Kelsien, the Plague
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Legendary Creature — Human Assassin

Mardu creature control where Kelsien pings creatures to death, gains experience and grows into a lethal commander damage threat.
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Kelsien has vigilance and haste and gets +1/+1 for each experience counter you have. Tap it to deal 1 damage to a creature you don't control. If that creature dies this turn, you get an experience counter. On its own the ping only kills small creatures. With deathtouch it kills anything, so the deck runs equipment like Basilisk Collar, Gorgon's Head and Vorpal Sword. Every kill makes Kelsien bigger, and vigilance lets it attack and still ping.
In the recorded games, Basilisk Collar on Kelsien was the most common setup, turning it into a removal engine that also gained life with every ping. Vorpal Sword added damage and a way to end the game outright. Early pings on mana dorks slowed opponents and built counters fast. Some lists added stax like Rest in Peace, Blind Obedience and Esper Sentinel. Most wins came from commander damage after the board was clear. Kelsien struggled against decks making lots of tokens and drawing cards, since it can only ping once per turn. Removal on Kelsien or its equipment reset the plan.
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Videos
Commander gameplay videos featuring Kelsien, the Plague.
It's a Brawl! Chaotic Commander MTG EDH Gameplay
Omo vs Kibo vs Gev vs Kelsien | EDH Gameplay | Smooth Brain EDH
Mardu-gras, Coup de gras! | Eris vs Kelsien | Round 3 | Subok Lang
Commander Gameplay | Enter The Slaughter Dome | Kelsien v Odric v Voja v Zegana | EP 27
I Hate Your Deck #79 Kelsian v Doric v Ian Malcom v Slimefoot || Commander Gameplay MTG EDH
Machine Gun Kelly pew pew | Kelsien vs Ertai | Round2 | MU | Duel Commander 122323
Adaptive mardu in DC?? Kelsien vs Tivit | Round 5 | Unbox 090923 | Duel Commander
Board Wipe Mania | EDH Commander Gameplay [Deutsch] | Salt Wars #07
Experience the Chaos! Chaotic Commander Pure Chaos #1 Ft @UrCastPod @crowdcontrolmtg MTG EDH
Bill's first Commander game in TWO YEARS | Anax & Cymede VS Kelsien VS Cecily/Elmar VS Sheoldred
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New Cards
Fresh cards from recent sets that players are experimenting with in Kelsien, the Plague decks.
High Synergy Cards
Cards that work exceptionally well with Kelsien, the Plague's abilities and overall game plan.
Basilisk Collar
Rune of Mortality
Vorpal Sword
Gorgon's Head
Drumbellower
Thornbite Staff
Sting, the Glinting DaggerTop Cards
The most popular and reliable cards that form the backbone of successful Kelsien, the Plague decks.
Basilisk Collar
Rune of Mortality
Vorpal Sword
Gorgon's Head
Drumbellower
Thornbite Staff
Morbid OpportunistGame Changers
Powerful cards that can single-handedly turn the tide of a game when resolved.
Enlightened Tutor
Orcish Bowmasters
Farewell
Jeska's Will
Demonic Tutor
Teferi's Protection
Vampiric Tutor
Smothering TitheCreatures
Essential creatures that complement Kelsien, the Plague's strategy through synergy, utility, or raw power.
General's Enforcer
Termination Facilitator
Humble Defector
White Plume Adventurer
Slaughter Specialist
Harvester of Souls
Goblin Sharpshooter
Archetype of Finality
Mother of Runes
Puresteel Paladin
Stoneforge Mystic
Assault Intercessor
Deathbringer Thoctar
Clackbridge Troll
Ankle Shanker
Grateful Apparition
Robaran Mercenaries
Sun Titan
Royal Assassin
Patrolling Peacemaker
Stonehewer Giant
Bureau Headmaster
Qarsi Revenant
Giver of Runes
Orcish Bowmasters
Esper Sentinel
Solemn Simulacrum
Blood ArtistInstants
Key instant-speed responses for protection, removal, and keeping Kelsien, the Plague safe.
You Are Already Dead
Fracture
Stroke of Midnight
Crackling Doom
Offer Immortality
Bladebrand
Boros Charm
Generous Gift
Dire Tactics
Despark
Virulent Swipe
Battle-Rage Blessing
Sejiri Shelter
Whisper of the Dross
Toxin Analysis
Volt Charge
Tragic Slip
Malakir Rebirth
Enlightened Tutor
Touch of Moonglove
Loran's Escape
Dawn's Truce
Alesha's Legacy
Flawless Maneuver
Deflecting Palm
Rakdos Charm
Untimely Malfunction
Legion Leadership
Deflecting Swat
Wear // Tear
Terminate
Utter End
Mortify
Chaos Warp
Anguished Unmaking
Thrill of Possibility
Bedevil
Deadly Rollick
Teferi's Protection
Vampiric Tutor
Dark Ritual
Swords to Plowshares
Path to ExileSorceries
Important sorcery spells that advance Kelsien, the Plague's game plan and control the board.
Open the Armory
Steelshaper's Gift
Mythos of Snapdax
Painful Truths
Call of the Death-Dweller
Read the Bones
Night's Whisper
Drown in Ichor
Vandalblast
Chandra's Ignition
Sign in Blood
Single Combat
Sevinne's Reclamation
Unfinished Business
Unearth
Ruinous Ultimatum
Vindicate
Feed the Swarm
Toxic Deluge
Austere Command
Diabolic Tutor
Blasphemous Act
Farewell
Jeska's Will
Demonic Tutor
Damn
Faithless Looting
ReanimateUtility Artifacts
Versatile artifacts that provide ongoing value, card selection, or strategic advantages.
Sting, the Glinting Dagger
Quietus Spike
Magewright's Stone
Shadowspear
Illusionist's Bracers
Swiftfoot Boots
Thousand-Year Elixir
Hunter's Blowgun
Glaring Spotlight
Mithril Coat
Battlemage's Bracers
Brotherhood Regalia
Puppet Strings
Sword of Truth and Justice
The Masamune
Hidden Blade
Hammer of Nazahn
Robe of Stars
Whispersilk Cloak
Hawkeye's Bow
Scythe of the Wretched
Haystack
Dragonfire Blade
Mask of Griselbrand
Darksteel Plate
Reaper's Talisman
Halo Fountain
Sword of the Animist
The Reaver Cleaver
Wayfarer's Bauble
Lightning GreavesEnchantments
Powerful enchantments that support Kelsien, the Plague's strategy and create lasting battlefield effects.
Gift of Doom
Fighter Class
Dazzling Theater // Prop Room
All-Out Assault
Revel in Riches
Sigarda's Aid
Phyrexian Arena
At Knifepoint
Agent of the Shadow Thieves
Black Market
Retreat to Hagra
Death Pits of Rath
Forge Anew
Eternal Thirst
Nowhere to Run
Grave Betrayal
Gift of Immortality
Reconnaissance
Kaya's Ghostform
Spiteful Banditry
Ghostly Prison
Trouble in Pairs
Black Market Connections
Land Tax
Smothering TithePlaneswalkers
Planeswalkers that work alongside Kelsien, the Plague to provide ongoing value and board presence.
Vraska, Betrayal's Sting
Kaya, Geist HunterUtility Lands
Non-basic lands that offer additional utility beyond just mana production.
Arcane Lighthouse
Vault of the Archangel
Rogue's Passage
Detection Tower
Karn's Bastion
Axgard Armory
Buried Ruin
Bojuka Bog
Urza's Saga
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Shizo, Death's Storehouse
Temple of the False God
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Reliquary TowerMana Artifacts
Artifacts focused on mana acceleration and color fixing for consistent gameplay.
Patriar's Seal
Bounty Board
Aetheric Amplifier
Orzhov Signet
Bandit's Haul
Rakdos Signet
Boros Signet
Commander's Sphere
Arcane Signet
Chromatic Lantern
Mind Stone
Sol Ring
Fellwar Stone
Talisman of Hierarchy
Talisman of Indulgence
Talisman of ConvictionLands
The mana base foundation for Kelsien, the Plague decks, ensuring smooth and reliable mana development.
Forbidden Orchard
Savai Triome
Nomad Outpost
Vault of Champions
Spectator Seating
Malakir Rebirth
Orzhov Basilica
Luxury Suite
Brightclimb Pathway
Exotic Orchard
Boros Garrison
Rakdos Carnarium
Sundown Pass
Needleverge Pathway
Haunted Ridge
Blightstep Pathway
Caves of Koilos
Plains
Swamp
Shattered Landscape
Mountain
Clifftop Retreat
Sacred Foundry
Blood Crypt
Isolated Chapel
Godless Shrine
Shattered Sanctum
Command Tower
Myriad Landscape
Dragonskull Summit
Evolving Wilds
Temple of Malice
Scrubland
Plateau
Badlands
Tainted Field
Blazemire Verge
Battlefield Forge
Marsh Flats
Terramorphic Expanse
Temple of Silence
Arid Mesa
Temple of Triumph
Sulfurous Springs
Rugged Prairie
Bloodstained Mire
Shadowblood Ridge
Smoldering Marsh
Fetid Heath
Path of AncestryKelsien, the Plague Deck Stats
Based on 6,235 Kelsien, the Plague decks.
| Mana value | Cards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11 |
| 2 | 22 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 1 |
- Creature 23
- Instant 10
- Sorcery 6
- Artifact 17
- Enchantment 7
- Land 36
| Card type | Cards |
|---|---|
| Creature | 23 |
| Instant | 10 |
| Sorcery | 6 |
| Artifact | 17 |
| Enchantment | 7 |
| Land | 36 |
Lands: 16 basic, 20 nonbasic
| Month | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 368 |
| 2024-11 | 350 |
| 2024-12 | 419 |
| 2025-01 | 296 |
| 2025-02 | 415 |
| 2025-03 | 437 |
| 2025-04 | 340 |
| 2025-05 | 390 |
| 2025-06 | 438 |
| 2025-07 | 429 |
| 2025-08 | 405 |
| 2025-09 | 530 |
| 2025-10 | 430 |
| 2025-11 | 347 |
| 2025-12 | 423 |
| 2026-01 | 514 |
| 2026-02 | 492 |
| 2026-03 | 460 |
| 2026-04 | 522 |
| 2026-05 | 473 |
| 2026-06 | 528 |
| 2026-07 | 543 |
| 2026-08 | 574 |
| 2026-09 | 522 |
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