Deck Name: Process of Corruption

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Mechanic-Based Control
Deck Theme: Infect Lock & −1/−1 Counter Attrition
Colors: Mono-Black

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Description

“Process of Corruption” is a Legacy mono-black control deck that slowly erodes the battlefield through infection, decay, and attrition. By combining −1/−1 counter engines, proliferate tools, and infect-based inevitability, this deck locks opponents into a state of irreversible corruption. Its strategy is not to rush victory, but to make it inevitable—every creature that enters the battlefield becomes weaker, every turn brings opponents closer to total collapse.

With key pieces such as Blowfly Infestation, Kulrath Knight, and Crumbling Ashes, “Process of Corruption” transforms creature combat into futility. Meanwhile, Yawgmoth, Thran Physician and Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting serve as the twin architects of decay—drawing cards, removing threats, and proliferating poison counters until nothing pure remains.

This deck thrives in 1v1 and multiplayer Legacy games where patience and inevitability are rewarded. Against aggressive or creature-heavy decks, it excels by controlling the pace of battle, turning every opposing threat into a catalyst for its own destruction.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Use Virulent Wound, Scar, and Dismember to suppress early threats while establishing poison counters with Plague Stinger or Ichor Rats. These early infections set the tone for the match, forcing opponents onto a slow countdown. Protect your life total and prepare to transition into the midgame where your engines take control.

Mid-Game:
Deploy your control pieces—Kulrath Knight, Blowfly Infestation, and Crumbling Ashes—to begin the attrition cycle. Opponents’ creatures will struggle to attack or block under a field of −1/−1 counters. Use Grim Affliction and Contagion Clasp to spread the decay while Yawgmoth and Liliana of the Veil maintain hand and board control. By this stage, your opponent’s battlefield should be crumbling under the weight of corruption.

Late Game:
Finish the game with proliferate inevitability. Karn’s Bastion and Contagion Engine ensure poison counters increase every turn. Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and Sword of Truth and Justice provide evasive kills if needed, while Vraska’s ultimate ability offers an alternate poison victory condition. The endgame of “Process of Corruption” is inescapable—once the machine of decay begins, only total collapse follows.

Ideal Opening Hand:
A strong opening hand should include:
Two or three lands, preferably with access to early removal.
One early infect creature (Plague Stinger or Ichor Rats).
One piece of removal or proliferate support (Virulent Wound or Grim Affliction).
Avoid hands with no interaction or with multiple high-cost pieces; your survival in the first few turns defines the rest of the game.

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How the Lock Works

Set Up Defense:
Play early removal to weaken opposing creatures and place −1/−1 counters. Use Plague Stinger or Ichor Rats to begin the infection process.

Establish the Lock:
Once Kulrath Knight and Blowfly Infestation are in play, your deck enters its control phase. Any creature that receives a −1/−1 counter becomes useless—unable to attack or block. Blowfly Infestation spreads the infection, while Crumbling Ashes removes weakened creatures automatically on your upkeep.

Close the Game:
As you proliferate with Karn’s Bastion, Contagion Engine, or Yawgmoth, your opponent’s poison counters multiply. Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting accelerates the process with card draw, targeted removal, and a devastating ultimate that ends the game outright. Skithiryx serves as the final messenger of Phyrexia—delivering lethal infection when resistance has already failed.

This lock is difficult to break once assembled and is particularly effective in multiplayer, where the infection spreads across multiple opponents simultaneously.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Plague Engineer: Diminishes creature swarms and tribal strategies.
Nighthawk Scavenger: Stabilizes life totals with lifelink and evasion.
Go for the Throat: Efficient removal for large or resilient creatures.

Against Control Decks:
Thoughtseize: Disrupts critical spells and planeswalkers.
Pithing Needle: Shuts down activated abilities that interfere with your engines.
Tormod’s Crypt: Prevents recursion or graveyard-based win conditions.

Against Combo Decks:
Thoughtseize: Strips combo pieces before they can be assembled.
Pithing Needle: Targets key enablers and mana artifacts.
Plague Engineer: Disrupts creature-based combo lines.

Against Artifact/Enchantment Strategies:
Feed the Swarm: Versatile removal for problematic noncreature permanents.
Tormod’s Crypt: Shuts down recursive artifact or graveyard engines.

Adjust sideboarding depending on the speed of the matchup—bring more removal and lifegain against aggro, more disruption against combo and control.

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Skill Level and Playability

“Process of Corruption” rewards players who value patience, precision, and inevitability over speed. Success depends on sequencing proliferate triggers correctly and identifying when to shift from defense to attrition. Mistiming proliferate or overcommitting to the lock too early can open windows for opponents to escape.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Playstyle: Defensive control and incremental lock
Best For: 1v1 Legacy and long multiplayer matches

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Strong in grindy, creature-heavy environments. Once the lock is active, it’s nearly impossible to dismantle.

Mechanic-Based vs Control Ratio: 60% Mechanic-Based / 40% Control
Functions as a pure control deck until the proliferate and −1/−1 counter engines start operating, at which point it becomes a self-sustaining mechanical lock.

Speed: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
The deck is deliberate and methodical—wins usually come around turns 7–9.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Multiple engines and proliferate redundancy make it difficult to disrupt permanently.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1v1 Competitive Casual
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Multiplayer (4+ players)
⭐⭐☆☆☆ Legacy Tournaments (requires meta tuning)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Precise sequencing and long-term planning are required to maintain control and assemble the lock efficiently.

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Never overextend. Your strength lies in inevitability—protect your engines instead of rushing board presence.

Play the long game. Poison and counters will win over time; patience wins matches.

Sequence proliferate last. Always complete removal and counter placement before triggering proliferate effects.

Don’t reveal the full lock until it’s secure. Holding one piece in hand forces opponents to overcommit.

Manage your life as a resource. Between Yawgmoth, Dismember, and Vraska’s draw, knowing when to bleed is key to surviving the war of attrition.

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Quote:
“Decay is not the end—it is the process by which perfection begins.”

Last Update: 20/10/2025