Sworn to Darkness Precon Decklist & Guide

Overview

Sworn to Darkness is a mono-black Demon deck led by a planeswalker. Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath can be your commander and enters with three loyalty. Its +2 makes each opponent lose 1 life while you gain that much, its -2 creates a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying and you lose 2 life, and its -8 gives you an emblem that lets you sacrifice creatures to gain life and draw cards. Alternating between its abilities keeps a stream of huge flyers coming.

The 99 cards are 28 creatures, 9 artifacts, one enchantment, 8 instants, 13 sorceries and 40 lands. The Demons include Bloodgift Demon, Xathrid Demon, Reaper from the Abyss, Pestilence Demon and Overseer of the Damned, and a sacrifice package with outlets such as Ghoulcaller Gisa, Flesh Carver and Disciple of Bolas turn creatures into value. Morbid cards such as Tragic Slip, Morkrut Banshee, Spoils of Blood and Skirsdag High Priest reward creatures dying.

Key Cards

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Grave Titan

Token Maker · Deathtouch

A 6/6 for {4}{B}{B}. It has deathtouch, and whenever it enters or attacks it creates two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens. It is a huge body and a continuous source of sacrifice fodder.

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Gray Merchant of Asphodel

Drain · Devotion

A 2/4 for {3}{B}{B}. When it enters, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black, and you gain that much life. In a mono-black deck, it can drain for a lot.

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Reaper from the Abyss

Removal · Flying

A 6/6 for {3}{B}{B}{B}. It has flying, and at the beginning of each end step, if a creature died this turn, you destroy target non-Demon creature. With sacrifice outlets in the deck, it can kill a creature each turn.

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Xathrid Demon

Drain · Big Body

A 7/7 for {3}{B}{B}{B}. It has flying and trample, and at the beginning of your upkeep you sacrifice another creature and each opponent loses life equal to its power. If you cannot, it taps and you lose 7 life. It is a huge flyer that drains the table with the right fodder.

Playing the Deck

The early game is about mana and cheap creatures. Sol Ring, Mind Stone, Charcoal Diamond, Worn Powerstone, Jet Medallion and Burnished Hart ramp you, and Crypt Ghast and Magus of the Coffers make big black mana. Nantuko Shade, Vampire Hexmage and Flesh Carver are early creatures.

The middle of the game is about the Demons and value. Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath makes 5/5 Demons, Bloodgift Demon draws cards, Liliana's Reaver and Ghoulcaller Gisa make Zombies, Nekrataal, Shriekmaw and Overseer of the Damned remove creatures, and Phyrexian Gargantua and Sign in Blood draw cards.

The late game is about huge threats and resets. Pestilence Demon deals damage to every creature and player, Gray Merchant of Asphodel drains for a lot, Promise of Power draws five cards or makes a huge Demon, and Mutilate, Black Sun's Zenith and Necromantic Selection reset the board. Dread Return and Profane Command bring creatures back.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The deck has a high density of Demons, consistent mono-black mana and a huge amount of removal. It also has plenty of interaction, including Annihilate, Malicious Affliction, Tendrils of Corruption, Dregs of Sorrow, Sudden Spoiling and Nekrataal.

Weaknesses: The deck is mono-black, so it has no way to remove enchantments or artifacts, and it is weak to graveyard hate and to creature-light boards. Abyssal Persecutor stops you winning the game while it is on the battlefield, and several effects, such as Pestilence Demon and Mutilate, damage your own creatures too.

Want to improve it? See the Sworn to Darkness upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.

Verdict

Sworn to Darkness is a powerful and consistent mono-black deck with a classic Demon theme. It is a good choice for players who like removal, drain and big flying finishers.

Want to see what a fully optimised Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath build looks like? Try the Oracle.

✦ Build with The Oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards are in the Sworn to Darkness decklist?
The Sworn to Darkness precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath. The full Sworn to Darkness decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.

When was Sworn to Darkness released?
Sworn to Darkness was released on November 7, 2014 as part of Commander 2014.

Who is the commander of Sworn to Darkness?
Sworn to Darkness is led by Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath, a Mono-black (B) legendary planeswalker.

How many creatures are in Sworn to Darkness?
The 99 cards besides Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath include 28 creatures.

How many lands does Sworn to Darkness have?
Sworn to Darkness has 40 lands in the 99 cards besides Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath, including basic lands.

Full Decklist

All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Sworn to Darkness precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.

Fetching decklist…

Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath (commander), Arcane Lighthouse, Barren Moor, Bojuka Bog, Crypt of Agadeem, Everglades, Ghost Quarter, Myriad Landscape, Polluted Mire, 32 Swamp, Bad Moon, Aether Snap, Black Sun's Zenith, Dread Return, Dregs of Sorrow, Infernal Offering, Mutilate, Necromantic Selection, Profane Command, Promise of Power, Read the Bones, Sign in Blood, Syphon Mind, Victimize, Charcoal Diamond, Commander's Sphere, Jet Medallion, Lashwrithe, Mind Stone, Sol Ring, Swiftfoot Boots, Unstable Obelisk, Worn Powerstone, Abyssal Persecutor, Bloodgift Demon, Burnished Hart, Butcher of Malakir, Crypt Ghast, Demon of Wailing Agonies, Disciple of Bolas, Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief, Evernight Shade, Flesh Carver, Ghoulcaller Gisa, Grave Titan, Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Liliana's Reaver, Magus of the Coffers, Morkrut Banshee, Nantuko Shade, Nekrataal, Overseer of the Damned, Pestilence Demon, Phyrexian Gargantua, Pontiff of Blight, Raving Dead, Reaper from the Abyss, Shriekmaw, Skirsdag High Priest, Vampire Hexmage, Xathrid Demon, Annihilate, Malicious Affliction, Skeletal Scrying, Spoils of Blood, Sudden Spoiling, Tendrils of Corruption, Tragic Slip, Wake the Dead.