This is my first post here, so let me introduce myself. I am an old school player (95-2003) that just over a month ago got back into playing through a random conversation with a coworker. He is my main competition outside of the occasional draft at Channel Fireball which I do enjoy. Anyways, He is 8 years younger than me, and my collection was/is much larger than his. So to keep a competitive balance between us I have limited my deck building to pre 8th edition cards only (which is when I stopped playing/buying/collecting anyways). We only play Legacy heads up, and I have 5 mono colored decks which I have always had and have been tweaking since I first started playing when I was 9 years old. I know that if I went full on into competitive legacy today the deck I would most enjoy playing (if money was no object) is reanimator. So much fun in so many ways. The following deck list is my best attempt at making a legal/affordable/mono black deck:
CREATURES-these are the best 2 pre 8th edition creatures I have found, one from the ground and one from the sky. Hypnox (4) Phantom Nishoba (4)
8
REANIMATE- no interest in reanimate (the card), since my opponent packs lot's of removal/disablers with his white cards I have no interest in large life sacrafices Exhume (4) Animate Dead (4) Necromancy (4)
12
PROTECTION- This is the best defensive tandem I have found for mono black. I use Duress as a pre counterspell to get my opponent to dump removal/disablers and infest stops my vulnerability to total creatures Duress (4) Infest (4)
8
I would love to hear ideas on how you the community would improve this deck within my criteria:
pre 8th edition cards only
mono black (except for creatures)
BUDGET! (no cards that cost more than $9 each)
You have a pretty good start here, just a few quick nit-picks.
You want your protection spells to be able to also serve as discard outlets. Duress is a great card, but in a bind it wont pitch a fatty for you. I would suggest Unmask, or Funeral Charm instead. The charm doesn't let you pick which card your opponent loses, but you can use it to kill small creatures, or to target yourself and bin a fatty.
I think you can find some better fatties. At the very least, you want to spread the love a bit, and give yourself more options. Avatar Of Woe is a great card that should be included, as is Akroma, Angel of Wrath. Others to consider are Crater Hellion, Petradon, Spirit of the Night, and Verdant Force. Old school reanimator decks used to run a mix of most, if not all of, these creatures, as well as the Nishoba that you already have.
Finally, I think you have too many reanimate spells? I wouldn't play more than 10, personally. You can take 2 out and add in 2 more discard outlets. Hidden Horror is fun, but there's also more Unmask style cards.
Thank you for replying to my post! I have just placed an order for a playset of Unmask, that is a fantastic card! I do have a set of Funeral Charm and greatly appreciate their flexibility. Avatar of Woe I feel like is a poor man's Visara the Dreadful, I would rather fly than have fear in case my opponent plays black. I keep getting mixed reports on Akroma, Angel of Wrath and Spirit of the Night. Some say they can't be reanimated with enchanments and some say can. I called Channel Fireball and one of their judges told me the creature would in fact die as soon as it is brought into play due to the protection from black, are they mistaken? Crater Hellion and Petradon do add nice variety, so I have ordered playsets of those as well. Hidden Horror is an interesting option as well, I just don't know what I'd give up to add it. Thanks again for all of your help!
Hey there! thinkign on Spirit of the night and Akroma, I hadn't considered that they have protection from black. I do remember seeing them in old school reanimator lists, but it must be because those lists also ran Exhume.
To link cards in the forum you have to use a card tag. Then typing your message, you can highlight the name of the card, then, use the card tag button at the top of the reply window. It's shown as a picture of a single magic card. You can also just wrap the card name in card tags yoruself. Just put an opening bracket [ then type "card", then a closing bracket ]. finally, write the cards name, then type an opening bracket [ then a slash / then type "card", and close the bracket again ]. In the end, it will look like this, only without the spaces: [ card]Dark Ritual[ /card].
I used to run a mono black reanimator list during that period of time. I think strands of night should be a consideration as a one or two of, and if you're going to run Akroma, or Spirit of the Night, one or two reanimate is recommended because you usually get value out of haste, even if they get plowed the turn after, and you can actually reanimate them with the card, Akroma, angel of Wrath is way too good to pass up in my opionion, that was the creature that made reanimator one of my favorite decks. Multani maro-Sorcer is also a good beater who protects himself, and one of my favorites. If you're running buried alive There is also the 2x Krosan Cloudscraper, sutured ghoul package, which will usually end the game in one turn unless they have an answer, I'm not sure if your opponent can handle that kind of pressure though. You buried alive for those three cards, then reanimate the ghoul.
Dance of the dead is subpar compared to animate dead but is still an option if you need alternates.
Strands of Night is definitely an interesting card that I might look to incorporate. I think adding 1 Sutured Ghoul would be a nice addition as well. I still don't think I'm comfortable with the risk Reanimate would bring with my criteria. There have definitely been creatures printed since 8th edition that are well worth the life hit, but I just don't know if Akroma, Angel of Wrath is worth the chance of that or getting stuck. Are there any other decent old school creatures with the hexproof qualities of Multani, Maro-Sorcerer?
Last Rites is a fantastic card except for the mana cost, and frankly I feel the same way about Insidious Dreams. Mental Note seems a little too random considering I'm only running 8 creatures. Tome Scour may be a little more useful, but it isn't pre 8th edition.
Updated list:
CREATURES-these are the 8 best pre 8th edition creatures that I have found, 4 from the ground and 4 from the sky. Akroma, Angel of Wrath- A kitchen sink creature who is worth the risk of not being able to reanimate with almost half of my reanimation spells Avatar of Hope- an invaluable blocker against multiple creatures (a situation I often find myself in) Avatar of Woe- A creature assassin with another form of evasion Multani, Maro-Sorcerer- Pure power, especially in the early game, plus he can't be targeted Phantom Nishoba- Read the text, speaks for itself Reya Dawnbringer- A must for an old school reanimator in my opinion Symbiotic Wurm- Go ahead and try to remove this beast! Thorn Elemental- 7 points of guaranteed damage, yes please!
REANIMATE- I have no interest in the card Reanimate, since my opponent packs lot's of removal/disablers with his white cards I have no interest in large life sacrafices Animate Dead (4) Exhume (4) Necromancy (1) Reanimate (1) Victimize (1)
PROTECTION- This is the best defensive group I have found for mono black. I use Duress as a pre counterspell to get my opponent to dump removal/disablers, while Infest and Mutilate limits my vulnerability to multiple creatures on the board. Duress (4) Infest (1) Mutilate (1)
I'm actually trying to see how consistently I can put 2 creatures on board turn 1 via dark dwellers and with omnath being first target around 3 - 4 creatures by turn 2.
bryanbogz, I would replace the cabal therapy and the gitaxian probe with Duress and putrid imp. I think you need more discard mechanics, plus Duress will protect you from counterspells just fine.
The therapy/probe package shouldn't be under estimated, therapy can discard a fattie from your hand, as well as hit multiple cards from the opponent's hand, and probe replaces itself.
This is my first post here, so let me introduce myself. I am an old school player (95-2003) that just over a month ago got back into playing through a random conversation with a coworker. He is my main competition outside of the occasional draft at Channel Fireball which I do enjoy. Anyways, He is 8 years younger than me, and my collection was/is much larger than his. So to keep a competitive balance between us I have limited my deck building to pre 8th edition cards only (which is when I stopped playing/buying/collecting anyways). We only play Legacy heads up, and I have 5 mono colored decks which I have always had and have been tweaking since I first started playing when I was 9 years old. I know that if I went full on into competitive legacy today the deck I would most enjoy playing (if money was no object) is reanimator. So much fun in so many ways. The following deck list is my best attempt at making a legal/affordable/mono black deck:
CREATURES-these are the best 2 pre 8th edition creatures I have found, one from the ground and one from the sky.
Hypnox (4)
Phantom Nishoba (4)
8
REANIMATE- no interest in reanimate (the card), since my opponent packs lot's of removal/disablers with his white cards I have no interest in large life sacrafices
Exhume (4)
Animate Dead (4)
Necromancy (4)
12
PROTECTION- This is the best defensive tandem I have found for mono black. I use Duress as a pre counterspell to get my opponent to dump removal/disablers and infest stops my vulnerability to total creatures
Duress (4)
Infest (4)
8
DISCARD/DIG- The best budget options IMO
Putrid Imp (4)
Buried Alive (4)
Rhystic Tutor (4)
12
LAND- Sweet and simple
Swamp (16)
Dark Ritual (4)
20
I would love to hear ideas on how you the community would improve this deck within my criteria:
pre 8th edition cards only
mono black (except for creatures)
BUDGET! (no cards that cost more than $9 each)
I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
You want your protection spells to be able to also serve as discard outlets. Duress is a great card, but in a bind it wont pitch a fatty for you. I would suggest Unmask, or Funeral Charm instead. The charm doesn't let you pick which card your opponent loses, but you can use it to kill small creatures, or to target yourself and bin a fatty.
I think you can find some better fatties. At the very least, you want to spread the love a bit, and give yourself more options. Avatar Of Woe is a great card that should be included, as is Akroma, Angel of Wrath. Others to consider are Crater Hellion, Petradon, Spirit of the Night, and Verdant Force. Old school reanimator decks used to run a mix of most, if not all of, these creatures, as well as the Nishoba that you already have.
Finally, I think you have too many reanimate spells? I wouldn't play more than 10, personally. You can take 2 out and add in 2 more discard outlets. Hidden Horror is fun, but there's also more Unmask style cards.
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Thank you for replying to my post! I have just placed an order for a playset of Unmask, that is a fantastic card! I do have a set of Funeral Charm and greatly appreciate their flexibility. Avatar of Woe I feel like is a poor man's Visara the Dreadful, I would rather fly than have fear in case my opponent plays black. I keep getting mixed reports on Akroma, Angel of Wrath and Spirit of the Night. Some say they can't be reanimated with enchanments and some say can. I called Channel Fireball and one of their judges told me the creature would in fact die as soon as it is brought into play due to the protection from black, are they mistaken? Crater Hellion and Petradon do add nice variety, so I have ordered playsets of those as well. Hidden Horror is an interesting option as well, I just don't know what I'd give up to add it. Thanks again for all of your help!
To link cards in the forum you have to use a card tag. Then typing your message, you can highlight the name of the card, then, use the card tag button at the top of the reply window. It's shown as a picture of a single magic card. You can also just wrap the card name in card tags yoruself. Just put an opening bracket [ then type "card", then a closing bracket ]. finally, write the cards name, then type an opening bracket [ then a slash / then type "card", and close the bracket again ]. In the end, it will look like this, only without the spaces: [ card]Dark Ritual[ /card].
Like Squandered Resources on Facebook for updates on article releases, deck lists, and more!
Getting Started in Legacy and Legacy Budget Primer 5!
Special thanks to Bornnover for the banner used in those articles.
Dance of the dead is subpar compared to animate dead but is still an option if you need alternates.
RIP Karn EDH
If you were willing to branch into blue, tombscour, mental note and careful study all would rock.
Commander decks
Nekusar, Trostani, Horde of notions, Merieke ri beret, Talruum, Sidesi, Shattergang brothers, Shirei, Deretti, Azusa, Sigurda, Geist of st. Traft, Bw enchantments[/spoiler]
-And others under construction
CREATURES-these are the 8 best pre 8th edition creatures that I have found, 4 from the ground and 4 from the sky.
Akroma, Angel of Wrath- A kitchen sink creature who is worth the risk of not being able to reanimate with almost half of my reanimation spells
Avatar of Hope- an invaluable blocker against multiple creatures (a situation I often find myself in)
Avatar of Woe- A creature assassin with another form of evasion
Multani, Maro-Sorcerer- Pure power, especially in the early game, plus he can't be targeted
Phantom Nishoba- Read the text, speaks for itself
Reya Dawnbringer- A must for an old school reanimator in my opinion
Symbiotic Wurm- Go ahead and try to remove this beast!
Thorn Elemental- 7 points of guaranteed damage, yes please!
REANIMATE- I have no interest in the card Reanimate, since my opponent packs lot's of removal/disablers with his white cards I have no interest in large life sacrafices
Animate Dead (4)
Exhume (4)
Necromancy (1)
Reanimate (1)
Victimize (1)
PROTECTION- This is the best defensive group I have found for mono black. I use Duress as a pre counterspell to get my opponent to dump removal/disablers, while Infest and Mutilate limits my vulnerability to multiple creatures on the board.
Duress (4)
Infest (1)
Mutilate (1)
DISCARD/DIG- The best budget options IMO
Buried Alive (4)
Putrid Imp (4)
Rhystic Tutor (4)
GAMECHANGERS- Phyrexian Arena turn 1 provides a huge advantage, while Living Death is a definite win condition in the mid to late game.
Living Death (1)
Phyrexian Arena (1)
MANA- Sweet and simple
Dark Ritual (4)
Swamp (16)
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 omnath locus of rage
1 goblin dark dwellers
1 inkwell leviathan
1 ashen rider
1 sire of insanity
1 sheoldred, the whispering one
4 animate dead
2 reanimate
4 gitaxian probe
4 cabal therapy
4 entomb
4 buried alive
4 dark ritual
4 lotus petal
2 unmask
12 swamps
I'm actually trying to see how consistently I can put 2 creatures on board turn 1 via dark dwellers and with omnath being first target around 3 - 4 creatures by turn 2.
RIP Karn EDH