And the other key is to get creative with your strategy as well. While the Avacyn / Mass-LD angle seems like a winner, I'm telling you now that you will experience a quite real hate-storm at the majority of tables. If you're okay with that, go forth and conquer! If not, try to find a more subtle angle for your deck overall.
2:
A long drawn out game with 5 players. At least 10 board wipes had been cast, and everyone had at least 25-30% of their decks in their graveyards. I had been mana-screwed all game (only at 5 mana), and except for a timely Blasphemous Act, had done nothing to really impact the game.
On the final turn sequence, a player had ticked Liliana Vess up to 8, ready to ultimate the next turn. Oh, and had wiped AGAIN to keep her there. Everyone was groaning and whining about the game, but they had nothing they could do. On my turn, I used Word of Seizing to grab the Liliana and ultimate her. It caused a big cheer, and as I started to sort through the endless ETB triggers, everyone just agreed it was over given my Urabrask the Hidden being among the returnees.
Based on the decks you mentioned, it seems you prefer a troll-y style of play. My advice would be to embrace your nature, and just glory in the misery of your opponents.
If you don't always want to be a source of sorrow, make some proactive decks for those occasions. When I was playing all the time, I maxed out at 18 decks. Adding a ton of variety allows you to adjust for your mood, your playgroup, the amount of time you have, etc..
Hemlock - This seems too good. I am a huge fan of asymmetrical effects, but Plague Wind is 9 mana for a reason.
Legend - I like the callback here, but the mechanic has the unfortunate side effect of being awful when you're behind. I would like a Mythic planeswalker in today's environment to not be quite so win-more.
Artorias - Cool little common. I would love to see the confusion post-combat if there were lots of casualties..
Fajen Thygia - This seems so counter-intuitive to my brain. Granted, there are a few exile shenanigans, but not enough to counterbalance the loss of resources this represents for a symmetrical board wipe.
RaikouRider - Feels op. Cards can get away with this when they hit everyone, but just selective mass removal?
Jimmy Groove - I have always loved this effect, but I'm not sure this merits Mythic status. If Elfhame Sanctuary was uncommon, this shouldn't be much off.
Algernone25 - I think this is strong, if unexciting. Now where did I leave that infinite wizards combo...? lol
Devastating Charge2BR
Sorcery(R)
Sacrifice any number of lands. Creatures you control get +X/+X and gain menace until end of turn, where X is the number of lands sacrificed this way. Setting an inferno behind your troops is an effective motivational technique.
Jimmy Groove - This is very unique and cohesive. Name is a bit of a miss for me, flavor-wise. With that name, I feel like it should be something progressive, like a creature with level-up.
Artorias - This is the 'lord' Deserts were missing. Very nice. I feel like this could spawn whole new avenues for deck building.
picnic_bomber - Oof. Cool design, but it feels a bit aggressively costed for the power level. Feels like 6, tbh.
willows - I assume this is a Mythic? Super aggressive for the cost, and seems ripe for abuse. This kind of card is why you should always kill Goblin Welder as soon as he comes down.. lol
Legend - Alright, this is the first one that feels like it could actually be printed. The power level feels fine, and the card feels appropriately Rakdos.
void_nothing - Nicely balanced effect, but I'm not getting the connection between how it's costed and what it does. Why is this red, for example?
Alright, we're into the deep cuts now. Some thoughts (beyond the already excellent suggestions)
Attrition - and other sac for effect cards. this works well for stuff out of range, and starts the chain Grave Betrayal - oh the value! Rise of the Dark Realms - the finisher you're looking for Conjurer's Closet - just sick with ETB effects, and gives you a new chain every turn cycle if need be Cauldron of Souls - a REALLY deep cut for this, but it would help sculpt your Massacre Girl chains to get the best advantage you can
All in all, it's a situational card, and with time I've learned that there's no point in discussing how exactly good situational cards are, as everyone has their own stories of subpar cards doing a lot of work, because MTG offers so many scenarios that there will always be one where a situational card really shines.
StarJake - Seems like this could have been 3 cmc and been fine, which makes the miracle cost unexciting.
Gateways7 - Cool card (maybe a bit pushed for a rare), but the miracle seems tacked on.
Artorias - Not sure this feels rare to me, but I love the flavor you added here.
void_nothing - This seems busted to me, but it's hard to nail down. Granted, put it in a deck with lots of 'living weapon' and it would be a cheaper blue Plague Wind..
Algernone25 - I think this is almost optimal. I would have definitely wanted it to be an instant, but that might have been over the top.
Fajen Thygia - Not sure the white in the miracle cost makes sense. Red/blue is much more the color combination for storming. Plus, this should be legendary, no?
Inlet of Maybes
Legendary Land (M)
: Add 1
, Exile seven artifacts: Take an extra turn after this one. Shuffle Inlet of Maybes into its owner's library. "If you find the place, make sure you don't accidentally kill your grandfather."
----Ancient pirate warning.
Desperate Prayer2BB
Sorcery(U)
Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library. You may put that card into your hand or on top of your library.
Miracle B(You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it’s the first card you drew this turn.) Out of darkness, hope.
Strix Foundry
Artifact (R) 2, : Create a 1/1 blue and black Bird artifact creature token with flying and deathtouch. 2GG, Sacrifice Strix Foundry: For each creature you control, choose a target creature an opponent controls. Those creatures fight each other.
I found the first key is to get creative. Without a ton of card advantage, artifacts become critical to help keep up. But there are some white cards that help:
Arcane Encyclopedia
Seer's Sundial
Mind's Eye
Endless Horizons
Weathered Wayfarer
are all good options. And don't forget the lands:
Emeria, The Sky Ruin
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Terrain Generator
Thawing Glaciers
all do good work.
And the other key is to get creative with your strategy as well. While the Avacyn / Mass-LD angle seems like a winner, I'm telling you now that you will experience a quite real hate-storm at the majority of tables. If you're okay with that, go forth and conquer! If not, try to find a more subtle angle for your deck overall.
1:
Turn One
Me: Mountain
Player A: Land, Sol Ring
Player B: Land, Sol Ring, Mana Vault
Player C: Seat of the Synod, Memnite, Expedition Map
Turn Two
Me: Mountain, Meltdown for 1
2:
A long drawn out game with 5 players. At least 10 board wipes had been cast, and everyone had at least 25-30% of their decks in their graveyards. I had been mana-screwed all game (only at 5 mana), and except for a timely Blasphemous Act, had done nothing to really impact the game.
On the final turn sequence, a player had ticked Liliana Vess up to 8, ready to ultimate the next turn. Oh, and had wiped AGAIN to keep her there. Everyone was groaning and whining about the game, but they had nothing they could do. On my turn, I used Word of Seizing to grab the Liliana and ultimate her. It caused a big cheer, and as I started to sort through the endless ETB triggers, everyone just agreed it was over given my Urabrask the Hidden being among the returnees.
If you don't always want to be a source of sorrow, make some proactive decks for those occasions. When I was playing all the time, I maxed out at 18 decks. Adding a ton of variety allows you to adjust for your mood, your playgroup, the amount of time you have, etc..
Legend - I like the callback here, but the mechanic has the unfortunate side effect of being awful when you're behind. I would like a Mythic planeswalker in today's environment to not be quite so win-more.
Artorias - Cool little common. I would love to see the confusion post-combat if there were lots of casualties..
Fajen Thygia - This seems so counter-intuitive to my brain. Granted, there are a few exile shenanigans, but not enough to counterbalance the loss of resources this represents for a symmetrical board wipe.
RaikouRider - Feels op. Cards can get away with this when they hit everyone, but just selective mass removal?
Jimmy Groove - I have always loved this effect, but I'm not sure this merits Mythic status. If Elfhame Sanctuary was uncommon, this shouldn't be much off.
Algernone25 - I think this is strong, if unexciting. Now where did I leave that infinite wizards combo...? lol
Top 3:
1. Artorias
2. Algernone25
3. RaikouRider
Sorcery(R)
Sacrifice any number of lands. Creatures you control get +X/+X and gain menace until end of turn, where X is the number of lands sacrificed this way.
Setting an inferno behind your troops is an effective motivational technique.
Artorias - This is the 'lord' Deserts were missing. Very nice. I feel like this could spawn whole new avenues for deck building.
picnic_bomber - Oof. Cool design, but it feels a bit aggressively costed for the power level. Feels like 6, tbh.
willows - I assume this is a Mythic? Super aggressive for the cost, and seems ripe for abuse. This kind of card is why you should always kill Goblin Welder as soon as he comes down.. lol
Legend - Alright, this is the first one that feels like it could actually be printed. The power level feels fine, and the card feels appropriately Rakdos.
void_nothing - Nicely balanced effect, but I'm not getting the connection between how it's costed and what it does. Why is this red, for example?
Top 3:
1. Legend
2. Artorias
3. Jimmy Groove
Attrition - and other sac for effect cards. this works well for stuff out of range, and starts the chain
Grave Betrayal - oh the value!
Rise of the Dark Realms - the finisher you're looking for
Conjurer's Closet - just sick with ETB effects, and gives you a new chain every turn cycle if need be
Cauldron of Souls - a REALLY deep cut for this, but it would help sculpt your Massacre Girl chains to get the best advantage you can
Do you mean like the final game of the FNM draft where my oh so powerful Skull Rend hit my friend's Hypersonic Dragon and Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius when he had 3 other junky cards in hand? lol
Gateways7 - Cool card (maybe a bit pushed for a rare), but the miracle seems tacked on.
Artorias - Not sure this feels rare to me, but I love the flavor you added here.
void_nothing - This seems busted to me, but it's hard to nail down. Granted, put it in a deck with lots of 'living weapon' and it would be a cheaper blue Plague Wind..
Algernone25 - I think this is almost optimal. I would have definitely wanted it to be an instant, but that might have been over the top.
Fajen Thygia - Not sure the white in the miracle cost makes sense. Red/blue is much more the color combination for storming. Plus, this should be legendary, no?
Top 3:
1. Algernone25
2. Artorias
3. void_nothing
Legendary Land (M)
: Add 1
, Exile seven artifacts: Take an extra turn after this one. Shuffle Inlet of Maybes into its owner's library.
"If you find the place, make sure you don't accidentally kill your grandfather."
----Ancient pirate warning.
Sorcery(U)
Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library. You may put that card into your hand or on top of your library.
Miracle B (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it’s the first card you drew this turn.)
Out of darkness, hope.
Artifact (R)
2, : Create a 1/1 blue and black Bird artifact creature token with flying and deathtouch.
2GG, Sacrifice Strix Foundry: For each creature you control, choose a target creature an opponent controls. Those creatures fight each other.
How about, "For each creature you control, choose a target creature an opponent controls. Those creatures fight one another."?