Phyrexian Arena
Mana cost {1}{B}{B}.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you draw a card and lose 1 life.
Phyrexian Arena is a black card, legal in Premodern, shown in its old-frame Apocalypse printing.
Price and printings: Cardmarket (€12.74) · TCGplayer ($19.54) · Scryfall
Tracked daily since 28 July 2026: on Cardmarket between €12.07 and €15.66 in that time.
How often Phyrexian Arena is played
Phyrexian Arena is maindecked in 6 of 131 tournament decks in this archive (5%), averaging 2.3 copies; kept in 1 sideboard (1%); used by 3 of 33 tracked archetypes.
Counting only the 75 decks that can cast black cards, 7 of them play it (9%).
See how it compares on the Premodern staples list.
Premodern archetypes that play Phyrexian Arena
- Deadguy Ale: In almost every list, usually three copies: an extra card in each of your upkeeps for 1 life. Against control, cast Arena before your next creature: a lone Specter trades with one removal spell, while Arena has to be stopped by a counterspell or discard, or destroyed by Disenchant or Vindicate.
Sideboard plans with Phyrexian Arena
- Mono Black vs. Stiflenought, Landstill, Psychatog, Gro-a-Tog and Tron. His 15: four Engineered Plague, three Dystopia, three Gloom and one each of Drain Life, Phyrexian Arena, Powder Keg, Spinning Darkness and Vendetta. Against Landstill, in: all three Gloom and Phyrexian Arena; out: two Smother, a Dark Ritual and a Ravenous Rats. Against Psychatog, in: Phyrexian Arena; out: Plaguebearer. Against Gro-a-Tog, in: two Gloom and Phyrexian Arena; out: Plaguebearer and both Diabolic Edict. Against Tron, in: all three Gloom and Phyrexian Arena; out: both Diabolic Edict and two Ravenous Rats.
- Mono Black vs. Stasis, MUD, Fluctuator, Pit Rack and Contamination. Leave Phyrexian Arena out against Stasis: every extra card in your hand is more damage from Black Vise. Against Pit Rack, in: Phyrexian Arena and Powder Keg; out: Plaguebearer and a Dark Ritual. Against Contamination, in: Phyrexian Arena; out: Plaguebearer.
- Mono Black vs. White Weenie, The Solution, BW Control, Deadguy Ale and Dromar Control. Against BW Control, in: all three Gloom, two Dystopia and Phyrexian Arena; out: both Cursed Scroll, all three Ravenous Rats and a Smother. Against Deadguy Ale, in: all three Gloom and Phyrexian Arena; out: both Cursed Scroll, a Diabolic Edict and a Ravenous Rats.
- BW Control vs. Landstill, Psychatog, Dromar Control, Mono Black and Deadguy Ale. Phyrexian Arena draws an extra card every turn, Cabal Therapy names Counterspell, Standstill or Hypnotic Specter, and Spiritual Focus gains 2 life and draws a card whenever their Duress, Gerrard's Verdict or Hypnotic Specter makes you discard.
Tournament decks with Phyrexian Arena
- Deadguy Ale: 2nd Place at Sword Luderia (4× mainboard)
- Contamination: 6th Place at Premodern & Hooters 9 (2× mainboard)
- Mono Black: 1st Place at MTGO Premodern League (1× sideboard)
- Basic Mono Black: 4th Place at Andre's League 10 Tappa (3× mainboard)
- BR Carnophage Ponza: 3rd Place at Torneo @ Comix Café (1× mainboard)
- Deadguy Angels: 1st Place at Lega Premodern La Contea (2× mainboard)
- Machine Head: 4th Place at Premodern Mainz Monthly (2× mainboard)
Spicy brews with Phyrexian Arena
- Great Combo (1×)
- Draco Blast (4×)
- Bloody Clerics (2×)
