Phenax as a reanimator general?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Aug. 20, 2014, 2:32 p.m. by HorrorAvengers
Blue and black are amazing reanimator colors. Blue's looting effects are the 2nd most effective way to get creatures in the grave (Behind buried alive-effects). Typically I splash red and run Sedris, a lot of people go white and use Oloro, even green is a good choice with Mimeoplasm. But one deck I haven't seen a lot of is Phenax, God of Deception . In my opinion there are 2 kinds of good reanimator generals. The kind that put creatuers on the field (Sedris, the Traitor King or Teneb the Harvester) and the kind that put creatures in the grave (Scion of the Ur-Dragon.) Phenax is the following, leading to a chain reaction of the more creatures you have out, the more you can mill, the more you can play, the more you can mill, the more you can play. Has anybody tried him out as a self-mill commander? Remember he doesn't just mill the opponent.
For the same price, you can already Traumatize
yourself. No setup needed. I also agree that two colors is limiting. Better go BUG, as Golgari offers a whole lot more graveyard interaction/manipulation. Not much options with the general though.
Watch out for Sultai clan in Tarkir. it's supposed to be the color of necromancy!
August 20, 2014 4:29 p.m.
HorrorAvengers says... #4
I hope so, I haven't played a good 60 card reanimator deck since 4c rites. For my irl deck I'm torn between Sedris, using the kiki combo, or mikeaus combo to win. BUG would be more likely to be a goodstuff reanimator deck. Which isn't a bad thing, but going Phyrexian Delver -> Kiki Jiki -> Copy delver -> Griselbrand so much fun.
August 20, 2014 4:56 p.m.
scopesightzx says... #5
I remember that they did an article on TCG Player for a phenax reanimator list. If I were to build with Phenax, I'd go reanimator.
August 20, 2014 7:11 p.m.
HorrorAvengers says... #6
Agreed, mill is... Not a great archetype. Traumatize is great and all, but it's a Heartless Hidetsugu . and that's mill's best card in EDH.
I have considered a Consuming Aberration storm list with that blue storm mill card. Brain Freeze ? I think. Sadly aberration doesn't trigger off the storm copies, but they both serve a similar end.
August 20, 2014 10:13 p.m.
HeroInMyOwnMind says... #7
Honestly, I feel that as long as you play mostly creatures, you would be alright with him as a general. The problem with self milling is that your games become a huge game of chance. It would be unfortunate to accidentally drop a good portion of your deck into your graveyard, only to find that none of it is the stuff you wanted in the graveyard. If you are playing a slew of reanimation friendly creatures, I don't see the problem. Just try not to lose your Sol Ring on the opening mill.
VictorSilvertome says... #2
I think people tend to lean more towards three color reanimator decks for more combos. You lack variety with just two colors, unless you are using your opponents creatures (but then that would not be self-milling).
Plus, there are more useful things than Phenax, God of Deception . But I am not saying he is not a good commander, since I haven't seen any Phenax EDH decks.
All is my own personal opinion, of course
August 20, 2014 2:54 p.m.