Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root
Color Identity
Details
Mana Value
1
Popularity
#1,329
of 3,466 commanders · via EDHREC
Card Text
Legendary Creature — Vampire Warlock // Legendary Creature — Human Druid
Menace, lifelink
If a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die, exile it instead. When you do, you may pay {2}. If you do, create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this token dies, you gain 1 life."
//
Whenever you gain life, you may pay {1}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and those creatures gain trample until end of turn.
1/1
Playstyle
Midrange · Steady · Heavy interaction · Wins by combat
- Aggression
- 3 of 5
- Speed
- 2 of 5
- Interaction
- 4 of 5
- Combat
- 4 of 5
- Engine
- 4 of 5
- Complexity
- 4 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.
+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.
Tokens Strategy Guide
Token decks are for players who want one card to become many bodies and then decide whether those bodies attack, block, draw cards, or fuel another engine. This strategy wants to flood the battlefield with creatures, using token commanders, repeatable generators, and anthem effects, to win through a go wide attack or by converting the swarm into damage, drain, or mana. Tokens is different from Aristocrats because making bodies comes first, from Counters because it grows wide instead of tall, and from Voltron because it spreads pressure across many creatures. The best token decks EDH players build reward patience against sweepers and careful timing on the finishing turn.
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 |