I'm not sure if you guys have noticed, but he's no longer responding or updating his post because he's been banned (for ripping apparently).
Vengeful Pharoah: it's a nice trick occasionally, but if you're in top deck mode for whatever reason and he hits the graveyard, his trigger is mandatory if somebody hits you. It's a rattlesnake card, but if you need a constant chump blocker, it gets real awkward playing him sometimes.
Triskellion: I think the main issue with him is that his only function is to be used with Mikaeus. Mikaeus is great on his own, Trike, not so much. If you're into the instant win combo, by all means, go for it, but it's pretty useless on its own.
I havent read all 70 something pages but i still havent seen mossbridge troll mentioned... Ive sat back and let everyone dwindle to around 21 life or so, cast and popped him to Jarads second ability killing everyone in one turn. The faces of your opponents are priceless when they all look at eachother in disbelief
I suppose I can understand omitting Tooth and Nail for being slow, but no Trike to go with Mike?
I'm sure that this has come up before in 77 pages.
A lot of people have a particular dislike for that combo. I don't run it either, to be honest. I have Mike in my list as well, which is very similar to this one, but I mostly run it for the general utility that it brings, as well as for playing with things like Puppeteer Clique and Woodfall Primus.
Triskelion is a crappy card in this deck, and the main reason being that beyond using it with Mike you have no other real use for it. I've even had someone manage to tutor out my own deck, spot Mike and nab it and then proceed to hunt for Triskelion, thinking they would use them against me. It is so obvious that it actually annoys me.
Reassembling Skeleton seems like a decent replacement for Bloodghast and Nether Traitor. There probably isn't a replacement for crucible, but I'm assuming it's just there for fetch abuse, which I can't use anyway since I don't have fetches. Mana crypt can be replaced with any other rock so that's no biggy. I suppose mostly i'm wondering what are some big powerhouse cards that can replace Natural Order, Survival of the Fittest, and Liliana of the Veil? And also what are some of the less powerful but still efficient cards that I can throw in the deck for budget reasons?
Thoughts on some cards I've been playing recently:
Grisly Salvage - Wow, this card is a ton of fun. It's always useful. It's like a GB version of ponder or similar.
Primordial Hydra - So much fun! He comes down early as a 1/1, or comes out late game ready to be sacced after an attack next turn. Either way, the mana investment vs the problems this makes for your opponents is awesome. Only downside is that you don't want him coming out from your gy as he is a 0/0. A downside I've easily gotten over.
Dictate of erebos - Stupid fun. The perfect f*** you card. A great laugh when you flash it in before removal.
Disciple of bolas - The only creature I can tutor up that draws cards, which I usually don't do. Works, but I'm torn between this and momentous fall.
Mindslicer - Man. When you are in the lead, this thing shuts the game down. Also a great board wipe rattlesnake.
Vorinclex - He's mean, and he works in this deck which loves fatties and mana. Another great card to throw out for cheap from the gy when you are in the lead.
Life // Death - Not sure why I don't see this card more. A reanimate for one mana more is still overpowered (minus turn two reanimates). Life can alos pair well with garruk wildspeaker's ultimate for a surprise win.
Phyrexian reclamation - Grave hate??? Nah, I have instant speed recursion that's super cheap.
Pernicious deed - Competes with gaze of granite in my deck. I chose the former becuase I don't have room for both and deed can come out early and server as a mean rattlesnake.
Pestilence demon - I just put him back in. Shuts down token or creature based decks. For a deck that can tutor and creature (to the gy and out) at will, It's crucial to have a wipe on a stick. If he costs too much try crypt rats instead.
Kaalia's Army of AnnhilationRWB
Obzedat, Ghost Council - Life Gain MattersWB
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - Fatty Reanimator ToolboxBG
Nekusar, the Mindrazer - Draw to DieRBU
Marath, Will of the Wild - Token Pump and TapGWR
Roon of the Hidden Realm - Blink to BleedWBG
I thumbed through maybe half the posts here and had a few suggestions. I typically run Jarad with more gy filling and reanimation spells to cheat in the fatties. Seeing as this thread is a few years going, I'm not sure if the OP still uses this deck and not aware if its no longer being updated. Since I didn't read all 47 pages, I apologize if these had been mentioned elsewhere:
Mindcrank = Similar as above but if our opponents are taking pretty big chunks of damage from our critters exploding this adds to our LoE wincon. Of course you could also include Bloodchief Ascension as an alternate wincon (or just in general if our opponents are getting milled by Altar/Orb).
Phyrexian Processor = While using life is generally a no no with this deck, reliably pumping out 8/8's or higher to sac can be bad for your opponents. Works great with Momentous Fall so the life loss will be gained right back.
Massacre Wurm = Against aggro/tokens decks (one of our problems) this is a one-sided board wipe that can wipe your opponents board while causing them to take a lot of damage if they had a large swarm going. Recurring him several times with reanimate-type effects is fun.
Coffin Queen/Hell's Caretaker = Since we run recurring critters like Bloodghast or Nether Traitor recurring a fatty via Hell's Caretaker will not be an issue. Of course you can sac your mana fetch fodder (Wood Elves) for it as well. Coffin Queen fills the same role but can recur your opponent's critters as well. Simply sac them if they're a fatty or untap her to exile for some graveyard hate.
Elvish Piper = Cheating out fatties is how we roll. In case we draw one this guy/girl(depends on print lol) makes him cost only one G.
Pelakka Wurm = A 7/7 trample that gives us 7 life when it EtB and nets us a card when we blow him up.
Phyrexian Devourer = An "I win" combo with Jarad. Sac him to Jarad and use his ability on the stack to make him hit everyone for lethal. Downside is the cards that are drawn are exiled. Its also not a very satisfying way to win and may make nobody like you much.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen = Most people don't consider him much of a threat but he can grow quite large real quick in this deck. Especially great with cards that fetch lands or a threshold Far Wanderings where an opponent will take 9 damage on top of an exploding 12/12.
Vengeful Pharoah: it's a nice trick occasionally, but if you're in top deck mode for whatever reason and he hits the graveyard, his trigger is mandatory if somebody hits you. It's a rattlesnake card, but if you need a constant chump blocker, it gets real awkward playing him sometimes.
Triskellion: I think the main issue with him is that his only function is to be used with Mikaeus. Mikaeus is great on his own, Trike, not so much. If you're into the instant win combo, by all means, go for it, but it's pretty useless on its own.
RGodo, Bandit WarlordR
GSeton, Krosan ProtectorG
BGJarad, Golgari Lich LordGB
A lot of people have a particular dislike for that combo. I don't run it either, to be honest. I have Mike in my list as well, which is very similar to this one, but I mostly run it for the general utility that it brings, as well as for playing with things like Puppeteer Clique and Woodfall Primus.
Triskelion is a crappy card in this deck, and the main reason being that beyond using it with Mike you have no other real use for it. I've even had someone manage to tutor out my own deck, spot Mike and nab it and then proceed to hunt for Triskelion, thinking they would use them against me. It is so obvious that it actually annoys me.
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Liliana of the Veil
1x Mana Crypt
1x Natural Order
1x Nether Traitor
1x Survival of the Fittest
Reassembling Skeleton seems like a decent replacement for Bloodghast and Nether Traitor. There probably isn't a replacement for crucible, but I'm assuming it's just there for fetch abuse, which I can't use anyway since I don't have fetches. Mana crypt can be replaced with any other rock so that's no biggy. I suppose mostly i'm wondering what are some big powerhouse cards that can replace Natural Order, Survival of the Fittest, and Liliana of the Veil? And also what are some of the less powerful but still efficient cards that I can throw in the deck for budget reasons?
Standard Budget Decks Link:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/budget-standard/752237-clownstabbers-budget-decks
Grisly Salvage - Wow, this card is a ton of fun. It's always useful. It's like a GB version of ponder or similar.
Primordial Hydra - So much fun! He comes down early as a 1/1, or comes out late game ready to be sacced after an attack next turn. Either way, the mana investment vs the problems this makes for your opponents is awesome. Only downside is that you don't want him coming out from your gy as he is a 0/0. A downside I've easily gotten over.
Dictate of erebos - Stupid fun. The perfect f*** you card. A great laugh when you flash it in before removal.
Disciple of bolas - The only creature I can tutor up that draws cards, which I usually don't do. Works, but I'm torn between this and momentous fall.
Graveborn muse - Jarad is a zombie. I like it.
Crop rotation/Sylvan Scrying/Scapeshift - Every time I think I want to take one of these out I'm reminded at how powerful urborg + cabal coffers is.
Garruk Wildspeaker - Worst case he is good ramp. Best case is he is untapping cabal coffers.
Mindslicer - Man. When you are in the lead, this thing shuts the game down. Also a great board wipe rattlesnake.
Vorinclex - He's mean, and he works in this deck which loves fatties and mana. Another great card to throw out for cheap from the gy when you are in the lead.
Life // Death - Not sure why I don't see this card more. A reanimate for one mana more is still overpowered (minus turn two reanimates). Life can alos pair well with garruk wildspeaker's ultimate for a surprise win.
Phyrexian reclamation - Grave hate??? Nah, I have instant speed recursion that's super cheap.
Pernicious deed - Competes with gaze of granite in my deck. I chose the former becuase I don't have room for both and deed can come out early and server as a mean rattlesnake.
Pestilence demon - I just put him back in. Shuts down token or creature based decks. For a deck that can tutor and creature (to the gy and out) at will, It's crucial to have a wipe on a stick. If he costs too much try crypt rats instead.
Kaalia's Army of Annhilation RWB
Obzedat, Ghost Council - Life Gain Matters WB
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - Fatty Reanimator Toolbox BG
Nekusar, the Mindrazer - Draw to Die RBU
Marath, Will of the Wild - Token Pump and Tap GWR
Roon of the Hidden Realm - Blink to Bleed WBG
Mesmeric Orb = This along with Altar of Dementia can make Lord of Extinction and Sewer Nemesis quite fat by filling our yard as well as our opponents. This fills up yards FAST.
Mindcrank = Similar as above but if our opponents are taking pretty big chunks of damage from our critters exploding this adds to our LoE wincon. Of course you could also include Bloodchief Ascension as an alternate wincon (or just in general if our opponents are getting milled by Altar/Orb).
Bloodchief Ascension = As mentioned above
Phyrexian Processor = While using life is generally a no no with this deck, reliably pumping out 8/8's or higher to sac can be bad for your opponents. Works great with Momentous Fall so the life loss will be gained right back.
Massacre Wurm = Against aggro/tokens decks (one of our problems) this is a one-sided board wipe that can wipe your opponents board while causing them to take a lot of damage if they had a large swarm going. Recurring him several times with reanimate-type effects is fun.
Coffin Queen/Hell's Caretaker = Since we run recurring critters like Bloodghast or Nether Traitor recurring a fatty via Hell's Caretaker will not be an issue. Of course you can sac your mana fetch fodder (Wood Elves) for it as well. Coffin Queen fills the same role but can recur your opponent's critters as well. Simply sac them if they're a fatty or untap her to exile for some graveyard hate.
Elvish Piper = Cheating out fatties is how we roll. In case we draw one this guy/girl(depends on print lol) makes him cost only one G.
Pelakka Wurm = A 7/7 trample that gives us 7 life when it EtB and nets us a card when we blow him up.
Pattern of Rebirth/Defense of the Heart = Cheaper alternatives to Survival of the Fittest that let us cheat fatties into play. Defense also can deter opponents from casting critters in fear of the behemoths we can pump out.
Phyrexian Devourer = An "I win" combo with Jarad. Sac him to Jarad and use his ability on the stack to make him hit everyone for lethal. Downside is the cards that are drawn are exiled. Its also not a very satisfying way to win and may make nobody like you much.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen = Most people don't consider him much of a threat but he can grow quite large real quick in this deck. Especially great with cards that fetch lands or a threshold Far Wanderings where an opponent will take 9 damage on top of an exploding 12/12.
Witchbane Orb = Saves our gy from hate via Tormod's Crypt and Bojuka Bog.