EDH Optimizer
Malik, Grim Manipulator
Legendary Creature — Human Rogue · 2RWB
Color identity: Black · Red · White · Mardu
Malik, Grim Manipulator is Mardu (black, red and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
When Malik, Grim Manipulator enters, you and target opponent each secretly choose a creature that player controls. Then those choices are revealed, and that player sacrifices those creatures.
Whenever an opponent sacrifices a creature, you create a Treasure token.
Reference price of the card: €4.06
Average lands in decks for Malik, Grim Manipulator: 35
TreasureSacrificeBlinkControlAristocratsTokensArtifactsGroup Slug
Build your Malik, Grim Manipulator deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Malik, Grim Manipulator 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Malik, Grim Manipulator 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: C+ (64/100)
- Consistency36
- Speed53
- Interaction72
- Resilience70
- Closing83
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 35 lands (25 nonbasic, 3 Plains, 6 Swamp, 1 Mountain)
Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Ephemerate · Mayhem Devil · Crackling Doom · Plaguecrafter · Mahadi, Emporium Master · Revel in Riches · Accursed Marauder · Mirkwood Bats · Teleportation Circle · Xorn · Mythos of Snapdax · Soul Shatter · Sheoldred's Edict · Braids, Arisen Nightmare · Cloudshift · Morbid Opportunist · Vona's Hunger · Talisman of Hierarchy · Conjurer's Closet · Fleshbag Marauder · Academy Manufactor · Gisa's Favorite Shovel · Smothering Tithe · Talisman of Indulgence · Professional Face-Breaker · Talisman of Conviction · Swords to Plowshares · Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge · Goldspan Dragon · Tergrid, God of Fright // Tergrid's Lantern · Deadly Dispute · Demon's Disciple · Archfiend of Depravity · Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher · Marionette Master · Reckless Fireweaver · Phyrexian Arena · The Eternal Wanderer · Torment of Hailfire · Blood Artist · Kaya's Guile · Merciless Executioner · Black Market Connections · Blasphemous Edict · Make an Example · Orzhov Signet · Path to Exile · Panharmonicon · Sheoldred, Whispering One · Kambal, Profiteering Mayor · Rakdos Signet · Ruinous Ultimatum · Vihaan, Goldwaker · Eerie Interlude · Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff · Marionette Apprentice · Promise of Loyalty · Fellwar Stone · Nadier's Nightblade · Boros Signet · Gisa, Glorious Resurrector · Grave Pact · Command Tower · Nomad Outpost · Exotic Orchard · Godless Shrine · Isolated Chapel · Blood Crypt · Dragonskull Summit · Sacred Foundry · Savai Triome · Clifftop Retreat · Caves of Koilos · Vault of Champions · Bojuka Bog · Luxury Suite · Battlefield Forge · Bloodstained Mire · Spectator Seating · Arid Mesa · Marsh Flats · Smoldering Marsh · Sulfurous Springs · Shattered Sanctum · Sundown Pass · Haunted Ridge · Evolving Wilds
🃏 Recommended cards for Malik, Grim Manipulator
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Malik, Grim Manipulator, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Ephemerate | 66% | +61% |
| Plaguecrafter | 61% | +59% |
| Mayhem Devil | 66% | +58% |
| Teleportation Circle | 57% | +56% |
| Accursed Marauder | 57% | +54% |
| Revel in Riches | 59% | +52% |
| Soul Shatter | 54% | +52% |
| Sheoldred's Edict | 53% | +52% |
| Mahadi, Emporium Master | 60% | +52% |
| Mythos of Snapdax | 55% | +50% |
| Vona's Hunger | 50% | +49% |
| Xorn | 56% | +48% |
| Cloudshift | 51% | +47% |
| Fleshbag Marauder | 48% | +47% |
| Braids, Arisen Nightmare | 52% | +47% |
| Conjurer's Closet | 48% | +47% |
| Crackling Doom | 63% | +46% |
| Gisa's Favorite Shovel | 47% | +46% |
| Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge | 42% | +41% |
| Mirkwood Bats | 57% | +41% |
| Tergrid, God of Fright | 40% | +39% |
| Academy Manufactor | 47% | +39% |
| Demon's Disciple | 39% | +39% |
| The Eternal Wanderer | 35% | +34% |
💰 The best cards for your Malik, Grim Manipulator 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.
- Plaguecrafter
- Mayhem Devil
- Accursed Marauder
- Sheoldred's Edict
- Mahadi, Emporium Master
- Mythos of Snapdax
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Ephemerate
- Teleportation Circle
- Soul Shatter
- Vona's Hunger
- Xorn
- Braids, Arisen Nightmare
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Revel in Riches
- Gisa's Favorite Shovel
- Torment of Hailfire
- Make an Example
- Sheoldred, Whispering One
- Grave Pact
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Malik, Grim Manipulator
- Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood → 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
- Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Pitiless Plunderer + Ashnod's Altar + Reassembling Skeleton → Infinite colorless mana, Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers
- Restoration Angel + Felidar Guardian → Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB
- Dualcaster Mage + Molten Duplication → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers, Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Malik, Grim Manipulator's color identity?
Malik, Grim Manipulator is Mardu (black, red 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 Malik, Grim Manipulator come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Malik, Grim Manipulator deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 35 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 4.8 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 95 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 19 % of the time and floods 24 %. Deck health: C+ (64/100).
How many lands should a Malik, Grim Manipulator deck run?
Real Malik, Grim Manipulator 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 Malik, Grim Manipulator?
The three highest-synergy cards are Ephemerate, Plaguecrafter, Mayhem Devil. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Malik, Grim Manipulator decks.
What combos does Malik, Grim Manipulator have?
Malik, Grim Manipulator 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 Malik, Grim Manipulator deck cost?
You can start cheap: Plaguecrafter, Mayhem Devil, Accursed Marauder 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.