"Some of the penalties in the league make me really sad. Worm Harvest and Praetor's Council get hit really hard, for example. Still, I'm glad the deck worked well for you!"
I didn't know how to quote posts from my iPhone, but I took this week to protest the point by getting -14 points on purpose after not being able to play 4 cards in my hand(with Sheldon in game at that). A good % of players agree with me on that point, so it will hopefully be changed next week.
This has probably been done before, but I've been working on it for a little while. Somewhere inbetween cutthroat and semi-casual. This deck started as an update from Ben McDole's old budget Maga decklist and kind of grew from there. I've worked with him closely on the deck. (Article for those interested: http://www.gatheringmagic.com/budget-monoblack-control/)
GENERAL: Maga, Traitor to Mortals
Any help is appreciated, as long as it's not add more tutors/Leyline of the Void. I play this semi-regularly at Armada Games' EDH league, so I'll post reports periodically.
I only got to play most of a casual game against Sheldon (but the deck got a mention!) and he wants the list. I'll obviously give credit and everything. The deck ran really smooth and I was most likely going to win but we ran out of time in the league. unfortunately one of the points on the league kind of limits my options (playing the same spell 3+ times gets you -1 each time) so I only played it game 1, which was close but the Mayael player from sheldon's second match got us in a similar fashion. Hopefully we'll make it on starcity next week! I've got to re-add strip mine before then. mind extraction wasn't really missed(I was trying Brainspoil) but I'll probably add it again this week.
Just wanted to let you know that I'll be piloting a version of this in Armada Games' EDH league today +\- some cards. I've fallen out of competitive magic lately but this deck combining my love for pauper and EDH kept me playing. Hopefully the deck makes Sheldon's article! I've played 3 or 4 casual pickups and won them all.
changes I made were -5 artifact lands +1 of each basic, -Mind Extraction +1 Brainspoil
I didn't know how to quote posts from my iPhone, but I took this week to protest the point by getting -14 points on purpose after not being able to play 4 cards in my hand(with Sheldon in game at that). A good % of players agree with me on that point, so it will hopefully be changed next week.
GENERAL: Maga, Traitor to Mortals
Lands(41)
30 Snow-Covered Swamp
Strip Mine
Vesuva
Shizo, Death's Storehouse
Deserted Temple
Petrified Field
Cabal Coffers
Bojuka Bog
Scrying Sheets
Temple of the False God
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Tectonic Edge
Notes: Tectonic Edge is my budget replacement for Wasteland, also considering Dust Bowl.
1 CMC:
Innocent Blood
Expedition Map
Sensei's Divining Top
Sol Ring
Relic of Progenitus
Notes: cut Mind Twist (too spikey), Nihil Spellbomb didn't test favorably enough.
2 CMC:
Scroll Rack
Hero's Demise
Journeyer's Kite
Mind Stone
Sign in Blood
Demonic Tutor
Exsanguinate
Black Sun's Zenith
Notes: Mind Shatter cut for similar reasons as twist. Feels like there's a better card than Hero's Demise for the deck within budget(no vamp tutor).
3 CMC:
Oblivion Stone
Coalition Relic
Crucible of Worlds
Phyrexian Arena
Beseech the Queen
Praetor's Grasp
Extraplanar Lens
Notes: No Grim Tutor due to budget constraints. Necropotence is absent due to living in fear of Mindslaver.
4 CMC:
Decimator Web
Tendrils of Corruption
Bane of the Living
Mutilate
Damnation
Barter in Blood
Nevinyrral's Disk
Helm of Obedience
Diabolic Tutor
Solemn Simulacrum
Syphon Mind
Notes: No Leyline of the void because we didn't want the deck to devolve into just getting out the combo.
5 CMC:
Liliana Vess
Promise of Power
Chainer, Dementia Master
Magus of the Coffers
Beacon of Unrest
Mind Sludge
Puppeteer Clique
Demonic Collusion
Gauntlet of Power
Notes: Head Games is being considered.
6 CMC:
Geth, Lord of the Vault
Nirkana Revenant
Steel Hellkite
Corrupt
Duplicant
Contagion Engine
Mindslaver
Helldozer
Planar Portal
Caged Sun
Notes: Cut Keening Stone in favor of 41st land. Thoughts?
7+ CMC:
Karn Liberated
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Reiver Demon
Myojin of Night's Reach
Decree of Pain
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Notes: Only other card Ben and I disagree on is my Petrified Field vs his Kozilek, Butcher of Truth. Thoughts?
Any help is appreciated, as long as it's not add more tutors/Leyline of the Void. I play this semi-regularly at Armada Games' EDH league, so I'll post reports periodically.
As always, Thanks for the time.
changes I made were -5 artifact lands +1 of each basic, -Mind Extraction +1 Brainspoil