I think that is a huge step in the right direction. It validates the crab, which is currently the only real reason to run blue. These both synergize with Sluice as well. But without red we have little to no ways to discard from our hand. I'm thinking maybe a list such as
I feel we need another way to reliably cast LE.. Or if I go for the full playset of Arcanist, maybe another spell for him to target for value. As it stands your list doesn't have many targets besides LE and Memory Sluice. Maybe we could try a Grixis shell also utilizing Tome Scour? Or maybe it's just too cute. I'll make some changes and test out some of your recommendations.
If going for the purphoros combo, could we consider a singleton Deep Forest Hermit since hitting one of those alongside a pair of Purphoros should be GG. And if that's too cute then maybe at least a Haunted Dead or two?
I like the idea of having a 3rd copy of Finale if you're going all in on the combo game. Vengevine and Zombie package provides a nice aggro plan B as well
EDT
I like Claim//fame specifically because if it's in your graveyard you can recast the Reanimate half with an active Arcanist. But maybe Postmortem Lunge could be considered as well
If multiple Purphoros enter at the same time, do you get multiple triggers before the legend rules knocks all but one out? If so this could be a really cool combo. I would suggest more dredge cards and Cathartic Reunion rather than Satyr and Cryptbreaker. Both are pretty slow if you're trying to combo off by turn 3 or 4.
I think I would play Pit Keeper before the Muckdraggers. Cast PK as your first creature for the turn, 3rd creature in play, return DDG and cast to trigger VV.
DDG shenanigans aside, I've been having success with my Cathartic list. No demons, chill & dredge package
No looting makes it a lot harder to keep 1-land opening hands but as long as I can cast Cathartic, Wayfinder, or Glowspore on turn two, then I can usually explode on turn 3
Instead of looking to creature based discard outlets, maybe we move to Cathartic Reunion? For non-creature spells, I think CR, Lightning Axe, and maybe even Altar of Dementia are reasonable. Possibly Creeping Chill with a dredge package?
Demon of Death's Gate does a decent Hogaak impression but you need sac outlets in case of PTE and Settle the Wreckage.
I really like Lazotep Reaver with DDG but it's so weak otherwise that is probably not worth it. I do think that Cathartic is powerful enough to keep us competitive. Especially considering our best turn 1 play is usually stitcher anyway
Hardly. It's now just more of an aggro deck than a combo deck. The important thing is that they did not ban Alter of Dementia. I would start with a list like this:
I specifically play green over white as my splash so I can hard cast Vengevine. I've won games through Rest in Peace just playing aggro beats.
Also I feel that Nature's Claim is much better than Wispmare. Hitting Altar in the mirror match is going to be huge, and also hitting Grafdiggers Cage, Witchbane Orb, Ensnaring Bridge etc
That's why I'm saying we should be packing MD hate. I'm trying 3x Leyline of the Void main with 1 additional in the Sideboard. It's a random free win against the many graveyard decks in the meta game and if the mirror match becomes a big deal, it helps there too. The fact that it protects your bridges is just icing on the cake. I'll share my list
What are people doing with their flex slots? I'm building this deck and thinking of including 2-3 Leyline of the Void in the main deck. I'm also trying more fetch lands than normal so I can do more tricks with Bloodghast
Faithless looting has been on the ban radar for years. It's one of the strongest cards in all of modern. Playing without it is definitely a mistake. Even if it's your only red card, the splash would be worth it.
What we really need is Putrid Imp, but this is definitely a nice addition. Takes the place of Viscera Seer in the Bridge lists. But do those lists even run Gravecrawler anymore?
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4 Gravecrawler
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Bloodghast
4 Hedron Crab
4 Merfolk Secretkeeper
4 Vengevine
2 Lotleth Troll
2 Golgari Thug
4 Memory Sluice
2 Collective Brutality
2 Fatal Push
Lands (20)
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Blooming Marsh
4 Polluted Delta
4 Marsh Flats
2 Watery Grave
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Swamp
Likely Sideboard 4x Creeping Chill for the burn match up
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If going for the purphoros combo, could we consider a singleton Deep Forest Hermit since hitting one of those alongside a pair of Purphoros should be GG. And if that's too cute then maybe at least a Haunted Dead or two?
I like the idea of having a 3rd copy of Finale if you're going all in on the combo game. Vengevine and Zombie package provides a nice aggro plan B as well
EDT
I like Claim//fame specifically because if it's in your graveyard you can recast the Reanimate half with an active Arcanist. But maybe Postmortem Lunge could be considered as well
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4 Gravecrawler
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Stitcher's Supplier
3 Dreadhorde Arcanist
4 Bloodghast
4 Vengevine
2 Golgari Thug
4 Stinkweed Imp
2 Purphoros, god of the forge
3 Cathartic reunion
4 Memory Sluice
3 Living end
1 Finale of Promise
Lands (18)
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained mire
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Blood Crypt
2 Swamp
I'd like to include Claim//Fame somehow to pull back a milled Arcanist but I'm just not sure there's room
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DDG shenanigans aside, I've been having success with my Cathartic list. No demons, chill & dredge package
3 Gravecrawler
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Bloodghast
4 Satyr Wayfinder
3 Glowspore Shaman
4 Vengevine
4 Insolent Neonate
2 Golgari Thug
4 Cathartic reunion
4 Creeping Chill
2 Lightning Axe
Lands (18)
3 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Blooming Marsh
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Bloodstained mire
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Blood Crypt
2 Swamp
2 Shenanigans
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Assassin's Trophy
2 Thoughtseize
2 Smallpox
2 Collective Brutality
2 Rotting Regisaur
No looting makes it a lot harder to keep 1-land opening hands but as long as I can cast Cathartic, Wayfinder, or Glowspore on turn two, then I can usually explode on turn 3
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Demon of Death's Gate does a decent Hogaak impression but you need sac outlets in case of PTE and Settle the Wreckage.
4 Gravecrawler
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Bloodghast
4 Golgari Thug
4 Vengevine
3 Demon of Death's Gate
2 Lotleth Troll
2 Glowspore Shaman
4 Creeping Chill
4 Cathartic reunion
2 Lightning Axe
Lands (19)
2 Blackcleave cliffs
1 Blooming Marsh
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Bloodstained mire
1 Polluted Delta
2 Blood Crypt
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Nurturing peatland
2 Swamp
I really like Lazotep Reaver with DDG but it's so weak otherwise that is probably not worth it. I do think that Cathartic is powerful enough to keep us competitive. Especially considering our best turn 1 play is usually stitcher anyway
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4 Gravecrawler
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Bloodghast
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Vengevine
4 Glowspore Shaman
4 Prized Amalgam
4 Creeping Chill
3 Altar of Dementia
3 Unearth
Lands
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Polluted Delta
1 Wooded foothills
3 Overgrown Tomb
2 Swamp
1 Forest
Maybe the crab has a place now also as a strictly sultai version? Would help with hard casting Amalgam when necessary
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4 Carrion Feeder
4 Gravecrawler
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Bloodghast
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Vengevine
4 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
4 Thoughtseize
4 Smallpox
2 Liliana of the Veil
Lands (22):
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Polluted Delta
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Overgrown Tomb
1 Dakmor Salvage
6 Swamp
This is totally spitballed but a similar list did place top8 recently
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4 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
4 Vengevine
4 Gravecrawler
4 Bloodghast
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Insolent Neonate
Spells (13):
4 Faithless looting
4 Alter of Dementia
3 Cathartic Reunion
2 Lightning Axe
3 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Bloodstained mire
3 Polluted Delta
2 Blood Crypt
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Swamp
4 Nature's Claim
2 Assassin's Trophy
2 Thoughtseize
2 Darkblast
1 Ancient grudge
1 Shenanigans
3 Collective Brutality
Without BFB we have room for more digging spells. I've chosen Cathartic Reunion here but others may be better, such as Grisly Salvage
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Also I feel that Nature's Claim is much better than Wispmare. Hitting Altar in the mirror match is going to be huge, and also hitting Grafdiggers Cage, Witchbane Orb, Ensnaring Bridge etc
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4 Vengevine
4 Bloodghast
4 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Stitcher's Supplier
4 Carrion Feeder
3 Gravecrawler
Spells
4 Faithless looting
4 Altar of Dementia
4 Bridge from Below
3 Leyline of the Void
4 Bloodstained mire
4 Polluted Delta
2 Verdant Catacombs
3 Blood Crypt
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Blackcleave cliffs
1 Swamp
1 Leyline of the Void
3 Assassin's Trophy
3 Nature's Claim
1 Silent Gravestone
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Lightning Axe
4 Thoughtseize
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