MTG Salvation

I'm in the middleof writing up a Jarad, golgari lich lord deck list as I am considering trying him out and was just wondering what the best creatures to sac to his ability? I am aware that lord of extinction and phyrexian devourer are really great targets for this, but i recently found out about wall of blood which had me intrigued. What are some other great targets for Jarad's activated ability?

Mossbridge Troll has impressed me. Jarad can usually activate the troll's ability once, and if you have any other creatures to activate the troll's ability a second time, it becomes a 45/45.
Sewer Nemesis is also a good one.

My first thoughts were Managorger Hydra and Forgotten Ancient since opponent's spells become part of the threat. Since Jarad wants creatures in the graveyard, Nighthowler, Mortivore/Lhurgoyf, Boneyard Wurm, Ghoultree, and Splinterfright are decent options. Bonehoard turns anything into a decent option.

Assuming you play multiplayer, Wight of Precinct Six is an admirably cheap fatty. Vulturous Zombie is a pretty good impression of a second Lord of Extinction, though not quite as fat. Drakestown Forgotten, Undergrowth Scavenger, and Stag Beetle haven't been mentioned yet.

There are also non-creature effects like Exoskeletal Armor, and a nigh-limitless number of green creatures that slowly get bigger like Scute Mob or Predator Ooze or creatures that get bigger when things die like Lumberknot, Algae Ghariel, or especially Yahenni, Undying Partisan (since he can survive boardwipes).

But I think you'll get the most mileage out of increasingly powerful equipment like Banshee's Blade or the aforementioned Bonehoard, since you can just equip them to something new once you sacrifice the previous creature.

Also don't forget power-matters card draw like Momentous Fall, Disciple of Bolas, Hunter's Insight, and some other higher-CMC options.


Side note: Surveyor's Scope is a must-have in Jarad, since you can sacrifice lands in order to get him back from the grave, then potentially get more lands into play untapped than you sacrificed to start with.

anything buffed by hatred
phyrexian dreadnought
phyrexian soulgorger
hunted horror
vindictive lich
corpse augur
kokusho, the evening star
mindslicer
protean hulk
moldgraf monstrosity
phytotitan
puppeteer clique
seed guardian
seedguide ash
woodfall primus


and a fun callout to death's presence

Not a specific creature, but Berserk is a really great way to make something a huge threat with Jarad.

Ulvenwald Hydra is usually large.

Oh yes, Jarad! I have plenty of experience with him. (Mostly in my Kresh and Ghave, but I have built Jarad before.) The first obvious pick is Golgari Grave-Troll. Blade of the Bloodchief is a good way to make creatures big fast; Death's Presence is its big brother. You can also use Algae Gharial, Lumberknot, and Scavenger Drake. Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is the high end of that, but has the bonus of making those ramp spells, fetchlands, and tutors hurt. (Don't rely on him to hose tutors, though. If your opponent's life total > 10, they'll just tutor their wincon.)

Black Market gets you a lot of mana fast. Gutter Grime gets you many big creatures fast. You can add a little extra sting with Blood Artist and friends, or hurt your opponent too with Grave Pact, Butcher of Malakir, Dictate of Erebos, and Savra, Queen of the Golgari.

Undying is always nice, as is Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest. The two are antagonistic, though. However, Mazirek is awesome with persist creatures: Puppeteer Clique and Woodfall Primus especially come to mind.

And may I suggest Reyhan, Last of the Abzan also goes in this deck?