Best Enablers for Boris Devilboon in Commander

Best Enablers for Boris Devilboon in Commander

In TCG ·

Boris Devilboon MTG card art from Masters Edition III

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Best Enablers for Boris Devilboon in Commander

Boris Devilboon isn’t the flashiest demon in the archive, but don’t let the 2/2 body and casual aura fool you. For EDH commanders who love black and red chaos, Boris is a compact engine that turns investment into a swelling board with every activation. His ability—2, B, R, Tap: Create a 1/1 black and red Demon creature token named Minor Demon—demands a plan: lay the groundwork, then press the pedal to the metal as you churn out demon tokens and pressure opponents with a growing army. The real magic is in the enablers that keep Boris humming, weaving a narrative of token proliferation, disruption, and resourceful sacrifice 🧙‍♂️🔥💎⚔️. Let’s dive into the best enablers that help Boris turn a single activation into a demon-filled crescendo.

“In Boris’s world, every token is a doorway—one step closer to chaos, one step closer to victory.”

Top Enablers that Maximize Boris’s Output

  • Fast ramp and mana fixing — Boris’s cost is heavy for two colors: 3{B}{R} plus the tap. You want to ensure you can cast him early and have mana to spare for activations. Classic accelerants like Sol Ring and Dark Ritual (and yes, Mana Vault when available) push Boris out a turn or two sooner, letting you start token production before the late game slows you down. In a pinch, Cabal Ritual and other black-red fixes can smooth the path when color access is tight. The payoff is simple: every extra mana you have in the turn Boris lands translates to extra Demon tokens on that same turn 🧙‍♂️.
  • Token generation and board pressure — Boris’s engine loves to press the board. Cards that generate tokens or gutters of value pair beautifully with his token-making knack. For instance, Impact Tremors serves as a constant heat shield: every time a creature enters the battlefield under your control, Tremors pings each opponent. With Boris on the field, your token swarms become not just a numbers game but a direct source of damage as well. Other token producers like Dragon Fodder or Krenko’s Command can flood the board with bodies, letting you ride the momentum while Boris keeps feeding the engine. Each Demon you spawn becomes a stepping stone toward overwhelming the table 🧲🎲.
  • Card draw and card quality — an engine without fuel runs dry quickly. Wheel effects and solid card draw keep the line open. Wheel of Fortune and Read the Bones are archetypal choices in two-color chaos builds, ensuring you don’t stall on land drops or mana issues. The goal is consistent access to removal, protection, and token-generation spells, so you can keep converting Boris’s activations into a torrent of Demons while staying one step ahead of opposing boards 🔥💎.
  • Reanimation and recursion — Boris’s ability hinges on him being on the battlefield when you want to generate tokens. Black’s strength in reanimation is a perfect fit here. Cards like Reanimate or Animate Dead let you recur Boris after removal or a board wipe, keeping the engine alive even when a single board swing threatens to bury you. If Boris dies to a targeted removal spell, you can snap him back into play for another round of Demon token production, turning a loss into a long-term advantage 🧙‍♂️.
  • Sac outlets and demon-drain synergy — tokens are not just cute; they’re fuel for life drain and board control. Sac outlets and life-leech synergies let you monetize your token army. Blood Artist and Zulaport Cutthroat turn every token death into a life drain or a tiny ping against opponents. With Boris on the table, you can swing, generate Demons, and then sac a few to drain away life from your foes—the classic black-red reaping style that keeps the table honest ⚔️🎨.
  • Protection and resilience — Boris benefits from being protected while you assemble the engine. Quick protection like Lightning Greaves or Brace/Swiftfoot Boots helps ensure your demon factory stays online through removal spells. The goal is to keep Boris untapped and ready to fire another round of Demon tokens on the opponent’s end of turn—every activation compounds the pressure and the flavor of red-black chaos 🧙‍♂️.

Beyond the mechanics, Boris invites a flavorful, lore-infused approach. The lore of Masters Edition III centers around a strong, enduring collecting mindset, and Boris’s illustration by Jesper Myrfors carries that retro vibe into modern Commander play. The token name “Minor Demon” is a cheeky reminder that even the smallest demon can swell into a formidable force with the right enablers. When you combine Boris with the right mix of ramp, token producers, and sacrifice outlets, you’re not just building a board—you’re crafting a narrative of relentless pressure and witchy ingenuity 🧙‍♂️💥.

One practical play sequence often feels satisfying: turn one you drop a dual land or black-red sources, turn two Boris hits the battlefield, and by turn three you’re tapping Boris to scribe multiple 1/1 Demon tokens, each bringing a fresh threat to the table. You’ll notice a subtle joy in watching opponents scramble to answer the growing demon chorus while you keep the pressure on with a steady draw engine and a handful of bold plays. That’s the essence of Boris in Commander: a lean, resilient engine that scales with your mana and your board presence, delivering both thematic flair and real-game impact 🧙‍♂️🔥💎.

As you curate your Boris Devilboon deck, remember that the best enablers are the ones that fit your table’s tempo and your preferred demon flavor. The beauty of this creature lies in the balance between risk and reward: you invest, you untap, you unleash, and you watch your demons multiply as the legend of Boris grows with every activation.

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Boris Devilboon

Boris Devilboon

{3}{B}{R}
Legendary Creature — Zombie Wizard

{2}{B}{R}, {T}: Create a 1/1 black and red Demon creature token named Minor Demon.

ID: b61e5753-d11d-4ef5-ae0e-510c4d5809a9

Oracle ID: 913aed6d-60c3-4d08-baf8-359e2c41a797

Multiverse IDs: 201182

Colors: B, R

Color Identity: B, R

Keywords:

Rarity: Uncommon

Released: 2009-09-07

Artist: Jesper Myrfors

Frame: 1997

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 27527

Set: Masters Edition III (me3)

Collector #: 146

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — not_legal
  • Timeless — not_legal
  • Gladiator — not_legal
  • Pioneer — not_legal
  • Modern — not_legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — not_legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — not_legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — not_legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — legal

Prices

  • TIX: 0.04
Last updated: 2025-11-20