Many have speculated there could be some new exiling effects in AVR. Even if that's not the case, most EDH removal already revolves around exiling, as well as -X/-X, sacrifice, and tucking.
As pointed out, this is a card that R/W has been wishing for, purely for trying to wipe everyone else's board with your own (previously symmetrical) effects.
Still, any deck that wants to cheat a big creature into play will run her. I mean, she's big, flies, and vigilance is a nice bonus when you have three+ other players attacking each turn. Her ability isn't game-ending, but I think it will be quite powerful in EDH, in a more subtle and political way. Sure, she attracts exiling effects like a magnet, but while she's out she clearly will encourage people to throw destroy effects at somebody else.
Also: since more previews are probably a week away, can we move this to SCD, rather than page 247 of this thread?
Life gain certainly can be a viable strategy, but like all quantifiable things in Magic, it should be thought of as a resource - not an avenue to winning, itself.
Yes, I know you pack Felidar Sovereign, Test of Endurance, and Celestial Convergence... but each of those requires them to stick around until your next upkeep. In black and white, you really have no way to protect them from counterspells, destruction, theft, bounce, etc. Also, remember that simply gaining life will not protect you from taking 21 commander damage or ten poison counters (either of which can happen in one attack!).
If these are your main routes to victory you should consider Vedalken Orrery. That way you can tutor for a win con if it's out and then flash in your Sovereign/enchantment right before your upkeep (assuming people are tapped out and don't know what you're up to).
So, with that said, your current deck has too much life gain, and not enough ways to spend your life. Taking punches to the face from Kamahl, Fist of Krosa isn't the only way to spend life! Definitely put in Necropotence. Actually, any of the black spells that trade life for cards are worthwhile: Promise of Power, Moonlight Bargain, Ambition's Cost, Harrowing Journey... take your pick (though I listed them in my preferred order)! Also, Kuro, Pitlord is usually a good way to spend 30 or 40 life.
Cut some of your targeted removal, such as Consuming Vapors, Sever Soul, and Swallowing Plague. If you feel you must play Sever Soul, then substitute Weed Strangle for it. Clashing with possible life gain is much better than definite life gain but not hitting black creatures. A better option all together would be Tendrils of Corruption... after you add in Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. And once that's in, put in Cabal Coffers! Now you're ready to cast that Exsanguinate... Actually, if you add in those two lands, you might as well keep in Swallowing Plague.
Definitely cut Spirit Loop and Soul Link. You don't have enough creatures to run auras, and you have no way of protecting them, giving your opponents easy two-for-ones. Also, while Boon Reflection seems like a lot of life, it doesn't do anything on its own! I'd take something proactive, like Necromancer's Covenant, over it.
I'd find room for Transcendant Master. It can be risky to try and level him up, but indestructible is very good in a format of continual board wipes. And he's playable any time you draw him. You could cut Gerard Capashen.
Add in more BW good stuff - like Angel of Despair, Necrotic Sliver, Sheoldred, Whispering One, Debtors' Knell, Marytr's Bond, more board wipes (you list a few below the line - use whatever you've got around). Maybe more recursion, like Beacon of Unrest or Unburial Rites. My absolute favorite creature in black life gain decks is Minion of the Wastes. He pumps Vish Kal to crazy levels a la Wall of Blood, as the earlier poster mentioned, but also can attack on his own for a ton! If you're at 80-90 life, you can easily afford to pay 30 life and plop down a 30/30 trampler!
By all means play a life gain deck, but you don't need to over-commit to that theme!
Wall of blood, sure, but how about something that can do some damage on it's own? Minion of the Wastes
For extra style points you could run Nameless Race instead, the only type-less creature in Magic. But it's pretty limited due to the white restrictions...
The strategy has shifted away from punishment and more toward reanimator and Knight tribal recursion, led by Haakon. Mass discard, hellbent, and punishment are still strong subthemes. The categories above show the new emphasis, though of course many of the cards fit into multiple categories.
I have a Malfegor deck, too, but our takes on it are fairly different.
One card you definitely want is Death Cloud. Goes with your land destruction and discard themes, and hits everyone! I'd cut Rakdos, the Defiler to fit it in. I've never had good luck with the other RB demon...
A fun card that hits all your opponents (but not you!) is Leyline of the Void. I've never used it, but it could help make sure your opponents stay down!
I thought I'd share my Kuro deck I've been playing with lately. The plan is to gain enough life and ramp up to enough mana to take advantage of Kuro. The deck has other things to do with the life, such as drawing cards, and it can also tutor and kill creatures (mono-black specialties). The deck is rounded off by vampire and demon tribal sub-themes.
Card suggestions would be great. I'd like to cut Consuming Vapors and Weed Strangle, as sorcery speed removal isn't that great and I have enough life gain already. I like Chalice of Life, but I'm not 100% sold on it.
Updates to Malfegor!
The card cuts and additions focus in on the theme of getting everyone hellbent, wherein everyone dies a slow death and I keep casting from the graveyard.
-1 Rakdos Guildmage
+1 Phyrexian Crusader
The removal and goblin token from the guildmage were never very exciting. Phyrexian Crusader can kill opponents, and recurs with Haakon and neuters with Kulrath Knight.
-1 Crypt Champion
+1 Blazing Specter
The reanimation trick is cute in multiplayer, but not somewhat underwhelming, and never seems to win me friends like I would hope. Blazing Specter hits for a card with haste, and the updated card frame from the Duel Decks set is nice.
-1 Reckless Wurm
+1 Mindslicer
Getting a 4/4 trampler off a discard just didn't happen enough, and was never that relevant. Mindslicer gets everyone hellbent now, reasonably costed and hits for 4 as well.
-1 Emrakul's Hatcher
+1 Bloodgift Demon
Getting three manabots to flashback Dread Return is a neat trick, but I'd rather take the demon's Phyrexian Arena ability. Note that I can try to gain an ally by giving someone else the card.
-1 Grixis Slavedriver
+1 Army of the Damned
I was really only using the slavedriver to hit someone for 4 and get a zombie from the graveyard. Army of the Damned gets zombies on a much more impressive scale.
-1 Demonic Collusion
+1 Profane Command
The play utility of the command works out better than the selection utility of the collusion.
-1 Comet Storm
+1 Devil's Play
This is a tough call, but I like that if I pitch Devil's Play to Malfegor, I can still use it in the graveyard.
-1 Delirium Skeins
+1 Unnerve
Another tough call. Delirium Skeins is brutal on turn three, but less impressive later in the game. Unnerve is much better later, when I start to want cards in my hand again.
Blinding Vengeance4RW
Creature - Archon (R)
When Blinding Vengeance enters the battlefield, choose an opponent.
Flying, haste
Creatures attack the chosen player each turn if able.
5/5
Many have speculated there could be some new exiling effects in AVR. Even if that's not the case, most EDH removal already revolves around exiling, as well as -X/-X, sacrifice, and tucking.
As pointed out, this is a card that R/W has been wishing for, purely for trying to wipe everyone else's board with your own (previously symmetrical) effects.
Still, any deck that wants to cheat a big creature into play will run her. I mean, she's big, flies, and vigilance is a nice bonus when you have three+ other players attacking each turn. Her ability isn't game-ending, but I think it will be quite powerful in EDH, in a more subtle and political way. Sure, she attracts exiling effects like a magnet, but while she's out she clearly will encourage people to throw destroy effects at somebody else.
Also: since more previews are probably a week away, can we move this to SCD, rather than page 247 of this thread?
Amazing when kicked.
With the appropriate vampire tribal theme to kick it reliably, of course - Vampire Nighthawk, Sangromancer, Chancellor of the Dross, Kalastria Highborn, Falkenrath Noble... even Cairn Wanderer.
As mentioned, Sangromancer can net you a ton of life. Falkenrath Noble works in a similar vein (LOL!).
Yes, I know you pack Felidar Sovereign, Test of Endurance, and Celestial Convergence... but each of those requires them to stick around until your next upkeep. In black and white, you really have no way to protect them from counterspells, destruction, theft, bounce, etc. Also, remember that simply gaining life will not protect you from taking 21 commander damage or ten poison counters (either of which can happen in one attack!).
If these are your main routes to victory you should consider Vedalken Orrery. That way you can tutor for a win con if it's out and then flash in your Sovereign/enchantment right before your upkeep (assuming people are tapped out and don't know what you're up to).
So, with that said, your current deck has too much life gain, and not enough ways to spend your life. Taking punches to the face from Kamahl, Fist of Krosa isn't the only way to spend life! Definitely put in Necropotence. Actually, any of the black spells that trade life for cards are worthwhile: Promise of Power, Moonlight Bargain, Ambition's Cost, Harrowing Journey... take your pick (though I listed them in my preferred order)! Also, Kuro, Pitlord is usually a good way to spend 30 or 40 life.
Cut some of your targeted removal, such as Consuming Vapors, Sever Soul, and Swallowing Plague. If you feel you must play Sever Soul, then substitute Weed Strangle for it. Clashing with possible life gain is much better than definite life gain but not hitting black creatures. A better option all together would be Tendrils of Corruption... after you add in Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. And once that's in, put in Cabal Coffers! Now you're ready to cast that Exsanguinate... Actually, if you add in those two lands, you might as well keep in Swallowing Plague.
Definitely cut Spirit Loop and Soul Link. You don't have enough creatures to run auras, and you have no way of protecting them, giving your opponents easy two-for-ones. Also, while Boon Reflection seems like a lot of life, it doesn't do anything on its own! I'd take something proactive, like Necromancer's Covenant, over it.
I'd find room for Transcendant Master. It can be risky to try and level him up, but indestructible is very good in a format of continual board wipes. And he's playable any time you draw him. You could cut Gerard Capashen.
Add in more BW good stuff - like Angel of Despair, Necrotic Sliver, Sheoldred, Whispering One, Debtors' Knell, Marytr's Bond, more board wipes (you list a few below the line - use whatever you've got around). Maybe more recursion, like Beacon of Unrest or Unburial Rites. My absolute favorite creature in black life gain decks is Minion of the Wastes. He pumps Vish Kal to crazy levels a la Wall of Blood, as the earlier poster mentioned, but also can attack on his own for a ton! If you're at 80-90 life, you can easily afford to pay 30 life and plop down a 30/30 trampler!
By all means play a life gain deck, but you don't need to over-commit to that theme!
I might try Horobi, I hadn't considered it. The only problem is that it is so symmetrical.
I am on the lookout to pick up an Urborg when I can. Have one to trade?
Minion of the Wastes
For extra style points you could run Nameless Race instead, the only type-less creature in Magic. But it's pretty limited due to the white restrictions...
Soulblast > Fling
Go big or go home, right?
For card draw, how about Soul's Majesty or Momentous Fall?
Of course Warstorm Surge is better, but maybe Electropotence as a backup second copy?
- weed strangle
+ moonlight bargain
- consuming vapors
+ diabolical tutor
- chalice of life
+ terrain generator
- bloodghast
+ beacon of unrest
I've also found a better removal demon!
- carnifex demon
+ dread cacodemon
And finally, I've been weak to counters and dark depths was a little too cute.
- dark depths
+ boseiju, who shelters all
Also, if you need cheap critters why not give unspeakable symbol legs and go with souldrinker? Other cheap critters on theme are vampire nighthawk and souls of the faultless. Both are nice rattlesnakes to influence opponents to attack elsewhere while you get set up.
Why use phyrexian delver? Its tiny body will almost never be relevant. Get more value out of unburial rites.
01 Malfegor
DISCARD
02 Rotting Rats (plays from graveyard)
03 Liliana's Specter
04 Rakdos Augermage
05 Blazing Specter
06 Mindslicer
07 Order of Yawgmoth (also Knight tribal)
08 Scythe Specter
09 Myojin of Night's Reach
10 Death Cloud (also mass removal)
11 Liliana of the Veil (also removal)
12 Necrogen Mists
13 Pain Magnification
14 Syphon Mind (also draw)
15 Unnerve
16 Liliana Vess (also tutor and reanimation)
17 Painful Quandary (also punishment)
18 Gibbering Descent
PUNISHMENT
19 Hellfire Mongrel
20 Lavaborn Muse
21 Sangromancer
22 Hollowborn Barghest
23 Kaervek the Merciless
24 Quest for the Nihil Stone
25 Everlasting Torment
26 Skullcage
RECURSION (INCLUDING KNIGHTS)
27 Nezumi Graverobber
28 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
29 Phyrexian Crusader
30 Squee, Goblin Nabob
31 Taurean Mauler
32 Ashenmoor Liege
33 Blood Speaker (also tutor)
34 Hero of Oxid Ridge
35 Cairn Wanderer
36 Kulrath Knight
37 Magma Phoenix (also mass removal)
38 Vengeful Pharaoh (also removal)
39 Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
40 Sheoldred, Whispering One (also removal)
41 Profane Command (also removal)
42 Rekindled Flame (also removal)
43 Rise from the Grave
44 Torrent of Souls
45 Army of the Damned
46 Corpse Connoisseur (plays from graveyard)
47 Rune-Scarred Demon
48 Buried Alive
49 Increasing Ambition (plays from graveyard)
MANA RAMP
50 Sol Ring
51 Coldsteel Heart
52 Journeyer's Kite (also feeds Malfegor)
53 Darksteel Ingot
DRAW
54 Bloodgift Demon
55 Phyrexian Arena
56 Geth's Grimoire
OTHER
57 Big Game Hunter
58 Rakdos Pit Dragon
59 Inferno Titan
60 Demonfire
61 Devil's Play
62 Exsanguinate
63 Anthem of Rakdos
LANDS
64 Barren Moor
65 Bojuka Bog
66 Buried Ruin
67 Command Tower
68 Dragonskull Summit
69 Forgotten Cave
70 Ghitu Encampment
71 Graven Cairns
72 Keldon Megaliths
73 Lavaclaw Reaches
74 Leechridden Swamp
75 Miren, the Moaning Well
76 Mouth of Ronom
77 Mystifying Maze
78 Rakdos Carnarium
79 Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace
80 Scrying Sheets
81 Stensia Bloodhall
82 Tresserhorn Sinks
83 Snow-Covered Swamp
94 Snow-Covered Swamp
95 Snow-Covered Mountain
100 Snow-Covered Mountain
One card you definitely want is Death Cloud. Goes with your land destruction and discard themes, and hits everyone! I'd cut Rakdos, the Defiler to fit it in. I've never had good luck with the other RB demon...
How often do you flashback Dread Return? If it's not often, try Torrent of Souls instead.
Graveborn Muse is your only zombie, so maybe Bloodgift Demon or Phyrexian Arena instead?
If you're up for major revisions, you could try adding in a RB Knight recursion suite. Haakon, Stromgald Scourge, Phyrexian Crusader, Order of Yawgmoth, Ashenmoor Liege, Kulrath Knight, Hero of Oxid Ridge... They aren't the biggest creatures, but they do keep coming back. And Malfegor ensures you always have a way to discard Haakon. Kulrath Knight in particular is pretty underrated in EDH. His ability works with ANY KIND of counter! Other cards that help Haakon include Buried Alive and Corpse Connoisseur.
If you're looking for things to cut, I'd start with Hellhole Rats, Diabolic Edict, Terminate, and Akuta, Born of Ash.
Since you already are playing Stranglehold, why not also play Maralen of the Mornsong for the lock?
A fun card that hits all your opponents (but not you!) is Leyline of the Void. I've never used it, but it could help make sure your opponents stay down!
1 Kuro, Pitlord
DEMONS
2 Bloodgift Demon
3 Kagemaro, First to Suffer
4 Harvester of Souls
5 Rune-Scarred Demon
6 Griselbrand
7 Pestilence Demon
8 Dread Cacodemon
VAMPIRES
9 Guul Draz Assassin
10 Blood Artist
11 Vampire Hexmage
12 Vampire Nighthawk
13 Bloodline Keeper
14 Falkenrath Noble
15 Sangromancer
16 Dark Impostor
17 Malakir Bloodwitch
18 Nirkana Revenant
19 Butcher of Malakir
20 Chancellor of the Dross
OTHER FRIENDS
21 Blood Speaker
22 Solemn Simulacrum
23 Magus of the Coffers
LIFE GAIN/DRAIN
24 Bloodchief Ascension
25 Suffer the Past
26 Exsanguinate
27 Profane Command
28 Loxodon Warhammer
29 Tribute to Hunger
30 Tendrils of Corruption
31 Batterskull
32 Exquisite Blood
33 Sanguine Bond
34 Venser's Journal
35 Blood Tribute
36 Sorin Markov
37 Soul Conduit
38 Everflowing Chalice
39 Sol Ring
40 Coldsteel Heart
41 Pristine Talisman
42 Paradise Plume
43 Caged Sun
DRAW
44 Night's Whisper
45 Sign in Blood
46 Necropotence
47 Phyrexian Arena
48 Ambition's Cost
49 Syphon Mind
50 Well of Lost Dreams
51 Promise of Power
TUTOR
52 Expedition Map
53 Demonic Tutor
54 Journeyer's Kite
55 Praetor's Grasp
56 Diabolic Tutor
57 Increasing Ambition
OTHER
58 Sudden Spoiling
59 Phyrexian Processor
60 Beacon of Unrest
61 Karn Liberated
LANDS
62 Bojuka Bog
63 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
64 Buried Ruin
65 Cabal Coffers
66 Crypt of Agadeem
67 Dark Depths
68 Leechridden Swamp
69 Miren, the Moaning Well
70 Mouth of Ronom
71 Mystifying Maze
72 Reliquary Tower
73 Scrying Sheets
74 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
75 Springjack Pasture
76 Tectonic Edge
77 Terrain Generator
78 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
79 Snow-Covered Swamp
100 Snow-Covered Swamp
Card suggestions would be great. I'd like to cut Consuming Vapors and Weed Strangle, as sorcery speed removal isn't that great and I have enough life gain already. I like Chalice of Life, but I'm not 100% sold on it.
I'm thinking more draw and tutor effects in their place. Maybe Moonlight Bargain? Also, would a general tutor like Diabolic Tutor be better than something slightly faster but more narrow like Beseech the Queen or Expedition Map?
1 Malfegor
Creatures
1 Nezumi Shortfang
1 Rotting Rats
1 Big Game Hunter
1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
1 Hellfire Mongrel
1 Jagged Poppet
1 Liliana's Specter
1 Maralen of the Mornsong
1 Phyrexian Crusader
1 Rakdos Augurmage
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Stronghold Rats
1 Anger
1 Ashenmoor Liege
1 Blazing Specter
1 Lavaborn Muse
1 Mindslicer
1 Order of Yawgmoth
1 Rakdos Pit Dragon
1 Sangromancer
1 Bloodgift Demon
1 Corpse Connoisseur
1 Kulrath Knight
1 Magma Phoenix
1 Vengeful Pharaoh
1 Inferno Titan
1 Scythe Specter
1 Skarrgan Firebird
1 Hollowborn Barghest
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Quest for the Nihil Stone
1 Everlasting Torment
1 Necrogen Mists
1 Pain Magnification
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Stranglehold
1 Anthem of Rakdos
1 Painful Quandary
1 Gibbering Descent
Sorceries
1 Demonfire
1 Devil's Play
1 Exsanguinate
1 Profane Command
1 Death Cloud
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Dread Return
1 Rekindled Flame
1 Syphon Mind
1 Unnerve
1 Rise from the Grave
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Life's Finale
1 Army of the Damned
Instants
1 Strangling Soot
Artifacts
1 Sol Ring
1 Armillary Sphere
1 Specter's Shroud
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Skullcage
1 Possessed Portal
1 Liliana of the Veil
Nonbasic Lands
1 Akoum Refuge
1 Barren Moor
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Buried Ruin
1 Command Tower
1 Dakmor Salvage
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Forgotten Cave
1 Ghitu Encampment
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Graven Cairns
1 Keldon Megaliths
1 Lavaclaw Reaches
1 Leechridden Swamp
1 Molten Slagheap
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Rakdos Carnarium
1 Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace
1 Spawning Pool
1 Stensia Bloodhall
Basic Lands
10 Swamp
7 Mountain
Updates to Malfegor!
The card cuts and additions focus in on the theme of getting everyone hellbent, wherein everyone dies a slow death and I keep casting from the graveyard.
-1 Rakdos Guildmage
+1 Phyrexian Crusader
The removal and goblin token from the guildmage were never very exciting. Phyrexian Crusader can kill opponents, and recurs with Haakon and neuters with Kulrath Knight.
-1 Crypt Champion
+1 Blazing Specter
The reanimation trick is cute in multiplayer, but not somewhat underwhelming, and never seems to win me friends like I would hope. Blazing Specter hits for a card with haste, and the updated card frame from the Duel Decks set is nice.
-1 Reckless Wurm
+1 Mindslicer
Getting a 4/4 trampler off a discard just didn't happen enough, and was never that relevant. Mindslicer gets everyone hellbent now, reasonably costed and hits for 4 as well.
-1 Emrakul's Hatcher
+1 Bloodgift Demon
Getting three manabots to flashback Dread Return is a neat trick, but I'd rather take the demon's Phyrexian Arena ability. Note that I can try to gain an ally by giving someone else the card.
-1 Grixis Slavedriver
+1 Army of the Damned
I was really only using the slavedriver to hit someone for 4 and get a zombie from the graveyard. Army of the Damned gets zombies on a much more impressive scale.
-1 Demonic Collusion
+1 Profane Command
The play utility of the command works out better than the selection utility of the collusion.
-1 Comet Storm
+1 Devil's Play
This is a tough call, but I like that if I pitch Devil's Play to Malfegor, I can still use it in the graveyard.
-1 Delirium Skeins
+1 Unnerve
Another tough call. Delirium Skeins is brutal on turn three, but less impressive later in the game. Unnerve is much better later, when I start to want cards in my hand again.
-1 Rakdos Signet
+1 Darksteel Ingot
Mana rocks are mana rocks, but the ingot doesn't break.
-1 Argentum Armor
+1 Liliana of the Veil
Liliana does everything this deck wants. Auto-include.
-4 Swamp
-2 Mountain
+1 Command Tower
+1 Dragonskull Summit
+1 Ghost Quarter
+1 Graven Cairns
+1 Leechridden Swamp
+1 Stensia Bloodhall
Some additional utility lands, and some additional mana fixing.
"Exactly one creature attacks and blocks each turn if able."?
Love the cards and ideas, though I'm not sure how the vampire's drawback works. Does it trigger if an opponent loses 0 life?
Creature - Archon (R)
When Blinding Vengeance enters the battlefield, choose an opponent.
Flying, haste
Creatures attack the chosen player each turn if able.
5/5
IIW: antlers