Average Deck for Kess, Dissident Mage - Expensive Optimized Spellslinger

Julia Maddalena
May 1, 2026
Fire and Ice: Kess, Dissident Mage
In this edition of Fire and Ice, we're looking at one of the classic Grixis Spellslinger commanders: Kess, Dissident Mage.
Nick Price
Oct 8, 2025
The Top 10 Most Played Grixis Cards in Commander
Which Grixis (blue, black, and red) cards see the most play in Commander? Let's find out, with our latest Top 10 Most Played.
Cardsphere
Archidekt
Commander Spellbook
Moxfield
Scryfall
MTGStocks

Average Decklist

Archmage Emeritus
Archmage Emeritus
Ashling, Flame Dancer
Ashling, Flame Dancer
Birgi, God of Storytelling
Birgi, God of Storytelling
Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch
Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch
Exhibition Tidecaller
Exhibition Tidecaller
Goblin Electromancer
Goblin Electromancer
Notion Thief
Notion Thief
Orcish Bowmasters
Orcish Bowmasters
Snapcaster Mage
Snapcaster Mage
Spellseeker
Spellseeker
Storm-Kiln Artist
Storm-Kiln Artist
Thassa's Oracle
Thassa's Oracle
Veyran, Voice of Duality
Veyran, Voice of Duality
Vivi Ornitier
Vivi Ornitier
Instants (21)
Ad Nauseam
Ad Nauseam
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
Chaos Warp
Chaos Warp
Counterspell
Counterspell
Cyclonic Rift
Cyclonic Rift
Dark Ritual
Dark Ritual
Deflecting Swat
Deflecting Swat
Demonic Consultation
Demonic Consultation
Entomb
Entomb
Fierce Guardianship
Fierce Guardianship
Force of Negation
Force of Negation
Force of Will
Force of Will
Frantic Search
Frantic Search
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Mana Drain
Mana Drain
Mystical Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Pact of Negation
Pact of Negation
Swan Song
Swan Song
Tainted Pact
Tainted Pact
Twincast
Twincast
Vampiric Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Sorceries (15)
Damnation
Damnation
Demonic Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Diabolic Intent
Diabolic Intent
Doomsday
Doomsday
Faithless Looting
Faithless Looting
Gamble
Gamble
Gitaxian Probe
Gitaxian Probe
Jeska's Will
Jeska's Will
Peer into the Abyss
Peer into the Abyss
Ponder
Ponder
Reanimate
Reanimate
Toxic Deluge
Toxic Deluge
Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune
Windfall
Windfall
Yawgmoth's Will
Yawgmoth's Will
Artifacts (9)
Arcane Signet
Arcane Signet
Chrome Mox
Chrome Mox
Lotus Petal
Lotus Petal
Mox Diamond
Mox Diamond
Sol Ring
Sol Ring
Talisman of Creativity
Talisman of Creativity
Talisman of Dominance
Talisman of Dominance
Talisman of Indulgence
Talisman of Indulgence
The One Ring
The One Ring
Enchantments (6)
Mystic Remora
Mystic Remora
Necropotence
Necropotence
Rhystic Study
Rhystic Study
Sorcerer Class
Sorcerer Class
Underworld Breach
Underworld Breach
Waste Not
Waste Not
Planeswalkers (1)
Professor Onyx
Professor Onyx
Lands (24)
Badlands
Badlands
Blood Crypt
Blood Crypt
Bloodstained Mire
Bloodstained Mire
Clearwater Pathway
Clearwater Pathway
Command Tower
Command Tower
Exotic Orchard
Exotic Orchard
Luxury Suite
Luxury Suite
Mana Confluence
Mana Confluence
Morphic Pool
Morphic Pool
Polluted Delta
Polluted Delta
Prismatic Vista
Prismatic Vista
Riverglide Pathway
Riverglide Pathway
Scalding Tarn
Scalding Tarn
Shipwreck Marsh
Shipwreck Marsh
Shivan Reef
Shivan Reef
Steam Vents
Steam Vents
Stormcarved Coast
Stormcarved Coast
Training Center
Training Center
Undercity Sewers
Undercity Sewers
Underground River
Underground River
Underground Sea
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Volcanic Island
Watery Grave
Watery Grave
Xander's Lounge
Xander's Lounge
Basics (3)
Island
3 Islands
Mountain
3 Mountains
Swamp
3 Swamps