The Song of Phyresis

Commander / EDH Mortlocke

SCORE: 532 | 199 COMMENTS | 57524 VIEWS | IN 268 FOLDERS


The Lair of Behemoths holds promise... —March 27, 2020

With the spoiler season for Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths coming up - and the teasing of the set including 12 different types of counters - including keyword and foreshadow counters i'm holding my breath of this set having something that could help this deck evolve even further. I subscribe to the Progress Engine's school of deck building - as new cards are revealed everything must be evaulated and incorporated if it improves the viability of an infect based strategy. Who knows? Maybe this set will even include a new Infect creature? as a reminder - infect creates poison counters on players. I'd even settle for a creature that has Poisonous. Not likely to see these mechanics ever again, I know. But there's always room for hope.

zenic247 says... #1

please take look sir, i have been running this since atraxa released and it has help up well over the years. its not so much about dragging the game out as it is ending it as fast as possible. please leave me some feedback.

Hey check out my deck Atraxa attempts to be fast

February 11, 2020 12:44 a.m.

Wicker says... #2

Are the Basic Lands coming out for Savannah, Tropical Island, and Tundra once you eventually get them? Are there any other cards you would add to this deck if money wasn't a factor? Please and thanks!

March 8, 2020 5:11 a.m.

Mortlocke says... #3

Hey Wicker,

So I do actually own a copy of each of the Revised Duals, but in my weird Magpie brain I didn't want to include them on the list unless the deck had it's own individual copy. Weird logic, I know. I cut a few lands, most notably the storage lands as after experimenting with them -and with input from a friend they just aren't very good. It takes far too long to gain a benefit from them. So some have been cut to make room for more ramp - can't believe I didn't have an Arcane Signet in here, and what you see is what I plan on piloting. I might cut another land to make room for more ramp - like a Kodama's Reach or something. Please let me know your thoughts on the changes.

March 14, 2020 5:40 p.m.

Wicker says... #4

Changes look great! I think 35 is a good number for a 4 color land base, I'd probably look at cutting the basic lands for Exotic Orchard, Bountiful Promenade, and Morphic Pool (assuming you're consistently playing against more than 1 person). I'd switch the Kodama's Reach out for a Farseek. Is there a specific goal you're trying to reach with the Reanimate? Having the option of a board wipe (like Merciless Eviction) or possibly completely removing an opponent (Caress of Phyrexia) may be more useful mid-to-late game?

March 22, 2020 8:22 p.m.

Mortlocke says... #5

Wicker, I appreciate the compliment. This deck is a constant work in progress, and I've yet to implement all these changes. I've considered Exotic Orchard, but none of the battlebond lands. If I do go ahead with your changes then Farseek would definitely be the recommended change. My only hesitation regarding Farseek is that the tutored land always comes in tapped. Reanimate is simply some graveyard recursion. I'd imagine an opponent would get some form of removal to target an important creature on my board such as a Praetor. Reanimate was just something I had on hand. I haven't come up with a more elegant solution, or anything different to address removal. Caress of Phyrexia did come across my radar at some point, but the CMC is far too high for my taste. just to give a player 3 poison counters just isn't impactful enough. Honeslty, I have my breath held for some more infect support in the upcoming Commander Legends set being released later this year.

March 23, 2020 8:02 a.m. Edited.

Wicker says... #6

I'm hoping for some Commander infect changes this year! Love your decks as usual, thank you for the replies!

March 25, 2020 7:52 p.m.

Mortlocke says... #7

Wicker, I hope so as well. Infect is a parasitic mechanic that resides on the island of misfit toys. I hope a bunch of parasitic mechanics get some love in the upcoming Commander Legends set. Oh, and I need to clarifiy my thoughts on Farseek - previously I said "My only hesitation regarding Farseek is that the tutored land always comes in tapped." but upon looking at Kodama's Reach again - the basic land also comes into play tapped. The only real down side is that I don't get to put another land in the grip - guaranteeing a land drop next turn. But Farseek does allow me to fetch an OG Dual. It's tough to weigh the pros and cons here - one offers more versatility, the other offers more consistency. I think i'm going to go with my gut and lean more toward consistency.

March 26, 2020 7:26 a.m.