GolgariLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Zombie ElfGlissa, the Traitor
Mana value3Rank#9,379
The Commander
First strike, deathtouch
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you may return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
Guide
Gameplan
Glissa is an aggressive, grindy midrange commander who beats down with first strike + deathtouch (killing anything she blocks or attacks into) while turning opponents' creature deaths into recurring artifact value. You build around combat removal, deathtouch pingers, and a critical mass of cheap artifacts you can loop back from the graveyard repeatedly. Win by grinding the table out on card advantage or assembling an artifact recursion engine.
Strengths
- Commander is a 3-mana evasive blocker/attacker that one-for-ones nearly any creature thanks to first strike + deathtouch
- Free, repeatable artifact recursion engine when opponents' creatures die — incredible card advantage in attrition matchups
- Cheap to cast and recast, hard to profitably block or attack into
- Black + green gives access to elite removal, ramp, and tutors to assemble loops
Weaknesses
- Ability only triggers off opponents' creature deaths — does nothing against artifact/enchantment or creatureless control decks unless you force kills
- Three colors of fixing is fine, but the deck wants you to invest heavily in artifacts that can be hated out by mass artifact removal
- Slow to close games; can run out of pressure against faster combo decks
- Reliant on Glissa staying on the battlefield, and she's a juicy removal/edict target
Key Cards
- Mindslaver — With a way to untap or recur it, Glissa's recursion lets you loop Mindslaver to lock opponents out of the game.
- Triskelion — Pings opponents' creatures to death, triggering Glissa, and is a classic artifact loop piece that returns each time.
- Nim Deathmantle — Cheap artifact that protects/recurs your own creatures and synergizes with sacrifice loops, recurring via Glissa.
- Skullclamp — Premier artifact card-draw engine that Glissa can rebuy, and forcing your own creatures to die fuels card flow.
- Lightning Greaves — Protects Glissa from removal and lets her swing immediately as your value engine.
- Mimic Vat — Imprints dying opponent creatures while Glissa returns it from the yard, generating recurring threats.
Upgrade Path
Add fast mana (Mana Crypt, Sol Ring, Mox Diamond) and tutors (Demonic/Vampiric Tutor, Fabricate) to assemble loops faster, and include Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Triskelion as a compact infinite-damage finish. Tighten the manabase with fetches/duals and add proactive interaction (Assassin's Trophy, Beast Within) plus sac outlets to force opponent creature deaths on demand so Glissa always has fuel.
Core Cards
The most-played cards for this commander, built from aggregated deck data (the Mythic Graph). Build public decks to seed it.
Win Conditions
- ▸Grind the table out on card advantage and pick off creatures with deathtouch combat and pingers
- ▸Assemble an artifact loop (e.g. Triskelion + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed) for infinite damage
- ▸Lock the table with looped Mindslaver or stax pieces, then close with creatures
- ▸Commander damage and incremental aggression backed by recursion value
Archetypes
- Artifacts (Recursion) — Her ability recurs artifact cards from your graveyard, rewarding a dense artifact shell with loopable utility pieces.
- Aristocrats/Sacrifice — Forcing creature deaths (yours and theirs) triggers Glissa and fuels artifact rebuys and edict effects.
- Combo — Looping artifacts like Mindslaver, Triskelion, or Nim Deathmantle with sac outlets and death triggers can build hard locks or infinite engines.
- Midrange/Aggro — First strike + deathtouch makes Glissa an efficient beater and removal magnet that grinds value while attacking.
Combos
No combos found for this commander on Commander Spellbook.
Related Commanders
Same color identity (BG), by popularity.
