The Commander
Flying, deathtouch
Whenever Scriv enters or attacks, create a white Aura enchantment token named Contract attached to target creature an opponent controls. The token has enchant creature and "Whenever enchanted creature attacks, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn if it's attacking one of your opponents. Otherwise, its controller loses 2 life."
Guide
Gameplan
Scriv is a political punisher commander: every time it enters or attacks, you slap a Contract aura on an opponent's creature, taxing them either by forcing it to swing at a rival or bleeding its controller for 2. You attack with an evasive deathtouch body each turn to manufacture more Contracts, turn the table on each other, and grind everyone down while you stay safe behind a pillow fort. Win by accumulating life loss, constellation/enchantment payoffs, and finishing with deathtouch evasion or a forced bloodbath.
Strengths
- Repeatable, recur-proof value: every attack makes another Aura token you control even if Scriv is removed mid-combat (ETB triggers on recast).
- Flying + deathtouch makes Scriv a great attacker and a brutal blocker that trades up against anything.
- Steers the table—opponents are incentivized to swing at each other, keeping aggression off you.
- Generates a steady stream of enchantment ETBs, fueling constellation and enchantress payoffs.
Weaknesses
- Each individual Contract is slow; you need many triggers to actually close a game.
- Politically soft—savvy opponents simply don't attack and quietly eat 2 life, removing the upside.
- Relies on Scriv connecting or re-entering; without protection, repeated commander removal stalls the engine.
- BW lacks card draw and ramp compared to other colors, so engines can sputter.
Key Cards
- Sythis, Harvest's Hand — Turns your stream of Contract Aura tokens into repeatable card draw and life gain.
- Eidolon of Blossoms — Constellation draws a card off every Contract token you create, fixing your card disadvantage.
- Disrupt Decorum — Goads every opponent's creature, guaranteeing your Contracts deal damage instead of fizzling on defensive players.
- Marisi, Breaker of the Coil — Forces opponents to attack each other, maximizing the +2/+0 mode and the chaos Scriv thrives on.
- Sun Titan / Brave the Elements style protection — Cheap reanimation and protection keep Scriv attacking to renew Contracts every turn.
- Authority of the Consuls — Punishes the attacks Scriv encourages and slows the table's tempo while you grind.
Upgrade Path
Add efficient enchantress payoffs (Sythis, Eidolon of Blossoms, Setessan Champion) and constellation engines to convert every Contract into cards, then layer goad and 'must attack' effects (Marisi, Disrupt Decorum, Grand Melee) so the +2/+0 mode is mandatory. Tighten the manabase with fast rocks and reliable commander protection/recursion (Swiftfoot Boots, Sun Titan, Reconnaissance) so Scriv attacks unimpeded every turn, and add a closing engine like a strong group-slug package or aristocrats drain to actually end games before they stall.
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
- ▸Incremental life loss from Contracts plus group-slug enchantments grinding everyone to zero
- ▸Forced combats among opponents that wipe their boards while you sit untouched, then finish with evasive attackers
- ▸Deathtouch flier beatdown backed by goad redirection
- ▸Aristocrats drain (Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat) off the deaths your forced attacks cause
Archetypes
- Group Slug / Punisher — Contracts constantly bleed opponents who refuse to swing, and you can stack symmetrical life-loss effects you ignore.
- Goad / Political Aikido — Pairing Scriv with goad effects forces opponents into combat, turning their boards against each other.
- Enchantress / Constellation — Each Contract is an enchantment ETB, powering Sythis, Eidolon of Blossoms, and other enchantment payoffs.
- Aristocrats — Lifeloss and incidental death triggers from forced combats synergize with Blood Artist effects to drain the table.
Combos
No combos found for this commander on Commander Spellbook.
Related Commanders
Same color identity (BW), by popularity.
