EDH Optimizer
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness
Legendary Creature — Spirit Warrior · 1WB
Color identity: Black · White · Orzhov
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness is Orzhov (black and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Whenever you cast a white spell, put a +1/+1 counter on each legendary creature you control. They gain vigilance until end of turn.
Whenever you cast a black spell, put a +1/+1 counter on each legendary creature you control. They gain menace until end of turn.
Reference price of the card: €0.32
Comes in the precon Scions & Spellcraft
Average lands in decks for Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness: 36
+1/+1 CountersLegendsAggroHistoricLifegainMulticolor MattersAristocratsMidrange
Build your Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play per EDHREC (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: B+ (77/100)
- Consistency17
- Speed75
- Interaction91
- Resilience86
- Closing100
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 36 lands (26 nonbasic, 6 Plains, 4 Swamp)
Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Felisa, Fang of Silverquill · Despark · Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim · Anguished Unmaking · Arvad the Cursed · Breena, the Demagogue · Shay Cormac · Venat, Heart of Hydaelyn // Hydaelyn, the Mothercrystal · Fracture · Primevals' Glorious Rebirth · Ratadrabik of Urborg · Urza's Ruinous Blast · Liesa, Forgotten Archangel · Mortify · Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff · Aerith Gainsborough · Judge Magister Gabranth · Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion · Rufus Shinra · Swords to Plowshares · Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar · Relic of Legends · Flowering of the White Tree · Elenda, the Dusk Rose · Kambal, Consul of Allocation · Shadrix Silverquill · Talisman of Hierarchy · Dire Tactics · The Kenriths' Royal Funeral · Vindicate · Orzhov Signet · Karlov of the Ghost Council · Killian, Ink Duelist · Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim · Athreos, God of Passage · Vanishing Verse · Abigale, Poet Laureate // Heroic Stanza · Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher · Damning Verdict · Deathbringer Liege · Squall, SeeD Mercenary · Tymna the Weaver · Zack Fair · Abigale, Eloquent First-Year · Brigone, Soldier of Meletis · Drana and Linvala · Heroes' Podium · Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful · Tomik, Wielder of Law · Boromir, Warden of the Tower · Jirina, Dauntless General · Path to Exile · Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle · Killian's Confidence · Inkshield · Loran of the Third Path · Barrensteppe Siege · Lurrus of the Dream-Den · Akroma's Will · Mikaeus, the Lunarch · Papalymo Totolymo · Command Tower · Isolated Chapel · Caves of Koilos · Fetid Heath · Tainted Field · Godless Shrine · Shattered Sanctum · Vault of the Archangel · Shineshadow Snarl · Minas Tirith · Vault of Champions · Bleachbone Verge · Plaza of Heroes · Bojuka Bog · Desolate Mire · Orzhov Basilica · Clive's Hideaway · Great Hall of the Citadel · Marsh Flats · Temple of Silence · Monumental Henge · Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway · Shadowy Backstreet · Exotic Orchard · Shizo, Death's Storehouse · Rogue's Passage
🃏 Recommended cards for Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Felisa, Fang of Silverquill | 76% | +70% |
| Arvad the Cursed | 71% | +69% |
| Venat, Heart of Hydaelyn | 69% | +66% |
| Shay Cormac | 69% | +65% |
| Urza's Ruinous Blast | 65% | +63% |
| Primevals' Glorious Rebirth | 65% | +62% |
| Ratadrabik of Urborg | 65% | +62% |
| Breena, the Demagogue | 69% | +62% |
| Judge Magister Gabranth | 61% | +58% |
| Rufus Shinra | 60% | +58% |
| Aerith Gainsborough | 61% | +56% |
| Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion | 60% | +56% |
| Relic of Legends | 59% | +56% |
| Liesa, Forgotten Archangel | 64% | +55% |
| Flowering of the White Tree | 58% | +54% |
| Syr Vondam, Sunstar Exemplar | 60% | +53% |
| The Kenriths' Royal Funeral | 52% | +50% |
| Dire Tactics | 53% | +50% |
| Shadrix Silverquill | 55% | +48% |
| Despark | 75% | +46% |
| Karlov of the Ghost Council | 50% | +45% |
| Fracture | 65% | +45% |
| Squall, SeeD Mercenary | 47% | +45% |
| Brigone, Soldier of Meletis | 46% | +44% |
💰 The best cards for your Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Felisa, Fang of Silverquill
- Arvad the Cursed
- Shay Cormac
- Urza's Ruinous Blast
- Primevals' Glorious Rebirth
- Ratadrabik of Urborg
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion
- Flowering of the White Tree
- Karlov of the Ghost Council
- Damning Verdict
- Kambal, Consul of Allocation
- Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Tymna the Weaver
- Akroma's Will
- Commissar Severina Raine
- The Ozolith
- Shizo, Death's Storehouse
- Flawless Maneuver
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness
- Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Sanguine Bond + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Exquisite Blood + Enduring Tenacity → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Enduring Tenacity + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness's color identity?
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness is Orzhov (black and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 36 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 3.0 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 36 % of the time and floods 28 %. Deck health: B+ (77/100).
How many lands should a Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck run?
Real Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness decks run 36 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness?
The three highest-synergy cards are Felisa, Fang of Silverquill, Arvad the Cursed, Venat, Heart of Hydaelyn. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness decks.
What combos does Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness have?
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness deck cost?
You can start cheap: Felisa, Fang of Silverquill, Arvad the Cursed, Shay Cormac are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.