Reanimator

Reanimator decks put expensive creatures into the graveyard cheaply (discard, self-mill, entomb effects), then bring them back to the battlefield using reanimation spells that cost a fraction of the creature's actual mana value. Reanimate puts any creature onto the battlefield for 1 mana. That creature might cost 9.

The mana cheating is the point. You're not ramping to 9 mana. You're casting a 1-mana spell that gets you the same creature.

How it works

1. Put high-value targets into the graveyard (Entomb, self-mill, discard)
2. Cast reanimation spells to put them onto the battlefield (Reanimate, Animate Dead)
3. Repeat as needed. If they get removed, reanimate them again.
4. Win through the overwhelming board presence of creatures that cost more than opponents can handle

Key cards

Getting things into the graveyard:

• Entomb — 1 mana, put any creature from your library into your graveyard. The setup card.
• Buried Alive — 3 mana, put three creatures from your library into your graveyard. Entomb but better.
• Faithless Looting — draw 2, discard 2. Puts creatures in hand into the graveyard.
• Self-mill (Mesmeric Orb, Altar of Dementia, Stitcher's Supplier)

Bringing them back:

• Reanimate — 1 mana, any creature from any graveyard. You lose life equal to its mana value. The best reanimation spell.
• Animate Dead — 2 mana enchantment, reanimate a creature with -1/-0.
• Victimize — 3 mana, sacrifice a creature, return two from graveyard.
• Living Death — 5 mana, swap graveyards and battlefields. Devastating when your graveyard is loaded.
• Persist — 3 mana, return a nonlegendary creature. It gains "when this creature dies, exile it."

Top reanimation targets:

• Jin-Gitaxias Core Augur — draw 7, opponents' max hand size is 0.
• Vilis Broker of Blood — draw cards whenever you lose life. Pairs with Reanimate's life loss.
• Razaketh the Foulblooded — sacrifice creatures to tutor. Sets up more combos.
• Sheoldred Whispering One — reanimate on your upkeep, opponents sacrifice on theirs.

Strengths

Mana efficiency. Getting a 9-mana creature for 1 mana is a massive tempo advantage.

Recursion. If they remove your threat, reanimate it again. And again. Opponents run out of removal before you run out of reanimation.

Explosive starts. Turn 1 Entomb, turn 2 Reanimate is a real line. Having a 7/7 that draws 7 cards on turn 2 is hard to beat.

Weaknesses

Graveyard hate. Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void, Bojuka Bog. If your graveyard gets exiled, your entire strategy goes with it.

Exile-based removal. Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile put your creatures somewhere you can't get them back from.

Setup required. You need both a target in the graveyard and a reanimation spell in hand. Sometimes you have one but not the other.

Popular commanders

Meren of Clan Nel Toth (B/G) — free reanimation every end step. Gets better as the game goes on.

Chainer Dementia Master (B) — reanimate from any graveyard for 3 mana and 3 life. Repeatable.

Muldrotha the Gravetide (U/B/G) — play permanents from your graveyard. Not just creatures.

Araumi of the Dead Tide (U/B) — encore ability that reanimates creatures from graveyard as token copies attacking each opponent.

Typical colors

Black is essential (Reanimate, Entomb, the best reanimation spells). Blue adds self-mill, card selection. Green adds land ramp and some reanimation. Sultai (U/B/G) is common. Mono-black works.

Ratio adjustments