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COMMANDER(S)
Phenax, God of Deception
QR Code
B U
- Dimir
OVERVIEW
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ANALYSIS

Overview:

A focused mill strategy helmed by Phenax, God of Deception that combines high-toughness creatures with mill effects to deplete opponents' libraries while maintaining control through countermagic and defensive elements.

Primer:

The deck operates primarily through its commander Phenax, God of Deception, enabling creatures to mill opponents based on their toughness. Key creatures like Eater of the Dead and Tree of Perdition provide powerful mill engines, while cards like Bruvac the Grandiloquent double the effectiveness of mill effects. The deck includes multiple tutors and card draw effects to find these pieces consistently.

The strategy is supported by a strong control package including premium counterspells like Force of Will and Fierce Guardianship, allowing the deck to protect its key pieces while disrupting opponents' strategies. Additional mill enchantments and artifacts create redundancy, while cards like Mindcrank and Bloodchief Ascension provide alternative win conditions through combo potential.

Weaknesses:

  • Heavily reliant on the commander for its primary strategy
  • Vulnerable to graveyard strategies that benefit from being milled
  • Limited creature removal options make it susceptible to aggressive strategies
  • Can struggle against decks with Eldrazi titans or other shuffle effects

Most Important Cards:

  1. Bruvac the Grandiloquent
  2. Eater of the Dead
  3. Tree of Perdition
  4. Mindcrank
  5. Bloodchief Ascension
  6. Fraying Sanity
  7. Mesmeric Orb
  8. Demonic Tutor
  9. Rhystic Study
  10. Force of Will

Attribute Ratings:

  • Speed: 6/10
  • Resilience: 7/10
  • Consistency: 8/10
  • Interaction: 8/10

Rating Justification:

This deck sits comfortably in the 7.0-7.5 range due to its ability to establish strong control and potentially win through mill combos by turns 5-6. The presence of premium interaction, multiple tutors, and efficient mana rocks provides consistency, while the inclusion of several powerful counterspells allows it to protect its strategy. While not quite reaching cEDH levels of speed and efficiency, it's significantly more powerful than casual builds due to its optimization and ability to handle multiple opponents simultaneously.

Final power level rating: 7.0 - 7.5

DECK LIST
Phenax, God of Deception
Planeswalker: 1
($3.5)
1
Jace, Memory Adept
3 U U
Creature: 13
($57.07)
1
Bruvac the Grandiloquent
2 U
1
Consuming Aberration
3 U B
1
Duskmantle Guildmage
U B
1
Eater of the Dead
4 B
1
Fleet Swallower
5 U U
1
Hedron Crab
U
1
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker
3 U B
1
Mortivore
2 B B
1
Ruin Crab
U
1
Sire of Stagnation
4 U B
1
Syr Konrad, the Grim
3 B B
1
Tree of Perdition
3 B
1
Wight of Precinct Six
1 B
Artifact: 10
($41.55)
1
Arcane Signet
2
1
Bolas's Citadel
3 B B B
1
Dimir Signet
2
1
Isochron Scepter
2
1
Keening Stone
6
1
Mesmeric Orb
2
1
Mindcrank
2
1
Sol Ring
1
1
Talisman of Dominance
2
1
Trepanation Blade
3
Enchantment: 12
($78.04)
1
Bloodchief Ascension
B
1
Court of Cunning
1 U U
1
Fraying Sanity
2 U
1
Intruder Alarm
2 U
1
Memory Erosion
1 U U
1
Patient Rebuilding
3 U U
1
Propaganda
2 U
1
Psychic Corrosion
2 U
1
Rhystic Study
2 U
1
Sphinx's Tutelage
2 U
1
Teferi's Tutelage
2 U
1
Underworld Dreams
B B B
Instant: 17
($115.08)
1
Brainstorm
U
1
Counterspell
U U
1
Crypt Incursion
2 B
1
Cyclonic Rift
1 U
1
Didn't Say Please
1 U U
1
Dramatic Reversal
1 U
1
Drown in the Loch
U B
1
Fierce Guardianship
2 U
1
Force of Will
3 U U
1
Grisly Spectacle
2 B B
1
Mystical Tutor
U
1
Pact of Negation
0
1
Perplex
1 U B
1
Psychic Spiral
4 U
1
Psychic Strike
1 U B
1
Thought Collapse
1 U U
1
Visions of Beyond
U
Sorcery: 8
($54.53)
1
Demonic Tutor
1 B
1
Enter the Infinite
8 U U U U
1
Maddening Cacophony
1 U
1
Mind Funeral
1 U B
1
Peer into the Abyss
4 B B B
1
Ponder
U
1
Traumatize
3 U U
1
Tunnel Vision
5 U
Land: 38
($335.33)
1
Darkslick Shores
1
Dimir Aqueduct
1
Drowned Catacomb
1
Gloomlake Verge
13
Island
1
Morphic Pool
1
Nephalia Drownyard
1
Polluted Delta
1
Reliquary Tower
1
Sunken Ruins
12
Swamp
1
Tainted Isle
1
Underground River
1
Underground Sea
1
Watery Grave

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