So for a while now I've been playing a Grixis Goryo's Vengeance deck and have enjoyed it a lot, but I've noticed that the deck has a sort of indentity ciris. I've tried to adjust for this in my own brew, but haven't been able to get to a smooth list. For reference, here's what I would consider a stock list of the deck: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1045017#paper.
The main problem I see with the deck list is that it can't decide if it wants to go for a Goryo's Vengeance or a Through the Breach plan. As Goryo's Vengeance is the card with the lower CMC it's obious you'd prefer to use that card over Through the Breach, but these strategies don't mesh that well.
The other problem is the deck's power level. Cheating an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn into play is often quite good, but also more difficult than Griselbrand. And Griseldaddy doesn't automatically let you win the game.
The solution to this would be to simply play Grishoalbrand, right? Well, you'd be correct to say that, as the deck is certainly quite powerful. But for me it's too much of a glass cannon. I'd like something more consistent.
The idea I've come up with is the fusion of 2 decks: Grixis Goryo's Vengeance and Grixis Death's Shadow. Instead of going full-on combo, I though a more midrange-y approach might work for the deck. I believe that out of all Grixis decks Death's Shadow has had the most success, so that's why I went for it. Grixis control was also a consideration though. For reference, this is what I'd consider a stock Grixis Death's Shadow list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-grixis-death-s-shadow-46465#paper.
I'll continue here to explain some of the card choises. As we're playing Death's Shadow we need to include enough ways to lose life. Therefore I opted to copy the entire manabase and add the usual cards of a Grixis Death's Shadow deck such as: Thoughtseize, Street Wraith and Dismember. A bonus here is that Griselbrand might also enable us to play Death's Shadow! Stubborn Denial is here for the usual protection, Thought Scour for card drawing and to fill up the graveyard and Fatal Push for removal. Getting this part of the deck and jamming in 4x Griselbrands and 4x Goryo's Vengeance was the easy part.
The part of the deck I'm less sure of is the creature suite and the discard outlets. Apart from the aforementioned creatures I decided to add 2x Gurmag Anglers, 1x Snapcaster Mage and 2x Lazav, the Multifarious to the deck.
Whilst casting the big zombie fish requires us to eat our graveyard, I do believe it's correct to add this to the list, as the deck would otherwise be light on threats when a Griselbrand would get stuck in our hand. And from watching coverage Grixis Death's Shadow can reaally durdle around when it can't find it's threats. So that was another reason for upping the amount of big threats is the deck.
Snapcaster Mage was copied form the Grixis Death's Shadow list too, as it is an extra copy of any spell you've already cast, making it a very useful card.
Lazav, the Multifarious is a complete wild card. The reason for adding the card is because it might surveil a Griselbrand into the graveyard and later in the game it can become a Death's Shadow, provided that there's one in the graveyard. That said, I think the card might be a bit underpowered and perhaps the second (or both) copy/copies should be another Gurmag Angler, Snapcaster Mage or perhaps another card altogether.
As for discard outlets, it's: Faithless Looting, Chart a Course and Lightning Axe. Excluding other ways to get a Griselbrand into the graveyard, such as Thought Scour and Lazav, I have only 5 cards (excluding flashback Faithless Looting) to "get rid" of a Griselbrand from my hand, which feels kinda low. Faithless Looting is strong card for this job, but as it's card filtering and we only want to bin Griselbrand, I'm wary of upping the count. Apart from these cards I've also considered Collective Brutality and Funeral Charm (you can target yourself), but I don't think it's what the deck needs.
Lastly, I'd like to talk about Mausoleum Secrets. I think the card really shines in a deck like this. It can fetch basically anything you need for the low, low cost of 2 mana and 1-2 creatures in your graveyard, which shouldn't be that difficult if you don't delve them away with Gurmag. It also means that we could adjust our sideboard for this, as black cards can be found easier. Cards such as Surgical Extraction, Rakdos Charm, Unmoored Ego or Kolghan's Command can now be found easier.
Now, because this is a brew I have no idea if this deck would work at all. That's why I'd appreciate any feedback on the deck. The creatures and discard outlets are the points I'm especially wary of, but if there are some other glaring issues or perfect fits for the deck, let me know.
I think you're into something here but you have a couple nonbos here. Gurmag is awful since you typically need your graveyard for mausoleum secrets, Snapcaster and also Goryo's itself. You miss out considerably on the discard effects. I would start somewhere like this
Lazav seems really awkward for your list also. What is he copying besides Shadow? Doesn't seem worth. I've opted for no red in my main deck because I don't think it's worth the trouble. I used to play a similar deck with Smallpox also since it's a great way to cut your opponent off from resources but humans is not as popular as it used to be so I'm not sure about that now.
The main problem I see with the deck list is that it can't decide if it wants to go for a Goryo's Vengeance or a Through the Breach plan. As Goryo's Vengeance is the card with the lower CMC it's obious you'd prefer to use that card over Through the Breach, but these strategies don't mesh that well.
The other problem is the deck's power level. Cheating an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn into play is often quite good, but also more difficult than Griselbrand. And Griseldaddy doesn't automatically let you win the game.
The solution to this would be to simply play Grishoalbrand, right? Well, you'd be correct to say that, as the deck is certainly quite powerful. But for me it's too much of a glass cannon. I'd like something more consistent.
The idea I've come up with is the fusion of 2 decks: Grixis Goryo's Vengeance and Grixis Death's Shadow. Instead of going full-on combo, I though a more midrange-y approach might work for the deck. I believe that out of all Grixis decks Death's Shadow has had the most success, so that's why I went for it. Grixis control was also a consideration though. For reference, this is what I'd consider a stock Grixis Death's Shadow list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-grixis-death-s-shadow-46465#paper.
4 Death's Shadow
4 Street Wraith
4 Griselbrand
2 Gurmag Angler
2 Laza, the Multifarious
1 Snapcaster Mage
Instants (17)
4 Thought Scour
4 Goryo's Vengeance
2 Fatal Push
2 Dismember
2 Stubborn Denial
2 Mausoleum Secrets
1 Lightning Axe
4 Thoughtseize
2 Chart a Course
2 Faithless Looting
Lands (18)
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Polluted Deklta
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Watery Grave
2 Blood Crypt
1 Steam Vents
1 Island
1 Swamp
I'll continue here to explain some of the card choises. As we're playing Death's Shadow we need to include enough ways to lose life. Therefore I opted to copy the entire manabase and add the usual cards of a Grixis Death's Shadow deck such as: Thoughtseize, Street Wraith and Dismember. A bonus here is that Griselbrand might also enable us to play Death's Shadow! Stubborn Denial is here for the usual protection, Thought Scour for card drawing and to fill up the graveyard and Fatal Push for removal. Getting this part of the deck and jamming in 4x Griselbrands and 4x Goryo's Vengeance was the easy part.
The part of the deck I'm less sure of is the creature suite and the discard outlets. Apart from the aforementioned creatures I decided to add 2x Gurmag Anglers, 1x Snapcaster Mage and 2x Lazav, the Multifarious to the deck.
As for discard outlets, it's: Faithless Looting, Chart a Course and Lightning Axe. Excluding other ways to get a Griselbrand into the graveyard, such as Thought Scour and Lazav, I have only 5 cards (excluding flashback Faithless Looting) to "get rid" of a Griselbrand from my hand, which feels kinda low. Faithless Looting is strong card for this job, but as it's card filtering and we only want to bin Griselbrand, I'm wary of upping the count. Apart from these cards I've also considered Collective Brutality and Funeral Charm (you can target yourself), but I don't think it's what the deck needs.
Lastly, I'd like to talk about Mausoleum Secrets. I think the card really shines in a deck like this. It can fetch basically anything you need for the low, low cost of 2 mana and 1-2 creatures in your graveyard, which shouldn't be that difficult if you don't delve them away with Gurmag. It also means that we could adjust our sideboard for this, as black cards can be found easier. Cards such as Surgical Extraction, Rakdos Charm, Unmoored Ego or Kolghan's Command can now be found easier.
Now, because this is a brew I have no idea if this deck would work at all. That's why I'd appreciate any feedback on the deck. The creatures and discard outlets are the points I'm especially wary of, but if there are some other glaring issues or perfect fits for the deck, let me know.
4 Death's Shadow
4 Street Wraith
4 Griselbrand
3 Jace, Vryn's prodigy
1 Snapcaster Mage
Spells
4 Goryo's Vengeance
4 Thought scour
4 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Collective Brutality
3 Fatal Push
3 Stubborn Denial
2 Mausoleum Secrets
2 Dismember
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained mire
3 Flooded Strand
3 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Swamp
1 Island
Lazav seems really awkward for your list also. What is he copying besides Shadow? Doesn't seem worth. I've opted for no red in my main deck because I don't think it's worth the trouble. I used to play a similar deck with Smallpox also since it's a great way to cut your opponent off from resources but humans is not as popular as it used to be so I'm not sure about that now.
Draft My Cube!