This is a fairly straightforward tribal aggro deck that I've built for when I'm randomly paired into underpowered pods during FNM. Feedback and ideas are welcomed, thanks in advance.
Fair point. So far this is a rough draft, I'll be removing underperformers for cards like Wear // Tear and Vandalblast. Any specific suggestions other than those 2?
cathar's crusade would be a nice addition. I would cut a feel mana intensive cards like Gatekeeper of Malakir and original kalitas since this is a 3 color deck. Pain Magnification also feels not sinergetic, as the other cards don't care about discarding stuff.
Anointed Procession does give 2 tokens for 1 and Ashnod's Altar makes them help you cast edgar quicker. Eldrazi Monument is ease to feed if vampire tokens keep coming, maybe some wrath effects and vindicate-like effects would round the deck midrange plan by nuking quickier threats.
You could add some late finishers like sanguine bond/Cliffhaven Vampire + Exquisite Blood, and have access to better draw engines then Mentor of the Meek exploring black imo, but overall it looks solid.
Ok, so for cuts so far I'm thinking - Mentor the Meek, Tragic Slip, Pain Magnification, Condemn, and Mana Vault.
I agree that I need more card draw but I'm not sure Phyrexian Arena or Greed will get me there... suggestions?
I'll slot in Vindicate and Anguished Unmaking for more versatile removal. Eldrazi Monument and Cathar's Crusade are pretty mana hungry with no access to green mana ramp though.
I may try Annointed Procession but I'm not very focused on token production and an extra card slot just to produce 2x 1/1 tokens doesn't seem worth it unless I decide to go the Ashnod's Altar route. If I go with Ashnod's/Phyrexian altar I'd probably go Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos in addition with less spot removal... only time and testing will tell.
Maybe slate of ancestry? It should be able to draw you 3-4 cards per activation.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
G Azusa, Lost but Seeking G UG Tishana, Voice of Thunder GU UBW Sen Triplets WBU WUBGAtraxa, Praetors' Voice GBUW WUBRGJodah, Archmage Eternal GRBUW GWR Mayael the Anima RWG RWB Edgar Markov BWR WG Gaddok Teeg GW W Oketra the True W
--- My Decklist Folder
I'm still wanting to test Pain Magnification as a way of equalizing hand size... the curse all my opponents aspect of the card as well as incentivising opponents to attack each other interests me.
Ok I've quickly come to the realization that I don't have enough mana-sinks for Mana Echoes. I also don't have the gas to fuel Door of Destinies and Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet eats removal as soon as he comes down and he eats up the whole turns mana.
However I'm running into a problem of too much life lost. I have 10 cards that gain life (8 creatures and 2 walkers) but I have 22 cards that lose life (9 fetches, 3 shocks, 2 painlands, and 8 cards that cost life to cast or activate!).
I need lifegain (or substitutes for existing cards) like a fish needs water. I'm going to make room for Exquisite Blood but I'm after suggestions for more lifegain and/or substitutes for life loss cards and 1 cut for exquisite blood please.
Out: Mana Echoes, Door of Destinies, and Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet
Do you use Dictate of Erebos, Grave Pact, and sac outlets in your build? I've considered this route but steered clear due to attemting to power this list down a bit.
I like Dark Prophecy and Vampiric Rites but it's hard to rely on death triggers and saccing in my build. These both seem great if I went the Gravepact route but life is a more manageable commodity in my build. I appreciate the suggestions and I'll keep them in mind as options though.
Holy crap. Maybe I should run Grave Pact and Dictate haha. But in all honesty, my meta is a very mixed bag. Half the games I play in are actually creature light so I tend to avoid Grave Pact and Dictate unless I run a sac outlet from the command zone. They are great cards but a tad high up on the curve, even if I consider my list casual. They are too expensive to cast only to end up dead in half the games I play. I would probably stick with Deluge and Harsh Mercy.
The reason why I run so many sac outlets is that I have a fairly high creature count so Edgar will provide a steady stream of fodder that we can turn into value off engines such as Attrition, Skullclamp and Sadistic Hypnotist.
You might want to add Falkenrath Noble for some more life gain while protecting yourself from a suicidal Dark Prophecy. Sangromancer, which you already run, can also gain us some bizarre amounts of life.
I also run Malakir Bloodwitch. It's no Gary and I have thought of cutting it before but here's the thing: While it won't be killing the table as efficiently as Gary, it can still net you say an average of 15 life when it drops. Add any kind of recursion package (Phyrexian Reclamation, Oversold Cemetery, etc.) and you've got yourself a steady source of life gain and drain.
If you're desperate for more life gain, I would replace Blood Baron of Vizkopa with Whip of Erebos. It's not the best in here since you probably won't be able to abuse the reanimation ability but paying 4 mana to give your army lifelink is not bad if you really want it.
Why remove Toxic Deluge though? I'm trying to find space for it in my list. It's just too powerful to ignore and Avacyn, Angel of Hope needs to die.
That or Sudden Spoiling which, honestly, I think is just better than Teferi's Protection. I'm definitely not jumping on that hype train. Sure, Angel's Grace which can save your board is nice. But Sudden Spoiling is way, way, way more versatile. Fog? Yep. One-sided wrath? Yeah. About to combo off, bro? Nope. You got counters? Nah B.
Toxic Deluge went away due to too much aggression with my life total. As I mentioned above, I have 22 cards that lower my life and only 10 that gain it back. I kept Austere Command in due to it's versatility. I've got several options in the boardwipe department and that slot will change around for testing several wipes. It also may change back to deluge once I get an Exquisite Blood.
Sudden Spoiling is a card I love but it wouldn't replace Teferis Protection. Teferis is here for anti-boardwipe along with Boros Charm. Also Sudden Spoiling doesn't remove +1+1 counters, they'd be 0/2 + their counters still. It's still a card I usually run in most black decks so it may find a spot. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
Good thing you picked Sisay up at $5, she jumped to $60
I was going to say that but felt it more suitable for another thread hahahaha
But seriously - congrats on the haul!
~Lil Kalki
I know, I checked an unsorted but price marked stack at my lgs and found the ftv version and a japanese original.
I let the store owner know they'd gone up but he honored the marked price anyways. I was nice and pulled out the 2nd one so he could put a new pricetag on it (I went for the ftv foil).
I've been going to this store (Game Grid in Utah) for about 5 years because the owner and his son are AMAZING so I'm on a first name basis, have the son's cell number, and can literally step behind the counter to help myself or other customers if they're busy.
6 Edgar Markov
Creatures: 34
1 Indulgent Aristocrat
2 Metallic Mimic
2 Blood Artist
2 Gifted Aetherborn
2 Vampire Hexmage
2 Bloodcrazed Paladin
2 Tithe Drinker
3 Adaptive Automaton
3 Mirror Entity
3 Rakish Heir
3 Yahenni Undying Partisan
3 Captivating Vampire
3 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3 Vampire Nighthawk
3 Pawn of Ulamog
3 Stromkirk Captain
3 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
4 Sangromancer
4 Bloodline Keeper
4 Mirri the Cursed
4 Olivia Voldaren
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Sanctum Seeker
5 Bishop of Rebirth
5 Bloodlord of Vaasgoth
5 Anowon, the Ruin Sage
5 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
5 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
5 Malakir Bloodwitch
6 Patron of the Vein
6 Necropolis Regent
0 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
2 Talisman of Indulgence
2 Boros Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Herald's Horn
3 Heirloom Blade
Instants: 7
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Enlightened Tutor
2 Boros Charm
3 Teferi's Protection
3 Anguished Unmaking
Enchantments: 8
1 Reconnaissance
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
2 Cover of Darkness
3 Shared Animosity
3 Dark Prophecy
3 Necropotence
4 Greed
5 Exquisite Blood
Planeswalker: 1
4 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Sorceries: 4
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Diabolic Intent
3 Harsh Mercy
6 Austere Command
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Marsh Flats
1 Arid Mesa
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Flooded Strand
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Windswept Heath
1 Polluted Delta
1 Badlands
1 Plateau
1 Scrubland
1 Godless Shrine
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Blood Crypt
10 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Mana Confluence
1 Command Tower
1 City of Brass
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
Anointed Procession does give 2 tokens for 1 and Ashnod's Altar makes them help you cast edgar quicker. Eldrazi Monument is ease to feed if vampire tokens keep coming, maybe some wrath effects and vindicate-like effects would round the deck midrange plan by nuking quickier threats.
You could add some late finishers like sanguine bond/Cliffhaven Vampire + Exquisite Blood, and have access to better draw engines then Mentor of the Meek exploring black imo, but overall it looks solid.
I agree that I need more card draw but I'm not sure Phyrexian Arena or Greed will get me there... suggestions?
I'll slot in Vindicate and Anguished Unmaking for more versatile removal. Eldrazi Monument and Cathar's Crusade are pretty mana hungry with no access to green mana ramp though.
I may try Annointed Procession but I'm not very focused on token production and an extra card slot just to produce 2x 1/1 tokens doesn't seem worth it unless I decide to go the Ashnod's Altar route. If I go with Ashnod's/Phyrexian altar I'd probably go Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos in addition with less spot removal... only time and testing will tell.
My main need right now is more card draw though.
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
UG Tishana, Voice of Thunder GU
UBW Sen Triplets WBU
WUBGAtraxa, Praetors' Voice GBUW
WUBRGJodah, Archmage Eternal GRBUW
GWR Mayael the Anima RWG
RWB Edgar Markov BWR
WG Gaddok Teeg GW
W Oketra the True W
---
My Decklist Folder
Wow, good idea. Now I wish I still had a foil copy.
Out: Condemn, Tragic Slip, Mentor the Meek, and Mana Vault
In: Enlightened Tutor, Vindicate, Anguished Unmaking, and Phyrexian Arena (placeholder until I get Slate of Ancestry again).
I'm still wanting to test Pain Magnification as a way of equalizing hand size... the curse all my opponents aspect of the card as well as incentivising opponents to attack each other interests me.
Nope, mephidross just muddles the tribal aspect of the deck and makes things less consistant. I appreciate the suggestion though.
In: Shared Animosity and Mana Echoes
"The Six"
Patron of the Moon
Ghoulcaller Gisa
Daretti, Scrap Savant
Karametra, God of Harvests
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest
Vorel of the Hull Clade
I need more card draw so I'm thinking Erebos, God of the Dead.
I also need some boardwipes but I'm undecided which to run. I'm thinking 2x of the following: Toxic Deluge, Damnation, Blasphemous Act, Austere Command, or Merciless Eviction... thoughts on which 2?
However I'm running into a problem of too much life lost. I have 10 cards that gain life (8 creatures and 2 walkers) but I have 22 cards that lose life (9 fetches, 3 shocks, 2 painlands, and 8 cards that cost life to cast or activate!).
I need lifegain (or substitutes for existing cards) like a fish needs water. I'm going to make room for Exquisite Blood but I'm after suggestions for more lifegain and/or substitutes for life loss cards and 1 cut for exquisite blood please.
Out: Mana Echoes, Door of Destinies, and Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet
In: Greed, Toxic Deluge, and Austere Command
Do you use Dictate of Erebos, Grave Pact, and sac outlets in your build? I've considered this route but steered clear due to attemting to power this list down a bit.
I like Dark Prophecy and Vampiric Rites but it's hard to rely on death triggers and saccing in my build. These both seem great if I went the Gravepact route but life is a more manageable commodity in my build. I appreciate the suggestions and I'll keep them in mind as options though.
Attrition
Indulgent Aristocrat
Sadistic Hypnotist
Bloodflow Connoisseur
Indulgent Aristocrat
Voldaren Pariah
Bloodthrone Vampire
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Crovax the Cursed
Viscera Seer
Vampiric Rites
Holy crap. Maybe I should run Grave Pact and Dictate haha. But in all honesty, my meta is a very mixed bag. Half the games I play in are actually creature light so I tend to avoid Grave Pact and Dictate unless I run a sac outlet from the command zone. They are great cards but a tad high up on the curve, even if I consider my list casual. They are too expensive to cast only to end up dead in half the games I play. I would probably stick with Deluge and Harsh Mercy.
The reason why I run so many sac outlets is that I have a fairly high creature count so Edgar will provide a steady stream of fodder that we can turn into value off engines such as Attrition, Skullclamp and Sadistic Hypnotist.
You might want to add Falkenrath Noble for some more life gain while protecting yourself from a suicidal Dark Prophecy. Sangromancer, which you already run, can also gain us some bizarre amounts of life.
I also run Malakir Bloodwitch. It's no Gary and I have thought of cutting it before but here's the thing: While it won't be killing the table as efficiently as Gary, it can still net you say an average of 15 life when it drops. Add any kind of recursion package (Phyrexian Reclamation, Oversold Cemetery, etc.) and you've got yourself a steady source of life gain and drain.
If you're desperate for more life gain, I would replace Blood Baron of Vizkopa with Whip of Erebos. It's not the best in here since you probably won't be able to abuse the reanimation ability but paying 4 mana to give your army lifelink is not bad if you really want it.
So in: Harsh Mercy
And out: Tocic Deluge
Why remove Toxic Deluge though? I'm trying to find space for it in my list. It's just too powerful to ignore and Avacyn, Angel of Hope needs to die.
That or Sudden Spoiling which, honestly, I think is just better than Teferi's Protection. I'm definitely not jumping on that hype train. Sure, Angel's Grace which can save your board is nice. But Sudden Spoiling is way, way, way more versatile. Fog? Yep. One-sided wrath? Yeah. About to combo off, bro? Nope. You got counters? Nah B.
It's just bonkers.
Sudden Spoiling is a card I love but it wouldn't replace Teferis Protection. Teferis is here for anti-boardwipe along with Boros Charm. Also Sudden Spoiling doesn't remove +1+1 counters, they'd be 0/2 + their counters still. It's still a card I usually run in most black decks so it may find a spot. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
Good thing you picked Sisay up at $5, she jumped to $60
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
But seriously - congrats on the haul!
~Lil Kalki
Proud Disciple of the Church of the Wary
I know, I checked an unsorted but price marked stack at my lgs and found the ftv version and a japanese original.
I let the store owner know they'd gone up but he honored the marked price anyways. I was nice and pulled out the 2nd one so he could put a new pricetag on it (I went for the ftv foil).
I've been going to this store (Game Grid in Utah) for about 5 years because the owner and his son are AMAZING so I'm on a first name basis, have the son's cell number, and can literally step behind the counter to help myself or other customers if they're busy.
6 Edgar Markov
Creatures: 34
1 Indulgent Aristocrat
2 Metallic Mimic
2 Blood Artist
2 Gifted Aetherborn
2 Vampire Hexmage
2 Bloodcrazed Paladin
2 Tithe Drinker
3 Adaptive Automaton
3 Mirror Entity
3 Rakish Heir
3 Yahenni Undying Partisan
3 Captivating Vampire
3 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3 Vampire Nighthawk
3 Pawn of Ulamog
3 Stromkirk Captain
3 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
4 Sangromancer
4 Bloodline Keeper
4 Mirri the Cursed
4 Olivia Voldaren
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Sanctum Seeker
5 Bishop of Rebirth
5 Bloodlord of Vaasgoth
5 Anowon, the Ruin Sage
5 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
5 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
5 Malakir Bloodwitch
6 Patron of the Vein
6 Necropolis Regent
0 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
2 Talisman of Indulgence
2 Boros Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Herald's Horn
3 Heirloom Blade
Instants: 7
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Enlightened Tutor
2 Boros Charm
3 Teferi's Protection
3 Anguished Unmaking
Enchantments: 8
1 Reconnaissance
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
2 Cover of Darkness
3 Shared Animosity
3 Dark Prophecy
3 Necropotence
4 Greed
5 Exquisite Blood
Planeswalker: 1
4 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Sorceries: 4
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Diabolic Intent
3 Harsh Mercy
6 Austere Command
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Marsh Flats
1 Arid Mesa
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Flooded Strand
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Windswept Heath
1 Polluted Delta
1 Badlands
1 Plateau
1 Scrubland
1 Godless Shrine
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Blood Crypt
10 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Mana Confluence
1 Command Tower
1 City of Brass
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel