Stinkweed Imp is a versatile and impactful creature in Commander decks. Its key strengths include:

• Combat removal: Stinkweed Imp can destroy any creature that deals combat damage to it, making it a great addition to decks focused on token generation or swarm strategies.
• Dredge interaction: The imp's Dredge ability allows for accelerated card draw and graveyard manipulation, synergizing well with cards like Cultivate and Dreadbore.

Typical uses include:

• Combos with graveyard-based removal spells to quickly dispatch creatures
• Swamping opponents' boards in token-heavy decks
• Symbiotic relationships with Dredge engines, such as Golgari Findbroker and Dinrova, the Repairing Force

Impact: Stinkweed Imp's abilities enhance its already moderate power level, making it a staple in many midrange and combo-oriented Commander decks.

Stinkweed Imp is a 2BB common creature with flying that has two notable abilities: destroying creatures when it deals combat damage and dredging five cards.

Destroying Creatures

Whenever Stinkweed Imp deals combat damage to a creature, it destroys that creature. This effect triggers whenever the Imp attacks or blocks, not just when it's the primary attacker. If the target creature has any counters or Auras that give it +1/+1 or other bonuses, they don't prevent Stinkweed from killing it.

For example, if you have a Stinkweed Imp attacking alongside a Goblin Piledriver and both deal damage to an opponent's creature, the Imp will destroy that creature regardless of the Piledriver's combat math. This can be beneficial in combo with cards like Maelstrom Pulse, which destroys creatures when it resolves.

Dredging

The second ability is a Dredge effect, allowing you to mill five cards instead of drawing one when you'd normally draw a card. When this happens, Stinkweed Imp returns from your graveyard to your hand. Milling can be used in various ways, such as fueling Graveyard Wurm's Dredge ability or enabling Carrion Feeder's recursion.

To take advantage of the Dredge effect with Stinkweed Imp, consider running a dredge-optimized deck with creatures like Golgari Findbroker, Stromgald Battlemaster, and Grave Titan. These cards can help you generate tokens or deal damage to your opponents while milling cards to return Stinkweed Imp and other key pieces.

Interactions

Some interactions are worth noting, particularly when combining Stinkweed Imp with cards that manipulate the graveyard. For example:

• Keranos, God of Storms' ability allows you to scry when you mill a card from your library. This means if you're milled five cards by Stinkweed Imp and return it to your hand using its Dredge effect, you can then scry the top three cards on your deck.
• Doom Whisperer's ability is particularly impactful in combination with Stinkweed Imp's Dredge effect. By milling five cards, returning Stinkweed to your hand, and then casting Doom Whisperer, you'll create a significant advantage by enabling recursion.

When considering the use of Stinkweed Imp in Commander games, weigh its potential impact on your deck's strategy against any limitations or restrictions imposed by your Commander's effects or the game environment.

Stinkweed Imp is a versatile and effective creature that can be integrated into various Commander archetypes. Its primary benefits lie in its ability to deal with opposing creatures on the battlefield while also providing a dredge outlet.

One common archetype that Stinkweed Imp fits well into is graveyard-based combo decks, which rely on milling cards from the library to trigger their combos. The Dredge ability allows players to return the Stinkweed Imp to hand after milling five cards, creating a recursive loop that can be leveraged to accelerate the dredging process.

In this context, Stinkweed Imp synergizes particularly well with cards like Morgue Knight and Dreadhorde Arcanist, which also benefit from milling. By leveraging the Dredge ability in combination with these cards, players can create an efficient way to set up their combo and accelerate its resolution.

Stinkweed Imp's ability to destroy creatures on combat also makes it a valuable addition to token-based decks, where controlling the board is crucial. In these situations, Stinkweed Imp can be played alongside tokens like Duskmantle Prowler and Golgari Findbroker, which generate tokens but lack a way to clear opposing creatures.

The creature's 1/2 power and flying make it a decent threat on its own, capable of dealing damage to players who don't have a way to deal with it. This can be particularly problematic for opponents playing with smaller, low-toughness creatures like Serra Avenger.

When evaluating which decks benefit most from Stinkweed Imp, consider those that:

• Run graveyard-based combos and rely on dredging
• Focus on controlling the board with tokens or other small creatures
• Have a strong mid-game presence but struggle to protect their life total

In these scenarios, Stinkweed Imp provides an effective solution for managing opposing creatures while also accelerating the dredge process.

Stinkweed Imp: A Dredge Nightmare

This common imp may seem like a straightforward inclusion in your black dredge deck, but its interaction with various other cards can create devastating synergies. Let's delve into the details.

Interactions with Llanowar Deathwalk and Eternal Witness

Pairing Stinkweed Imp with Llanowar Deathwalk or Eternal Witness creates an efficient way to mill and destroy creatures on the board. When the Imp deals combat damage, it not only destroys the target but also triggers the Dredge ability. This can lead to a cascade of card draws and recursion, allowing you to repeat the process.

Combining with Grisly Salvage

Stinkweed Imp's Dredge mechanic becomes particularly deadly when combined with Grisly Salvage. By milling five cards and returning the Imp to your hand, you can then use Grisly Salvage to search for another copy of Stinkweed Imp or other valuable dredged creatures. This creates a snowball effect, enabling you to rapidly mill and generate card advantage.

Synergy with Shriekmaw

Shriekmaw's ability to destroy non-land permanents when it dies can be amplified by the presence of Stinkweed Imp. When the Imp deals combat damage, it not only destroys a creature but also triggers its own Dredge ability, potentially returning itself to your hand. If you then use Shriekmaw to clear your graveyard and return the Imp to play, you can repeat this process indefinitely.

Potential with Condemn

While less intuitive at first glance, Stinkweed Imp can also benefit from Condemn's ability to destroy non-land permanents when it enters the battlefield. If an opponent casts Condemn targeting the Imp, its Dredge ability will trigger upon being sent to the graveyard, potentially returning it to your hand and allowing you to replay or dredge another creature.

In combination with these cards, Stinkweed Imp becomes a key component in a dredge deck's engine, facilitating rapid card draw and recursion. Its relatively low cost and common rarity make it an attractive addition for players looking to create a more aggressive and efficient black dredge strategy.

Stinkweed Imp: A Common Misfire

The Stinkweed Imp is often overlooked in Commander decks due to its relatively low power and toughness. However, its unique abilities make it a problematic inclusion for some players.

Dredge Issues

One common mistake with the Stinkweed Imp is misunderstanding its dredge ability. Players may think that milling five cards allows them to draw an additional card on their next turn, but this is not the case. The dredge ability only returns the Stinkweed Imp from the graveyard to the hand when a player would draw a card, which can be easily missed.

Poor Synergies

Another issue with the Stinkweed Imp is its poor synergy with other cards. When paired with creatures like Necrotic Ooze or Griselbrand, the Stinkweed Imp's ability to destroy creatures may seem beneficial. However, these cards often rely on dealing direct damage to players rather than creatures, rendering the Stinkweed Imp's ability useless.

Misunderstood Rules

The Stinkweed Imp's flying ability can also lead to confusion. Players may assume that the creature will automatically kill any opponent-controlled creature it attacks, but this is not the case. The creature must still deal combat damage to the targeted creature for its ability to trigger.

Timing Issues

Finally, players often struggle with timing when using the Stinkweed Imp's ability. It's essential to remember that the ability only triggers when a player deals combat damage to a creature, which can be difficult to predict in Commander games where creatures are constantly being sacrificed and brought back into play.

The Stinkweed Imp is a complex card that requires careful consideration of its abilities and interactions with other cards in the deck. By understanding these common mistakes and misplays, players can make more informed decisions about including this creature in their Commander decks.

Stinkweed Imp is a formidable addition to any Black-heavy Commander deck, offering a unique synergy between its combat ability and dredge functionality. When paired with cards like Sulfur Falls or Faithless Looting, Stinkweed Imp can become nearly unkillable, as it's constantly being returned to the field via dredge.

In a more aggressive strategy, combining Stinkweed Imp with creatures like Ghoulcaller of Urabrask and Vengeful Mob creates an efficient board presence that can quickly overwhelm opponents. However, in more controlling or life-gain oriented decks, Stinkweed Imp's utility is significantly diminished. It requires a specific setup to thrive, which may make it challenging to include without sacrificing the overall strategy.

Given its ability to destroy creatures on combat, Stinkweed Imp is naturally at odds with Griselbrand and other powerful, non-legendary threats that rely on persistence. In decks centered around these cards, Stinkweed Imp is probably best left out. On the other hand, in more aggressive or aggro-focused strategies, its synergy with Grasp of Darkness and Darkblast can be incredibly potent.

As for pricing, while Stinkweed Imp is relatively affordable at $0.75, its foil counterpart commands a significantly higher price point due to its limited availability. This disparity doesn't necessarily affect its value as a card but should be considered when budgeting for Commander decks.

Ultimately, Stinkweed Imp's inclusion in a Commander deck should be based on the specific strategy and build-around considerations of the player. With careful planning and strategic pairings, it can become a game-changing addition to an aggressive or midrange Black-heavy deck.

Building around Stinkweed Imp

Stinkweed Imp is a versatile creature that thrives in black decks focused on destroying creatures and leveraging graveyard interactions. Its ability to destroy creatures when dealing combat damage makes it an excellent fit for combo decks, while its dredge ability allows it to come back into play from the graveyard.

Commanders and Color Identities

• Liliana, Dreadhorde General: This legendary creature pairs perfectly with Stinkweed Imp, as Liliana's ability to create a 2/2 black Zombie token each time an opponent loses life creates an ideal environment for Stinkweed Imp to thrive.
• Dread Wanderer: As another commander that excels at creating zombie tokens and leveraging graveyard interactions, Dread Wanderer works seamlessly with Stinkweed Imp.

Themes

• Graveyard synergy: Cards like Tombstone, [[Liliana's Reclamation, and [[Carrion Feeder enable the dredge ability of Stinkweed Imp.
• Destroying creatures: Cards like [[Doom Blade, [[Abrupt Decay, and [[Fatal Push** complement Stinkweed Imp's ability to destroy creatures when dealing combat damage.

Engines

• Graveyard recursion: Engines like Mill Effect, which allows you to return a card from your graveyard to your hand, make it easier to play Stinkweed Imp multiple times in a single game.
• Token generation: Cards that generate zombie tokens, such as [[Liliana's Reclamation and [[Carrion Feeder, create an ideal environment for Stinkweed Imp to destroy creatures.

Synergy Cards

Combo Notes

• Mill effect: Combining Stinkweed Imp with cards that enable mill effect allows you to return it from your graveyard to your hand multiple times, creating a potent combo.
• Graveyard recursion: Cards like [[Tombstone and [[Liliana's Reclamation make it easier to play Stinkweed Imp in combination with other graveyard-based engines.

Stinkweed Imp is an excellent addition to black decks focused on destroying creatures and leveraging graveyard interactions. Its versatility makes it a great fit for combo decks, while its dredge ability enables multiple plays from the graveyard.

Stinkweed Imp in Commander

In Commander, Stinkweed Imp is a common creature that sees play in various black decks. Its ability to destroy creatures at 1/2 toughness makes it a decent removal spell against more expensive threats.

• Competitive Play: While not extremely powerful on its own, Stinkweed Imp's presence in the graveyard allows for dredging, which can be a game-changer if you've drawn into Doomsday or other combos. However, its relatively high mana cost and vulnerability to removal make it less desirable than more aggressive options like Snapdragon Petal.
• Casual Play: In casual decks, Stinkweed Imp's ability can be useful for clearing the board against opponents with creatures that are easy to destroy. However, its impact is generally reduced due to the prevalence of more powerful threats in these games.

Stinkweed Imp in Other Formats

Outside of Commander, Stinkweed Imp is mostly played in casual formats or EDH variants like Brawl and Pauper. Its price point and availability make it a staple in some decks, but its lack of power and toughness make it less competitive in more formal tournaments.

Banned or Restricted

Stinkweed Imp is not banned in any formats due to its relatively low power level. Its impact is largely limited by the availability of its dredge trigger, which can be inconsistent in competitive games.

In terms of card value, Stinkweed Imp's price has remained stable over time, likely due to its role as a supporting player in more complex decks rather than a standalone game-changer.

Key Scenarios & Matchups

Stinkweed Imp excels in low-toughness swarm scenarios where it can efficiently destroy single-target creatures. In multiplayer games, its ability to eliminate threats from opponents' boards makes it a valuable asset for controlling the board presence.

• Against token generators: Stinkweed Imp's ability allows it to clear token swarms generated by cards like Sylvan Caryatid or Llanowar Elves. This can turn the tables in favor of the Imp's controller, as they gain an advantage by eliminating threats.
• In combo-oriented decks: Stinkweed Imp's Dredge ability makes it a great fit for combo lists. By dredging five cards and returning itself to hand, it enables the retrieval of crucial combo pieces, such as Doom Blade or Lightning Bolt. This facilitates the execution of combo plans and catches opponents off guard.

In matchups where opponents play controlling decks with high-toughness creatures or token-generating strategies, Stinkweed Imp may struggle. For instance:

• Against graveyard hate: Cards like Relic Seeker or Doomsday can disrupt the Imp's Dredge ability, preventing it from returning to hand and reducing its overall effectiveness.
• In aggressive decks with low-toughness creatures: If opponents' lists feature creatures that are easily destroyed by Stinkweed Imp, they may opt for cards like Path to Exile or Abrupt Decay to neutralize the threat. This can limit the Imp's impact on the board.

The effectiveness of Stinkweed Imp ultimately depends on its role within a specific deck and strategy. By considering these key scenarios and matchups, players can better understand how this card contributes to their overall gameplan.

Stinkweed Imp: A Tenacious Common

The Stinkweed Imp has been a staple in Black (B) decks since its first printing in the Ravnica block's Ravager set. This common creature has consistently maintained a presence in various formats, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious players.

Printings and Reprints

• The Stinkweed Imp was printed in Ravager (2005)
• It was reprinted in several sets, including:
  • Dissension (2006)
  • Zendikar Expeditions (2010)
  • Commander Anthology Volume II (2018)

Tournament Presence

The Stinkweed Imp has seen play in various formats, including:

• Modern: It's often included in aggressive Black decks that leverage its Dredge ability to mill cards and generate value.
• EDH: The Stinkweed Imp is a popular choice for Commander decks that focus on card advantage and aggressive gameplay.

EDHREC Stats

According to EDHREC, the Stinkweed Imp has an average decklist count of 4.5% in Black-heavy Commander decks.

Iconic Decks

The Stinkweed Imp has appeared in several iconic decks, including:

• "Millhouse", a popular Dredge deck that leverages the Stinkweed Imp's ability to mill cards and generate value.
• **"Atraxa", a high-power Commander deck that utilizes the Stinkweed Imp as a versatile and efficient creature.

The Stinkweed Imp is a formidable creature that offers a unique combination of flying, removal, and Dredge potential. Its consistent printings and reprints have made it an attractive choice for players looking to build budget-friendly decks or experiment with innovative strategies.

The Stinkweed Imp is a malevolent creature from the depths of the Shadowfell, where darkness reigns supreme. Its very presence seems to draw in the stench of decay and corruption, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

As an imp, the Stinkweed Imp draws its power from the dark energies that permeate the underworld, allowing it to tap into the malevolent forces that lurk within the shadows. This connection grants it a fleeting sense of invincibility, as evidenced by its 1/2 power and toughness – a humble statline belied by its devastating abilities.

The Stinkweed Imp's true strength lies in its ability to destroy creatures with which it comes into combat, much like Grave Titan's annihilating presence on the battlefield. This capacity for destruction is further amplified by its dredge ability, which allows it to return from the grave at a moment's notice – much like the undead army that Graveborn Muse summons.

In certain necromantic rituals, the Stinkweed Imp is said to be summoned as a messenger or an avatar of dark energies. Its very presence seems to disrupt the balance of life and death, drawing forth the rot and decay that lurks beneath the surface of reality. Those who have seen it in battle describe its unsettling stench as a harbinger of doom.

In contrast to more refined creatures like Vraska's Contempt, the Stinkweed Imp is an unapologetic exemplar of dark, malevolent magic – a creature that revels in chaos and destruction rather than order or elegance. Its very existence seems to defy the natural order, much like the aberrant experiments conducted by Graveborn Muse's masters.

Those who would seek to wield this creature's power must first understand its nature: a force of raw, unbridled energy that defies conventional boundaries and expectations. Like Dread Wanderer, it stalks the shadows, ever-prepared to unleash its unholy wrath upon the world.