Welcome to the latest Planeswalker Duel Deck! Before we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with this week's compilation, make sure you have the full history by checking out my introduction to the project, and the last few weeks of content.
Vraska, Golgari Queen is my absolute favorite version of Vraska. While most of the other variations on this Planeswalker seem like big value engines (not that there's anything wrong with that!), the Golgari Queen here hits on some big flavor notes.
Consider her title: queen of the Golgari. What does that mean from a deck building perspective? To me, the Golgari represent a strong theme of recycling life. They're all about death, decay, and rebirth. And, you know, the kinda gross stuff that lives in the dirt and the moldy corners.
Speaking of those moldy corners...I have an idea.
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Vraska, Golgari Queen by Andy Hurst
'Vraska, Golgari Queen' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Andy Hurst
Event:
Rank:
Freeform (Casual)
Market Price: $37.48
Thallid Soothsayer
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162179_200w.jpg
{2}, Sacrifice a creature: Draw a card.
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Sporoloth Ancient
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68417_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Sporoloth Ancient. Creatures you control have "Remove two spore counters from this creature: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token."
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Sporemound
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227358_200w.jpg
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Fungal Plots
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/164700_200w.jpg
{1}{G}, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. Sacrifice two Saprolings: You gain 2 life and draw a card.
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Thallid
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68236_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Thallid. Remove three spore counters from Thallid: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Deathspore Thallid
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.34
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/14198_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Deathspore Thallid. Remove three spore counters from Deathspore Thallid: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. Sacrifice a Saproling: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
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Vitaspore Thallid
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.22
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/14835_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Vitaspore Thallid. Remove three spore counters from Vitaspore Thallid: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. Sacrifice a Saproling: Target creature gains haste until end of turn.
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Thallid Omnivore
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/164719_200w.jpg
{1}, Sacrifice another creature: Thallid Omnivore gets +2/+2 until end of turn. If a Saproling was sacrificed this way, you gain 2 life.
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Forest
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.99
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230468_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {G}.)
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Vicious Offering
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162792_200w.jpg
Kicker—Sacrifice a creature. (You may sacrifice a creature in addition to any other costs as you cast this spell.) Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. If this spell was kicked, that creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn instead.
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Malevolent Awakening
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.22
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/9422_200w.jpg
{1}{B}{B}, Sacrifice a creature: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
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Korozda Guildmage
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/132076_200w.jpg
{1}{B}{G}: Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains intimidate until end of turn. (It can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.) {2}{B}{G}, Sacrifice a nontoken creature: Create X 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens, where X is the sacrificed creature's toughness.
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Thallid Shell-Dweller
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.29
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68420_200w.jpg
Defender At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Thallid Shell-Dweller. Remove three spore counters from Thallid Shell-Dweller: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Sporesower Thallid
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.55
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68416_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on each Fungus you control. Remove three spore counters from Sporesower Thallid: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Thelon of Havenwood
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $1.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/14396_200w.jpg
Each Fungus creature gets +1/+1 for each spore counter on it. {B}{G}, Exile a Fungus card from a graveyard: Put a spore counter on each Fungus on the battlefield.
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Golgari Guildgate
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196527_200w.jpg
Golgari Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {B} or {G}.
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Swamp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230466_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)
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Golgari Rot Farm
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212407_200w.jpg
Golgari Rot Farm enters the battlefield tapped. When Golgari Rot Farm enters the battlefield, return a land you control to its owner's hand. {T}: Add {B}{G}.
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Yavimaya Sapherd
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/164718_200w.jpg
When Yavimaya Sapherd enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Bone Splinters
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216203_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Destroy target creature.
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Mycoloth
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $1.74
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/132101_200w.jpg
Devour 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This creature enters the battlefield with twice that many +1/+1 counters on it.) At the beginning of your upkeep, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token for each +1/+1 counter on Mycoloth.
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Consume Strength
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.14
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/79922_200w.jpg
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Another target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
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Saproling Migration
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162790_200w.jpg
Kicker {4} (You may pay an additional {4} as you cast this spell.) Create two 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens. If this spell was kicked, create four of those tokens instead.
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Quagmire Druid
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/72230_200w.jpg
{G}, {T}, Sacrifice a creature: Destroy target enchantment.
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Fungal Infection
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162159_200w.jpg
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Mind Slash
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.55
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/11105_200w.jpg
{B}, Sacrifice a creature: Target opponent reveals their hand. You 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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Blood Divination
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215979_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Draw three cards.
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Putrefy
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212329_200w.jpg
Destroy target artifact or creature. It can't be regenerated.
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Sporecrown Thallid
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162245_200w.jpg
Each other creature you control that's a Fungus or Saproling gets +1/+1.
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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.
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Vraska, Golgari Queen
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $1.50
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/176436_200w.jpg
+2: You may sacrifice another permanent. If you do, you gain 1 life and draw a card. −3: Destroy target nonland permanent with converted mana cost 3 or less. −9: You get an emblem with "Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game."
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Verdant Force
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162252_200w.jpg
At the beginning of each upkeep, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Relic Crush
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/166914_200w.jpg
Destroy target artifact or enchantment and up to one other target artifact or enchantment.
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Slimefoot, the Stowaway
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162148_200w.jpg
Whenever a Saproling you control dies, Slimefoot, the Stowaway deals 1 damage to each opponent and you gain 1 life. {4}: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Night Soil
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $1.29
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/72203_200w.jpg
{1}, Exile two creature cards from a single graveyard: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Deathbloom Thallid
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215866_200w.jpg
When Deathbloom Thallid dies, create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
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Death Bomb
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/7781_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated. Its controller loses 2 life.
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Psychotrope Thallid
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $3.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/14783_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Psychotrope Thallid. Remove three spore counters from Psychotrope Thallid: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. {1}, Sacrifice a Saproling: Draw a card.
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Phyrexian Plaguelord
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/133623_200w.jpg
{T}, Sacrifice Phyrexian Plaguelord: Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. Sacrifice a creature: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
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Foul Orchard
Color Identity:B,G
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196743_200w.jpg
Foul Orchard enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {B} or {G}.
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Thallid Germinator
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68234_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Thallid Germinator. Remove three spore counters from Thallid Germinator: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token. Sacrifice a Saproling: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
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We're looking to churn out Saproling tokens and sacrifice them to a myriad of abilities for fun and profit. (Well, OUR fun and profit. Our opponent may not share our enthusiasm for recycling.)
The best, most consistent ways to get these extra Saprolings are via the Time Spiral Thallids that get spore counters every turn. Every third turn, those counters can be cashed in for a Saproling (unless you have the Sporoloth Ancient—then it's every other turn, a massive increase in production capacity). From there, the world is our oyster. We can pump our creatures, shrink the opponent's, grant haste, and draw cards from just our other Thallids! We have effects like Malevolent Awakening and Mind Slash that just need a little bit of food to recur your threats or tear apart the opponent's hand.
We don't have a ton of removal, but what we do have is strong! Putrefy is an all star, Consume Strength and Fungal Infection are fantastic tricks, and Vicious Offering and Bone Splinters can get rid of some real size as long as we have a few fungi to offer up.
Thelon here doesn't make Saprolings himself, but he is a fun guy (get it?) for the rest of our Time Spiral mushrooms. He'll do his best to help your fungi go tall with their spore counters or go wide by adding enough counters to your troops to enable the production of more Saprolings.
Michael here is a hungry hungry fella, but overall he's a very considerate guest on your side of the battlefield. Even though he will try to eat you out of house and home, he gives back and then some. If you're staring at him in your hand, make sure you get your tokens ready.
Once the Plaguelord is out, your Saprolings are here for a good time, not a long time. Your opponent's creatures are around for neither. With this much food coming from lots of diverse sources, Plaguelord will absolutely dominate the opposing battlefield. Don't forget that in a pinch, he can even sacrifice himself to really hurt something else.
Once upon a time, Verdant Force was the preeminent reanimation threat in Constructed Magic. Times have certainly changed, but this can still be a (verdant) force to be reckoned with. Don't forget that you get a Saproling on every single upkeep, not just your own!
Mind Slash allows you to strip a card of your choice from your opponent's hand for the low, low price of sacrificing one of your own creatures. In many situations, this is not ideal; getting rid of a creature you've already paid in mana and time to commit to the board is a hefty sacrifice unless we're certain to get some bomb out of the opponent's hand that would otherwise swing a game. However, if your sacrificial fodder instead consists of dinky Saproling tokens that get regularly churned out, that is known as a "Jackpot."
In a deck with tokens, Mind Slash allows you to completely shred the opponent's hand without remorse. Malevolent Awakening serves a similar purpose in this deck, and its justification for inclusion is similar. Bid farewell to your tokens, for their sacrifice will result in trading off with excellent actual cards from the opponent.