Calling this a jank deck is an understatement. Severely. But, I think
Disciple of Phenax
is much better than people give her credit for. Good enough to build a deck around her effect, even.
About This Deck
Sacrificial Discard Control.
The special thing about this girl is that she can force your opponent to discard anything, even lands. All that is necessary is a way to give her ability recursion.
Make them discard everything. Relax, and let Shrieking Affliction take care of the rest.
Noteworthy Cards
Drainpipe Vermin
- Small, but his discard can hurt if you have an instant speed sacrificial outlet. You can do the same combo with
Disciple of Phenax
with this.
High Priest of Penance
- Stalls for you, then becomes absurdly annoying with a Gift of Immortality, as a reuseable chump blocker that casts Vindicate on use.
Cartel Aristocrat - The perfect sacrifice outlet for this deck. Or any deck really.
Bubbling Cauldron
- Essentially Cartel Aristocrat 5-7, but you have to pay mana to use it. However, you gain 4 life every time you do. You can additionally sacrifice creatures with Gift of Immortality to gain 4 life with no drawback, often even an upside.
Doom Blade / Ultimate Price / Hero's Downfall - Removal to get you through the early stages.
Xathrid Necromancer - With all the humans in this deck dying a lot, this will amass a small army for you.
Ember Swallower
- A slightly above-curve creature. Blow up their lands with it, then deny them lands with
Disciple of Phenax
to keep them down.
Disciple of Phenax Combo
Cast Gift of Immortality on
Disciple of Phenax
.
Sacrifice Disciple of Phenax to Cartel Aristocrat. Take a card from their hand when it returns. Gift of Immortality comes back to it on your end step.
If your opponent is topdecking now, this is where it gets interesting.
During their turn, your opponent draws a card. After they draw the card and they pass priority to you (Before main phase begins), sacrifice Disciple of Phenax to Cartel Aristocrat. Disciple of Phenax comes back in play. Take their card.
Instant cards or cards with flash can be cast in response, but anything else will get discarded. Someone can end the combo by casting an instant removal spell on Disciple of Phenax after she comes back.
Sideboard
Various tools for various decks.
-
Peak Eruption
- Extra land destruction against mono-red decks or other greedy multicolor decks running red. Also tech against decks using Chained to the Rocks for removal.
- Slaughter Games - Deny them the card that would pull them out of a bad spot.
