Deck Name: Inferno – Zobrist’s Vision

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Mechanic-Based Combo-Control
Deck Theme: Infect Proliferation & Viral Collapse
Colors: Black-Green (Golgari)

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Description

"Inferno – Zobrist’s Vision" is a Legacy combo-control deck inspired by the apocalyptic philosophy of Bertrand Zobrist from Inferno by Dan Brown. It translates the concept of a viral plague unleashed for the “greater good” into a mechanical fusion of Infect, Proliferate, and slow inevitability.

The deck opens with poison-bearing creatures like Glistener Elf and Plague Stinger, then gradually infects the opponent while building value and pressure with Hand of the Praetors and Phyrexian Arena. Control tools like Liliana of the Veil, Dismember, and Nature's Claim keep threats at bay.

Victory comes through a mix of infect and proliferate recursion, culminating in lethal top-end threats like Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and Phyrexian Swarmlord, or game-ending spells like Triumph of the Hordes.

Whether through surgical removal or slow, viral spread, this deck ensures that once the infection begins... it never stops.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Deploy Glistener Elf or Plague Stinger to begin applying pressure. Use Dark Ritual for acceleration and Liliana of the Veil to force discard and control the board. Nature’s Claim provides early disruption or utility.

Mid-Game:
Use Green Sun’s Zenith to find key pieces like Viridian Corrupter or Evolution Sage. Play Hand of the Praetors or Contagion Clasp to begin poisoning and proliferating. Leverage Phyrexian Arena to out-draw opponents.

Late Game:
Finish the game through multiple proliferate engines (Grim Affliction, Contagion Engine, Karn’s Bastion) or execute a surprise kill with Triumph of the Hordes. Phyrexian Swarmlord can flood the board with infect tokens. At this stage, a single creature can end the game.

Ideal Opening Hand:
A strong starting hand should include:
1–2 lands (preferably with access to black mana)
1 Infect creature (Glistener Elf or Plague Stinger)
1 disruption piece (Dark Ritual, Liliana, or Nature's Claim)
1 utility or proliferate spell

Mulligan if: You have no access to early Infect or only control cards with no threat.

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How the Combo Works

This is not a "one-turn combo" deck — it’s an engine of escalating threat:
Start with one poison counter via Infect.
Use proliferate tools like Contagion Clasp, Grim Affliction, or Karn's Bastion to grow counters without attacking.
Use Green Sun’s Zenith to find pieces like Evolution Sage for land-based proliferate engines.
Finish with Triumph of the Hordes or swarm tactics via Phyrexian Swarmlord.
This “combo” is spread across several cards, requiring tight sequencing and survival, but is incredibly difficult to stop once it begins.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Toxic Deluge clears the board when outnumbered.
Dismember picks off key threats efficiently.
Carrion Call acts as instant-speed blockers or surprise attackers.

Against Control Decks:
Thoughtseize and Duress dismantle their hand before they can stabilize.
Pithing Needle stops planeswalkers or annoying utility lands.

Against Combo Decks:
Surgical Extraction removes graveyard pieces permanently.
Heroic Intervention saves your board and counters wipes.

Against Graveyard & Artifact Strategies:
Nature’s Claim, Viridian Corrupter, and Surgical Extraction deal with recursive and artifact-heavy builds.

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Skill Level and Playability

"Inferno – Zobrist’s Vision" suits players who enjoy controlling the board while threatening a creeping, inevitable win condition. It’s less about speed and more about control through corruption.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Playstyle: Methodical, Engine-Based Control
Best For: 1v1 Legacy, Casual Multiplayer with narrative depth

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Competitive Profile and Ratings


Power Level ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Slow but lethal; multiple kill paths via infect or proliferation

Mechanic vs Combo vs Control
40% Mechanic-Based / 35% Combo / 25% Control
Relies heavily on engine interactions but also uses clear combo finishes and light board control.

Speed ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Needs setup turns, but explosive finishes

Resilience ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Survives wipes and controls tempo with Arena and Liliana

Best Format Fit ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Strong in 1v1 Legacy and flavorful multiplayer pods

Complexity ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Requires sequencing and timing, but not overly convoluted

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Poison early, proliferate later.
A single infect hit is enough — after that, your engine takes over.

Don’t rush Triumph.
Wait until you can guarantee a lethal board or force blocks.

Use Green Sun’s Zenith like a toolbox.
Viridian Corrupter kills artifacts. Evolution Sage wins attrition.

Urborg + Coffers wins long games.
Fetch with Sylvan Scrying if you suspect grindy matchups.

Don’t overcommit into a wipe.
With Arena, Clasp, and Bastion, you don’t need many creatures to win — just pressure and inevitability.

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Quote:
“Inferno is not chaos. It is balance by sacrifice.”

Last Update:
13/06/2025