Way of Pain by ArcyltheRed

Format: Commander

Commander: Saruman of Many Colors

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 41

Deck overview

This deck is an Esper control and mill-theft build commanded by Saruman of Many Colors. It leverages a dense suite of 2-mana rocks to deploy defensive pillowfort enchantments such as Ghostly Prison, Propaganda, and No Mercy early, discouraging incoming attacks and directing aggression toward opponents. The midgame revolves around double-spelling: casting two spells each turn triggers Saruman to mill opponents and cast their best exiled instants, sorceries, and enchantments for free, amplified by support pieces like Alphinaud Leveilleur, The Council of Four, and Archmage Emeritus. As libraries fill up from Court of Cunning, Ruin Crab, and Consuming Aberration, the deck pivots to explosive late-game finishes. On Turn 7, it executes critical onset through Rise of the Dark Realms to steal every creature in all graveyards or resolves a kicked Maddening Cacophony backed by Syr Konrad, the Grim for lethal life drain, closing the game on Turn 8.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Alisaie Leveilleur
  • 1 Alphinaud Leveilleur
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Denial
  • 1 Arcane Sanctum
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Archmage Emeritus
  • 1 As Foretold
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Azorius Chancery
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
  • 1 Call of the Ring
  • 1 Choked Estuary
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Consuming Aberration
  • 1 Court of Cunning
  • 1 Court of Vantress
  • 1 Cunning Rhetoric
  • 1 Demolition Field
  • 1 Dimir Aqueduct
  • 1 Dimir Signet
  • 1 Dovin's Veto
  • 1 Drown in the Loch
  • 1 Drowned Catacomb
  • 1 Esper Panorama
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Frantic Search
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Ghoulish Impetus
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Gleaming Splendor
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Gríma, Saruman's Footman
  • 1 High Fae Trickster
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 2 Island
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital // Overture
  • 1 Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Maddening Cacophony
  • 1 Mangara, the Diplomat
  • 1 Martial Impetus
  • 1 Memory Plunder
  • 1 Mindcrank
  • 1 Mithril Coat
  • 1 Monk Class
  • 1 Morphic Pool
  • 1 Myriad Landscape
  • 1 No Mercy
  • 1 Obscura Storefront
  • 1 Orzhov Basilica
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Palantír of Orthanc
  • 1 Path of Ancestry
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 2 Plains
  • 1 Port Town
  • 1 Promise of Loyalty
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Psychic Impetus
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reflecting Pool
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Render Silent
  • 1 Revenge of Ravens
  • 1 Rise of the Dark Realms
  • 1 Rivendell
  • 1 Ruin Crab
  • 1 Saruman of Many Colors
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Singularity Rupture
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorcerous Squall
  • 1 Storm of Saruman
  • 1 Sunken Hollow
  • 2 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Temple of Deceit
  • 1 Temple of Silence
  • 1 Tenuous Truce
  • 1 Terramorphic Expanse
  • 1 The Council of Four
  • 1 The Master of Lake-town
  • 1 The Water Crystal
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Watery Grave
  • 1 Wizard's Staff