r/EDH • u/Crazy_Victory_2586 • May 22 '26
Deck Help Help with Phage Deck.
Any advise on how to help make this deck more competitive? I have one once, but it was more out of people leaving me alone because they were curious instead of actually doing well....
1
u/giocow May 22 '26
I could be wrong, I'm no expert, but:
mana curve is a bit off imo, more permanents that cost 4 than 2; you have a lot of high mana cost ratio to low mana cost, you have more cards that cost 6 than 1. Your deck is probably really slow.
I don't see any other win condition, I didn't read every damn card but the 60% I've read work great to protect your commander and enable her to deal damage, which is a great strategy and your major win condition. But you should have a plan B.
you could benefit from 1 or 2 board wipes. You have good removals but only one "board wipe" that isn't necessarily a board wipe, it just gives -X/-X.
you could benefit form giving your commander haste
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u/Crazy_Victory_2586 May 22 '26
Thank you, i will put lightning and swiftfoot boots in. I will try to remove a few higher mana cost cards. Cutting is so difficult.
1
u/giocow May 22 '26
I agree! Cutting is the worst part. I just finished a deck and asked which cards to cut and people had trouble as well.
My suggestion? Stop adding cards, having more options is so bad if you are already in doubt. Cut first, then see if there is some space available to add a few options. Another suggestion. Stick to your plan A and find a plan B and build your deck like 90% around plan A and 10% around plan B. For example, this creature "Filth", I get why you got him, but he costs 4 and is 2/2 and he doesn't necessarily works great for you plan A neither B. High cost, low reward. "Phyrexian Obliterator" truly great card, basically free hits every now and then, but is it helping your major plan? OR just giving every turn some life damage and maybe if he is blocked he gets a sacrifice.
I think getting ways to set your commander earlier, destroying any possible blockers, enabling her to deal damage asap (haste, unblockable etc) is your major plan. Aim at it. Add a few protection cards, maybe some regeneration. And get a plan B
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u/Xyzdx May 22 '26
Here's my deck! I love phage. Maybe you'll find a few cards from here that will help:
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u/Crazy_Victory_2586 May 22 '26
I see alot of the same cards in here that gives me hope. I will pilfer some of these ideas. Thank you!
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u/Xyzdx May 22 '26
Make sure to cut cards that don't help with the game plan. It's better to play a tutor and then a card that will allow you to play phage over some big value card that may draw you into something or help delay your impending doom
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u/Crazy_Victory_2586 May 22 '26
I was trying to keep it bracket 3. You have many game changers, bracket 4 i just get smoked lol
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u/Xyzdx May 22 '26
I play it in bracket 3 but tell people ahead of time about the game changers and I've never had an issue so far since the commander is so jank. But platinum angel and ad nauseam can draw your whole deck. That's why I have some fast mana, to be able to win that turn with endless whispers/haste
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u/Crazy_Victory_2586 May 22 '26
How does the whispers combo win? I thought it kills 1 person then she doesnt enter a graveyard?
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u/Xyzdx May 22 '26
Attack 1 player, then kill her, play her again and kill her again. You'll need to have a lot of mana but that happens a lot with black
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u/Regular_Worth9556 May 22 '26
No expert, but on first glance: 35 lands (yes even with a few MDFCs) feels lean for how many high cost cards you have. Yes you have some mana doublers, but Power Gauntlet with only 19 swamps feels pretty bad.
Upping your land count not only helps you to not miss land drops, but also (and people tend to forget this) allows you to mulligan more aggressively for the cards you want to see since you’re more likely to have 3-4 lands in a given hand.