Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Creature — Zombie
When this creature enters, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. (Each in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
Power/Toughness: 2/4
Set
Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander
Rarity
Uncommon
Mana Value
5
Artist
Scott Murphy
Collector #
142
Why Play Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Devotion-based black decks value Gary for his ability to close out games while stabilizing your life total in a single turn. He shines in multiplayer formats where the life drain affects each opponent separately, making him a powerful finisher that can swing games dramatically. The five mana investment pays off when you have enough black permanents to drain for 4+ life, turning him from a mediocre creature into a game-ending threat.Format Notes
Commander remains Gary's strongest format, where his multiplayer scaling and casual power level make him a staple in mono-black and heavy-black decks. He sees occasional play in Pioneer devotion strategies and historically performed well in Pauper before meta shifts reduced his presence. The card has never faced bans but fluctuates in competitive relevance based on how well devotion strategies are positioned in each format's metagame.Combos & Synergies
Flickering effects like Conjurer's Closet or Ghostly Flicker allow you to repeatedly trigger Gary's enter-the-battlefield ability for massive life swings. Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx pairs perfectly by converting your high devotion count into extra mana to deploy more threats. Cards that increase devotion efficiently, such as Phyrexian Obliterator or Geralf's Messenger, maximize Gary's impact while providing their own powerful effects.Featured in These Decks
- Sworn To Darkness Commander
- Grave Danger Commander
- Endless Punishment Commander
