Norman OsbornNorman Osborn | Art by Scott M. Fischer

I love a lot of things in Magic, but there's nothing I love more than looting and the villainous vibe of Grixis (). Well, luckily for me, Norman OsbornNorman Osborn brings both of those things exploding together like a pumpkin bomb of fun.

On his front side, you get a great unblockable threat that cycles through your deck and grows with counters. On his back half, he'll give you access to the cards you discard each turn, as well as reduce the cost of anything you cast from your graveyard.

He's Something of a Magic Card Himself...

There's a lot of flexibility with this commander, since you can cast him early for the front side, then transform him later in the game. Or spend that four mana and get him down for his back half first. As we look over this deck list, the cards will be a bit more focused on the Green Goblin side, playing off of discarding cards and then casting them from the graveyard.

The budget for this deck, excluding the commander, is hovering around the $40 mark (using TCGPlayer pricing, since it best represents what you would most likely be charged at your local game store.)

This list is designed to give you a synergistic and effective build without breaking your bank. So, with all that out of the way, let's take a look at some of the notable inclusions that make this deck tick.

Tricky Mayhem Enablers

• Welcome the DeadWelcome the Dead: This card is double trouble for your opponents, because it enables more cards in your hand to be cast with mayhem, while also making you Zombies. Plus, that flashback cost will be discounted by your commander, so you can keep your discard engine running.
• Winternight StoriesWinternight Stories: Drawing three and discarding two makes for some amazing value in this deck, but it also has harmonize, which is another effect that lets you cast this from your graveyard at a cheaper rate.
• Laughing MadLaughing Mad: Since mayhem obeys timing restrictions, including instant speed discard effects will prove to be very tricky for your opponents to deal with.

• FluxFlux: I'm a huge fan of this card, since it allows you to wheel away the specific cards you want to cast with mayhem, while filling your hand right back up in return.
• Dihada's PloyDihada's Ploy: This deck will more than likely make you the enemy at the table, so having a little bit of life gain can keep you in the game. Also, jump-start allows you to discard a card to recast this from your graveyard, which allows you to continue your value train.
• Frantic SearchFrantic Search: Drawing and discarding is strong in this list, for sure, however this spell acts almost like a ramp effect, since you can tap lands to float mana and then cast this with mayhem for a reduced cost and untap those lands to be used again.

Repeatable Discard Outlets

• Chainer, Nightmare AdeptChainer, Nightmare Adept: This is one of the best creatures in the deck, since it not only gives you a free discard each turn, but it also allows you to cast creatures from your graveyard and gives them haste.
• UndertakerUndertaker: The resiliency this creature offers is great for a deck like this. If the table keeps removing your threats, you'll be able to get them right back into your hand.
• The Underworld CookbookThe Underworld Cookbook: As I've stated before, there's a good chance this deck will make you the archenemy, so while having Food tokens laying around might not seem useful at first glance, you never know when cracking a few of them could save your life.

• Ghostly PilfererGhostly Pilferer: While the incidental card draw this creature will bring is great for the deck, the fact that it offers you a free discard outlet for only two mana is what takes this card to the next level.
• Rona, Herald of InvasionRona, Herald of Invasion: This legend offers you a straightforward looting effect as early as turn two, while also having the option of untapping after you play your commander or any other legendary spell.
• Vohar, Vodalian DesecratorVohar, Vodalian Desecrator: Here's another strong looter that brings some life drain to the mix, plus it offers you a way to recast a key instant or sorcery when you need it in a pitch.

• Skirge FamiliarSkirge Familiar: Even though this creature has a high mana value, it's worth the cost in this deck. Having a free discard outlet that also ramps you in the late game is just what this list needs to help close out games.
• Bog WitchBog Witch: One of my all time favorite cards in Magic is Dark RitualDark Ritual and having this creature on your board is basically giving you access to that effect over and over again.
• Merchant of the ValeMerchant of the Vale: While the creature side of this card does offer an expensive rummage effect, the Adventure half is what landed it on this list. One mana to enable a mayhem effect is a solid rate at instant speed.

Mass Discard Effects

• Ruin GrinderRuin Grinder: This creature's ETB offers the table the option to wheel, which your deck will most likely benefit the most from. Also, the cycling effect here gives you a way to discard it for only two mana to get a Mountain when you need to be hitting your land drops.
• SnortSnort: While this spell doesn't draw you back up to a full seven cards, it does still let you see five new cards, while throwing a lot of cards in your bin to be cast with mayhem. Plus, it has flashback, so you can do it all over again.
• Shattered PerceptionShattered Perception: Here's a clean self-wheel card that has a relatively low mana value, both if you cast it from your hand, or for its flashback cost.

• Ancient ExcavationAncient Excavation: This instant is a great way to draw a whole lot of cards all at once, then pick and choose which spells will be best to recast with mayhem later.
• Brass's Tunnel-GrinderBrass's Tunnel-Grinder: Here's another card that gives you a lot of control over what you discard, while also eventually becoming a land. That discover effect on the flip side could make the turn you're popping off even more chaotic to deal with for your opponents.
• Collective DefianceCollective Defiance: Three mana to discard your hand and replace it with new cards is a very solid rate. On top of that, the escalate ability offers a little bit of targeted interaction if you need it. Speaking of removal...

Synergistic Removal

• Lethal SchemeLethal Scheme: Conniving is exactly what your commander loves to do, so this spell felt like an auto-include when I came across it. Plus, if you have enough creatures on the board, it could be cast for free.
• Prismari CommandPrismari Command: Every mode on this card is relevant in the deck, making this incredibly flexible for whatever you need at the time.
• Bitter TriumphBitter Triumph: Two mana to destroy a creature or planeswalker is a solid rate, but it's also great for the fact that you can discard a card as you cast it, setting you up to cast it from your graveyard with your commander.

Norman Osborn Commander Deck List

In Closing

So there you have it, a budget list for everyone's favorite scientist turned villain Norman OsbornNorman Osborn. What do you think of this list? Did I miss any budget must-haves? Let me know in the comments!

Also, if you would like to see more budget content around the legends from Spider-Man, check out my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort.

Oh, and for those of you who haven't yet come across Norman's Through the Omenpaths version: you've now seen the Fleem.

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