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Istvan, Butcher of Eln

Istvan, Butcher of Eln

{1}{B}{B}{B}

Legendary Creature — Human

Istvan attacks each combat if able.

Prevent all damage that would be dealt to Istvan by creatures.

Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put two +1/+1 counters on Istvan.

No beast in Terisiare is more frightening than the man who haunts its woods.

1 / 3

Set
Mystery Booster Commander Edition (MBC #14)
Rarity
Rare
Mana value
4
Released
2026-11-09
Artist
Marius Bota
EDHREC rank
#27,613
Colour identity
{B}
Finishes
Nonfoil, Foil
Served from
Local database

Commander bracket

1 +
Fits any bracket
No Game Changer, land denial, extra turns or two-card combos.

Derived from card traits, not a ruling — bracket rules turn on how a deck intends to use a card. Bracket rules

EDHREC

Salt Score 0.00
How much players resent seeing this card. The scale tops out around 3.1.
Can be your commander

Combos

Not part of any combo on Commander Spellbook.

Commander recommendations

Top synergy 50

Played far more in this commander's decks than elsewhere.

  1. Basilisk Collar 69 %+65.4 %
  2. Tarrian's Soulcleaver 58 %+55.0 %
  3. Gisa's Favorite Shovel 51 %+50.4 %
  4. Haunted Cloak 50 %+49.0 %
  5. Sheoldred's Edict 61 %+45.7 %
  6. Shadowspear 48 %+43.4 %
  7. Plaguecrafter 62 %+42.4 %
  8. Commander's Plate 47 %+41.0 %
  9. Accursed Marauder 62 %+40.4 %
  10. Morbid Opportunist 63 %+38.9 %
  11. Merciless Executioner 46 %+38.8 %
  12. Eternal Thirst 41 %+38.7 %
  13. Soul Shatter 49 %+37.7 %
  14. Mithril Coat 43 %+37.6 %
  15. Rogue's Passage 56 %+36.9 %
  16. Uncle Istvan 37 %+36.8 %
  17. Fleshbag Marauder 53 %+36.7 %
  18. Swiftfoot Boots 67 %+36.0 %
  19. Vorpal Sword 40 %+35.8 %
  20. Gravelighter 37 %+34.1 %
  21. Leyline Axe 34 %+33.1 %
  22. Demon's Disciple 41 %+32.9 %
  23. Shizo, Death's Storehouse 43 %+32.5 %
  24. Loxodon Warhammer 34 %+32.5 %
  25. Massacre Wurm 49 %+31.6 %
  26. Night's Whisper 56 %+31.0 %
  27. Mandate of Abaddon 31 %+29.2 %
  28. The Ozolith 30 %+28.7 %
  29. Champion's Helm 29 %+26.3 %
  30. The Masamune 33 %+25.8 %
  31. Drivnod, Carnage Dominus 33 %+25.8 %
  32. Nemesis Mask 25 %+25.3 %
  33. Blackblade Reforged 28 %+25.3 %
  34. Massacre Girl 31 %+24.8 %
  35. Archfiend of Depravity 32 %+24.6 %
  36. Sign in Blood 59 %+24.3 %
  37. Phyrexian Obliterator 35 %+23.7 %
  38. Dread Presence 35 %+21.7 %
  39. Massacre Girl, Known Killer 25 %+21.3 %
  40. No Mercy 29 %+21.0 %
  41. Imp's Mischief 46 %+21.0 %
  42. Withering Torment 52 %+20.1 %
  43. Vincent Valentine 25 %+20.0 %
  44. The Meathook Massacre 37 %+19.7 %
  45. Tainted Strike 22 %+19.2 %
  46. Go for the Throat 41 %+18.8 %
  47. Force of Despair 26 %+18.7 %
  48. Witch's Clinic 19 %+17.9 %
  49. Cabal Coffers 73 %+17.9 %
  50. Slaughter Specialist 20 %+17.5 %

Most included 50

Highest share of decks running them, distinctive or not.

  1. Swamp 94 %-1.7 %
  2. Sol Ring 77 %-8.4 %
  3. Cabal Coffers 73 %+17.9 %
  4. Dark Ritual 71 %+3.7 %
  5. Jet Medallion 69 %+7.0 %
  6. Basilisk Collar 69 %+65.4 %
  7. Swiftfoot Boots 67 %+36.0 %
  8. Morbid Opportunist 63 %+38.9 %
  9. Arcane Signet 63 %+1.3 %
  10. Plaguecrafter 62 %+42.4 %
  11. Accursed Marauder 62 %+40.4 %
  12. Bojuka Bog 61 %+13.5 %
  13. Sheoldred's Edict 61 %+45.7 %
  14. Crypt Ghast 61 %+13.8 %
  15. Feed the Swarm 60 %+9.2 %
  16. Sign in Blood 59 %+24.3 %
  17. Tarrian's Soulcleaver 58 %+55.0 %
  18. Rogue's Passage 56 %+36.9 %
  19. Night's Whisper 56 %+31.0 %
  20. Fleshbag Marauder 53 %+36.7 %
  21. Phyrexian Arena 53 %+13.5 %
  22. Withering Torment 52 %+20.1 %
  23. Gisa's Favorite Shovel 51 %+50.4 %
  24. Haunted Cloak 50 %+49.0 %
  25. Soul Shatter 49 %+37.7 %
  26. Massacre Wurm 49 %+31.6 %
  27. Shadowspear 48 %+43.4 %
  28. Commander's Plate 47 %+41.0 %
  29. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 47 %+9.5 %
  30. Merciless Executioner 46 %+38.8 %
  31. Imp's Mischief 46 %+21.0 %
  32. Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx 44 %+14.3 %
  33. Mithril Coat 43 %+37.6 %
  34. Shizo, Death's Storehouse 43 %+32.5 %
  35. Reanimate 42 %+1.6 %
  36. Toxic Deluge 42 %+4.8 %
  37. Cabal Stronghold 42 %+7.7 %
  38. Defile 41 %+6.0 %
  39. Go for the Throat 41 %+18.8 %
  40. Eternal Thirst 41 %+38.7 %
  41. Demon's Disciple 41 %+32.9 %
  42. Vorpal Sword 40 %+35.8 %
  43. Gray Merchant of Asphodel 38 %-11.7 %
  44. Infernal Grasp 38 %+12.8 %
  45. Gravelighter 37 %+34.1 %
  46. The Meathook Massacre 37 %+19.7 %
  47. Uncle Istvan 37 %+36.8 %
  48. Blood Artist 37 %+5.0 %
  49. Black Market 35 %+15.1 %
  50. Phyrexian Obliterator 35 %+23.7 %

Format legality

Standard Not legal
Pioneer Not legal
Modern Not legal
Legacy Not legal
Vintage Not legal
Pauper Not legal
Commander Not legal
Oathbreaker Not legal
Duel Commander Not legal
Brawl Not legal
Standard Brawl Not legal
Historic Not legal
Timeless Not legal
Alchemy Not legal
Penny Not legal
Premodern Not legal
PreDH Not legal
Pauper EDH Not legal
Old School Not legal
Future Not legal
Gladiator Not legal
All printingsScryfall ↗Edhrec ↗
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