Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Top Partners for Spite // Malice in Command Decks
When you slide Spite // Malice into a blue-black (U/B) commander shell, you’re not just adding two efficient spells to the stack—you’re layering control and removal in a way that rewards careful timing and board presence. The two faces are a study in contrast and synergy: Spite counters noncreature spells, while Malice annihilates nonblack creatures. Put together, they form a dynamic backbone for a Command Zone strategy built on tempo, resource denial, and value trades 🧙♂️🔥💎. And yes, in a format where politics and sequencing matter, Spite // Malice gives you options to stymie opponents’ plans while you assemble your own game plan—without leaning on a single catch-all answer.
“In a world of stray creatures and sprawling combos, two precise spells can be more devastating than a dozen clunky plays.”
Below are the kinds of cards that pair best with this split-card in a commander match, along with why they fit naturally in a UB shell. Think of these as the connective tissue that elevates Spite // Malice from a neat two-for-one to a game-winning engine 🧙♂️🎨⚔️.
Countermagic and inevitability engines
- Counterspell — The iconic blue staple remains a foundational pick in any UB build. When Spite is countering noncreature spells, you’re already shaping the stack; adding efficient counterspells keeps major threats off the battlefield and lets you weather the early game while you assemble inevitability.
- Disallow — A flexible counterspell that slips past early removal and can counter up to legendary threats or activated abilities. In a deck where you’re constantly evaluating what to stop, Disallow provides tempo with built-in flexibility.
- Swan Song — A cheaper, bounce-oriented option that protects your important pieces while still maintaining pressure on your opponents’ key plays. It’s a nice hedge when you want to deter a blowout without fully committing to a hard counter.
- Mana Drain — When you’ve managed to develop a robust mana base, this rare gem can swing the game by turning opponents’ threats into your own resources while Spite counters the turn’s biggest noncreature spell. It’s a high-variance, high-relex option for savvy cockpit control.
Destruction that respects the color wheel
- Merciless Eviction — A multicolored board-wipe that fits perfectly in a UB control shell. It gives you the option to clear a problematic lineup of permanence, paving the way for Malice to do heavy lifting on the next swing.
- Damnation or blackboard equivalents — If your deck leans into the black side, a classic board wipe can reset the board and let Malice pick off nonblack threats while opponents rebuild.
- Space for targeted removal — Cards like Fatal Push or Go for the Throat (depending on availability in your meta) help you trim down early threats so Malice can clean up nonblack creatures more cleanly as the game unfolds. It’s all about ensuring that the Malice side lands on a clear battlefield.
Card advantage and tempo engines
- Rhystic Study or Phyrexian Arena — In a game that’s heavy on counterplay, card advantage is your best friend. These engines help you cash in on your disruption and keep the hand full as you navigate the late game.
- Mystic Remora — Similar to Rhystic Study, but with a slightly different cadence; it slows opponents while you keep your own resources flowing, letting you keep Spite and Malice online longer.
- Notion Thief or Consecrated Sphinx— If your playgroup loves draw engines, you can turn every spell your opponents cast into a potential resource for your own plan, letting you accelerate into the later turns where your two-faced threats dominate the battlefield.
Lands, mana base, and resilient ramp
- Underground Sea and other Duals in UB-leaning configurations — A solid backbone for any control deck, ensuring you hit your blue and black mana requirements consistently.
- Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth — If you want to streamline Malice’s effect and cast around nonblack creatures, Urborg helps by fixing your mana while keeping opponents guessing about what you’ll target next.
- Cabal Coffers or other black mana accelerants — When you’re ready to leverage Malice’s removal into back-to-back turns, better mana helps you chain threats and maintain pressure.
Play pattern and deck-building tips
The beauty of Spite // Malice lies in timing. In the early game, you want to secure a safe corridor: land, defend with counterspells, and pick off any early noncreature threats that threaten your game plan. As the midgame arrives, Spite can poke at a high-priority spell, while Malice starts to dwindle the most dangerous nonblack creatures on the board. The real payoff comes when you’ve stabilized the table with counter magic and a few well-timed removals, then use Malice to swing the outcome in your favor by removing key nonblack threats on sight 🧙♂️⚔️. If you can proxy a few resilient draw engines in, you’ll often find yourself outdrawn by no one and out-tempoed by everyone at once, a delicate but deliciously MTG thing.
Remember, these two faces aren’t just about negation and removal; they’re about controlling the pace of the game. When your opponents realize you’re holding a counter and a guaranteed removal in your back pocket, they’ll think twice before committing to big plays. The table may grumble, but you’ll be the one dictating who plays when, and which spells matter most in any given moment 🧙♂️🔥💎.
Lore, art, and the magic of Dominaria Remastered
Spite // Malice hails from Dominaria Remastered, a set designed to reprint and celebrate classics with modern polish. The two halves are both instant-speed power plays, delivered by artist David Martin and presented in a sleek split-face design that mirrors the dual nature of colorless opportunity and black-red hush. The flavor speaks to a world where cunning minds and brutal efficiency collide—perfect for a Commander meta where players must balance tempo, denial, and strategic removal. It’s a reminder that magic isn’t just about grand proclamations; sometimes it’s about the small, precise yeses that propel you toward victory 🎨🧙♂️.
For those who want to explore further, you can find a trove of strategy threads and decklists that explore how Spite // Malice can slot into different UB archetypes—from ultra-control to more midrange-oriented tempo builds. And if you’re curious about pricing, the card remains accessible at a modest value across foil and nonfoil prints, a nice reminder that strong UB options don’t have to break the bank 🔥💎.
If you’re looking to bring this dual-face dynamo into your collection, consider pairing it with other Dominaria Remastered staples or modern UB favorites. For more inspiration and to pick up the exact pieces you need to build the spell-slinger commander of your dreams, check out curated lists and article databases that explore top UB cards and their synergy in depth. The magic of this card—and the multiverse it inhabits—continues to invite playful experimentation and clutch decisions in every match 🎲🧙♂️.