So we were playtesting yesterday, having a sess involving gw aggro, saito naya, human naya, human reanimator, rdw, esper control, and what I threw together, a rakdos zombie list. We did not play much, but I went relatively well, going:
5-2 v Saito Naya
4-1 v Esper Control
4-2 v Human Reanimator
1-0 v RDW
4-1 v GW aggro.
We did not have a rwu list, would have been good. So what did my list have?
It had two main deck Victim of Night. Also, 4 hellhole flailers. 4 Knight of Infamies. 3 Geralf's. 1 Hellrider. 3 Falkenrath. And pretty standard fare. 3 Skullcrack MD, but tempted to cut one for something else. The deck felt good, 23 lands with 3 or 4 Mountains, it was all pretty good. Still had 4 sign in bloods, just so good, so good, only time it is a bit weaker is obviously v rdw and in fast aggro matchups, though can side into more pillars (1 md I think). So yeah, dunno, I feel like this deck is not totally dead yet, will take it to a few standard events and see how I go. Atm there are mainly modern events, so will see how that goes...bit of cockatrice, maybe
I'm saying direct damage is not good when your opponent is at 12+ life because your creatures barely contributed to reducing your opponents life total.
Sure you could, in theory, have 12+ points of burn in your hand, but how many times have you had 12+ points of burn in your hand that you can cast in time to not die to Thragtusk, Restoration Angel, Geist of Saint Traft beats?
with a blood artist in the field, 2 red sources and 1 black you can cast 2 vexing devil for 10 (and 2 lifegain) and a bump in the night
very situational, but possible.
I can vouch for that
Vexing Devil > rakdos Cackler: Vexing Devil, is far around best 1-drop than rakdos cackler, it prove to be a large threat to deal or a cheap 4 damage to head (5 and 1 life gain with a blood artist). Yes, its R specific cost its painful some times but worthwile
The removal spells (Victim of nitght, Ultimate Price): are clearly better than 3 damage only from Searing Spear in the 2-slot beacause they can kill a large creature (our biggest problem) easily, Ultimate Price can kill almost everything except the multicolored witch victim of night can kill it (the only exception is huntmaster, but it can easily killed with a pillar of flames)
Killing Wave is so good: if he hits for X=4 or X=5 (generally against aggro) generaly it cleans all the board, and you doenst matter because your blood artist stille lets to your oponnent a lose of life and you can alwalys sac your guys because they come back to deal more damage (Geralf, Gravecrawler). Another important with him is when your opponent is in certain range and you have a blood artist (or two) and certain number of creatures you can only do a Killing Wave with X=0 and not paying "0 life" for your creatures, sac all and do the final damage with the blood artist thrigger
Hellrider: This guy (that i included in my last tournament) is really amazing how sinergyzes with the rest of the creatures in the deck. its haste joined with their ability allows you to "shock" or "searing spear" your oponnent just attacking. In the best case, you wanna kill your oponnent witouht hitting your attack. I'm thinking cut 1 falkenrath to add another hellrider. Remenber, blood artist doenst have defender
Finally the sideboard, it depends of the meta, here is no jund neither UWR, in their place, are UR delver/control (with Guttersnipe), UW Humans, GW Aggro, and Frites
The Knithgs of infamy are extremely good against Humans (UW or GW) they stop silverblade paladin and elite inquisitor and kill him witouth problem. Normally side-in by diregraf ghoul
Also, in this mathups the extra killing wave and the bonfire can be the key of our victory, cleaning the board and attacking for lethal. watch out, Bonfire is a last resource not always good in this matchup (its preferable against tokens)
slaughter games and dreadbore agaisnt control: the control mathcup depends on our start hand, but in the last cases we have to remove or kill their win cons (entreat, jaces, the ****ing guttersnipe)
Slaughter games are also good removing (post sideboard) our opponent sideboard (knights of glory, grafdigger cage, etc)
can you post the list?
with a blood artist in the field, 2 red sources and 1 black you can cast 2 vexing devil for 10 (and 2 lifegain) and a bump in the night
very situational, but possible.
I can vouch for that
4 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Rakdos Guildgate
10 Swamp
Creatures 24
4 Gravecrawler
4 Diregraf Ghoul
4 Vexing Devil
4 Blood Artist
4 Geralf's Messenger
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
1 Hellrider
3 Pillar of Flame
4 Bump in the Night
2 Victim of Night
2 Ulimate Price
3 Brimstone Volley
1 Killing Wave
4 Knight of infamy
1 Dreadbore
2 Tragic Slip
1 Killing Wave
2 Slaughter games
3 Tormod's Crypt
2 Bonfire of The dammed
a Few things:
Vexing Devil > rakdos Cackler: Vexing Devil, is far around best 1-drop than rakdos cackler, it prove to be a large threat to deal or a cheap 4 damage to head (5 and 1 life gain with a blood artist). Yes, its R specific cost its painful some times but worthwile
The removal spells (Victim of nitght, Ultimate Price): are clearly better than 3 damage only from Searing Spear in the 2-slot beacause they can kill a large creature (our biggest problem) easily, Ultimate Price can kill almost everything except the multicolored witch victim of night can kill it (the only exception is huntmaster, but it can easily killed with a pillar of flames)
Killing Wave is so good: if he hits for X=4 or X=5 (generally against aggro) generaly it cleans all the board, and you doenst matter because your blood artist stille lets to your oponnent a lose of life and you can alwalys sac your guys because they come back to deal more damage (Geralf, Gravecrawler). Another important with him is when your opponent is in certain range and you have a blood artist (or two) and certain number of creatures you can only do a Killing Wave with X=0 and not paying "0 life" for your creatures, sac all and do the final damage with the blood artist thrigger
Hellrider: This guy (that i included in my last tournament) is really amazing how sinergyzes with the rest of the creatures in the deck. its haste joined with their ability allows you to "shock" or "searing spear" your oponnent just attacking. In the best case, you wanna kill your oponnent witouht hitting your attack. I'm thinking cut 1 falkenrath to add another hellrider. Remenber, blood artist doenst have defender
Finally the sideboard, it depends of the meta, here is no jund neither UWR, in their place, are UR delver/control (with Guttersnipe), UW Humans, GW Aggro, and Frites
The Knithgs of infamy are extremely good against Humans (UW or GW) they stop silverblade paladin and elite inquisitor and kill him witouth problem. Normally side-in by diregraf ghoul
Also, in this mathups the extra killing wave and the bonfire can be the key of our victory, cleaning the board and attacking for lethal. watch out, Bonfire is a last resource not always good in this matchup (its preferable against tokens)
Tragic Slip, Tormod's Crypt and Slaughter Games against Frites: removing their win cons, and killing their mana dorks,
slaughter games and dreadbore agaisnt control: the control mathcup depends on our start hand, but in the last cases we have to remove or kill their win cons (entreat, jaces, the ****ing guttersnipe)
Slaughter games are also good removing (post sideboard) our opponent sideboard (knights of glory, grafdigger cage, etc)