All 9 Black Mana Rocks in Magic Ranked

Crowded Crypt | Illustration by Jarel Threat

How much ramp goes in a Commander deck? And what kinds? What’s the role for color-specific rocks? As WotC prints an increasing number of colored mana rocks, these questions are more pressing for Commander players.

And given the historic love of black decks for both big mana plays and artifacts, this is a color worth investigating.

So let's rock! Black rock, that is.

What Are Black Mana Rocks in MTG?

Charcoal Diamond | Illustration by Gaboleps

Black mana rocks are artifacts that specifically and only produce black mana. Nothing like the 5-color Dragonstorm Globe or even the more focused Dimir Cluestone. Sometimes these cards are black themselves, but often not. These are typically cards we’re going to want for Commander decks.

Honorable Mention – Transmogrant Altar

This isn’t exactly a black mana rock, but Transmogrant Altar is a mana rock that does black things, running a colorless mana Sacrifice play that can be quite useful in decks like Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker and other usual suspects.

#9. Black Mana Battery

Last millennium, as a newish Magic player, I finally did what everyone seems to do: I put away my childish things (rampy green decks based on Llanowar Elves) and embraced the darkness that eventually comes for us all, control decks. Black Mana Battery seemed like a good idea. It was not. There were much, much better late game plans for black, even back then, but good cards were harder to find in my town.

Kids, that may have been the last time anyone ever played this card. Six mana to get 1 extra mana next turn. Nope. This doesn’t even work in a proliferate deck.

#8. Altar of Shadows

In the set that gave us affinity for artifacts, they also produced this mind boggling rare, Altar of Shadows. For 14 mana, you can destroy a creature. Then it coasts 6, etc., all the way down to something that starts to net you mana in the far distant future of a fictional game you’re winning.

The good news is that you can pick up a copy super cheap for the one deck that plays this turkey, Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist. This is a deep and rare cut for even that deck, but if you build the thing to ramp out Powerstones and such and can get it down, I can see it happening at least once in your lifetime of MTG play. And really, aren’t those the kind of odds that make EDH players hold their drink?

#7. Skull of Ramos

I’m sure there was a time when the sac on Skull of Ramos enabled some sick big mana play for someone that one time. But pics or it didn’t happen.

#6. Infernal Idol

This card's lack of general play tells you a lot about what is needed to make a 3-mana rock palatable these days. The card draw buyout on Infernal Idol is awkward and expensive, yes. But the real trouble is in a Commander game where you’re desperate enough to need that, 3 mana plus the tap for two cards just isn’t gonna save you.

#5. Phyrexian Totem

Okay, this is getting better, and the horror creature type means you might play this in your Captain N'ghathrod deck. But the transformed artifact is a super risky creature to deploy! The dream might be to animate Phyrexian Totem and then give it to your opponent and then burn it. So, of course I have this card in my Blim, Comedic Genius deck. It hasn’t worked yet, surprise, surprise.

But just wait, man! It’s gonna be so sick. One day….

#4. Crowded Crypt

First, just a cool idea for a card. This is evocative in the way the best Magic designs can be. Second, Crowded Crypt hits the mark for what it takes to make a 3-mana rock playable in Commander. It’s not the same as even Tablet of Discovery, but it’s got a long-term threat that’s fun and synergizes with the zombie decks this card usually finds itself in.

#3. Charcoal Diamond

A 2-mana rock is a 2-mana rock, especially in Commander. The fact that Charcoal Diamond comes into play tapped isn’t such a big deal. How often do you actually double-spell off your turn-2 Arcane Signet anyway?

#2. The Soul Stone

The Soul Stone is clearly an awesome card that has yet to fully find a home in either Standard or Pioneer. This is a tough time to be playing black in those formats, much less black ramp with the aim of creating massive advantage on like turn 9.

But that’s exactly what black mages wanna do in Commander, so this is a must-include 2-mana rock in that format in a black deck if you can afford it.

#1. Mox Jet

The only suspense that one of the best cards ever printed would be at the top of the list is if you forgot Mox Jet fits the “mana rock” criteria.

Black Cards That Create Mana Rocks

Mana rock creation really hit with The Brothers’ War, and there are two interesting black cards in this space.

#2. Gix’s Caress

Not reliable enough in its Limited format, Gix's Caress, like Skull of Ramos, seems to show up in the right Commander decks because of the story of the Commander character as much as anything.

#1. Terisiare’s Devastation

A slap in the face of a board wipe, Terisiare's Devastation plows through indestructible things while ramping you with artifact tokens. You have to be decently ramped to make this pop off, which seems like a problem, and it is, a bit. But the decks that want this have multiple ways to ramp, so this is gravy.

Wrap Up

Infernal Idol | Illustration by Drew Tucker

Eventually there’ll be enough cards like this that players will have to make a choice in their 2-color Commander decks as to whether swapping out Arcane Signet for cards like The Soul Stone makes sense. Does the higher risk and higher reward for colored rocks make sense if the deck plan only wants a half dozen mana rocks?

For now, there are some interesting options to explore in black rocks, so rock on with yer black metal!

Which black mana rocks do you run in niche decks and formats? What extra utility do you want to see on a black mana rock? Let me know in the comments below or over on the Draftsim Discord. For more from us, subscribe to The Daily Upkeep on YouTube.

Until next time!