MTG Salvation

This deck has been a project of mine since Planeshift. When I first saw Draco I knew it would pair well with my favorite creature, Volrath the Fallen . I began collecting an assortment of cards that would work well with Volrath, never really knowing if I would actually put a deck together. Then came the explosion of EDH, and the deck has been growing (hopefully) stronger over the last half-decade.

This deck is extremely fast, deadly, and resilient. It does very well in multiplayer, and exceptionally well in "one on one" competition. Being Mono-Black, it does lack decent removal for some pesky enchantments and artifacts. Karn Liberated and All Is Dust were added to give additional protection from these. However, the best course of action is simply to ramp up and kill the controlling player.

Volrath the Fallen is the primary win condition of this deck. He's also a very good discard engine for necro and other graveyard utilities. This deck has also been designed to run perfectly fine should he get "tucked" or end up under Arrest or simply unplayable.

If you like the list, or find some inspiration here for a build of your own, let me know! Likewise send me any criticisms or ideas! This deck is always changing, and updates will go here as well as my Tapped Out page (Where you can also vote for it )

Arranged by purpose...

• Shizo, Death's Storehouse
  
• Rogue's Passage
  
• Whispersilk Cloak
  
• Fleetfeather Sandals
  
• Rime Transfusion
  
• Filth
  
• Sword of Light and Shadow
  
• Sword of Feast and Famine

• Hall of the Bandit Lord
  
• Lightning Greaves
  
• Swiftfoot Boots
  
• Fleetfeather Sandals
  
• Winding Canyons
  
• Vedalken Orrery
  
• Chariot of Victory

• Mana Crypt
  
• Lotus Petal
  
• Mana Vault
  
• Sol Ring
  
• Jet Medallion
  
• Crypt Ghast
  
• Bubbling Muck
  
• Grim Monolith
  
• Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
  
• Dark Ritual
  
• Cabal Coffers
  
• Lake of the Dead
  
• Ancient Tomb
  
• Black Market
  
• Sword of Feast and Famine

• Damnation
  
• Decree of Pain
  
• Toxic Deluge
  
• All Is Dust
  
• AEther Snap
  
• Pestilence Demon

• Vampiric Tutor
  
• Demonic Tutor
  
• Diabolic Tutor
  
• Beseech the Queen
  
• Expedition Map
  
• Rune-Scarred Demon

• Phyrexian Arena
  
• Graveborn Muse
  
• Decree of Pain
  
• Greed
  
• Erebos, God of the Dead
  
• Scroll Rack

Creatures to discard to Volrath's ability...

16 - Draco
12 - Blightsteel Colossus
12 - It That Betrays
11 - Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
11 - Darksteel Colossus
11 - Pathrazer of Ulamog
11 - Hypnox
10 - Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
9 - Artisan of Kozilek
9 - Spirit of the Night
8 - Avatar of Woe
8 - Pestilence Demon
7 - Phage the Untouchable
7 - Sheoldred, Whispering One
7 - Rune-Scarred Demon
6 - Ob Nixilis, Unshackled

What to look for in an opening hand...

1: Mana. This deck runs best when you keep a hand with 3 mana producing lands, or two and a good rock. NEVER keep a two land hand. Volrath is hungry for black mana, and three swamps (or other black mana producers) are ideal to start out the game. Don't treat Dark Ritual or Lotus Petal as you would a permanent mana source. Your goal early game should be putting together a stable mana base, and installing the groundwork (equipment, ramp, protection, haste, etc) for Volrath and his colleagues to do work.

2: Do you have a way to make Volrath deal lethal damage in a single swing? Everything else considered, in a typical Commander/EDH game you'll be able to play your general with minimal need for luck. If you can get Volrath out and an opponent opens up, this can be all you need. Draco is the most efficient card in the deck for doing this. Two giant creatures, or one giant creature and a Tainted Strike also mean Volrath will be swinging for lethal damage. (Even if you can't kill them in a single attack, any creature with a CMC of 9 or higher puts your opponent on a 1 turn clock from Volrath alone)

3: Assuming you can make Volrath lethal, will he be able to get through for the win? Cards that grant evasion are worth their weight in gold. I only rate evasion higher than haste because haste is no good with a blocker in the way. It should also highlight just how good and underrated Fleetfeather Sandals is. If you need to be unblockable on the cheap, nothing beats feeding Volrath Filth while your opponent is sitting on some swamps (Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth anyone?) Though Rime Transfusion comes close, at a total cost of 3 mana to be unblockable, and the +2/+1 is a nice bonus.

4: As mentioned above, haste really deserves the #3 spot. But, without evasion it might not be enough unless it's still early in the game. "Sneaking" Volrath into play right before your turn begins is the most effective way to get around that pesky summoning sickness. It also leaves you plenty of mana to make things happen. Vedalken Orrery and Winding Canyons are great for this. Alternatively, there are plenty of cards that grant haste, including a land that does it for the low cost of 3 life: Hall of the Bandit Lord (And what good is mono black if you don't pay at least half your life in a single game?)

5: Protect your investment. Look for cards to keep Volrath in play, and to continue the assault. Sword of Light and Shadow gives Volrath protection from lots of targeted removal, and gives him back that Draco that just took an opponent out of the game (and enjoy that 3 life bonus). The Sword of Feast and Famine also protects from black removal, and the protection from green is a nice bit of evasion. When you go in big, keep in mind your second main phase will be filled with untapped lands at your disposal! Imp's Mischief can make an opponent's answer backfire on them in a big way. And as always, don't forget hexproof and shroud.

Lots of equipment in this deck grant multiple benefits from this list. Tutor for and play the best equipment or lands (Shizo, Death's Storehouse , Hall of the Bandit Lord , Winding Canyons , etc) for the situation you are in.