Sauron, the Dark Lord Commander Deck Guide – Amass the Armies of Mordor
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In a world full of colorful Magic: The Gathering commanders, Sauron, the Dark Lord looms as one of the most intimidating and flavorful builds ever printed. Introduced in the Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, this Grixis powerhouse embodies everything you'd expect from the Dark Lord of Mordor—resilience, overwhelming army generation, and the power to dominate the late game.
If you’re looking for a deck that combines flavorful synergy, token engines, spell slinging, and sheer inevitability, then it’s time to swear fealty to Sauron. This blog dives into the strategic core of the deck, how to build around the Amass Orcs mechanic, and ways to turn your ring-bound ambitions into victory.
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Why Choose Sauron, the Dark Lord?
Sauron is a five-mana 7/6 with ward and card advantage baked in. He gets stronger when opponents target him, rewards you for discarding or sacrificing creatures, and immediately creates an Orc Army upon entering the battlefield. That means value, staying power, and a steady army that grows with every spell you cast.
You’re not just playing Grixis control—you’re building Mordor.
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The Heart of the Strategy
The deck revolves around Amass Orcs, a unique mechanic that stacks a single giant token with every trigger. Pair this with powerful spells and creature recursion, and you have a grindy yet explosive engine that never lets up.
Amass Orcs grows one terrifying threat that dodges many forms of removal
Sauron gives you card advantage every time you discard or sacrifice creatures
Spellslinging and creature recursion feed your Orc Army’s growth
The Ring tempts you mechanic adds additional pressure and flavor synergy
Sauron is a resilient commander—hard to remove, easy to rebuild around
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Engine Pieces and Synergies
The deck is packed with synergy. Here are some key elements that fuel your war machine:
Discard and sacrifice effects like Faithless Looting, Frantic Search, and Altar of Dementia trigger Sauron’s draw ability
Token support cards like Anointed Procession (if splashed) or Goblin Bombardment turn your growing Orc Army into deadly threats
Mass reanimation with Living Death and Patriarch’s Bidding fits Sauron’s theme of rebirth and control
Big spells like Army of the Damned and Kindred Dominance help close games and clear boards
The Ring tempts you triggers stack with discards and give you more card filtering and pressure
You can build the deck to go wide, go tall, or combo—Sauron supports it all.
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How to Win with the Dark Lord
The deck can win through pure combat damage, a swarm of amass triggers, or with devastating haymakers that obliterate opponents’ boards.
Grow a massive Orc Army and swing in with menace and trample
Use The One Ring, The Balrog, or Saruman for value, recursion, or extra board pressure
Finish games with Exsanguinate, Torment of Hailfire, or Rise of the Dark Realms
Drop a Cyclonic Rift to clear the path for a game-ending assault
Use sacrifice outlets like Ashnod’s Altar to fuel combos or cast huge X-spells
Sauron doesn’t just play for value—he plays for conquest.
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Protecting the Dark Lord
Sauron already has ward 3, but you’ll want redundancy to keep him alive.
Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves offer protection and haste
Countermagic like Fierce Guardianship or Counterspell keeps him on the battlefield
Teferi’s Protection and Heroic Intervention (if splashed or via treasures) add resilience
Grixis gives you access to board wipes, reanimation, and looting to rebuild quickly
Even if he falls, Sauron always returns.
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Mana and Utility
Treasure generation, looting, and ritual spells help get Sauron out faster and fuel massive plays.
Dockside Extortionist (if budget allows), Big Score, and Seize the Spoils build mana
Solemn Simulacrum, Arcane Signet, and Grixis Talismans fix your base
Fabled Passage, Exotic Orchard, and Path of Ancestry round out a stable land suite
Buried Alive or Entomb load up your graveyard for reanimation engines
With the right tools, you’ll cast your commander early and often—and that’s game over for your enemies.
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Final Thoughts
Sauron, the Dark Lord is more than a commander—he’s a narrative centerpiece. He’s for players who love synergy, flavorful gameplay, and flexible strategies that reward creative deckbuilding. Whether you’re reanimating armies, unleashing devastating spells, or building the biggest Orc token in history, Sauron gives you the tools to rule the table.
If you enjoy commanding from the shadows and striking with overwhelming power, Sauron is your ultimate general. The world of EDH will bend to your will—or burn beneath your army.
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Deck Lists
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1. Flavor-Focused Sauron Deck List
Maximizing Middle-earth flavor and iconic characters from the Lord of the Rings set.
Commander: Sauron, the Dark Lord
Creatures
The Balrog, Flame of Udûn
Nazgûl (multiple copies)
Gollum, Patient Plotter
Witch-king of Angmar
Shelob, Dread Weaver
Sauron’s Ransom
Orcish Bowmasters
Saruman the White
Mouth of Sauron
Frodo, Sauron’s Bane
Reanimate
Gravebreaker Lamia
Uruk-hai Berserker
Orc Army Token Generator cards
Enchantments & Artifacts
The One Ring
Palantír of Orthanc
Grixis Keyrunes
Goblin Bombardment
Vile Entomber
Herald’s Horn
Instants & Sorceries
Lórien Revealed
Gandalf’s Sanction
Lórien Brooch
Dark Ritual
Kindred Dominance
Army of the Damned
The Balrog’s Rage
Drawn to the Power of the Ring
Cyclonic Rift
Demonic Tutor
Lands (36)
Mount Doom
Rivendell
Shire Terrace
Island x6
Mountain x6
Swamp x6
Command Tower
Dragonskull Summit
Drowned Catacomb
Choked Estuary
Watery Grave
Blood Crypt
Steam Vents
Exotic Orchard
Path of Ancestry
Temple of the False God
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2. Competitive Sauron Deck List
Maximized for power, recursion, and spell-driven combos.
Commander: Sauron, the Dark Lord
Core Creatures
Dockside Extortionist
Tainted Adversary
Grave Titan
Snapcaster Mage
Orcish Bowmasters
Baleful Strix
Notion Thief
Torrential Gearhulk
Consecrated Sphinx
Support & Engines
The One Ring
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Rhystic Study
Demonic Consultation
Thassa’s Oracle
Talisman of Dominance, Creativity, Indulgence
Jeska’s Will
Underworld Breach
Cyclonic Rift
Ad Nauseam
Win Conditions
Thassa’s Oracle combo
Dockside + Underworld Breach loops
Tendrils of Agony or Brain Freeze
Torment of Hailfire
Peer into the Abyss
Lands (35)
Mana Confluence
City of Brass
Ancient Tomb
Polluted Delta
Bloodstained Mire
Scalding Tarn
Watery Grave
Steam Vents
Blood Crypt
Fiery Islet
Bojuka Bog
Basic lands and utility lands
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3. Budget-Friendly Sauron Deck List
Keeping the cost under $100 while still making an impact.
Commander: Sauron, the Dark Lord
Creatures
Orcish Bowmasters (or budget alternative like Blight Keeper)
Wight of Precinct Six
Tomebound Lich
Marauding Blight-Priest
Sling-Gang Lieutenant
Graveyard Marshal
Diregraf Ghoul
Rakdos Firewheeler
Bone Shards
Mire Triton
Support Spells
Frantic Search
Faithless Looting
Cathartic Reunion
Dark Ritual
Read the Bones
Exclude
Big Score
Spark Harvest
Kindred Charge
Unearth
Feed the Swarm
Artifacts & Enchantments
The One Ring
Arcane Signet
Rakdos Signet
Dimir Signet
Izzet Signet
Lightning Greaves
Charcoal Diamond
Fire Diamond
Sky Diamond
Lands (36)
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Command Tower
Swiftwater Cliffs
Dismal Backwater
Bloodfell Caves
Basic Islands, Swamps, Mountains
Jwar Isle Refuge
Temple of Epiphany
Temple of Malice
Temple of Deceit
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