Ten individuals set off on a voyage to the great unknown: space! And for an unknown number of crewmates it will indeed be their final frontier. Amongst this jolly crew lies an imposter, a deadly creature whose only goal is to sabotage and kill everyone.
That imposter? Volrath, the Shapestealer!
What is this, a crossover article? You betcha! Among Us is a deception game that has taken the Magic community by storm. Many Magic streamers (including myself) have dipped their toes into streaming the survival game, which led to an idea: Can we take the game and build a thematic Commander deck around it?
The answer is yes! This deck tech attempts to balance the flavor of the game with the deck's abilities.
For flavor reasons, I decided to lean on Volrath, the Shapestealer as our commander. This infamous figure in Magic in a Shapeshifter (reflected both in his creature type and ability). Much like the Imposter in Among Us, Volrath, the Shapestealer changes his appearance to blend in among the crowd until the time to strike is right.
In regards to functionality, Volrath, the Shapestealer's -1/-1 ability makes him perfect to create an infect/proliferate deck. While this Among Us is more about murdering than infecting, John Carpenter's The Thing is a much darker iteration of the game and still feels on point regarding flavor. Finding a balance between flavor and function in this deck is key. Excitingly, every card within this deck (excluding lands) is teaming with umami! Drop the bay doors and start running for your designated tasks! Let's dive in!
One of the most terrifying aspects of Among Us is that the Imposter(s) look exactly like the crewmates. There is absolutely no way of knowing who's an enemy unless you are the enemy yourself. This leads to a lot of suspicion, mistrust and shenanigans. So how can we convey this in deck form?
Dark Imposter
Shapeshifter! More of them! Besides Volrath, the Shapestealer, this deck has a handful of Shapeshifters and copy spells. Cards like Dark Imposter, Phyrexian Metamorph and Progenitor Mimic allow us to look exactly like our opponents' creatures. However, it should also be noted that we have ways to copy our own commander without being susceptible to the legendary rule. Cards like Spark Double and Helm of the Host allow us to generate even more -1/-1 counters at upkeep, serving as a board wipe or fuel for our proliferated fire! Which Volrath is the evil Volrath? They all are!
We've all heard this before! In order to truly be a good Imposter, you've gotta fake it until you make it. Our goal is to kill everyone, however we don't want others to catch on. Thankfully, I've provided some tasks for us to do to trick our fellow crewmates into thinking we are helpful and not completely murderous. Deception is in order!
Contagion Engine represents the delicate reactor in the game. If you don't get to it in time, it'll take the whole crew down. It also fuels our infect and proliferate purposes. Soul Stair Expedition and Journey to Eternity are our true tasks! Murder is our goal, however, these pieces allow us to get some of our sneaky, suspicious creatures back.
When a body is found, our fellow crewmates are sure to gather and start accusing. Our goal is to keep the suspicion off of us, but how?
Atris, Oracle of Half-Truths loves to jump in the voting, helping us shift blame onto others while also gaining us some cards in hand. Seizan, Perverter of Truth isn't the most reliable guy. He did follow some crew members into the med bay but he also let everyone draw some cards too. It's a tough say.
As the conversation continues, the blame shifts onto us. Worry not! For we yield the Sword of Truth and Justice (which is a bit ironic since we are lying through our sharpened teeth). Little do our crewmates know that this sword has killed many crewmates in the past, proliferating their and their creature's poison counters! "How could we have killed Blue? We were in Security and they were in Weapons! It makes no sense." Lie through our teeth so we can live to kill again!
But what if they still don't believe us? I have a plan for that as well. Fact or Fiction is here to save the day! Was I really in Med Bay or is that what Red wants you to think? Do I want pile 1 or pile 2? Keep them guessing until the voting timer runs out!
We've lied, but now it's time to do what we do best: murder. This deck is full of single-target and global removal. From the flavorful cards of Murder and Murderous Compulsion to Damnation, this deck has no shortage of ways to kill. Once we are done leaving the corpses of our dead comrades on the ground, simply jump into your Crawlspace to vent to another area. Not only does this allow us to be sneaky, but it makes our opponent's combat steps a little less painful.
After we leave the bodies behind, all we really have left to do is sabotage. Whether it's cutting off the lights, having the reactor melt down, or shut down the ship's oxygen, there are plenty of ways to sabotage the crewmate's noble efforts of survival. While Magic has no cards printed about these acts, we can supplement with some of our own.
Cards like Gleeful Sabotage and Assassin's Trophy are excellent in destroying artifacts or enchantments that belong to our opponents. It's wonderful to crush the efforts of our opponents after they worked so hard to get that Teferi's Puzzle Box or that Mana Vault. Sinister Sabotage and Confirm Suspicions, while incredibly flavorful in name, are potent counterspells that deny our opponent's from resolving some of their peskier spells.
Let's be honest. Infect and copying our opponent's creatures comes off as a bit... Impostery. I know it's not a good look, and this can either paint a large target on our backs or make our opponent's strengthen their defenses. The crewmates will surely win, right? Wrong! Because there is a second imposter!
Well… actually, there are four. But this revelation is still exciting! I present to you Biovisionary.
At first glance this card seems to be a bit of a wash in a singleton format. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. We are Imposters after all, and sometimes we have to play the long game. Helm of the Host and Spark Double, while meant for Volrath, the Shapestealer, can also be utilized to help make copies of Wizard. The same can be said for our clones. However, the real 360 no scope of this alternate win condition is Rite of Replication. If its kicker cost is paid and the spell resolves, we get five Biovisionary and a one-way ticket to victory!
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - volrath is acting sus by Chase Carroll
'volrath is acting sus' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Chase Carroll
Event:
Rank:
Commander
Market Price: $620.92
Massacre Girl
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188199_200w.jpg
Menace When Massacre Girl enters the battlefield, each other creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Whenever a creature dies this turn, each creature other than Massacre Girl gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/massacre-girl
Morphic Pool
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $23.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/166662_200w.jpg
Morphic Pool enters the battlefield tapped unless you have two or more opponents.
{T}: Add {U} or {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/battlebond/morphic-pool
Sword of Sinew and Steel
Market Price: $11.71
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/191049_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from black and from red.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target planeswalker and up to one target artifact.
Equip {2}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-horizons/sword-of-sinew-and-steel
Royal Assassin
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.95
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/47701_200w.jpg
{T}: Destroy target tapped creature.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/magic-2012-m12/royal-assassin
Atris, Oracle of Half-Truths
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.22
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/206670_200w.jpg
Menace When Atris, Oracle of Half-Truths enters the battlefield, target opponent looks at the top three cards of your library and separates them into a face-down pile and a face-up pile. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/atris-oracle-of-half-truths
Opulent Palace
Color Identity:B,G,U
Market Price: $0.32
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212443_200w.jpg
Opulent Palace enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {B}, {G}, or {U}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/opulent-palace
Grim Affliction
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/98791_200w.jpg
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
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The Scarab God
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $12.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/219023_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses X life and you scry X, where X is the number of Zombies you control.
{2}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie.
When The Scarab God dies, return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/the-scarab-god
Fact or Fiction
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/226897_200w.jpg
Reveal the top five cards of your library. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
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Bloodthirsty Blade
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196627_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and is goaded. (It attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)
{1}: Attach Bloodthirsty Blade to target creature an opponent controls. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/bloodthirsty-blade
Seer's Vision
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/7648_200w.jpg
Your opponents play with their hands revealed. Sacrifice Seer's Vision: Look at target player's hand and choose a card from it. That player discards that card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
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Revelation
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.45
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/3432_200w.jpg
Players play with their hands revealed.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/chronicles/revelation
Propaganda
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $3.90
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212386_200w.jpg
Creatures can't attack you unless their controller pays {2} for each creature they control that's attacking you.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/propaganda
Expropriate
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $16.93
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/121625_200w.jpg
Council's dilemma — Starting with you, each player votes for time or money. For each time vote, take an extra turn after this one. For each money vote, choose a permanent owned by the voter and gain control of it. Exile Expropriate.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/conspiracy-take-the-crown/expropriate
Telepathy
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.36
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/32740_200w.jpg
Your opponents play with their hands revealed.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/magic-2010-m10/telepathy
Murder
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227178_200w.jpg
Destroy target creature.
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Tainted Isle
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $3.54
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/125514_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}: Add {U} or {B}. Activate this ability only if you control a Swamp.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/planechase-anthology/tainted-isle
Grafted Exoskeleton
Market Price: $3.85
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/36417_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has infect. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)
Whenever Grafted Exoskeleton becomes unattached from a permanent, sacrifice that permanent.
Equip {2}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/scars-of-mirrodin/grafted-exoskeleton
Cultivate
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.54
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227333_200w.jpg
Search your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal those cards, and put one onto the battlefield tapped and the other into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
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Zagoth Triome
Color Identity:B,G,U
Market Price: $9.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212691_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}, {G}, or {U}.)
Zagoth Triome enters the battlefield tapped.
Cycling {3} ({3}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ikoria-lair-of-behemoths/zagoth-triome
Merciless Executioner
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.73
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/95387_200w.jpg
When Merciless Executioner enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature.
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Contagion Engine
Market Price: $13.52
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/36312_200w.jpg
When Contagion Engine enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature target player controls.
{4}, {T}: Proliferate, then proliferate again. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there. Then do it again.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/scars-of-mirrodin/contagion-engine
Crawlspace
Market Price: $9.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/72074_200w.jpg
No more than two creatures can attack you each combat.
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Thrummingbird
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.37
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/166912_200w.jpg
Flying Whenever Thrummingbird deals combat damage to a player, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-anthology-volume-ii/thrummingbird
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $11.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/110836_200w.jpg
Lifelink
If a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die, instead exile that card and create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
{2}{B}, Sacrifice another Vampire or Zombie: Put two +1/+1 counters on Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/oath-of-the-gatewatch/kalitas-traitor-of-ghet
Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $5.43
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155581_200w.jpg
Enchant creature you control When enchanted creature dies, return it to the battlefield under your control, then return Journey to Eternity to the battlefield transformed under your control.
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Rejuvenating Springs
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $8.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221354_200w.jpg
Rejuvenating Springs enters the battlefield tapped unless you have two or more opponents.
{T}: Add {G} or {U}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/rejuvenating-springs
Tezzeret's Gambit
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.40
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196535_200w.jpg
({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.)
Draw two cards, then proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/tezzerets-gambit
Confirm Suspicions
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/115922_200w.jpg
Counter target spell.
Investigate three times. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/shadows-over-innistrad/confirm-suspicions
Phyrexian Metamorph
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $4.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/218606_200w.jpg
({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.)
You may have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of any artifact or creature on the battlefield, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/phyrexian-metamorph
Temple of Mystery
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $0.34
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215547_200w.jpg
Temple of Mystery enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of Mystery enters the battlefield, scry 1.
{T}: Add {G} or {U}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/temple-of-mystery
Grim Tutor
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $12.63
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215341_200w.jpg
Search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then shuffle your library. You lose 3 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/grim-tutor
Scheming Symmetry
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $3.88
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192521_200w.jpg
Choose two target players. Each of them searches their library for a card, then shuffles their library and puts that card on top of it.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/scheming-symmetry
Castle Locthwain
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.81
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/199388_200w.jpg
Castle Locthwain enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Swamp.
{T}: Add {B}.
{1}{B}{B}, {T}: Draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/castle-locthwain
Flux Channeler
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.46
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/187122_200w.jpg
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/flux-channeler
Shadowmage Infiltrator
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/161815_200w.jpg
Fear (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.) Whenever Shadowmage Infiltrator deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/masters-25/shadowmage-infiltrator
Seizan, Perverter of Truth
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $5.73
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/12158_200w.jpg
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player loses 2 life and draws two cards.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/champions-of-kamigawa/seizan-perverter-of-truth
Hinterland Harbor
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $6.82
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162120_200w.jpg
Hinterland Harbor enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Forest or an Island.
{T}: Add {G} or {U}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/hinterland-harbor
Grave Betrayal
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/66570_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature you don't control dies, return it to the battlefield under your control with an additional +1/+1 counter on it at the beginning of the next end step. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/return-to-ravnica/grave-betrayal
Tireless Tracker
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $5.83
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/115943_200w.jpg
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Whenever you sacrifice a Clue, put a +1/+1 counter on Tireless Tracker.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/shadows-over-innistrad/tireless-tracker
Soul Stair Expedition
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/33432_200w.jpg
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a quest counter on Soul Stair Expedition. Remove three quest counters from Soul Stair Expedition and sacrifice it: Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/zendikar/soul-stair-expedition
Island
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.72
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230465_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {U}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/island
Progenitor Mimic
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $1.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/218922_200w.jpg
You may have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, create a token that's a copy of this creature."
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/progenitor-mimic
Tainted Wood
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $1.87
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/132182_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}: Add {B} or {G}. Activate this ability only if you control a Swamp.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-anthology/tainted-wood
Command Tower
Market Price: $0.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221357_200w.jpg
{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/command-tower-350
Blast Zone
Market Price: $2.88
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188636_200w.jpg
Blast Zone enters the battlefield with a charge counter on it.
{T}: Add {C}.
{X}{X}, {T}: Put X charge counters on Blast Zone.
{3}, {T}, Sacrifice Blast Zone: Destroy each nonland permanent with converted mana cost equal to the number of charge counters on Blast Zone.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/blast-zone
Whispersilk Cloak
Market Price: $1.98
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/125533_200w.jpg
Equipped creature can't be blocked and has shroud. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)
Equip {2}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/planechase-anthology/whispersilk-cloak
Acidic Slime
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/226315_200w.jpg
Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.) When Acidic Slime enters the battlefield, destroy target artifact, enchantment, or land.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/acidic-slime
Volrath's Stronghold
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $88.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/5441_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}{B}, {T}: Put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/stronghold/volraths-stronghold
Sol Ring
Market Price: $2.36
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227075_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}{C}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/sol-ring
Volrath, the Shapestealer
Color Identity:B,G,U
Market Price: $0.58
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196450_200w.jpg
At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature.
{1}: Until your next turn, Volrath, the Shapestealer becomes a copy of target creature with a counter on it, except it's 7/5 and it has this ability.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/volrath-the-shapestealer
Followed Footsteps
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $1.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/121825_200w.jpg
Enchant creature At the beginning of your upkeep, create a token that's a copy of enchanted creature.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/conspiracy-take-the-crown/followed-footsteps
Exotic Orchard
Market Price: $0.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212399_200w.jpg
{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/exotic-orchard
Arcane Signet
Market Price: $2.31
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/226694_200w.jpg
{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/arcane-signet
Assassin's Trophy
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $12.31
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/175575_200w.jpg
Destroy target permanent an opponent controls. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle their library.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/guilds-of-ravnica/assassins-trophy
Eternal Witness
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $2.94
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227335_200w.jpg
When Eternal Witness enters the battlefield, you may return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/eternal-witness
Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/129879_200w.jpg
Whenever Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons deals combat damage to a player, you may put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. Whenever you put one or more -1/-1 counters on a creature, create a 1/1 green Snake creature token with deathtouch.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/amonkhet/hapatra-vizier-of-poisons
Dark Impostor
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.59
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/139929_200w.jpg
{4}{B}{B}: Exile target creature and put a +1/+1 counter on Dark Impostor.
Dark Impostor has all activated abilities of all creature cards exiled with it.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2017/dark-impostor
Undergrowth Stadium
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $7.73
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221360_200w.jpg
Undergrowth Stadium enters the battlefield tapped unless you have two or more opponents.
{T}: Add {B} or {G}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/undergrowth-stadium
Drowned Catacomb
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $6.56
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/142036_200w.jpg
Drowned Catacomb enters the battlefield tapped unless you control an Island or a Swamp.
{T}: Add {U} or {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/drowned-catacomb
Biovisionary
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $0.43
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/67375_200w.jpg
At the beginning of the end step, if you control four or more creatures named Biovisionary, you win the game.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/gatecrash/biovisionary
Field of the Dead
Market Price: $22.84
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192562_200w.jpg
Field of the Dead enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {C}.
Whenever Field of the Dead or another land enters the battlefield under your control, if you control seven or more lands with different names, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/field-of-the-dead
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Market Price: $27.70
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/179536_200w.jpg
Each land is a Swamp in addition to its other land types.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ultimate-masters/urborg-tomb-of-yawgmoth
Altered Ego
Color Identity:G,U
Market Price: $1.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/116222_200w.jpg
This spell can't be countered. You may have Altered Ego enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it enters with X additional +1/+1 counters on it.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/shadows-over-innistrad/altered-ego
Llanowar Reborn
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $1.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/108149_200w.jpg
Llanowar Reborn enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {G}.
Graft 1 (This land enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this land onto it.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2015/llanowar-reborn
Evolution Sage
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.44
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222676_200w.jpg
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-zendikar-rising/evolution-sage
Forest
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.65
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/208389_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {G}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/product/show?ProductName=Forest
Swamp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230466_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/swamp
Gleeful Sabotage
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $1.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/37143_200w.jpg
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/archenemy/gleeful-sabotage
Rogue's Passage
Market Price: $0.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227325_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}, {T}: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/rogues-passage
Notion Thief
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.93
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222408_200w.jpg
Flash If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead that player skips that draw and you draw a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-zendikar-rising/notion-thief
Helm of the Host
Market Price: $11.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162254_200w.jpg
At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of equipped creature, except the token isn't legendary if equipped creature is legendary. That token gains haste.
Equip {5}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/helm-of-the-host
Temple of Deceit
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $2.62
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/206633_200w.jpg
Temple of Deceit enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of Deceit enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
{T}: Add {U} or {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/temple-of-deceit
Sinister Sabotage
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/175177_200w.jpg
Counter target spell. Surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/guilds-of-ravnica/sinister-sabotage
Damnation
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $41.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/128220_200w.jpg
Destroy all creatures. They can't be regenerated.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-masters-2017/damnation
Spread the Sickness
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/98802_200w.jpg
Destroy target creature, then proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-masters-2015/spread-the-sickness
Cyclonic Rift
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $21.32
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/218370_200w.jpg
Return target nonland permanent you don't control to its owner's hand.
Overload {6}{U} (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/cyclonic-rift
Phyresis
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.49
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/39062_200w.jpg
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has infect. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/mirrodin-besieged/phyresis
Temple of Malady
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.32
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215546_200w.jpg
Temple of Malady enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of Malady enters the battlefield, scry 1.
{T}: Add {B} or {G}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/temple-of-malady
Spark Double
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $4.89
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188468_200w.jpg
You may have Spark Double enter the battlefield as a copy of a creature or planeswalker you control, except it enters with an additional +1/+1 counter on it if it's a creature, it enters with an additional loyalty counter on it if it's a planeswalker, and it isn't legendary if that permanent is legendary.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/spark-double
Rite of Replication
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $7.46
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/108026_200w.jpg
Kicker {5} (You may pay an additional {5} as you cast this spell.)
Create a token that's a copy of target creature. If this spell was kicked, create five of those tokens instead.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2015/rite-of-replication
Murderous Compulsion
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196762_200w.jpg
Destroy target tapped creature.
Madness {1}{B} (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/murderous-compulsion
Sword of Truth and Justice
Market Price: $22.01
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/191050_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from white and from blue.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control, then proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Equip {2}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-horizons/sword-of-truth-and-justice
Karn's Bastion
Market Price: $3.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/187193_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}, {T}: Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/karns-bastion
Woodland Cemetery
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $4.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162123_200w.jpg
Woodland Cemetery enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Swamp or a Forest.
{T}: Add {B} or {G}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/woodland-cemetery
Fuel for the Cause
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.31
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/39157_200w.jpg
Counter target spell, then proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/mirrodin-besieged/fuel-for-the-cause
Cabal Coffers
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $76.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/37339_200w.jpg
{2}, {T}: Add {B} for each Swamp you control.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/planechase/cabal-coffers
Fabled Passage
Market Price: $7.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215556_200w.jpg
{T}, Sacrifice Fabled Passage: Search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. Then if you control four or more lands, untap that land.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/fabled-passage
Tainted Strike
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/36465_200w.jpg
Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains infect until end of turn. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/scars-of-mirrodin/tainted-strike
Kodama's Reach
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $1.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/226953_200w.jpg
Search your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal those cards, and put one onto the battlefield tapped and the other into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/kodamas-reach
Rhystic Study
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $25.56
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216235_200w.jpg
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may draw a card unless that player pays {1}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/rhystic-study
Heroic Intervention
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $6.63
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215550_200w.jpg
Permanents you control gain hexproof and indestructible until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/heroic-intervention
Infect and -1/-1
Flavor aside, this deck is full of Sultai good stuff. From nasty removal to fun ways to wreck our opponents' hands, this deck is fun and balanced.
That being said, let's talk about how fair Infect is. Infect and proliferation are this deck's bread and butter. Without them, it will be hard to cross that finish line. Thankfully, there is a bounty of infect and proliferate in Sultai!
Evolution Sage, Thrummingbird and Flux Channeler have triggered abilities that allow us to proliferate. Tezzeret's Gambit allows us to draw cards and proliferate while Spread the Sickness serves as single-target removal and proliferation as well. If we have a copy of a big, evasive swinger that doesn't have infect, Phyresis and Grafted Exoskeleton serve as a way to spread our counters to every opponent.
If we can't proliferate poison counters, we still have -1/-1 counters to think about. Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons allows us to generate tokens whenever we place one of these counters on a creature. While she may not place counters, Massacre Girl is still here to help wipe the weakened board altogether after a hefty global proliferation.
Building this deck was such an incredibly enjoyable experience. Being able to go in with an flavorful concept and having it remain intact after 60 cards were cut is such a wonderful thing.
While Among Us is popular within the Magic community, I was a bit surprised that so many cards printed by WotC were easily translatable to the theme of the build. Scheming Symmetry, Revelation and Followed Footsteps felt too good to be true when they were suggested during brewing.
While we are at the end of the article and the Imposters have won, I would like to highlight some of my favorite cards that were cut to help facilitate this balance. RIP Murderer's Axe, Spy Kit and Magnifying Glass. You were very cute, but fell short of our nefarious standards!
So I have just one final question for you: How do I vent like Volrath?
