These two theme decks are based on Greek tales of Orpheus' journey to the underworld to retrieve his love, Eurydice. They're heavy on flavor and I hope to make them more competitive while retaining as much flavor as possible. The decks cast your opponents as Orpheus, while the builds themselves represent what they have to endure to succeed.
Both decks are loaded with enchantments and artifacts, the first deck with Erebos in command and the second (under the spoiler) with Geth. Both utilize hand disruption with the Erebos deck featuring more traditional stax elements. If you're not quickly hated out, you will likely win the game. If you are quickly hated on, you still have a fighting chance. BE JUDICIOUS WHEN TRADING LIFE FOR CARDS!!! If you've never played mono-black control before, I strongly advise NOT dropping below 20 life with Erebos or Necropotence.
Though expensive, I'll miss Harrowing Journey. Its ability to target comes in handy more often than folks might think. The Anvil more than makes up for it, however. It was difficult deciding which Specter or reanimation spell to cut. I was trying to decide between Silent and Hypnotic, Animate and Necromancy. Ultimately, I opted for Necromancy's versatility and Hypnotic's random disruption factor.
So far, the deck has created some really interesting board states, especially when playing with U players. In one game, another player had Mana Breach out. Fun times!
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
This is a really cool idea, but I think you are jumping the gun a bit. Without Erebos released/spoiled, we can't really build anything around him. He may fit well, or be the world's best mono black voltron general for all we know.
As for the current list: I really like the theme, but trying to make it a theme deck means it won't be competitive, since you'll be using obsolete choices. Not necessarily a bad thing, as theme decks feel more unique than just another good stuff list.
Lastly, per your last post how does the deck run ATM? I see a ton of griefer cards, but not many ways to survive through them. Can you break down your playing a bit? Thanks!
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-C.S. Lewis
This is a really cool idea, but I think you are jumping the gun a bit. Without Erebos released/spoiled, we can't really build anything around him. He may fit well, or be the world's best mono black voltron general for all we know.
I'm building around the concept of Erebos. His mechanics are secondary.
As for the current list: I really like the theme, but trying to make it a theme deck means it won't be competitive, since you'll be using obsolete choices. Not necessarily a bad thing, as theme decks feel more unique than just another good stuff list.
You should take a closer look at my theme decks. Thematic restrictions breed creative competitiveness.
Lastly, per your last post how does the deck run ATM? I see a ton of griefer cards, but not many ways to survive through them. Can you break down your playing a bit? Thanks!
The deck has gone through daily changes since I originally posted it and I play it almost like a stax deck. I'll post more details when I have time. In short, I lock down the board and win through commander damage.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
I don't think you have enough creatures to get the full value out of Sword of Light and Shadow - what's essentially only four targets in the whole deck doesn't give you the full range of what the Sword's capable of. I think you could either drop it for something like Lashwrithe, which always gives your clock a massive boost and comes with a body, or put in a couple of self-sacrificing creatures (Fleshbag Marauder over a piece of removal, Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed over something that does the same thing as something else).
Megrim... is really bad. It's an irritation at best. It wants lots of Wheel of Fortune-style effects to really punish the table, and without even Memory Jar it won't ever do the work you want it to. Consider it a free spot to put something else in, or put in Quest for the Nihil Stone or Shrieking Affliction if you want to keep the slow bleed of damage.
Something I noticed with my mono-Black deck was that Myojin of Night's Reach always felt very, very slow in any opening hand that didn't also have a Cabal Coffers. I eventually replaced it with Mindslicer, which never fails to petrify entire tables when dropped on turn four. Obviously you have to be willing to lose your hand as well, but you're already running Death Cloud and a bunch of stax stuff, so you're probably not too afraid.
A card you might be able to fit into your theme is Phyrexian Etchings - not quite the same power level as Necropotence, but a very flavourful depiction of spiraling down the ladder to the deeper circles of Hell.
Overall, seems like a pretty cool deck though - looks very capable of choking the board out and winning with whatever slow source of damage you happen to have left. Here's hoping Erebos isn't a huge mana pig.
I don't think you have enough creatures to get the full value out of Sword of Light and Shadow - what's essentially only four targets in the whole deck doesn't give you the full range of what the Sword's capable of. I think you could either drop it for something like Lashwrithe, which always gives your clock a massive boost and comes with a body, or put in a couple of self-sacrificing creatures (Fleshbag Marauder over a piece of removal, Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed over something that does the same thing as something else).
First, THANK YOU for your detailed feedback. I asked and you delivered! (I would've responded sooner, but I've been busy trying to break Anax and Cymede.)
You're right about Sword of Light and Shadow. When I'm low on life, it doesn't save me and I'd much rather equip Inkmoth Nexus with Lashwrithe. Good call! Aside from Geth (whom I'll be swapping out for Erebos once he's spoiled), I want this to be a zombie-free deck, so the Marauder doesn't have a home here. Dun is more than I'm willing to pay for a card.
Megrim... is really bad. It's an irritation at best. It wants lots of Wheel of Fortune-style effects to really punish the table, and without even Memory Jar it won't ever do the work you want it to. Consider it a free spot to put something else in, or put in Quest for the Nihil Stone or Shrieking Affliction if you want to keep the slow bleed of damage.[/c]
Megrim is actually in there to take care of planeswalkers. (That's also why I'm running Consume Spirit.) Both Quest and Affliction are too conditional, whereas my opponents having to discard usually isn't.
Something I noticed with my mono-Black deck was that Myojin of Night's Reach always felt very, very slow in any opening hand that didn't also have a Cabal Coffers. I eventually replaced it with Mindslicer, which never fails to petrify entire tables when dropped on turn four. Obviously you have to be willing to lose your hand as well, but you're already running Death Cloud and a bunch of stax stuff, so you're probably not too afraid.
I wouldn't keep an opening hand with Reach. Mindslicer might drop faster, but it also requires me to either block or sac it.
A card you might be able to fit into your theme is Phyrexian Etchings - not quite the same power level as Necropotence, but a very flavourful depiction of spiraling down the ladder to the deeper circles of Hell.
I picked up Etchings at your suggestion but I haven't had a chance to test it yet. My last changes were adding Ancient Craving and Promise of Power and I want to play a few games before seeing if I need more card draw.
Overall, seems like a pretty cool deck though - looks very capable of choking the board out and winning with whatever slow source of damage you happen to have left. Here's hoping Erebos isn't a huge mana pig.
Thanks! I love grindy wins.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
My real-life playgroup only lets me use this deck once per session.
With the spoiling of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, and the presumption that Erebos will also feature devotion, I've added another decklist that is more enchantment focused. It's just like the original with the following changes:
ADDED
Black Market (with the addition of Æther, Requiem, and Titan, this will be insane)
I finally got a game in with the enchantment version. I kept track of how much devotion I (would've) had to get a feel for what it'll be like to actually play with Erebos (again, assuming that he has devotion). By turn 6, my devotion level was only 4 and that was across two separate permanents. Obviously, some changes were in order:
ADDED
Sorin Markov (gets me there faster and then helps offset life lost from various enchantments)
What do you think of Phyrexian Obliterator? Not sure how well it fits flavor wise, but it's 4 devotion from one card plus it can be quite scary with Lashwrithe.
What do you think of Phyrexian Obliterator? Not sure how well it fits flavor wise, but it's 4 devotion from one card plus it can be quite scary with Lashwrithe.
I think Obliterator might be stronger in a deck with more equipment. With only ten creatures in my 99, I need creatures that accomplish more (on their own). I just added Necropolis Regent. It fits the flavor of the deck, gives me 3 devotion, and helps out any other attacking creatures I have. Obliterator is just a selfish beatstick. When it dies, it's quickly forgotten.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
Have you considered Quest for the Nihil Stone since you are running a discard theme in your Erebos deck?
I would sooner run Shrieking Affliction. I run neither because both are too conditional. I have (some) control over my opponents discarding, but next to no control over how many cards they have in hand over the course of a game.
Things I've learned with this deck: Contamination/Reassembling Skeleton locks are boring, but effective. Few players run graveyard hate and fewer still have colorless answers to enchantments.
The solution? Put them out of their misery as soon as combo-ly possible and shuffle up for the next game.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
Hmm True, I just use Shrieking Affliction in mine as a conditional way to poke for three, though if the board state doesn't work for that, I would rather huck it with the Trading Post to get more life.
No Homeward Path for when Orpheus' dear Eurydice goes back to the underworld because he turned to see if she was still following him?
Hmm True, I just use Shrieking Affliction in mine as a conditional way to poke for three, though if the board state doesn't work for that, I would rather huck it with the Trading Post to get more life.
Maybe making my opponents lose three life and maybe having Trading Post out to discard a marginally useful card means that I should DEFINITELY think about cutting the chaff from my deck. At least discards can be forced and trigger Liliana's Caress and Megrim. In addition, Underworld Dreams (which you also run in your build) and Megrim can hit planeswalkers.
redthirst is redthirst, fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse. He was the leader of the Fires of Salvation, the only clan I'm aware of to get modded off the forums so hard they made their own forums.
Degenerate? Sure. Loudmouth? You bet. Law abiding? No ****ing way.
I would add in more lifegain and extort because every 2 points of life you gain in this deck equals a card/words of waste activation, given enough lifegain you could lock your opponents out of the game making them discard cards in their draw steps with words of waste
My game plan is to delay my opponents with disruption until I draw/tutor into my win conditions. Although my deck is capable of a soft lock via Contamination-Reassembling Skeleton/Bitterblossom, I would only tutor to complete this synergy if I already had one of the pieces in my hand. I'm not against locking folks out, it's just not a go-to tactic for me.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
I dropped Megrim for Bloodchief Ascension but I'm wondering if I'd be better served with Drain Life instead. Ascension seems too slow—it's been in and out of the deck—and by the time it's active, I feel as though either my opponents have removal ready or I'm already winning.
When this deck starts dealing damage, it generally wins within 3 turns or less.
Depends on how you want to play it.
How heavily devoted do you want to be the playstyle of "discard matters" while maintaining the fluff for this?
Also yeah, Siphoning effects like Drain Life do help as if your not at risk of General Damage then it would be how low your life total sinks. Not that Erebos supports gaining more life, just that by using him to keep your opponents life total low does help by allowing you to keep an advantage. Each Siphon spell is after all seen as its own Life Swing (1 for 1 = 2 Life swing) so if you Siphon say 10 you put an extra 20 point difference between you and your opponent as this is one of those rare generals that makes life matter more in EDH aside from the risk of EDH damage as one cannot simply "regain" it.
Do you have enough ways or not enough ways to deal with the potential threats that remain veiled in the hands of your opponents?
Well... Fluff = Story Bits
Right? Your deck is using the Greek story as the theme for it and portraying that threw cards, right? So how far is the line that justifies when you can step over it to make changes to the deck that don't fit with the story?
Quote from ChimericPisces »
Momo Kimura, I see what you did there.
Twin monks who rang church bells died. They were dead ringers.
Well... Fluff = Story Bits
Right? Your deck is using the Greek story as the theme for it and portraying that threw cards, right? So how far is the line that justifies when you can step over it to make changes to the deck that don't fit with the story?
Twin monks who rang church bells died. They were dead ringers.
-Peach Tree Village
Momo Kimura, you're alright!
I'm willing to make just about any changes that don't involve adding zombies. (Obviously, I've made the lone exception with Grave Titan, but it's still not a zombie in and of itself.)
What do you have in mind?
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I'm willing to make just about any changes that don't involve adding zombies. (Obviously, I've made the lone exception with Grave Titan, but it's still not a zombie in and of itself.)
What do you have in mind?
Black Sun's Zenith? The most annoying thing for Black in EDH is opposing things with indestructible that laugh off many of Black's sweepers which tend to be destroy creatures. (IE Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre or Blightsteel Colossus or Theros Gods)
If not, Mutilate is temporary but will only ever cost 2BB. I like it myself as I more often then not usually peak at 7 swamps late game and that is only after I hit three non-swamps as well. Depending on how much a threat you weigh in the mind of an opponent, Erebos either makes his "appearance" or you can feel his "presence".
Otherwise that Cabal Conditioning could be handy. Lets see, the Bloodchief Ascension like most cards either show up or don't during a game. Showing up early it is handy as you can cement yourself early on with a cheap target that is probably less expensive than the removal used for it. Sure mid-late game it can easily turn on, but usually either the armies are building or a big ol' looming threat is looking at what to squash next which may not as handy.
ORPHEUS' DESCENT
__________________________________________________________________________
Both decks are loaded with enchantments and artifacts, the first deck with Erebos in command and the second (under the spoiler) with Geth. Both utilize hand disruption with the Erebos deck featuring more traditional stax elements. If you're not quickly hated out, you will likely win the game. If you are quickly hated on, you still have a fighting chance. BE JUDICIOUS WHEN TRADING LIFE FOR CARDS!!! If you've never played mono-black control before, I strongly advise NOT dropping below 20 life with Erebos or Necropotence.
Erebus
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
EQUIPPING FOR THE JOURNEY…
1 Lashwrithe
1 Lightning Greaves
…AT THE AGORA
1 Black Market
1 Trading Post
AIAKOS, KEEPER OF THE KEYS
1 Sorin Markov
ORPHEUS' DESCENT
1 Descent into Madness
1 Gibbering Descent
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Underworld Connections
OF ORISONS AND ORACLES…
1 Sensei's Divining Top
INFERNAL KNOWLEDGE
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Necropotence
1 Vampiric Tutor
BLOODSHADE SACRIFICE
1 Exquisite Blood
1 Sanguine Bond
MELANCHOLIC MADNESS
1 Necrogen Mists
1 Oppression
CRIPPLING SORROW
1 Static Orb
1 Tangle Wire
1 Torpor Orb
1 Underworld Dreams
1 Winter Orb
ORPHEAN HOPES
1 Crucible of Worlds
TITANS OF DESPAIR
1 Grave Titan
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1 Bloodghast
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Nirkana Revenant
1 Reassembling Skeleton
PERSEPHONE'S BOUQUET
1 Bitterblossom
THREE-FACED HEKATE
1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana Vess
THE PERILS OF PERSEPHONE
1 All Is Dust
1 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Crux of Fate
1 Damnation
1 Death Cloud
1 Exsanguinate
1 Oblivion Stone
HADES' HINDRANCES
1 Ashes to Ashes
1 Gate to Phyrexia
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Snuff Out
PROMETHEAN GOLEM
1 Karn Liberated
THE VOID OF DEATH
1 Tormod's Crypt
"SPEED ME TOWARDS DEATH"
1 Basalt Monolith
1 Caged Sun
1 Clock of Omens
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Grim Monolith
1 Jet Medallion
1 Mana Vault
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Sol Ring
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Contamination
1 Infernal Darkness
PERSEPHONE'S DOMAIN
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Buried Ruin
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Ghost Quarter
1 High Market
1 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Lake of the Dead
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Strip Mine
20 Swamp
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Vesuva
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
Creature (7)
1x Bloodghast
1x Crypt Ghast
1x Grave Titan
1x Nirkana Revenant
1x Reassembling Skeleton
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Sorcery (8)
1x All Is Dust
1x Ashes to Ashes
1x Black Sun's Zenith
1x Crux of Fate
1x Damnation
1x Death Cloud
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Exsanguinate
Enchantment (15)
1x Bitterblossom
1x Black Market
1x Contamination
1x Descent into Madness
1x Exquisite Blood
1x Gate to Phyrexia
1x Gibbering Descent
1x Infernal Darkness
1x Necrogen Mists
1x Necropotence
1x Oppression
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Sanguine Bond
1x Underworld Connections
1x Underworld Dreams
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Snuff Out
1x Vampiric Tutor
Planeswalker (5)
1x Karn Liberated
1x Liliana of the Dark Realms
1x Liliana of the Veil
1x Liliana Vess
1x Sorin Markov
Artifact (22)
1x Basalt Monolith
1x Caged Sun
1x Clock of Omens
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Grim Monolith
1x Jet Medallion
1x Lashwrithe
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Mana Vault
1x Oblivion Stone
1x Rings of Brighthearth
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sol Ring
1x Static Orb
1x Tangle Wire
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Torpor Orb
1x Trading Post
1x Winter Orb
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Buried Ruin
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Ghost Quarter
1x High Market
1x Inkmoth Nexus
1x Lake of the Dead
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1x Polluted Delta
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Strip Mine
20x Swamp
1x Thespian's Stage
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Vesuva
Erebus
1x Geth, Lord of the Vault
EQUIPPING FOR THE JOURNEY…
1 Lashwrithe
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
…AT THE AGORA
1 Trading Post
ORPHEUS' DESCENT
1 Descent into Madness
1 Gibbering Descent
1 Possessed Portal
1 Underworld Connections
OF ORISONS AND ORACLES…
1 Sensei's Divining Top
INFERNAL KNOWLEDGE
1 Ancient Craving
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Revelation
1 Geth's Grimoire
1 Necropotence
1 Promise of Power
1 Vampiric Tutor
CERBERUS' LEFTOVERS
1 Ward of Bones
BLOODSHADE SACRIFICE
1 Exquisite Blood
1 Sanguine Bond
MELANCHOLIC MADNESS
1 Cabal Conditioning
1 Megrim
1 Oppression
CRIPPLING SORROW
1 Pithing Needle
1 Teferi's Puzzle Box
1 Torpor Orb
1 Underworld Dreams
1 Words of Waste
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Crucible of Worlds
AMBROSIAL NECTAR
1 Elixir of Immortality
TITANS OF DESPAIR
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
SHADES, SPIRITS, & SKELETONS
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Myojin of Night's Reach
1 Nirkana Revenant
1 Reassembling Skeleton
THREE-FACED HEKATE
1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana Vess
THE PERILS OF PERSEPHONE
1 All Is Dust
1 Damnation
1 Death Cloud
1 Decree of Pain
1 Exsanguinate
1 Oblivion Stone
HADES' HINDRANCES
1 Ashes to Ashes
1 Consume Spirit
1 Gate to Phyrexia
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Lethal Vapors
1 Snuff Out
1 Victim of Night
PROMETHEAN GOLEM
1 Karn Liberated
1 Tormod's Crypt
"SPEED ME TOWARDS DEATH"
1 Caged Sun
1 Coalition Relic
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Thran Dynamo
HADES' DARK DEPTHS
1 Infernal Darkness
PERSEPHONE'S DOMAIN
1 Blinkmoth Nexus
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Ghost Quarter
1 High Market
1 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Lake of the Dead
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Spawning Pool
1 Strip Mine
23 Swamp
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vesuva
1x Geth, Lord of the Vault
Creature (6)
1x Crypt Ghast
1x Myojin of Night's Reach
1x Nirkana Revenant
1x Reassembling Skeleton
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Sorcery (13)
1x All Is Dust
1x Ancient Craving
1x Ashes to Ashes
1x Beacon of Unrest
1x Cabal Conditioning
1x Consume Spirit
1x Damnation
1x Death Cloud
1x Decree of Pain
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Diabolic Revelation
1x Exsanguinate
1x Promise of Power
Enchantment (13)
1x Descent into Madness
1x Exquisite Blood
1x Gate to Phyrexia
1x Gibbering Descent
1x Infernal Darkness
1x Lethal Vapors
1x Megrim
1x Necropotence
1x Oppression
1x Sanguine Bond
1x Underworld Connections
1x Underworld Dreams
1x Words of Waste
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Snuff Out
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Victim of Night
Planeswalker (4)
1x Karn Liberated
1x Liliana of the Dark Realms
1x Liliana of the Veil
1x Liliana Vess
Artifact (21)
1x Caged Sun
1x Coalition Relic
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Elixir of Immortality
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Geth's Grimoire
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Lashwrithe
1x Oblivion Stone
1x Pithing Needle
1x Possessed Portal
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sol Ring
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Teferi's Puzzle Box
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Torpor Orb
1x Trading Post
1x Ward of Bones
1x Blinkmoth Nexus
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Ghost Quarter
1x High Market
1x Inkmoth Nexus
1x Lake of the Dead
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Spawning Pool
1x Strip Mine
23x Swamp
1x Thespian's Stage
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Vesuva
+Necrogen Mists, -Silent Specter
+Anvil of Bogardan, -Thran Dynamo
+Oppression, -Animate Dead
+Cabal Conditioning, -Hypnotic Specter
+Geth's Grimoire, -Reanimate
+Ghost-Lit Stalker, -Mind's Eye
+Death Cloud, -Infernal Tribute
+Crucible of Worlds, -Shimian Specter
+Sheoldred, Whispering One, -Beseech the Queen
+Bitterblossom, -Anvil of Bogardan
+Exsanguinate, -Diabolic Tutor
+Grave Titan, -Mana Web
+Contamination, -Necromancy
+Ward of Bones, -Artisan of Kozilek
+Infernal Darkness, -Rise of the Dark Realms
+Trading Post, -Ghost-Lit Stalker
+Gilded Lotus, -Liliana's Caress
+Thran Dynamo, -Megrim
+Coalition Relic, -Mindcrank
+Swamp, -Painful Quandary
+Decree of Pain, -Underworld Dreams
+Lethal Vapors, -Bitterblossom
+Pithing Needle, -Contamination
+Desolation, -Phrexian Reclamation
+Everflowing Chalice, -Necrogen Mists
+Inkmoth Nexus, -Swamp
+Blinkmoth Nexus, -Swamp
+Spawning Pool, -Swamp
+Exquisite Blood, -Tormented Soul
+Sanguine Bond, -Scythe Specter
+Mindcrank, -Desolation
+Megrim, -Grave Titan
+Underworld Dreams, -Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
+Swamp, -Hall of the Bandit Lord
+Swamp, -Volrath's Stronghold
+Promise of Power, -Mindcrank
+Ancient Craving, -Bloodchief Ascension
+Lashwrithe, -Sword of Light and Shadow
+Swamp, -Miren, the Moaning Well
Though expensive, I'll miss Harrowing Journey. Its ability to target comes in handy more often than folks might think. The Anvil more than makes up for it, however. It was difficult deciding which Specter or reanimation spell to cut. I was trying to decide between Silent and Hypnotic, Animate and Necromancy. Ultimately, I opted for Necromancy's versatility and Hypnotic's random disruption factor.
So far, the deck has created some really interesting board states, especially when playing with U players. In one game, another player had Mana Breach out. Fun times!
As for the current list: I really like the theme, but trying to make it a theme deck means it won't be competitive, since you'll be using obsolete choices. Not necessarily a bad thing, as theme decks feel more unique than just another good stuff list.
Lastly, per your last post how does the deck run ATM? I see a ton of griefer cards, but not many ways to survive through them. Can you break down your playing a bit? Thanks!
-C.S. Lewis
EDH
Obzedat - Still Alive
Retired - Nicol Bolas
You should take a closer look at my theme decks. Thematic restrictions breed creative competitiveness.
The deck has gone through daily changes since I originally posted it and I play it almost like a stax deck. I'll post more details when I have time. In short, I lock down the board and win through commander damage.
Megrim... is really bad. It's an irritation at best. It wants lots of Wheel of Fortune-style effects to really punish the table, and without even Memory Jar it won't ever do the work you want it to. Consider it a free spot to put something else in, or put in Quest for the Nihil Stone or Shrieking Affliction if you want to keep the slow bleed of damage.
Something I noticed with my mono-Black deck was that Myojin of Night's Reach always felt very, very slow in any opening hand that didn't also have a Cabal Coffers. I eventually replaced it with Mindslicer, which never fails to petrify entire tables when dropped on turn four. Obviously you have to be willing to lose your hand as well, but you're already running Death Cloud and a bunch of stax stuff, so you're probably not too afraid.
A card you might be able to fit into your theme is Phyrexian Etchings - not quite the same power level as Necropotence, but a very flavourful depiction of spiraling down the ladder to the deeper circles of Hell.
Overall, seems like a pretty cool deck though - looks very capable of choking the board out and winning with whatever slow source of damage you happen to have left. Here's hoping Erebos isn't a huge mana pig.
Erebos B | Ghost Council WB | Grimgrin UB | Jhoira UR
Jor Kadeen RW | Melek UR | Mimeoplasm GUB | Rasputin WU
Savra BG | Sisay GW | Teneb BGW | Thada Adel U | Wort BR
I draft and play EDH. If a Standard player can't understand who a card is for, it's probably for me.
I also write things about good films.
You're right about Sword of Light and Shadow. When I'm low on life, it doesn't save me and I'd much rather equip Inkmoth Nexus with Lashwrithe. Good call! Aside from Geth (whom I'll be swapping out for Erebos once he's spoiled), I want this to be a zombie-free deck, so the Marauder doesn't have a home here. Dun is more than I'm willing to pay for a card.
Megrim is actually in there to take care of planeswalkers. (That's also why I'm running Consume Spirit.) Both Quest and Affliction are too conditional, whereas my opponents having to discard usually isn't.
I wouldn't keep an opening hand with Reach. Mindslicer might drop faster, but it also requires me to either block or sac it.
I picked up Etchings at your suggestion but I haven't had a chance to test it yet. My last changes were adding Ancient Craving and Promise of Power and I want to play a few games before seeing if I need more card draw.
Thanks! I love grindy wins.
With the spoiling of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, and the presumption that Erebos will also feature devotion, I've added another decklist that is more enchantment focused. It's just like the original with the following changes:
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REMOVED
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Overall, I wanted to increase my number of threats. I'll be making more changes as more cards are spoiled and continuing to test what I have.
As always, SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED!
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Things I've learned with this deck: Contamination/Reassembling Skeleton locks are boring, but effective. Few players run graveyard hate and fewer still have colorless answers to enchantments.
The solution? Put them out of their misery as soon as combo-ly possible and shuffle up for the next game.
No Homeward Path for when Orpheus' dear Eurydice goes back to the underworld because he turned to see if she was still following him?
A flavorful suggestion that could easily be swapped in for a Nexus. However, it lacks synergy with Beacon of Unrest.
Well done, sir.
—Jaya Ballard, task mage
My game plan is to delay my opponents with disruption until I draw/tutor into my win conditions. Although my deck is capable of a soft lock via Contamination-Reassembling Skeleton/Bitterblossom, I would only tutor to complete this synergy if I already had one of the pieces in my hand. I'm not against locking folks out, it's just not a go-to tactic for me.
When this deck starts dealing damage, it generally wins within 3 turns or less.
I'm contemplating dropping Ascension for Reiver Demon or Drain Life, or putting Cabal Conditioning back in.
Thoughts?
How heavily devoted do you want to be the playstyle of "discard matters" while maintaining the fluff for this?
Also yeah, Siphoning effects like Drain Life do help as if your not at risk of General Damage then it would be how low your life total sinks. Not that Erebos supports gaining more life, just that by using him to keep your opponents life total low does help by allowing you to keep an advantage. Each Siphon spell is after all seen as its own Life Swing (1 for 1 = 2 Life swing) so if you Siphon say 10 you put an extra 20 point difference between you and your opponent as this is one of those rare generals that makes life matter more in EDH aside from the risk of EDH damage as one cannot simply "regain" it.
Do you have enough ways or not enough ways to deal with the potential threats that remain veiled in the hands of your opponents?
The only thing I'm devoted to is my Orpheus theme. I've been running Bloodchief Ascension for lifegain, but it hasn't been that necessary.
"…maintaining the fluff…"? I don't follow. Please elaborate/clarify.
Right? Your deck is using the Greek story as the theme for it and portraying that threw cards, right? So how far is the line that justifies when you can step over it to make changes to the deck that don't fit with the story?
Twin monks who rang church bells died. They were dead ringers.
-Peach Tree Village
I'm willing to make just about any changes that don't involve adding zombies. (Obviously, I've made the lone exception with Grave Titan, but it's still not a zombie in and of itself.)
What do you have in mind?
Black Sun's Zenith? The most annoying thing for Black in EDH is opposing things with indestructible that laugh off many of Black's sweepers which tend to be destroy creatures. (IE Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre or Blightsteel Colossus or Theros Gods)
If not, Mutilate is temporary but will only ever cost 2BB. I like it myself as I more often then not usually peak at 7 swamps late game and that is only after I hit three non-swamps as well. Depending on how much a threat you weigh in the mind of an opponent, Erebos either makes his "appearance" or you can feel his "presence".
Otherwise that Cabal Conditioning could be handy. Lets see, the Bloodchief Ascension like most cards either show up or don't during a game. Showing up early it is handy as you can cement yourself early on with a cheap target that is probably less expensive than the removal used for it. Sure mid-late game it can easily turn on, but usually either the armies are building or a big ol' looming threat is looking at what to squash next which may not as handy.
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