Black Market — Magic: The Gathering card

Black Market

{3}{B}{B}
Enchantment

Whenever a creature dies, put a charge counter on this enchantment.

At the beginning of your first main phase, add {B} for each charge counter on this enchantment.

Set Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Rarity Rare
Mana Value 5
Artist Jeff Easley
Collector # 739
Scryfall

Why Play Black Market

Black Market excels in creature-heavy metas where board wipes and combat create frequent death triggers. The enchantment transforms every dying creature into long-term mana acceleration, making it particularly powerful in midrange and control decks that can protect it while creatures trade off. Once you've accumulated several charge counters, the massive mana boost enables explosive turns with multiple threats or expensive game-ending spells.

Format Notes

Commander is where Black Market truly shines, as multiplayer games naturally feature more creatures dying and longer game states that allow charge counters to accumulate. The format's higher life totals and creature-centric strategies make the five-mana investment worthwhile. In Legacy and Historic, it sees occasional play in black midrange builds, though faster formats limit its impact since games may end before significant value is generated.

Combos & Synergies

Token generators like Bitterblossom and Grave Titan provide steady streams of creatures that become mana when they inevitably die. Sacrifice outlets such as Viscera Seer or Ashnod's Altar let you control the timing of death triggers, instantly converting creatures into charge counters. The abundant black mana pairs perfectly with X-spells like Torment of Hailfire or enables multiple expensive spells in a single turn, creating overwhelming advantage.

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Enchantment