Astarion, the Decadent
Color Identity
Details
Mana Value
6
Popularity
#521
of 3,466 commanders · via EDHREC
Card Text
Legendary Creature — Vampire Elf Rogue
Deathtouch, lifelink
At the beginning of your end step, choose one —
• Feed — Target opponent loses life equal to the amount of life they lost this turn.
• Friends — You gain life equal to the amount of life you gained this turn.
4/4
Playstyle
Midrange · Steady · Political · Incremental wins
- Aggression
- 3 of 5
- Speed
- 2 of 5
- Interaction
- 3 of 5
- Combat
- 3 of 5
- Engine
- 3 of 5
- Complexity
- 2 of 5
Card Price
Strategy Guides
Lifegain Strategy Guide
Lifegain decks are for players who want each point of life to become a resource, not just a larger cushion against attacks. This strategy wants to gain life in steady repeatable triggers, using lifegain commanders, Soul Warden effects, and payoff cards, to win through life drain, oversized creatures, or a charged Aetherflux Reservoir. Unlike Group Hug, it keeps the resources for itself, and unlike Aristocrats it is driven by life gained rather than death triggers. The best lifegain decks EDH players build feel patient early, then convert a safe life total into pressure.
Combo Strategy Guide
Combo decks are for players who enjoy finding a narrow line, protecting it, and ending the game with specific cards working together. This strategy wants to assemble combo commanders, tutors, draw, and compact two-card or three-card packages, using infinite combos or deterministic loops, to win in one decisive moment. Unlike Spellslinger it is not paid for every spell cast, unlike Storm it does not need a long chain turn, and unlike Big Mana it does not rely on casting one enormous payoff. The best combo decks EDH players build balance speed with enough interaction to survive the table's disruption.
Aristocrats Strategy Guide
Aristocrats decks are for players who enjoy turning expendable creatures into cards, Treasure, damage, and life drain whenever they die. This strategy wants to make cheap bodies, use sacrifice commanders and free outlets, and convert each death trigger into value to win through drain effects or recursive sacrifice loops. Unlike Tokens, it cares less about attacking with many bodies, and unlike broad Sacrifice decks it is specifically built around death trigger payoffs. The best aristocrats commanders let you grind from small pieces while the table decides whether removing your board helps you or hurts them.
+1/+1 Counters Strategy Guide
+1/+1 counter decks are for players who want small creature upgrades to become permanent pressure across the board. This strategy wants to grow creatures over several turns, using +1/+1 counter commanders, counter doublers, and counter payoffs, to win through combat damage from creatures that keep getting larger. Unlike Tokens, Counters grows creatures over time instead of making many bodies, and unlike Voltron it spreads power beyond one attacker; unlike Proliferate, it focuses on +1/+1 growth rather than every counter type, while Infect is a separate poison plan. Counters matter decks reward pilots who sequence early creatures, multipliers, and protection so each trigger converts into lasting board presence.
Appears in These Collections
Similar Commanders
Popular Commanders
| # | Commander | Identity | Strategy | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 |  Syr Konrad, the Grim | | Mill | $1.76 |
| 02 |  Etali, Primal Storm |  | Extra Combats | $0.66 |
| 03 |  Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer | | Treasure | $41.73 |
| 04 |  Braids, Arisen Nightmare | | Aristocrats | $4.61 |
| 05 |  Azusa, Lost but Seeking |  | Lands Matter | $13.07 |
| 06 |  Loran of the Third Path | | Group Hug | $7.26 |
| 07 |  Toski, Bearer of Secrets | | Equipment | $7.99 |
| 08 |  Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar | | +1/+1 Counters | $2.70 |