MTG Salvation

I have no desire to run Edgar Markov, as I already have a deck in that color combination that I'm quite happy with.

Instead, I want to explore the newer color combination of vampires and embrace a slightly less aggro tribal deck, one that can still grind out the long game with value engines (like Bishop of Rebirth) and lifedrain (Blood Artist, Malakir Bloodwitch, Debt to the Deathless Et Al.)

Elenda, the Dusk Rose is the first thought but she goes more in a purely token direction and her ability doesn't really function properly in commander. Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter is a bit too pricy for my tastes, and Vona, Butcher of Magan is uninspiring.

Instead, my first instinct dips outside of the tribe itself and I see that Tymna the Weaver x Ravos, Soultender potentailly hits the marks, giving value for the early game aggression that the tribe still wants some of while giving an anthem and another value engine in the command zone. Is the partner option the actual best? Other than the Vampire staples, what would you consider an auto-include for such a deck?

I would still run Edgar Markov, just without red. Value engines and lifedrain cards frequently benefit from more bodies - Blood Artist, Falkenrath Noble, Malakir Bloodwitch, Kalastria Highborn, and Bishop of the Bloodstained all become doubly efficient; the tokens can be used in value engines, as sac fodder, or as chump blockers rather than agro weenie rush. Cards like Attrition and Goblin Bombardment weaponize them in a non-agro way.

The partners are certainly an option, but not one I'd choose for a tribal deck - at that point, I'd just build a deck to best utilize their abilities. But that's just me - I don't feel like it's really tribal if the commander doesn't represent the tribe.

When you look at tribal you really want a STRONG central theme usually coming from the commander that pushes you to be tribal. I honestly don't think I would commit to a full tribal vampire deck with anyone other than Edgar Markov. I do think that Elenda, the Dusk Rose is interesting and I think there are vampire enablers that I would possibly run but I don't think I would turn her into a full on tribal deck. Tymna the Weaver is a great commander too but I also don't really think I would try to push her into any tribe as there is just no real justification for doing so.

I have long had a Garza Zol vampire tribal deck, and now have Edgar Markov. While some of the same cards appear in both decks, the two play differently enough that I'm happy with both.

I honestly don't think any of the BW vampires are good enough as a general for a deck. Elenda is an interesting card, but as a general, she's sort of eh. Her having to die over and over to activate her ability tends to result in a high commander tax, or force you to focus on reanimation rather than on vampires per se. I didn't find Vona good enough for her to even earn a spot in Edgar, so I certainly wouldn't run her as a general. Vish Kal is an old-school choice, but a) he's way pricey, as already noted, and b) he does his own thing that doesn't really particularly interact with other vampires, and thus doesn't offer anything in particular as a tribal general. Edgar is really a much stronger centerpiece for a deck.

I suppose one non-vampire general you might consider for a BW vampire deck is Karlov of the Ghost Council. Lifelinking vamps work well with him, and flavor-wise, BW vampires are at thing among the Orzhov. I run some vamps in my Karlov deck, and they have worked out fine and dandy.

It's definitely somewhat depressing (and says something about the power of the card) that the apparent "best" option probably is just to run Edgar Markov and plan on not running him out of the command zone.

It's actually not that horrible from a flavor perspective if we care about the Ixalan story, as their queen and nobility are largely still on their home continent, shipping out boatloads of conquerors instead of dropping in to fight themselves.

I may just give up on the idea and run Edgar anyway, red included, as they're still my favorite tribe even if I'm not hugely in love with him (and why deny myself all the advantages of the commander?).

However, as a general thought experiment, let's say that isn't an option and we still want pure B/W vamps. Is there a correct answer for "best" commander?

Due to lack of better options, if I had to make a purely B/W vampire deck with a B/W general, I would go with Elenda. Play Command Beacon along with Vesuva and Thespian's Stage to try to dodge the commander tax. Is this good? No, no it isn't. But it might be the best option. Which is pretty darn sad.

Still, how much the B/W vamp commander options suck is a good counter to the idea that WotC pays too much attention to what Commander players want when designing legendaries. Even some of the people behind the game have commented on how un-thrilled commander players are with the BW legends. I'm personally glad we got Edgar, who is pretty kick-ass.

Edgar is fine. Even without red in the deck, you still have Command Tower (and probably other lands) that tap for red. But then, ask yourself, why aren't you playing Olivia Voldaren?

I think the other option is monoblack with Anowon, the ruin sage.

I don't think any other vampires offer enough of a reward for being a general in a vampire deck. There are themes that could have a lot of vampires, but without a real reward for being tribal why stick to it?

Then again, if you want to stick to Elenda, you can do it. There is Volrath's Stronghold, for example. Just realized how good Hatred would be in the deck. The thing is, the optimal Elenda deck won't have all of the vampire tribal cards - it will have more of a focus on synergy and getting value out of her triggers. Reveillark combo seems like the better shell.

I would still run mark of. You can make him just WB and just utilize his eminence with vampires. I would go WB splashing red myself but whatever.

I'd actually say go with Elenda. Combine it with cards like Phyrexian Reclamation, Oversold Cemetery, and maybe Cauldron of Souls. Use Relic of Progenitus effects if you need her back in the command zone.

Many tribal cards benefit tokens, so you don't even need to go heavy into the token theme. I'd just throw an Anointed Procession in there for commander synergy. You've also got the benefit of Grave Pact with sac outlets to both power up your general and make way for your army.

Built Edgar Markov and it was as good as expected- a little too good in fact so I'm back to the W/B plan. My tentative plan is still the original idea of Tymna the Weaver x Ravos, Soultender and the first test list has been pretty alright. Card draw, anthem, and recursion combined in the command zone it turns out is pretty solid- not having tribal synergy directly in the command zone is less of a problem as it's easier to draw into and keep your synergy cards with the partners.

Would recommend it.

I would go with Athreos, God of Passage. Grindy, works with multiple strats and can beat face when needed.