EDH Optimizer
Istvan, Butcher of Eln
Legendary Creature — Human · 1BBB
Color identity: Black
Istvan, Butcher of Eln is black: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
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.
Average lands in decks for Istvan, Butcher of Eln: 35
Voltron+1/+1 CountersEquipmentAggroAristocratsControlArtifactsModified Creatures
Build your Istvan, Butcher of Eln deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Istvan, Butcher of Eln 📥 Analyze my deck🃏 Recommended cards for Istvan, Butcher of Eln
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Istvan, Butcher of Eln, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Basilisk Collar | 68% | +64% |
| Tarrian's Soulcleaver | 59% | +56% |
| Haunted Cloak | 56% | +55% |
| Gisa's Favorite Shovel | 52% | +51% |
| Shadowspear | 51% | +47% |
| Sheoldred's Edict | 59% | +44% |
| Commander's Plate | 49% | +43% |
| Eternal Thirst | 44% | +42% |
| Morbid Opportunist | 64% | +39% |
| Vorpal Sword | 42% | +38% |
| Merciless Executioner | 46% | +38% |
| Plaguecrafter | 57% | +37% |
| Soul Shatter | 48% | +37% |
| Mithril Coat | 42% | +37% |
| Rogue's Passage | 56% | +36% |
| Swiftfoot Boots | 67% | +36% |
| Accursed Marauder | 58% | +35% |
| Leyline Axe | 36% | +35% |
| Fleshbag Marauder | 52% | +35% |
| Uncle Istvan | 34% | +34% |
| Demon's Disciple | 41% | +33% |
| Gravelighter | 36% | +33% |
| Loxodon Warhammer | 34% | +33% |
| Massacre Wurm | 49% | +31% |
💰 The best cards for your Istvan, Butcher of Eln 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.
- Tarrian's Soulcleaver
- Haunted Cloak
- Sheoldred's Edict
- Eternal Thirst
- Morbid Opportunist
- Vorpal Sword
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Basilisk Collar
- Soul Shatter
- Massacre Wurm
- Mandate of Abaddon
- Drivnod, Carnage Dominus
- Nemesis Mask
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Gisa's Favorite Shovel
- Shadowspear
- Commander's Plate
- Mithril Coat
- Shizo, Death's Storehouse
- The Ozolith
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Istvan, Butcher of Eln
- 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
- Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar → Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers, Infinite storm count
- Exquisite Blood + Enduring Tenacity → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Istvan, Butcher of Eln's color identity?
Istvan, Butcher of Eln is black: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
How many lands should a Istvan, Butcher of Eln deck run?
Real Istvan, Butcher of Eln decks run 35 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 Istvan, Butcher of Eln?
The three highest-synergy cards are Basilisk Collar, Tarrian's Soulcleaver, Haunted Cloak. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Istvan, Butcher of Eln decks.
What combos does Istvan, Butcher of Eln have?
Istvan, Butcher of Eln 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 Istvan, Butcher of Eln deck cost?
You can start cheap: Tarrian's Soulcleaver, Haunted Cloak, Sheoldred's Edict 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.