BlackLegendary Creature — Phyrexian ShapeshifterVolrath the Fallen
Mana value6Rank#21,391
The Commander
, Discard a creature card: Volrath gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the discarded card's mana value.
Guide
Gameplan
Volrath the Fallen is a mono-black voltron commander that pumps himself by discarding fat creatures, then connects for lethal commander damage. You ramp into him, build discard-fueled pumps and reanimation synergies, and protect him while threatening one or two big hits. Discarded creatures aren't wasted—you bring them back from the graveyard for value.
Strengths
- Discarding a big creature (like a 15-MV Emrakul or Draco) turns Volrath into a one-shot commander damage threat
- Mono-black gives consistent ramp, tutors, and the format's best targeted removal and recursion
- Discard outlet doubles as graveyard setup for reanimation
- Repeatable activated ability—no equipment dependency to start swinging big
Weaknesses
- Six mana to cast and dies to any spot removal, requiring constant protection
- Pumps are temporary and only last until end of turn, so a single block or removal mid-combat wastes resources
- No evasion built in—needs help to connect through blockers
- Pure single-color limits interaction breadth and color-fixing flexibility
Key Cards
- Draco — At 16 mana value, discarding it gives Volrath +16/+16, a one-card kill in many pods.
- Emrakul, the Aeons Torn — Discarding it pumps Volrath +15/+15 and it can be reanimated later for a second threat.
- Rogue's Passage — Grants unblockable so a single pumped swing connects for lethal commander damage.
- Reanimate — Recurs the giant creatures you discard to Volrath, converting fuel into board presence.
- Whispersilk Cloak — Provides both unblockable and shroud, protecting Volrath while ensuring damage lands.
- Lightning Greaves — Haste plus shroud lets Volrath swing the turn he lands while dodging targeted removal.
Upgrade Path
Add fast mana (Dark Ritual, Sol Ring, Mana Vault) and tutors (Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor) to deploy Volrath and protection ahead of curve. Prioritize evasion and protection pieces—Rogue's Passage, Whispersilk Cloak, Swiftfoot Boots—plus the highest-MV creatures you can find as ammo. Round it out with strong reanimation (Reanimate, Animate Dead, Victimize) so every discarded bomb earns value twice.
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
- ▸Connecting with a massively pumped, unblockable Volrath for 21 commander damage
- ▸Reanimating discarded fatties like Emrakul or Razaketh as backup threats
- ▸Grinding the table out with mono-black removal and recursion before a finishing swing
Archetypes
- Voltron — Volrath's pump ability makes him a self-contained beatstick aiming for 21 commander damage.
- Reanimator — Discarding huge creatures to pump doubles as fueling Reanimate, Animate Dead, and Victimize.
- Mono-Black Control — Black's removal, hand disruption, and tutors keep the board clear while Volrath closes.
Combos
No combos found for this commander on Commander Spellbook.
Related Commanders
Same color identity (B), by popularity.
