Dark Confidant

Dark Confidant was a Modern staple for years before the format's threat density and combo speed shifted the meta away from two-mana value creatures — it still sees fringe play in fair black shells but is no longer the default inclusion it once was. In Legacy, faster combo and interaction-dense environments make the two-mana slot competitive enough that Dark Confidant earns its spot only in dedicated low-curve midrange lists. Commander is where Dark Confidant sees its most consistent modern play: multiplayer games go long, life totals start at 40, and the steady card advantage compounds across multiple turns in a way that single-opponent formats don't reward as reliably. The life payment is the only real check — in a high-CMC deck it can clock you faster than opponents, but in a tuned black list with an average CMC under three, that cost is almost noise.