Commander Guides
Spooky Commanders for Halloween
One commander per monster: zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, a demon and a horror-movie survivor. What each deck does on the table, and which one fits the way you like to play.
The short answer
For a Halloween deck that plays its theme, build typal around one monster. Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver is the easiest zombie deck to love: your Zombies die, come back and draw you cards. Edgar Markov is the classic vampire commander, and Millicent, Restless Revenant turns a Spirit deck into a flock of ghosts. For something stranger, Valgavoth, Terror Eater exiles whatever your opponents would lose to their graveyards and lets you play those cards.
One commander per monster
| Commander | Colors | Monster | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver | Zombies | Sacrifice Zombies for cards and get decayed Zombies back | |
| Edgar Markov | Vampires | A 1/1 Vampire with every Vampire spell, then counters on attack | |
| Tovolar, Dire Overlord | Werewolves | Draw on combat damage and flip to night | |
| Millicent, Restless Revenant | Ghosts | Flying Spirits that make more Spirits | |
| Valgavoth, Terror Eater | Demon | Exile what your opponents would lose and cast it with life | |
| Winter, Misanthropic Guide | Horror movie | Everyone draws, then delirium shrinks their hands |
Commander spotlight: zombies
Commander Spotlight
Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver ↗
Every time another Zombie you control dies, you get a 2/2 Zombie with decayed back, as long as the one that died didn't already have decayed. At your end step you can sacrifice a Zombie to draw a card. The horde keeps coming back, which is the whole movie.
The rest of the monsters
Edgar Markov ↗
Eminence makes a 1/1 Vampire every time you cast another Vampire spell, even while Edgar is still in the command zone. When he attacks, every Vampire you control gets a +1/+1 counter.
Tovolar, Dire Overlord ↗
Draws a card whenever one of your Wolves or Werewolves hits a player, and with three or more of them it makes it night at your upkeep. The night side gives you a pump that adds trample.
Millicent, Restless Revenant ↗
Costs one less for each Spirit you control, flies, and makes a 1/1 flying Spirit whenever she or another nontoken Spirit you control dies or connects. Ghosts that leave more ghosts behind.
Valgavoth, Terror Eater ↗
A nine-mana flying, lifelink Elder Demon. While he's out, your opponents' cards get exiled instead of going to their graveyards, and on your turn you can play them, paying life instead of mana for spells.
Winter, Misanthropic Guide ↗
Every player draws two at your upkeep. With four or more card types in your graveyard, each opponent's maximum hand size drops to seven minus that number, so cards they can't use by their end step get discarded.
Which one should you build?
Pick Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver if you like sacrifice decks and a steady stream of cards. Pick Edgar Markov if you want the most aggressive deck here and don't mind three colors. Pick Tovolar, Dire Overlord for a two-color creature deck that draws as it attacks, and Millicent, Restless Revenant for an evasive flying deck. Winter, Misanthropic Guide suits a graveyard player who likes a group-draw deck that punishes slow hands, and Valgavoth, Terror Eater suits someone who wants one huge threat and a lot of ramp to reach it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Halloween Commander deck?
Pick a monster and build its typal deck: Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver for Zombies, Edgar Markov for Vampires, Tovolar, Dire Overlord for Werewolves or Millicent, Restless Revenant for Spirits. Each has a clear plan that the theme already supports.
Which spooky commander is easiest to build?
Wilhelt asks the least of the rest of the deck: two colors, four mana and a creature type with plenty of cards. Tovolar costs only three. Millicent is a seven-drop until you have Spirits out, and Edgar Markov needs three colors and enough Vampires to make eminence work.
Does Edgar Markov's eminence work from the command zone?
Yes. His card says the Vampire token is made if Edgar is in the command zone or on the battlefield, so the ability works before you ever cast him.
Is Valgavoth a good Commander for beginners?
Not really. He costs nine mana and black has little land ramp, so the deck leans on mana rocks and lands like Cabal Coffers to cast him. You don't choose what he exiles; the skill is deciding which of those cards are worth paying life for.
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