Overview
Growing Threat is a deck built around Phyrexians and artifact creatures. Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos is a Phyrexian Cat, and whenever you cast a Phyrexian creature spell or an artifact creature spell, you incubate X, where X is that spell's mana value. An Incubator token enters with X +1/+1 counters and for {2} transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature. At the beginning of each end step, if a Phyrexian died under your control this turn, Brimaz proliferates.
The 99 cards are 32 creatures, 16 artifacts, 1 enchantment, 6 instants, 6 sorceries and 38 lands. 20 of the creatures are Phyrexians and 15 are artifact creatures, so most of the creature spells you cast trigger Brimaz. The deck is full of splicer, Golem and incubate effects, and it can sweep the board with cards like Massacre Wurm, Phyrexian Rebirth and Phyrexian Scriptures. Scriptures spares artifact creatures, and Rebirth leaves you a big Horror token.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about mana and a first Phyrexian. Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Mind Stone, Orzhov Signet, Talisman of Hierarchy and Wayfarer's Bauble ramp you, Phyrexian Rager and Phyrexian Gargantua draw cards, and Blade Splicer and Master Splicer make 3/3 Golems. Burnished Hart fetches two basic lands when you sacrifice it.
The middle of the game is about incubating and getting value from your dead creatures. Compleated Huntmaster sacrifices a creature or artifact to incubate 3, Moira and Teshar returns a nonland permanent card from your graveyard for a turn whenever you cast a historic spell, and Vulpine Harvester returns an artifact card when Phyrexians attack. Phyrexian Delver, Victimize, Path of the Schemer and Yawgmoth's Vile Offering bring creatures back from graveyards, and Filigree Vector proliferates your counters.
The late game is about huge artifact creatures and sweepers. Myr Battlesphere makes four Myr, Soul of New Phyrexia protects your permanents with its {5} ability, and Meteor Golem, Duplicant and Noxious Gearhulk remove threats. Phyrexian Scriptures, Phyrexian Rebirth and Cataclysmic Gearhulk reset the board in your favour, and Ancient Stone Idol and Phyrexian Triniform are very large finishers.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: Most creatures trigger Brimaz, and the deck has a lot of ways to turn a dead creature or a destroyed artifact into value. It also has excellent removal and interaction, including Swords to Plowshares, Go for the Throat, Mortify, Despark, Excise the Imperfect and Utter End, and a lot of card draw from Ambition's Cost, Night's Whisper and the Phyrexian creatures.
Weaknesses: Some of the best cards are very expensive, such as Ancient Stone Idol, Phyrexian Triniform and Myr Battlesphere, so the deck wants ramp. The sweepers also destroy your own nonartifact creatures, so you have to plan around them, and artifact removal can slow down a deck with so many artifact creatures and tokens.
Want to improve it? See the Growing Threat upgrade guide: thirteen swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Growing Threat decklist?
The Growing Threat precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos. The full Growing Threat decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Growing Threat released?
Growing Threat was released on April 21, 2023 as part of March of the Machine Commander.
Who is the commander of Growing Threat?
Growing Threat is led by Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos, a Orzhov (W/B) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Growing Threat?
The 99 cards besides Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos include 32 creatures.
How many lands does Growing Threat have?
Growing Threat has 38 lands in the 99 cards besides Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Growing Threat precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.