It seems like there's a billion monoblack deck threads on the casual boards right now. Fio and Vess started a movement apparently. I'm interested in people take on my deck. It's mainly aimed at multiplayer games over duels, and winning is nice but to me its much more about annoying the piss out of whoever else is playing with me. So without further ado
thanks for marking my deck up properly for me. Abyssal Persecutor looks real nice with the number of ways I have to get rid of him once I've gotten my use out of him. Playing too many lands was a conscious choice, I'm the only one in my group who plays with more than 20 lands, and I wanna make sure I can take advantage of raping their land drops while destroying some of my own. Damnation is out of my budget but I'd look into picking up Mutilate. What do you think I should drop for it? Innocent Blood, Maybe?
True but your top deck would be predictable and unfortunately it will hamper the cards you need... Unless you're willing to throw in Phyrexian Arena or Dark Confidant
I've never really played Pox/Stax/Braids type decks so I don't know the build too well, but I'll give it my best shot
I was thinking I would want to keep Volrath's Strongholding Solemn Simulcrum once I had Braids, Cabal Minion on the board. Do I not want to do that?
That's fine I guess. A little mana intensive since that'll be 6 mana every turn to keep that constantly going but you'll be accellerating lands. Keep in mind that every non-basic land you add you're making Mutilate and cards like Tendrils of Corruption weaker. You're probably going to be sacrificing your own creatures often to smallpox/pox/Innocent Blood and if it's a simulacrum it's fine, but it looks like you're sort of screwing yourself over a bit. Volrath's will get your stuff back but is really slow.
What was your plan with Skullclamp and Lightning Greaves in your original build? They aren't just good in a vacuum... were you going to equip creatures with the clamp then sac them? Because there are more reliable ways of generating card advantage if you only are running 12 creatures. Furthermore, Lightning Greaves doesn't have any good targets...are you using it for shroud? I don't see what they are doing. As it stands now, playing Sign in Blood would be more effective than playing Skullclamp in your original deck list (SiB draws you two cards when you play it. Skullclamp sits there when you play it, you play a creature turn 3 or 4, equip skullclamp the next turn, the next turn you play a sac spell, then you get your two cards? Too many hoops, man), and Lightning Greaves I see as being pretty useless.
The Bloodghast suggestion with Skullclamp is nice. He also has great synergy with Solemn Simulacrum. If you play Bloodghast, you don't really need greaves because half the time he'll have haste hopefully.
On almost every board I post (except for forum games) I ask people: what are you trying to do? What is your game plan? It looks like you're trying to clear your enemies board and hand then use your utility creatures eventually as a slow 2/2 based win condition, using solemn simulacrum to keep you ahead on the land and hand count. I'll agree with everyone else in saying you need a win condition, and since you have a lot of sacrifice Abyssal Persecutor is expensive (money not mana) but effective. If you can't afford that, Skeletal Vampire has always been a wonderful control finisher.
For additional draw think about Sign in Blood, I don't think this deck wants Innocent Blood but maybe wants some non-symmetrical targeted removal that will buy you some life with Tendrils of Corruption.
Originally Lightning Greaves was in there so that I could either protect braids or give my Gatekeepers and Simulacrums haste so that they could attack inbetween me playing them and saccing them to braids on my next turns upkeep. Trying to get the most I could out of them.
I mean you're right about skullclamp sitting there dead on turns 2 and 3, but it seems like once I start using it I'll be using it a lot if I stay with my recurring things with Volrath's Stronghold.
Abyssal Persecutor is pretty badass here and does some interesting things in multiplayer if I understand the rules right. But alas I don't have the budget for such a thing.
Edit: I do really like Bloodghast though. I guess I can start looking for some in trades.
Also, one of the keys to a sucessful Braids deck is getting her online as soon as possible and keeping her online. I suggest cards like Sol ring, Mana Vault, Mana Crypt, Demonic tutor, Vampiric Tutor, etc.
I guess it just depends on what you goal really is and then how willing you are to focus on that goal. I have been thinking about building a Braids deck again myself. There are so many cards that are good on their own that are busted with Braids.
Oh, Epochrasite is a nice creature that works with Braids as well. It is far less expensive than Bloodghast as well
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"Whatever style you wish to play, be it fast and frenzied or slow and tactical, the surest way to defeat your opponent consistently is by dominating him or her in the war of card advantage." - Brian Wiseman, April 1996
The problem with that is it makes you ditch cards too. If Volrath's Stronghold is already in the deck you might as well abuse the hell out of it and run Augur of Skulls/Morunwhelk/Ravenous Rats to do your bidding.
No you don't want to do that. I understand the premise, but you are using the wrong cards. I think it would be far more advantageous to use Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, for what you are trying to accomplish.
As far as Pox goes it's really good early on but as the game continues you are going to want a bit more control over what you are sacing off. I would suggest you look into Death Cloud instead. That way once your Stax are online you can dictate the conditions of what gets nerfed so you are leaving yourself in the best possible position.
Also if you are playing mostly multiplayer it stands to mention that Fleshbag Marauder should be in the Gatekeeper of Malakir slot. That way it will hit everyone.
I am still not feeling Lightning Greaves. I just don't see the point in it. I know you said it was to protected Braids, Cabal Minion, and to let you swing with your Solemn Simulcrum, but there are problems with that.
First if you heed my advice and run Korlash, Heir to Blackblade over Solemn Simulcrum, there will be no need to give it haste. Second, Braids really doesn't need much protecting, unless your meta is filled with heavy burn. She is immune to almost all forms of Black removal, and the ones that would get her, are going to get her without targeting her. It's really a dead card.
I would really like to see the Barron Moor go, away. I don't really care where, so long as they go away. Either run Cabal Coffers (if you are running Nether Traitor), or just replace them with a couple basic Swamp. Why? Well because Barren Moor is not tutorable regardless of what you are running, and early game you really want that land drop, to be untapped.
Lastly (for now) you want some kind of tutoring in here so you can grab pieces of what you need (Braids, Cabal Minion/Volrath's Stronghold/something that I mentioned above.). Ideally it should be Demonic Tutor, but really it can be Beseech the Queen, or Liliana Vess (Yeah I have to get that random plug in, sorry). Consistency wins games, period.
I am going to wait and see how you answer to add moar......
BTW that's priceless sig material, thanks.
What's really funny is when I originally saw the thread I was like "great another MBC Thread, I am going to let this one go." Not realizing I was being called out, lol.
4x Hymn to Tourach
4x Smallpox
4x Pox
3x Innocent Blood
4x Skullclamp
2x Lightning Greaves
4x Braids, Cabal Minion
4x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Solemn Simulacrum
2x Volrath's Stronghold
4x Barren Moor
21x Swamp
Successfully annoying?
4x Smallpox
4x Pox
3x Innocent Blood
2x Lightning Greaves
4x Braids, Cabal Minion
4x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Solemn Simulacrum
4x Barren Moor
21x Swamp
And you kinda have an over abundance of lands and not enough wincons.
Abyssal Persecutor and Lightning Greaves is an assenine combo.
Bottomless Pit, Necrogen Mists, and Cunning Lethemancer says hi to discard woes.
Sasky for the Sig.
I am in your [PACK]. Watching you... do... something.
Edit:
-3 Swamp
+3 Mutilate
You can drop the Volrath's Stronghold though. Retrieval isn't that well used and slows down the game.
Bloodghast + Skullclamp is going to be oh so fun since you're keeping Solemn Simulacrum" target="blank">Solemn Simulacrum Sure land every turn.
Tombstalker for the swing as well... since you'll be sacking a lot...
Sasky for the Sig.
I am in your [PACK]. Watching you... do... something.
and get rid of Innocent Blood Smallpox will already do that and more.
Sasky for the Sig.
I am in your [PACK]. Watching you... do... something.
That's fine I guess. A little mana intensive since that'll be 6 mana every turn to keep that constantly going but you'll be accellerating lands. Keep in mind that every non-basic land you add you're making Mutilate and cards like Tendrils of Corruption weaker. You're probably going to be sacrificing your own creatures often to smallpox/pox/Innocent Blood and if it's a simulacrum it's fine, but it looks like you're sort of screwing yourself over a bit. Volrath's will get your stuff back but is really slow.
What was your plan with Skullclamp and Lightning Greaves in your original build? They aren't just good in a vacuum... were you going to equip creatures with the clamp then sac them? Because there are more reliable ways of generating card advantage if you only are running 12 creatures. Furthermore, Lightning Greaves doesn't have any good targets...are you using it for shroud? I don't see what they are doing. As it stands now, playing Sign in Blood would be more effective than playing Skullclamp in your original deck list (SiB draws you two cards when you play it. Skullclamp sits there when you play it, you play a creature turn 3 or 4, equip skullclamp the next turn, the next turn you play a sac spell, then you get your two cards? Too many hoops, man), and Lightning Greaves I see as being pretty useless.
The Bloodghast suggestion with Skullclamp is nice. He also has great synergy with Solemn Simulacrum. If you play Bloodghast, you don't really need greaves because half the time he'll have haste hopefully.
On almost every board I post (except for forum games) I ask people: what are you trying to do? What is your game plan? It looks like you're trying to clear your enemies board and hand then use your utility creatures eventually as a slow 2/2 based win condition, using solemn simulacrum to keep you ahead on the land and hand count. I'll agree with everyone else in saying you need a win condition, and since you have a lot of sacrifice Abyssal Persecutor is expensive (money not mana) but effective. If you can't afford that, Skeletal Vampire has always been a wonderful control finisher.
For additional draw think about Sign in Blood, I don't think this deck wants Innocent Blood but maybe wants some non-symmetrical targeted removal that will buy you some life with Tendrils of Corruption.
Fattycakes Zombie of Clan Limited
Originally Lightning Greaves was in there so that I could either protect braids or give my Gatekeepers and Simulacrums haste so that they could attack inbetween me playing them and saccing them to braids on my next turns upkeep. Trying to get the most I could out of them.
I mean you're right about skullclamp sitting there dead on turns 2 and 3, but it seems like once I start using it I'll be using it a lot if I stay with my recurring things with Volrath's Stronghold.
Abyssal Persecutor is pretty badass here and does some interesting things in multiplayer if I understand the rules right. But alas I don't have the budget for such a thing.
Edit: I do really like Bloodghast though. I guess I can start looking for some in trades.
Also, one of the keys to a sucessful Braids deck is getting her online as soon as possible and keeping her online. I suggest cards like Sol ring, Mana Vault, Mana Crypt, Demonic tutor, Vampiric Tutor, etc.
I guess it just depends on what you goal really is and then how willing you are to focus on that goal. I have been thinking about building a Braids deck again myself. There are so many cards that are good on their own that are busted with Braids.
Oh, Epochrasite is a nice creature that works with Braids as well. It is far less expensive than Bloodghast as well
Ever one is talking Bloodghast, but I say look more to Nether Traitor. Bloodghast is good, but limited. Nether Traitor is only limited to the amount of mana you have to bump into it.
If you have seen some of the other decks I have posted on you can see the advantages.
If you haven't seen, look HERE.
All of those suggestions were based on a budget build, but the Nether Traitor part still stands true.
The problem with that is it makes you ditch cards too. If Volrath's Stronghold is already in the deck you might as well abuse the hell out of it and run Augur of Skulls/Morunwhelk/Ravenous Rats to do your bidding.
No you don't want to do that. I understand the premise, but you are using the wrong cards. I think it would be far more advantageous to use Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, for what you are trying to accomplish.
As far as Pox goes it's really good early on but as the game continues you are going to want a bit more control over what you are sacing off. I would suggest you look into Death Cloud instead. That way once your Stax are online you can dictate the conditions of what gets nerfed so you are leaving yourself in the best possible position.
Also if you are playing mostly multiplayer it stands to mention that Fleshbag Marauder should be in the Gatekeeper of Malakir slot. That way it will hit everyone.
I am still not feeling Lightning Greaves. I just don't see the point in it. I know you said it was to protected Braids, Cabal Minion, and to let you swing with your Solemn Simulcrum, but there are problems with that.
First if you heed my advice and run Korlash, Heir to Blackblade over Solemn Simulcrum, there will be no need to give it haste. Second, Braids really doesn't need much protecting, unless your meta is filled with heavy burn. She is immune to almost all forms of Black removal, and the ones that would get her, are going to get her without targeting her. It's really a dead card.
I would really like to see the Barron Moor go, away. I don't really care where, so long as they go away. Either run Cabal Coffers (if you are running Nether Traitor), or just replace them with a couple basic Swamp. Why? Well because Barren Moor is not tutorable regardless of what you are running, and early game you really want that land drop, to be untapped.
Lastly (for now) you want some kind of tutoring in here so you can grab pieces of what you need (Braids, Cabal Minion/Volrath's Stronghold/something that I mentioned above.). Ideally it should be Demonic Tutor, but really it can be Beseech the Queen, or Liliana Vess (Yeah I have to get that random plug in, sorry). Consistency wins games, period.
I am going to wait and see how you answer to add moar......
BTW that's priceless sig material, thanks.
What's really funny is when I originally saw the thread I was like "great another MBC Thread, I am going to let this one go." Not realizing I was being called out, lol.
Trade Thread