Ok, so several changes have been made to lower the cmc of the deck as well as more of a focus on 'going off' on the same turn.
Out: Growing Rites
Replacement: Crop Rotation. If I'm going for redundancy here I'll go with the more efficient option.
Out: Consecrated Sphinx
In: Ainok Survivalist
Kind of an oversight here but I realized I'd slowly cut all ways to deal with artifacts and enchantments... whoops.
I've had better results with the slightly higher mana curve with only 10 cards that cost 5+. I seem to overextend less and still have relevant plays post boardwipe.
I already run 3 out of the 5 cards you suggested and I used to run the Sorin you listed. I was underwhelmed by Sorin other than his emblem which doesn't seem worth 4 mana to almost always do just once. Hellrider I don't personally like because of 'target' opponent rather than 'each'.
I don't think Necropotence has any nonbos in the deck as I don't use madness and I can't picture any other cards that use discard in my list. If anything is a nonbo it's Khalitas, Traitor of Ghet shutting down Sangromancer and Blood Artist.
I don't own Dark Confidant and even though it's an amazing card, I don't feel he's worth his pricetag in edh. To be clear though, I'd definitely try Confidant here if I had one.
Authority of the Consuls and it's ilk are cards worth testing though and I'll see how it goes as I continue to weed out underperformers.
"It seems a bit odd to me that you like Reconnaissance but cut Iroas, God of Victory. I was wondering if I could get some insight into that change you made."
I prefer Reconnaissance because it's both offensive and defensive due to the pseudo vigilance rather than only helping on offense like Iroas.
With Iroas, yeah you swung with the team safely, but they're still tapped.
With Reconnaissance you swung with the whole team but are able to untap each creature at the most opportune time like after first strike damage is dealt for +1+1 counters from Drana to your whole team (amazing with Stromkirk Captain).
Reconnaissance allows you to untap before or after blockers are declared to get attack triggers and avoid unfavorable blocks, after first strike damage is dealt but before normal damage to get counters from Drana to the whole team (obvoiusly good with Stromkirk Captain), or even after normal combat damage dealt (considered an 'attacking creature all the way to the end of the end of combat step)' and the creature still dealt the damage. Makes for a nice hyper aggressive 'attack with everything have everything to block with still for pseudo vigilance.
Or the short answer is... it allows you untap each attacking creature you control whenever it's the most beneficial anytime during combat on your turn.
I also felt that Cathar's Crusade and Door of Destinies came down too late, ate up a whole turns mana, and that I ran out of gas to exploit these cards.
Also, look into Reconnaissance. It's crazy good in this deck... to the point it's my #1 tutor target.
ISB, first ty for all the advice. I feel bad I won't be taking most of it but I want you to know it's appreciated anyways.
I can agree with the fact that I should run Purphoros, God of the Forge because 4 damage to each opponent for every vampire I play adds up fast. I've purposely powered down this deck and went all-in on an aggro strategy so I can play this deck in underpowered pods (while teaching the importance of running answers) but Purph still deserves a chance to shine.
I'm not sure if the creatures you suggested support my aggro strategy though, other than Bloodghast, which would be in here if I owned a copy. I just don't think he's worth the $15 pricetag in edh. I will be switching out Blood Baron of Vizkopa for Vona, Butcher of Magan when I get a copy though for the added utility.
The deathtouch creatures you're saying are more defensive I'd normally agree with but my 1st tutor target in 95% of games has been Reconnaissance which increases their value as offensive threats that are still available as blockers due to reconnaissance being as busted as it is.
I can agree with the too many basics and City of Brass/Mana Confluence not being needed here though. Looking through your list I'd run Volrath's Stronghold and Strip Mine if I owned copies and I'll make a point of picking them up. Phyrexian Tower I do own and I'll add it to my list (it means sharing 1 copy with 2 decks, but that's what proxies are for). I'm not sure what other utility lands I'd add though so that'd just remove the painlands and 1x swamp.
I've got to ask though... with your emphasis on sac outlets, why no Grave Pact and/or Dictate of Erebos in your list? Without those cards it feels like you went overboard on sac outlets.
8 life loss cards are continuous or reusable and throughout games I've found myself to be rather aggressive with my own life total. I also play against several boardwipe.decks and the lifegain gives me time to bounce back because these colors don't recover very fast.
You're probably right though that I went a little overboard with the lifegain. If you were going to suggest what cards to remove and what to add in their place, what would they be?
Out: Growing Rites
Replacement: Crop Rotation. If I'm going for redundancy here I'll go with the more efficient option.
Out: Consecrated Sphinx
In: Ainok Survivalist
Kind of an oversight here but I realized I'd slowly cut all ways to deal with artifacts and enchantments... whoops.
In: Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
In: Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots, Rhonas's Monument, Tocatli Honor Guard, Grand Abolisher, and Teferi's Protection
In: Horizon Canopy
In: Kor Haven
I've had better results with the slightly higher mana curve with only 10 cards that cost 5+. I seem to overextend less and still have relevant plays post boardwipe.
I already run 3 out of the 5 cards you suggested and I used to run the Sorin you listed. I was underwhelmed by Sorin other than his emblem which doesn't seem worth 4 mana to almost always do just once. Hellrider I don't personally like because of 'target' opponent rather than 'each'.
I don't think Necropotence has any nonbos in the deck as I don't use madness and I can't picture any other cards that use discard in my list. If anything is a nonbo it's Khalitas, Traitor of Ghet shutting down Sangromancer and Blood Artist.
I don't own Dark Confidant and even though it's an amazing card, I don't feel he's worth his pricetag in edh. To be clear though, I'd definitely try Confidant here if I had one.
Authority of the Consuls and it's ilk are cards worth testing though and I'll see how it goes as I continue to weed out underperformers.
In: Cover of Darkness, Dark Prophecy, and Purphoros, God of the Forge
"It seems a bit odd to me that you like Reconnaissance but cut Iroas, God of Victory. I was wondering if I could get some insight into that change you made."
I prefer Reconnaissance because it's both offensive and defensive due to the pseudo vigilance rather than only helping on offense like Iroas.
With Iroas, yeah you swung with the team safely, but they're still tapped.
With Reconnaissance you swung with the whole team but are able to untap each creature at the most opportune time like after first strike damage is dealt for +1+1 counters from Drana to your whole team (amazing with Stromkirk Captain).
Or the short answer is... it allows you untap each attacking creature you control whenever it's the most beneficial anytime during combat on your turn.
I also felt that Cathar's Crusade and Door of Destinies came down too late, ate up a whole turns mana, and that I ran out of gas to exploit these cards.
Also, look into Reconnaissance. It's crazy good in this deck... to the point it's my #1 tutor target.
I can agree with the fact that I should run Purphoros, God of the Forge because 4 damage to each opponent for every vampire I play adds up fast. I've purposely powered down this deck and went all-in on an aggro strategy so I can play this deck in underpowered pods (while teaching the importance of running answers) but Purph still deserves a chance to shine.
I'm not sure if the creatures you suggested support my aggro strategy though, other than Bloodghast, which would be in here if I owned a copy. I just don't think he's worth the $15 pricetag in edh. I will be switching out Blood Baron of Vizkopa for Vona, Butcher of Magan when I get a copy though for the added utility.
The deathtouch creatures you're saying are more defensive I'd normally agree with but my 1st tutor target in 95% of games has been Reconnaissance which increases their value as offensive threats that are still available as blockers due to reconnaissance being as busted as it is.
I can agree with the too many basics and City of Brass/Mana Confluence not being needed here though. Looking through your list I'd run Volrath's Stronghold and Strip Mine if I owned copies and I'll make a point of picking them up. Phyrexian Tower I do own and I'll add it to my list (it means sharing 1 copy with 2 decks, but that's what proxies are for). I'm not sure what other utility lands I'd add though so that'd just remove the painlands and 1x swamp.
I've got to ask though... with your emphasis on sac outlets, why no Grave Pact and/or Dictate of Erebos in your list? Without those cards it feels like you went overboard on sac outlets.
In: Yavimaya Hollow
You're probably right though that I went a little overboard with the lifegain. If you were going to suggest what cards to remove and what to add in their place, what would they be?
I have 22 cards that lose life (14 are 1 time life loss... bit still). To offset that I have 14 lifegain cards.
I'm also considering dropping 1x swamp to see if 36 lands and 6 mana rocks will work here.
In: Bloodcrazed Paladin and Bishop of Rebirth
I also need help with 1 cut to add Sanctum Seeker