Best Vampire commanders

Edgar is the reference Vampire commander. His eminence works from the command zone: every other Vampire spell you cast makes a 1/1 Vampire token, from turn two on. On the battlefield he has first strike and haste, and each attack puts a +1/+1 counter on every Vampire you control. Mardu colors give the deck the best Vampires in black, red and white, and the plan is easy to follow.

Best for: Players who want the strongest and simplest Vampire deck.

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Whenever you gain life, Vito makes target opponent lose that much life. Every lifelink Vampire, every lifegain trigger becomes damage. With Exquisite Blood — whenever an opponent loses life, you gain that much — the two loop until the opponent is dead. For {3}{B}{B} your creatures gain lifelink, turning a big attack into a drain. Mono-black, three mana. Without the combo, lifelink attackers still hurt.

Best for: Players who like combos and lifegain.

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Elenda gets a +1/+1 counter whenever another creature dies — yours or anyone else’s. When she dies, you create a 1/1 white Vampire with lifelink for each point of her power. A long game with combat and wipes makes her huge, and killing her only hands you an army. Lifelink keeps you alive while she grows. Orzhov colors. Sacrifice outlets let you choose when that happens.

Best for: Players who like a commander that punishes removal.

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Whenever you attack, Clavileño turns an attacking Vampire into a Demon as well, and gives it: “When this creature dies, draw a card and create a tapped 4/3 Vampire Demon with flying.” Every Vampire that dies in combat or to a sacrifice outlet becomes a card and a bigger flyer. Orzhov sacrifice outlets make the trade happen on your terms. Three mana.

Best for: Players who like Aristocrats with Vampires.

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At your end step Strefan creates a Blood token for each player who lost life this turn — attack with a few Vampires and you get several. When Strefan attacks, sacrifice two Blood tokens to put a Vampire from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, indestructible for the turn. Big Vampires arrive for free; Blood tokens also let you discard and draw. Rakdos colors.

Best for: Aggressive players who like big surprises.

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Whenever any player sacrifices a permanent — creatures, Treasures, Food, Blood — Carmen gets a +1/+1 counter and you gain 1 life. When she attacks, she returns a permanent card from your graveyard with mana value up to her power. Treasure and sacrifice decks grow her quickly, and every attack brings something back. Orzhov colors, a 2/2 flyer for five.

Best for: Players who like sacrifice decks with a flying finisher.

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Whenever Olivia attacks, you return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped and attacking. It stays as long as you control a legendary Vampire — Olivia herself counts. Discard and self-mill fill the graveyard with big creatures, and each attack brings the best one back. A 3/4 flyer with haste in Rakdos colors. With a second legendary Vampire, the creatures stay even after she leaves.

Best for: Players who like reanimation and big swings.

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At the beginning of your end step Astarion lets you choose: Feed makes an opponent lose life equal to the life they lost this turn, Friends gains you life equal to the life you gained. Hit someone for 10 and they lose 10 more; gain 8 and gain 8 again. Deathtouch and lifelink make him a strong attacker and blocker. Orzhov colors.

Best for: Newcomers who want a simple, strong effect.

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For {1}{R}, Olivia deals 1 damage to another creature, makes it a Vampire and puts a +1/+1 counter on herself. For {3}{B}{B} you gain control of a Vampire for as long as you control Olivia — including the creatures she turned into Vampires. She clears small creatures, grows every turn and steals the big ones. A mana-hungry engine in Rakdos colors.

Best for: Players who like control and long games.

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Whenever Evelyn or another Vampire enters under your control, the top card of each player’s library is exiled with a collection counter. Once each turn you may play one of those cards, spending mana as though it were any color. With flash and a 2/5 body, she picks the best card from four libraries every turn. Grixis colors, a deck of value and surprises.

Best for: Players who like value and unpredictability.

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