EDH Optimizer
Dark Ritual
Dark Ritual is a black instant that counts as ramp. It appears in the recommended lists of 154 commanders, and 26% of black decks run it.
Type: Instant
Cost: B
Color identity: Black
Reference price: €1.52
Oldest printing: Limited Edition Alpha
Role in the deck: ramp
Rules text
Official text (Scryfall).
Paste your list and we tell you whether this card fits: ramp, draw, interaction, curve and a 10,000-game simulation.
📥 Analyze my deck for free 🛠️ Browse commandersCommanders that play it
The commanders with the highest synergy with this card, with the share of their decks that run it. Each one links to its deck guide.
| Commander | Identity | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silverquill, the Disputant | Black · White | 69% | +44% |
| Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin | Black · Red | 82% | +39% |
| Super-Skrull | Black · Green · Red · Blue · White | 42% | +35% |
| The Gitrog Monster | Black · Green | 52% | +34% |
| Toxrill, the Corrosive | Black · Blue | 70% | +34% |
| Titanium Man | Black | 100% | +33% |
| Tasigur, the Golden Fang | Black · Green · Blue | 46% | +33% |
| Lord of the Nazgûl | Black · Blue | 69% | +32% |
| Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff | Black · White | 58% | +32% |
| Tivit, Seller of Secrets | Black · Blue · White | 52% | +32% |
| Gyruda, Doom of Depths | Black · Blue | 68% | +31% |
| Kuja, Genome Sorcerer // Trance Kuja, Fate Defied | Black · Red | 74% | +31% |
| Kefka, Court Mage // Kefka, Ruler of Ruin | Black · Red · Blue | 69% | +31% |
| Mister Negative | Black · White | 56% | +30% |
| Rowan, Scion of War | Black · Red | 71% | +29% |
| Celes, Rune Knight | Black · Red · White | 46% | +29% |
| Bebop & Rocksteady | Black · Green | 47% | +29% |
| Papalymo Totolymo | Black · White | 54% | +28% |
| Saruman of Many Colors | Black · Blue · White | 49% | +28% |
| Talion, the Kindly Lord | Black · Blue | 65% | +28% |
| Codie, Vociferous Codex | Black · Green · Red · Blue · White | 34% | +28% |
| Smaug the Impenetrable | Black · Red | 70% | +27% |
| Rakdos, the Muscle | Black · Red | 69% | +26% |
| Abaddon the Despoiler | Black · Red · Blue | 64% | +26% |
How much it is played, by color identity
Share of decks in each identity that run it, according to EDHREC.
Archetypes where it shows up
The most common themes among the commanders that play it. Each one links to its archetype guide.
Combo · 93 Reanimator · 71 Control · 46 Aristocrats · 44 Lifegain · 36 Tokens · 33 +1/+1 Counters · 30 Graveyard · 29
Known combos with Dark Ritual
According to Commander Spellbook. Note that a two-card combo raises your deck's bracket.
- Displacer Kitten + Eternal Witness + Dark Ritual → Infinite black mana, Cast a subset of spells in your graveyard, Infinite creature ETB
- Cormela, Glamour Thief + Saw in Half + Dark Ritual → Infinite black mana, Infinite blue mana that can only be spent to cast instant and sorcery spells, Infinite death triggers
- Displacer Kitten + Frantic Search + Dark Ritual + Archaeomancer → Infinite self-discard triggers, Near-infinite creature ETB, Infinite draw triggers
- Displacer Kitten + Archaeomancer + Cabal Ritual + Dark Ritual → Infinite black mana, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB
- Displacer Kitten + Frantic Search + Dark Ritual + Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak → Infinite self-discard triggers, Near-infinite creature ETB, Infinite draw triggers
- Displacer Kitten + Frantic Search + Dark Ritual + Eternal Witness → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite storm count
- Chthonian Nightmare + Priest of Gix + Dark Ritual + Eternal Witness → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers
- Displacer Kitten + Frantic Search + Dark Ritual + Scholar of the Ages → Infinite self-discard triggers, Near-infinite creature ETB, Infinite draw triggers
Cards that go with it
The ones that show up most often in the same commanders' lists.
Frequently asked questions
Which Commander decks play Dark Ritual?
It is in the recommended lists of 154 commanders, with an average inclusion of 55% in their decks. The commanders with the highest synergy with it are Silverquill, the Disputant · Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin · Super-Skrull. Overall, 26% of black decks run it.
How much does Dark Ritual cost?
Its reference price is €1.52 (cheapest English printing according to Scryfall; it changes daily). The EDH Optimizer optimizer only suggests cards that fit the per-card price cap you pick.
Does Dark Ritual have combos?
Yes: 8 known combos on Commander Spellbook. The most popular one is Displacer Kitten + Eternal Witness + Dark Ritual. Remember that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket.
Can I play Dark Ritual in my deck?
It is legal in Commander. Its color identity is black, so it only fits in decks whose commander has those colors in its identity (or any deck if it is colorless). EDH Optimizer automatically flags cards outside your commander's identity.