Alright, so I made an account just to comment on this. I played this deck back in winter of 2011-fall 2012. So I can give some fair information.
Gerard Fabiano's list was fantastic. You're right, it doesn't have Lingering Souls... because the card didn't exist yet. Neither did Miracles, or Delver. Or Rest in Peace... not even Surgical Extraction. Also notice, no batterskull.
The list comes from right about the time Mirrodin Besieged was released. Spring of 2011 I think. The deck didn't run Swords to Plowshares mainboard because, at it's core, it didn't want to give the opponent life. Notice the 4 Vindicates, those will deal with more things than Swords to Plowshares. Bolt dealt with the small threats, vindicate dealt with everything else. Basilisk Collar on the Grim Lavamancers was a death knell to most creature decks.
So, while this deck wouldn't do very well today, at the time it was fantastic. If memory serves (I could be getting some facts wrong, I only played in my area), UW & UWR stoneblade were the top decks, followed by Grixis Reanimator, ANT/TES and Sneak & Show. (BTW, no Griselbrand yet... Sorry!) Legacy looked very different. Zoo, "Fish" and Goblins were still decent, Maverick & Death and Taxes were still finding their footing.
When printed, the deck would move to include Lingering Souls, Liliana of the Veil & Batterskull.
Also he totally ran Gerrards Verdict because it was his name.. but the card did decently.
* Right as I'm about to hit post, I see this thread is 2 years old... damn. I hope you still play Mardu Stoneblade.
Gerard Fabiano's list was fantastic. You're right, it doesn't have Lingering Souls... because the card didn't exist yet. Neither did Miracles, or Delver. Or Rest in Peace... not even Surgical Extraction. Also notice, no batterskull.
The list comes from right about the time Mirrodin Besieged was released. Spring of 2011 I think. The deck didn't run Swords to Plowshares mainboard because, at it's core, it didn't want to give the opponent life. Notice the 4 Vindicates, those will deal with more things than Swords to Plowshares. Bolt dealt with the small threats, vindicate dealt with everything else. Basilisk Collar on the Grim Lavamancers was a death knell to most creature decks.
So, while this deck wouldn't do very well today, at the time it was fantastic. If memory serves (I could be getting some facts wrong, I only played in my area), UW & UWR stoneblade were the top decks, followed by Grixis Reanimator, ANT/TES and Sneak & Show. (BTW, no Griselbrand yet... Sorry!) Legacy looked very different. Zoo, "Fish" and Goblins were still decent, Maverick & Death and Taxes were still finding their footing.
When printed, the deck would move to include Lingering Souls, Liliana of the Veil & Batterskull.
Also he totally ran Gerrards Verdict because it was his name.. but the card did decently.
* Right as I'm about to hit post, I see this thread is 2 years old... damn. I hope you still play Mardu Stoneblade.