<p style="text-align: right;"><em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate|dsc|155" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CJohann+Bodin%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johann Bodin</a></em></p>
<p>Reanimator is a popular Commander archetype that takes advantage of the graveyard to spruce up the battlefield. Whether it's to cheat the cost of a creature, reuse the same ones over and over, or expand your hand into the ground, the Reanimator archetype offers lots of opportunity for a satisfying, powerful puzzle to solve.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reanimate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Animate Dead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breach the Multiverse"></div></div>
<p>In this guide, we'll look at what makes a deck "Reanimator," the best cards and commanders for the strategy, and how to play it.</p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Reanimate.jpg

<p>A <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/reanimator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reanimator</a> deck is a subcategorization of a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/graveyard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Graveyard</a> deck. It takes cards from the graveyard and puts them into play in one form or another.</p>
<p>For our purposes, we'll be focusing on creature-focused Reanimator decks because this is the purest definition of Reanimator without tipping too much toward just a Graveyard deck that happens to run some reanimation.</p>
<p>So, while there are commanders like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muldrotha, the Gravetide" href="#" target="_blank">Muldrotha, the Gravetide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Osgir, the Reconstructor" href="#" target="_blank">Osgir, the Reconstructor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that allow their controllers to make use of a thick graveyard, these are Graveyard decks. Every Reanimator deck is a Graveyard deck, but not every Graveyard deck is a Reanimator deck.</p>


<p>Here are the main characteristics of a Reanimator Commander deck:</p>
<ul>
<li>Big graveyards, whether your own or your opponents'.</li>
<li>Spells and abilities that return creatures to the battlefield from the graveyard or some equivalent effect.</li>
<li>"Cheating," aka circumventing, high mana costs via a detour to the graveyard.</li>
<li>Reanimator strategies are primarily in <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>white and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>black, with other colors usually providing support.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hofri Ghostforge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Scarab God"></div></div>


<h3>Benefits of Reanimator</h3>
<ul>
<li>It's a flexible archetype with varied playstyles that can range from on-rails to a "moving puzzle."</li>
</ul>
<p>Reanimator is so flexible that it can range <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from casual to competitive</a>. If it weren't for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Griselbrand" href="#" target="_blank">Griselbrand</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> wouldn't be so popular in Legacy. Not to mention, of course, that cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can tutor anything you need directly to your graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Entomb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheoldred, Whispering One"></div></div>
<p>A bomb like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheoldred, Whispering One" href="#" target="_blank">Sheoldred, Whispering One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can hit play on turn one thanks to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For those more competitive players, this is what the game's all about.</p>
<p>There are other ways to play Reanimator. Some builds can find themselves sharing some overlap with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/sacrifice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacrifice</a> decks. Sometimes it's about getting yourself set up with an engine so you can use and abuse creatures leaving and reentering the battlefield thanks to a sacrifice outlet and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shirei, Shizo&#039;s Caretaker" href="#" target="_blank">Shirei, Shizo&#039;s Caretaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Brewing a Reanimator deck list will have you tinkering and tooling with your ratios to get it just right.</p>
<ul>
<li>Big bombs!</li>
</ul>
<p>I don't often play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashen Rider" href="#" target="_blank">Ashen Rider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archon of Cruelty" href="#" target="_blank">Archon of Cruelty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but when I do, it's because I have a way to take advantage of them without having to pay their high mana costs.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashen Rider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archon of Cruelty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doomed Necromancer"></div></div>
<p>Sacrificing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood|tinr|21" href="#" target="_blank">Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> token the end step before your turn lets you dump the Rider into your graveyard for you to target with your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doomed Necromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Doomed Necromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> activation.</p>
<p>If this made your eyes widen with excitement, congratulations! You're going to love being a necromancer.</p>
<ul>
<li>You get to play with other players' graveyards, too.</li>
</ul>
<p>While this isn't everybody's favorite, there are tools in the Reanimator's belt that grant you the pick of <em>any</em> graveyard, and sometimes <em>each</em> graveyard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sepulchral Primordial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grave Researcher"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sepulchral Primordial" href="#" target="_blank">Sepulchral Primordial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may cost seven mana, but it should net you three bodies plus its own. You probably won't have paid seven mana for that either.</p>
<p>There's no shame in admitting that sometimes your opponents are running amazing cards. Compliment them by using your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on something plucked from one of their graveyards. They'll be so flattered!</p>
<p>Actually, many will be a little (or very) annoyed, but that's just how it goes sometimes.</p>
<h3>Drawbacks of Reanimator</h3>
<ul>
<li>Your plan is weak to graveyard hate.</li>
</ul>
<p>When you're playing any sort of Graveyard deck, you'll dread seeing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rest in Peace" href="#" target="_blank">Rest in Peace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of the Void" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of the Void</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bojuka Bog"></div></div>
<p>If a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes an appearance, it makes a ton of sense to aim it at the person who's put all their eggs in one graveyard.</p>
<ul>
<li>Sometimes you draw the "wrong side" of the deck.</li>
</ul>
<p>When you play a Reanimator strategy, your deck will often be designed to have three types of effects: graveyard-filling effects, reanimation effects, and reanimation targets. It's necessary to strike a balance between these three.</p>
<p>Luckily there are ways to smooth things out on cards that offer a two-fer, like on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junji, the Midnight Sky" href="#" target="_blank">Junji, the Midnight Sky</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is a great target to reanimate and a reanimator itself.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Junji, the Midnight Sky"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Delver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sister Hospitaller"></div></div>
<p>Unfortunately, sometimes you draw nothing but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Delver" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Delver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sister Hospitaller" href="#" target="_blank">Sister Hospitaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s when what you really need is some self-mill or looters.</p>
<p>If you're not optimizing this strategy, it can still be a late-game contender. If left alone long enough, because of the reanimation targets, you've still got some action if you have to hard-cast them.</p>
<p>The deck isn't dead in the water, but if things don't come together, games can feel like a thumb-twiddling session.</p>


<p>Here are some tips for playing Reanimator in Commander:</p>
<ul>
<li>Be prepared to accept your role as the archenemy. Reanimator decks forecast themselves by showing what can come into play next or with a display of power that makes your opponents fear your next turn. This also means accepting the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s targeting you more often.</li>
<li>Prioritize looting as your card draw options. Draw into your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necromancy" href="#" target="_blank">Necromancy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> while throwing a powerful creature into the graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Likeness Looter" href="#" target="_blank">Likeness Looter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Greater Good" href="#" target="_blank">Greater Good</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> always feel great to draw in a Reanimator deck. Blood tokens are phenomenal for this strategy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necromancy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Likeness Looter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Greater Good"></div></div>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=oracle%3Asurveil+%28game%3Apaper%29+prefer%3Abest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surveil</a> mechanic is <i>Magic</i>'s gift to Reanimator players. Use it a bunch!</li>
<li>If you find yourself building a lot of Reanimator lists, vary the reanimation targets. You'll thank me later. People get tired of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> quick, but you'll get tired of the lil' guy too, eventually.</li>
<li>Don't put all your eggs in the grave-basket. You might want to fire off all your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karmic Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Karmic Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s because things are rolling right now, but hold onto one of them or a way to buy them back, in case. If you lose your reanimation effects, you're in for an uphill battle.</li>
<li>Goldfish the heck out of your decks. Know your cards and how they interact because Reanimator decks can offer a ton of different choices which can be overwhelming. You don't want to take up too much of everybody's night being in the tank so long. Get acquainted with the cards that make you excited when you see them!</li>
</ul>


<p>Here are the top three commanders for Reanimator <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/reanimator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to EDHREC</a>, with some insight into what makes them as popular as they are.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teval, the Balanced Scale" href="#" target="_blank">Teval, the Balanced Scale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teval, the Balanced Scale"></div></div>
<p>Teval isn't popular just because it was one of the commanders from the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/sultai-arisen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sultai Arisen</em> precon deck</a>. Teval provides three things that make it an attractive option in the command zone.</p>
<ol>
<li>It fills the graveyard with its attack trigger. Having the ability to fill the graveyard right in the command zone allows you to cut down on a few of those slots in the 99. You need the 'yard filled so you can pull stuff out of it!</li>
<li>Teval gives you an additional incentive to bring things out of your graveyard by giving you Zombie tokens which can be blockers and sacrifice fodder.</li>
<li>It's in a popular three-color combination known for big value.</li>
</ol>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meren of Clan Nel Toth"></div></div>
<p>It absolutely warms my heart to see Meren still topping the Reanimator charts 11 years after her first printing as the face commander in the Commander 2015 precon <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/plunder-the-graves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Plunder the Graves</em></a>.</p>
<ol>
<li>Meren is your primary reanimation engine right in the command zone. With experience counters, no matter how many times your opponents get rid of her, when she comes back and survives to your end step, she can still bring back a creature with mana value based on the number of those counters.</li>
<li>Meren partners the Reanimator experience with a Sacrifice one.</li>
<li>Meren is a resilient reanimation engine that requires some protection, but ultimately nets you a great deal of value over time.</li>
</ol>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terra, Herald of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Terra, Herald of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terra, Herald of Hope"></div></div>
<p>The popular face commander from <em>Final Fantasy</em>'s <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/revival-trance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Revival Trance</em> precon</a> led a deck full of fantastic new designs for one of the most iconic <em>Final Fantasy </em>sequels.</p>
<ol>
<li>Terra solves two parts of the puzzle: she fills your graveyard <em>and</em> reanimates creatures</li>
<li>She isn't just a popular character from a popular Universes Beyond product, she offers fans of the archetype a new way to break creatures out of the 'yard. Requiring combat damage and a two-mana payment, Terra is also limited to reanimating creatures with three power. Is this as restrictive as it would seem? One match against a Terra deck, you won't be wondering that anymore.</li>
<li>Terra is in a popular color combination, and a particularly good one for Reanimators. Terra gives you access to both primary Reanimator colors, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>black and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>white, and the secondary Reanimator color, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>red)</li>
</ol>


<p>Here's <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/21869837/the_master_transcendent_reanimator_for_you_and_me" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my deck list</a> for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Master, Transcendent" href="#" target="_blank">The Master, Transcendent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a Sultai (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander from <em>Fallout</em>. The deck has a total of 55 creatures in it, so tons of great targets to reanimate.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="ReanimatorForYouandMe" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Master, Transcendent
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abyssal Harvester
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Amphin Mutineer
*1 Ancient Brass Dragon
*1 Archetype of Endurance
*1 Blossoming Tortoise
*1 Body Double
*1 Bonny Pall, Clearcutter
*1 Bramble Sovereign
*1 Callidus Assassin
*1 Colossal Grave-Reaver
*1 Dreamborn Muse
*1 Druid of Purification
*1 Enduring Vitality
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Extractor Demon
*1 Freestrider Lookout
*1 Garruk&#039;s Packleader
*1 Hua Tuo, Honored Physician
*1 Icetill Explorer
*1 Kheru Goldkeeper
*1 Kiora&#039;s Follower
*1 Kodama of the East Tree
*1 Lizard, Connors&#039;s Curse
*1 Loaming Shaman
*1 Lumra, Bellow of the Woods
*1 Marvin, Murderous Mimic
*1 Metamorphosis Fanatic
*1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
*1 Millikin
*1 Muldrotha, the Gravetide
*1 Mystic Snake
*1 Necron Deathmark
*1 Phenax, God of Deception
*1 Prime Speaker Zegana
*1 Puppeteer Clique
*1 Quistis Trepe
*1 Raul, Trouble Shooter
*1 Riddlekeeper
*1 Ruin Crab
*1 Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
*1 Satoru, the Infiltrator
*1 Sepulchral Primordial
*1 Sheoldred // The True Scriptures
*1 Sidisi, Regent of the Mire
*1 Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment
*1 Six
*1 Skull Prophet
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Tato Farmer
*1 Teval, the Balanced Scale
*1 Timeless Witness
*1 Wood Elves
*1 Yarok, the Desecrated
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Intruder Alarm
*1 Ripples of Undeath
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Altar of the Brood
*1 Mindcrank
*1 Phyrexian Altar
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deathcap Glade
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*3 Forest
*1 Hedge Maze
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*2 Island
*1 Minamo, School at Water&#039;s Edge
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Swamp
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Underground Mortuary
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Volrath&#039;s Stronghold
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Woodland Cemetery
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
*1 Zagoth Triome
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Reanimator in Commander

EDHREC Guide to Reanimator in Commander

Trystan, Callous Cultivator Commander Deck Tech

The Best Graveyard Cards of 2025 for Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Falcon, Airship Restored" href="#" target="_blank">The Falcon, Airship Restored</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://kotakan.artstation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kotakan</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! This week, we're exploring a recent new ruling that was dropped in light of <em>Edge of Eternity </em>spoilers. Yes, legendary Vehicles can be commanders now (though I'm too much of a boomer to let that sink in), and there's a few to boot.</p>
<p>However, the number of Vehicles that work at the helm is severely limited for now, but we can expect this number to grow over time. That said, which Vehicle did I decide to cover today? Let's find out.</p>
<h2>I'm On a Blimp</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Falcon, Airship Restored"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, not much is known about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Falcon, Airship Restored" href="#" target="_blank">The Falcon, Airship Restored</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It comes from <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>, and was the main airship the heroes used to traverse the world. That is, the world after Kefka made a mess of things, putting it lightly.</p>
<p>That said, our commander has a lot going for us. Firstly, it's in mono-black, so mana issues will be non-existent. That said, this forces us to get creative with our card choices.</p>
<p>Secondly, it's able to bring itself back onto the battlefield. This is huge, because we don't need to keep sending The Falcon back into the command zone.</p>
<p>Thirdly, it lets us reanimate a creature on contact, but it sacrifices itself in the process. Taking all of this into account, I'm sure you know where we're going.</p>
<h2>Boarding the Ship</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flayed One"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Incarnation Technique|sld|1776"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive|sld|1673"></div></div>
<p>What we're doing here is essentially Mono-Black Reanimator, and there's plenty of choices. However, we need to trim the fat, and send it into the graveyard first.</p>
<p>Firstly, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flayed One" href="#" target="_blank">Flayed One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shinra Reinforcements" href="#" target="_blank">Shinra Reinforcements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> do this upon entry. That said, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stitcher&#039;s Supplier|fic|287" href="#" target="_blank">Stitcher&#039;s Supplier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does this when it dies as well.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rejoin the Fight" href="#" target="_blank">Rejoin the Fight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't just mill us, but also can bring back up to three creatures from our graveyard. Though, the opponents will get to choose what comes back. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Warring Triad" href="#" target="_blank">The Warring Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is lots of things: reanimation target, ramp, and a way to dig through our library.</p>
<p>Secondly, we can use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive|sld|1673" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to search for specific targets, and send them to the graveyard. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Key to the City|fic|348" href="#" target="_blank">Key to the City</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help The Falcon bypass flying blockers. That said, it also gets bigger creatures out of our hand, keep them from clogging it up.</p>
<p>Thirdly, like Rejoin the Fight, there's a few all-stars that can both mill and reanimate. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Incarnation Technique|sld|1776" href="#" target="_blank">Incarnation Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s demonstrate ability allows us to copy it. On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The War in Heaven" href="#" target="_blank">The War in Heaven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> draws cards, mills us, and reanimates a creature, all in one package.</p>
<p>Speaking of packages, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tomb Fortress" href="#" target="_blank">Tomb Fortress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mills and reanimates, but exiling it makes it a one-time deal. Use it wisely.</p>
<h2>Greeting the Passengers</h2>
<p>We've milled some cards, and we have some form of reanimation in our hand, but what do we get back?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Primal Odin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zodiark, Umbral God"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, you can always go the tried and true big stuff route. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Depravity|fic|273" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Depravity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will ensure no board will clutter. In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zodiark, Umbral God" href="#" target="_blank">Zodiark, Umbral God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does his best Thanos impression, making everyone sacrifice half of their (non-God) creatures.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hexmark Destroyer" href="#" target="_blank">Hexmark Destroyer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though, will be difficult to block unless there's an army of tokens. Conversely, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shard of the Void Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shard of the Void Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will snipe a troublesome permanent.</p>
<p>Secondly, we can always bring back something that provides some utility. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seymour Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Seymour Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Arena" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Arena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that gets bigger with each trigger. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Siegfried, Famed Swordsman" href="#" target="_blank">Siegfried, Famed Swordsman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mills us on entry, then gets bigger for each creature in our bin. However, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will drain our opponents while we keep killing off creatures, especially so if we can obtain his emblem.</p>
<p>Thirdly, there's always targets that help fulfill the deck's theme in some ways. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sepulchral Primordial|fic|284" href="#" target="_blank">Sepulchral Primordial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will reanimate multiple creatures from our opponents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Primal Odin" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Primal Odin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is scary: the first chapter destroys a creature, then it outright murders an opponent if it connects with the second chapter active; use Key to the City to make it even more disgusting.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ardyn, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ardyn, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is graveyard hate on top of making a token copy of that creature. Said creature comes with sizeable states, plus keywords from Ardyn as well.</p>
<p>Lastly, if push comes to shove, we can always recur The Falcon, and use that to bring something back (just remember to crew it first!)</p>
<h2>The Falcon, Airship Restored Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-The Falcon" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 The Falcon, Airship Restored
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Ardyn, the Usurper
*1 Canoptek Wraith
*1 Flayed One
*1 Gaius van Baelsar
*1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
*1 Hexmark Destroyer
*1 Merciless Executioner
*1 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel
*1 Sepulchral Primordial
*1 Seymour Flux
*1 Shard of the Void Dragon
*1 Shinra Reinforcements
*1 Siegfried, Famed Swordsman
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Summon: Primal Odin
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 The Warring Triad
*1 Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival
*1 Zodiark, Umbral God
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Death in Heaven
*1 The War in Heaven
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Beacon of Unrest
*1 Dread Return
*1 Evil Reawakened
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Incarnation Technique
*1 Living Death
*1 Mutilate
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rejoin the Fight
*1 Resentful Revelation
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Stitch Together
*1 Syphon Mind
*1 Temporal Extortion
*1 Their Name Is Death
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Caged Sun
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Key to the City
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sceptre of Eternal Glory
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Crypt Incursion
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Darkness
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Deadly Rollick
*1 Defile
*1 Dismember
*1 Overkill
*1 Saw in Half
*1 Snuff Out
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Cabal Coffers
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Eden, Seat of the Sanctum
*1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid
*1 Myriad Landscape
*29 Swamp
*1 Tomb Fortress
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Making the Most of the Trip</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cabal Coffers|ltc|360"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise of the Dark Realms|fic|283"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market Connections|acr|87"></div></div>
<p>Today's list is your average Reanimator list, only that we're restricted to black. Fortunately, The Falcon is reanimation, and can recur itself when we sacrifice it. Multiple reanimations like that aren't common (even if it's a hefty cost to bring it back from the graveyard).</p>
<p>Firstly, we have the fabled <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cabal Coffers|ltc|360" href="#" target="_blank">Cabal Coffers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth|ltc|375" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo to provide us with a ton of mana to use. The only planeswalker in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana of the Dark Realms|sld|1593" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, will help us either remove annoying permanents, or consistently let us hit our land drops. Don't count on hitting that emblem, but we basically win if you do. One of those lands can help cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temporal Extortion|sld|1859" href="#" target="_blank">Temporal Extortion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give us an extra turn.</p>
<p>Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death in Heaven" href="#" target="_blank">Death in Heaven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> snipes our opponents' graveyard, but more importantly gives us bodies with which to crew The Falcon. In addition, smaller bodies like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor|fca|35" href="#" target="_blank">Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Shinra Reinforcements, and the tokens made from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Market Connections|acr|87" href="#" target="_blank">Black Market Connections</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help crew it, too.</p>
<p>Lastly, if we need to, we can close out games with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms|fic|283" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a flipped <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zenos yae Galvus" href="#" target="_blank">Zenos yae Galvus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Another way, if you can pull it off, is to repeatedly trigger Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER (or his emblem if you manage to flip him)'s ability to drain your opponents.</p>
<h2>Venturing Into the Blind Eternities</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gray Merchant of Asphodel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chainer, Dementia Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archon of Cruelty"></div></div>
<p>I've covered this in past articles (sidenote: I'm going to have to go out of my way to avoid more Reanimator articles), but going in-universe expands our reanimation suite. We gain access to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Animate Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Animate Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necromancy" href="#" target="_blank">Necromancy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which are cheap to cast.</p>
<p>On that note, since we're in mono-black, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes incredibly strong here, perhaps enough to be a finisher on its own. An oldie, but goodie, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chainer, Dementia Master" href="#" target="_blank">Chainer, Dementia Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is the perfect in-universe choice if Vehicles as commanders aren't your jam. He can even pull from our opponent's graveyards, too! He gets especially potent when we have the Coffers/Urborg combo, since his ability is repeatable.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noxious Gearhulk" href="#" target="_blank">Noxious Gearhulk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card I'm surprised hasn't gotten the <em>Universes Beyond</em> treatment yet, is all-around good removal on a decent body. Another good body to use is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archon of Cruelty" href="#" target="_blank">Archon of Cruelty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can run away with the game if unchecked.</p>
<p>Another good finisher is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torment of Hailfire" href="#" target="_blank">Torment of Hailfire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but know that it'll cause groans at the table, and isn't really a fun way to win.</p>
<h2>Preparing to Land</h2>
<p>Building a deck with a Vehicle as a commander was something I thought would never happen, but here we are. If you ask me, I was half-expecting planeswalkers to be first (technically, there a few where you can, but I wasn't counting those). Though, I imagine some of them would be too broken for the command zone, and the banlist would certainly get larger.</p>
<p>That said, I imagine we'll get more legendary Vehicles down the road, and in more color combinations now that they're legal as commanders. As of the writing, most of our choices are either monocolored, or colorless, and the options don't automatically scream commander-material (not the format, but as commanders).</p>
<p>Tune in next time, where we take an unexpected turn, and have a need to control some chaos.</p>


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