I have built a similar Hythonia deck and i have a couple questions. first is about crypt ghast. Is this card legal in monoblack edh? I was under the impression that extort kinda ruined it. Second is have you considered mirrorworks? In a few games i was able to have 3-5 batterskulls on the field which can be nice ;). Also in mine I added diabolic revelation so I could pull out some combos all at once. Is there a reason you aren't using this?
Because it's in the reminder textm Extort's hybrid mana symbols don't ban it from EDH.
Revelations is a good suggestion I can't believe I overlooked it. It's in. Mirrorworks is worth testing.
I too made a Tromokratis with the Release Day Card. PROMO-TROMO!
Icy Manipulator helps clear the path for Tromo. Tap down one creature and opponent can't block. Not to mention the other uses of tapping down permanents....
Keeping in theme of fat guys....You have 21 Creatures in deck. 7 of which are Krakens, Octopi, Leviathans, or Serpents. Have you given thought to Quest for Ula's Temple?
A month after Theros's release I took a look at the "Unused Commanders" list. Shocked that Hythonia hadn't found a home yet, I decided to put her at the helm of my Chainer deck. At worst Hythonia seemed a novelty/gimmick. At best she seemed like a unique Big Black General. After a few modifications I felt safe taking it to public. First-time opponents had one of two reactions, "Why would you waste time with that general when Geth/Chainer/Maga/Drana/Malaren exist?" or "Oh good I'm glad someone's giving her a chance!"
I'm glad I gave her a chance. In the 10 months she's existed I have fallen in love. If you can't tell by the size of this post I want to share her with the world. She's powerful, unique, and immensely fun. (For me)
Let's give the lady a looksee, shall we?
Hmmm..... 4/6 Deathtouch for 4BB.......nothing to write home about. Ooooh Deathtouch! Give her trample and she's a monster! People always forget about Deathtouch! Monstrosity 3 for 6BB. Turns Hythonia into a 3 turn clock. OK, ALSO CLEARS THE FIELD!? FUN! Ideas.....Drop Hythonia equip things nuke field swing for profit! OK. We can build around this. Nuking the field means we can steal from other yards, but it also means we must protect. Add Conspiracy and Darksteel stuff, got it. Because she has large mana costs we'll need some ramp. Screw it, let's add doublers too.....with doublers we can add big mana shenanigans! Geth/Drana/Maga!.........OK We've got a plan!
Hythonia plays out as a hybrid Big Mana/Voltron/Control deck molding to both situation and draws allowing multiple paths to victory. Some games I win turn 6 with Hythonia General Damage. Some games I never cast her. It all depends on the board and the draws. (This appeals to me as a player. The same strategy over and over again gets boring) Mana rocks and doublers allow me to drop fat things quickly (Ulamog) and laugh with x costing abilities. Equipment means I can swing big and turn Hythonia into a real threat. Card Draw and Sensei's Divining Top boost card quality. I'll get into details later.
OBLIGATORY "SHOULD I PLAY THIS GENERAL?" LIST You should play Hythonia the Cruel if...
You enjoy multiple paths to victory.
The thought of attacking with a 24/24 Vigilant Lifelink Germ Token stimulates you.
Finishing games with a 50 mana Exsanguinate seems like a good idea.
Death by General Damage is fun.
You don't like politics.
Having a Day of Judgement in the General Zone can come in handy.
You don't mind being at 10 life through your own doing.
You want to go from that 10 life back to 40 in one turn.
You should not play this deck if...
You prefer attacking with quantity over quality. Aura Shards/Child of Alara.
You can't take being hated.
You like comboing out.
You like having answers for everything.
You like playing on other players' turns.
THE DECK
Yes, I'm aware decklists have been posted now.
Why It's Here HYTHONIA THE CRUEL Hythonia the Cruel- Important notes about the General: Huge threat once players figure out your game. You drop her and field wipe in the same turn, which puts a huge target on your back. Opponents play around her, not wanting to play important creatures knowing you could kill them at a whim. Tucks suck, and watch for vengeful counters. Trample essentially makes her unblockable unless your target has many creatures, and in that case she becomes "destroy a bunch of creatures."
THE LEGION OF DOOM Chainer, Dementia Master- He's the retired general. Hythonia makes things go boom. Chainer picks up the pieces. I'm judicious with him, as 3 life a critter can add up, especially with the rest of the black suicide in this deck. Instant speed recursion is a champ. People WILL play around him.
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief- Sometime's she's an effective evasive beater. Sometimes she'll repeatedly remove utility creatures and swing big. Sometimes she's my only answer to an indestructible creature. But I never regret drawing Drana. Utility/mana sink/equipment bearer.
Geth, Lord of the Vault- He's strong enough to be the general. In my opinion he's the strongest mono-black general. BUT I'M HERE FOR FUN. So he's relegated to the 99. We all know the chaos he can cause, and he does that in Hythonia, but as an added bonus he has Intimidate! Meaning sometimes you slap a Lashwrithe onto him for heavy hitting.
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade- My reasoning: 1. He regenerates, meaning he survives Hythonia and removal. 2. Urborg+Him=Ow Though he's not naturally evasive, the deck contains 6 ways to give him evasion. The longer the game, the bigger the Korlash.
Maga, Traitor to Mortals- So this deck does two things very well. 1. Have lotsa mana. 2. Slam into other players with well-equip fatties. Maga does both of these well, and there are ways to give him evasion. Drop him for half their life. Rogue's Passage him for the other half. Boom. He's great for the late game when your opponent has stabilized around 15 and you just need that last little punch to the face.
Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis- An A+ Equipment Bearer who loves to smash into people. Opponents will withhold creatures if you can attack and force a sacrifice. Exalted doesn't much matter, but 1 out 100 times it does.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled- You'll be hated. You'll be the target. But you can accept it. You can take it. Flying+Trample for double evasion and best Strata Scythe target. He grows and he drains.
Liliana of the Dark Realms- I'm using my "I really like this Planeswalker" immunity on her. Sometimes she's a four mana Lay of the Land. Sometimes she's a 4 mana Seek the Horizon. Her -3 comes up surprisingly often, whether it kills blockers/indestructible creatures, or pumps a creature enough for lethal. Sometimes I hold her in hand until I need her for the -3.
Karn Liberated- I'm mono-black. My noncreature removal suite is lacking. That's where Karn comes in.
Bloodgift Demon- An auto-include in most black decks. He's undercosted, but I won't complain too much about a 5/4 flyer with Phyrexian Arena attached. Because he comes in quick and is evasive, he's a great mid-game beater.
Steel Hellkite- Again, the whole monoblack thing can be a real drag. Slap a player to destroy troubling noncreatures. Occasionally he clears tokens to boot. On top of that he's a flyer, so hooray evasion!
Dark Impostor- His ability is expensive, and at times he's not worth it. However, there are times where Imposter turns the game around. He's on the chopping block, but he's still got a slot.
ENCHANTMENTS Conspiracy- Well....Hythonia destroys non-Gorgons...and this can make all my creatures Gorgons.....so..... Also, Cavern of Souls+this=uncounterable creatures! !
Phyrexian Reclamation- If you don't understand the power of this card then stop reading this post and educate yourself. 2 life and 1B for a repeatable Raise Dead is soooo strong. EtB/LtB effects+Reclamation=giggle. I only have 4 EtB/LtB effects in deck, but they are STRONG with Reclamation. Beyond that just returning dead critters=value. You can Reclaim Ulamog in response to his trigger. Really, if you're playing Black in EDH this card should be AT LEAST strongly considered.
Helm of KaldraSword of Vengeance- Trample+Haste are what I'm going for. The rest is gravy. First Strike+Deathtouch=not dying via combat often. Vigilance from Sword of Vengeance can be relevant with Visara for swinging and tapping fun and just defense in general.
Darksteel Plate- Indestructibility given by an indestructible equipment? Awesome. It protects other creatures from Hythonia and her from opponents.
LashwritheNightmare LashStrata Scythe- Well, I have plenty of lands. Fat things are good. I have Urborg to pump Lashwrithe and Nightmare Lash further. Strata Scythe can be boosted by opponents. Let's not overthink the value of huge creature pumps in a pseudo voltron deck. Lashwrithe germ token equipped with Nightmare Lash and Batterskull=Lawl. It has won games.
Swiftfoot Boots- Haste and Hexproof. Simple. I don't use Lightning Greaves because shroud turns off other equipment.
Sword of Feast and Famine- My reasoning-it's a Bear Umbra. In a big mana deck that seems good, no? Bonus points for occasional evasion and +2/+2.
ARTIFACTS Armillary Sphere- Great early game land finding. Cheap and effective.
Expedition Map-Do I have to explain the power of finding Cabal Coffers/Urborg/Nyxthos?
Journeyer's Kite- Mana Finding. Woot. Need I say more? It's a great EoT mana sink just to keep your hand full and land drops consistent.
Caged SunGauntlet of Power- Mana Doublers! Caged Sun and Gauntlet double as Anthem effects. Gauntlet also causes lawls through opponents also gaining benefit.
Mimic Vat- Just goodstuff. I kill often, so plenty of targets.
Miren, the Moaning Well- Sometimes you need life. Sometimes you want to sacrifice Simulacrum to draw a card. Sometimes you don't want your Rune-Scarred Demon to be exiled or copied and want to sacrifice it. Sometimes you need to destroy all creatures but need Hythonia to die so you can reset her. The Well does many things.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx- A secondary (weaker) Cabal Coffers. That said, it's easy to get active. Most black permanents in this deck have two or more black mana symbols.
Rogue's Passage- Hey. So about this deck being voltrony. Let's have some unblockable creatures. To really get some value....
Terrain Generator- Occasional ramp early game. Late game allows you to empty your hand faster in case you have multiple lands.
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth- Do I have to explain? Making everything a Swamp is good! It ups your counts for Korlash, Lashwrithe, Nightmare Lash, Magus of the Coffers, and Cabal Coffers (Provided you have at least one non Swamp in play). It makes Sheoldred Unblockable. There are 10 lands that do not tap for black mana. Occasionally Urborg fixing that is relevant. If Cabal Coffers is your first Map target, Urborg is your second.
The other day I'm playing EDH with a new group. One of the players suggests a twist on the game: Instead of having one general, have a trifecta. The rules were something like you may only have one general on the battlefield, in graveyard, or in your hand at a time. Each time a general returns to the general zone the casting cost increase counts for all generals. It would change how decks could be built. Imagine Azusa Azusa Azusa MOLIMO! (If you're the guy at Ground Zero who brought this up, props)
What other rule changes have people heard? Larger than a house rule, but not so large that it's no longer EDH.
Ideas I Derped up: All Planeswalkers have a Propogana clause, meaning you have to pay 2 to attack them.
You may pay your general's cost (with previous casting additions factored in) to ONCE PER GAME put a card from a 10 card sideboard into your hand. (This counts as a casting)
If your general has returned to the zone 3 or more times, you may pay three life instead of an additional 2. For instance, Cromat has died three times. To cast him again I may pay either WUBRG8 or WUBRG6 and 3 life. The fourth time I may pay WUBRG10 for WUBRG6 and 6 life.
If you're adding guildgates, why not replace Azorius and Dimir with Jwar Isle Refuge and Sejiri Refuge?
As far as I can tell there's no reason not to. The lifegain trigger is occasionally relevant in that it equals card draw.
Vizkopa Guildmage: Lifelink + Combo with Exquisite Blood
Wall of Reverence: Great source of Life Gain
and one more piece of removal...
Toxic Deluge: Fantastic removal, clears the board (Including Indestructible creatures like Avacyn)
Asscendant- I would add said card if I wanted to be really competitive. However, I've been on the receiving end of a turn 1 6/6 lifelinker plenty of times and complained about it. Not about to become the thing I disliked so much.
Toxic Deluge Not as great as it seems. Why pay 15 life and B2 to get rid of creatures when you can just pay WW4 to exile everything? (I WANT A FINAL JUDGEMENT) Half the time you pay the 15 life to kill the 15/15 pointed at you, and you've not changed much.
Can't believe I forgot to add Trinket Mage! Also can't believe I can't find any Trinket Mages! Odd how that works out. Thank you for the suggestion.
Try Miren, the Moaning Well and Whip of Erebos. They do well for lifegain in my Chainer deck. You can also use Miren as protection to respond to Chainer's death trigger.
For Graveyard filling silliness, try Mesmeric Orb.
Sun Droplet has been a house. I have yet to find it a bad draw. Either people hold off the attack until they destroy it (buying me time), or attack and feed me. Having five cards triggering from it helps, especially since Oloro is one. And even if you ignore all that, it IS Sun Droplet. Sun Droplet's a decent card.
Has Oloro been hard to keep on the field in your experience? People tend to just accept him for me. They won't go out of their way to kill him.
How is Dismiss into Dream treating me? Like this.
Did anyone else see this card spoiled and think, "I NEED to fit this into a deck."? My meta's voltrony. Tajic, Blade of the Legion, Godo, Bandit Warlord, Uril, Cackling Counterpart and Rites of Replication are common cards. I mean, the card kills Voltron, and general damage presents the greatest threat to me. It also has funny interactions with Cradle of Vitality and Triskelion. Players don't often think about how often they target their own stuff. It shocked me how strong this card was.
However, it's a meta call. Although I STRONGLY advise giving it a run.
-Mikaeus, the Unhallowed/+Ob Nixilis Unshackled
-Heroes' Podium/+Mirrorworks
-Crucible of Worlds/+Grim Discovery
-Lim-Dul, Necromancer/+Reanimate
-Shield of Kaldra/+All Is Dust
-Xathrid Gorgon/+Ambition's Cost
But of your three choices........go Gwendyln..........because why not? When was the last time you sat down at a table and saw her?
Because it's in the reminder textm Extort's hybrid mana symbols don't ban it from EDH.
Revelations is a good suggestion I can't believe I overlooked it. It's in. Mirrorworks is worth testing.
Changelog
-Hero's Downfall/+Silence the Believers
-Terramorphic Expanse/+Swamp
-Evolving Wilds/+Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
-Army of the Damned/+Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
-Grave Betrayal/+Diablolic Revelation
-Spine of Ish Sah/+Heroes' Podium
Icy Manipulator helps clear the path for Tromo. Tap down one creature and opponent can't block. Not to mention the other uses of tapping down permanents....
Rogue's Passage=Unblockable Fatty
Keeping in theme of fat guys....You have 21 Creatures in deck. 7 of which are Krakens, Octopi, Leviathans, or Serpents. Have you given thought to Quest for Ula's Temple?
A month after Theros's release I took a look at the "Unused Commanders" list. Shocked that Hythonia hadn't found a home yet, I decided to put her at the helm of my Chainer deck. At worst Hythonia seemed a novelty/gimmick. At best she seemed like a unique Big Black General. After a few modifications I felt safe taking it to public. First-time opponents had one of two reactions, "Why would you waste time with that general when Geth/Chainer/Maga/Drana/Malaren exist?" or "Oh good I'm glad someone's giving her a chance!"
I'm glad I gave her a chance. In the 10 months she's existed I have fallen in love. If you can't tell by the size of this post I want to share her with the world. She's powerful, unique, and immensely fun. (For me)
Let's give the lady a looksee, shall we?
Hmmm..... 4/6 Deathtouch for 4BB.......nothing to write home about. Ooooh Deathtouch! Give her trample and she's a monster! People always forget about Deathtouch! Monstrosity 3 for 6BB. Turns Hythonia into a 3 turn clock. OK, ALSO CLEARS THE FIELD!? FUN! Ideas.....Drop Hythonia equip things nuke field swing for profit! OK. We can build around this. Nuking the field means we can steal from other yards, but it also means we must protect. Add Conspiracy and Darksteel stuff, got it. Because she has large mana costs we'll need some ramp. Screw it, let's add doublers too.....with doublers we can add big mana shenanigans! Geth/Drana/Maga!.........OK We've got a plan!
Hythonia plays out as a hybrid Big Mana/Voltron/Control deck molding to both situation and draws allowing multiple paths to victory. Some games I win turn 6 with Hythonia General Damage. Some games I never cast her. It all depends on the board and the draws. (This appeals to me as a player. The same strategy over and over again gets boring) Mana rocks and doublers allow me to drop fat things quickly (Ulamog) and laugh with x costing abilities. Equipment means I can swing big and turn Hythonia into a real threat. Card Draw and Sensei's Divining Top boost card quality. I'll get into details later.
OBLIGATORY "SHOULD I PLAY THIS GENERAL?" LIST
You should play Hythonia the Cruel if...
You enjoy multiple paths to victory.
The thought of attacking with a 24/24 Vigilant Lifelink Germ Token stimulates you.
Finishing games with a 50 mana Exsanguinate seems like a good idea.
Death by General Damage is fun.
You don't like politics.
Having a Day of Judgement in the General Zone can come in handy.
You don't mind being at 10 life through your own doing.
You want to go from that 10 life back to 40 in one turn.
You should not play this deck if...
You prefer attacking with quantity over quality.
Aura Shards/Child of Alara.
You can't take being hated.
You like comboing out.
You like having answers for everything.
You like playing on other players' turns.
THE DECK
Yes, I'm aware decklists have been posted now.
1 Hythonia the Cruel
ARTIFACTS
1 Armillary Sphere
1 Batterskull
1 Caged Sun
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Expedition Map
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Helm of Kaldra
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Lashwrithe
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Mimic Vat
1 Mirrorworks
1 Nightmare Lash
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
1 Strata Scythe
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Worn Powerstone
CREATURES
1 Bloodgift Demon
1 Burnished Hart
1 Chainer, Dementia Master
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Dark Impostor
1 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
1 Geth, Lord of the Vault
1 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
1 Maga, Traitor to Mortals
1 Magus of the Coffers
1 Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
1 Nirkana Revenant
1 Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1 Visara the Dreadful
1 Conspiracy
1 Necropotence
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
INSTANT
1 Silence the Believers
PLANESWALKERS
1 Karn Liberated
1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
SORCERIES
1 All Is Dust
1 Ambition's Cost
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Revelation
1 Exsanguinate
1 Grim Discovery
1 Read the Bones
1 Reanimate
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
1 Sever the Bloodline
LANDS
1 Buried Ruin
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Deserted Temple
1 Miren, the Moaning Well
1 Nyxthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1 Terrain Generator
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
29 Swamp
Why It's Here
HYTHONIA THE CRUEL
Hythonia the Cruel- Important notes about the General: Huge threat once players figure out your game. You drop her and field wipe in the same turn, which puts a huge target on your back. Opponents play around her, not wanting to play important creatures knowing you could kill them at a whim. Tucks suck, and watch for vengeful counters. Trample essentially makes her unblockable unless your target has many creatures, and in that case she becomes "destroy a bunch of creatures."
THE LEGION OF DOOM
Chainer, Dementia Master- He's the retired general. Hythonia makes things go boom. Chainer picks up the pieces. I'm judicious with him, as 3 life a critter can add up, especially with the rest of the black suicide in this deck. Instant speed recursion is a champ. People WILL play around him.
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief- Sometime's she's an effective evasive beater. Sometimes she'll repeatedly remove utility creatures and swing big. Sometimes she's my only answer to an indestructible creature. But I never regret drawing Drana. Utility/mana sink/equipment bearer.
Geth, Lord of the Vault- He's strong enough to be the general. In my opinion he's the strongest mono-black general. BUT I'M HERE FOR FUN. So he's relegated to the 99. We all know the chaos he can cause, and he does that in Hythonia, but as an added bonus he has Intimidate! Meaning sometimes you slap a Lashwrithe onto him for heavy hitting.
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade- My reasoning: 1. He regenerates, meaning he survives Hythonia and removal. 2. Urborg+Him=Ow Though he's not naturally evasive, the deck contains 6 ways to give him evasion. The longer the game, the bigger the Korlash.
Maga, Traitor to Mortals- So this deck does two things very well. 1. Have lotsa mana. 2. Slam into other players with well-equip fatties. Maga does both of these well, and there are ways to give him evasion. Drop him for half their life. Rogue's Passage him for the other half. Boom. He's great for the late game when your opponent has stabilized around 15 and you just need that last little punch to the face.
Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis- An A+ Equipment Bearer who loves to smash into people. Opponents will withhold creatures if you can attack and force a sacrifice. Exalted doesn't much matter, but 1 out 100 times it does.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled- You'll be hated. You'll be the target. But you can accept it. You can take it. Flying+Trample for double evasion and best Strata Scythe target. He grows and he drains.
Sheoldred, Whispering One- So. Much. Value. I'll take Anowon, The Ruin Sage and Reya Dawnbringer on a 6/6 Swampwalker for 5BB. Sheoldred+Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth+Lashwrithe=Magic
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre- Indestructible. Vindicate on cast. Annihilator 4. I have plenty of mana and evasion. Don't overthink it.
Visara the Dreadful- Repeatable Terminate on a 5/5 Flying stick. Oh, and she's a Gorgon!? Capital! Her+Sword of Vengeance=Lawl.
Liliana of the Dark Realms- I'm using my "I really like this Planeswalker" immunity on her. Sometimes she's a four mana Lay of the Land. Sometimes she's a 4 mana Seek the Horizon. Her -3 comes up surprisingly often, whether it kills blockers/indestructible creatures, or pumps a creature enough for lethal. Sometimes I hold her in hand until I need her for the -3.
Karn Liberated- I'm mono-black. My noncreature removal suite is lacking. That's where Karn comes in.
THE GRUNTS
The mana- Nirkana Revenant Burnished Hart Crypt Ghast Magus of the Coffers Solemn Simulacrum- Pretty self explanatory. Some notes: Simulacrum and Hart combo well with Sheoldred or Phyrexian Reclamation. Crypt Ghast's Extort=profit. Nirkana Revenant doubles as an unevasive beater.
Bloodgift Demon- An auto-include in most black decks. He's undercosted, but I won't complain too much about a 5/4 flyer with Phyrexian Arena attached. Because he comes in quick and is evasive, he's a great mid-game beater.
Steel Hellkite- Again, the whole monoblack thing can be a real drag. Slap a player to destroy troubling noncreatures. Occasionally he clears tokens to boot. On top of that he's a flyer, so hooray evasion!
Dark Impostor- His ability is expensive, and at times he's not worth it. However, there are times where Imposter turns the game around. He's on the chopping block, but he's still got a slot.
ENCHANTMENTS
Conspiracy- Well....Hythonia destroys non-Gorgons...and this can make all my creatures Gorgons.....so..... Also, Cavern of Souls+this=uncounterable creatures! !
Erebos, God of the Dead Necropotence Phyrexian Arena. Draw cards pay life. Duh. Bonus to Erebos for surviving Hythonia if he's active.
Phyrexian Reclamation- If you don't understand the power of this card then stop reading this post and educate yourself. 2 life and 1B for a repeatable Raise Dead is soooo strong. EtB/LtB effects+Reclamation=giggle. I only have 4 EtB/LtB effects in deck, but they are STRONG with Reclamation. Beyond that just returning dead critters=value. You can Reclaim Ulamog in response to his trigger. Really, if you're playing Black in EDH this card should be AT LEAST strongly considered.
EQUIPMENT
Batterskull Loxodon Warhammer- Lifelink is crucial. Lashwrithe, Nightmare Lash, Bloodgift Demon, Phyrexian Arena, Necropotence, Erebos, God of the Dead, Chainer, Dementia Master, Read the Bones, Reanimate Ambition's Cost-All of these cost life to use. You need a way to make some of that life back. And if you get over 60? Bonus!
Warhammer doubles as evasion, especially with Hythonia. (Deathtouch+Trample=assign one damage and roll the rest over)
Helm of Kaldra Sword of Vengeance- Trample+Haste are what I'm going for. The rest is gravy. First Strike+Deathtouch=not dying via combat often. Vigilance from Sword of Vengeance can be relevant with Visara for swinging and tapping fun and just defense in general.
Darksteel Plate- Indestructibility given by an indestructible equipment? Awesome. It protects other creatures from Hythonia and her from opponents.
Lashwrithe Nightmare Lash Strata Scythe- Well, I have plenty of lands. Fat things are good. I have Urborg to pump Lashwrithe and Nightmare Lash further. Strata Scythe can be boosted by opponents. Let's not overthink the value of huge creature pumps in a pseudo voltron deck. Lashwrithe germ token equipped with Nightmare Lash and Batterskull=Lawl. It has won games.
Swiftfoot Boots- Haste and Hexproof. Simple. I don't use Lightning Greaves because shroud turns off other equipment.
Sword of Feast and Famine- My reasoning-it's a Bear Umbra. In a big mana deck that seems good, no? Bonus points for occasional evasion and +2/+2.
ARTIFACTS
Armillary Sphere- Great early game land finding. Cheap and effective.
Expedition Map-Do I have to explain the power of finding Cabal Coffers/Urborg/Nyxthos?
Sol Ring Worn Powerstone Thran Dynamo Gilded Lotus- Standard Fare Mana Rocks. I prefer the Powerstone over Sisay's Ring because it comes down a turn faster.
Journeyer's Kite- Mana Finding. Woot. Need I say more? It's a great EoT mana sink just to keep your hand full and land drops consistent.
Caged Sun Gauntlet of Power- Mana Doublers! Caged Sun and Gauntlet double as Anthem effects. Gauntlet also causes lawls through opponents also gaining benefit.
Mimic Vat- Just goodstuff. I kill often, so plenty of targets.
Sensei's Divining Top- Top? Top.
SORCERIES AND INSTANT
Silence the Believers- Hey, sometimes it's nice to have instant removal. Instant speed exile, even better!
Beseech the Queen Demonic Tutor- Tutors. Duh. If I had a Vampiric Tutor I would.
Read the BonesAmbition's Cost- I prefer these over Sign in Blood/Night's Whisper. Preference. If you'd rather run that one go ahead. I won't stop you.
Rise of the Dark Realms- This. Causes. Explosions. Holy crap value. You spend half your time killing creatures anyways. Why not explode?
Sever the Bloodline- It has flashback! You need to exile stuff sometimes. Ever stare down 5 Ashen Riders? This'll take care of it.
LANDS
Buried Ruin- I run 25 Artifacts in this deck. Reusing them sounds logical, no?
Cabal Coffers- I'm monoblack. This card is in. It's my preferred Expedition Map target and often what I Demonic Tutor for. The ramp is just too good.
Cavern of Souls- I don't like being countered. Use this and call call Gorgons. Conspiracy Gorgons and all your creatures are uncounterable!
Deserted Temple-Mostly here to untap Cabal Coffers and Nykthos for crazy mana. I've paired it with Rogue's Passage, Shizo, Death's Storehouse, and Miren, The Moaning Well before as well. If I owned a Maze of Ith you better believe I'd pair them too.
Miren, the Moaning Well- Sometimes you need life. Sometimes you want to sacrifice Simulacrum to draw a card. Sometimes you don't want your Rune-Scarred Demon to be exiled or copied and want to sacrifice it. Sometimes you need to destroy all creatures but need Hythonia to die so you can reset her. The Well does many things.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx- A secondary (weaker) Cabal Coffers. That said, it's easy to get active. Most black permanents in this deck have two or more black mana symbols.
Rogue's Passage- Hey. So about this deck being voltrony. Let's have some unblockable creatures. To really get some value....
Shizo, Death's Storehouse- There are 11 Legends in this deck to give Fear to. Same deal as Rogue's Passage.
Terrain Generator- Occasional ramp early game. Late game allows you to empty your hand faster in case you have multiple lands.
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth- Do I have to explain? Making everything a Swamp is good! It ups your counts for Korlash, Lashwrithe, Nightmare Lash, Magus of the Coffers, and Cabal Coffers (Provided you have at least one non Swamp in play). It makes Sheoldred Unblockable. There are 10 lands that do not tap for black mana. Occasionally Urborg fixing that is relevant. If Cabal Coffers is your first Map target, Urborg is your second.
Phew....
Flesh/Blood
Bound/Determined
Guided Passage
I know the last two aren't Jund, but going BURG opens them up too.
What other rule changes have people heard? Larger than a house rule, but not so large that it's no longer EDH.
Ideas I Derped up: All Planeswalkers have a Propogana clause, meaning you have to pay 2 to attack them.
You may pay your general's cost (with previous casting additions factored in) to ONCE PER GAME put a card from a 10 card sideboard into your hand. (This counts as a casting)
If your general has returned to the zone 3 or more times, you may pay three life instead of an additional 2. For instance, Cromat has died three times. To cast him again I may pay either WUBRG8 or WUBRG6 and 3 life. The fourth time I may pay WUBRG10 for WUBRG6 and 6 life.
As far as I can tell there's no reason not to. The lifegain trigger is occasionally relevant in that it equals card draw.
Thanks for the suggestions everybody!
Asscendant- I would add said card if I wanted to be really competitive. However, I've been on the receiving end of a turn 1 6/6 lifelinker plenty of times and complained about it. Not about to become the thing I disliked so much.
Toxic Deluge Not as great as it seems. Why pay 15 life and B2 to get rid of creatures when you can just pay WW4 to exile everything? (I WANT A FINAL JUDGEMENT) Half the time you pay the 15 life to kill the 15/15 pointed at you, and you've not changed much.
Can't believe I forgot to add Trinket Mage! Also can't believe I can't find any Trinket Mages! Odd how that works out. Thank you for the suggestion.
I strongly suggest Fierce Empath. He's run in my Karador and he's a champ. He's Skullclampable, Sun Titanable, and Revielarkable. You have 12 targets.
Why have Harmonic Sliver when there's Aura Shards?
Also, Mirari's Wake makes love. Phyrexian Reclamation is also unbelievably strong.
For Graveyard filling silliness, try Mesmeric Orb.
Has Oloro been hard to keep on the field in your experience? People tend to just accept him for me. They won't go out of their way to kill him.
How is Dismiss into Dream treating me? Like this.
Did anyone else see this card spoiled and think, "I NEED to fit this into a deck."? My meta's voltrony. Tajic, Blade of the Legion, Godo, Bandit Warlord, Uril, Cackling Counterpart and Rites of Replication are common cards. I mean, the card kills Voltron, and general damage presents the greatest threat to me. It also has funny interactions with Cradle of Vitality and Triskelion. Players don't often think about how often they target their own stuff. It shocked me how strong this card was.
However, it's a meta call. Although I STRONGLY advise giving it a run.