aalongi
56 views23 hrs ago
Commander
Size: 100Est cost: $450.30Salt sum: 51.07
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{"ops":[{"insert":"My first-ever mill deck, as old as Journey into Nyx’s set release. Mill (like treasure and impulse draw) have become extremely common now, and much more accepted by opponents as a viable path to victory. In 2015…not so much. Tools were more rickety, and the salt from the table was extreme. I first built this as an experiment to see if I could mill out a full Commander table before getting whupped. It worked pretty well back then, and it’s a monster now.\n\nEstimated “salt score” seems about right. Lots of players still don’t like being milled out - many don’t understand that the first 70 or so cards are meaningless. (Of course, players in GB are just fine with it. We’ll get to that.) So you have to play this deck out methodically, and you need "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phenax, God of Deception"}},{"insert":"at 7 toughness more often than not. So your mission sequence, in order:\n\nBuild up the devotion to Phenax BEFORE he arrives. This deck has virtually NO non-land permanents with zero devotion. (The two exceptions are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spellskite"}},{"insert":" and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thousand-Year Elixir"}},{"insert":" .) Ideally you put down a creature each of the first four turns - just about any combination should do it. At least one of them should be something in the “moderate toughness” category, which has the stout 4- and 5-toughness range that can also hold off early attackers. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Drop Phenax as soon as you can. You are fooling no one - and the clock is ticking. The moment he hits the board…do nothing. A reminder that more players should hold instants, and instant abilities, until the last possible moment. Do not tap those blockers - you need them!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Someone will eventually break and target Phenax, or a creature that gives him critical devotion. Congratulations - you found your first target. Respond with as much mill as you can - lower the defenses and take combat damage if you must. This is a signal deck, and you need the rest of your opponents to understand you are focused elsewhere now."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rebuild the defenses on your first post-Phenax turn. Commit huge, hold nothing back unless it’s a second “Amazing Toughness” (over 10) creature or a critical removal piece. Get them all out there…and wait again. If no one else interferes, you’ll use the end of your last opponent’s turn to rock the first instigator’s library. Hopefully by now, you’ve milled over 20 cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rinse and repeat. Ideally a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Consuming Aberration"}},{"insert":" or similar creature comes along to keep things terrifying for everyone. Use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Treachery"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Control Magic"}},{"insert":" to deal with the absolute most important threats and keep your devotion high. You have"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deathbringer Regent"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scourge of Fleets"}},{"insert":" if things get way hot. They’ll each work once - pick your moment."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You should not be attacking at all during any of this time unless you have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Mindskinner"}},{"insert":" , or if "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lazav, Dimir Mastermind"}},{"insert":" or the cards who work like him pick up something amazing to use. Your "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Halls of Mist"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Meishin, the Mind Cage"}},{"insert":" are there to make attacks less frequent and/or less effective. Attacking a player that you are not milling opens up another “hot front” that this deck may not be able to handle. Remain patient!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you face a graveyard recursion deck, you have a few tools you can use (beyond stealing key pieces). The best are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Leyline of the Void"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Scarab God"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deadeye Tracker"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"King Macar, the Gold-Cursed"}},{"insert":" . But yeah, you have an uphill climb. Embrace it. And keep in mind that "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Duskmantle Guildmage"}},{"insert":" doesn't care if THEY mill their cards or YOU mill their cards, for life loss purposes."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nStandard strategic approach notes and disclaimer(s) for all my decks:\nI just started (in May 2026) uploading all of my (200+) decks into Archidekt. This is going to be a slow process so if you’re seeing notes that refer to other decks that you can’t find, give me a short moment and I’ll have more stuff up soon."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I generally aim for high synergy, short of optimization. (Tier 3+, if you track that sort of thing.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I like games that last 8-12 turns and aim to demonstrate the deck’s synergy within that timeframe."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I prefer to win but don’t relentlessly pursue that goal, because I am an adult who enjoys playing games with friends. So you’ll occasionally see silly cards. Enjoy them!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I have 200+ decks and do not want to bore my friends, so my goal is to have NO non-land card in more than 3-4 decks. If you’re wondering why a certain “obvious staple” isn’t in this deck list, that’s probably why."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I’m continuously updating (each deck gets a look at newer cards every six months) so of course there may be changes around the margins. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThanks for checking out my deck(s). Peace.\n\nAnthony Alongi\nProgenitor of Multiplayer Magic Content Creation\nFormer Columnist for Wizards of the Coast, StarCity Games, The Dojo\nFormer Podcaster (Elder Dragon Statesmen) with the Late, Great Sheldon Menery\n\n"}]}
Commander
Commander
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Artifacts and Enchantments
Artifacts and Enchantments
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Creatures w Amazing Toughness
Consuming Aberration
Consuming Aberration's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your opponents' graveyards.
Whenever you cast a spell, each opponent reveals cards from the top of their library until they reveal a land card, then puts those cards into their graveyard.
Whenever you cast a spell, each opponent reveals cards from the top of their library until they reveal a land card, then puts those cards into their graveyard.
Creature - Horror
Creatures w Amazing Toughness
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Creatures w High Toughness
Chancellor of the Spires
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, at the beginning of the first upkeep, each opponent mills seven cards.
Flying
When this creature enters, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from an opponent's graveyard without paying its mana cost.
Flying
When this creature enters, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from an opponent's graveyard without paying its mana cost.
Creature - Sphinx Phyrexian
Wrexial, the Risen Deep
Islandwalk, swampwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island or a Swamp.)
Whenever Wrexial deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead.
Whenever Wrexial deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead.
Legendary Creature - Kraken
Creatures w High Toughness
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Creatures w Mill Abilities
Creatures w Mill Abilities
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Creatures w Moderate Toughness
Geth, Lord of the Vault
Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
: Put target artifact or creature card with mana value X from an opponent's graveyard onto the battlefield under your control tapped. Then that player mills X cards.
: Put target artifact or creature card with mana value X from an opponent's graveyard onto the battlefield under your control tapped. Then that player mills X cards.
Legendary Creature - Zombie Phyrexian
The Reality Chip
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
As long as The Reality Chip is attached to a creature, you may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library.
Reconfigure (: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)
As long as The Reality Chip is attached to a creature, you may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library.
Reconfigure (: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)
Legendary Creature Artifact - Equipment Jellyfish
The Scarab God
At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses X life and you scry X, where X is the number of Zombies you control.
: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie.
When The Scarab God dies, return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 4/4 black Zombie.
When The Scarab God dies, return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
Legendary Creature - God
Creatures w Moderate Toughness
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Creatures w Strong Devotion
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
Hexproof
Whenever a creature card is put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, you may have Lazav become a copy of that card, except its name is Lazav, Dimir Mastermind, it's legendary in addition to its other types, and it has hexproof and this ability.
Whenever a creature card is put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, you may have Lazav become a copy of that card, except its name is Lazav, Dimir Mastermind, it's legendary in addition to its other types, and it has hexproof and this ability.
Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter
Creatures w Strong Devotion
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Land
Land
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Planeswalkers
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
+2: Exile the top three cards of target opponent's library.
−X: Put a creature card with mana value X exiled with Ashiok onto the battlefield under your control. That creature is a Nightmare in addition to its other types.
−10: Exile all cards from all opponents' hands and graveyards.
−X: Put a creature card with mana value X exiled with Ashiok onto the battlefield under your control. That creature is a Nightmare in addition to its other types.
−10: Exile all cards from all opponents' hands and graveyards.
Legendary Planeswalker - Ashiok
Jace, the Perfected Mind
Compleated ( can be paid with or 2 life. If life was paid, this planeswalker enters with two fewer loyalty counters.)
+1: Until your next turn, up to one target creature gets -3/-0.
−2: Target player mills three cards. Then if a graveyard has twenty or more cards in it, you draw three cards. Otherwise, you draw a card.
−X: Target player mills three times X cards.
+1: Until your next turn, up to one target creature gets -3/-0.
−2: Target player mills three cards. Then if a graveyard has twenty or more cards in it, you draw three cards. Otherwise, you draw a card.
−X: Target player mills three times X cards.
Legendary Planeswalker - Jace
Planeswalkers
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Utility Creatures
Deadeye Tracker
, : Exile two target cards from an opponent's graveyard. This creature explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Creature - Human Pirate
Defiler of Dreams
Flying
As an additional cost to cast blue permanent spells, you may pay 2 life. Those spells cost less to cast if you paid life this way. This effect reduces only the amount of blue mana you pay.
Whenever you cast a blue permanent spell, draw a card.
As an additional cost to cast blue permanent spells, you may pay 2 life. Those spells cost less to cast if you paid life this way. This effect reduces only the amount of blue mana you pay.
Whenever you cast a blue permanent spell, draw a card.
Creature - Sphinx Phyrexian
Kitesail Larcenist
Flying, ward
When this creature enters, for each player, choose up to one other target artifact or creature that player controls. For as long as this creature remains on the battlefield, the chosen permanents become Treasure artifacts with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color" and lose all other abilities.
When this creature enters, for each player, choose up to one other target artifact or creature that player controls. For as long as this creature remains on the battlefield, the chosen permanents become Treasure artifacts with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color" and lose all other abilities.
Creature - Human Pirate
Tomebound Lich
Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
Whenever this creature enters or deals combat damage to a player, draw a card, then discard a card.
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
Whenever this creature enters or deals combat damage to a player, draw a card, then discard a card.
Creature - Wizard Zombie
Utility Creatures
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Deck Info
Deck stats
CategoriesQtyOdds
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Deck extras (0)
Description
{"ops":[{"insert":"My first-ever mill deck, as old as Journey into Nyx’s set release. Mill (like treasure and impulse draw) have become extremely common now, and much more accepted by opponents as a viable path to victory. In 2015…not so much. Tools were more rickety, and the salt from the table was extreme. I first built this as an experiment to see if I could mill out a full Commander table before getting whupped. It worked pretty well back then, and it’s a monster now.\n\nEstimated “salt score” seems about right. Lots of players still don’t like being milled out - many don’t understand that the first 70 or so cards are meaningless. (Of course, players in GB are just fine with it. We’ll get to that.) So you have to play this deck out methodically, and you need "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phenax, God of Deception"}},{"insert":"at 7 toughness more often than not. So your mission sequence, in order:\n\nBuild up the devotion to Phenax BEFORE he arrives. This deck has virtually NO non-land permanents with zero devotion. (The two exceptions are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spellskite"}},{"insert":" and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thousand-Year Elixir"}},{"insert":" .) Ideally you put down a creature each of the first four turns - just about any combination should do it. At least one of them should be something in the “moderate toughness” category, which has the stout 4- and 5-toughness range that can also hold off early attackers. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Drop Phenax as soon as you can. You are fooling no one - and the clock is ticking. The moment he hits the board…do nothing. A reminder that more players should hold instants, and instant abilities, until the last possible moment. Do not tap those blockers - you need them!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Someone will eventually break and target Phenax, or a creature that gives him critical devotion. Congratulations - you found your first target. Respond with as much mill as you can - lower the defenses and take combat damage if you must. This is a signal deck, and you need the rest of your opponents to understand you are focused elsewhere now."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rebuild the defenses on your first post-Phenax turn. Commit huge, hold nothing back unless it’s a second “Amazing Toughness” (over 10) creature or a critical removal piece. Get them all out there…and wait again. If no one else interferes, you’ll use the end of your last opponent’s turn to rock the first instigator’s library. Hopefully by now, you’ve milled over 20 cards."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rinse and repeat. Ideally a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Consuming Aberration"}},{"insert":" or similar creature comes along to keep things terrifying for everyone. Use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Treachery"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Control Magic"}},{"insert":" to deal with the absolute most important threats and keep your devotion high. You have"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deathbringer Regent"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scourge of Fleets"}},{"insert":" if things get way hot. They’ll each work once - pick your moment."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You should not be attacking at all during any of this time unless you have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Mindskinner"}},{"insert":" , or if "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lazav, Dimir Mastermind"}},{"insert":" or the cards who work like him pick up something amazing to use. Your "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Halls of Mist"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Meishin, the Mind Cage"}},{"insert":" are there to make attacks less frequent and/or less effective. Attacking a player that you are not milling opens up another “hot front” that this deck may not be able to handle. Remain patient!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you face a graveyard recursion deck, you have a few tools you can use (beyond stealing key pieces). The best are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Leyline of the Void"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Scarab God"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deadeye Tracker"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"King Macar, the Gold-Cursed"}},{"insert":" . But yeah, you have an uphill climb. Embrace it. And keep in mind that "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Duskmantle Guildmage"}},{"insert":" doesn't care if THEY mill their cards or YOU mill their cards, for life loss purposes."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nStandard strategic approach notes and disclaimer(s) for all my decks:\nI just started (in May 2026) uploading all of my (200+) decks into Archidekt. This is going to be a slow process so if you’re seeing notes that refer to other decks that you can’t find, give me a short moment and I’ll have more stuff up soon."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I generally aim for high synergy, short of optimization. (Tier 3+, if you track that sort of thing.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I like games that last 8-12 turns and aim to demonstrate the deck’s synergy within that timeframe."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I prefer to win but don’t relentlessly pursue that goal, because I am an adult who enjoys playing games with friends. So you’ll occasionally see silly cards. Enjoy them!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I have 200+ decks and do not want to bore my friends, so my goal is to have NO non-land card in more than 3-4 decks. If you’re wondering why a certain “obvious staple” isn’t in this deck list, that’s probably why."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I’m continuously updating (each deck gets a look at newer cards every six months) so of course there may be changes around the margins. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThanks for checking out my deck(s). Peace.\n\nAnthony Alongi\nProgenitor of Multiplayer Magic Content Creation\nFormer Columnist for Wizards of the Coast, StarCity Games, The Dojo\nFormer Podcaster (Elder Dragon Statesmen) with the Late, Great Sheldon Menery\n\n"}]}