Deck Name: Divine Paradox
Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Combo-Control
Deck Theme: Infinite Toughness & Lifegain Combo – Daru Spiritualist + Shaman en-Kor (Cleric Tribal Shell)
Colors: White-Black (Orzhov)

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Description

"Divine Paradox" is a White-Black combo-control deck that explores the thin line between survival and annihilation. Its heart lies in the synergy between Daru Spiritualist and Shaman en-Kor, creating infinite toughness through damage redirection. This is paired with Starlit Sanctum and Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose to generate lethal lifegain-based damage.

Backed by protective creatures like Mother of Runes and Eight-and-a-Half-Tails, and disruptive spells like Anguished Unmaking and Slaughter the Strong, the deck plays a long, patient game—until it doesn’t. Tutors like Recruiter of the Guard, Demonic Tutor, and Grim Tutor help ensure combo consistency, while the Cabal Coffers + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth package powers explosive plays and fuels Yawgmoth’s Bargain for card advantage bursts.

Perfect for players who love well-defended combos and layered control, Divine Paradox offers inevitability and subtle domination at the table.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Establish lifegain engines with Soul Warden and Soul’s Attendant.
Use Weathered Wayfarer to fetch key lands like Cavern of Souls or Urborg.
Stabilize with protection like Mother of Runes and minor removal.

Mid-Game:
Tutor your combo pieces with Recruiter of the Guard, Demonic Tutor, or Grim Tutor.
Begin controlling the board with Anguished Unmaking, Slaughter the Strong, and Kaya’s Wrath.
Ramp with Cabal Coffers into Yawgmoth’s Bargain to refill your hand.

Late Game:
Execute the combo:
Use Shaman en-Kor to redirect damage repeatedly to Daru Spiritualist, making it infinitely tough.
Sacrifice it to Starlit Sanctum for massive lifegain.
With Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose in play, that lifegain deals lethal to opponents.
Use Eight-and-a-Half-Tails or Faith’s Shield to protect your combo during execution.

Ideal Opening Hand:
2 Lands (ideally one Plains and one dual)
1 Soul Warden or Soul’s Attendant
1 Tutor (Recruiter or Grim Tutor)
1 Protection (Mother of Runes or removal spell)
1 Combo piece (Daru or Shaman en-Kor)

Mulligan if you don’t have lands or lifegain engine.

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How the Combo Works

Set Up Defense:
Use Soul Warden/Soul’s Attendant for life padding and synergy.
Play Mother of Runes and Eight-and-a-Half-Tails to guard the board.

Assemble the Combo:
Have Daru Spiritualist and Shaman en-Kor on board.
Use Shaman’s ability to redirect infinite “damage” to Daru, increasing its toughness.
Sacrifice Daru to Starlit Sanctum, gaining absurd amounts of life.
With Vito in play, this life turns into direct damage to opponents.

Recover if Disrupted:
Use tutors to find missing pieces.
Draw into replacements with Yawgmoth’s Bargain or Phyrexian Arena.
Recursion is not needed—this deck plays to combo cleanly once.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Timely Reinforcements slows down early game pressure.
Kaya’s Wrath wipes the board clean while you rebuild from high life.

Against Control Decks:
Grand Abolisher disables enemy responses during your turn.
Pithing Needle neuters planeswalkers or annoying permanents.

Against Combo Decks:
Rest in Peace stops graveyard-based engines.
Ethersworn Canonist keeps spell spam decks in check.

Against Midrange Decks:
Containment Priest stops sneaky creature cheats or reanimation.

Flexible Protection:
Faith’s Shield gives protection at critical moments and wins surprise combats.

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Skill Level and Playability

Divine Paradox rewards players who can time their combo with surgical precision. It’s not about racing—it’s about lasting longer than everyone else, and winning with inevitability. You must read threats, tutor smartly, and hold protection until it matters.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Playstyle: Control-first, combo-finisher
Best For: 1v1 duels and multiplayer with tuned casual decks

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Extremely efficient when left uninterrupted. Can win decisively once the combo is ready.

Combo vs Control Ratio: 65% Combo / 35% Control
Functions as a soft control shell until the combo is secured and delivered in a single turn.

Speed: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Typically assembles the combo between turns 6–8. Can ramp faster with Cabal Coffers.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
High survivability due to protection, life buffer, and redundant tutors.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1v1 Competitive Casual
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Multiplayer (4+ players)
⭐☆☆☆☆ Legacy Tournaments (without heavy optimization)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Demands sequencing skill, patience, and protection timing to avoid disruption.

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Never waste tutors early. Tutor only when you have a plan and protection.

Don’t go infinite just because you can. Wait for the right moment to combo safely.

Use your life as a resource. Phyrexian Arena and Yawgmoth’s Bargain shine when you’re ahead.

Leave up mana. Holding Faith’s Shield or Eight-and-a-Half-Tails is scarier than casting things.

Keep pressure off your combo. Don’t bait counters until you’re ready to win.

Bonus: Don’t forget that even a Weathered Wayfarer can fetch you your win condition... slowly but surely.

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Quote:
"In the paradox of life and death, true power emerges."

Last Update: 30/05/2025