MTG Salvation

I had too many times that the opponent was able to play through it. It's pretty much the same thing as a 'Geddon on T4 on curve, but it's way worse as a late-game play or top-deck once the opponent can comfortably make 6-7 mana.

It might occasionally be played through (although doing so is extremely rough when your utility three drops cost Titan mana), but even 'just' being a T4 or T5 'Geddon is still a very good place for a card to be. And I really want to try and play any of my Armageddon effects on curve anyhow, since every turn I delay offers the opponent more chance to get a creature on the board that's more of a threat than mine, preventing me from playing my 'Geddon effect (hence Catastrophe being so good, since you win when behind too!). When games go long, neither effect is often that useful, but the blow-out potential makes them archetype-defining threats - even for a 'not-quite-as-good-' 'Geddon. I'm adding a Ravages of War finally with my BFZ update, so this archetype gets even more of a boost.

I played the card for ages, and ultimately had to cut it because there were too many instances where it was just played through. But it certainly can be a powerful card when your opponent can't.

You'll definitely enjoy the second white 'Geddon!

Armageddon/Ravages are top 3 caliber cards in white though...
And sure there will be times when an opponent will be able to play through Nether Void. But people can play through stuff like Braids too. Delaying your opponent's sweepers and fatties is pretty legit... it's certainly one of the best aggro curve toppers in black.

Quote from Star Slayer »

For some reason, Nether Void felt way more awkward than Armageddon. It was way harder to win with an aggro deck after casting Void than after blowing up all lands. I cut it a while ago.

It is sure less powerful that wellknown all-star Armageddon, but I think it's worth a inclusion at some point. One upside it has over Geddon is that it let you play more spells after casting. It can also be a downside in some cases if your opponent is also playing a low curve, but in general, it can help you put additionnal pressure after it resolves. And one crucial aspect of it, it gives a Geddon-effect to the black section so it could be use in any B/x decks. Going Gravecrawler, Oona's Prowler, Master of the Feast and then Nether Void is damn lethal.

If you run some land destruction, Nether Void can be downright oppresrive.

With the addition of three fantastic new black 2-drops. What do you plan to cut to make room for your cubes?




Currently, my 2-drops are as follows for my 600-card cube (I do support black aggro in my cube):
(I'm considering removing Mesmeric Fiend and Nezumi Shortfang)

• Bearer of Silence
  
• Bloodghast
  
• Carrier Thrall
  
• Dark Confidant
  
• Dauthi Horror
  
• Gatekeeper of Malakir
  
• Mesmeric Fiend
  
• Nezumi Shortfang
  
• Oona's Prowler
  
• Pack Rat
  
• Vampire Hexmage

I would definitely remove gatekeeper, mesmeric and carrier thrall from your list for those 3.

Gatekeeper, Shortfang, Thrall and Fiend are all reasonable cuts.

Thanks!

I think the new Pale Rider could make your list as well.

Thanks for feedback! At first glance, I wasn't super impressed with him. Why do you think so? And with what would you suggest replacing him?

Quote from seanyb47 »

Thanks for feedback! At first glance, I wasn't super impressed with him. Why do you think so? And with what would you suggest replacing him?

It's a pretty big body for its cost with a pretty good evasion ability considering you have to double block him pretty much to not be chumping for a ton of creatures that are eligibile to block him. The discard decision may be difficult at times, but he'll often end up in low-curve decks where you can pitch the extra lands you may draw, recursive black creatures such as bloodghast/grave crawler/bloodsoaked champion, or you might be straight-up hell bent upon casting. There just aren't a lot of creatures as big as he is for the cost and will often along with the other pressure you're applying make blocking awkward for your opponent, plus be straight-up unblockable on certain boards. I think it's easily better than any of the cards suggested by the other posters here.

At ~450 I'm currently running

• Blood Artist
• Bloodghast
• Dark Confidant
• Despoiler of Souls
• Nezumi Graverobber
• Oona's Prowler
• Pack Rat

Asylum Visitor for Despoiler is an easy call. The rest are trickier, but I'll probably try Heir of Falkenrath over the Prowler for a while, just to see how it goes. Relentless Dead does seem fun too but man...what to cut...I can actually see myself cutting somewhere else just to make space. Nether Void? Consuming Vapors?

I love Blood Artist, FWIW, and don't see him going anywhere anytime soon.

I also run Blood Artist and don't see him going anywhere anytime soon. He definitely surprised me at how much reach he gives your black decks. At 555 my current 2-drops look like this:

Bloodghast
Blood Artist
Dark Confidant
Dauthi Horror
Despoiler of Souls
Oona's Prowler
Pack Rat
Pain Seer
Reassembling Skeleton

I'm thinking my black changes for SOI will be:

Asylum Visitor --> Master of the Feast
Heir of Falkenrath --> Reassembling Skeleton
Pale Rider of Trostad --> Hypnotic Specter
Relentless Dead --> Despoiler of Souls

I'm a little torn on the Hippy cut, but I think it's just past his time. If one of these doesn't work out, he can always come back.

Quote from calibretto »

Pale Rider of Trostad --> Hypnotic Specter
[...]
I'm a little torn on the Hippy cut, but I think it's just past his time. If one of these doesn't work out, he can always come back.

I would also be. I don't think it would be appropriate to swap those two. Just my 2 cent.

Black was the hardest color to make cuts for the SOI update because it's pretty much exactly where I want it. Now, especially after gaining so much aggro support in this set, I think it's right where I want it to be. Black inclusions from here on out will probably be strict upgrades to already existing archetype enablers.

I'm also still not sure on the Hippy cut to make room for Pale Rider. I brought it up with my group last night and they weren't too keen on the idea of cutting him. He's a crowd favorite, plus he's so iconic. Pain Seer may actually end up being the cut for this one.

I think Pain Seer is a logical cut because you have Asylum Visitor now (are three Bob's needed?). Don't cut Hippie.

I'm currently trying to better support black aggro in my 630 cube, but I could use some help with 1-drops.

Currently, I am running only 5:

• Bloodsoaked Champion
  
• Carnophage
  
• Diregraf Ghoul
  
• Gravecrawler
  
• Vampire Lacerator

Any thoughts on how many is enough and which ones are essentials?

I think Carrion Feeder is generally underrated and REALLY good with some of black's recent recursion creatures. At 630, you can probably afford to try Feeder and see if it works for you. It's not the most aggressive creature consistently, but it can be, and a huge one at that.

Thank you very much! Now I just have to figure out what to cut haha.

I run these at 540:

• Bloodsoaked Champion
  
• Carnophage
  
• Diregraf Ghoul
  
• Gnarled Scarhide
  
• Gravecrawler
  
• Reaver Drone
  
• Sarcomancy
  
• Tormented Hero
  
• Vampire Lacerator

I run all the ones wtwlf123 and others have mentioned except for Reaver Drone at 450, and part of that is because I don't own a copy of it.

Looking at your list I think you need to cut some of the higher drops. You have a lot of 6+ CMC creatures, probably a couple more 4s than you need, and when you look at spells you have a lot of 5 CMC cards.