Deck of the Day: Sauron’s 56-Card Scramble
Grixis Tournament ‘Deck’ (Bracket 1)
Welcome, lords and lurkers, to DeckStir’s “Deck of the Day”—today featuring a tournament masterpiece that’s missing… well, almost everything. Presenting Sauron’s 56-Card Scramble, a Grixis concoction that’s so streamlined, half of it has been streamlined right out of existence. This is not a test. This is, in fact, a real decklist submitted to a real event. Read on to discover how Sauron, the Dark Lord, commands not only an army of the damned, but also a deck that’s damned to never see a land drop.
The Commander: Sauron, the Dark Lord
Sauron, the Dark Lord, presides over this so-called “deck” with the sort of absolute authority you’d expect from the chief villain of Middle-earth. For the uninitiated, Sauron is a five-mana Grixis (UBR) powerhouse that rewards you for going deep into the graveyard with a free Army token and tempting you with The Ring. He’s designed to turn your own losses (and those of your enemies) into overwhelming advantage. Card draw, Army creation, and a steady drip of value every time your creatures die—is there a more perfect engine for reanimator evil?
Except, of course, when your deck skips the fundamental resources to cast him.
Game Plan: All-In Reanimator… In Theory
On paper, this decklist reads like a greatest hits of Grixis reanimation. It packs Entomb, Reanimate, Animate Dead, Necromancy, Exhume, and Shallow Grave—enough graveyard recursion to make even Sheoldred blush. There are premium targets, too: Archon of Cruelty, Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant, Razaketh, the Foulblooded, and, for maximum villainy, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse.
The plan is clear: Turbo-sling your fattest threats into your graveyard and cheat them back onto the battlefield before your opponents can say “basic land.” Dark Ritual is your solitary nod to acceleration, promising one burst of mana before you realize there’s nothing else to ramp into. Entomb and Unmarked Grave let you pick your scariest monster for reanimation, while value engines like The One Ring and Call of the Ring hope to keep the card flow going.
And yet, for all of Sauron’s might, fate has cast a shadow over the land: there are no lands. No colored mana sources. No artifact ramp. No draw spells (besides a select few, and that’s being generous). This is a deck that dares you to stare into the abyss and see if the abyss blinks first.
Key Synergies (in an alternate universe where this deck has mana):
- Entomb + Reanimate: Dump a bomb, bring it back turn two.
- Animate Dead/Necromancy: Steal from any graveyard, punish any opponent who dares to mill.
- Archon of Cruelty/Massacre Wurm: Wreak havoc with repeated reanimation loops.
- Orcish Bowmasters/The One Ring: Draw cards, make Orcs, ping your enemies, repeat.
But these synergies are only theoretical, much like owning real estate in Mordor.
Power & Bracket: 0/10, Bracket 1
Let’s address the oliphaunt in the room: the deck clocks in at a 0/10 power level. Why? Because it’s not just unoptimized, it’s unplayable. With exactly zero lands and no reliable way to cast spells, your best chance at victory involves bluffing your way through the pod or asking your judge for a rematch.
Bracket 1 is reserved for the gentlest, most casual tables, but even that’s a stretch for this deck. This isn’t “battlecruiser Magic”—it’s “watch your commander sit in the command zone” Magic.
It’s a cautionary tale. It’s a test of moral fortitude. It’s a masterpiece of villainous vibes over victory.
Should You Build It?
Should you build Sauron’s 56-Card Scramble for your next big event? Only if you like living dangerously, want to win the “Dead Last, but Made Us Laugh” award, or wish to teach your playgroup about the dangers of not reading the fine print (or, you know, the decklist size).
If you’re after actual tournament viability, keep Sauron’s reanimation shell but add the basics: lands, ramp, interaction. As it stands, this deck is a fun reminder that even the Dark Lord needs mana to rule Middle-earth—and maybe, just maybe, a little humility before signing up at the registration table.
In sum: Sauron’s power is legendary, but even legends need the basics. Play responsibly. Or don’t—and become a meme in your own right.
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