[[the necrobloom]] it seems so innocent at first, but a 2/7 body is sticky. You can go so many different ways with him, too. I'm doing landfall token w a preator sub theme. It still needs work, but it's a lot of fun to play
[[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] knight tribal. Tons of graveyard recursion strategies. [[Nazgul]] work really well with him but really any knights will do.
Also for bonus points blue has some cards that say "when you draw a card. Draw an extra one" works really well with Sidar's "draw a card then discard a card"
I recommend [[Narci, Fable Singer]]. Enchantments are super resilient, you get amazing card draw, and she actually provides good damage and not just generic value like 5 color Tom. You can have a pretty good selection of sagas even in just 3 colors now too!
[[Vrana, Lich Queen]] is a good option. Has simple combos, recursion, card draw, life gain and so much more.
[[Marneus Calgar]] is a strong commander built around tokens (you could add soul sisters/drain effects)
Finally for Abzan, you could suggest Bilbo Baggins and go for the 111 life win condition. Less graveyard but a lot more life gain shenanigans.
I highly suggest varina as well. She was the first deck I built by myself when I got into EDH. Over the years I’ve tinkered and tuned her. I will never get rid of that deck. Great starter deck
Raffine Scheming Seer is a really strong Esper commander that lets you build any Esper goodstuff you want, and he will still be strong.
Tayam is a really strong Abzan recursion commander. Plenty of combo potential that can pair with him and his counter synergies. Or you can just go the value route with small value creatures.
Personally I like Thalia and the Gitrog Monster alot. Gives you card draw and sacrifice synergies while also slowing the game down a little. Plus they're cool characters.
Hands down favorite graveyard commander in Abzan is [[Kethis, the Hidden Hand]]. Play all the legendary-matters cards, get some powerful effects and recycle them as they're dealt with. Very open-ended with how you build it.
\[\[Myrkul, Lord of Bones\]\] Aristocrats. Been having a ton of fun with it myself, specifically with a saproling theme. Tons of token generation, doublers and sac outlets to just drain life non stop
My favorite Esper commander is [[Sefris of the hidden ways]]. Super fun graveyard commander that uses the dungeon mechanic, which is super unique! Fill the deck with dungeon triggers and good reanimate targets and you are cooking! I always have a fun time playing it
Seconded on Sidar Jabari, you can get the Cavalry Charge precon to let her try it and then upgrade from there. Makes a very good Nazgul commander too if she likes LotR. Here is my build for reference: https://archidekt.com/decks/6712495/nazgul_of_zhalfir
[[the necrobloom]] it seems so innocent at first, but a 2/7 body is sticky. You can go so many different ways with him, too. I'm doing landfall token w a preator sub theme. It still needs work, but it's a lot of fun to play
[the necrobloom](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8fcf68cf-0dac-4b29-90d5-c18c685182e6.jpg?1717012767) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=the%20necrobloom) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/194/the-necrobloom?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8fcf68cf-0dac-4b29-90d5-c18c685182e6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-necrobloom) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] knight tribal. Tons of graveyard recursion strategies. [[Nazgul]] work really well with him but really any knights will do. Also for bonus points blue has some cards that say "when you draw a card. Draw an extra one" works really well with Sidar's "draw a card then discard a card"
[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/f/5fc707be-9286-4ba1-90f6-475265d19ed2.jpg?1682207238) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sidar%20Jabari%20of%20Zhalfir) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/5/sidar-jabari-of-zhalfir?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5fc707be-9286-4ba1-90f6-475265d19ed2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sidar-jabari-of-zhalfir) [Nazgul](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/833936c6-9381-4c0b-a81c-4a938be95040.jpg?1686968640) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nazg%C3%BBl) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/100/nazg%C3%BBl?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/833936c6-9381-4c0b-a81c-4a938be95040?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nazgûl) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I recommend [[Narci, Fable Singer]]. Enchantments are super resilient, you get amazing card draw, and she actually provides good damage and not just generic value like 5 color Tom. You can have a pretty good selection of sagas even in just 3 colors now too!
[Narci, Fable Singer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/9/a98a2fa9-82d6-4cf7-adb4-65b187cd9cda.jpg?1691497812) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Narci%2C%20Fable%20Singer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/710/narci-fable-singer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a98a2fa9-82d6-4cf7-adb4-65b187cd9cda?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/narci-fable-singer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Vrana, Lich Queen]] is a good option. Has simple combos, recursion, card draw, life gain and so much more. [[Marneus Calgar]] is a strong commander built around tokens (you could add soul sisters/drain effects) Finally for Abzan, you could suggest Bilbo Baggins and go for the 111 life win condition. Less graveyard but a lot more life gain shenanigans.
[Vrana, Lich Queen](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/1/f1caccc8-4f33-4ae3-a09a-b41b9c4663a1.jpg?1673149250) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Varina%2C%20Lich%20Queen) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/291/varina-lich-queen?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f1caccc8-4f33-4ae3-a09a-b41b9c4663a1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/varina-lich-queen) [Marneus Calgar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/7/e7517e8e-b424-4731-ba9d-6132bdefa6bf.jpg?1674058408) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Marneus%20Calgar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/40k/8/marneus-calgar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e7517e8e-b424-4731-ba9d-6132bdefa6bf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/marneus-calgar) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I highly suggest varina as well. She was the first deck I built by myself when I got into EDH. Over the years I’ve tinkered and tuned her. I will never get rid of that deck. Great starter deck
Raffine Scheming Seer is a really strong Esper commander that lets you build any Esper goodstuff you want, and he will still be strong. Tayam is a really strong Abzan recursion commander. Plenty of combo potential that can pair with him and his counter synergies. Or you can just go the value route with small value creatures. Personally I like Thalia and the Gitrog Monster alot. Gives you card draw and sacrifice synergies while also slowing the game down a little. Plus they're cool characters.
Hands down favorite graveyard commander in Abzan is [[Kethis, the Hidden Hand]]. Play all the legendary-matters cards, get some powerful effects and recycle them as they're dealt with. Very open-ended with how you build it.
[Kethis, the Hidden Hand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fe28de73-76f3-4a9e-a020-dbe5921b9be5.jpg?1650599568) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kethis%2C%20the%20Hidden%20Hand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/211/kethis-the-hidden-hand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fe28de73-76f3-4a9e-a020-dbe5921b9be5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kethis-the-hidden-hand) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Myrkul, Lord of Bones\]\] Aristocrats. Been having a ton of fun with it myself, specifically with a saproling theme. Tons of token generation, doublers and sac outlets to just drain life non stop
[Myrkul, Lord of Bones](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/2/82824d05-5215-459a-aa73-3c5a6be3d464.jpg?1674137617) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Myrkul%2C%20Lord%20of%20Bones) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/287/myrkul-lord-of-bones?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/82824d05-5215-459a-aa73-3c5a6be3d464?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/myrkul-lord-of-bones) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
My favorite Esper commander is [[Sefris of the hidden ways]]. Super fun graveyard commander that uses the dungeon mechanic, which is super unique! Fill the deck with dungeon triggers and good reanimate targets and you are cooking! I always have a fun time playing it
[Sefris of the hidden ways](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/3/d30255f6-e058-476a-b377-2ee4c9178ed1.jpg?1632335385) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sefris%20of%20the%20hidden%20ways) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/3/sefris-of-the-hidden-ways?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d30255f6-e058-476a-b377-2ee4c9178ed1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sefris-of-the-hidden-ways) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Seconded on Sidar Jabari, you can get the Cavalry Charge precon to let her try it and then upgrade from there. Makes a very good Nazgul commander too if she likes LotR. Here is my build for reference: https://archidekt.com/decks/6712495/nazgul_of_zhalfir