I think a really big key to supporting archetypes like this is minimizing the cards you include that only go in this deck while maximizing cards you include that can be played elsewhere, but excel in this deck. Blood Artist and the like already don't go in other decks, so you don't have as much room to play with cards like Spawning Pit.
This x100.
I ended up very temporarily cutting black agro because of the amount of cards that ONLY worked in artistocrats.. Sometimes I'd get random UB midrange decks with like 7-8 side boardblack creatures that were unplayable because of lack of density of synergy. It made certain black color combinations or strategies unplayable, whereas if they were generically good black 2/3 drops like pack rat, kitesail freebooter, Gifted Aetherborn, there'd be more versatile midrange options.
Finding the right balance is tricky, but I believe it can be done. Cards like flesh carver are perfect, since they are naturally solid playables in multiple archetype, but the sacrifice aspect of it is very on theme.
It's only going to get better over time, as the developers at WOTC continue to print cards for this strategy in standard.
The new Ravnica set has a lot of cards that play well in Aristocrats shells. Is anyone here running a 'crats package and care to elaborate on what has been working/not working for them?
I do, and I run duplicates, but I don't think it's necessary. You need sac outlets, recursive creatures and payoff for things dying. Think it can totally work in a normal cube.
Goblin bombardment, Blood artist, Zulaport cutthroat ,Carrion feeder, Falkenrath aristrocrat, greater gargadon, bloodghast, bloodsoaked champion, gravecrawler, Judith scourge diva, flesh carver, ophio mancer, braids cabal minion off the top of my head are all incredible in the archetype.
Midnight reaper, Murderous redcap, Geralf's messenger, Zealous conscripts, dread wanderer as tier 2..
White has some decent splashes in Sorin/Lingering souls.
Bombardment and skullclamp are probably the highest payoff for the archetype and blood artist effects are the glue that holds it all together.
The way I've built black in my cube is more similar to aristrocrats than most.. Have to break the singleton rule to make it happen tho.
There aren't enough cheap cubeable sac outlets in black and blood artist is too critical to the strategy.
Most cubes it's about symmetrical permanent destruction, but blood artist can create so many other interesting combo/synergies.
Multiple recursive creatures + blood artist + damnation in the creature matchups is awsome
Carrion feeder + gravecrawler + blood artist is a very sweet interaction. 1 Black mana for 1 drain life + 1 counter on the carrion feeder.
goblin bombardment/falkenrath artiocrat + blood artist + xathrid necromancer + bloodsoaked champion/humans is disgusting.
This x100.
I ended up very temporarily cutting black agro because of the amount of cards that ONLY worked in artistocrats.. Sometimes I'd get random UB midrange decks with like 7-8 side boardblack creatures that were unplayable because of lack of density of synergy. It made certain black color combinations or strategies unplayable, whereas if they were generically good black 2/3 drops like pack rat, kitesail freebooter, Gifted Aetherborn, there'd be more versatile midrange options.
Finding the right balance is tricky, but I believe it can be done. Cards like flesh carver are perfect, since they are naturally solid playables in multiple archetype, but the sacrifice aspect of it is very on theme.
It's only going to get better over time, as the developers at WOTC continue to print cards for this strategy in standard.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
I do, and I run duplicates, but I don't think it's necessary. You need sac outlets, recursive creatures and payoff for things dying. Think it can totally work in a normal cube.
Goblin bombardment, Blood artist, Zulaport cutthroat ,Carrion feeder, Falkenrath aristrocrat, greater gargadon, bloodghast, bloodsoaked champion, gravecrawler, Judith scourge diva, flesh carver, ophio mancer, braids cabal minion off the top of my head are all incredible in the archetype.
Midnight reaper, Murderous redcap, Geralf's messenger, Zealous conscripts, dread wanderer as tier 2..
White has some decent splashes in Sorin/Lingering souls.
Bombardment and skullclamp are probably the highest payoff for the archetype and blood artist effects are the glue that holds it all together.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg
There aren't enough cheap cubeable sac outlets in black and blood artist is too critical to the strategy.
Most cubes it's about symmetrical permanent destruction, but blood artist can create so many other interesting combo/synergies.
Multiple recursive creatures + blood artist + damnation in the creature matchups is awsome
Carrion feeder + gravecrawler + blood artist is a very sweet interaction. 1 Black mana for 1 drain life + 1 counter on the carrion feeder.
goblin bombardment/falkenrath artiocrat + blood artist + xathrid necromancer + bloodsoaked champion/humans is disgusting.
Makes for some really interesting gameplay.
Last Updated 02/07/24
Streaming Standard/Cube on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/heisenb3rg96
Strategy Twitter https://www.twitter.com/heisenb3rg