could the Phyrexian Arena be Dark Confidant ?

@ truble If you got the budget, go crazy ;)

Love the effort you put into the theme. +1 from me.

I really like the Repay in Kind / Phyrexian Unlife combo, it's awesome !

+1

Awesome synergy! Death's Shadow is a nasty surprise when the opponents think you're almost dead.

I think I'll need more removal or something. I'm having inconsistent results right now because the main combo kinda slow. Looks like there's a tiny piece missing somewhere...

I'm a huge fan of Black Sun's Zenith , mainly because it goes back into your library and deals with indestructibility. Vindicate is also probably one of the best spot removal spells in the colors. . . or possibly ever haha

Just a note for any newer players than might be looking at this:

Even if you have Phyrexian Unlife in play, you cannot pay any amount you want for you Plunge Into Darkness, as you cannot 'pay' more life than you have. You can still 'lose life' without taking on poison through effects such as Phyrexian Arean, but you cannot lower yourself to a more negative life total with cards that require you to actually pay life; if you are sitting at 0 or below with Unlife out you have no life to 'pay'.

This has come up rather frequently with less versed players so I thought I might mention it for anyone thinking about building the deck.

I want to love this deck, I really do. But Phyrexian Unlife has some major drawbacks. First of all, if the card is removed (using Disenchant , Naturalize , etc.) then it's game over immediately. Your opponent can actually use this as an advantage, leaving the card in play knowing that you'll be less reluctant to take damage.

There is also another huge drawback no one has mentioned: "As long as you have 0 or less life, all damage is dealt to you as though its source had infect. (Damage is dealt to you in the form of poison counters.)" This means that if an opponent deals 10 damage to you, you will have 10 poison counters, and you will lose the game.

I really wish this deck had some other means of preventing losing the game. A few suggestions would be Lich , Lich's Tomb , Nefarious Lich , and Platinum Angel .

In the end, I do love the concept. This is very interesting deck. +1

Just wondering, is there a reason you picked Day of Judgment over Wrath of God or Damnation ?

@ Unrealityisreal I totally understand your skepticism and you're right; as powerful as the deck can be, in the end it's still hanging by a thread (Phyrexian Unlife in that case).

But this is exactly my representation of the Black color in MtG: power at all cost, even if it means taking huge risks!

That being said, you're right that it would benefit from having alternative ways to stay alive. In Modern, I'll strongly consider Platinum Angel or Lich's Tomb with some tokens or something. I might consider moving this deck to Casual or Legacy to give me more flexibility though.

Thanks for the suggestions!

@ thedemonsday strickly budget, but I'll update it for Damnation since it would be a perfect fit!

@frkparent If you did move this deck to Legacy, there is a card that would help with the poison counter issue. You could use Leeches to remove all poison counters. This card is a great combo with Phyrexian Unlife (though obviously not legal in Modern). This would also further negate your life, adding to the P/T of Death's Shadow .

@Unrealityisreal:: I might be missing something, but wouldn't the second effect of Leeches just give the damage in the form of poison counters straight back? It removes say, 9 poison counters, then the other effect deals 9 damage, which by Phyrexian Unlife , becomes poison counters, and you have 9 again.

if you need more removal Unmake could be a good option

oh by the way what card did you use for the cover art it looks cool

Shrine of Loyal Legions for the cover

thanks really like its art!

4 Marsh Flats

@ cedricbobro Yup. Thanks bro, updating.

-2 Bojuka Bog or Swamp

+2 Fetid Heath

That deck looks like fun.

I've seen this strategy in EDH once before, but never in a 60 card format. Very cool +1

Add Melira, Sylvok Outcast and you can't lose. Assuming you can protect her.

Great deck. +1 for you.