The Magnusson Ortmayer (Mag/Ort) deadlift program is a brutal deadlift-only program that has helped tons of lifters add serious weight to their deadlift. If you’re looking to build out your work capacity for deadlifts, this is a great option. This is either an 11 or 12 week deadlift program depending upon if you desire to test your maxes on week 12.
Mag Ort packs the week’s deadlift work into one heavy session instead of spreading it across multiple days. Each week runs 4 sets of 4 at 70%, two heavy doubles at 80% and 90%, then a back-off set at 70% for 8 or more reps. Hit that rep target and you add 10 lbs to your working numbers the following week. Miss it and you repeat the week instead of moving on.
This program is built for lifters who already have solid deadlift technique and want to specialize on the pull for 11 to 12 weeks. It works best if you can recover from frequent near-max doubles, since the 80% and 90% work shows up every week. If you’re newer to lifting or your squat and bench need attention too, a program with more balanced volume across all three lifts, like GZCLP, will serve you better than a deadlift-only block.
Update: The version originally posted here had some errors that resulted in 15 pound jumps occurring toward the end of the program instead of 10 pound jumps. This has been corrected in the spreadsheet shared below. Thanks to @will2lift for the fix!
Table of Contents
Mag Ort Spreadsheet
Mag Ort Deadlift Program FAQs
What is the Mag Ort deadlift program?
Mag Ort is an 11 to 12 week deadlift-only program built around one heavy pull session per week. Each week runs 4 sets of 4 at 70%, two heavy doubles at 80% and 90%, then a back-off set at 70% for at least 8 reps. It only covers the deadlift, so you’ll need to handle squat and bench work elsewhere.
How often do you deadlift on Mag Ort?
Once a week. A full week between deadlift sessions gives you time to recover from the heavy doubles and the back-off set, so the intensity can stay high throughout the whole 11 to 12 weeks.
Is Mag Ort 11 weeks or 12 weeks?
Both versions exist depending on whether you want to test your max at the end. Run it for 11 weeks if you just want the volume and want to stop after the final rest week, or add a 12th week to retest your deadlift. Most lifters who want a number to show for the block run the full 12 weeks.
Who should run Mag Ort?
This is a good fit if you already have solid deadlift technique and want to specialize on the pull for a few months. You’ll be hitting doubles at 90% every single week, so you need to recover well from frequent heavy near-max sets. If you’re newer to lifting or your squat and bench need just as much attention, a program with more balanced volume across all three lifts will serve you better.
What happens if you miss your rep target?
You repeat the week instead of moving forward. The program is built around hitting 8 or more reps on the final back-off set each week. Hit that and you add 10 lbs to your working numbers for the next week; miss it and you run the same week again until you clear it.
Can you run Mag Ort with squat and bench programming?
Yes, plenty of lifters pair it with a separate squat and bench routine since Mag Ort only programs the deadlift. Just keep an eye on your total recovery. The 80% and 90% deadlift work is taxing on its own, so stacking heavy squat or bench days on top of it can add up fast if you’re not managing volume elsewhere.
