1. What is "The Aristocrats"? So this family walks into a talent agent's office...
The Aristocrats is a White-Black-Red Aggro deck centered on using creatures as an expendable resource. It is capable of building a large army very quickly and sustaining it through recursion and sacrifice. It can be played with rushdown creatures or a slow victory through attrition. The deck receives its name from the cards Cartel Aristocrat and Falkenrath Aristocrat.
2. Is this the deck for you? You are going to need a real sense of humour for this.
You will like this deck if:
You enjoy winning through creature damage
You like building armies
You like having creatures that are immune to removal/combat
You enjoy being Arrogant.
You will not enjoy this deck if:
You need a strong control presence in your decks
You enjoy board clears
Green and Blue are your favourite colours.
3. Card Selection/Analysis ...this family had three beautiful daughters...
Creatures:
The Creatures are the core of this deck and can be split into two groups: Those who are meant to be sacrificed, and those who are doing the sacrificing.
The Aristocrats:
Cartel Aristocrat: Our first lovely lady; she starts off as a 2/2 for WB but will be your early beater and resilient fighters. Her ability allows her to survive any combat or withstand any targeted removal. If you are not familiar about how protection from a colour works, I recommend you look up the appropriate rules to be sure. Also remember that she cannot sacrifice herself.
Teysa, Orzhov Scion: Perhaps the most devastating to the board, Teysa holds our 3 mana position very well. 2/3 isn’t too bad, but she isn’t really meant for combat. All your black creatures will leave behind spirits for you to sac, and with cards like Bloodghast you can imagine how silly it gets. Additionally she can sac three white creatures (sometimes including herself) to exile without a downside. However this is her only way of sacrifice and therefore she requires one of the other girls to really shine.
Falkenrath Aristocrat: Last but not at all the least, we have the beautiful woman in whi- red. She comes in as a 4/1 haste so she can start taking chunks out of your opponents fast. Instead of being able to gain protection from a colour like her collogue, she gains invincibility. This difference comes with certain perks and certain drawbacks. She can also sacrifice indiscriminately and will grow stronger as you feed her humans.
Our Other Players:
Doomed Traveler: Our basic morsel of fun, he is a decent chump blocker and becomes more useful when he dies. Is a human which benefits Falkenrath, and is white in both forms for Teysa.
Mortician Beetle: An early beater that can grow incredibly quickly. Don’t be surprised to see him become 5/5 or 6/6 without much effort. Being a Black creature allows him to leave a spirit with Teysa on the field.
Bloodghast: The Aristocrats’ greatest ally. Refuses to stay dead, feeds the girls, and with Teysa on the field creates armies of Spirit tokens. Don’t underestimate him as a fighter either as his damage can add up rather quickly.
Hellrider: Fills in the same slot as Falkenrath, but gives the deck an aggressive punch. With enough tokens and Bloodghasts on the field this devil can win games in one attack.
Skirsdag High Priest: As long as things are dying, he'll keep making demons as long as you have creatures to tap. As a downside he really doesn't do much on turn 2, but if left alone can turn the tide of the game quickly. EDIT: I switched them in instead of the beetles, and these guys do a lot of work. 5/5 flying demons are nothing to laugh at. Granted he dies often and quickly, but that's not too much of a big deal.
Xathrid Necromancer: He competes with Teysa in almost every way but create stronger tokens. Only out of humans though, so it is important to make the deck more tribal if you choose to put him in.
Instant and Sorceries:
Faithless Looting: Ideal first turn play. Fixes your hand and drops Bloodghasts and Lingering Souls into the graveyard to use later. Also can be flashed back later in the game.
Lingering Souls: A great food generator for our Aristocrats, and makes a small army without much trouble. Use it offensive or defensively, it works great either way!
Lightning Bolt: I shouldn't even need to explain why this card is amazing. Gives us great utility and wins games.
Path to Exile: Though I don’t use it myself, I understand that many do love this card as removal and therefore added it here. Be careful though as you are ramping your opponent up each time you use it.
Tragic Slip: Personally I would always use this instead of Path, but it is a personal choice. This deck almost guarantees morbid so you can treat this card as " B: Target Creature gets -13/-13.
Zealous Persecution: A long time favourite card, I should have added this to the list earlier. Boosts your creatures while hosing your opponent's defences. Works great for combat tricks too. However it is not as useful if you don't plan to swarm creatures.
Other Permanents:
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad: Can’t really get a better planeswalker for this deck. He will give you creatures to sac and boost your creatures. Don’t think too much about his ultimate as you are better off repeatedly using his -2. I usually will try to get one vampire down before throwing out emblems, but if you feel like he is in danger use his -2 first.
Elspeth, Knight-Errant: The alternative to Sorin. To be honest, I really prefer Sorin, but a lot of people would disagree with me so I will leave it up to the reader. Both planeswalkers generate creatures and boost creatures, but in different ways. My recommendation is to test them both and see which one you prefer.
Grave Pact: This card wrecks creature based strategies. Against most other Aggro decks it is usually game then and there. Sacrifice your bloodghasts or spirits to clear out their field. Not as useful against decks with few creatures, or when your opponent has Sigarda.
Dark Prophecy: Still trying this card out, but it will give you all the fuel you will need for the rest of the game. Be extremely careful though as the life loss gets out of hand fast. Beware boardclears!
Blade of the Bloodchief: I’ve yet to test this out, but the idea seems solid. Makes any of your creatures into a Mortician Beetle and makes Falkenrath into a beast.
4. Sample Decklists The performance is a little different everytime.
5. Match-ups and Sideboard ...it was then that the father pulled out a few toys from his bag...
Still under construction!
6. Conclusion The Agent stood up, wiped the blood (among other things) out of his eyes and asked "What do you call an act like that?!". The father removed the scuba gear from his mouth and with a big grin shouted "The Aristrocrats!"
This deck is a work in progress, and I'm still playing with all the intricacies. If you have any idea about how to make the deck run cleaner or better I would love to hear about it and give it a try. I will make sure to note your contributions in this post. If nothing else this deck is a lot of fun to play, and can get out of hand really quickly! It is also well priced and not too hard to assemble for those who play on a budget. And if you do have a chance to play the deck, even online, I'd love to hear about it! Just remember to always leave 'em laughing!
I like what you are trying to do here with this standard Archetype. Back at the SCG Legacy Open in Milwaukee, Sam Black (brewer of this archetype) created a functionally equivalent legacy build. It had more built in white protection, but the key thing was that in a fast format, playing a fair deck, he decided to cut the red from the deck. I believe that a Modern Aristocrats may no longer need red either. You built a strong case for making it BW. My suggestions are to reintroduce the Skirsdag High Priest over the Mortician Beetle since both really go off until turn 3/4, by then what would you want a 2/2 or a 5/5 flyer. You did solve a problem that Sam Black's legacy build had trouble with, another sac outlet. Young Teysa is great tech I believe and I will be trying her out. If you choose to cut Red then Falkenrath can become something like Thalia, Bolts become Path to Exile or Tragic Slip, and Lootings into Bobs. Here is my brew:
I think I'd stick with the red. Might be a more painful land base, but we have all the fetches we need. Bolt is way too powerful to do without, and Falkenrath is really good. With Lingering Souls and Doomed Traveler, there should be plenty of fodder for Teysa. I like Skirsdag with all the ways to trigger Morbid, and Elspeth is a must have in here. Probably drop that Grave Pact for a second one.
Looking at those decklists, I sense a weakness to combo. None of your guys are above the curve, and you don't pack any disruption maindeck like Inquisition of Kozilek. Thalia barely counts as disruption, at least, so she's a good start. At the very least, sideboard some disruption.
I'm also working on a BW Aristrocat deck. I think that red is not really needed either. It's only added for the sake of Falkenrath Aristocrat, wich is not that good in modern, where Path to Exile and Dismember are the follow-up removals after Bolt.
I also agree with Lectrys, Xathrid Necromancer is great. Him with teysa gives a reliable source of tokens from dying triggers. There is plenty of good black humans (Teysa, Orzhov Scion, Cartel Aristrocat, Dark Confidant, Xathrid Necromancer, Orzhov Pontiff, Skirsdag High Priest), to make sure you will have triggers for both teysa and Necromancer, wich you make opponent removals far less useful.
I would also add Deathrite Shaman, even though he is not human, and a small splash for green (just for his creature exiling ability), you have plenty of cards going to the grave that will have no use. He can turn your early turns Inquisition of Kozilek/Toughtseize into life loss and all the creatures you sac into life gain.
Also, another non-human worth mentioning is Blood Artist.
I too agree with straight B/W...
I love falkenrath and it has done a ton of work for me in standard but in modern it just dies to way too much. Dismember, path, karn just to name a few.
I dont know much about modern but I will keep surveying the thread because I do love the aristocrats and im not quite ready to let go...
One last thing, there is a third tribe which might warren an inclusion: Vampires. Why you might ask? Look no farther than Kalastria Highborn
I'll be adding notes about Skirsdag High Priest, Xathrid Necromancer and other human based cards into the primer. Also adding in Elspeth as another planeswalker option (but I always sway more to Sorin). Zealous Persecution and Tragic slips are also great in this deck and I'll throw them up there.
As for combo I figured that would be easily dealt with in our sideboard. In these colours we have a lot of control options! 1cmc Discard, Surgical Extraction, Slaughter Games etc.
I'll start trying out and getting ideas for a BW version as well - maybe make it less aggressive and more controlling? - and for giggles I might try to make it human centred to try it out as well.
Untested, but I think Vial fits in the deck quite well, you can also possibly fit Mangara in with Necromancer and Sac outlets, a Vindicate that becomes a 2/2 is quite nice, but it may just be bad
Private Mod Note
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Modern:
Paper: WUR Waffle Control, RG and U Tron
MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
Testing Modern on MTGO and helping to craft decks on a Budget I stream!
Theorycrafting only for now. Played 2 quick games, feels pretty good.
So this deck is uber sexy looking and looks so amazing to play but how does it beat a wurmcoil engine? The skirsdag is way too squishy in modern so i think it should be something to possibly beat an engine. Path came to mind buttttt....
So this deck is uber sexy looking and looks so amazing to play but how does it beat a wurmcoil engine? The skirsdag is way too squishy in modern so i think it should be something to possibly beat an engine. Path came to mind buttttt....
Wurmcoil is easy, you block it then you sac the blocker, that way your opponent will gain zero life. This deck should never lack chump fodder. Or exile with teysa if it becomes an annoying blocker.
Skirsdag is amazing when he connects, i wouldn't play 4 though, i play 2 and i'm happy with them.
For the b/w human version, i think true believer might be a valid choice, maybe 2 main deck/2 sideboard. Shuts down burn, valakut, grapeshot, discard, lily edict and ult, etc.
I will start heavily testing my deck soon and trying to find the best version for GP Antwerpen it is just very difficult because there are so many possible cards. For instance Blood artist is also very good. I just do not know yet what is the best :D.
I think Blood Artist is insane. Just my opinion though.
(I know it says this is my 3rd post ever but I'm a veteran player who just started posting, I've followed MTGSalv for years)
I've found that Champion of the parish strategies haven't really worked. It's obviously not a great top deck and there's too much removal in the format for it to shine after it lands on turn 1. Here is my list:
I'll explain a few card choices:
4 Xathrid Necromancer, Plain and simple its anti sweeper and creates chump blockers for days against aggro which can also turn into offensive threats later in the game. Creates card advantage against control to all removal other than path. Whats not to love here?
3 Teysa, Orzhov Scion basically same reasoning as the Necromancer. The two of them combo well together as well. Also acts as a removal spell a lot more times than you would think. Lingering Souls becomes even more powerful with this in play.
Now the sideboard
3 Blood Moon, I purposefully built this deck so that it could function on 1 basic plains, 1 basic mountain, and 1 basic swamp in play. I can literally play any card in the deck with those 3 cards out. That allows me to play colorless lands like Slayers' Stronghold, Vault of the Archangel and Tectonic Edge If I so choose.
3 Celestial Flare, Bogle, plain and simple. This deck has difficulty with Rancor. Also could be used against aggro decks.
All and All this Archetype is good vs. Aggro, Midrange, and decent vs. Control. It's not to solid vs. Combo but that's what a sideboard is for. This Archetype has plenty of potential. One thing that also surprised me was how good it is at defending the air and attacking through the air as well. But I guess thats what happens when you have 10 cards that make Lantern Kamis, haha
I still dont see why no one is playing Blood Artist in this deck. Its insane, its a must kill for almost any deck or it will just win the game for you. Obviously this is just all in my opinion.
I still dont see why no one is playing Blood Artist in this deck. Its insane, its a must kill for almost any deck or it will just win the game for you. Obviously this is just all in my opinion.
It's because it is a very limited card. It can only work as a combo piece and really nothing more. Thalia can attack and play the role of control spoiler. Bob can attack and gain CA. Blood Artist is an excellent card in itself but other cards just beat it out and it just misses the cut on many people's brews.
It's because it is a very limited card. It can only work as a combo piece and really nothing more. Thalia can attack and play the role of control spoiler. Bob can attack and gain CA. Blood Artist is an excellent card in itself but other cards just beat it out and it just misses the cut on many people's brews.
But Teysa is okay?
Blood Artist is also very good against the Control decks.
I dont see playing Thalia, when you are playing so many spells that are supposed to be efficient. Like Bolt, Path, Lingering Souls, Discard spells ect.
Seems like the splash red version could run young pyromancer. Looks good if you play souls, seize, iok, path, bolt, slip, etc. Makes dudes to sac. Blah blah blah.
I played Ajani vengeant but decided to remove him in favor of lightning helix, I had too much 4cc spells
Why are you playing Doomed Traveler? Your not playing any Cartel Aristocrats or Teysas or anything to take advantage him with. He is just a little 1/1 for 1 in this list. Could be used on something better. Even Goblin Guide would be better than this guy in your list.
A card i haven't seen in this thread is orzhov pontiff. In some matchups the -1/-1 ability can be devastating. At worst he pumps your team. I wouldn't play 4 though.
EDIT: on a side note i wouldn't play thalia and path together, giving your opponent a land can negate thalia's ability...
EDIT: few changes made after testing
Seems like this deck wants to be BW tokens. I think if it is to be successful, you need to take notes from the good BW lists and tweak things to include your combos (basically, Teysa). Thoughtseize and/or IoK are a must. This definitely seems like an interesting deck, but I wonder if Spectral Procession could be useful here.
1. What is "The Aristocrats"?
So this family walks into a talent agent's office...
The Aristocrats is a White-Black-Red Aggro deck centered on using creatures as an expendable resource. It is capable of building a large army very quickly and sustaining it through recursion and sacrifice. It can be played with rushdown creatures or a slow victory through attrition. The deck receives its name from the cards Cartel Aristocrat and Falkenrath Aristocrat.
2. Is this the deck for you?
You are going to need a real sense of humour for this.
You will like this deck if:
You enjoy winning through creature damage
You will not enjoy this deck if:
3. Card Selection/Analysis
...this family had three beautiful daughters...
Creatures:
The Creatures are the core of this deck and can be split into two groups: Those who are meant to be sacrificed, and those who are doing the sacrificing.
Cartel Aristocrat: Our first lovely lady; she starts off as a 2/2 for WB but will be your early beater and resilient fighters. Her ability allows her to survive any combat or withstand any targeted removal. If you are not familiar about how protection from a colour works, I recommend you look up the appropriate rules to be sure. Also remember that she cannot sacrifice herself.
Teysa, Orzhov Scion: Perhaps the most devastating to the board, Teysa holds our 3 mana position very well. 2/3 isn’t too bad, but she isn’t really meant for combat. All your black creatures will leave behind spirits for you to sac, and with cards like Bloodghast you can imagine how silly it gets. Additionally she can sac three white creatures (sometimes including herself) to exile without a downside. However this is her only way of sacrifice and therefore she requires one of the other girls to really shine.
Falkenrath Aristocrat: Last but not at all the least, we have the beautiful woman in whi- red. She comes in as a 4/1 haste so she can start taking chunks out of your opponents fast. Instead of being able to gain protection from a colour like her collogue, she gains invincibility. This difference comes with certain perks and certain drawbacks. She can also sacrifice indiscriminately and will grow stronger as you feed her humans.
Our Other Players:
Doomed Traveler: Our basic morsel of fun, he is a decent chump blocker and becomes more useful when he dies. Is a human which benefits Falkenrath, and is white in both forms for Teysa.
Mortician Beetle: An early beater that can grow incredibly quickly. Don’t be surprised to see him become 5/5 or 6/6 without much effort. Being a Black creature allows him to leave a spirit with Teysa on the field.
Bloodghast: The Aristocrats’ greatest ally. Refuses to stay dead, feeds the girls, and with Teysa on the field creates armies of Spirit tokens. Don’t underestimate him as a fighter either as his damage can add up rather quickly.
Hellrider: Fills in the same slot as Falkenrath, but gives the deck an aggressive punch. With enough tokens and Bloodghasts on the field this devil can win games in one attack.
Skirsdag High Priest: As long as things are dying, he'll keep making demons as long as you have creatures to tap. As a downside he really doesn't do much on turn 2, but if left alone can turn the tide of the game quickly. EDIT: I switched them in instead of the beetles, and these guys do a lot of work. 5/5 flying demons are nothing to laugh at. Granted he dies often and quickly, but that's not too much of a big deal.
Xathrid Necromancer: He competes with Teysa in almost every way but create stronger tokens. Only out of humans though, so it is important to make the deck more tribal if you choose to put him in.
Instant and Sorceries:
Lingering Souls: A great food generator for our Aristocrats, and makes a small army without much trouble. Use it offensive or defensively, it works great either way!
Lightning Bolt: I shouldn't even need to explain why this card is amazing. Gives us great utility and wins games.
Path to Exile: Though I don’t use it myself, I understand that many do love this card as removal and therefore added it here. Be careful though as you are ramping your opponent up each time you use it.
Tragic Slip: Personally I would always use this instead of Path, but it is a personal choice. This deck almost guarantees morbid so you can treat this card as " B: Target Creature gets -13/-13.
Zealous Persecution: A long time favourite card, I should have added this to the list earlier. Boosts your creatures while hosing your opponent's defences. Works great for combat tricks too. However it is not as useful if you don't plan to swarm creatures.
Other Permanents:
Elspeth, Knight-Errant: The alternative to Sorin. To be honest, I really prefer Sorin, but a lot of people would disagree with me so I will leave it up to the reader. Both planeswalkers generate creatures and boost creatures, but in different ways. My recommendation is to test them both and see which one you prefer.
Grave Pact: This card wrecks creature based strategies. Against most other Aggro decks it is usually game then and there. Sacrifice your bloodghasts or spirits to clear out their field. Not as useful against decks with few creatures, or when your opponent has Sigarda.
Dark Prophecy: Still trying this card out, but it will give you all the fuel you will need for the rest of the game. Be extremely careful though as the life loss gets out of hand fast. Beware boardclears!
Blade of the Bloodchief: I’ve yet to test this out, but the idea seems solid. Makes any of your creatures into a Mortician Beetle and makes Falkenrath into a beast.
4. Sample Decklists
The performance is a little different everytime.
Arca's Deck
4x Bloodghast
4x Cartel Aristocrat
3x Doomed Traveler
2x Falkenrath Aristocrat
3x Skirsdag High Priest
3x Teysa, Orzhov Scion
1x Hellrider
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Path to Exile
Sorceries:
4x Faithless Looting
4x Lingering Souls
Enchantments:
1x Grave Pact
Planeswalkers:
1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Lands:
4x Arid Mesa
3x Blood Crypt
3x Dragonskull Summit
3x Godless Shrine
3x Isolated Chapel
2x Mountain
2x Plains
3x Swamp
5. Match-ups and Sideboard
...it was then that the father pulled out a few toys from his bag...
Still under construction!
6. Conclusion
The Agent stood up, wiped the blood (among other things) out of his eyes and asked "What do you call an act like that?!". The father removed the scuba gear from his mouth and with a big grin shouted "The Aristrocrats!"
This deck is a work in progress, and I'm still playing with all the intricacies. If you have any idea about how to make the deck run cleaner or better I would love to hear about it and give it a try. I will make sure to note your contributions in this post. If nothing else this deck is a lot of fun to play, and can get out of hand really quickly! It is also well priced and not too hard to assemble for those who play on a budget. And if you do have a chance to play the deck, even online, I'd love to hear about it! Just remember to always leave 'em laughing!
- Arca
3x Nether Traitor
4x Cartel Aristocrat
3x Doomed Traveler
3x Teysa, Orzhov Scion
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3x Skirsdag High Priest
4x Dark Confidant
4x Path to Exile
4x Tragic Slip
Sorceries:
4x Lingering Souls
Enchantments:
1x Grave Pact
Planeswalkers:
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Lands:
4x Marsh Flats
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Arid Mesa
4x Godless Shrine
4x Isolated Chapel
4x Cavern of Souls
2x Plains
2x Swamp
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
Xathrid Necromancer is awesome in more Humans-centric lists. Worthy Humans you can add to BWR Aristocrats include Bob, Thalia, Champion of the Parish, and Grim Lavamancer.
I'm also sensing a slight weakness to Pod because of your lack of removal. Sideboard stuff like Dismember and Orzhov Pontiff would probably help.
I also agree with Lectrys, Xathrid Necromancer is great. Him with teysa gives a reliable source of tokens from dying triggers. There is plenty of good black humans (Teysa, Orzhov Scion, Cartel Aristrocat, Dark Confidant, Xathrid Necromancer, Orzhov Pontiff, Skirsdag High Priest), to make sure you will have triggers for both teysa and Necromancer, wich you make opponent removals far less useful.
I would also add Deathrite Shaman, even though he is not human, and a small splash for green (just for his creature exiling ability), you have plenty of cards going to the grave that will have no use. He can turn your early turns Inquisition of Kozilek/Toughtseize into life loss and all the creatures you sac into life gain.
Also, another non-human worth mentioning is Blood Artist.
I love falkenrath and it has done a ton of work for me in standard but in modern it just dies to way too much. Dismember, path, karn just to name a few.
I dont know much about modern but I will keep surveying the thread because I do love the aristocrats and im not quite ready to let go...
One last thing, there is a third tribe which might warren an inclusion: Vampires. Why you might ask? Look no farther than Kalastria Highborn
As for combo I figured that would be easily dealt with in our sideboard. In these colours we have a lot of control options! 1cmc Discard, Surgical Extraction, Slaughter Games etc.
I'll start trying out and getting ideas for a BW version as well - maybe make it less aggressive and more controlling? - and for giggles I might try to make it human centred to try it out as well.
Thanks guys, keep the ideas coming!
If you commit to just BW try Plagued Rusalka interesting Sac outlet that can double as removal
Viscera Seer seems like it would fit as well since it doubles as library manipulation and a sac outlet
Aether Vial seems to just fit very well
I think a rough sketch (if I were to build the deck) would look like this
2x Xathrid Necromancer
4x Cartel Aristocrat
3x Doomed Traveler
1x Teysa, Orzhov Scion
2x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2x Skirsdag High Priest
4x Dark Confidant
Artifacts:
3x Aether Vial
1x Blasting Station
2x Path to Exile
4x Tragic Slip
1x Dismember
2x Orzhov Charm
Sorceries:
4x Lingering Souls
Planeswalkers:
1x Sorin, Lord Of Innistrad
Lands:
4x Marsh Flats
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Arid Mesa
4x Godless Shrine
4x Isolated Chapel
4x Cavern of Souls
2x Plains
2x Swamp
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawg
Untested, but I think Vial fits in the deck quite well, you can also possibly fit Mangara in with Necromancer and Sac outlets, a Vindicate that becomes a 2/2 is quite nice, but it may just be bad
Paper: WUR Waffle Control, RG and U Tron
MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
Testing Modern on MTGO and helping to craft decks on a Budget
I stream!
Hermit Druid Combo:
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
So this deck is uber sexy looking and looks so amazing to play but how does it beat a wurmcoil engine? The skirsdag is way too squishy in modern so i think it should be something to possibly beat an engine. Path came to mind buttttt....
EDIT: Magus of the condor?
4 Blood Artist
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Dark Confidant
1 Teysa, Orzhov Scion
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
3 Doomed Travel
3 Skirsdag High Preist
4 Lingering Souls
3 Path to Exile
3 Lighting Bolt
2 Thought Seize
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
Lands:
4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
2 Blood Crypt
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Godless Shrine
2 Swamp
2 Plains
2 Isolated Chapel
2 Dragonskull Summit
1 Clifftop Retreat
Wurmcoil is easy, you block it then you sac the blocker, that way your opponent will gain zero life. This deck should never lack chump fodder. Or exile with teysa if it becomes an annoying blocker.
Skirsdag is amazing when he connects, i wouldn't play 4 though, i play 2 and i'm happy with them.
For the b/w human version, i think true believer might be a valid choice, maybe 2 main deck/2 sideboard. Shuts down burn, valakut, grapeshot, discard, lily edict and ult, etc.
Ethersworn canonist is another option. Maybe a one of?
Also, auriok champion is good against a number of popular strategies in modern.
I really wish there was a "human" way to protect them though (a la mother of runes).
EDIT: perhaps brave the elements or that new gift of immortality would do?
I think Blood Artist is insane. Just my opinion though.
I've found that Champion of the parish strategies haven't really worked. It's obviously not a great top deck and there's too much removal in the format for it to shine after it lands on turn 1. Here is my list:
1 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Isolated Chapel
2 Slayers' Stronghold
2 Vault of the Archangel
4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Godless Shrine
1 Blood Crypt
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Dark Confidant
4 Xathrid Necromancer
3 Teysa, Orzhov Scion
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
(Other 14)
3 Path to Exile
2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquistion of Kozilek
4 Lightning Helix
3 Lingering Souls
3 Blood Moon
2 Rest in Peace
3 Rakdos Charm
2 Thoughtseize
1 Path to Exile
3 Celestial Flare
1 Lingering Souls
I'll explain a few card choices:
4 Xathrid Necromancer, Plain and simple its anti sweeper and creates chump blockers for days against aggro which can also turn into offensive threats later in the game. Creates card advantage against control to all removal other than path. Whats not to love here?
3 Teysa, Orzhov Scion basically same reasoning as the Necromancer. The two of them combo well together as well. Also acts as a removal spell a lot more times than you would think. Lingering Souls becomes even more powerful with this in play.
Now the sideboard
3 Blood Moon, I purposefully built this deck so that it could function on 1 basic plains, 1 basic mountain, and 1 basic swamp in play. I can literally play any card in the deck with those 3 cards out. That allows me to play colorless lands like Slayers' Stronghold, Vault of the Archangel and Tectonic Edge If I so choose.
3 Celestial Flare, Bogle, plain and simple. This deck has difficulty with Rancor. Also could be used against aggro decks.
All and All this Archetype is good vs. Aggro, Midrange, and decent vs. Control. It's not to solid vs. Combo but that's what a sideboard is for. This Archetype has plenty of potential. One thing that also surprised me was how good it is at defending the air and attacking through the air as well. But I guess thats what happens when you have 10 cards that make Lantern Kamis, haha
UWRUWR MidrangeUWR
BUGSultai MidrangeBUG
BUGRTraverse MidrangeBUGR (currently brewing)
It's because it is a very limited card. It can only work as a combo piece and really nothing more. Thalia can attack and play the role of control spoiler. Bob can attack and gain CA. Blood Artist is an excellent card in itself but other cards just beat it out and it just misses the cut on many people's brews.
But Teysa is okay?
Blood Artist is also very good against the Control decks.
I dont see playing Thalia, when you are playing so many spells that are supposed to be efficient. Like Bolt, Path, Lingering Souls, Discard spells ect.
I'm currently brewing a junk aristocrats, because of varolz, the scar-striped and som mana dorks and Gavony township. Maybe Fauna shaman, for bullets or w/e..
Why are you playing Doomed Traveler? Your not playing any Cartel Aristocrats or Teysas or anything to take advantage him with. He is just a little 1/1 for 1 in this list. Could be used on something better. Even Goblin Guide would be better than this guy in your list.
4 doomed traveler
4 champion of the parish
4 cartel aristocrat
4 auriok champion
4 dark confidant
2 skirsdag high priest
4 xathrid necromancer
1 teysa, orzhov scion
3 orzhov pontiff
4 path to exile
sorceries: 4
4 inquisition of kozilek
lands: 22
2 vault of the archangel
4 cavern of souls
4 marsh flats
3 godless shrine
3 caves of koilos
4 plains
2 swamp
4 mortify
4 sin collector
3 thoughtpicker witch
4 leyline of the void
A card i haven't seen in this thread is orzhov pontiff. In some matchups the -1/-1 ability can be devastating. At worst he pumps your team. I wouldn't play 4 though.
EDIT: on a side note i wouldn't play thalia and path together, giving your opponent a land can negate thalia's ability...
EDIT: few changes made after testing
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Skirsdag High Priest
4 Viscera Seer
4 Quest for the Gravelord
4 Thoughtseize
4 Path to Exile
2 Blade of the Bloodchief
4 Marsh Flats
1 Plains
4 Swamp
4 Isolated Chapel
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Cartel Aristocrat
3 Teysa, Orzhov Scion
2 Skirsdag High Priest
2 Cloudgoat Ranger
Spells (21):
4 Thoughtseize
4 Spectral Procession
4 Lingering Souls
4 Honor of the Pure
3 Path to Exile
2 Zealous Persecution
4 Marsh Flats
4 Arid Mesa
4 Isolated Chapel
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Godless Shrine
1 Vault of the Archangel
7 Plains
Draft My Cube!