Good luck with Lacerator. Hope you like him. Mine might play better because they are foil Japanese though. Speaking of which, I'm not into pimp decks but I did start pimping out vamps last year just for fun, (as seen in my blog which I just updated). As a result of this conversation I just went on ebay and purchased two more full art Highborns and two FNM Magma Jets. $30 just like that.
As for Cavern, I run a full arsenal of instant/sorcery spells and only 22 lands so it's too risky. I would run it in a mono-black Nocturnus version though, where sticking Nocturnus usually results in a blowout.
Coming back to this, I really want it to work. I've found Jund to be a pretty rough matchup, any ideas on what we can side in against them? BR Vamps.
Jund is tough. Their creatures are bigger and meaner than ours. The Spirit Jund variant spews out tokens faster than we can cast our creatures, often making us 1-for-1/4 (!) their creatures.
I'm sideboard Corrosive Gale, but I am not sure that it is enough. Rakdos Charm also comes in, though it's really for GY and artifact hate. I've also starting spashing blue for Mizzium Skin, a very sweet but underrated card. It is laughing at the Pyroclasm, Path to Exile, Lighting Bolt your opponent just cast.
Speaking of Pyroclasm...why dont it see it in any sideboards to come in against Jund? People are wanting ways to deal with the sudden board from Bloodbraid, Souls, etc. It takes out almost every creature in their deck. Any lords will make our field survive(if youre runninb em), and even if it doesnt we have bloodghasts coming back. Can be a big hit from BA/KH as well. Alternatively Infest in case you cant swing the red for whatever reason.
Well, Pyroclasm is too dangerous for us. After all, we are supposed to out aggro them. Unless you run a midrange BW Vamp build (starting with Vampire Nighthawk), of course, but I never tried that in Modern.
Legacy:B The Gate // B Pox Modern:RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox EDH:RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal Tiny Leaders:BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
About gaining life, rain of gore is your card. Against leyline you don´t have any realistic solution beside of artifact removals like oblivion stone and the so.
You could always drop a layline of your own. Punishment in this case. But i guess that depends if youre feeling lucky or not.
A question for those going all in aggro, anybody getting any decent mileage out of Vendetta? I feel like in a meta where people largely forsake their own life that its a horribly underrated card. And black isnt exactly the most prominent color right now(i say in a primarily black thread). Maybe the condition forces it into the sideboard, but i still think it could find a good home.
Grafdigger's Cage - Mostly for the pod matchup, though more different grave based MUs could use it too. Rakdos Charm - A catchall for grave based strategies, some single artifact hate, or aggro. Sowing Salt - Tron. Best card for it. Tectonic Edge - Mostly in there for Jund. It's the best way I've found to combat them when they're running 4 colors. Shattering Spree - Affinity aggro gave me huge problems, and this hits it pretty hard. Damnation - For other serious aggro decks, fits well w/ Kalastria Highborn & Bloodghast.
There are a few times where I have a Vial/LB sitting on top of my deck w/ Nocturnus out, but overall the numbers are in his favor. He's always a huge boon, and sticking one usually results in a win.
Also, please note that this deck isn't as simple as playing guys on curve and beating. You almost never want to drop Highborn t2 for example, and sometimes Bloodghast t2 isn't the right play either. Vial is a huge aide, letting you sneak in creatures at the last second, or drop multiple creatures a turn w/ mana to spare. I've played two Nocturnus at once and beat for 6 w/ a Highborn. I'm probably going to test running Seer as a sac outlet for Highborn, though I dunno how viable that is; seems too clunky.
Questions, comments, critique welcome.
@Jwelt - Noble is definitely underwhelming, no reason to run him. If lifegain is really giving you that much trouble, Rain of Gore is your best option. White leyline shouldn't be a problem, since the majority of our damage is coming through beats. I'd cut the Blightnings & Blood Artists for another 2 terminates, and some Smothers or something. Blightning is too costly here for what it does, not to mention our t3/t4 is already crowded. I'd recommend throwing some Stromkirk Captains in there.
The strength of seer isnt in a sac outlet for Highborn. Not to say that its useless, but id call it an added bonus. The real power comes in scry1 with Nocturnus. Which essentially allows you to ditch the card you can already see(like a lategame vial), and try again for black.
I honestly wouldnt consider Nocturnus without seer over Lacerator.
The strength of seer isnt in a sac outlet for Highborn. Not to say that its useless, but id call it an added bonus. The real power comes in scry1 with Nocturnus. Which essentially allows you to ditch the card you can already see(like a lategame vial), and try again for black.
I honestly wouldnt consider Nocturnus without seer over Lacerator.
Unfortunately for Nocturnus, I haven't been able to use him effectively in B/R builds which I find stronger than mono-black. I like to think Seer + Magma Jet could make him viable though if the only mono red spells being run are x4 Lightning Bolt and x4 Jets. Even still, what does Nocturnus bring to the four spot that Aristocrat doesn't already do better..
Unfortunately for Nocturnus, I haven't been able to use him effectively in B/R builds which I find stronger than mono-black. I like to think Seer + Magma Jet could make him viable though if the only mono red spells being run are x4 Lightning Bolt and x4 Jets. Even still, what does Nocturnus bring to the four spot that Aristocrat doesn't already do better..
I completely agree. I was however referring to Muffunz' build, the post directly above mine. He's running Nocturnus already, but no seer. So I offered it up as a suggestion for a deck that already has Noct.
As for comparing Noct with Aristocrat...what? Thats like comparing Tarmagoyf with Birds of Paradise. Other then both being Vampires I fail to see any similarity. One flies innately, goes indestructible, has haste, and provides a sac outlet. The other gives you information to assist your draws, and provides power and evasion to your whole team while being bigger himself.
I completely agree. I was however referring to Muffunz' build, the post directly above mine. He's running Nocturnus already, but no seer. So I offered it up as a suggestion for a deck that already has Noct.
As for comparing Noct with Aristocrat...what? Thats like comparing Tarmagoyf with Birds of Paradise. Other then both being Vampires I fail to see any similarity. One flies innately, goes indestructible, has haste, and provides a sac outlet. The other gives you information to assist your draws, and provides power and evasion to your whole team while being bigger himself.
What are you curving out with at the four spot as your big pressure card/finisher?
It's the crucial question to answer when building vamps.
MB Nocturnus or BR Aristocrat?
If I was going to swap in 4x Seer, I'd probably drop the Vials, not the Lascerators. The Lascerators bring too much early game pressure, though the vials are such a huge tempo boost, I'd be wary of dropping either. Maybe Inquisition of Kozilek?
@Aeon - Like I said, I've had little trouble keeping Nocturnus turned on. Exactly half the deck can't turn him on, and that would drop lower if I switched out the Vials. What he has over Artistocrat is the fact that he turns all your other guys into pseudo-better Aristocrats. I've ran them both, and I definitely prefer Nocturnus in almost all situations.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
EDH WBRKaalia of the VastRBW BChainer, Dementia MasterB Legacy 0Manaless Dredge0 RGoblinsR Standard RBWThe AristocratsWBR
I did actually take a vampire-like list to GP Toronto and finished with a rather poor 5-4.
My excuse for the poor performance is I played real sloppy doing things like attacking into an untapped Thalia with my Confidant on turn 2.
It did seem to be a decent list. The only change I would immediately make is to take out 1 Bonfire and add in 1 Sword of Light and Shadow.
If you don't mind deviating from the vampire theme even more Geralf's Messenger would be good.
Turn 1 Deathrite
Turn 2 Messenger
Turn 3 Aristocrat = Turn 4 kill on the dot, which is a reasonable clock to put on a combo deck pre-sideboard.
At that point it's starting to feel more like Jund "Good Stuff" than vampires. There's no reason not to throw in some Blood Braid elves, and switch out the Bloodghasts for Goyfs. The reason we stick with the tribal restriction is Kalastria Highborn and our Lords, and the synergy between the vampires available.
As far as a clock for combo decks,
T1 - Land, Vampire Lascerator
T2 - Land, beat for 2 (18 left), Bloodghast
T3 - Land, Stromkirk Captain, beat for 6 (12 left)
T4 - Land, Vampire Nocturnus, beat for 14 in the air
At that point it's starting to feel more like Jund "Good Stuff" than vampires. There's no reason not to throw in some Blood Braid elves, and switch out the Bloodghasts for Goyfs. The reason we stick with the tribal restriction is Kalastria Highborn and our Lords, and the synergy between the vampires available.
Yeah, all that is true. But, it still felt semi-appropriate to post simply for reference. I am relying on synergies and a lot of them are among the vampires.
I dunno, what synergies are you really relying upon? Gatekeeper is just a Diabolic Edict on a stick, and Bloodghast is just a recurring beater. I suppose Bloodghast and Aristocrat have the obvious interaction, but that's only if you hit a land drop every turn, and honestly past t5 I'd rather be drawing into more threats/answers, not the ability to recur Bloodghast consistently.
Private Mod Note
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EDH WBRKaalia of the VastRBW BChainer, Dementia MasterB Legacy 0Manaless Dredge0 RGoblinsR Standard RBWThe AristocratsWBR
I dunno, what synergies are you really relying upon? Gatekeeper is just a Diabolic Edict on a stick, and Bloodghast is just a recurring beater. I suppose Bloodghast and Aristocrat have the obvious interaction, but that's only if you hit a land drop every turn, and honestly past t5 I'd rather be drawing into more threats/answers, not the ability to recur Bloodghast consistently.
Bloodghast is good with Liliana, Aristocrat and is good against opposing Lilianas so you can play yours.
Gatekeeper has good synergy with the other removal, Bonfires/Bolts clear out the small creatures so that the sac effects clear out the big creatures.
Also Gatekeeper ends up being an extra life for Aristocrat and doubles as a removal card that isn't completely dead against Eggs/Storm, though not ideal.
In general all the creatures fit the theme of... you can't use Jund color removal to deal with my creatures.
There are a lot of interactions with the cards in the deck that fall apart if not used in conjunction.
This deck plays well against Jund, UW w/life gain, exceptional vs tron, decent against artifact. Generally the plan is to disrupt and beat slowly, then swing in at the end with aristocrat or burn ftw - all while gaining a creature advantage with recursion and removal. It works really well.
Legacy:B The Gate // B Pox Modern:RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox EDH:RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal Tiny Leaders:BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
I d rather use blood artist than geralfs and swords than blightning
I've tried blood artist quite a bit, however it is simply not good enough. If it had at least 1 power, I would have kept them in but there were too many situations where I wanted to swing with it or block and couldn't just chump it. the small amount of gain/loss from its effect was not worth the inviable body - not to mention, my list is more control oriented, so they are likely discarding things that might have hit the field - making artist even less valuable in my particular situation.
The list I posted above (without Geralf's Messengers) is my most successful list yet - having tried many variations except those incorporating nocturnis. The messengers were a last minute tweak that was a mistake. Messenger simply doesn't belong in my deck - too costly for what it is in this deck, would rather play blightning, kicked gatekeeper, or lily on T3.
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Legacy:B The Gate // B Pox Modern:RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox EDH:RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal Tiny Leaders:BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
This deck plays well against Jund, UW w/life gain, exceptional vs tron, decent against artifact. Generally the plan is to disrupt and beat slowly, then swing in at the end with aristocrat or burn ftw - all while gaining a creature advantage with recursion and removal. It works really well.
Give it a try. Havent played any decks with the white leyline since last post...
I really like this deck, but I wonder - is Arc Trail really the best burn against small creatures? I see many white based decks based on Lingering Souls, which is why I sideboard Corrosive Gale, but I wish we had something else. I would also recommend more artifact hate, Shattering Spree comes to mind. Did you try it? Finally, I'm not so sold on Liliana of the Veil. The only synergy we have is through Bloodghast. I think I'd rather put in Chandra, the Firebrand for spells doubling.
I really like this deck, but I wonder - is Arc Trail really the best burn against small creatures? I see many white based decks based on Lingering Souls, which is why I sideboard Corrosive Gale, but I wish we had something else. I would also recommend more artifact hate, Shattering Spree comes to mind. Did you try it? Finally, I'm not so sold on Liliana of the Veil. The only synergy we have is through Bloodghast. I think I'd rather put in Chandra, the Firebrand for spells doubling.
Arc Trail has been very reliable for me in those matchups - I haven't lost to a deck running Lingering souls in a while (Ive maybe played 3 this week?). I think Arc Trail is more versitile against many archetypes - it takes out two creatures for 1 most of the time, and if not, its more burn! One thing that I would like to point out about Corrosive Gale is that often the opponent with the Lingering souls will not cast it again for its flashback cost until you have already killed the existing two - so ultimately they are both 2-fers anyway. Arc trail has the advantage of damage to a player or to kill something slightly bigger. I can't tell you how many times I get a dark confidant and deathrite shaman with it. In a recent game against a Doran, the siege tower build, I hit his dark confidant and deathrite shaman T2 with Arc Trail and made him sac his tarmogoyf T3 with Gatekeeper of Malakir. He then promptly rage quit.
I haven't tried shattering spree yet, but have only played one artifact deck with this list - and I won 2-0 (He couldn't keep a creature on the board long enough to do anything).
As far as Liliana of the veil goes I would agree - synergy isn't that great and I'm open to trying other things in that slot (tried Geralf's Messenger and it was a bust). I have kept it in because it is another sac machine (another gatekeeper basically) and discards well late game if I'm top-decking. That's why I only run 2x. Most of the time I have it in my hand, I am grateful. I am very hesitant to try Chandra, the Firebrand because it costs 4 (when I want to play Falkenrath Aristocrat) and it's +1 isn't very powerful. I would want to use the -2 ability right away, but having paid 4mana to cast it I would be lucky if I got to play a lightning bolt (which I have most likely already used for removal to beat face with vamps).
I guess SB all depends on your meta - on cockatrice you never know what you will be against...
Legacy:B The Gate // B Pox Modern:RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox EDH:RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal Tiny Leaders:BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
As for Cavern, I run a full arsenal of instant/sorcery spells and only 22 lands so it's too risky. I would run it in a mono-black Nocturnus version though, where sticking Nocturnus usually results in a blowout.
Modern
RBig RedR
GMean GreenG
WWW AlliesW
BGScavengeBG
WUVenser SilenceWU
EDH
RWAurelia 1 vs 1RW
GWURoonGWU
GWSaffiGW
EDH
WBRKaalia of the VastRBW
BChainer, Dementia MasterB
Legacy
0Manaless Dredge0
RGoblinsR
Standard
RBWThe AristocratsWBR
Jund is tough. Their creatures are bigger and meaner than ours. The Spirit Jund variant spews out tokens faster than we can cast our creatures, often making us 1-for-1/4 (!) their creatures.
I'm sideboard Corrosive Gale, but I am not sure that it is enough. Rakdos Charm also comes in, though it's really for GY and artifact hate. I've also starting spashing blue for Mizzium Skin, a very sweet but underrated card. It is laughing at the Pyroclasm, Path to Exile, Lighting Bolt your opponent just cast.
4x Bloodghast
4x Dark Confidant
3x Falkenrath Aristocrat
4x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Kalastria Highborn
4x Vampire Lacerator
Spells:
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Magma Jet
3x Liliana of the Veil
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Blightning
4x Blood Crypt
4x Dragonskull Summit
2x Lavaclaw Reaches
3x Marsh Flats
4x Swamp
3x Verdant Catacombs
2x Cavern of Souls
2x Rakdos Charm
2x Surgical Extraction
3x Terminate
3x Arc Trail
3x Rain of Gore
2x Shattering Spree
Modern: RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox
EDH: RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal
Tiny Leaders: BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
Projects:
Gisa and Geralf Extreme-Tribal EDH
Esper Eldrazi Processor Control
Brewing with Kuldotha Forgemaster
Primer: "The Gate" - Mono Black in Modern
Modern Prison Pox - building a better plague
A question for those going all in aggro, anybody getting any decent mileage out of Vendetta? I feel like in a meta where people largely forsake their own life that its a horribly underrated card. And black isnt exactly the most prominent color right now(i say in a primarily black thread). Maybe the condition forces it into the sideboard, but i still think it could find a good home.
Here's the list I'm currently running, it's been doing surprisingly well against most of the top decks.
4x Aether Vial
Creatures (17)
4x Bloodghast
4x Vampire Lascerator
3x Kalastria Highborn
3x Stromkirk Captain
3x Vampire Nocturnus
Instants (10)
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Terminate
2x Smother
4x Sign in Blood
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
Lands (22)
4x Blood Crypt
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Lavaclaw Reaches
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Mountain
8x Swamp
1x Grafdigger's Cage
3x Rakdos Charm
3x Sowing Salt
2x Damnation
4x Shattering Spree
2x Tectonic Edge
Grafdigger's Cage - Mostly for the pod matchup, though more different grave based MUs could use it too.
Rakdos Charm - A catchall for grave based strategies, some single artifact hate, or aggro.
Sowing Salt - Tron. Best card for it.
Tectonic Edge - Mostly in there for Jund. It's the best way I've found to combat them when they're running 4 colors.
Shattering Spree - Affinity aggro gave me huge problems, and this hits it pretty hard.
Damnation - For other serious aggro decks, fits well w/ Kalastria Highborn & Bloodghast.
There are a few times where I have a Vial/LB sitting on top of my deck w/ Nocturnus out, but overall the numbers are in his favor. He's always a huge boon, and sticking one usually results in a win.
Also, please note that this deck isn't as simple as playing guys on curve and beating. You almost never want to drop Highborn t2 for example, and sometimes Bloodghast t2 isn't the right play either. Vial is a huge aide, letting you sneak in creatures at the last second, or drop multiple creatures a turn w/ mana to spare. I've played two Nocturnus at once and beat for 6 w/ a Highborn. I'm probably going to test running Seer as a sac outlet for Highborn, though I dunno how viable that is; seems too clunky.
Questions, comments, critique welcome.
@Jwelt - Noble is definitely underwhelming, no reason to run him. If lifegain is really giving you that much trouble, Rain of Gore is your best option. White leyline shouldn't be a problem, since the majority of our damage is coming through beats. I'd cut the Blightnings & Blood Artists for another 2 terminates, and some Smothers or something. Blightning is too costly here for what it does, not to mention our t3/t4 is already crowded. I'd recommend throwing some Stromkirk Captains in there.
EDH
WBRKaalia of the VastRBW
BChainer, Dementia MasterB
Legacy
0Manaless Dredge0
RGoblinsR
Standard
RBWThe AristocratsWBR
I honestly wouldnt consider Nocturnus without seer over Lacerator.
Unfortunately for Nocturnus, I haven't been able to use him effectively in B/R builds which I find stronger than mono-black. I like to think Seer + Magma Jet could make him viable though if the only mono red spells being run are x4 Lightning Bolt and x4 Jets. Even still, what does Nocturnus bring to the four spot that Aristocrat doesn't already do better..
Modern
RBig RedR
GMean GreenG
WWW AlliesW
BGScavengeBG
WUVenser SilenceWU
EDH
RWAurelia 1 vs 1RW
GWURoonGWU
GWSaffiGW
I completely agree. I was however referring to Muffunz' build, the post directly above mine. He's running Nocturnus already, but no seer. So I offered it up as a suggestion for a deck that already has Noct.
As for comparing Noct with Aristocrat...what? Thats like comparing Tarmagoyf with Birds of Paradise. Other then both being Vampires I fail to see any similarity. One flies innately, goes indestructible, has haste, and provides a sac outlet. The other gives you information to assist your draws, and provides power and evasion to your whole team while being bigger himself.
What are you curving out with at the four spot as your big pressure card/finisher?
It's the crucial question to answer when building vamps.
MB Nocturnus or BR Aristocrat?
Modern
RBig RedR
GMean GreenG
WWW AlliesW
BGScavengeBG
WUVenser SilenceWU
EDH
RWAurelia 1 vs 1RW
GWURoonGWU
GWSaffiGW
@Aeon - Like I said, I've had little trouble keeping Nocturnus turned on. Exactly half the deck can't turn him on, and that would drop lower if I switched out the Vials. What he has over Artistocrat is the fact that he turns all your other guys into pseudo-better Aristocrats. I've ran them both, and I definitely prefer Nocturnus in almost all situations.
EDH
WBRKaalia of the VastRBW
BChainer, Dementia MasterB
Legacy
0Manaless Dredge0
RGoblinsR
Standard
RBWThe AristocratsWBR
My excuse for the poor performance is I played real sloppy doing things like attacking into an untapped Thalia with my Confidant on turn 2.
It did seem to be a decent list. The only change I would immediately make is to take out 1 Bonfire and add in 1 Sword of Light and Shadow.
4 Bloodghast
4 Dark Confidant
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Terminate
3 Bonfire of the Damned
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Thoughtseize
3 Liliana of the Veil
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Marsh Flats
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Swamp
4 Lavaclaw Reaches
2 Bloodcrypt
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Cavern of Souls
2 Slaughter Games
1 Ancient Grudge
3 Rakdos Charm
2 Shatterstorm
2 Fulminator Mage
2 Olivia Voldaren
If you don't mind deviating from the vampire theme even more Geralf's Messenger would be good.
Turn 1 Deathrite
Turn 2 Messenger
Turn 3 Aristocrat = Turn 4 kill on the dot, which is a reasonable clock to put on a combo deck pre-sideboard.
As far as a clock for combo decks,
T1 - Land, Vampire Lascerator
T2 - Land, beat for 2 (18 left), Bloodghast
T3 - Land, Stromkirk Captain, beat for 6 (12 left)
T4 - Land, Vampire Nocturnus, beat for 14 in the air
EDH
WBRKaalia of the VastRBW
BChainer, Dementia MasterB
Legacy
0Manaless Dredge0
RGoblinsR
Standard
RBWThe AristocratsWBR
Yeah, all that is true. But, it still felt semi-appropriate to post simply for reference. I am relying on synergies and a lot of them are among the vampires.
EDH
WBRKaalia of the VastRBW
BChainer, Dementia MasterB
Legacy
0Manaless Dredge0
RGoblinsR
Standard
RBWThe AristocratsWBR
Bloodghast is good with Liliana, Aristocrat and is good against opposing Lilianas so you can play yours.
Gatekeeper has good synergy with the other removal, Bonfires/Bolts clear out the small creatures so that the sac effects clear out the big creatures.
Also Gatekeeper ends up being an extra life for Aristocrat and doubles as a removal card that isn't completely dead against Eggs/Storm, though not ideal.
In general all the creatures fit the theme of... you can't use Jund color removal to deal with my creatures.
There are a lot of interactions with the cards in the deck that fall apart if not used in conjunction.
4x Bloodghast
4x Dark Confidant
3x Falkenrath Aristocrat
4x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Kalastria Highborn
4x Vampire Lacerator
Spells:
2x Magma Jet
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Blightning
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Liliana of the Veil
4x Blood Crypt
4x Dragonskull Summit
2x Lavaclaw Reaches
3x Marsh Flats
7x Swamp
3x Verdant Catacombs
3x Rakdos Charm
3x Surgical Extraction
4x Terminate
4x Arc Trail
1x Inquisition of Kozilek
This deck plays well against Jund, UW w/life gain, exceptional vs tron, decent against artifact. Generally the plan is to disrupt and beat slowly, then swing in at the end with aristocrat or burn ftw - all while gaining a creature advantage with recursion and removal. It works really well.
Rakdos Charm - GY hate, artifact hate
Surgical Extraction - Fast GY hate, combo hate (storm)
Terminate - killing big stuff better
Arc Trail - killing little stuff better
Inquisition of Kozilek - to get the counters/ disruption
Give it a try. Havent played any decks with the white leyline since last post...
Modern: RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox
EDH: RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal
Tiny Leaders: BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
Projects:
Gisa and Geralf Extreme-Tribal EDH
Esper Eldrazi Processor Control
Brewing with Kuldotha Forgemaster
Primer: "The Gate" - Mono Black in Modern
Modern Prison Pox - building a better plague
I've tried blood artist quite a bit, however it is simply not good enough. If it had at least 1 power, I would have kept them in but there were too many situations where I wanted to swing with it or block and couldn't just chump it. the small amount of gain/loss from its effect was not worth the inviable body - not to mention, my list is more control oriented, so they are likely discarding things that might have hit the field - making artist even less valuable in my particular situation.
The list I posted above (without Geralf's Messengers) is my most successful list yet - having tried many variations except those incorporating nocturnis. The messengers were a last minute tweak that was a mistake. Messenger simply doesn't belong in my deck - too costly for what it is in this deck, would rather play blightning, kicked gatekeeper, or lily on T3.
Modern: RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox
EDH: RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal
Tiny Leaders: BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
Projects:
Gisa and Geralf Extreme-Tribal EDH
Esper Eldrazi Processor Control
Brewing with Kuldotha Forgemaster
Primer: "The Gate" - Mono Black in Modern
Modern Prison Pox - building a better plague
I really like this deck, but I wonder - is Arc Trail really the best burn against small creatures? I see many white based decks based on Lingering Souls, which is why I sideboard Corrosive Gale, but I wish we had something else. I would also recommend more artifact hate, Shattering Spree comes to mind. Did you try it? Finally, I'm not so sold on Liliana of the Veil. The only synergy we have is through Bloodghast. I think I'd rather put in Chandra, the Firebrand for spells doubling.
Arc Trail has been very reliable for me in those matchups - I haven't lost to a deck running Lingering souls in a while (Ive maybe played 3 this week?). I think Arc Trail is more versitile against many archetypes - it takes out two creatures for 1 most of the time, and if not, its more burn! One thing that I would like to point out about Corrosive Gale is that often the opponent with the Lingering souls will not cast it again for its flashback cost until you have already killed the existing two - so ultimately they are both 2-fers anyway. Arc trail has the advantage of damage to a player or to kill something slightly bigger. I can't tell you how many times I get a dark confidant and deathrite shaman with it. In a recent game against a Doran, the siege tower build, I hit his dark confidant and deathrite shaman T2 with Arc Trail and made him sac his tarmogoyf T3 with Gatekeeper of Malakir. He then promptly rage quit.
I haven't tried shattering spree yet, but have only played one artifact deck with this list - and I won 2-0 (He couldn't keep a creature on the board long enough to do anything).
As far as Liliana of the veil goes I would agree - synergy isn't that great and I'm open to trying other things in that slot (tried Geralf's Messenger and it was a bust). I have kept it in because it is another sac machine (another gatekeeper basically) and discards well late game if I'm top-decking. That's why I only run 2x. Most of the time I have it in my hand, I am grateful. I am very hesitant to try Chandra, the Firebrand because it costs 4 (when I want to play Falkenrath Aristocrat) and it's +1 isn't very powerful. I would want to use the -2 ability right away, but having paid 4mana to cast it I would be lucky if I got to play a lightning bolt (which I have most likely already used for removal to beat face with vamps).
I guess SB all depends on your meta - on cockatrice you never know what you will be against...
Modern: RGB Dredge // RBG Goblins // B The Gate // UBR Tezz AoB Control // RBG Prison Pox
EDH: RBU Thraximundar // R Norin the Wary // RWB Kaalia of the Vast // BUR Grixis Combos // BU Gisa and Geralf Tribal
Tiny Leaders: BUW Sydri, Galvanic Genius // R Feldon of the Third Path
Projects:
Gisa and Geralf Extreme-Tribal EDH
Esper Eldrazi Processor Control
Brewing with Kuldotha Forgemaster
Primer: "The Gate" - Mono Black in Modern
Modern Prison Pox - building a better plague