Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Creature — Zombie2/4$0.68
When this creature enters, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. (Each in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
Legal in Commander
Is
Does
Rewards
Combos 5
Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
- Infinite card draw
- Near-infinite lifegain
- Near-infinite lifegain triggers
- Near-infinite lifeloss
Commander Spellbook ↗How it works
Before you start
Your life total is at least 2. You control at least one additional nontoken non-Human creature with toughness two or greater.
Steps
Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing Gray Merchant, targeting any other nontoken non-Human creature you control. Gray Merchant dies, triggering its undying ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. Gray Merchant enters the battlefield, causing each opponent to lose life equal to your devotion to black, and causing you to gain life equal to the life lost this way. Resolve the Yawgmoth ability from step 1, putting a -1/-1 counter on the additional creature and causing you to draw a card. Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing the additional creature, targeting Gray Merchant. The creature dies, triggering its undying ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on Gray Merchant and causing you to draw a card. Repeat.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Rite of Replication
- Near-infinite lifegain
- Near-infinite lifeloss
Commander Spellbook ↗How it works
Steps
Cast Rite of Replication with kicker by paying {7}{U}{U}, creating five token copies of Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Each Gray Merchant of Asphodel enters the battlefield, triggering their abilities. Resolve the first trigger, causing each opponent to lose life equal to your devotion to black, and causing you to gain that much life. Repeat step 3 for each remaining trigger.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Orthion, Hero of Lavabrink
- Near-infinite lifegain
- Near-infinite lifeloss
Commander Spellbook ↗How it works
Before you start
Orthion does not have summoning sickness.
Steps
Activate Orthion's second ability by paying {6}{R}{R}{R} and tapping it, creating five token copies of Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Each Gray Merchant of Asphodel enters the battlefield, triggering their abilities. Resolve the first trigger, causing each opponent to lose life equal to your devotion to black, and causing you to gain that much life. Repeat step 3 for each remaining trigger.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Araumi of the Dead Tide + Panharmonicon
- Near-infinite lifegain
- Near-infinite lifegain triggers
- Near-infinite lifeloss
Commander Spellbook ↗How it works
Before you start
Gray Merchant in your graveyard.Araumi does not have summoning sickness. You have at least three opponents. You have at least three additional cards in your graveyard.
Steps
Activate Araumi by tapping it and exiling three cards from your graveyard, giving Gray Merchant encore until end of turn. Activate Gray Merchant's encore ability by paying {3}{B}{B} and exiling it from your graveyard, creating at least three token copies of it with haste. The Gray Merchants enter the battlefield, triggering their abilities twice each. Resolve the first Gray Merchant ability, causing each opponent to lose at least seven life and you to gain at least seven life. Repeat step 4 for each remaining Gray Merchant trigger.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Yarok, the Desecrated + Araumi of the Dead Tide
- Near-infinite lifegain
- Near-infinite lifegain triggers
- Near-infinite lifeloss
Commander Spellbook ↗How it works
Before you start
Gray Merchant in your graveyard.Araumi does not have summoning sickness. You have at least three opponents. You have at least three additional cards in your graveyard.
Steps
Activate Araumi by tapping it and exiling three cards from your graveyard, giving Gray Merchant encore until end of turn. Activate Gray Merchant's encore ability by paying {3}{B}{B} and exiling it from your graveyard, creating at least three token copies of it with haste. The Gray Merchants enter the battlefield, triggering their abilities twice each. Resolve the first Gray Merchant ability, causing each opponent to lose at least 8 life and you to gain at least 8 life. Repeat step 4 for each remaining Gray Merchant trigger.
Combo data from Commander Spellbook. Only combos of 2 or 3 named cards are listed.
Best commanders
Commanders whose abilities work with this card and share its colors, from what the cards do.
- Valgavoth, Harrower of SoulsGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls can use.
- Y'shtola, Night's BlessedGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Y'shtola, Night's Blessed can use.
- Rakdos, Lord of RiotsGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Rakdos, Lord of Riots can use.
- Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of RuinGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin can use.
- Emet-Selch of the Third SeatGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Emet-Selch of the Third Seat can use.
- Sygg, River CutthroatGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Sygg, River Cutthroat can use.
- Davros, Dalek CreatorGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which Davros, Dalek Creator can use.
- The Master of Lake-townGray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents' life, which The Master of Lake-town can use.
- Yarok, the DesecratedYarok, the Desecrated copies your triggered abilities, which Gray Merchant of Asphodel can use because it has an enter-the-battlefield trigger.
- Superior Spider-ManSuperior Spider-Man copies creatures, which Gray Merchant of Asphodel can use because it has an enter-the-battlefield trigger.