Tier 3prison

Contamination

Contamination Lock

Featured list~$1702Magico Conclave Etrusco - Lega Spartana II tappa

Overview

"Contamination is a mono-black prison deck built around the enchantment Contamination, which forces every land and creature to produce only black mana, locking multicolor opponents out of casting their spells. Nether Spirit returns from the graveyard each upkeep to be sacrificed again, while Zombie Infestation discards cards to make Zombie tokens, together feeding Contamination's upkeep sacrifice cost turn after turn. Duress, Cabal Therapy, and Innocent Blood strip threats before the lock lands, and the recurring Nether Spirit grinds in as the clock."

Game Plan

Sacrifice tokens from Forbidden Orchard or creatures to Contamination to deny opponents colored mana.

Key Cards

Core engine & flex

Duress

$3.70

TCG MP CK

Cabal Therapy

$24.73

TCG MP CK

Contamination

$16.65

TCG MP CK

Mishra's Factory

$9.46

TCG MP CK

Wasteland

$55.69

TCG MP CK

Signature

Innocent Blood

$0.59

TCG MP CK

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Sample Decklists

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Magico Conclave Etrusco - Lega Spartana II tappa

1st PlaceJun 12, 2026

Daniele Di Fazio

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Daniele Di Fazio

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$1245

Creature (4)

$22.36

4Nether Spirit

$22.361BB

Instant (8)

$38.43

3Skeletal Scrying

$11.79XB

3Smother

$11.941B

2Snuff Out

$14.703B

Sorcery (12)

$116

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

4Duress

$14.80B

4Innocent Blood

$2.36B

Artifact (4)

$178

2Phyrexian Furnace

$26.061

2Powder Keg

$1522

Enchantment (8)

$92.40

4Contamination

$66.602B

4Zombie Infestation

$25.801B

Land (24)

$798

10Swamp

$4.20

$316

$374

$65.98

$37.84

Sideboard (15)

$457

$1.412B

$23.222B

$26.061

$92.481BB

$1771

$1212

$10.412

1Braids, Cabal Minion

$5.102BB

Est. Total$1702

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Liga Frostbite Covilhã 5 @ Roll'Oriental (Covilhã, Portugal)

1st PlaceJun 9, 2026

Vitor Martins

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Vitor Martins

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$1136

Creature (4)

$22.36

4Nether Spirit

$22.361BB

Instant (6)

$16.74

$2.313BB

$0.381B

$2.161G

$3.93XB

$7.961B

Sorcery (11)

$115

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

4Duress

$14.80B

3Innocent Blood

$1.77B

Artifact (5)

$267

1Cursed Scroll

$88.571

2Phyrexian Furnace

$26.061

2Powder Keg

$1522

Enchantment (9)

$91.23

3Contamination

$49.952B

2Engineered Plague

$15.482B

4Zombie Infestation

$25.801B

Land (25)

$623

$132

$37.84

$280

$3.78

$2.10

$167

Sideboard (15)

$307

$16.652B

$88.571

$92.481BB

$7.742B

$0.942B

$0.59B

$2.161G

$2.002B

$14.692B

$76.152

$1.310

$4.081G

Est. Total$1443

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Chile Premodern National 2026

1st PlaceJun 6, 2026

Álvaro Galindo

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Álvaro Galindo

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$930

Creature (4)

$22.36

4Nether Spirit

$22.361BB

Instant (5)

$18.08

3Skeletal Scrying

$11.79XB

1Contagion

$2.313BB

1Smother

$3.981B

Sorcery (11)

$115

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

4Duress

$14.80B

3Innocent Blood

$1.77B

Artifact (6)

$28.78

4Chromatic Sphere

$2.721

2Phyrexian Furnace

$26.061

Enchantment (10)

$132

4Pernicious Deed

$63.081BG

3Contamination

$49.952B

3Zombie Infestation

$19.351B

Land (24)

$613

10Swamp

$4.20

$132

$28.38

$280

$167

$1.05

Sideboard (15)

$205

$30.962B

$6.481G

$1391BB

$4.081G

$20.563BB

$3.981B

Est. Total$1135

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Archetype Anatomy

Based on 245 decks with known dates2021-09-30 to 2026-06-13

Mana Base

Average23.8lands

Median24lands

Range19–26lands

Spells36.2avg non-land

Based on 245 decks (All-time)

core Cards(>80%)

Duress

98%

4.0x

Cabal Therapy

96%

4.0x

Contamination

96%

3.6x

Innocent Blood

94%

3.0x

Wasteland

94%

3.5x

Nether Spirit

93%

3.9x

Mishra's Factory

93%

3.8x

Zombie Infestation

93%

3.8x

Smother

92%

1.5x

Skeletal Scrying

89%

2.1x

Rishadan Port

89%

3.5x

Powder Keg

82%

2.5x

flex Cards(30-80%)

Contagion

72%

1.7x

Phyrexian Furnace

71%

1.9x

Sickening Dreams

67%

1.3x

Engineered Plague

62%

1.5x

fringe Cards(<30%)

Snuff Out

22%

1.2x

Snow-Covered Swamp

18%

5.3x

Phyrexian Arena

17%

1.9x

Tainted Pact

17%

1.8x

Cursed Scroll

16%

1.6x

Unmask

16%

1.4x

Spinning Darkness

14%

1.3x

Diabolic Edict

13%

1.7x

Diabolic Intent

13%

1.8x

Polluted Delta

10%

2.1x

Bloodstained Mire

10%

2.0x

3.4x

4.0x

2.3x

1.2x

1.7x

1.2x

3.8x

1.0x

3.5x

1.8x

2.6x

2.0x

3.5x

1.4x

1.1x

3.1x

1.3x

4.0x

2.6x

3.4x

2.1x

1.9x

1.1x

4.0x

3.3x

1.7x

1.0x

4.0x

4.0x

3.8x

3.6x

2.8x

2.6x

2.0x

2.0x

1.4x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

2.7x

2.3x

2.0x

Parallax Tide Banned

2.0x

1.3x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

Sideboard Anatomy

core Sideboard Options(>80%)

Engineered Plague

92.9%

2.2x

Dystopia

85.2%

2.5x

flex Sideboard Options(30-80%)

Diabolic Edict

56.1%

1.1x

Lurking Skirge

50.3%

2.9x

Powder Keg

46.9%

1.2x

Snuff Out

42.1%

1.0x

Smother

42.1%

1.1x

Phyrexian Furnace

39.7%

1.5x

Gloom

37.5%

2.1x

Haunting Echoes

34.3%

1.5x

fringe Sideboard Options(<30%)

Perish

29.8%

1.6x

Null Rod

23%

2.1x

Spinning Darkness

20.2%

1.3x

Tormod'S Crypt

18.7%

1.2x

Cursed Totem

17.3%

1.5x

Cursed Scroll

13.9%

1.3x

Ebony Charm

13.1%

1.7x

Rejuvenation Chamber

12.7%

2.0x

Sickening Dreams

12.5%

1.1x

Unmask

10.3%

1.3x

Tranquil Domain

9.7%

1.9x

Infest

9.3%

1.4x

Naturalize

9.2%

2.1x

Blackmail

8.6%

2.8x

Zuran Orb

6.9%

1.1x

Ensnaring Bridge

6.3%

1.9x

Contamination

6.2%

1.2x

Pernicious Deed

5.7%

1.0x

Contagion

5.4%

1.3x

Stromgald Cabal

2.6x

Innocent Blood

4.6%

1.2x

Call Of The Herd

4.2%

1.9x

Phyrexian Negator

4.1%

1.9x

Coffin Purge

4.1%

1.7x

Mutilate

3.1%

1.2x

Phyrexian Arena

2.9%

1.0x

Withered Wretch

2.5%

2.3x

Compost

2.4%

2.0x

Duress

2.3%

1.6x

Masticore

2.2%

1.0x

Chill

2.2%

2.8x

Annul

2.1%

2.9x

Death Pit Offering

1.0x

Phyrexian Processor

1.2x

Zombie Infestation

1.8%

1.3x

Braids, Cabal Minion

1.7%

1.5x

Seal Of Cleansing

1.6%

1.2x

Warmth

1.6%

1.2x

Helm Of Possession

1.5%

1.0x

Attrition

1.4%

1.3x

Festering Goblin

1.4%

1.6x

Nevinyrral'S Disk

1.3%

1.6x

Planar Void

1.3%

3.0x

Exalted Angel

1.3%

1.1x

Black Vise

1.3%

1.0x

Vendetta

1.3%

1.3x

Eradicate

1.1%

1.0x

Blue Elemental Blast

1.1%

2.0x

Skeletal Scrying

1.1%

1.0x

Decree Of Pain

1.0x

Misdirection

1.0x

Recent Events Featuring this Archetype

Summer Salvage Premodern 1K (Premodern)

2026-06-13•Frederick, MD, United States•44 Players

Highest Finish: 20th

VIEW EVENT

Premodern Challenge 32 (2026-06-12)

2026-06-12•Magic Online•64 Players

Highest Finish: 10th

VIEW EVENT

Magico Conclave Etrusco - Lega Spartana II tappa

2026-06-12•Cecina, Italy•27 Players

Highest Finish: 1st

VIEW EVENT

Mercadian Frogs @ Troll2jeux (Paris, France)

2026-06-10•Paris, France•15 Players

Highest Finish: 3rd

VIEW EVENT

Magico Conclave Etrusco Cecina - Championship #13

2026-06-10•Cecina, Italy•18 Players

Highest Finish: 8th

VIEW EVENT

Matchups

Head-to-head: DuressCrew (MTGO) · field strength: our event data

Field strength: Holds even with the field

placement-derived · not head-to-head · 246 finishes · 41 wins

Goblins
65.4%
DxC · n=26
Elves
55.2%
DxC · n=29
Stiflenought
51.7%
DxC · n=29
Landstill
48.6%
DxC · n=35
Burn Sligh
38.5%
DxC · n=52
Bw Control
28.6%
DxC · n=35
Terrageddon
17.4%
DxC · n=23
Enchantress
15%
DxC · n=20

DxC = DuressCrew MTGO head-to-head · win rates diverge from a 50% centre line

Core Combos

simple

NEAR-INFINITE

Contamination Lock

lock Strategy

"Opponent restricted to Black mana"

2 Steps

Master the loop

Quick Facts

Tier3

Styleprison

Meta Share0.7%

Avg Lands23.8

Est. Price~$1702

Colors

Deck Weaknesses

Single — enchantment point of failure - Contamination has no protection, and by the time the lock is live the pilot has usually emptied their hand to Duress and Cabal Therapy, so any enchantment or artifact removal drawn afterward ends the game on the spot.
Single — creature dependency - the renewable lock rests on Nether Spirit recurring as the lone graveyard creature, so exile-based removal or graveyard hate permanently removes it and leaves only Zombie Infestation tokens as fodder, which bleeds cards at an unsustainable rate.
Discard burns its own resources — Duress, Cabal Therapy, and Skeletal Scrying spend cards and life to sculpt the opening, so the deck runs dry quickly and is highly vulnerable to any threat that resolves after the hand is stripped.
No real clock — Powder Keg, Cursed Scroll, and Sickening Dreams are the only win conditions outside the lock, so an opponent who stabilizes their colored mana buys time to find enchantment or artifact removal and dismantle the prison at leisure.

How to win with it

Keep an opening hand only if it pairs a discard spell (Duress or Cabal Therapy) with Contamination and a sacrifice outlet you actually control to feed it every upkeep, namely Zombie Infestation or Nether Spirit; a hand holding Contamination with no discard and no way to keep a creature on the table turn after turn is a mulligan, because the enchantment forces you to sacrifice a creature each upkeep or it falls off and the lock never sticks.
The dream draw is turn one Duress stripping their most dangerous spell or counter, turn two Zombie Infestation (pitching excess lands to make a Zombie token) or a second Cabal Therapy, then turn three Contamination sacrificing a Zombie token on your upkeep so that every land they tap now produces only black mana, marooning their colored spells before they can stabilize a board.
Nether Spirit is what sustains the lock for free: it returns to play at the start of each of your upkeeps as long as it is the only creature in your graveyard, so keep your other creatures out of the yard and you can sacrifice the Spirit to Contamination every turn and still get it back, paying the enchantment's upkeep cost indefinitely with a single card.
Hold Cabal Therapy instead of firing it blindly; cast it only after a Duress has shown you their hand so you can name the exact card that would break your lock, then flash it back later by sacrificing a Zombie token from Zombie Infestation to strip a second copy, turning one card into two clean pieces of disruption.
When you cannot assemble the lock fast, shift to the grind: cast Skeletal Scrying at the end of the opponent's turn to convert spent Swamps and used discard spells into fresh cards and dig for Contamination or a second outlet, but be mindful it exiles your graveyard, so leave Nether Spirit unexiled if you want it back, and feed the extra cards drawn into Zombie Infestation to build tokens that both fuel Contamination and pressure their life total.
The recurring decision under the lock is whether to sacrifice Nether Spirit on your upkeep or keep it as a blocker: sacrifice it when their board is empty and you simply need to guarantee colored-mana denial, but leave it back to block when a colorless threat could race you, holding up Smother, Innocent Blood, or Powder Keg to kill that threat before it ends the game.

How to beat it

The entire lock depends on Contamination resolving and a sacrifice outlet staying in play, so counter, destroy, or exile Contamination the moment it lands and the deck is left holding a pile of discard with no clock.
Contamination does nothing until it resolves, so race it: the lock typically arrives on turn three or four behind a wall of Duress and Cabal Therapy, meaning two or three damage sources that survive early discard close the game before the prison comes online.
Nether Spirit is the only renewable sacrifice target, so an edict effect (forced sacrifice) or cheap exile-based removal on it forces the pilot to burn cards to Zombie Infestation just to keep feeding Contamination, draining the engine fast.
Zombie Infestation and Forbidden Orchard are the fodder engine; enchantment or artifact removal on Zombie Infestation cuts off token generation, and once Nether Spirit is also dealt with the lock starves on the next upkeep.
The discard suite of Duress and Cabal Therapy aims to strip your answer before the lock lands, so keep a second answer in reserve where you can, since a top-decked enchantment or creature removal after your hand is emptied frequently breaks the prison.

Last Updated: 2026-05-31