An ever more interesting discussion. This weeks Grand Prix Dallas was won by the Black splash white control list created by Florian Koch et al. and piloted by Andreas Ganz to a high Grand Prix Vienna finish.
Think this is the right topic for it, as it's basically a tweak from mono b devotion.
A few questions that come to mind:
- Might Read the Bones be better than underworld connections here? Devotion isn't used, and underworld connections is only actually better against control. Even that is debatable, as connections can be pithing needled or dsphered.
- I think removing a sin collector from the main, and perhaps two ultimate price for triple lifebane zombie in the main would be good. It's sided in in almost every matchup anyway, and even against monoblack it isn't that bad. Only Ddemon completely overshadows it, but that should eat a removal spell anyway. Especially if this Black/white control deck becomes popular, lifebane zombie main would be great against opposing blood barons.
- Do you want to side in/play Lifebane zombie against mono blue with this deck, or are more removal spells preferred? Domestication has no target except for pack rat maindeck, but if you add lifebane zombies domestication suddenly has a proper target.
What do you guys think?
T
I played the original list(minus one Mutavault) tonight at FNM and went 3-1, taking second place for the evening.
Round 1-
Played against Dimir Mill/Control. My opponent was 11 years old, and wasn't playing with an optimal decklist. No Nightveil Spectres and only one Thoughtseize. He did manage to bleed out well over half my deck for both games, though. I won, 2-0.
Round 2-
Boros aggro. I stall him off enough i game 1 until I drop Desecration Demon. GG. I drop game 2 to mana screw. I side out Devour Flesh and Last Breath for Pharyka's Cures, Shrivel, and more hand disruption (Duress, Sin Collector). Game 3 I ride Pack Rat and Blood Baron to victory.
Round 3-
B/W/R Control-Burn. Game one I get mana-screwed again and he burns my face off with Boros Charms, Magma Jets, Skullcracks, etc.
Game 2, I side in all my creatures and hand disruption and side out most removal, except Shrivel, for his Pyromasters and tokens. I shred his hand with Thoughtseize, Duress, and Sin Collector. I drop a Blood Baron, and he Magma Jet/ Lightning Strikes it to empty his hand. Next turn I play another Blood Baron, followed by Desecration Demon and it's gg after another turn or two.
Game 3, he mulls to 6, and it plays out pretty similarly to game two.
Round 4-
Azorius Control. Really tough matchup. We durdle for a few turns on game 1. He D-Spheres my Pack Rats and Demon, sticks an Elspeth, followed by Aetherling, and I scoop.
Game 2, I side in all the hand disruption. I get to play Underworld Dreams on turn 3 and Blood Baron on turn 5. I have him on the ropes for two turns, and then Celestial Flare's my BB. I stick a Pack Rat the next turn, and my Underworld Connections fills my hand up enough to swarm him with rats.
Game 3 went pretty long. A lot of back-and-forth. My Mutavaults get early work done. Rats come out and get D-Sphered. He sticks a Jace, I downfall it next turn. I get two Underworlds going, but he also nails two big Revelations. I get another five rats online, but he's got an Elspeth with seven dudes out. He resolves Aetherling, and it's nighty-night.
This was my first time playing this dack at an FNM, and I'm sure I made several mistakes, but I really like it.
Blood Baron and Pack Rat are CHAMPS! They put in so much work. Desecration Demon was ok. Elspeth trolls him all day long, though. Last Breath was meh, as was Devour Flesh. Maybe it's just my playing style? I dunno. I was not impressed by their performances.
I think Duress and Sin Collector should be playsets in the 75. I might even move two Demons from the main to make room for three Duress and two Sin Collector. I was never unhappy when I had a chance to mess with an opponent's hand, and I think it gives us a better matchup against Azorius.
I run a list fairly similar to that, but I would hardly call that black devotion, nor would I put it in this forum. I have a lot of game against control, thus far the only matchup I've had a REALLY hard time with has been MBD and the mirror. Here's my current 75:
I run a list fairly similar to that, but I would hardly call that black devotion, nor would I put it in this forum. I have a lot of game against control, thus far the only matchup I've had a REALLY hard time with has been MBD and the mirror. Here's my current 75:
BTW, the reason why MBD is such a PITA is actually Erebos. Difficult to the point I almost want to run a Merciless Eviction in the side because that's the only answer I can think to them topdecking one or not being able to Thoughtseize in time. This deck is very suicidal and not being able to stabilize usually means you're going squat.
BTW, the reason why MBD is such a PITA is actually Erebos. Difficult to the point I almost want to run a Merciless Eviction in the side because that's the only answer I can think to them topdecking one or not being able to Thoughtseize in time. This deck is very suicidal and not being able to stabilize usually means you're going squat.
Celestial flare is another but much worse answer but if they are just chump blocking with him or swinging with him only you can grab him.
With the new Drown in Sorrow, the Necro isn't a problem anymore anyway, because all zombies die along the humans when you cast that spell.
No they don't. Drown in Sorrow must finish resolving before Necro's trigger even enters the stack. And the effect of Drown in Sorrow does not affect new creatures that enter the battlefield after it has resolved.
In fact, I would say that WW decks will splash black to combat Drown in Sorrow with Xathrid Necromancer.
I plan on trying this list tomorrow in a very small tournament. I feel like having charm and putrefy in my meta is a must since everyone and their mother is packing Whip of Erebos. Tonight I got out raced by a less Devotion deck(jank) just because of Whip game 1. I like abrupt decay. It answers opposing Nightveil Specters quickly and I like that, not to mention it hits connections.
Figured with the format getting ready to be reBorn I would give GB a shot.
Also has anyone replaced demon with Reaper? I thought about trying it. Then again I also thought about just cutting a demon for a MD Erebos.
I plan on trying this list tomorrow in a very small tournament. I feel like having charm and putrefy in my meta is a must since everyone and their mother is packing Whip of Erebos. Tonight I got out raced by a less Devotion deck(jank) just because of Whip game 1. I like abrupt decay. It answers opposing Nightveil Specters quickly and I like that, not to mention it hits connections.
Figured with the format getting ready to be reBorn I would give GB a shot.
Also has anyone replaced demon with Reaper? I thought about trying it. Then again I also thought about just cutting a demon for a MD Erebos.
I'd give a lot of thought to cutting 4 demons and putting in 2 reaper, 2 Erebos.
I strongly dislike singletons (unless it's a 5th copy, like 4 Thoughtseize, 1 Duress). Just putting in one means it's ok not to draw it, which to me is a waste of a card slot. If Erebos is good enough to play main, let's put enough copies in so we know we'll draw him. Afraid of drawing two? Most MU's have at least one answer, and if not, the unlikely second one will quickly turn into a rat. If you watch the evolution of Turtenwald's Mono-Black Devotion deck, this is exactly what's happening; he cut the mediocre cards, and runs as many of the best as he can.
I still wonder; what's better to run in the 'WW-threat spot': Obzedat or Elspeth? Can anyone comment on this?
Great article on mana bases by Frank Karsten here. The short of it is, with only 12 W sources, you shouldn't even consider running something that costs WW. You're unlikely to be able to cast it on time. Don't make a good deck worse by taking chances you don't need to.
I'd give a lot of thought to cutting 4 demons and putting in 2 reaper, 2 Erebos.
I strongly dislike singletons (unless it's a 5th copy, like 4 Thoughtseize, 1 Duress). Just putting in one means it's ok not to draw it, which to me is a waste of a card slot. If Erebos is good enough to play main, let's put enough copies in so we know we'll draw him. Afraid of drawing two? Most MU's have at least one answer, and if not, the unlikely second one will quickly turn into a rat. If you watch the evolution of Turtenwald's Mono-Black Devotion deck, this is exactly what's happening; he cut the mediocre cards, and runs as many of the best as he can.
I tried the Reaper in some test games recently. It's sometimes unfortunate demon can get tapped and attacked right through. But he is an necessary creature in the deck. Reaper would only work if the deck went full golgari midrange. But this is Mono Black splash green and we still need that devotion count to be high. I found a list recently that I want to try but I still feel it necessary in my local meta to be packing two Golgari Charms in the MD for all the other MBD that seem to all be running 2 plus whips. Here is the list or something similar.
I like the deck alot except for maybe the less than 3 downfalls. Devour flesh is too necessary with BBoV floating around. Abrupt decaying opposing Connections or turn 2 Pack Rat is a good path to victory. Not to mention it has the ability to take out Nightveil Specters.
With the changes I want to make in mind here is the possible list...
I have even contemplated moving the charm to the sideboard and just playing 2 putrey main instead. Though with UW control currently on the rise the Regen clause on charm is added utility in that matchup.
Seems to me that when we splash a color into MBD it makes it harder to decide on an optimal build.
You misunderstood my question; I asked which would be better to run.
I am very familiar with the odds of hitting WW, but the analysis from Frank has several assumptions in it that do not necessarily always apply; one is that you insist on casting the card on T5/6. I do not, as it is a late-game finisher.
Also, his calculations do not account for drawing extra cards and scrying, which this deck however does.
While the concern you raise is legitimate to a certain extend, you cannot insist on "not even considering a card that costs WW" while your only argument is a link to Frank's analysis. You are misusing the data he provides, as he also warns you of in his article.
You're right that Karsten doesn't include everything in his article, nor do I suggest his summary is the only information upon which we should rely.
Each extra draw increases your odds by about 3%.
Your odds of playing a Connections around T3 are just over 50%. (The odds of it STICKING depend on the matchup.) Of course, Read the Bones is a much better choice if you prefer immediate card advantage and setup.
I suppose in some matchups, if you ran it, you could factor in the roughly 50% chance of playing a Specter, times the chance that it sticks, times the chance that it swings unblocked, times the chance that it lands a white source.
Then, of course, there's the 50% chance you land one of your four Scry lands, times the chance that you'd actually dig for a white source, times the extra 3% that gets you.
So sure, there are lots of ways you might increase your odds, and it would be interesting to see the rest of your deck and the card draw you're running to support it.
Assuming you don't mulligan, and draw first OR scry (I think a fair assumption), you now guarantee (witness our handy hypergemoetric calculator above) an 80% chance of drawing two white sources by turn 6. Yes, those odds go up in the above scenarios, and no, you don't have to play her T6. The downside is, one game in five (i.e. once every two matches), you WON'T be able to play her on curve. Sure, that might also be the game you don't draw her; it might also be the one game you need her NOW.
I also recognize the idea of a late-game finisher, but I'm not really a fan of including cards solely for that purpose. (Aetherling is a great example here.)
But here's where I come back to the bottom-line argument. I know a few B/W midrange lists have posted well recently that include Obzedat and/or Elspeth, and I'm sure those players are far better at this game than I am. But all that aside, why would you run a card -- powerful as it is -- that requires so much setup and thus weakens your early- to mid-game, when there are far more efficient win conditions available?
Elspeth in hand might as well be Akroma: you sit there thinking "I can't WAIT to slam this card down" and at the same time crossing your fingers that the next turn you'll actually be allowed to play it. All the while, you're hoping that the opponent doesn't have Thoughtseize, Duress, a counterspell, or a kill spell if you need her to build an army; and every turn you wait increases the chance that they do. Sure, running unopposed, you'll play her eventually, and she'll win you the game.
So, if you want a chance at a dramatic big play, by all means run 12 white sources and two Elspeth or Obzedat. If you want more consistent performance, and if you think you can win without drawing one of those two-of cards in your deck (which is most likely, since you're only running two), then forget the WW, trust the Baron and his Connections, and maximize the best cards in the deck.
If you really want to know which of the two is better, I'd say Obzedat if you run Whip, because the rats help enable that sick combo (but this deck doesn't appear to run enough creatures to support whip otherwise); and Elspeth if you don't, because you're unlikely to play WW sooner than T6, and she offers a stabilizing force as well as a win.
While that decklist looks cool, seriously what is up with the mana base? It's splashing blue in the mana base... for nothing? (could just run 4 golgari guildgates, muta, and basic lands)
I just built this deck and I like the idea of either a white or green splash. I'm leaning towards white for Blood Baron, Obzedat, etc. but I like the idea of splashing green for Abrupt Decay and the charm, perhaps even Scooze.
I tried B/G for a while. My manabase had been 4 Overgrown Tomb, 4 Guildgates, 3 U/G Temples and 1 Breeding Pool. Plus 3 Mutavaults and fill out the rest with Swamps. The U/G Temples were nice, but between 7 tapped lands, 3 Mutavaults, and 7 non-black lands it just ruined the consistency that is MBD's biggest advantage.
Is definitely where I'd start trying out B/G Devotion. It's still the same old shell, but with green for enchantment removal and some other things I'd like to test (Vraska, Reaper, and Mistcutter out of the board).
Anyone here who's tried B/G Devotion with Journey into Nyx?
I haven't tried it since Journey, but I was playing B/G for a couple months earlier in the format. I'm going to put it back together but haven't worked out my list yet, so this is based on what I was running before.
I replaced my Demons with 3 Polukranos; he's kind of hard to cast here but so much better when he's in play. I also ran one or two Reaper because they're better on defense than Demons. After dropping the Demons I cut down to three, maybe even two Gray Merchants, since I didn't have as much devotion anymore.
Golgari Charm is good enough to main deck. It can answer just about everything that mono-black has trouble with - it board wipes the extremely aggressive decks, counters removal (especially Supreme Verdict), and kills enchantments. Red aggro/burn is pretty much the only deck it isn't good against right now. I think I had 3 Decay 1 Charm main deck, and then one more of each in the side.
I would play one Unravel the Aether in the board to answer Gods, and maybe a random artifact now and then.
As for the new meta, I'm pretty sure you want to be running a couple Drown in Sorrow now. Aggro is definitely going to be much bigger than it was before.
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There are only 4 sources that can't cast Nightveil. The temple of Mystery will tap for blue which can cast Nightveil.
I played the original list(minus one Mutavault) tonight at FNM and went 3-1, taking second place for the evening.
Round 1-
Played against Dimir Mill/Control. My opponent was 11 years old, and wasn't playing with an optimal decklist. No Nightveil Spectres and only one Thoughtseize. He did manage to bleed out well over half my deck for both games, though. I won, 2-0.
Round 2-
Boros aggro. I stall him off enough i game 1 until I drop Desecration Demon. GG. I drop game 2 to mana screw. I side out Devour Flesh and Last Breath for Pharyka's Cures, Shrivel, and more hand disruption (Duress, Sin Collector). Game 3 I ride Pack Rat and Blood Baron to victory.
Round 3-
B/W/R Control-Burn. Game one I get mana-screwed again and he burns my face off with Boros Charms, Magma Jets, Skullcracks, etc.
Game 2, I side in all my creatures and hand disruption and side out most removal, except Shrivel, for his Pyromasters and tokens. I shred his hand with Thoughtseize, Duress, and Sin Collector. I drop a Blood Baron, and he Magma Jet/ Lightning Strikes it to empty his hand. Next turn I play another Blood Baron, followed by Desecration Demon and it's gg after another turn or two.
Game 3, he mulls to 6, and it plays out pretty similarly to game two.
Round 4-
Azorius Control. Really tough matchup. We durdle for a few turns on game 1. He D-Spheres my Pack Rats and Demon, sticks an Elspeth, followed by Aetherling, and I scoop.
Game 2, I side in all the hand disruption. I get to play Underworld Dreams on turn 3 and Blood Baron on turn 5. I have him on the ropes for two turns, and then Celestial Flare's my BB. I stick a Pack Rat the next turn, and my Underworld Connections fills my hand up enough to swarm him with rats.
Game 3 went pretty long. A lot of back-and-forth. My Mutavaults get early work done. Rats come out and get D-Sphered. He sticks a Jace, I downfall it next turn. I get two Underworlds going, but he also nails two big Revelations. I get another five rats online, but he's got an Elspeth with seven dudes out. He resolves Aetherling, and it's nighty-night.
This was my first time playing this dack at an FNM, and I'm sure I made several mistakes, but I really like it.
Blood Baron and Pack Rat are CHAMPS! They put in so much work. Desecration Demon was ok. Elspeth trolls him all day long, though. Last Breath was meh, as was Devour Flesh. Maybe it's just my playing style? I dunno. I was not impressed by their performances.
I think Duress and Sin Collector should be playsets in the 75. I might even move two Demons from the main to make room for three Duress and two Sin Collector. I was never unhappy when I had a chance to mess with an opponent's hand, and I think it gives us a better matchup against Azorius.
4 Desecration Demon
3 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Duress
4 Thoughtseize
4 Devour Flesh
1 Doom Blade
2 Last Breath
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Underworld Connections
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Mutavault
2 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Plains
11 Swamp
4 Temple of Silence
2 Dark Betrayal
2 Duress
2 Pharika's Cure
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Lifebane Zombie
3 Sin Collector
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Standard:
UR Control
I actually like your list a little better, but, yeah, I guess neither is really devotion. It's still pretty fun to play, though.
Standard:
UR Control
Celestial flare is another but much worse answer but if they are just chump blocking with him or swinging with him only you can grab him.
4x Godless Shrine
4x Mutavault
2x Orzhov Guildgate
2x Plains
10x Swamp
4x Temple of Silence
4x Thoughtseize
2x Ratchet Bomb
3x Devour Flesh
4x Hero's Downfall
2x Last Breath
2x Ultimate Price
4x Blood Baron of Vizkopa
4x Desecration Demon
4x Pack Rat
3x Dark Betrayal
3x Duress
1x Last Breath
3x Lifebane Zombie
3x Pharika's Cure
2x Sin Collector
That's the deck I've been running. I really like it. Ratchet Bomb could be removed, but it's just so versatile that I love to have it.
No they don't. Drown in Sorrow must finish resolving before Necro's trigger even enters the stack. And the effect of Drown in Sorrow does not affect new creatures that enter the battlefield after it has resolved.
In fact, I would say that WW decks will splash black to combat Drown in Sorrow with Xathrid Necromancer.
C Kozilek C
GB Gitrog GB
G Titania G
WU Brago WU
GB MerenGB
Duel Commander Decks
UR Keranos UR
BRG Jund BRG
GR Tron GR GW Tron GW
C Eldrazi Tron (SB) C
BG Lantern Control BG
UW Control (SB) UW
4 nightveil specter
4 desecration demon
4 gray merchant of asphodel
3 abrupt decay
2 golgari charm
2 ultimate price
3 hero's downfall
1 putrefy
4 thoughtseize
4 underworld connections
12 swamp
3 mutavault
4 overgrown tomb
2 temple of mystery
2 duress
3 devour flesh
1 doom blade
2 erebos, god of the dead
3 dark betrayal
3 pharika's cure
1 golgari charm
I plan on trying this list tomorrow in a very small tournament. I feel like having charm and putrefy in my meta is a must since everyone and their mother is packing Whip of Erebos. Tonight I got out raced by a less Devotion deck(jank) just because of Whip game 1. I like abrupt decay. It answers opposing Nightveil Specters quickly and I like that, not to mention it hits connections.
Figured with the format getting ready to be reBorn I would give GB a shot.
Also has anyone replaced demon with Reaper? I thought about trying it. Then again I also thought about just cutting a demon for a MD Erebos.
I'd give a lot of thought to cutting 4 demons and putting in 2 reaper, 2 Erebos.
I strongly dislike singletons (unless it's a 5th copy, like 4 Thoughtseize, 1 Duress). Just putting in one means it's ok not to draw it, which to me is a waste of a card slot. If Erebos is good enough to play main, let's put enough copies in so we know we'll draw him. Afraid of drawing two? Most MU's have at least one answer, and if not, the unlikely second one will quickly turn into a rat. If you watch the evolution of Turtenwald's Mono-Black Devotion deck, this is exactly what's happening; he cut the mediocre cards, and runs as many of the best as he can.
Great article on mana bases by Frank Karsten here. The short of it is, with only 12 W sources, you shouldn't even consider running something that costs WW. You're unlikely to be able to cast it on time. Don't make a good deck worse by taking chances you don't need to.
I tried the Reaper in some test games recently. It's sometimes unfortunate demon can get tapped and attacked right through. But he is an necessary creature in the deck. Reaper would only work if the deck went full golgari midrange. But this is Mono Black splash green and we still need that devotion count to be high. I found a list recently that I want to try but I still feel it necessary in my local meta to be packing two Golgari Charms in the MD for all the other MBD that seem to all be running 2 plus whips. Here is the list or something similar.
4 nightveil specter
4 pack rat
4 gray merchant of asphodel
4 devour flesh
3 hero's downfall
4 thoughtseize
4 underworld connections
11 swamp
4 golgari guildgate
4 mutavault
2 temple of mystery
I like the deck alot except for maybe the less than 3 downfalls. Devour flesh is too necessary with BBoV floating around. Abrupt decaying opposing Connections or turn 2 Pack Rat is a good path to victory. Not to mention it has the ability to take out Nightveil Specters.
With the changes I want to make in mind here is the possible list...
4 nightveil specter
4 pack rat
4 gray merchant of asphodel
3 abrupt decay
3 devour flesh
2 golgari charm
3 hero's downfall
4 thoughtseize
4 underworld connections
11 swamp
4 golgari guildgate
4 mutavault
2 temple of mystery
I have even contemplated moving the charm to the sideboard and just playing 2 putrey main instead. Though with UW control currently on the rise the Regen clause on charm is added utility in that matchup.
Seems to me that when we splash a color into MBD it makes it harder to decide on an optimal build.
Here's a link to a hypergeometric calculator.
You're right that Karsten doesn't include everything in his article, nor do I suggest his summary is the only information upon which we should rely.
Each extra draw increases your odds by about 3%.
Your odds of playing a Connections around T3 are just over 50%. (The odds of it STICKING depend on the matchup.) Of course, Read the Bones is a much better choice if you prefer immediate card advantage and setup.
I suppose in some matchups, if you ran it, you could factor in the roughly 50% chance of playing a Specter, times the chance that it sticks, times the chance that it swings unblocked, times the chance that it lands a white source.
Then, of course, there's the 50% chance you land one of your four Scry lands, times the chance that you'd actually dig for a white source, times the extra 3% that gets you.
So sure, there are lots of ways you might increase your odds, and it would be interesting to see the rest of your deck and the card draw you're running to support it.
Assuming you don't mulligan, and draw first OR scry (I think a fair assumption), you now guarantee (witness our handy hypergemoetric calculator above) an 80% chance of drawing two white sources by turn 6. Yes, those odds go up in the above scenarios, and no, you don't have to play her T6. The downside is, one game in five (i.e. once every two matches), you WON'T be able to play her on curve. Sure, that might also be the game you don't draw her; it might also be the one game you need her NOW.
I also recognize the idea of a late-game finisher, but I'm not really a fan of including cards solely for that purpose. (Aetherling is a great example here.)
But here's where I come back to the bottom-line argument. I know a few B/W midrange lists have posted well recently that include Obzedat and/or Elspeth, and I'm sure those players are far better at this game than I am. But all that aside, why would you run a card -- powerful as it is -- that requires so much setup and thus weakens your early- to mid-game, when there are far more efficient win conditions available?
Elspeth in hand might as well be Akroma: you sit there thinking "I can't WAIT to slam this card down" and at the same time crossing your fingers that the next turn you'll actually be allowed to play it. All the while, you're hoping that the opponent doesn't have Thoughtseize, Duress, a counterspell, or a kill spell if you need her to build an army; and every turn you wait increases the chance that they do. Sure, running unopposed, you'll play her eventually, and she'll win you the game.
So, if you want a chance at a dramatic big play, by all means run 12 white sources and two Elspeth or Obzedat. If you want more consistent performance, and if you think you can win without drawing one of those two-of cards in your deck (which is most likely, since you're only running two), then forget the WW, trust the Baron and his Connections, and maximize the best cards in the deck.
If you really want to know which of the two is better, I'd say Obzedat if you run Whip, because the rats help enable that sick combo (but this deck doesn't appear to run enough creatures to support whip otherwise); and Elspeth if you don't, because you're unlikely to play WW sooner than T6, and she offers a stabilizing force as well as a win.
i'm not sure how well the deck performs as it does seem kinda off without sufficient playtesting. Versus Control it was amazing.
3 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3 Lifebane Zombie
3 Nightveil Specter
4 Pack Rat
2 Underworld Connections
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Bile Blight
2 Devour Flesh
3 Hero's Downfall
1 Ultimate Price
1 Duress
4 Thoughtseize
3 Golgari Guildgate
4 Mutavault
4 Overgrown Tomb
2 Temple of Deceit
1 Temple of Silence
1 Whip of Erebos
1 Temple of Mystery
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Lifebane Zombie
2 Underworld Connections
1 Bile Blight
1 Devour Flesh
2 Doom Blade
2 Golgari Charm
2 Erebos, God of the Dead
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 Duress
I just built this deck and I like the idea of either a white or green splash. I'm leaning towards white for Blood Baron, Obzedat, etc. but I like the idea of splashing green for Abrupt Decay and the charm, perhaps even Scooze.
Melira Pod - Modern
4 Temple of Malady
2 Mana Confluence
4 Mutavault
12 Swamp
4 Pack Rat
4 Nightveil Specter
3 Desecration Demon
1 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
2 Devour Flesh
1 Bile Blight
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Hero's Downfall
1 Vraska the Unseen
4 Underworld Connections
1 Dark Betrayal
2 Duress
2 Brain Maggot
1 Golgari Charm
2 Doom Blade
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Lifebane Zombie
2 Erebos, God of the Dead
Is definitely where I'd start trying out B/G Devotion. It's still the same old shell, but with green for enchantment removal and some other things I'd like to test (Vraska, Reaper, and Mistcutter out of the board).
Anyone here who's tried B/G Devotion with Journey into Nyx?
I replaced my Demons with 3 Polukranos; he's kind of hard to cast here but so much better when he's in play. I also ran one or two Reaper because they're better on defense than Demons. After dropping the Demons I cut down to three, maybe even two Gray Merchants, since I didn't have as much devotion anymore.
Golgari Charm is good enough to main deck. It can answer just about everything that mono-black has trouble with - it board wipes the extremely aggressive decks, counters removal (especially Supreme Verdict), and kills enchantments. Red aggro/burn is pretty much the only deck it isn't good against right now. I think I had 3 Decay 1 Charm main deck, and then one more of each in the side.
I would play one Unravel the Aether in the board to answer Gods, and maybe a random artifact now and then.
As for the new meta, I'm pretty sure you want to be running a couple Drown in Sorrow now. Aggro is definitely going to be much bigger than it was before.