Commander Corner - Maga, Traitor to Mortals

Magic the Gathering – Mono colored decks sometimes have a difficult time operating, as the color pie doles out abilities by color, which means some colors will lack the ability to deal with certain cards. Black however seems to have a particular method of dealing with problem permanents, eliminate the opponent and the threat is gone (the question is can you live to that point).

This week's commander focuses on doing just that. With the proper amount of mana acceleration you can easily reduce an opponent's life total to a critically low level. Granted once he/she (the art and name are so ambiguous I'm not such which is correct) hits the table Maga is easily chump blocked by most anything and black has limited evasion modes available in color. Which means relying on easily destroyed artifacts to accomplish your mission.

Commander: Maga, Traitor to Mortals

Creatures: Nantuko Shade, Mirri the Cursed, Balthor the Defiled, Visara the Dreadful, Maralen of the Mornsong, Dunerider Outlaw, Doomed Necromancer, Nether Traitor, Helldozer, Skeletal Vampire, Scythe Specter, Artisan of Kozilek, Avatar of Woe, Nezumi Graverobber, Magus of the Coffers, Ink-Eyes, Servant of the Oni, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon, Nirkana Revenant, Chainer, Dementia Master

Instants: Smother

Sorceries: Perish, Consume Spirit, Sickening Dreams, Virtue's Ruin, Mutilate, Temporal Extortion, Plague Wind, Zombify, Damnation, Exsanguinate, Promise of Power, Nature's Ruin, Exhume

Enchanments: Dance of the Dead, Gravestorm, Breeding Pit, Bad Moon, Diabolic Servitude

Planeswalkers: Liliana Vess

Artifacts: Lashwrithe, Vault Skirge, Blightsteel Colossus, Darksteel Colossus, Leaden Myr, Lightning Greaves, Skullclamp, Psychosis Crawler, Bonehoard, Nuisance Engine, Solemn Simulacrum, Loxodon Warhammer, Thran Dynamo, Phyrexian Totem, Nim Deathmantle, Expedition Map, Spectral Searchlight, Sensei's Divining Top, Caged Sun, Extraplanar Lens, Gauntlet of Power, Sword of Fire and Ice, Everflowing Chalice, Sol Ring

Lands: (27) Swamp, Cabal Coffers, Crystal Vein, Temple of the False God, Vesuva, Spawning Pool, Polluted Mire, Ebon Stronghold, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Shizo, Death's Storehouse

As you can see the core of this deck focuses on artifact mana doublers (Caged Sun, Extraplanar Lens, Gauntlet of Power) that have the unfortunate effect of also doubling you opponents basic swamps and some fairly weak creatures and land that do essentially the same thing (Nirkana Revenant, Magus of the Coffers, Cabal Coffers). When you're able to get them all in play every swamp taps for 5 mana, plus doubling or tripling your mana with the coffers, making it easy to cast your general for a 20-30 life point swing. If Maga can stick around and carry a hammer or sword you can take out a player with one swing. 

The rest of the deck focuses on big threats that can be recurred from the graveyard fairly easily. After playing a few games with the deck I'm considering adding some sacrifice outlets like Nantuko Husk or Phyrexian Altar since at some point it makes more sense to sacrifice Maga and recast to further deplete life totals.