Some of the most dangerous creatures inMagic: The Gatheringare those with powerful abilities. One of the strongest static abilities in the game, deathtouch allows any damage your creature does to another creature to automatically become lethal. Even if you only deal one damage to an opponent’s creature, you still destroy it.
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With almost 300 creatures in Magic that have deathtouch in one way or another, there are tons of ways to even the odds against your opponent’s giant creatures. Some of these deathtouch creatures are a cut above the rest, capable of taking out tons of creatures or even giving your other creatures deathtouch just by being in play.
10Baleful Strix
This slightly unassuming bird was first released back in Planechase 2012 and quickly came to be an amazing two-drop creature across multiple formats. It comes loaded with flying and deathtouch, making it a threat to any creature on the ground and in the air.
Baleful Strix also replaces itself by drawing a card when it comes into play, never putting you behind by casting it, and since it has deathtouch, it can trade up against just about any of your opponent’s early-game creatures.
9Hornet Queen
What’s better than one creature with deathtouch? How about Hornet Queen’s five creatures, all with deathtouch. Dropping this hefty insect into play gives you a 2/2 creature with flying and deathtouch,plus four 1/1 tokenswith flying and deathtouch as well.
While seven mana can be a lot to commit to a single creature, having an iron defense of deathtouch creatures protecting you is oftentimes worth it. Even better if you’re able to cheat it into play early in the game or have it enter the battlefield multiple times to get as many tokens as possible.
8Grave Titan
Generally speaking, having deathtouch on a large creature like Grave Titan is a little bit redundant. As a 6/6, it can already beat or trade with many creatures in Magic, so the deathtouch might not feel like it does much. To offset it, Grave Titan comes paired with two 2/2 Zombie tokens that trigger when it comes into play or attacks.
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A big advantage for giving Grave Titan deathtouch is that even if your opponent wants to block with multiple creatures you’re always going to be taking them down.
7Ohran Frostfang
Attacking with a creature with deathtouch often means you’ll be doing some damage this turn. Ohran Frostfang helps you get your creatures through and draw some cards while you’re at it. The Frostfang gives your attacking creatures deathtouch, instantly making your opponents reconsider how they want to block.
Now that your opponents are going to be more likely to let your opponents slip through and deal combat damage to their life directly, you get to draw a card for each creature that gets through.
6Wurmcoil Engine
One of themost fearsome artifact creaturesto make its way to the battlefield is Wurmcoil Engine. A 6/6 creature for six generic mana, the Wurmcoil Engine is notoriously difficult to completely remove once it’s in play.
With lifelink and deathtouch, Wurmcoil Engine can take down just about any creature while healing you for the damage it deals. Even when it dies, the Wurmcoil splits into two 3/3 Wurm tokens, one with lifelink and another with deathtouch, letting you trade again with another creature your opponent has out.
5Yarok, The Desecrated
Often forgotten in the face of Yarok, the Desecrated’s other ability, deathtouch is the icing on the cake for this powerful legendary creature. With Yarok in play, all your enter the battlefield triggers happen a second time, which can cause some absolutely wild plays in Commander.
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Such a powerful ability puts a pretty big target on you, drawing the ire of your opponent’s attacks and spells. Yarok can act as a solid defense if your opponents get a little bold with their attacks and want to try and keep you in check with their creatures.
4Gonti, Lord Of Luxury
Speaking of powerful enter the battlefield effects, Gonti, Lord of Luxury, has the potential to steal tons of cards from your opponents. The card you take from your opponent’s library is yours forever, so don’t be afraid to use Gonti to trade with your opponent’s creatures in whatever way is most advantageous for you.
Since you’re playing black cards, you can keep bringing Gonti back from the graveyard, stealing more cards, and trading with your opponent’s creatures to keep the cycle going.
3Saryth, The Viper’s Fang
Another creature that can give all your other creatures deathtouch, Saryth, the Viper’s Fang provides tons of protection for your board. When a creature you control is tapped, it gains deathtouch. The most common way to tap your creature is by attacking, turning all your attacking creatures into deathtouching attackers.
Your untapped creatures are just as safe, if not safer, as Saryth gives your other untapped hexproof, leaving them untouchable by spells or abilities that target your creatures. While Saryth doesn’t protect itself, there are plenty of ways to keep your deathtouch queen safe in green.
2The Gitrog Monster
Another big creature with deathtouch is The Gitrog Monster, a monstrous frog creature from the depths of Innistrad’s swamps. The Gitrog Monster is a very efficient creature, casting five mana for a 6/6 creature loaded with abilities.
To offset its aggressive mana value, The Gitrog Monsterrequires you to sacrifice a landon your upkeep, or you have to sacrifice it. The trade-off for this is being able to play an additional land on each of your turns and to draw cards when a land is put in your graveyard from anywhere.
1Sheoldred, The Apocalypse
As one of the most powerful creatures to be released in an era filled with powerful creatures, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse is a calamity all on her own. While on the battlefield, Sheoldred slowly saps the life from your opponents during their draw step and rewards you on your own.
Since it has a 4/5 body, Sheoldred is notoriously hard to deal with outside of direct removal spells. Even if your opponent plays a larger creature than you, Sheoldred can either trade up for you, removing the larger threat, or helping you sustain with her life gain.
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