Strefan, Maurer Progenitor costs {2}{B}{R} and is a 3/3 Legendary Vampire Noble with flying. At the beginning of your end step you create a Blood token for each player who lost life this turn, and whenever Strefan attacks you may sacrifice two Blood tokens. If you do, you may put a Vampire card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, and it gains indestructible until end of turn. Every turn Strefan makes Blood and turns it into a free Vampire.

The precon already has the Vampire engine and the payoffs, including Crossway Troublemakers, Glass-Cast Heart, Markov Enforcer, Bloodtithe Harvester and Patron of the Vein. Each swap below pairs a cut with an add, and every card is scored with the same numbers the Oracle uses to build decks: synergy and inclusion from the Strefan decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Strefan decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Vampiric Bloodline precon guide.

12
Swaps
$3.65
Cost of the adds
37→37
Lands
4→53
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough Blood token makers

Anje, Maid of Dishonor, Voldaren Epicure, Voldaren Bloodcaster, Gluttonous Guest and Falkenrath Forebear all create Blood tokens, which Strefan sacrifices to put a Vampire onto the battlefield. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Cards outside the lists

Anje's Ravager, Crimson Honor Guard, Dark Impostor, Shadowgrange Archfiend, Stromkirk Condemned, Stromkirk Occultist and Vampiric Dragon are not cards Strefan decks usually play.

A heavy curve

The deck has 11 nonland cards at mana value six or more, including an eight-drop and a seven-drop that Strefan decks leave out, and it runs Temple of the False God as a land.

The 12 swaps

Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.

Swap 1 of 12
Anje's Ravager
Cut
Anje's Ravager
Creature — Vampire Berserker · 2R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Anje, Maid of Dishonor
Add
Anje, Maid of Dishonor
Legendary Creature — Vampire · 2BR
Inclusion81%
Synergy79%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 80

Anje's Ravager is a three-mana 3/3 that must attack each combat and discards your hand when it does. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Anje, Maid of Dishonor is a 4/5 Legendary Vampire for {2}{B}{R}. Whenever Anje or one or more other Vampires you control enter, you create a Blood token, once each turn, and for {2} and a sacrificed creature or Blood token each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2. A four-drop that makes Blood and drains, and the highest-scoring card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 12
Crimson Honor Guard
Cut
Crimson Honor Guard
Creature — Vampire Knight · 3RR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Olivia's Attendants
Add
Olivia's Attendants
Creature — Vampire · 4RR
Inclusion76%
Synergy74%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 74

Crimson Honor Guard is a five-mana 4/5 trampler that deals 4 damage to each player at their end step unless they control a commander. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Olivia's Attendants is a 6/6 Vampire for {4}{R}{R} with menace. Whenever it deals damage you create that many Blood tokens, and for {2}{R} it deals 1 damage to any target. A six-drop that makes several Blood tokens each time it connects.

Swap 3 of 12
Dark Impostor
Cut
Dark Impostor
Creature — Vampire Assassin · 2B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Voldaren Bloodcaster // Bloodbat Summoner
Add
Voldaren Bloodcaster // Bloodbat Summoner
Creature — Vampire Wizard // Creature — Vampire Wizard · 1B
Inclusion58%
Synergy56%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 57

Dark Impostor is a three-mana 2/2 that exiles creatures for {4}{B}{B}. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Voldaren Bloodcaster is a 2/2 flying Vampire Wizard for {1}{B}. Whenever it or another nontoken creature you control dies, you create a Blood token, and when you create a Blood token while controlling five or more you transform it into Bloodbat Summoner, which turns a Blood token into a 2/2 flying, haste Bat each combat. A two-drop that turns deaths into Blood.

Swap 4 of 12
Shadowgrange Archfiend
Cut
Shadowgrange Archfiend
Creature — Demon · 6B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Falkenrath Forebear
Add
Falkenrath Forebear
Creature — Vampire · 2B
Inclusion51%
Synergy49%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 50

Shadowgrange Archfiend is a seven-mana 8/4 that makes each opponent sacrifice their biggest creature, and it has madness. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Falkenrath Forebear is a 3/1 flying Vampire for {2}{B} that can't block. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player you create a Blood token, and for {B} and two sacrificed Blood tokens it returns from the graveyard to the battlefield. A three-drop that makes Blood and comes back.

Swap 5 of 12
Stromkirk Condemned
Cut
Stromkirk Condemned
Creature — Vampire Horror · BB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Voldaren Epicure
Add
Voldaren Epicure
Creature — Vampire · R
Inclusion64%
Synergy62%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 63

Stromkirk Condemned is a two-mana 2/2 that pumps Vampires by discarding a card. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Voldaren Epicure is a 1/1 Vampire for {R}. When it enters it deals 1 damage to each opponent and you create a Blood token. A one-drop that makes opponents lose life, which makes extra Blood at Strefan's end step.

Swap 6 of 12
Stromkirk Occultist
Cut
Stromkirk Occultist
Creature — Vampire Horror · 2R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Gluttonous Guest
Add
Gluttonous Guest
Creature — Vampire · 2B
Inclusion41%
Synergy40%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 40

Stromkirk Occultist is a three-mana 3/2 trampler with madness that exiles the top card when it connects. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Gluttonous Guest is a 1/4 Vampire for {2}{B}. When it enters you create a Blood token, and whenever you sacrifice a Blood token you gain 1 life. A three-drop that blocks well and makes the Blood that Strefan needs.

Swap 7 of 12
Vampiric Dragon
Cut
Vampiric Dragon
Creature — Vampire Dragon · 6BR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Florian, Voldaren Scion
Add
Florian, Voldaren Scion
Legendary Creature — Vampire Noble · 1BR
Inclusion43%
Synergy37%
Lift7.0×
Oracle score 39

Vampiric Dragon is an eight-mana 5/5 flying Dragon that pings creatures for {1}{R}. It is not a card Strefan decks usually play.

Florian, Voldaren Scion is a 3/3 Legendary Vampire Noble for {1}{B}{R} with first strike. At the beginning of each of your postcombat main phases you look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the total life your opponents lost this turn, exile one and may play it this turn. A three-drop that turns damage into card advantage.

Swap 8 of 12
Imposing Grandeur
Cut
Imposing Grandeur
Sorcery · 4R
Inclusion6%
Synergy5%
Lift7.2×
Oracle score 5
Pointed Discussion
Add
Pointed Discussion
Sorcery · 2B
Inclusion51%
Synergy49%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 50

Imposing Grandeur is a five-mana sorcery where each player may discard their hand and draw cards equal to their commander's mana value. It is played in about one Strefan deck in seventeen.

Pointed Discussion costs {2}{B}. You draw two cards, lose 2 life, then create a Blood token. A three-mana draw spell that leaves you a Blood token, and the life you lose counts for Strefan, which makes a Blood token for each player who lost life this turn.

Swap 9 of 12
Unstable Obelisk
Cut
Unstable Obelisk
Artifact · 3
Inclusion5%
Synergy5%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 5
Blood Fountain
Add
Blood Fountain
Artifact · B
Inclusion32%
Synergy30%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 31

Unstable Obelisk is a three-mana rock that can destroy a permanent for {7}. It is played in about one Strefan deck in twenty.

Blood Fountain costs {B}. When it enters you create a Blood token, and for {3}{B}, a tap and a sacrifice you return up to two creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. A one-mana artifact that makes Blood and returns two creatures later.

Swap 10 of 12
Avacyn's Judgment
Cut
Avacyn's Judgment
Sorcery · 1R
Inclusion8%
Synergy6%
Lift5.1×
Oracle score 7
Vampires' Vengeance
Add
Vampires' Vengeance
Instant · 2R
Inclusion45%
Synergy44%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 44

Avacyn's Judgment is a two-mana sorcery that deals 2 damage divided among any number of targets, with madness. It is played in about one Strefan deck in thirteen.

Vampires' Vengeance costs {2}{R}. It deals 2 damage to each non-Vampire creature and creates a Blood token. A three-mana instant sweeper that spares your Vampires and makes Blood.

Swap 11 of 12
Mob Rule
Cut
Mob Rule
Sorcery · 4RR
Inclusion15%
Synergy13%
Lift7.5×
Oracle score 14
Vampire Socialite
Add
Vampire Socialite
Creature — Vampire Noble · BR
Inclusion31%
Synergy30%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 30

Mob Rule is a six-mana sorcery that steals a group of creatures for a turn. It is played in about one Strefan deck in seven.

Vampire Socialite is a 2/2 Vampire Noble with menace for {B}{R}. When it enters, if an opponent lost life this turn, it puts a +1/+1 counter on each other Vampire you control, and while an opponent lost life this turn each other Vampire you control enters with an additional +1/+1 counter. A two-drop that grows the whole team.

Swap 12 of 12
Temple of the False God
Cut
Temple of the False God
Land
Inclusion22%
Synergy12%
Lift2.4×
Oracle score 16
Voldaren Estate
Add
Voldaren Estate
Land
Inclusion78%
Synergy75%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 76

Temple of the False God taps for {C}{C} only if you control five or more lands. It is played in about one Strefan deck in five.

Voldaren Estate taps for {C}, or for one mana of any color at the cost of 1 life, which must be spent to cast a Vampire spell. For {5} and a tap it creates a Blood token, and the cost is {1} less for each Vampire you control. A land that fixes for Vampires and makes Blood.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Anje's Ravager
  • Crimson Honor Guard
  • Dark Impostor
  • Shadowgrange Archfiend
  • Stromkirk Condemned
  • Stromkirk Occultist
  • Vampiric Dragon
  • Imposing Grandeur
  • Unstable Obelisk
  • Avacyn's Judgment
  • Mob Rule
  • Temple of the False God

Add

  • Anje, Maid of Dishonor
  • Olivia's Attendants
  • Voldaren Bloodcaster
  • Falkenrath Forebear
  • Voldaren Epicure
  • Gluttonous Guest
  • Florian, Voldaren Scion
  • Pointed Discussion
  • Blood Fountain
  • Vampires' Vengeance
  • Vampire Socialite
  • Voldaren Estate

What to keep

These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.

If you want to spend more

These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

Vampiric Bloodline already has the Vampire anthems, the removal and Strefan's attack engine. The upgrade is cheap Vampires that make Blood tokens, in place of cards that Strefan decks leave out and an eight-drop. These twelve swaps cost about $4 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Strefan, Maurer Progenitor from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Vampiric Bloodline precon?

Using data from 8,535 Strefan decks, the highest-scoring additions are Anje, Maid of Dishonor (for Anje's Ravager), Voldaren Estate (for Temple of the False God) and Olivia's Attendants (for Crimson Honor Guard). The full list has 12 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Vampiric Bloodline?

All 12 swaps cost about $3.65 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord ($3.75) and Vein Ripper ($6.01).

What should I cut from Vampiric Bloodline?

The weakest cards for this commander are Anje's Ravager, Crimson Honor Guard and Dark Impostor. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Vampiric Bloodline?

Keep Crossway Troublemakers, Glass-Cast Heart, Markov Enforcer, Bloodtithe Harvester and Patron of the Vein. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Strefan do?

Strefan, Maurer Progenitor costs {2}{B}{R} and is a 3/3 Legendary Vampire Noble with flying. At the beginning of your end step you create a Blood token for each player who lost life this turn, and whenever Strefan attacks you may sacrifice two Blood tokens. If you do, you may put a Vampire card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, and it gains indestructible until end of turn. Every turn Strefan makes Blood and turns it into a free Vampire.

More Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Strefan, Maurer Progenitor decks (8,535 of them when this was written, 2026-10-28) that play the card. Synergy is how much more often they play it than other decks in the same colours. Oracle score is synergy × 0.6 plus inclusion × 0.4, the same blend The Oracle uses to rank cards for a deck. Lift compares how often the card appears in these decks with how often it could, capped at 8× here; it is shown for context and does not change the score.

Two cautions. Players who run the precon unmodified count as Strefan decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is high for many Vampire cards because few decks play them outside a Vampire deck, so use lift to compare cards, not to judge one in isolation. A card the commander's decks do not usually play counts as 0 in the average score. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.