Generating free 1/1 Vampire creature tokens directly from the Command Zone whenever you cast a Vampire spell makes Edgar Markov from Commander 2017 the single most formidable tribal aggro commander in the format.
As a 4/4 Vampire Knight legend costing six mana () with First Strike and Haste, Edgar’s true power lies in his Eminence ability. Because Eminence triggers whether Edgar is on the battlefield or sitting safely in the command zone, low-cost 1-mana and 2-mana Vampires continuously pump out free board presence. Paired with tribal lords, anthem effects, and aristocrat drain engines, Edgar swarms the table before opponents can establish proper defenses.
Here is the strategic operational blueprint of Moxfield’s premier Edgar Markov list, detailing how to leverage low-curve Vampires, double your board state, and crush the pod with relentless tribal aggression.
1. Core Mechanics & Strategic Phases
Succeeding with Edgar Markov requires an ultra-low mana curve, dense 1-to-2-drop Vampires, mass +1/+1 counter engines, and aristocrat drain payoffs.
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Early Game (Turns 1–2): Play 1-drop Vampires like Viscera Seer, Vampire Lacerator, and Knight of the Ebon Legion. Eminence instantly doubles your creature count to build early wide pressure.
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Mid Game (Turns 3–4): Deploy tribal lords like Stromkirk Captain, Captivating Vampire, or Cordial Vampire. Swing with a massive army of buffed tokens while holding up protection.
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Late Game (Turns 5+): Cast Edgar Markov to give your entire board haste and pump them with +1/+1 counters on attack, or finish opponents off via mass aristocrat drain like Cruel Celebrant and Blood Artist.
2. Moxfield Highlights: Low Curve & Free Token Swarms
The highest-rated community lists on Moxfield optimize Edgar by maintaining a very tight mana curve, ensuring maximum Eminence triggers per turn.
Captivating Vampire / Cordial Vampire
Premier Vampire lords. Captivating Vampire leverages your free token swarm to steal opposing commanders, while Cordial Vampire puts +1/+1 counters on your entire army whenever any creature dies.
Knight of the Ebon Legion / Vampire Lacerator / Viscera Seer
Low-cost Eminence triggers. Cheap 1-mana Vampires serve as efficient aggressive threats that trigger free 1/1 tokens to rapidly multiply your board presence.
Blood Artist / Cruel Celebrant / Elenda, the Dusk Rose
Board wipe insurance and aristocrat engines. If an opponent resolves a board wipe, your doubled creature count drains massive amounts of life from every player.
Skullclamp
Card advantage engines. Attaching Skullclamp to your free 1/1 Eminence tokens draws two cards for one mana, keeping your hand fully fueled for continuous casting.
3. Copy & Paste Edgar Markov 100-Card Decklist
Use the text box below to copy the complete highly-optimized community list. It contains exactly 1 Commander and 99 mainboard cards, calibrated for an error-free import into Moxfield.
1 Edgar Markov
1 Adanto Vanguard
1 Anointed Procession
1 Arcane Signet
1 Arid Mesa
1 Badlands
1 Blood Artist
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bloodline Keeper
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bolas's Citadel
1 Boros Charm
1 Captivating Vampire
1 Champion of Dusk
1 Chaos Warp
1 City of Brass
1 Command Tower
1 Cordial Vampire
1 Cruel Celebrant
1 Dark Ritual
1 Dauthi Voidwalker
1 Deflecting Swat
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Dockside Extortionist
1 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
1 Edgar, Charmed Groom
1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Esper Sentinel
1 Falkenrath Pit Fighter
1 Fire Covenant
1 Flawless Maneuver
1 Florian, Voldaren Scion
1 Godless Shrine
1 Grand Abolisher
1 Imperial Seal
1 Indulgent Aristocrat
1 Jeweled Lotus
1 Knight of the Ebon Legion
1 Legions to Ashes
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Confluence
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Marsh Flats
1 Mox Amber
1 Mox Diamond
1 Necropotence
1 Nocturnus
1 Oathsworn Vampire
1 Orcish Bowmasters
1 Pact of the Serpent
1 Path to Exile
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Stromkirk Captain
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Teferi's Protection
1 Twilight Prophet
1 Vampire Lacerator
1 Vampire Of The Dire Moon
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Viscera Seer
1 Welcoming Vampire
1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
10 Swamp
10 Plains
10 Mountain
Summary: Eminence Swarm, Total Domination
Moxfield’s top deck builders prioritize Edgar Markov because his passive Eminence ability provides unmatched board velocity from turn one. By pairing a low mana curve with high-synergy Vampire lords and aristocrat drain backstops, Edgar overwhelms opponent defenses before they can react. Copy the flawless 100-card decklist above, flood the board with Vampires, and dominate your next Commander pod.
