Budget Alternatives to Be'lakor, the Dark Master
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Be'lakor, the Dark Master ($27.90)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Card Advantage Engine role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Be'lakor, the Dark Master at a Glance
Raphael, Fiendish Savior
Matches Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-any, #evasion, #noncreature-typal.
Summon: Anima
Acts as a Enchantment Creature alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature and shares the exact same mana value (6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #evasion, #life-for-cards, #pure-draw.
Sol'Kanar the Tainted
Matches Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #repeatable-removal, #spot-removal, #triggered-ability.
Be'lakor, the Dark Master
30-day $27.90–$27.90 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Be'lakor, the Dark Master and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be'lakor, the Dark Master (Original) | Legendary Creature | $27.90 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Sol'Kanar the Tainted | Legendary Creature (5 MV) | $0.32 | $27.58 | 99% | Strong match |
| #2 Bloodgift Demon | Creature (5 MV) | $0.83 | $27.07 | 97% | Strong match |
| #3 Balor | Creature (5 MV) | $4.64 | $23.26 | 83% | Strong match |
| #4 Summon: Anima | Enchantment Creature (6 MV) | $0.24 | $27.66 | 99% | Strong match |
| #5 Savanti Romero, Time's Exile | Legendary Creature (5 MV) | $0.32 | $27.58 | 99% | Strong match |
| #6 Raphael, Fiendish Savior | Legendary Creature (5 MV) | $0.54 | $27.36 | 98% | Very strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Be'lakor, the Dark Master
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Sol'Kanar the Tainted
(Legendary Creature — Elemental Demon • 5 MV)
At the beginning of your end step, choose one that hasn't been chosen — • Draw a card. • Each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. • Sol'Kanar deals 3 damage to up to one other target creature or planeswalker. • Exile Sol'Kanar, then return it to the battlefield under an opponent's control.
Matches Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #repeatable-removal, #spot-removal, #triggered-ability.
- • Costs $0.32 (99% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 15 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Bloodgift Demon
(Creature — Demon • 5 MV)
Flying At the beginning of your upkeep, target player draws a card and loses 1 life.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #evasion, #life-for-cards, #repeatable-crime.
- • Costs $0.83 (97% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Balor
(Creature — Demon • 5 MV)
Flying Whenever this creature attacks or dies, choose one or more. Each mode must target a different player. • Target opponent draws three cards, then discards three cards at random. • Target opponent sacrifices a nontoken artifact of their choice. • This creature deals damage to target opponent equal to the number of cards in their hand.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #evasion, #repeatable-crime, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $4.64 (83% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Summon: Anima
(Enchantment Creature — Saga Horror • 6 MV)
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after IV.) I, II, III — Pain — You draw a card and you lose 1 life. IV — Oblivion — Each opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice and loses 3 life. Menace
Acts as a Enchantment Creature alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature and shares the exact same mana value (6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #evasion, #life-for-cards, #pure-draw.
- • Costs $0.24 (99% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Savanti Romero, Time's Exile
(Legendary Creature — Demon Wizard • 5 MV)
Trample At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Savanti Romero. Then you draw X cards and lose X life, where X is the number of counters on Savanti Romero.
Matches Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Shares the #burst-draw mechanic (delivers high-volume card advantage into your hand).
- • Costs $0.32 (99% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 15 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Raphael, Fiendish Savior
(Legendary Creature — Devil Noble • 5 MV)
Flying Other Demons, Devils, Imps, and Tieflings you control get +1/+1 and have lifelink. At the beginning of each end step, if a creature card was put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, create a 1/1 red Devil creature token with "When this token dies, it deals 1 damage to any target."
Matches Be'lakor, the Dark Master's Legendary Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (5 MV vs 6 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-any, #evasion, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.54 (98% savings over Be'lakor, the Dark Master)
- • Fills the Legendary Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 6 MV)
- • Overlaps 8 of 15 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Be'lakor, the Dark Master's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Be'lakor, the Dark Master Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Be'lakor, the Dark Master's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $27.90 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Be'lakor, the Dark Master Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master?+
Raphael, Fiendish Savior ($0.54) is the best overall alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master ($27.90), saving $27.36 (98% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Be'lakor, the Dark Master in MTG?+
Cards like Be'lakor, the Dark Master include Sol'Kanar the Tainted ($0.32), Bloodgift Demon ($0.83), Balor ($4.64), Summon: Anima ($0.24). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Be'lakor, the Dark Master?+
Summon: Anima ($0.24) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 99% compared to Be'lakor, the Dark Master.
Why would a player want a replacement for Be'lakor, the Dark Master?+
At $27.90, Be'lakor, the Dark Master represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Be'lakor, the Dark Master?+
The closest pick, Raphael, Fiendish Savior, still has limits: overlaps 8 of 15 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
Explore More Budget MTG Guides & Tools
Continue optimizing your deck with our dedicated strategy hubs, card replacement engines, and price filters.
Find Swaps for Any Card with the MTGCheap Engine
Use our local PostgreSQL pgvector engine to search any card in Magic: The Gathering and filter by custom price ceilings, strict card types, and Commander color identity.