Dual Survival: Abby & Ellie’s Relentless Tag Team

Deck of the Day: Dual Survival – Abby & Ellie’s Relentless Tag Team

Ever wondered what would happen if the post-apocalypse had less fungus zombies and more grave-popping, value-grinding, combat-savvy duos? Step aside, Squee and Muldrotha—today’s survivors are doing it smarter, meaner, and with more emotional baggage. Abby, Merciless Soldier and Ellie, Vengeful Hunter headline today’s DeckStir Deck of the Day, bringing you a primer for a deck that’s all about trading up in battle and squeezing every drop of value out of the graveyard. If you like your Magic low on the power scale but high on “outlast the table” potential, strap in.

The Commander: Abby & Ellie—Tag Team Terrors

For those new to MTG’s Secret Lair “Endure the Aftermath” drop (or folks who just love a strong duo theme), Abby, Merciless Soldier and Ellie, Vengeful Hunter are a partner pair that live for attrition and revenge. Abby rewards you whenever your creatures die in combat—she’s the queen of trade-ups, making it profitable to block or attack even with smaller creatures. Ellie, meanwhile, gets angry when your stuff dies, letting you punish opponents or set up powerful, recursive plays from your graveyard.

Their combined color identity is black, green, and red (Jund)—the classic colors of value, graveyard shenanigans, and, apparently, surviving the ends of worlds. The pair’s synergy turns every chump block and combat trick into a chance to get further ahead, perfect for new players seeking to master the art of “dying well.”

Game Plan: Survive, Sacrifice, Strike Back

1. Trade Creatures, Gain Value

The core of the deck is simple: don’t just defend—benefit from every casualty. Abby, Merciless Soldier wants your creatures in the graveyard, while Ellie, Vengeful Hunter makes sure every loss hurts your opponent back.

• Blood Artist, Bastion of Remembrance, and Mayhem Devil ensure every creature death drains your foes or pings their boards—so don’t be afraid to throw your tokens into the grinder!
• Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia and Dreadhorde Invasion churn out disposable bodies, perfect for fuel.
• Golgari Germination and Golgari Signet help stabilize your mana and produce more fodder.

2. Graveyard Recursion

Trading creatures is only half the story. The other half? Getting your best pieces back for round two… and three… and four.

• Meren of Clan Nel Toth and Dread Return form your graveyard’s revolving door.
• Living Death and Altar of Bhaal can reset the board or sneak in a surprise win.
• Fauna Shaman, Fiend Artisan, and Eldritch Evolution help tutor and recycle your most useful creatures.

3. Sacrifice for Profit

Why settle for trading in combat when you could also cash creatures in for even more value? Enter the sac outlets:

• Ashnod’s Altar and Goblin Bombardment let you profit from every death, whether it’s ramping or dealing direct damage.
• Grave Pact and Butcher of Malakir turn your sacrifices into symmetrical board wipes, keeping the pressure off you and on your foes.
• Ayara, First of Locthwain and Midnight Reaper keep your hand full as your board empties.

4. Late Game: The Endless Engine

If you hit the late game, cards like Korvold, Fae-Cursed King, Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest, and Field of the Dead transform every land drop and every death into pure value or an overwhelming board presence.

Bonus: Moldervine Reclamation and Morbid Opportunist can keep the card draw flowing, ensuring you never run out of gas (or bodies).

Power & Bracket: Why 0/10?

This is not a cEDH deck—heck, it’s barely a “casual table shark” deck. Why?

• No infinite combos; all engines are grindy and disruptable.
• No fast mana except the usual suspects (Arcane Signet, Golgari Signet, Gruul Signet).
• No tutors outside thematic creature and graveyard recursion.
• Vulnerable to graveyard hate and board wipes.
• The deck’s win conditions are slow, fair, and require patience (and a few combat steps).

This puts you solidly in Bracket 1: beginner-focused, kitchen-table friendly, and just the right speed for a night with friends who don’t want to lose to Thassa’s Oracle for the 100th time.

Should You Build It?

Dual Survival: Abby & Ellie’s Relentless Tag Team is perfect if you:

• Want to learn combat math, trading, and the value of graveyard recursion.
• Prefer decks that reward creative play and decision-making over raw power.
• Enjoy the vengeful, grindy flavor of Jund—but wish it were a little less cutthroat and a lot more resilient.

It’s not for the ultra-competitive or instant-win crowd, but it is a masterclass in the fundamentals of Magic: value, synergy, and never letting your fallen go quietly. Ready for your next post-apocalyptic adventure at the commander table? Abby and Ellie are waiting for you—just don’t forget your tokens.

DeckStir: Where every survivor finds a home—one chump block at a time.