Black Thoughts on Standard

boeda · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 26

I've got a question for my fellow tinkerers,

When I saw MagicMasterB's Black control deck I immediately wanted to play it, so I copied it and did some games and it rocks!
It has the power to kill any deck with a good draw but has some downfalls too, it can be slow and sometimes pro active, with an empty board and nothing to target, waiting for a killcard..

This is my current Blacklist:

2 [SHM] Leechridden Swamp
23 [PT] Swamp (2)

// Planeswalkers
1 [LRW] Liliana Vess

// Creatures
4 [FUT] Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
3 [LRW] Shriekmaw
3 [SHM] Demigod of Revenge
4 [SHM] Dusk Urchins

// Spells

2 [PLC] Damnation
3 [SHM] Beseech the Queen
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
4 [MOR] Bitterblossom
3 [SHM] Corrupt
1 [LRW] Profane Command
1 [FUT] Slaughter Pact
1 [TSP] Tendrils of Corruption
1 [TSP] Sudden Death

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Shriekmaw
SB: 2 [TSP] Sudden Death
SB: 2 [PLC] Damnation
SB: 1 [MOR] Mind Shatter
SB: 2 [10E] Pithing Needle
SB: 4 [TSB] Stupor
SB: 2 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer

The most important differences with MagicMasterB's deck are the:

O 4 Dusk Urchins, they help survive while you get control and they get you cards. I didnt like 'm to much when I first saw them and its not even close to confidant or phyrexian arena, but it has its own style.. the options are, 5 damage 3 cards, block+kill 1 or 2 card, lure out incinerate or nameless..

O +2 Leechridden swamp, +1 damnation, +1 tendrils, +1 pact, -1 demigod, -1 corrupt, -1 beseech, -2 sudden death, -1 grim harvest,
all minor changes to fit my playstyle and the meta on magic league.

O the sideboard: I like the silver bullet kind of sb, pithing needle, extirpate, mind shatter and loxodon warhammer fit that purpose. The stupors are better than distress and help ripping controldecks, the extra creature kill is needed against elves, faeries, merfolk, etc.

Against faeries I have a 45/55 matchup, its a better mu then it looks,
rdw is fast but prob. 60/40, creature decks like merfolk elves or doran are what the deck is built for.
Combo and blue control decks are pre sb very hard, with sb it depends on the draw (bitter/discard).
The none-blue control decks havent been a problem.

So my question is:

What would you change to improve the deck's consistency, and what helps against faeries and blue control?

twodioz · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 105

I like the deck itself.

you might want to consider adding some artifact mana. This will allow for a faster damnation, and more plays turn 2.

skilla420 · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 258

What kind of artifact mana? Paradise plume? mind stone? phyrexian totem? I have actually been looking for artifact mana too, something along the lines of lead myr, but standard.

R3wind · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 972

Artifact mana that would be good in mono black control

Prismatic Lens
Mind Stone
Phrexian Totam
Coalition Relic

Prismatic Lens offers the most flexable mana. You can splash green for Krosan Grip for the Fae matchup. Blitterblossom advantage is key in the matchup.

Mind Stone is great becuase it reads you may begin the game with a 56 card deck. Best in the control match ups

Phrexian Totam offers a real beating vs GW mana ramp as they have no main deck anwsers. If your meta game plays a lot of Fae or RDW then this is a very poor choice as you will never be able to activate it for fear of burn or a flashed in blocker.

Coalition Relic also provides a green mana for Krosan Grip. Most builders will agree that Coalition Relic is best served in a Multi-Colored deck or a deck that leans heavy on Consume Spirit.

I hope that this helps you out some.

beanbungo · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 71

It's funny I really like this deck, seems like it would be solid against everything in the field, I was basically sold on playing the Kavu Justice deck just because I always seem to play haterade in any format where its legal, although justice isnt haterade, still mainboards answers to almost everything...but this deck does seem very good

As far as an artifact i would suggest prismatic lens or mindstone, only because as rewind stated which i agree 100% with totem would def get burnt or flashed blocked by many cards in the meta right now, plus coalition relic is a bomb, but without consume spirit doesn't really seem that necessary.

Now only if i can manage to get 4 bitterblossom which is what i was trying to avoid for this format lol im set, i do have one question for you though, for your sideboard, could you explain what each of those cards would be sided against and what you would take out, i would greatly appreciate it, thx!

- bean

Vedrfolner · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 1443

If you go with Coalition Relic, a simple splash of 4 Secluded Glen/Sunken Ruins, 2 Urborg for 6 Swamp would allow you to have 3 Aeon Chronicler in the deck. It would no longer be mono black, but it would have efficient draw and the game plan would not change.

I would also argue strongly for one maindeck Loxodon Warhammer.