, an AMAZING new borderless art treatment from Donato Giancola is always welcome.
3. Razaketh, the Foulblooded
A reprint near and dear to my heart for obvious reasons, Raz is another black card that sees play in A LOT of the strongest decks running the color. While maybe not as busted as his older bro, Grislyboi (He doesn't need a comma title; he just is), he's not far behind as he gives you the ability to tutor (there's that word again) for any card in your deck for the cost of 2 life and a creature. Black decks won't find either of these costs hard to meet, and let's be real: you aren't paying that casting cost. Come on.
4. Imp's Mischief
I struggled with where in the rankings I wanted to put this card, TBH, because it honestly isn't one of my favorite cards to run. It kind of occupies that space of "this is the best we can do in these colors," but the effect is still strong, and given the lack of availability for the only other printing of this card, it is a very good reprint. In black decks that aren't running any other colors with better stack interaction (mono-black, the way Yawgmoth intended), this is the best option for doing so, it's black's most effective option that isn't just creature removal, and it's the best way to protect your combos from getting countered, assuming you have another target to swap the spell to.
5. Grave Pact
This is a card I personally love, but I never know what deck to put it in. I used to run it in many casual decks but have found that it tends to make people very grumpy. That being said, I guess that's kind of the point? Either way, great tool in aristocrats decks for a bit of board control, and we got not one but TWO cool new art treatments. The first one is giving "Tally Ho Catha-ACK!" while the second evokes a bit of the grim mystique of older printings. Despite already having a few reprints, given the last time this was printed, this was definitely a welcome one.
6. Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
I put Big Mike in the bottom half of this list so people wouldn't accuse me of being biased because this was my personal preview card for this set 😛 But in all seriousness, this guy is an all-star in so many different creature-based decks in black, and combos at the drop of a hate with cards like Yawgmoth, Thran Physician and Walking Ballista. We just got him in a really cool SLD, but seeing a meaningful reprint is awesome, and it's my pick for best use of the portrait style.
7. Bloodchief Ascension
I struggled on the placement for these last few, honestly, but this one feels right in this spot. While we have seen a reprint in The List, this is the first real reprint since OG Zendikar in 2009, and the price reflected that. Very happy to see this card get a reprint for that reason, and because we got awesome new art featuring Drana, and it is just a neat card to be honest. Also, it's part of a funny two-card combo with Mindcrank. Just saying.
8. Toxic Deluge
Toxic Deluge has been reprinted several times, but I'll never get tired of seeing another one because this is honestly just flat out the best board wipe in the game. It's the Frank's Red Hot of board wipes. Enough said, honestly.
9. Kindred Dominance
Another card that DESPERATELY needed a reprint. Mostly due to availability, this card's price had SKYROCKETED, and this is sure to bring a welcome drop. With a mana value of seven, you're unlikely to see this in a ton of higher-powered games and won't see it in any cEDH games, but the ability to potentially do a one-sided board wipe in a mid power-game in your typal deck is worth a heck of a lot. I would expect to see this more in casual games in the wake of the reprint. And cool new art featuring some cheeky Slivers.
10. Archfiend of Despair
This is another card that had ZERO business being as expensive as it was due to lack of availability (over $50 at one point T^T) but also it's a massive Demon with Wound Reflection stapled on it, and that's pretty cool. Likely to see more play in mid-ish power games and be a massive threat when it hits the table, this card just SCREAMS Commander in every classical sense of the word.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Jet Medallion
I couldn't in good conscience put this in the proper top 10 since it's not ACTUALLY a back card, but it's obviously a stellar reprint. The Medallion cycle has long been in need of reprints and are just very solid cards in most any deck, and this is the first time you can get most of them in foil! Aside from... I guess... Post's Medallion... Hm...
2. Sower of Discord
This card truly does sow discord. Not that Discord. But yeah. In combination with a few of the other cards on this list, get ready to bleed opponents dry twice as fast! Use it for politics! Commander!!!
3. Final Parting
And finally, before we part, one of my favorite cards in the entire game of Magic. This card isn't a WILD reprint, per se. The original card was printed at uncommon in Dominaria and isn't particularly hard to get a hold of, but it is a great card that I highly recommend more people run. I run this in almost every deck that wants things in the graveyard, and most of the time casting it directly leads to winning the game. It's like someone stapled an Entomb on a Diabolic Tutor, and I love that. Not to mention the art and flavor text combined with the name are utter chef's kiss.
