Hidden Gems for Judith, Carnage Connoisseur
Welcome to another edition of Hidden Gems, where we dig into Magic’s archives to find potentially overlooked cards for Commander. Today, we’re looking at the Rakdos spellslinger all-star,
Overall, the cards listed over at EDHREC offer a very sound shell. Play lots of small spells - black ones like
| Judith, Carnage Connoisseur | ||
| Judith, Carnage Connoisseur (Showcase) | ||
| Not Dead After All | ||
| Blazing Volley |
But the most popular cards listed still leave some strategic holes. Here are my four suggestions to help round out the deck.
#1. Erebos, God of the Dead
If an opponent can gain lots of life, Judith and her army of imps might not be able to compensate. For this reason, it would be smart to include ways to prevent this. Erebos is a difficult card to remove and its life-gain prevention doesn’t affect you. As an added bonus, he can turn all your life gain into more cards. I don’t know what religions they have on Ravnica, but I have a feeling Ms. Carnage Connoisseur might be looking to convert.
| Erebos, God of the Dead | ||
| Erebos, God of the Dead |
#2. Sudden Spoiling
How do you solve a problem like Maria? (Maria is my nickname for all cards with indestructible or protection from black/red.) As mighty as deathtouch spells might be, there are plenty of threats that can circumvent their little, deadly touches. But Judith’s prayers to Erebos are answered in the form of Sudden Spoiling. It can’t be countered (thanks Split Second), removes abilities, and makes an opponent’s creatures 0/2s - which are just small enough for a devil token to block and kill. Hallelujah!
| Sudden Spoiling | ||
| Sudden Spoiling | ||
| Sudden Spoiling |
#3. Darkness
Maybe it’s the old-school player in me, but I love a card so far out of the color pie that your opponents won’t see it coming. Hello Darkness, my old friend! Some games are won on the back of a well-timed
| Darkness | ||
| Darkness | ||
| Darkness |
#4. Infernal Sovereign
Lastly, let’s talk card draw. There are a million and one options, but Infernal Sovereign can cycle through your deck of cheap spells with the best of them. The life loss is negligible when Judith is around because they’re in love. Recycle is a historically powerful card and has a black alternate in
| Infernal Sovereign | ||
| Infernal Sovereign (Extended Art) |
That’s all for this episode. Until next time, may Erebos grant all your wishes. And don’t forget to check out our Premium membership for more entertainment and Magic market insights!
Further Reading:
Adam Berg
Adam started playing Magic on his 14th birthday, when Judgment just released and the game's first Gorgon was born (It's a girl!). Since then, he's delved deep into Commander, written for television and film, and learned how to drive. He's published two YA Fantasy novels, Rainbringer and The Broken Pantheon. His favorite card is Repay In Kind, which is really all you need to know.