Best / 100-CARD BUILD

Selenia,
the Cursed Heart

Orzhov

Life is a moving target.

Get more from the creatures that die. “Best” is this version’s name, not a tested ranking.

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MEET YOUR COMMANDERSelenia, the Cursed Heart

Selenia, the Cursed Heart · Featured commander

STRATEGY · 3 PHASES

How this build plays

The supplied Best list shifts away from Optimized’s Exquisite Blood package toward Curses, enchantment entries and death-trigger value. Selenia still anchors life gain and the targeted Curse, but the supporting finish is more distributed.

01SET THE STAGE
Turn a small arrival into a larger drain
Soul Warden gains life when another creature enters. With Selenia present, that gain doubles; Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose then makes a targeted opponent lose the amount actually gained. Keep Selenia on the battlefield if you want her replacement effect for that gain.
- Selenia, the Cursed Heart
- Soul Warden
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Rules text for these cards
Selenia, the Cursed Heart
Flying, lifelink If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead. When Selenia dies, create a legendary black Aura Curse enchantment token named Selenia's Curse attached to target opponent. The token has enchant player and "If enchanted player would lose life, they lose twice that much life instead."
Soul Warden
Whenever another creature enters, you gain 1 life.
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Whenever you gain life, target opponent loses that much life. {3}{B}{B}: Creatures you control gain lifelink until end of turn.
02BUILD THE ENGINE
Get more from the creatures that die
Teysa Karlov makes Blood Artist’s creature-death trigger happen an additional time. Sacrifice a creature through Viscera Seer to scry while directing those Artist triggers at opponents. Selenia doubles the life you gain while she remains on the battlefield; sacrificing her removes that replacement until she returns.
- Teysa Karlov
- Blood Artist
- Viscera Seer
- Selenia, the Cursed Heart
Rules text for these cards
Teysa Karlov
If a creature dying causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. Creature tokens you control have vigilance and lifelink.
Blood Artist
Whenever this creature or another creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Viscera Seer
Sacrifice a creature: Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
Selenia, the Cursed Heart
Flying, lifelink If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead. When Selenia dies, create a legendary black Aura Curse enchantment token named Selenia's Curse attached to target opponent. The token has enchant player and "If enchanted player would lose life, they lose twice that much life instead."
03CARRY IT THROUGH
Let the Curses grow their own board
Curse of Misfortunes can fetch a differently named Curse each upkeep. Ondu Spiritdancer can copy an entering enchantment once each turn, and Grim Guardian drains opponents for each enchantment entry. Copying Selenia’s legendary Curse does not bypass the legend rule; ordinary nonlegendary Curses avoid that particular constraint.
- Curse of Misfortunes
- Ondu Spiritdancer
- Grim Guardian
Rules text for these cards
Curse of Misfortunes
Enchant player At the beginning of your upkeep, you may search your library for a Curse card that doesn't have the same name as a Curse attached to enchanted player, put it onto the battlefield attached to that player, then shuffle.
Ondu Spiritdancer
Whenever an enchantment you control enters, you may create a token that's a copy of it. Do this only once each turn.
Grim Guardian
Constellation — Whenever this creature or another enchantment you control enters, each opponent loses 1 life.

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Selenia, the Cursed Heart

Flying, lifelink If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead. When Selenia dies, create a legendary black Aura Curse enchantment token named Selenia's Curse attached to target opponent. The token has enchant player and "If enchanted player would lose life, they lose twice that much life instead."

Accursed Witch

Spells your opponents cast that target this creature cost {1} less to cast. When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield transformed under your control attached to target opponent. Enchant player Spells you cast that target enchanted player cost {1} less to cast. At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, that player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Altar of Dementia

Sacrifice a creature: Target player mills cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power.

Anguished Unmaking

Exile target nonland permanent. You lose 3 life.

Animate Dead

Enchant creature card in a graveyard When this Aura enters, if it's on the battlefield, it loses "enchant creature card in a graveyard" and gains "enchant creature put onto the battlefield with this Aura." Return enchanted creature card to the battlefield under your control and attach this Aura to it. When this Aura leaves the battlefield, that creature's controller sacrifices it. Enchanted creature gets -1/-0.

Arcane Signet

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Ashnod's Altar

Sacrifice a creature: Add {C}{C}.

Auramancer

When this creature enters, you may return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.

Bastion of Remembrance

When this enchantment enters, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token. Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Blood Artist

Whenever this creature or another creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Bojuka Bog

This land enters tapped. When this land enters, exile target player's graveyard. {T}: Add {B}.

Brightclimb Pathway

{T}: Add {W}. {T}: Add {B}.

Call of the Ring

At the beginning of your upkeep, the Ring tempts you. Whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer, you may pay 2 life. If you do, draw a card.

Carrion Feeder

This creature can't block. Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

Castle Locthwain

This land enters tapped unless you control a Swamp. {T}: Add {B}. {1}{B}{B}, {T}: Draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand.

Caves of Koilos

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W} or {B}. This land deals 1 damage to you.

Command Tower

{T}: Add one mana of any color in your commander's color identity.

Concealed Courtyard

This land enters tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands. {T}: Add {W} or {B}.

Cruel Celebrant

Whenever this creature or another creature or planeswalker you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Curse of Disturbance

Enchant player Whenever enchanted player is attacked, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. Each opponent attacking that player does the same.

Curse of Fool's Wisdom

Enchant player Whenever enchanted player draws a card, they lose 2 life and you gain 2 life. Madness {3}{B} (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)

Curse of Leeches

Enchant player As this permanent transforms into Curse of Leeches, attach it to a player. At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, they lose 1 life and you gain 1 life. Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.) Lifelink Nightbound (If a player casts at least two spells during their own turn, it becomes day next turn.)

Curse of Misfortunes

Enchant player At the beginning of your upkeep, you may search your library for a Curse card that doesn't have the same name as a Curse attached to enchanted player, put it onto the battlefield attached to that player, then shuffle.

Curse of Shallow Graves

Enchant player Whenever a player attacks enchanted player with one or more creatures, that attacking player may create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token.

Curse of Silence

Enchant player As this Aura enters, choose a card name. Spells with the chosen name enchanted player casts cost {2} more to cast. Whenever enchanted player casts a spell with the chosen name, you may sacrifice this Aura. If you do, draw a card.

Curse of Thirst

Enchant player At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, this Aura deals damage to that player equal to the number of Curses attached to them.

Curse of the Forsaken

Enchant player Whenever a creature attacks enchanted player, its controller gains 1 life.

Curse of the Restless Dead

Enchant player Whenever a land enchanted player controls enters, you create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed. (It can't block. When it attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.)

Damn

Destroy target creature. A creature destroyed this way can't be regenerated. Overload {2}{W}{W} (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change "target" in its text to "each.")

Deadly Dispute

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice an artifact or creature. Draw two cards and create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

{T}: Add {W}. Channel — {2}{W}, Discard this card: It deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.

Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim

Deathtouch Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life. Whenever another creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life.

Exotic Orchard

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Feed the Swarm

Destroy target creature or enchantment an opponent controls. You lose life equal to that permanent's mana value.

Fellwar Stone

{T}: Add one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.

Fetid Heath

{T}: Add {C}. {W/B}, {T}: Add {W}{W}, {W}{B}, or {B}{B}.

Generous Gift

Destroy target permanent. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Elephant creature token.

Gift of Immortality

Enchant creature When enchanted creature dies, return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. Return this card to the battlefield attached to that creature at the beginning of the next end step.

Godless Shrine

({T}: Add {W} or {B}.) As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped.

Grim Guardian

Constellation — Whenever this creature or another enchantment you control enters, each opponent loses 1 life.

Hall of Heliod's Generosity

{T}: Add {C}. {1}{W}, {T}: Put target enchantment card from your graveyard on top of your library.

High Market

{T}: Add {C}. {T}, Sacrifice a creature: You gain 1 life.

Idyllic Tutor

Search your library for an enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.

Isolated Chapel

This land enters tapped unless you control a Plains or a Swamp. {T}: Add {W} or {B}.

Kaya's Ghostform

Enchant creature or planeswalker you control When enchanted permanent dies or is put into exile, return that card to the battlefield under your control.

Mirror Box

The "legend rule" doesn't apply to permanents you control. Each legendary creature you control gets +1/+1. Each nontoken creature you control gets +1/+1 for each other creature you control with the same name as that creature.

Night's Whisper

You draw two cards and lose 2 life.

Ondu Spiritdancer

Whenever an enchantment you control enters, you may create a token that's a copy of it. Do this only once each turn.

Orzhov Signet

{1}, {T}: Add {W}{B}.

Phyrexian Reclamation

{1}{B}, Pay 2 life: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

Pitiless Plunderer

Whenever another creature you control dies, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

Plumb the Forbidden

As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice one or more creatures. When you do, copy this spell for each creature sacrificed this way. You draw a card and lose 1 life.

Ratadrabik of Urborg

Vigilance, ward {2} Other Zombies you control have vigilance. Whenever another legendary creature you control dies, create a token that's a copy of that creature, except it's not legendary and it's a 2/2 black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types.

Reanimate

Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. You lose life equal to that card's mana value.

Sevinne's Reclamation

Return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. If this spell was cast from a graveyard, you may copy this spell and may choose a new target for the copy. Flashback {4}{W} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Shattered Sanctum

This land enters tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {W} or {B}.

Silent Clearing

{T}, Pay 1 life: Add {W} or {B}. {1}, {T}, Sacrifice this land: Draw a card.

Skullclamp

Equipped creature gets +1/-1. Whenever equipped creature dies, draw two cards. Equip {1}

Sol Ring

{T}: Add {C}{C}.

Soul Warden

Whenever another creature enters, you gain 1 life.

Soul's Attendant

Whenever another creature enters, you may gain 1 life.

Starfield Mystic

Enchantment spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. Whenever an enchantment you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

Sun Titan

Vigilance Whenever this creature enters or attacks, you may return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Swords to Plowshares

Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.

Tainted Field

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W} or {B}. Activate only if you control a Swamp.

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire

{T}: Add {B}. Channel — {3}{B}, Discard this card: Mill three cards, then return a creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard to your hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.

Talisman of Hierarchy

{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add {W} or {B}. This artifact deals 1 damage to you.

Teysa Karlov

If a creature dying causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. Creature tokens you control have vigilance and lifelink.

The Gaffer

At the beginning of each end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, draw a card.

Trespasser's Curse

Enchant player Whenever a creature enchanted player controls enters, that player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Vault of Champions

This land enters tapped unless you have two or more opponents. {T}: Add {W} or {B}.

Vengeance Mission

Whenever a creature dies, put a quest counter on this enchantment. Target opponent loses 1 life. That player loses 2 life instead if there are seven or more quest counters on this enchantment.

Victimize

Choose two target creature cards in your graveyard. Sacrifice a creature. If you do, return the chosen cards to the battlefield tapped.

Village Rites

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Draw two cards.

Viscera Seer

Sacrifice a creature: Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)

Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

Whenever you gain life, target opponent loses that much life. {3}{B}{B}: Creatures you control gain lifelink until end of turn.

Warren Soultrader

Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

Woe Strider

When this creature enters, create a 0/1 white Goat creature token. Sacrifice another creature: Scry 1. Escape—{3}{B}{B}, Exile four other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.) This creature escapes with two +1/+1 counters on it.

Wound Reflection

At the beginning of each end step, each opponent loses life equal to the life they lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)

Yahenni, Undying Partisan

Haste Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Yahenni. Sacrifice another creature: Yahenni gains indestructible until end of turn.

Zulaport Cutthroat

Whenever this creature or another creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Command Beacon

{T}: Add {C}. {T}, Sacrifice this land: Put your commander into your hand from the command zone.

Netherborn Altar

{T}, Put a soul counter on this artifact: Put your commander into your hand from the command zone. Then you lose 3 life for each soul counter on this artifact.

Plains

({T}: Add {W}.)

Swamp

({T}: Add {B}.)

Commander

1 card

1×Selenia, the Cursed HeartLegendary Creature — Angel Warrior · Printing not specified

Creature

22 cards

Artifact

10 cards

Instant

6 cards

1×Anguished UnmakingInstant · Printing not specified 1×Deadly DisputeInstant · Printing not specified 1×Generous GiftInstant · Printing not specified 1×Plumb the ForbiddenInstant · Printing not specified 1×Swords to PlowsharesInstant · Printing not specified 1×Village RitesInstant · Printing not specified

Enchantment

18 cards

Land

36 cards

Sorcery

7 cards

1×DamnSorcery · Printing not specified 1×Feed the SwarmSorcery · Printing not specified 1×Idyllic TutorSorcery · Printing not specified 1×Night's WhisperSorcery · Printing not specified 1×ReanimateSorcery · Printing not specified 1×Sevinne's ReclamationSorcery · Printing not specified 1×VictimizeSorcery · Printing not specified

PREGAME CONVERSATION · Planned

Commander Bracket Assessment

Rules-Based Bracket: No raised minimumEstimated Power Bracket: High 3

Based on the 100-card main deck; sideboard excluded. The Rules-Based Bracket is the lowest bracket this card list allows under Commander bracket rules. The Estimated Power Bracket is a personal estimate of how strongly the deck plays. It is not an official rating.

Evidence and limitations

Rules-Based Bracket · minimum

No raised minimum found in the checked restrictions. This does not establish Exhibition intent, Core fit or absence of every possible combo.

Exact Game Changers: None.

Mass land denial registry: None identified in the checked registry. Modal or repeated-land targeting still requires a pregame discussion.

Your extra-turn cards: None identified in the checked registry. Opponent turns from Emrakul or gifts are not counted as your own chain.

Confirmed early two-card lethal or turn-chain flags are not inferred from keywords. This is a lower bound, not a complete combo solver or permission to delay a consistently early line until turn seven. Agreed Rule Zero / Exhibition exceptions are outside this ordinary-restriction check.

Estimated Power Bracket · High 3

Estimated from the card list alone, not from tracked win rates or game results.

This list cuts the Exquisite Blood package for Curse/enchantment entries and doubled death value. It retains slower Idyllic Tutor and upkeep selection rather than inheriting Optimized’s early-pair assessment.

Assembly and timing: Misfortunes waits for an upkeep and Spiritdancer copies only once each turn. Multiple resource pieces or accumulated life loss are needed; no reliable early two-card win is established.

Recovery and constraints: Creature and enchantment recovery sustain a longer game, but the legendary Curse cannot simply be stacked in duplicate under one controller.

Curve: 2.67 average nonland mana value. Cheap mana/land-search text: Arcane Signet · Deadly Dispute · Fellwar Stone · Orzhov Signet · Sol Ring · Talisman of Hierarchy. This text-derived reading aid is not an official score.

Search-library evidence: Curse of Misfortunes · Idyllic Tutor. This includes restricted and land searches; efficient tutor overlap is reviewed separately above. There is no official tutor-count cap.

Fast mana indicators: Sol Ring. Conditional free interaction: None identified in the checked registry. Conditions and resource costs still apply.

Key cards: Curse of Misfortunes · Ondu Spiritdancer · Grim Guardian · Teysa Karlov.

Official sources checked 2026-10-31; criteria update 2025-10-21, Game Changers update 2026-02-09. Method and official source links. Brackets 4 and 5 share structural freedom; competitive intent cannot be inferred from these counts.