My main question is, which pieces I have overthought and might have to remove. But I am also wondering how I could increase card draw (tutor the Skullclamp, maybe?!).
The deck is built on the realisation that as soon as Pestilence is out, you usually do not have mana open for other stuff. Hence all other spells have a CMC smaller than 4.
The general game plan is to establish a board presence from early- to midgame, including various pieces for synergies. From there we either win based on our sticky board or the Pestilence. Geralf's Messenger can be a second win-condition.
Aether Vial helps with getting creatures out. The instant-speed is important here with so much deathtouch and lifelink in the deck, and also let's us put creatures on the board for the Pestilence during an opponent's turn. It also keeps mana free for activated abilities.
Power Conduit helps keep Geralf's Messenger alive; moving around counters is generally useful, including making the sometimes superfluous Phylactery, Ammit and Vial counters to +1/+1 counters
Baleful Ammit and Gifted Aetherborn help keep us alive, with the former also helping keep the Messenger alive in a pinch, and the latter being a generally great 2-drop
Pitiless Pontiff and Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim are our sac-outlets for Geralf's Messenger (as is a double-clamp), but also for other clamped creatures. Additionally they provide lifegain and Pestilence insurance, respectively, and serve as small threats on the board
As I plan to use and protect the Pestilence with all available mana, I did forego cards that abuse Pestilence. Some of them are in the Maybeboard below.
2x Baleful Ammit
4x Geralf's Messenger
4x Gifted Aetherborn
4x Phylactery Lich
2x Pitiless Pontiff
4x Pestilence
4x Power Conduit
4x Skullclamp
4x Swords to Plowshares
4x Godless Shrine
4x Tainted Field
4x Vault of Whispers
My main question is, which pieces I have overthought and might have to remove. But I am also wondering how I could increase card draw (tutor the Skullclamp, maybe?!).
The deck is built on the realisation that as soon as Pestilence is out, you usually do not have mana open for other stuff. Hence all other spells have a CMC smaller than 4.
The general game plan is to establish a board presence from early- to midgame, including various pieces for synergies. From there we either win based on our sticky board or the Pestilence. Geralf's Messenger can be a second win-condition.
Here is how I think the deck fits together:
As I plan to use and protect the Pestilence with all available mana, I did forego cards that abuse Pestilence. Some of them are in the Maybeboard below.
So, what do you think?
1x Bloodchief Ascension
1x Bontu the Glorified
1x Butcher Ghoul
1x Chastise
1x Consume Spirit
1x Crypt Ghast
1x Culling Dais
1x Darksteel Axe
1x Darksteel Pendant
1x Disowned Ancestor
1x Elusive Tormentor
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
1x Exquisite Blood
1x Exsanguinate
1x Humble
1x Pariah
1x Path to Exile
1x Severed Strands
1x Sign in Blood
1x Stillmoon Cavalier
1x Stuffy Doll
1x Swans of Bryn Argoll
1x Tainted Sigil
1x Utter End
1x Vampire Nighthawk
1x Vampiric Rites
1x Vindicate
1x Vraska's Contempt
1x Wall of Souls
1x Whip of Erebos
1x Yahenni, Undying Partisan