I'm looking at building a Phage deck, and after looking at several other decklists and a Phage primer, I'm stuck at +12 cards, and I don't know what to remove any more. Any help would be appreciated.
2/20
- Mortarpod
- Gravecrawler
- Corpse Dance
- Snow-Covered Swamp (x2)
+ Rings of Brighthearth
+ Filth
+ Buried Ruin
+ Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
I'm generally interested in wincons that end the game instantly or instantly eliminate someone, to be in-theme with Phage's ability. Protecting/enabling those wincons is my second priority (such as, for example, making Phage unblockable in some way).
I don't mind recommendations for additions, but I'd prefer recommendations for cuts.
Mortarpod - (This doesn't deal COMBAT damage, doesn't work with Phage)
Sudden Spoiling - (Envincar's Justice is better)
Wayfarer's Bauble - (Journeyer's Kite is better)
Doubling Cube - (Caged Sun is Better)
Gravecrawler - (Not enough Zombies)
Here's what I'd add.
Ring's of Brightearth - Allows you to go infinite mana, with cards you already have in the deck. (Deserted Temple, Cabal Coffers)
Buried Ruin - Allows you to recur your sac'd artifacts, with crucible of worlds.
Urborg Tomb of Yagmoth - After all it makes itself a swamp, and cabal coffers a swamp.
Filth - Pairs Nicely with Urborg, tomb of Yagmoth
Geth, Lord of the Vault - If you have infinite mana, why not? right?
nOW trimming down the deck.
-Shrouded Lore (Unless you're recurring non-creatures, like Cabal Coffers)
-Grim Discovery (see above.)
-Imp's Mischeif
-Silent Arbiter
-Sadistic Hypnotist
-CInderhaze Wretch
-Defense Grid
-Corpse Dance
-Nevinyrral's Disk
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"This is my place of power. Nothing can take root here unless I allow it."
Check in my previous posts for an in-depth analysis of my list in one of the other Phage lists. I've been winning over half of my games with it so it's quite potent.
Yeah what he said, he posted about phage in my phage thread (bellow), we had good rapport.
All i can say is + Infernal Darkness . This is pretty much enough to win games.
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Given up magic because a)its a waste of money b)it sucks the joy out of life c)im doing more interesting things than tapping pieces of plastic that have no intrinsic value.
I encourage you to do the same. Instead of FNM try Friday Night Something Spontaneous. Instead of thousands of hours and dollars on plastic imagine it with a significant other or friends sharing something meaningful. I randomly typed a new password, so bon voyage itches i encourage you to follow suit! Cheers
All i can say is + Infernal Darkness . This is pretty much enough to win games.
Unfortunately, while I'd love to use Infernal Darkness, I'll end up playing this deck in a league. My league has a penalty for wrecking manabases, and Infernal Darkness certainly counts if any of my opponents is playing something other than mono-B.
Mortarpod - (This doesn't deal COMBAT damage, doesn't work with Phage)
Sudden Spoiling - (Envincar's Justice is better)
Wayfarer's Bauble - (Journeyer's Kite is better)
Doubling Cube - (Caged Sun is Better)
Gravecrawler - (Not enough Zombies)
After re-reading Phage, I definitely agree with Mortarpod.
Sudden Spoiling/Evincar's Justice: I don't really see how these two compare, tbh. 7 mana sorcery to kill some creatures (possibly including my own), vs. 3 mana split second instant to negate pretty much everything about all the creatures one of my opponents control, including "dies" triggers, which can be used during combat to kill them off with blockers.
Wayfarer's Bauble/Journeyer's Kite: I do like the Kite, but Bauble puts the land into play. Have you found that you don't need to even attempt to keep up with the green decks' ramp?
Doubling Cube/Caged Sun: Cube + Gauntlet/Lens beats Gauntlet/Lens + Sun at 5 basic lands (ties at 4 if there's also Cabal Coffers). Cube + Gauntlet + Lens ties with Gauntlet + Lens + Sun at 3 basic lands (beat at 3 if there's also Cabal Coffers). The only downside to Doubling Cube is you can't really split your mana between stuff on your turn and stuff on your opponents' turns, but it's meant for big plays, not strategy and waiting. Also, I've played with just Gauntlet+Lens in my mono-U deck, and I've never really felt the need to add Sun on top of that.
Gravecrawler: While I admit my Zombie count is low, the intent was to combo with Phyrexian Altar and Bitter Ordeal. I can still use Pawn of Ulamog and Reassembling Skeleton for the same purpose, though. (And since Gravecrawler needs another creature, it's not like the combo got bigger.)
Ring's of Brightearth - Allows you to go infinite mana, with cards you already have in the deck. (Deserted Temple, Cabal Coffers)
Buried Ruin - Allows you to recur your sac'd artifacts, with crucible of worlds.
Urborg Tomb of Yagmoth - After all it makes itself a swamp, and cabal coffers a swamp.
Filth - Pairs Nicely with Urborg, tomb of Yagmoth
Geth, Lord of the Vault - If you have infinite mana, why not? right?
I like all of these except Geth. I had considered Urborg, but decided against it since I was going to be running so many regular swamps (and I had no other way to give Phage Swampwalk). Then, since I didn't use Urborg, I decided against Filth. Rings and Buried Ruin are both very nice, and I hadn't even thought about them.
Geth is pretty good with infinite mana, but my intent is to instagib my opponents with Phage or combo (so non-infinite Geth isn't very useful, since I'll lose whatever I steal). While infinite mana + Geth could mill someone to death, there are players in my meta who run things like Vigor, Guile, and Dark/Blightsteel Colossus. We also have instant-speed graveyard removal/recursion. I realize infinite Geth doesn't care about Kozilek/Ulamog, but the others can be a problem. Also, my mono-U deck is "steal everything", so I think my friends would rather not see that from my mono-B deck as well.
-Shrouded Lore (Unless you're recurring non-creatures, like Cabal Coffers)
-Grim Discovery (see above.)
-Imp's Mischeif
-Silent Arbiter
-Sadistic Hypnotist
-CInderhaze Wretch
-Defense Grid
-Corpse Dance
-Nevinyrral's Disk
Shrouded Lore/Grim Discovery: I'm concerned that leaves only Volrath's Stronghold to get Phage back from the 'yard if I'm relying on countering and recurring Phage (with the current board state). Any comment on that?
Imp's Mischief/Silent Arbiter/Sadistic Hypnotist/Defense Grid: To some extent, I'd like this to be a control deck. The two artifacts are probably the weakest from among these four, but I'd like further input on them, if you have any.
Cinderhaze Wretch: This was intended as Necrotic Ooze fodder to pair with Shauku, Endbringer (exile all opponents' creatures). I'd like to avoid having only one combo on the Ooze if possible.
Corpse Dance: I'll admit, I was interested in trying this card out because it seems cool, rather than thinking it was strictly necessary.
Nevinyrral's Disk: I may have a lot of board wipes in this deck, but this is the last one I thought I'd see go. Why the Disk instead of, say, Bane of the Living?
Please, there are many cards that I've not actually tested with, so I recognize that I could be reading too much into their value. If you have more to say on the matter, please convince me.
- Mortarpod
- Gravecrawler
- Corpse Dance
+ Rings of Brighthearth
+ Filth
00 Phage the Untouchable
Phage Enablers (From Command Zone)
01 Withering Boon
02 Nether Void
03 Torpor Orb
04 Platinum Angel
05 Thrull Wizard
06 Sundial of the Infinite
Phage Enablers (In Play)
07 Profane Command
08 Endless Whispers
09 Trailblazer's boots
10 Whispersilk Cloak
11 Swiftfoot Boots
12 Lightning Greaves
13 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
14 Filth
Phage Enablers (From Graveyard)
15 Volrath's Stronghold
16 Shrouded Lore
17 Grim Discovery
Phage Protection/Control Elements
18 Sudden Spoiling
19 Imp's Mishchief
20 Sadistic Sacrament
21 Praetor's Grasp
22 Karn Liberated
23 Liliana Vess
24 Sorin Markov
25 Silent Arbiter
26 Sadistic Hypnotist
27 Cinderhaze Witch
28 Shauku, Endbringer
29 Nihil Spellbomb
30 Bojuka Bog
31 Defense Grid
32 Entomb
33 Beacon of Unrest
34 Buried Alive
35 Necromancy
36 Animate Dead
Card Advantage
37 Scrying Sheets
38 Moonlight Bargain
39 Decree of Pain
40 Temporal Extortion
41 Graveborn Muse
42 Phyrexian Arena
43 Bloodgift Demon
Tutor Package
44 Vampiric Tutor
45 Demonic Tutor
46 Grim Tutor
47 Increasing Ambition
48 Expedition Map
Ramp/Mana Doubling
49 Thawing Glaciers
50 Extraplanar Lens
51 Gauntlet of Power
52 Doubling Cube
53 Nirkana Revenant
54 Cabal Coffers
55 Magus of the Cabal
56 Sol Ring
57 Temple of the False God
58 Wayfarer's Bauble
59 Deserted Temple
60 Mutilate
61 Damnation
62 Black Sun's Zenith
63 All Is Dust
64 Oblivion Stone
65 Bane of the Living
66 Nevinyrral's Disk
Combos/Wincons
67 Bitter Ordeal
68 Exanguinate
69 Leyline of the Void
70 Helm of Obedience
71 Phyrexian Altar
72 Phyrexian Devourer
73 Triskelion
74 Necrotic Ooze
75 Pawn of Ulamog
76 Reassembling Skeleton
77 Rings of Brighthearth
Other
78 Vesuva
79 Crucible of Worlds
80 Wurmcoil Engine
81 Consume Spirit
82 Buried Ruin
83 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
84 Snow-Covered Swamp (x28)
Changelog
- Mortarpod
- Gravecrawler
- Corpse Dance
- Snow-Covered Swamp (x2)
+ Rings of Brighthearth
+ Filth
+ Buried Ruin
+ Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
I'm generally interested in wincons that end the game instantly or instantly eliminate someone, to be in-theme with Phage's ability. Protecting/enabling those wincons is my second priority (such as, for example, making Phage unblockable in some way).
I don't mind recommendations for additions, but I'd prefer recommendations for cuts.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Mortarpod - (This doesn't deal COMBAT damage, doesn't work with Phage)
Sudden Spoiling - (Envincar's Justice is better)
Wayfarer's Bauble - (Journeyer's Kite is better)
Doubling Cube - (Caged Sun is Better)
Gravecrawler - (Not enough Zombies)
Here's what I'd add.
Ring's of Brightearth - Allows you to go infinite mana, with cards you already have in the deck. (Deserted Temple, Cabal Coffers)
Buried Ruin - Allows you to recur your sac'd artifacts, with crucible of worlds.
Urborg Tomb of Yagmoth - After all it makes itself a swamp, and cabal coffers a swamp.
Filth - Pairs Nicely with Urborg, tomb of Yagmoth
Geth, Lord of the Vault - If you have infinite mana, why not? right?
nOW trimming down the deck.
-Shrouded Lore (Unless you're recurring non-creatures, like Cabal Coffers)
-Grim Discovery (see above.)
-Imp's Mischeif
-Silent Arbiter
-Sadistic Hypnotist
-CInderhaze Wretch
-Defense Grid
-Corpse Dance
-Nevinyrral's Disk
RGWort, Gruulmother (Budget)GR
WRUNumot, Diva-Stasis-erURW
GMultani - MultiplayerG
All i can say is + Infernal Darkness . This is pretty much enough to win games.
I encourage you to do the same. Instead of FNM try Friday Night Something Spontaneous. Instead of thousands of hours and dollars on plastic imagine it with a significant other or friends sharing something meaningful. I randomly typed a new password, so bon voyage itches i encourage you to follow suit! Cheers
Unfortunately, while I'd love to use Infernal Darkness, I'll end up playing this deck in a league. My league has a penalty for wrecking manabases, and Infernal Darkness certainly counts if any of my opponents is playing something other than mono-B.
After re-reading Phage, I definitely agree with Mortarpod.
Sudden Spoiling/Evincar's Justice: I don't really see how these two compare, tbh. 7 mana sorcery to kill some creatures (possibly including my own), vs. 3 mana split second instant to negate pretty much everything about all the creatures one of my opponents control, including "dies" triggers, which can be used during combat to kill them off with blockers.
Wayfarer's Bauble/Journeyer's Kite: I do like the Kite, but Bauble puts the land into play. Have you found that you don't need to even attempt to keep up with the green decks' ramp?
Doubling Cube/Caged Sun: Cube + Gauntlet/Lens beats Gauntlet/Lens + Sun at 5 basic lands (ties at 4 if there's also Cabal Coffers). Cube + Gauntlet + Lens ties with Gauntlet + Lens + Sun at 3 basic lands (beat at 3 if there's also Cabal Coffers). The only downside to Doubling Cube is you can't really split your mana between stuff on your turn and stuff on your opponents' turns, but it's meant for big plays, not strategy and waiting. Also, I've played with just Gauntlet+Lens in my mono-U deck, and I've never really felt the need to add Sun on top of that.
Gravecrawler: While I admit my Zombie count is low, the intent was to combo with Phyrexian Altar and Bitter Ordeal. I can still use Pawn of Ulamog and Reassembling Skeleton for the same purpose, though. (And since Gravecrawler needs another creature, it's not like the combo got bigger.)
I like all of these except Geth. I had considered Urborg, but decided against it since I was going to be running so many regular swamps (and I had no other way to give Phage Swampwalk). Then, since I didn't use Urborg, I decided against Filth. Rings and Buried Ruin are both very nice, and I hadn't even thought about them.
Geth is pretty good with infinite mana, but my intent is to instagib my opponents with Phage or combo (so non-infinite Geth isn't very useful, since I'll lose whatever I steal). While infinite mana + Geth could mill someone to death, there are players in my meta who run things like Vigor, Guile, and Dark/Blightsteel Colossus. We also have instant-speed graveyard removal/recursion. I realize infinite Geth doesn't care about Kozilek/Ulamog, but the others can be a problem. Also, my mono-U deck is "steal everything", so I think my friends would rather not see that from my mono-B deck as well.
Shrouded Lore/Grim Discovery: I'm concerned that leaves only Volrath's Stronghold to get Phage back from the 'yard if I'm relying on countering and recurring Phage (with the current board state). Any comment on that?
Imp's Mischief/Silent Arbiter/Sadistic Hypnotist/Defense Grid: To some extent, I'd like this to be a control deck. The two artifacts are probably the weakest from among these four, but I'd like further input on them, if you have any.
Cinderhaze Wretch: This was intended as Necrotic Ooze fodder to pair with Shauku, Endbringer (exile all opponents' creatures). I'd like to avoid having only one combo on the Ooze if possible.
Corpse Dance: I'll admit, I was interested in trying this card out because it seems cool, rather than thinking it was strictly necessary.
Nevinyrral's Disk: I may have a lot of board wipes in this deck, but this is the last one I thought I'd see go. Why the Disk instead of, say, Bane of the Living?
Please, there are many cards that I've not actually tested with, so I recognize that I could be reading too much into their value. If you have more to say on the matter, please convince me.
- Mortarpod
- Gravecrawler
- Corpse Dance
+ Rings of Brighthearth
+ Filth
- Snow-Covered Swamp
+ Buried Ruin
- Snow-Covered Swamp
+ Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)