Tier 1.5midrange

The Rock

BG Midrange

Featured list~$1035PM Local #11 @ Magic Lair (Torino, Italy)

Overview

"The Rock is a black-green midrange deck that opens with Cabal Therapy and Duress to strip the opponent's key threats, then stalls the ground behind Wall of Blossoms and Wall of Roots while Pernicious Deed answers whatever remains. Ravenous Baloth and Deranged Hermit close games, but the deck's defining edge is a recursive late game: Recurring Nightmare loops Yavimaya Elder and other creatures back into play to out-grind any opponent willing to trade resources."

Game Plan

Trade resources one-for-one early with Cabal Therapy and Duress. Use Wall of Blossoms and Wall of Roots to stall the ground. Stabilize with Pernicious Deed or Ravenous Baloth, and eventually win through recursion with Volrath's Stronghold or Recurring Nightmare.

Key Cards

Core engine & flex

Llanowar Wastes

$33.08

TCG MP CK

Cabal Therapy

$24.73

TCG MP CK

Duress

$3.70

TCG MP CK

Treetop Village

$4.11

TCG MP CK

Signature

Pernicious Deed

$15.77

TCG MP CK

Wall of Blossoms

$4.75

TCG MP CK

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details

Sample Decklists

Sort By

PM Local #11 @ Magic Lair (Torino, Italy)

1st PlaceMay 13, 2026

Ismael Kone

View full deck page

Ismael Kone

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$950

Creature (18)

$257

$1683GG

$66.162GG

$19.001G

$2.521G

$1.441GG

Instant (4)

$8.84

1Diabolic Edict

$0.381B

2Smother

$7.961B

1Vendetta

$0.50B

Sorcery (8)

$114

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

4Duress

$14.80B

Enchantment (6)

$234

4Pernicious Deed

$63.081BG

2Recurring Nightmare

$1712B

Land (24)

$337

$65.98

$6.37

$132

$2.52

$16.44

1Volrath's Stronghold

$114

Sideboard (15)

$84.60

$23.222B

$10.283BB

$6.481G

$39.091

1Phyrexian Plaguelord

$0.503BB

2Spike Feeder

$1.681GG

1Tormod's Crypt

$1.310

1Tranquil Domain

$2.041G

Est. Total$1035

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details

IV Torneo Mensual Gadir @ Cadix (Spain)

1st PlaceApr 12, 2026

Daniel López Gómez

View full deck page

Daniel López Gómez

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$622

Creature (15)

$92.17

$66.162GG

$4.403BG

$19.001G

$1.891G

$0.721GG

Instant (5)

$19.80

2Skeletal Scrying

$7.86XB

3Smother

$11.941B

Sorcery (10)

$116

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

2Chainer's Edict

$2.181B

4Duress

$14.80B

Artifact (2)

$26.06

2Phyrexian Furnace

$26.061

Enchantment (4)

$63.08

4Pernicious Deed

$63.081BG

Land (24)

$305

$32.99

$6.37

$132

$2.94

$16.44

1Volrath's Stronghold

$114

Sideboard (15)

$53.81

$1.083

$30.962B

$11.261G

$0.801BB

$4.321G

$1.310

$4.081G

Est. Total$675

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details

Gargula Supercup Portugal April

1st PlaceApr 10, 2026

Ruben Gonçalves

View full deck page

Ruben Gonçalves

TCG

Mainboard (61)61-card deck

$548

Creature (19)

$107

$1.205GG

$66.162GG

$19.001G

$2.521G

$15.484G

$2.203BG

Instant (4)

$19.29

3Smother

$11.941B

1Snuff Out

$7.353B

Sorcery (8)

$120

4Cabal Therapy

$98.92B

3Duress

$11.10B

1Haunting Echoes

$10.283BB

Artifact (1)

$13.03

1Phyrexian Furnace

$13.031

Enchantment (4)

$63.08

4Pernicious Deed

$63.081BG

Land (25)

$225

$8.19

$2.52

$132

$16.44

$65.98

Sideboard (15)

$91.90

$6.481G

$23.222B

$6.80BB

$20.563BB

$2.181B

$2.041G

$13.031

$17.592BB

Est. Total$640

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details

Archetype Anatomy

Based on 970 decks with known dates2021-04-05 to 2026-06-16

Mana Base

Average23.7lands

Median24lands

Range19–28lands

Spells36.3avg non-land

Based on 968 decks (All-time)

core Cards(>80%)

Llanowar Wastes

100%

4.0x

Cabal Therapy

99%

3.9x

Duress

99%

3.5x

Treetop Village

99%

3.8x

Pernicious Deed

98%

3.9x

Wall of Blossoms

95%

3.7x

Ravenous Baloth

89%

3.6x

Smother

82%

2.0x

Recurring Nightmare

81%

1.9x

flex Cards(30-80%)

Deranged Hermit

71%

1.8x

Yavimaya Elder

63%

2.1x

Wall of Roots

59%

3.5x

Dust Bowl

57%

1.3x

Vendetta

55%

1.7x

Volrath's Stronghold

45%

1.0x

Blastoderm

45%

2.8x

Krosan Tusker

43%

1.9x

Diabolic Edict

37%

1.4x

Naturalize

37%

1.7x

Birds of Paradise

31%

3.5x

fringe Cards(<30%)

Spiritmonger

28%

1.3x

Living Wish

27%

2.6x

Chainer's Edict

24%

1.4x

Graveborn Muse

19%

1.4x

City of Brass

19%

1.7x

Mishra's Factory

17%

2.1x

Genesis

16%

1.5x

Phyrexian Rager

15%

2.4x

Call of the Herd

14%

2.7x

Ravenous Rats

11%

3.4x

Phyrexian Furnace

10%

1.8x

1.1x

1.5x

3.1x

1.2x

1.3x

1.1x

1.7x

2.5x

1.0x

2.6x

3.2x

1.4x

1.4x

2.3x

1.0x

1.4x

1.0x

2.2x

1.0x

2.3x

1.9x

1.2x

1.7x

2.8x

1.5x

1.1x

1.3x

3.6x

1.9x

1.5x

1.2x

Multani, Maro-Sorcerer

1.0x

1.5x

1.4x

2.7x

2.1x

1.7x

1.5x

1.1x

2.6x

1.5x

1.5x

3.6x

Sideboard Anatomy

core Sideboard Options(>80%)

Naturalize

92.4%

2.5x

Engineered Plague

89.1%

3.1x

flex Sideboard Options(30-80%)

Tormod'S Crypt

53.3%

2.0x

Withered Wretch

51.6%

1.6x

Haunting Echoes

48.3%

1.4x

Tranquil Domain

42.8%

1.6x

fringe Sideboard Options(<30%)

Spike Feeder

28.8%

1.6x

Plague Spitter

24.7%

1.1x

Bone Shredder

23.8%

1.1x

Ravenous Baloth

23.3%

1.6x

Dust Bowl

22.7%

1.0x

Uktabi Orangutan

21%

1.1x

Diabolic Edict

19.4%

1.4x

Genesis

18.9%

1.0x

Infest

17.5%

1.7x

Smother

16.6%

1.3x

Gaea'S Blessing

15.9%

1.5x

Vendetta

15.5%

1.2x

Duress

15%

1.3x

Chainer'S Edict

14.5%

1.3x

Phyrexian Furnace

13.5%

1.6x

Nantuko Vigilante

10.9%

1.1x

Deranged Hermit

9.4%

1.0x

Gloom

2.1x

Blastoderm

8.7%

1.9x

Masticore

7.6%

1.0x

Sylvan Library

7.5%

1.7x

Phyrexian Arena

6.8%

1.3x

Graveborn Muse

6.5%

1.1x

Spiritmonger

6.4%

1.0x

Snuff Out

5.5%

1.3x

Bottle Gnomes

5.3%

2.0x

Gigapede

4.5%

1.1x

Volrath'S Stronghold

4.3%

1.0x

Choke

4.3%

1.8x

Compost

4.3%

1.7x

Pernicious Deed

4.1%

1.3x

Spike Weaver

1.0x

Call Of The Herd

3.9%

1.8x

Crumble

3.4%

1.2x

Hidden Gibbons

3.1%

3.2x

Carpet Of Flowers

2.9%

1.8x

Skeletal Scrying

2.8%

1.4x

Braids, Cabal Minion

2.7%

1.1x

Cabal Therapy

2.4%

1.2x

Coffin Purge

2.3%

2.3x

Eradicate

2.2%

1.5x

Bane Of The Living

2.1%

1.1x

Cursed Totem

2.1%

1.7x

Abyssal Gatekeeper

1.9%

1.0x

Tempting Wurm

1.9%

2.3x

City Of Solitude

1.8%

1.6x

Reverent Silence

1.8%

1.8x

Mesmeric Fiend

1.7%

1.7x

City Of Brass

1.6%

1.0x

Wasteland

1.5%

1.0x

Multani, Maro-Sorcerer

1.5%

1.0x

Null Rod

1.4%

1.6x

Phantom Nishoba

1.4%

1.0x

Tranquility

1.3%

1.2x

Massacre

1.2%

1.0x

Verdant Force

1.2%

1.1x

Hypnotic Specter

1.2%

2.1x

Natural Order

1.1%

2.9x

Yavimaya Elder

1.0x

Triskelion

1.0x

Harmonic Convergence

1.8x

Recent Events Featuring this Archetype

Premodern Challenge 32 2026-06-16 (Premodern)

2026-06-16•Magic Online•64 Players

Highest Finish: 30th

VIEW EVENT

Premodern Challenge 32 (2026-06-16)

2026-06-16•Magic Online•32 Players

Highest Finish: 30th

VIEW EVENT

Lega Milano 3/10 @ Milano (Italy)

2026-06-12•Milano, Italy•56 Players

Highest Finish: 3rd

VIEW EVENT

Grand Pre Louisville @ Louisville (KY)

2026-06-06•Louisville, USA•200 Players

Highest Finish: 58th

VIEW EVENT

Premier League @ Chile

2026-06-05•Chile•16 Players

Highest Finish: 2nd

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 · 991 finishes · 149 wins

Psychatog
65.4%
DxC · n=26
Bw Control
54.5%
DxC · n=22
Landstill
50%
DxC · n=30
Stiflenought
47.4%
DxC · n=57
Goblins
45.5%
DxC · n=44
Enchantress
41.7%
DxC · n=36
Stasis
39.1%
DxC · n=23
Terrageddon
37.5%
DxC · n=48
Gro A Tog
36.4%
DxC · n=22
Burn Sligh
30.2%
DxC · n=86
Elves
28.1%
DxC · n=57
Oath Ponza
24.2%
DxC · n=33
Tide Control
17.9%
DxC · n=28
Replenish
17.6%
DxC · n=34

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

Quick Facts

Tier1.5

Stylemidrange

Meta Share2.9%

Avg Lands23.7

Est. Price~$1035

Colors

Key Matchups

Goblinsfavorable
Landstillunfavorable
Stiflenoughtfavorable
Burnfavorable

Deck Weaknesses

Recursion — dependent inevitability: the grind hinges on Recurring Nightmare, Genesis, and Volrath's Stronghold rebuying Ravenous Baloth, Yavimaya Elder, and Deranged Hermit; shut the graveyard off and the deck has no second wind once its one-for-ones run out.
Limited raw card advantage: outside Yavimaya Elder and Deranged Hermit the deck refuels slowly, so spending Pernicious Deed or its hand disruption empties its resources and leaves it unable to rebuild against a fresh wave of threats.
Reactive, ground — bound defense. Wall of Blossoms and Wall of Roots only stabilize the ground and the deck has almost no proactive clock of its own, so evasive damage, a flying offense, or a single resilient threat that dodges Smother and survives Pernicious Deed runs it over.
Top — deck-blind disruption: Cabal Therapy and Duress only bite on the early turns and do nothing against cards drawn later, so a deck that wins from an empty hand or reloads off the top neutralizes The Rock's entire disruption package.

How to win with it

Mulligan any hand that lacks either a discard spell (Cabal Therapy or Duress) or a mana accelerant (Wall of Roots); a keepable seven needs at least two lands, one discard effect, and a Wall of Blossoms, Wall of Roots, Pernicious Deed, or Ravenous Baloth to reach by turn three, because hands that are all threats with no disruption lose the early exchanges before you stabilize.
The ideal opening sequence is turn-one Duress or Cabal Therapy to strip the opponent's best card, turn-two Wall of Blossoms or Wall of Roots to brick-wall the ground while building card or mana advantage, and turn-three Pernicious Deed or Ravenous Baloth to seize the mid-game, letting you dictate pace from the first turn.
Hold Cabal Therapy until you have seen the opponent's hand through Duress or a Wall of Blossoms draw, then name the right card; after a successful first cast, flash it back by sacrificing Wall of Roots or Yavimaya Elder to strip a second card, which is frequently worth more than any other play that turn since Yavimaya Elder replaces itself with two lands and a card when it dies.
Treat Pernicious Deed as a reset button, not a tempo play: leave mana open to crack it at instant speed, and remember that activating it for any number destroys every permanent at or below that converted mana cost, so Deranged Hermit's squirrel tokens always die to it while Ravenous Baloth and Deranged Hermit itself survive a low pop at two or three, then rebuild the board afterward rather than expecting tokens to remain.
The dream fast draw wins through Blastoderm or Ravenous Baloth connecting from turn three behind turn-one discard, closing before answers arrive; the grind plan wins through Recurring Nightmare, sacrificing Yavimaya Elder for cards and lands or replaying Deranged Hermit to remake a fresh swarm of squirrel tokens every turn, burying slower opponents in raw card and board volume.
With Recurring Nightmare online, never sacrifice your last creature to rebuy a threat unless you can protect the loop; instead build at least two bodies first, recur Yavimaya Elder to dig toward Krosan Tusker and more threats, and fall back on Volrath's Stronghold to buy back a single creature when Recurring Nightmare is at risk.

How to beat it

The Rock wins slowly by trading one-for-one and grinding inevitability, so its real engine is recursion: Recurring Nightmare, Genesis, and Volrath's Stronghold rebuy threats turn after turn. Pressure its life total fast enough that the grind never matures, and lean on graveyard hate to switch off the Recurring Nightmare, Genesis, and Deranged Hermit recursion entirely.
Wall of Blossoms and Wall of Roots exist to buy time, not to win, so a deck that goes wide or attacks in the air sidesteps the ground stall and forces The Rock to find a real answer instead of a chump blocker. Don't trade your threats into the Walls and leave Pernicious Deed as their only out.
Pernicious Deed is the linchpin sweeper, but it must be charged with counters and ages backward against a single overwhelming threat; commit just enough that one Deed activation trades down, then rebuild, since The Rock refills slowly after spending it. A static creature-type hoser does nothing here, but a sweeper that lands after they tap out wins the exchange.
Cabal Therapy and Duress only strip your hand on the early turns and whiff on the top of your library, so a deck that reloads off the top or threatens to win from an empty hand turns their hand attack into dead cards. Sequence your most important spell first so a named Cabal Therapy misses it.
Diabolic Edict and Smother are clean single-target answers, but Smother only kills creatures of low converted mana cost and an edict effect lets you choose what to sacrifice; present a resilient or expensive must-kill threat and keep a decoy creature in play so the forced sacrifice eats the wrong body.

Last Updated: 2026-05-31

Overview

Game Plan

Key Cards

Sample Decklists

Ismael Kone

Mainboard (60)

Creature (18)

Instant (4)

Sorcery (8)

Enchantment (6)

Land (24)

Sideboard (15)

Daniel López Gómez

Mainboard (60)

Creature (15)

Instant (5)

Sorcery (10)

Artifact (2)

Enchantment (4)

Land (24)

Sideboard (15)

Ruben Gonçalves

Mainboard (61)61-card deck

Creature (19)

Instant (4)

Sorcery (8)

Artifact (1)

Enchantment (4)

Land (25)

Sideboard (15)

Unchained Appearances2 decks

Archetype Anatomy

Mana Base

core Cards(>80%)

flex Cards(30-80%)

fringe Cards(<30%)

Sideboard Anatomy

core Sideboard Options(>80%)

flex Sideboard Options(30-80%)

fringe Sideboard Options(<30%)

Recent Events Featuring this Archetype

Matchups