As black continues to struggle to find a solid identity in my cube I'm looking for more options on how to build it. Gravecrawler has always been a strong card in a vacuum, but I've always had a tough time building decks with playable zombies in them. There are plenty of 1 mana zombies out there worth playing, but finding cards that are relevant in the late game that happen to also be zombies has been difficult for years.
With the printing of Sidisi, Undead Vizier we've gotten another playable zombie to go at the top of your curve. Does that push us into zombies as a playable archetype yet? If not, what are we missing, what are we looking for in future printings?
I think the real question is what does it take to make drafting a zombie theme worth it. Is recurring Gravecrawler and drawing more cards off of Graveborn enough? What does it take to make Cemetery Reaper a playable card? My cube at least is always on the lookout for playable graveyard hate, and he's so close. What would it take to make him a card worth drafting? Are there other payoffs for drafting a good zombie deck? I don't see Death Baron, Diregraf Captain, Ghoulraiser, Lord of the Undead, Unbreathing Horde, Endless Ranks of the Dead, Risen Executioner, or Undead Warchief to be quite good enough.
From looking at this list my impression is that the zombie deck is missing playable two drop zombies to bridge the gap from Gravecrawler and friends to Messenger and friends. I seem to remember that being the problem with Zombies in standard too with those cards, but as a person who never plays standard, maybe I'm wrong about that. There are plenty of solid two mana zombies in multicolor, but I'm not sure the rewards are good enough to make you jump into white or green to get them.
I agreed that there isn't really that much cubable 2-drop zombies out there. One that I find quite nice is Nightscape Familiar, but it is a bit subjective because my cube does support Storm. Another one card that really worth looking at when talk about zombie is Liliana, Heretical Healer. Putrid Imp is also missing from what you've listed just above.
I also like Wretched Anurid, Tidehollow Sculler and Lotleth Troll as 2-drop zombie.
Whit that said, I think you shouldn't just force in a zombie theme if the cards aren't worth it. Maybe you could do it if you are planning to make a tribal theme cube. In that case, black could become a zombie guild. But otherwise, in a general kind of cube, black is certainly strong enough IMO not to be forcing inclusion of some zombies just to help recurring card like Gravecrawler. That card is strong enough on his own.
We played Cemetary Reaper until last year. It was good enough at 450 with the regular crew of zombies. The lord ability is very strong in aggro and creating 3/3 zombies is pretty good for a three drop. Add Adaptive Automaton for an extra versatile lord.
Adding cards like this (lords that don't require a ton of zombies or goblins to work) doesn't change your cube that much. It only makes a small differences in the evaluation of cards that were borderline before.
We ended up cutting him at 450 as due to slow powercreep the Reaper might have become just strong enough for 500+ cubes.
I totally play Cemetery Reaper in my 500 card cube. I like the little zombie theme in my cube, and it works well. I also play Geralf's Messenger.
I wouldn't call Lotleth Troll and Curse of Shallow Graves borderline cubeable. I personally think they are both excellent. Curse of Shallow Graves is a fantastic card for almost any black deck, and even better with more zombies.
With the printing of Sidisi, Undead Vizier we've gotten another playable zombie to go at the top of your curve. Does that push us into zombies as a playable archetype yet? If not, what are we missing, what are we looking for in future printings?
I think the real question is what does it take to make drafting a zombie theme worth it. Is recurring Gravecrawler and drawing more cards off of Graveborn enough? What does it take to make Cemetery Reaper a playable card? My cube at least is always on the lookout for playable graveyard hate, and he's so close. What would it take to make him a card worth drafting? Are there other payoffs for drafting a good zombie deck? I don't see Death Baron, Diregraf Captain, Ghoulraiser, Lord of the Undead, Unbreathing Horde, Endless Ranks of the Dead, Risen Executioner, or Undead Warchief to be quite good enough.
Here's the current lineup as I see it.
Zombies with Tribal Relevant abilities that are cubeable on their own
Gravecrawler
Graveborn Muse
Solid Cubeable Zombies
Carnophage
Sarcomancy
Carrion Feeder
Diregraf Ghoul
Fleshbag Marauder
Geralf's Messenger
Skinrender
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Grave Titan (kinda)
Borderline Cubeable Zombies
Lifebane Zombie
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Tidehollow Sculler
Stillmoon Cavalier
Lotleth Troll
Dreg Mangler
Wretched Anurid
Spiteful Returned
Curse of Shallow Graves
Xathrid Necromancer (kinda)
Liliana's Reaver
Moan of the Unhallowed
Borderline Zombies with Tribal abilities
Cemetery Reaper
From looking at this list my impression is that the zombie deck is missing playable two drop zombies to bridge the gap from Gravecrawler and friends to Messenger and friends. I seem to remember that being the problem with Zombies in standard too with those cards, but as a person who never plays standard, maybe I'm wrong about that. There are plenty of solid two mana zombies in multicolor, but I'm not sure the rewards are good enough to make you jump into white or green to get them.
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I also like Wretched Anurid, Tidehollow Sculler and Lotleth Troll as 2-drop zombie.
Whit that said, I think you shouldn't just force in a zombie theme if the cards aren't worth it. Maybe you could do it if you are planning to make a tribal theme cube. In that case, black could become a zombie guild. But otherwise, in a general kind of cube, black is certainly strong enough IMO not to be forcing inclusion of some zombies just to help recurring card like Gravecrawler. That card is strong enough on his own.
EDIT : I forgot about Blood Scrivener. He is good as well.
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Adding cards like this (lords that don't require a ton of zombies or goblins to work) doesn't change your cube that much. It only makes a small differences in the evaluation of cards that were borderline before.
We ended up cutting him at 450 as due to slow powercreep the Reaper might have become just strong enough for 500+ cubes.
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
I wouldn't call Lotleth Troll and Curse of Shallow Graves borderline cubeable. I personally think they are both excellent. Curse of Shallow Graves is a fantastic card for almost any black deck, and even better with more zombies.
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