Overview:

This Dimir deck helmed by Phenax, God of Deception focuses on milling opponents through high-toughness creatures and synergistic enchantments. The strategy leverages walls and defensive creatures (e.g., Hover Barrier, Charix, the Raging Isle) to fuel Phenax's tap-to-mill ability, while supporting cards like Syr Konrad, the Grim and Mindcrank amplify damage output as graveyards fill. Secondary win conditions include reanimating threats with Lazav, Dimir Mastermind and overwhelming mill spells like Traumatize or Breach the Multiverse. Phenax serves as the linchpin for the primary mill strategy but requires careful devotion management to become a creature.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy defensive creatures (Wall of Frost, Ruin Crab) and mill engines (Psychic Corrosion, Chronic Flooding). Use ramp (Sol Ring, Dimir Signet) to accelerate Phenax’s casting.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 5-7): Activate Phenax’s mill ability with high-toughness creatures. Amplify mill triggers with Syr Konrad, the Grim and Mindcrank. Cast key spells like Court of Cunning or Mind Grind to pressure opponents.
3. Late-Game Closers (Turns 8+): Deploy massive mill spells (Cut Your Losses, Breach the Multiverse) or reanimate threats stolen from opponents’ graveyards using Endless Obedience or Dimir Doppelganger.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with Phenax enablers: 2-3 lands, a ramp artifact, and at least one high-toughness creature or mill engine.
• Avoid hands lacking early defense or mill synergy.

Key Tips:

• Use Eater of the Dead to untap Phenax-fueled creatures repeatedly.
• Pair Syr Konrad, the Grim with Mindcrank for incremental life loss.
• Protect Phenax with counterspells (Didn’t Say Please) or leverage Lazav, Dimir Mastermind as a backup threat.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Relies heavily on Phenax staying active; enchantment removal (Feed the Swarm) cripples the deck.
• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) nullifies Consuming Aberration, Mortivore, and Syr Konrad triggers.

Moderate

• Slow setup leaves it vulnerable to fast aggro or combo decks.
• Limited answers to flying/swarm strategies despite walls.

Minor

• High mana costs for finishers (In Garruk’s Wake, Worst Fears) risk dead draws early.

Most Important Cards:

• Phenax, God of Deception (Primary mill engine)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Damage amplifier)
• Mindcrank (Synergistic mill/damage)
• Consuming Aberration (Scalable threat)
• Traumatize (Mass mill payoff)
• Breach the Multiverse (Reanimation + mill)
• Court of Cunning (Recurring mill engine)
• Lazav, Dimir Mastermind (Graveyard threat replication)
• Dimir Doppelganger (Flexible graveyard utility)
• Eater of the Dead (Untap enabler for repeated mills)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• Wins typically occur around T10-12 via incremental mill or large sorceries.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate recursion (Endless Obedience) and counterspells, but over-reliant on Phenax.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple mill engines and redundancy in defensive creatures, but lacks tutors for key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Includes targeted removal (Hero’s Downfall) and counterspells but lacks board wipes beyond Blood Money.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a mid-paced mill strategy with moderate resilience and consistency, typically threatening wins around T10-12 through incremental mills or large sorceries. Its reliance on Phenax and vulnerability to graveyard hate place it in the Casual/Precon to Focused Casual range.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5