I have Ben considering this for quite a while I do Love the phyrexians, and I do have Atraxa, Praetors' Voice and I will make a deck focused with her. However I want a 5-color because of Urabrask the hidden is not allowed in atraxa decks so I'm between reaper king and cromat I have no idea how to find the older cards with phyrexia theme.
So any suggestions? And how do I find cards? (Besides scars of mirrion to new phyrexia block cards.)
I did this a super long time ago, with a block-constructed EDH deck piloted by tsabo tavoc. I ran all of the flavorful phyrexian cards, eventually broke the Invasion block limitation and spread out to newer phyrexian referencing cards.
It eventually turned in to a rather annoying yawgmoth's agenda style control deck, using an inordinate amount of instant speed effects to constantly pull from the 'yard. Per the "flavor" limitation, it was still pretty good. Oddly enough scg's commander vs series did a near copy of this idea (coincidence, but sometimes I wonder if they are watching me...). But it seemed to just run cards that pictured artwork of phyreixans, and didn't have any actual consideration on function.
I've also done a few water-mark restriction decks, one with Urabrask, another Jinny. The Jinny deck was super thematic, since all of the blue cards with the phyrexian watermark describe experimentation. It made for a very flavorful (but utterly weak) deck.
Per searching for cards, you can always use gatherers watermark search (click here, scroll down to "Mark" and set it to phyrexian). You can also use some sort of visual website that displays numerous card-arts, and go over the blocks that involved Phyrexia & New Phyreixa. I prefer mythic spoiler (sets here).
Bleeding in to the newer phyrexian legends would make for a more standardized deck experience. They all do clear and obvious things, representing what their deck will be. My personal opinion - you will enjoy using an older phyrexian influenced legendary for a thematic deck. The older legends, in the story line, are way more powerful than the newblits on new phyrexia. If my lord-and-savior Gix had ever been printed as a legendary creature, he would most likely be the second most powerful phyrexian to ever exist. The new color-aligned legends are all playable if you are wanting a more powerful deck to actually pilot, but they just don't really have that praise-Yawgmoth feel.
Well, Phyrexia was first hinted at in Antiquities with cards like Yawgmoth's Demon, Priest of Yawgmoth, Gate to Phyrexia, and Phyrexian Gremlins. There are a lot references to Phyrexia in the flavor text and overall theme of the set, but its more focused on the Brothers War which was indirectly influenced by Yawgmoth.
It was hinted at again in Alliances with cards like Phyrexian Portal and Phyrexian Devourer. Again, the influence is in the background and hinted at through the story, but its not front and center.
Somehow, Phyrexia ends up still in the background throughout Mirage and Weatherlight with cards like Phyrexian Dreadnaught, Phyrexian Walker, and Phyrexian War-Beast, but again its something that seems to hang in the shadows.
Phyrexia really doesn't come to the forefront of the storyline until Weatherlight where we discover that someone is creating the plane of Rath with the intent of using it to invade Dominaria. The Weatherlight set however doesn't offer much in the form of anything that one would say is "phyrexian".
Tempest-Stronghold-Exodus-Urza's Saga-Urza's Legacy-Urza's Destiny is the bulk of the Phyrexia storyline. There are tons of cards that reference Phyrexia and/or could be considered phyrexian flavor-wise.
The phyrexian storyline largely takes a break over Masques block even though we are still following the crew of the Weatherlight. Again, it is only hinted at with some vague allusions in flavor text or card names.
Invasion-Planeshift-Apocalypse is where it all comes to a head and there are tons of cards in these sets that are 100% Phyrexian.
We also of course have Scars of Mirrodin-Mirrodin Beseiged-New Phyrexia which is all Phyrexian.
So with all that said, I would start off with Gatherer searches through each of those sets (Antiquities, Alliances, Mirage block, Tempest block, Urza's Block, Invasion block, and Scars of Mirrodin block). You will find lots of little nods to Phyrexia and something may strike your fancy.
So any suggestions? And how do I find cards? (Besides scars of mirrion to new phyrexia block cards.)
It eventually turned in to a rather annoying yawgmoth's agenda style control deck, using an inordinate amount of instant speed effects to constantly pull from the 'yard. Per the "flavor" limitation, it was still pretty good. Oddly enough scg's commander vs series did a near copy of this idea (coincidence, but sometimes I wonder if they are watching me...). But it seemed to just run cards that pictured artwork of phyreixans, and didn't have any actual consideration on function.
I've also done a few water-mark restriction decks, one with Urabrask, another Jinny. The Jinny deck was super thematic, since all of the blue cards with the phyrexian watermark describe experimentation. It made for a very flavorful (but utterly weak) deck.
Per searching for cards, you can always use gatherers watermark search (click here, scroll down to "Mark" and set it to phyrexian). You can also use some sort of visual website that displays numerous card-arts, and go over the blocks that involved Phyrexia & New Phyreixa. I prefer mythic spoiler (sets here).
Bleeding in to the newer phyrexian legends would make for a more standardized deck experience. They all do clear and obvious things, representing what their deck will be. My personal opinion - you will enjoy using an older phyrexian influenced legendary for a thematic deck. The older legends, in the story line, are way more powerful than the newblits on new phyrexia. If my lord-and-savior Gix had ever been printed as a legendary creature, he would most likely be the second most powerful phyrexian to ever exist. The new color-aligned legends are all playable if you are wanting a more powerful deck to actually pilot, but they just don't really have that praise-Yawgmoth feel.
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
By the way I was actually thinking of doing both new and old phyrexians in the deck.
It was hinted at again in Alliances with cards like Phyrexian Portal and Phyrexian Devourer. Again, the influence is in the background and hinted at through the story, but its not front and center.
Somehow, Phyrexia ends up still in the background throughout Mirage and Weatherlight with cards like Phyrexian Dreadnaught, Phyrexian Walker, and Phyrexian War-Beast, but again its something that seems to hang in the shadows.
Phyrexia really doesn't come to the forefront of the storyline until Weatherlight where we discover that someone is creating the plane of Rath with the intent of using it to invade Dominaria. The Weatherlight set however doesn't offer much in the form of anything that one would say is "phyrexian".
Tempest-Stronghold-Exodus-Urza's Saga-Urza's Legacy-Urza's Destiny is the bulk of the Phyrexia storyline. There are tons of cards that reference Phyrexia and/or could be considered phyrexian flavor-wise.
The phyrexian storyline largely takes a break over Masques block even though we are still following the crew of the Weatherlight. Again, it is only hinted at with some vague allusions in flavor text or card names.
Invasion-Planeshift-Apocalypse is where it all comes to a head and there are tons of cards in these sets that are 100% Phyrexian.
We also of course have Scars of Mirrodin-Mirrodin Beseiged-New Phyrexia which is all Phyrexian.
So with all that said, I would start off with Gatherer searches through each of those sets (Antiquities, Alliances, Mirage block, Tempest block, Urza's Block, Invasion block, and Scars of Mirrodin block). You will find lots of little nods to Phyrexia and something may strike your fancy.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections