Marchesa, Dealer of Death
CommanderA Grixis value engine that turns routine targeting into steady card selection and graveyard setup.
Public decks: 1Bracket: Varies
Card text
Legendary Creature — Human Rogue
Whenever you commit a crime, you may pay 
. If you do, look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the other into your graveyard. (Targeting opponents, anything they control, and/or cards in their graveyards is a crime.)
Building around this commander?
Use MTG Master to build or analyze a Commander deck around this card, check consistency, and find weak spots before your next game.
Overview
- Commit crimes early and often with cheap spells that target opponents, their permanents, or cards in graveyards.
- Use Marchesa as a repeatable filter: pay {1} to turn each crime into a mini Impulse plus a controlled self-mill.
- Play a reactive, tempo-leaning game where interaction doubles as card flow.
- Leverage the graveyard as a second hand, since every trigger naturally stocks it while keeping gas coming.
- Close by converting an advantage in cards and mana into a decisive turn (often via a spell-heavy push or sustained removal/counter coverage).
Common lines
- Land Marchesa, then spend the next turns trading one-for-one while paying {1} to keep your hand full.
- Point low-cost removal or bounce at key attackers to stabilize, then use the extra cards to take over the midgame.
- Use cantrips and selection to line up the right answers, while the “other” card from triggers becomes future graveyard value.
- In longer games, keep committing small crimes on multiple turns so you never run out of looks at the top of your library.
Strengths
- Excellent at turning interaction into sustained card advantage.
- Naturally fuels graveyard synergies without dedicating many slots to self-mill.
- Plays well at tables where you need to answer threats and still keep up on resources.
- Flexible: crimes can come from removal, bounce, counter-magic that targets, or other targeted effects.
Weaknesses
- Mana-hungry: the {1} tax per trigger adds up, especially if you want to hold up answers.
- Relies on having crimes available; hands full of non-targeting effects can make Marchesa feel slower.
- Graveyard hate can blunt the value of the cards you’re forced to bin.
- Commander-dependent value engine; repeated removal can slow your ability to keep pace.
Rule zero notes
- This commander encourages lots of targeted interaction; expect a more reactive, control-adjacent play pattern.
- If you’re running free or very efficient interaction (for example Fierce Guardianship, Deflecting Swat, or Deadly Rollick), mention it up front.
- The deck can generate repeated triggers in a turn if built that way; clarify whether you’re aiming for a slower value game or a sharper tempo plan.
- Because triggers put cards into the graveyard, note whether you intend to heavily leverage graveyard recursion or treat it mostly as incidental value.
Matchups
Best into
- Creature-heavy midrange pods where spot removal and bounce pull double duty.
- Decks that try to win via a few key permanents you can repeatedly target and disrupt.
- Grindy tables where incremental card quality wins games.
Struggles against
- Fast combo pods that pressure you before incremental selection matters.
- Decks with persistent graveyard hate that also pressure your life total.
- Strategies that go very wide and demand frequent sweepers rather than targeted interaction.
FAQ
What exactly counts as “committing a crime” for Marchesa?
Any time you target an opponent, something they control, and/or a card in their graveyard, you’ve committed a crime.
Do I have to pay {1} when I commit a crime?
No. The payment is optional each time the trigger happens, so you can choose between holding up mana or taking the card selection.
How many times per turn can Marchesa trigger?
As many times as you commit crimes; multiple targeted spells or abilities in the same turn can each trigger Marchesa.
Is the card I put into the graveyard random?
No. You look at the top two, choose one for your hand, and choose the other to put into your graveyard.
Do my spells have to target a creature to trigger Marchesa?
No. Targeting an opponent directly, a permanent they control, or even a card in their graveyard all qualify.