Is Competitive Phage Possible?
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Oct. 23, 2020, 6:41 p.m. by EleshNornsFs
I want to build a Phage the Untouchable deck, and I have a version that sort of works, but I want to know what approach you would take if you wanted to build a Phage deck that was even semi-competitive. The best I could brainstorm was to build it like a stax deck, that just happens to have Phage and everything you need to make her work, but mono black stax doesn't seem particularly potent or quick, and from every list I have seen, it seems like all the stax pieces would just get in Phage's way. Anyway, how would you do it?
VampDemigod says... #3
Oh, and Swiftfoot Boots or a similar card is definitely needed.
October 23, 2020 7:27 p.m.
What does phage offer over literally any other black commander, even Yargle. It's just asking to get your torp orb blown up or bounced, causing you to instantly lose. At least yargle doesn't come with that MAJOR flaw.
For fun, it can def work, but competitively, I highly doubt it.
October 23, 2020 7:28 p.m. Edited.
VampDemigod says... #5
It’s called high-risk-high-reward. Phage can be one of the most fun cards to play with and against. It’s by no means going to be able to complete in CEDH, but it can complete in your lgs, as a deck you play once in awhile.
October 23, 2020 7:30 p.m.
griffstick says... #6
Phage the Untouchable is so dangerous. In cmdr, the other players will know exactly how to deal with it. She is too flawed for cedh. Even in casual edh if an opponent catches on to what you're doing than it's easy to take you out. They could simply Flicker phage and you'll lose the game.
October 23, 2020 7:34 p.m.
Even casually, phage being in the command zone, with 3 other players. Chance's are all 3 people will know what do to once they see the torp orb out, and black is very weak with stack interaction. It can be a funny gimmick deck, but might only work vs a pod who runs 0 interaction.
October 23, 2020 7:35 p.m.
griffstick says... #8
I suggest building a cedh with Sidisi, Undead Vizier as the cmdr and throw phage in the deck.
October 23, 2020 7:37 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #9
Fair points. I do prefer the idea of a phage deck where phage isn’t the commander.
If you’re deadset on having phage as the literal commander these are the only ways to save yourself: Torpor Orb, Lich's Mastery, Stunning Reversal, and Platinum Angel. The other card I was thinking of would shuffle phage into your library.
Stunning Reversal is basically the only way to stop them from killing you with your own phage when you cast it via artifact/enchantment removal.
October 23, 2020 7:56 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #10
Netherborn Altar and Command Beacon are the only cards that allow you to put phage into your hand from the Command Zone BTW.
October 23, 2020 8:04 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #11
Ending the turn with Sundial of the Infinite is an effective and repeatable way to stop Phage from killing yourself.
October 23, 2020 8:06 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #12
Oh I forgot about end the turn effects! Dang it I feel dumb now! XD
October 23, 2020 8:10 p.m.
Phage really is better left in the 99, it being a surprise makes it so much more lethal than having it be public knowledge.
October 23, 2020 8:10 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #14
I should clarify what I mean by competitive. I definitely don't mean cEDH. I know there is no way that would work. For my playgroup, we generally play at a 5/10, so competitive to me is a high 5 or 6. I know there are hurdles to jump through with Phage, but I am a little more concerned with what to do about the rest of the deck. Phage needs some very specific cards, but I don't know how to give the rest of the 90 or so cards the best chance of success.
October 23, 2020 8:27 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #15
I’d suggest building it like you would any other voltron deck. If you haven’t build voltron decks before, then you basically just try to have a lot of equipment to protect your commander, make your commander evasive, pump your commander (not necessarily needed here), and cards that ramp you or draw cards. (I don’t build voltron super often, I might have missed something, sorry if I did).
October 23, 2020 8:32 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #16
Whispersilk Cloak doesn’t get mentioned enough. It should really be a voltron staple, if not a general edh staple.
October 23, 2020 8:34 p.m.
griffstick says... #17
Withering Boon, or Thrull Wizard, or Nether Void, or Dash Hopes to counter phage, then retrieve her from the grave to cast her from your hand.
October 23, 2020 10:07 p.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #19
4/10
1 hit K.O's are super cool but the build is going to have to be super focused. You don't need to go tall for her to be effective. Fast mana, rituals, haste and evasion enablers are what you should want. Go under and go fast.
October 24, 2020 2:13 a.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #21
Command Beacon and Crucible of Worlds are going to be your best friend.
October 24, 2020 11:29 a.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #23
I hadn't actually considered the Crucible of Worlds for the beacon. That's a good one. I did have the idea of using Mirror Gallery, Torpor Orb, and Blade of Selves all together. I can't imagine it would happen more than once in the deck's life, but it would be so sweet.
October 24, 2020 12:21 p.m.
AwesomeOctopus says... #26
No. I would look at phage as being an example of a challenge build. that strategy is so janky, you'ld have to be intentionally trying to handicap yourself to want to play it. That can be fun sometimes, but competitive? no.
October 24, 2020 2:16 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #27
Oh I wasn’t saying that as a bad thing. This is my favorite type of deck to brew! Phage and Evra, Halcyon Witness are my two favorite commanders to ponder.
October 24, 2020 2:18 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #28
It's a paper flamethrower. It's a zeppelin filled with hydrogen and painted with thermite. I revel in the jank.
October 24, 2020 2:21 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #29
...I think we need to take a moment to realize that one of those two things was basically built. In the real world. Why are humans what they are!? XD
October 24, 2020 2:23 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #30
Yeah. The Hindenburg was painted with thermite. On accident. Humans are great.
October 24, 2020 2:28 p.m.
Destroyerbirb says... #32
VampDemigod I play a lot of CEDH myself, but Phage is not near good enough to be played in CEDH. It’s mana cost is too high, it’s too easily gotten rid of, it requires too many hoops to jump through, and it takes too long for all this to happen.
However, you can ruin your friend’s lives at the casual table!
October 24, 2020 3:03 p.m.
Destroyerbirb says... #33
If you were to play her, I would suggest Helm of the Host!
October 24, 2020 3:05 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #34
VampDemigod Or you could play avatar minions (formerly zombie avatar[?] minions (formerly minions)).
October 24, 2020 3:05 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #35
Destroyerbirb Just remember that for the helm, yo and need a way to stop her trigger everytime you get a token.
October 24, 2020 3:07 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #36
Destroyerbirb I never said it was CEDH level.
EleshNornsFs what? I’ve never heard of those.
October 24, 2020 3:48 p.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #37
Those are Phage the Untouchable's types. She underwent several errata during Lorwyn, and again for her printing in Conspiracy.
October 24, 2020 4:01 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #39
This is a horrible deck for Lich's Mirror btw, making you shuffle Phage back into your deck every time you cast her from the command zone seems like a big waste of valuable resources.
Best way to make Phage the Untouchable work is not to have her as commander, but to pair her up with Fractured Identity and kill every one of your opponents at the same time
October 25, 2020 8:24 a.m.
VampDemigod says... #40
This is the new wincon for all of my Esper commander decks. XD
October 25, 2020 11:30 a.m.
griffstick says... #41
Giving everyone a Leveler with Fractured Identity is cool too.
VampDemigod says... #2
This is actually the perfect deck for that don’t-lose-the-game artifact that was being talked about the other day! (Also platinum angel, but that means you can’t ramp into phage)
October 23, 2020 7:26 p.m.