Pharaoh's Tomb

Commander / EDH* Mono-Black

Profet93

Sorcery (26)

• 1x All is Dust
• 1x Beseech the Queen
• 1x Bubbling Muck
• 1x Cruel Tutor
• 1x Damnation
• 1x Dead of Winter
• 1x Deliver Unto Evil
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Diabolic Revelation
• 1x Diabolic Tutor
• 1x Grim Tutor
• 1x Imperial Seal
• 1x Innocent Blood
• 1x Mastermind's Acquisition
• 1x Mind Twist
• 1x Mutilate
• 1x Night's Whisper
• 1x Read the Bones
• 1x Sign in Blood
• 1x Syphon Mind
• 1x Thought Distortion
• 1x Torment of Hailfire
• 1x Toxic Deluge
• 1x Worst Fears
• 1x Yahenni's Expertise
• 1x Yawgmoth's Will

Instant (7)

• 1x Dark Ritual
• 1x Defile
• 1x Force of Despair
• 1x Go for the Throat
• 1x Imp's Mischief
• 1x Liliana's Triumph
• 1x Vampiric Tutor

Land (38)

• 1x Ancient Tomb
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
• 1x Buried Ruin
• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Cavern of Souls
• 1x Deserted Temple
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Mishra's Workshop
• 1x Petrified Field
• 1x Polluted Delta
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Strip Mine
• 20x Swamp
• 1x The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
• 1x Thespian's Stage
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Verdant Catacombs
• 1x Vesuva

Enchantment (8)

• 1x Chains of Mephistopheles
• 1x Infernal Darkness
• 1x Lethal Vapors
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Nether Void
• 1x No Mercy
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x The Abyss

Creature (3)

• 1x Crypt Rats
• 1x Emrakul, the Promised End
• 1x Murderous Rider

Commander (1)

Artifact (16)

• 1x Basalt Monolith
• 1x Candelabra of Tawnos
• 1x Crucible of Worlds
• 1x Expedition Map
• 1x Gilded Lotus
• 1x Grim Monolith
• 1x Jet Medallion
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Mana Vault
• 1x Mindslaver
• 1x Nevinyrral's Disk
• 1x Oblivion Stone
• 1x Rings of Brighthearth
• 1x Sensei's Divining Top
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Voltaic Key

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

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Sideboard

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Choice of Damnations
• 1x Curse of the Cabal
• 1x Sadistic Sacrament

Creature (1)

• 1x Hex Parasite

Artifact (2)

• 1x Nihil Spellbomb
• 1x Static Orb

Instant (2)

• 1x Stunning Reversal
• 1x Word of Command

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Maybeboard

Enchantment (9)

• 1x Animate Dead
• 1x Dance of the Dead
• 1x Lethal Vapors
• 1x Leyline of the Void
• 1x Nether Void
• 1x Night of Souls' Betrayal
• 1x Painful Quandary
• 1x Spreading Plague
• 1x Tainted AEther

Artifact (5)

• 1x Kormus Bell
• 1x Pithing Needle
• 1x Possessed Portal
• 1x Ratchet Bomb
• 1x Winter Orb

Creature (2)

• 1x Massacre Wurm
• 1x Myojin of Night's Reach

Instant (1)

• 1x Baleful Mastery

Sorcery (5)

• 1x Drown in Sorrow
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Head Games
• 1x Praetor's Grasp
• 1x Raven's Crime

Land (1)

• 1x Geier Reach Sanitarium

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Future Edits Show

Remove Lethal Vapors for Corpse Dance - Very fun but would make the table hate me more. Only works when the board is clear and against creature based strategies. Corpse dance is coming back in to ignore commander tax

Remove Nether Void for Dismember - Cheap interaction

Remove Infernal Darkness for Hero's Downfall - Interaction that hits walkers

Remove Yahenni's Expertise for Victim of Night / Extinction Event - Versatile extinction removal!

Remove Crypt Rats for Sudden Death / Decree of Pain - Versatile removal/draw!

Sideboard = Wishboard View Custom Categories

About the Deck

The theme of the deck is Ancient Egypt when Pharaoh ruled with an iron fist over the Jews. The commander can be switched to Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed to make it less powerful and more on theme (Pharaoh on his horse). The altered plagues of the deck are under construction as I have removed some (Ex: Exsanguinate = Blood, removed for the lack of need of redundancy). Check out Luey MTG Dragon Alters for a full list of plagues under his photos. He has helped make this deck as aesthetically pleasing as can be.

This deck is meant to be played in 4-5 player free for all or secret partners. While we do have some global effects which allow us hurt all of our opponents, also utilize some political cards such as Head Games, and control player cards like Worst Fears, Mindslaver and Emrakul, the Promised End to make secret partners even more fun.

Secret Partners Description Link

Secret Partners Mind Control Ruling: 805.8: If an effect gives a player an extra turn or adds a phase or step to that player's turn, that player's team takes the extra turn, phase, or step. If an effect causes a player to skip a step, phase, or turn, that player's team does so. If a single effect causes more than one player on the same team to add or skip the same step, phase, or turn, that team adds or skips only that step, phase, or turn. If an effect causes a player to control another player, the first player controls the affected player's team.

This deck is designed to be used in a semi-competitive meta. I have omitted heinous combinations such as Bitterblossom and Contamination so that the deck is not entirely brutal. Rather, I would like my opponents to have some possibility of winning. This is not a cEDH deck.

How to Play the Deck

While there are many avenues to victory, we will need a lot of mana so ramp is key. Most decks traditionally ramp with creatures or rocks which inevitably get destroyed and set you back. Given that our commander already costs 5, we will need to have consistent ramp. In semi-competitive metas, land destruction is frowned upon so we will put all of our ramping resources into our lands, namely Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Cabal Coffers Vesuva, and Thespian's Stage. Tutors and Sidisi will be used to find both lands early game. Then use all that mana to cast Sidisi or anything else you need.

Win Conditions

• Torment of Hailfire

• Mind Control Effects - Worst Fears, Mindslaver, Emrakul, the Promised End

• Necropotence + Soul Conduit. You can then use Sign in Blood to finish them that same turn. Do not cast Soul Conduit unless you plan to use it that same turn. While 12 mana is a lot, it is our only method of regaining all of the life loss this deck puts us through. The only way to bring it back is with Yawgmoth's Will. I am considering adding Beacon of Unrest to mitigate this and for overall versatility.

Synergies

Corpse Dance + Sidisi, Undead Vizier = Repeatable tutor. Add Spreading Plague for repeatable removal of black creatures

Corpse Dance + Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed = Repeatable e-wtiness for black cards. Add Spreading Plague for repeatable removal of black creatures

Candelabra of Tawnos + Cabal Coffers/Copies = Ramp

Candelabra of Tawnos + Voltaic Key + Bubbling Muck = Ramp

Voltaic Key + Mana rocks = Ramp

Necropotence + Reliquary Tower = Draw

Voltaic Key + Sensei's Divining Top = Draw

Rings of Brighthearth + Sensei's Divining Top = Draw

Rings of Brighthearth + Strip Mine/Wasteland = Land destruction. Add Crucible of Worlds to make this repeatable

Rings of Brighthearth + fetchlands = Ramp. Add Crucible of Worlds to make this repeatable

Rings of Brighthearth + Basalt Monolith + 2 mana = {INFINITY}. Add Sensei's Divining Top to draw your entire deck. Then use Candelabra of Tawnos to untap your lands (and copy the untap for shits and giggles) and then use Torment of Hailfire or just cast everything in your deck and repeat with Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed

Rings of Brighthearth + Cabal Coffers + Deserted Temple + 6 swamps = {B}{INFINITY}

Weaknesses

Graveyard Hate - While this deck doesn't run as much recursion as a traditional mono black build, grave hate will still deal a number on us, preventing us from recurring valuable pieces.

Faster Decks - Elf decks (for example) could easily outrace us with their low cmc, artifact enchantment removal and value gained while we are setting up our build. In these bad matchups, emphasize controlling the board rather than ramping ourselves. OR let your opponents deal with them as they are usually the immediate threat

Blue - While I have added discard and boseju to help deal with blue, it is still very much a problem. One counterspell on Sidisi makes her cost more difficult to pay. Without artifact or land ramp, you will have a tough time

Mass Nonbasic Land Hate - Luckily this is not allowed in the meta, but should this be an issue, you are pretty much done for aside from artifact ramp.

Artifact Hate - Null Rod and Stony Silence really hurt us given that 20% of the deck is artifacts.

Single Card Discussion - Pending Update

All Is Dust - Boardwipe that mitigates black's weakness of artifact enchantment removal

Arterial Flow - Discard/counter bait

Mutilate - boardwipe

Beseech the Queen - Tutor, usually grabs Urborg depending on how many swamps I have already

Bubbling Muck - Amazing new addition. Ramps us well in the late game. Synergies with Candelabra of Tawnos

Damnation - Boardwipe

Demonic Tutor - Tutor

Diabolic Revelation - Endgame tutor. Put at least 8 mana for it to be worth it. Usually use this for 10+ to get everything I need to win

Diabolic Tutor - Tutor

Grim Tutor - Tutor

Head Games - Political tool or cripple opponents hands

Imperial Seal - Tutor

Mastermind's Acquisition - Tutor

Mind Twist - Discard/counter bait

Endless Atlas - Draw

Fleshbag Marauder - Removal

Read the Bones - Draw

Sign in Blood - Draw

Syphon Mind - Draw/Discard

Plaguecrafter - Removal

Torment of Hailfire - Win condition

Toxic Deluge - Boardwipe

Worst Fears - Mind control

Yawgmoth's Will - Recursion

Corpse Dance - Brings back Sidisi for original CMC all game

Dark Ritual - Ramp

Merciless Executioner - Removal

Hero's Downfall - Removal

Imp's Mischief - Counterspell redirect or general redirect + politics

Vampiric Tutor - Tutor

Basalt Monolith - Ramp, infinite mana with rings

Candelabra of Tawnos - Ramp, Untap all coffers

Crucible of Worlds - Repeatable fetchlands, also strip mine if neccessary. Add Rings of Brighthearth to double up on the fun

Expedition Map - Tutor

Gilded Lotus - Ramp

Grim Monolith - Ramp

Mana Crypt - Ramp

Mana Vault - Ramp

Mindslaver - Mind control

Mirage Mirror - Utility / Ramp with cofers

Nevinyrral's Disk - Boardwipe

Oblivion Stone - Boardwipe

Rings of Brighthearth - Utility, infinte mana, planeswalker activations, candelabra, top, xiahou dun, fetch lands or any other activated ability

Sensei's Divining Top - Top deck manipulation

Sol Ring - Ramp

Soul Conduit - Win condition with necropotence

Thran Dynamo - Ramp

Voltaic Key - Ramp / politics

Chains of Mephistopheles - Control

Infernal Darkness - Control

Necropotence - Draw

No Mercy - Protection

Phyrexian Arena - Draw

Spreading Plague - Removal

The Abyss - Removal

Emrakul, the Promised End - Mind control

Fleshbag Marauder - Removal

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Recursion

Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - Boardwipe

Ancient Tomb - Ramp

Bloodstained Mire - Fetchland

Boseiju, Who Shelters All - Anti blue

Buried Ruin - Recursion

Cabal Coffers - Ramp

Deserted Temple - Ramp / politics

Marsh Flats - Fetchland

Mishra's Workshop - Ramp

Polluted Delta - Fetchland

Reliquary Tower - Utility

Strip Mine - Land destruction

Swamp - Lands

The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale - Control

Thespian's Stage - Ramp / utility

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth - Colorfixing / (eventual) ramp

Verdant Catacombs - Fetchland

Vesuva - Ramp / utility

Volrath's Stronghold - Recursion

Wasteland - Land destruction

Relevant Rulings

Worst Fears Show Their Hand Show

In a sanctioned event, the player can reveal the controlled opponent's hand and any other information that they have access to. This is because a) the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR) supercedes the Comprehensive Rules (CR) [see MTR Introduction] b) MTR 3.12 specifically allows the player to reveal their hand or any information that they have access to unless there's a rules specifically against it. c) there's no rule specifically against revealing your hand or revealing cards that you have access to.

In a casual kitchen table event, the MTR doesn't apply so whatever the house rules that you all agree to play by are in force.

Explanation of Sidisi Exploit Trigger Show

Sidisi enters the battlsefield, causing the exploit trigger to go on the stack (nothing is sacrificed yet).

Opponents have a chance to respond to the exploit trigger. At this point, they can remove Sidisi, which will prevent exploit from doing anything (See 2a Oracle Text)

Assuming no one responds, exploit resolves. As part of the resolution, you can exploit Sidisi. If a creature is exploited, whether the creature is Sidisi or not, her tutor trigger goes on the stack.

Opponents have another chance to respond. They could stifle the trigger, but that is a separate issue.

2a. (Oracle Text): "If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger."

2b. (Explanation): I can cast Sidisi and place the exploit trigger on the stack, but if someone murders Sidisi between the trigger going on the stack and resolving, then I will not be able to tutor for a card, even if I sacrifice another creature because Sidisi isn't on the battlefield.

Two-Headed Giant Mind Control Show

In 2HG, taking control of one member of a team takes control of both. Both have the same effect, it's simply not called out explicitly in the Oracle rulings. Oracle texts are reminders and Wizard's isn't always on top of their shit.

805.8: If an effect gives a player an extra turn or adds a phase or step to that player's turn, that player's team takes the extra turn, phase, or step. If an effect causes a player to skip a step, phase, or turn, that player's team does so. If a single effect causes more than one player on the same team to add or skip the same step, phase, or turn, that team adds or skips only that step, phase, or turn. If an effect causes a player to control another player, the first player controls the affected player's team.

Corpse Dance Buyback + Yawgmoth's Will Show

I cast Yawgmoth's will. I then attempt to cast Corpse Dance with it's buyback cost. Because there are 2 replacement effects controlled by the same person (me), I get to choose.

616.1: If two or more replacement and/or prevention effects are attempting to modify the way an event affects an object or player, the affected object's controller (or its owner if it has no controller) or the affected player chooses one to apply

Because yawgmoth's will and corspe dance (buyback) are both replacement effects (one tries to replace to hand, other tries to replace in exile) and I control both, I choose which one resolves first (aka, which one does something since the other won't have an effect by the time it resolves)

Rearranging Hander Order Show

402.3: A player may arrange their hand in any convenient fashion and look at it at any time. A player can't look at the cards in another player's hand but may count those cards at any time.

Dealing with Opposing Opposition Agent's Show

I cast a tutor spell. Opponent casts Opposition Agent. There is another round of priority. I can use that round of priority to remove agent prior to tutor resolving.

Stacking Graveyard Based on Simultaneous Creature Death --> Relevant for Corpse Dance Show

404.3: If an effect or rule puts two or more cards into the same graveyard at the same time, the owner of those cards may arrange them in any order.

Multiple Mind Control Effects Show

If I try to cast 2 mindcontrol effects on the same person, they override one another. Stated on the gatherer of Worst Fears: 4/26/2014 Multiple player-controlling effects that affect the same player overwrite each other. The last one to be created is the one that works.

Political Candelabra Show

"117.4. If all players pass in succession (that is, if all players pass without taking any actions in between passing), the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves or, if the stack is empty, the phase or step ends."

What you I do is have him pass priority at the end of his main phase, and as priority passes to me, you can untap his land(s). He can tap it for mana in response, then cast whatever he wants.

Top Ranked	Achieved #27 position overall 8 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Mono-Black 4 years ago
Date added	8 years
Last updated	2 years
Legality	This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	13 - 1 Mythic Rares 46 - 6 Rares 12 - 0 Uncommons 9 - 1 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.19
Tokens	On an Adventure
Folders	Inspiration / Reference EDH, New Decks to Create, Cool Commander decks, Favorite, Swamp