Maximizing Different Permanent Types in Your Graveyard

Korvold doesn't just care about sacrificing permanent types, he also likes to see a graveyard with as many different permanent types as possible. That's why, beyond the four permanent types mentioned above, the deck also has at least a couple each of battles, planeswalkers, and kindred cards.

You don't always have to sacrifice permanents to get them into your graveyard – you can surveil with Dragon's Rage ChannelerDragon's Rage Channeler, discard with Faithless LootingFaithless Looting or Bitter ReunionBitter Reunion, or self-mill with Malevolent RumbleMalevolent Rumble and Grist, the Hunger TideGrist, the Hunger Tide (note that Grist itself counts a creature and planeswalker card when it's in your graveyard).

This foundation offers support to other cards that care about different card types, like Fear of Missing OutFear of Missing Out, Obsessive SkinnerObsessive Skinner, Osseous SticktwisterOsseous Sticktwister, Omnivorous FlytrapOmnivorous Flytrap, and Demolisher SpawnDemolisher Spawn. Following this theme, you can also make gigantic Lhurgoyfs with PolygoyfPolygoyf, Disa the RestlessDisa the Restless, and Tarmogoyf NestTarmogoyf Nest.

Finally, Traverse the UlvenwaldTraverse the Ulvenwald, Demonic CounselDemonic Counsel, and Peer Past the VeilPeer Past the Veil serve as powerful card selection spells.

Thematic Disruption and Removal

Having a stocked graveyard also enhances many removal spells. You can target problematic permanents with the extra-efficient Unholy HeatUnholy Heat or Drag to the RootsDrag to the Roots, take out many different permanents with Convert to SlimeConvert to Slime, or wipe the whole board with Deluge of DoomDeluge of Doom or Terror TideTerror Tide.

Inclusions for Korvold

Around 5% of all Korvold decks have Ursine MonstrosityUrsine Monstrosity. When you aren't setting up the perfect turn to cast Korvold, this scary Bear represents a powerful, mana-efficient threat that reinforces the theme of maximizing different card types in your graveyard. Including instants and sorceries, there are nine different card types, so this creature can grow as big as 12/12!

Not on Korvold's page, but Case of the Stashed SkeletonCase of the Stashed Skeleton does it all: creating a token that's begging to be sacrificed, being able to sacrifice itself to put an enchantment in the graveyard, and essentially offering an on-theme Demonic TutorDemonic Tutor for a much lower price tag.

Not on Korvold's page. Tyvar, Jubilant BrawlerTyvar, Jubilant Brawler is my "Challenge the Stats" pick – offering a low-cost permanent type that doesn't show up too much and mills more card types into your graveyard. This planeswalker also returns important mana outlets like Gilded GooseGilded Goose, GoldhoundGoldhound, Orcish LumberjackOrcish Lumberjack, or Diamond LionDiamond Lion and allows them to be activated immediately. In a late-game scenario, Tyvar can instead get back cards like Fear of Missing OutFear of Missing Out or Lizard BladesLizard Blades that give your commander an extra punch.

Exclusions

Many cards show up on Korvold's page that allow you to sacrifice permanents, but cost extra mana to do so. Cards like these do result in more different permanent types in your graveyard, but often end up being neutral or even net negative when it comes to reducing Korvold's mana cost.

Burnished HartBurnished Hart, Wayfarer’s BaubleWayfarer’s Bauble, Mind StoneMind Stone, and Heaped HarvestHeaped Harvest serve as more long-term ramp, but the deck already includes a high number of mana positive sacrifice artifacts and creatures like GoldhoundGoldhound and friends.

Dockside ChefDockside Chef, Village RitesVillage Rites, and VictimizeVictimize allow the deck to generate card advantage, but I don't want to pay two mana for the ability to sacrifice a creature and am choosing to rely as little on instants and sorceries as possible.

Caustic CaterpillarCaustic Caterpillar and Insidious FungusInsidious Fungus are artifact and enchantment removal, but I see Haywire MiteHaywire Mite and Seal of PrimordiumSeal of Primordium as more efficient and having less common card types.

Finally, Ebon StrongholdEbon Stronghold, Dwarven RuinsDwarven Ruins, and Havenwood BattlegroundHavenwood Battleground show up as lands that can sacrifice themselves to create a sudden burst of mana. While I feel comfortable sacrificing cards like Blood PetBlood Pet and TreasureTreasure tokens for a quick mana infusion when needed, going down on lands as well is a bit too "all-in" for my taste. Additionally, tapped monocolored lands in a three-color deck can be rough.

Korvold, Gleeful Glutton Decklist

Deck Checklist

• 57 mana sources (34 lands, 4 artifacts, 15 creatures, 4 other permanents)
• 11 card draw/selection
• 13 removal spells, including 3 mass removal
• 3 finishers
• Permanent types: 32 creature, 16 artifact, 12 enchantment, 3 battle, 2 kindred, 3 planeswalker (some cards have multiple types)

Mid-Budget Upgrades

Matzalantli, the Great DoorMatzalantli, the Great Door allows you to loot permanents with the types you need into your graveyard and then flip into a land so powerful, you'll never worry about having enough mana to cast your commander again!

If you want to lean more into the sacrifice strategy, Sylvan SafekeeperSylvan Safekeeper is a great protection piece for Korvold, while Rottenmouth ViperRottenmouth Viper, Vraska, Golgari QueenVraska, Golgari Queen, and the other version of the commander, Korvold, Fae-Cursed KingKorvold, Fae-Cursed King, accrue card advantage while sacrificing permanents along the way.

For more Lhurgoyf excitement, you can add NethergoyfNethergoyf, BarrowgoyfBarrowgoyf, PyrogoyfPyrogoyf, and the iconic former "best creature in Magic," TarmogoyfTarmogoyf itself.

Jeska, Thrice RebornJeska, Thrice Reborn and Minsc & Boo, Timeless HeroesMinsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes increase your planeswalker density while threatening to deal enormous chunks of damage with your commander or another large creature.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading this week's article! Join me next week when I find an interesting and unique Naya commander that's right on the border of popularity. See you then.