Having access to tools like Orzhov Pontiff to wipe enemy Myr tokens or anthem your team, and Kolaghan's Command for removal and creature recursion when splashing black is also a huge plus.
One of my biggest complaints when piloting the RW version was finding myself hellbent so often. 4x Dark Confidant solved this problem. Bob, along with Pontiff, are also additional humans to buff Champion of the Parish.
Another problem was the lack of fliers. Bitterblossom and Lingering Souls! These cards alone are enough to beat some decks.
Anyways, give it a try. It's a lot of fun to play.
I would replace Reality Smasher with Blade Splicer. Reality Smasher is a great card, but Splicer is a very easy card to abuse with Displacer. Maybe cut one Displacer and one Selfless Spirit for a couple of Restoration Angel? Not sure if that is correct, but I love Resto.
Asylum Visitor can be a less painful way to draw cards. Unfortunately, the effect is symmetrical. Not having to reveal the card also makes Vial tricks you might have available unknown to the opponent. It's also a 3/1 rather than a 2/1. It's "easy" enough to have no cards in hand at upkeep if you have an active Vial.
I've been trying out a 2-of Emancipation Angel, -1 Phyrexian Revoker and -1 Kor Skyfisher from the list I posted earlier on this page. It has the same ability as Kor Skyfisher, but with a 3/3 body instead of a 2/3. I went for the 3CMC beacuse that's where vial wants to be.
Same tricks as Kor Skyfisher, so lots of fun to be had. Plus, that makes twelve 3-power flyers that the opponent needs to deal with.
4 main board revokers? I had 2 in the side and never found myself with enough targets that warranted boarding him in.
I find that I keep them in post-board more often than not. Hits Planeswalkers, mana dorks and other utility creatures, almost everything you care about against Affinity...
Here is a list of Revoker targets for a few common matchups:
Tron
Chromatic Star, Chromatic Sphere, Expedition Map, Karn Liberated, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Oblivion Stone.
Eldrazi Tron
Spellskite, Expedition Map, Mindstone, Relic of Progenitus.
Souls Sister
Martyr of Sands, Kami of False Hopes, Weathered Wayfarer.
Hatebear & Death And Taxes
Qasali Pridemage, Spellskite, Aether Vial, Noble Hierarch, Kytheon, Hero of Akroas, Ratchet Bomb/Engineered Explosives, Mangara, Eldrazi Displacer, various Swords of X and Y.
Lantern Control
Spellskite, Codex Shredder, Ghirapur Aether Grid, Ghoul Caller's Bell, Lantern of Insight, Mox Opal.
Coco & Kiki Chord
Bird of Paradise, Kiki, Breaker of Mirrors, Knight of Reliquary , Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Spike Feeder, Viscera Seer/Valroz/Cartel Arisotcrat, Wall of Roots.
I decided I'd try out a full playset of both Leonin Arbiter and Phyrexian Revoker. Results have been pretty good. Revoker is great in a lot of matchups, and can easily be boarded out for better hate-cards in the sideboard. Sideboard is all creatures so I can maintain the threat density post-board.
Trying out a 1-of Kor Skyfisher that I've seen run in other lists. It's a nice way to reset Revoker or Cavern, or save a creature if Vial is on 2. It might be replaced by a Dismember... not sure.
I was running 4 Thraben Inspector for a while, but wasn't impressed. The card draw was nice, but I think having a playset of Horizon Canopy would negate the need for them - unfortunately, I don't own any right now.
Displacer is maindeck just for souls tokens (plus it's other utility). The rest of the cards don't really need any explanation.
Just picked up Dead Guy Ale and have been having pretty good luck with it.
I tried Brimaz, Copter, and Sculler (among others) in the 2 and 3-drop slots, and never felt too great about them. I threw Gifted Aetherborn in the slot and have been very happy with them. Deathtouch and Lifelink are almost always relevant. If you haven't given them a try, I really suggest it!
Still working on sideboard... currently it is as follows:
I'm definitely going to run 2 Bontu’s Last Reckoning as soon as they are available. I find myself desperately wanting sweepers against Company decks, which I seem to run up against on a pretty regular basis.
I play-tested Orbs of Warding for a bit yesterday. It was great! I brought it in the first three matches I played (Goblin Charbelcher combo, Scapeshift, Vizier Druid combo).
I was able to land Pithing Needles and Orbs vs Charbelcher combo games 2 and 3 to buy enough time to decimate them with Ulamog and Karn.
Similar story for the Vizier Druid combo. Lost game 1, but Orbs and Pithing Needles bought me enough time game 2 and 3 to secure the victory.
Scapeshift opponent didn't see Orbs of Warding coming game 2, which gave me the win (I won game 1 chaining 3 Karn's in a row).
I brought them in vs. burn, but never got a chance top play them.
I ordered some in paper and am planning on testing them out at FNM, too.
The list I posted is similar to one that went 5-0 in an MTGO competitive league.
See CFB article by Frank Lepore: https://www.channelfireball.com/videos/modern-monday-bw-control/
I'll be playing my list in paper on Friday. Will let you know how it goes.
I've been playing this list online the past couple of days:
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Godless Shrine
4 Marsh Flats
3 Plains
4 Shambling Vent
3 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge
Creature (3)
3 Wall of Omens
Instant (6)
4 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
Sorcery (18)
3 Thoughtseize
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Collective Brutality
4 Night's Whisper
3 Lingering Souls
2 Damnation
1 Wrath of God
3 Liliana of the Veil
2 Gideon of the Trials
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Gideon Jura
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Disenchant
3 Fulminator Mage
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Pithing Needle
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
I'm 9-2 so far. Losses to Titanshift and Burn. Wins againt Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund Death's Shadow, Burn, Mill, Abzan, Soul Sisters, some artifact deck... The deck is pretty consistently good.
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Godless Shrine
4 Marsh Flats
3 Plains
4 Shambling Vent
3 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge
Creature (3)
3 Wall of Omens
Instant (6)
4 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
Sorcery (18)
3 Thoughtseize
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Collective Brutality
4 Night's Whisper
3 Lingering Souls
2 Damnation
1 Wrath of God
3 Liliana of the Veil
2 Gideon of the Trials
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Gideon Jura
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Disenchant
3 Fulminator Mage
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Pithing Needle
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
I'm 9-2 so far. Losses to Titanshift and Burn. Wins againt Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund Death's Shadow, Burn, Mill, Abzan, Soul Sisters, some artifact deck... The deck is pretty consistently good.
4 Marsh Flats
3 Arid Mesa
3 Bloodstained Mire
2 Godless Shrine
1 Blood Crypt
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Swamp
Artifacts/Enchantments (9):
4 Genesis Chamber
3 Bitterblossom
2 Intangible Virtue
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Dark Confidant
3 Soul Warden
3 Soul's Attendant
4 Norin the Wary
2 Orzhov Pontiff
Instant/Sorcery (11):
4 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
1 Dreadbore
4 Lingering Souls
1 Crumble to Dust
3 Fulminator Mage
3 Kolaghan's Command
1 Pithing Needle
2 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Wear // Tear
This is the deck I've been piloting online for the past couple weeks. I took it to a 3-0-1 finish at FNM last week.
Biggest reasons to splash black:
- Lingering Souls
- Dark Confidant
- Fatal Push
- Bitterblossom
Having access to tools like Orzhov Pontiff to wipe enemy Myr tokens or anthem your team, and Kolaghan's Command for removal and creature recursion when splashing black is also a huge plus.
One of my biggest complaints when piloting the RW version was finding myself hellbent so often. 4x Dark Confidant solved this problem. Bob, along with Pontiff, are also additional humans to buff Champion of the Parish.
Another problem was the lack of fliers. Bitterblossom and Lingering Souls! These cards alone are enough to beat some decks.
Anyways, give it a try. It's a lot of fun to play.
Ah! Misread the card. Nevermind then!
Same tricks as Kor Skyfisher, so lots of fun to be had. Plus, that makes twelve 3-power flyers that the opponent needs to deal with.
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Tectonic Edge
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Eiganjo Castle
13 Plains
Instant/Sorcery (4)
4 Path to Exile
Artifacts (4)
4 Aether Vial
Creatures (29)
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Blade Splicer
4 Flickerwisp
4 Restoration Angel
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Serra Avenger
2 Emancipation Angel
2 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Leonin Relic-Warder
2 Selfless Spirit
2 Fiend Hunter
2 Kitchen Finks
1 Mirran Crusader
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Sideboard probably still needs tweaking. I like that Linvala is a 3/4 flying beater, but she seems redundant with the Revokers.
I find that I keep them in post-board more often than not. Hits Planeswalkers, mana dorks and other utility creatures, almost everything you care about against Affinity...
Here is a list of Revoker targets for a few common matchups:
Arcbound Ravager, Hangarback Walker, Steel Overseer, Spellskite, Cranial Plating, Mox Opal, Springleaf Drum, Welding Jar, & Ghirapur Aether Grid.
Grixis, Jund & Junk
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy, Grim Lavamancer, Fulminator Mage, Olivia Voldaren, Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Scavenging Ooze, Chandra Pyromaster, Engineered Explosives, Liliana of the Viel, Noble Hierarch, Tasigur, Knight of the Reliquaary.
Burn & Zoo (All Variations)
Ghor-Klan Rampager, Experiment One, Grim Lavamancer, Hellspark Elemental, Knignt of the Reliquary, Noble Hierarch, Qasali Pridemage, Scavenging Ooze, Tasigur.
Elves
Elvish Arcdruid, Elvish Mystic, Heritage Druid, Ezuri, Llanowar Elves, Mirror Entity, Scavenging Ooze, Spellskite, Evolutionary Leap.
Tron
Chromatic Star, Chromatic Sphere, Expedition Map, Karn Liberated, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Oblivion Stone.
Eldrazi Tron
Spellskite, Expedition Map, Mindstone, Relic of Progenitus.
Souls Sister
Martyr of Sands, Kami of False Hopes, Weathered Wayfarer.
Hatebear & Death And Taxes
Qasali Pridemage, Spellskite, Aether Vial, Noble Hierarch, Kytheon, Hero of Akroas, Ratchet Bomb/Engineered Explosives, Mangara, Eldrazi Displacer, various Swords of X and Y.
Lantern Control
Spellskite, Codex Shredder, Ghirapur Aether Grid, Ghoul Caller's Bell, Lantern of Insight, Mox Opal.
Coco & Kiki Chord
Bird of Paradise, Kiki, Breaker of Mirrors, Knight of Reliquary , Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Spike Feeder, Viscera Seer/Valroz/Cartel Arisotcrat, Wall of Roots.
Ad Nasuem
Simiam Spirit Guide, Pentad Prism, Lotus Bloom, Lightning Storm.
Living End
Architect of Will, Deadshot Minotaur, Fulminator Mage, Monstrous Carabid, Simiam Spirit Guidr, Jungle Weaver, Street Wraith.
Infect
Spellskite, Noble Hierarch
Scapeshift
Sakura Tribe-Elder
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Tectonic Edge
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Eiganjo Castle
13 Plains
Instant/Sorcery (4)
4 Path to Exile
Artifacts (4)
4 Aether Vial
Creatures (29)
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Blade Splicer
4 Flickerwisp
4 Restoration Angel
2 Eldrazi Displacer
2 Serra Avenger
1 Kor Skyfisher
2 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Leonin Relic-Warder
2 Selfless Spirit
2 Fiend Hunter
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Kitchen Finks
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
I decided I'd try out a full playset of both Leonin Arbiter and Phyrexian Revoker. Results have been pretty good. Revoker is great in a lot of matchups, and can easily be boarded out for better hate-cards in the sideboard. Sideboard is all creatures so I can maintain the threat density post-board.
Trying out a 1-of Kor Skyfisher that I've seen run in other lists. It's a nice way to reset Revoker or Cavern, or save a creature if Vial is on 2. It might be replaced by a Dismember... not sure.
I was running 4 Thraben Inspector for a while, but wasn't impressed. The card draw was nice, but I think having a playset of Horizon Canopy would negate the need for them - unfortunately, I don't own any right now.
Displacer is maindeck just for souls tokens (plus it's other utility). The rest of the cards don't really need any explanation.
4 Concealed Courtyard
1 Godless Shrine
2 Marsh Flats
4 Mutavault
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
9 Swamp
Instant/Sorcery (19)
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Thoughtseize
4 Wrench Mind
4 Dismember
3 Raven's Crime
4 Shrieking Affliction
4 The Rack
4 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Torment of Scarabs
Planeswalker (4)
4 Liliana of the Veil
1 Fragmentize
2 Disenchant
2 Rest in Peace
4 Surgical Extraction
4 Ghost Quarter
2 Bontu's Last Reckoning
I've been piloting the deck for the past week or so, and have settled on the list above.
I wasn't a huge fan of Smallpox, so I replaced them with a playset of Ensnaring Bridge. I've played with Funeral Charm, Blackmail, Pack Rat, Dark Confidant, Fatal Push, ..., but think I've settled on this for the time being. Torment of Scarabs is awesome, if you haven't tried it out.
I've really liked the sideboard, so far. I'd replace the Ghost Quarter's with Fulminator Mage, but I don't own any.
Suggestions are welcome.
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Godless Shrine
4 Marsh Flats
2 Mutavault
2 Plains
4 Shambling Vent
3 Swamp
3 Fatal Push
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Path to Exile
3 Thoughtseize
2 Collective Brutality
4 Lingering Souls
4 Dark Confidant
4 Pack Rat
4 Gifted Aetherborn
Planeswalkers
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Gideon of the Trials
Just picked up Dead Guy Ale and have been having pretty good luck with it.
I tried Brimaz, Copter, and Sculler (among others) in the 2 and 3-drop slots, and never felt too great about them. I threw Gifted Aetherborn in the slot and have been very happy with them. Deathtouch and Lifelink are almost always relevant. If you haven't given them a try, I really suggest it!
Still working on sideboard... currently it is as follows:
3 Pithing Needle
2 Surgical Extraction
3 Blessed Alliance
2 Disenchant
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
1 Yahenni's Expertise
I'm definitely going to run 2 Bontu’s Last Reckoning as soon as they are available. I find myself desperately wanting sweepers against Company decks, which I seem to run up against on a pretty regular basis.
Any comments or suggestions?
It's not too bad. Pre-board, Collective Brutality/Path to Exile/Pyroclasm/Kozilek's Return deal enough damage to Devoted Druid and Vizier of Remedies to prevent combo. That said, they can go off T3 (T1 mana dork, into T2 Devoted Druid, into T3 Vizier of Remedies), then they can Chord of Calling for anything they want or try to hit something with Collected Company if they have either in hand.
Assuming you have the mana, you can also hold up Oblivion Stone.
Post-board, I bring in Orbs of Warding, and Pithing Needle to shut down Devoted Druid and/or Walking Ballista.
This is definitely the deck I went up against: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/511941-modern-belcher-forest-belcher-land-thinning
I was able to land Pithing Needles and Orbs vs Charbelcher combo games 2 and 3 to buy enough time to decimate them with Ulamog and Karn.
Similar story for the Vizier Druid combo. Lost game 1, but Orbs and Pithing Needles bought me enough time game 2 and 3 to secure the victory.
Scapeshift opponent didn't see Orbs of Warding coming game 2, which gave me the win (I won game 1 chaining 3 Karn's in a row).
I brought them in vs. burn, but never got a chance top play them.
I ordered some in paper and am planning on testing them out at FNM, too.