Hey all, thanks for the advice. Been getting a feel for the current metagame a bit more, and I updated the deck based on the suggestions here. I really like the 8Rack list, but it's a bit hard on the wallet - 4 Liliana + 4 Ensnaring Bridge + 4 Bitterblossom can easily run over $400. Plus I feel like I'm seeing a significant minority of players running Witchbane Orb and Leyline of Sanctity, which just wrecks 8Rack's day.
I'm trying out the Control-Infect route, dropping the rats and hippy for Phyrexian Crusader for a bit more removal-resistance.
1. Would it be wiser to use Tezzeret's Gambit instead of Sign in Blood as a draw engine? It's still 2 life loss for 2 cards, the tradeoff being Proliferate for +1 mana cost.
2. What's a good ratio of Cathedral of War vs Inkmoth Nexus? The original plan was to use Cathedral until I grabbed a few Inkmoths, but during some casual play I found that Cathedral works INCREDIBLY well with this control shell, and with Crusader especially. I did have some problems with the mana curve where occasionally I'd find myself sitting at 2 Cathedrals and a Swamp and have to wait several turns to put down my BB removals and 3-drops though. Should there ever be less than 18 Swamps in this build? What would be an ideal ratio of Inkmoths to Cathedrals?
3. I'm having trouble with opponents top decking into crazy enchantments that I can't discard or remove (Witchbane Orb and Leyline of Sanctity). Theoretically Ratchet Bomb + Profane Command would do well as enchantment wipes - you wipe the board and then once they play their mid/late creatures, you pop them off with Command and fetch back your Crusaders with it. Anyone have any experience in this area?
Hey all, a returning Magic player here, having a bit of trouble adjusting to the current Modern metagame. I haven't played since the Odyssey block, and back then I had a lot of fun playing monoblack hand/board control, which I tried to go back to. I thought it looked like a decent budget list on paper.
Then I played a few on MTGO and got resoundingly WRECKED.
Game 1, I force discard and control the field, smacking him around with Rats and Hippy. Then I notice this new mechanic called "Retrace" in his graveyard. I go, "Well, that's probably harmless," as he dredges Life From the Loam and proceeds to beat me soundly in the face.
Game 2 - I force discard, and he tosses away Bloodghasts and Nether Traitors like skittles. He keeps discarding his nev-r-die weenies, puts a Blasting Station on the field, and makes a casual show of beating me soundly in the face.
Game 3 - I Duress, see Knight of Glory, and derp. He drops the Knight, followed by another Knight. I pray for the Mutilate that never comes as he proceeds to beat me soundly in the face.
I start to notice a pattern. Involving my face.
So, my question is this: Is there any way to make this sort of deck viable in the current Modern metagame? Call me sentimental, but I REALLY want to play this sort of deck, but I'd also like to win a game once in a while. The only thing I've seen is the Infect version with Phyrexian Crusader (which I'm not too keen on). I'm sure I can sub out some cards for more effective alts like Thoughtseize, but it just seems like the overall MonoBlack Discard/Control I used to love just isn't viable anymore. Any suggestions?
I'm trying out the Control-Infect route, dropping the rats and hippy for Phyrexian Crusader for a bit more removal-resistance.
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Blackmail
4 Raven's Crime
2 Necropede
4 Phyrexian Crusader
4 Phyrexian Vatmother
2 Virulent Wound
2 Verdict of Geth
2 Hero's Downfall
2 Victim of Night
2 Profane Command
4 Cathedral of War
A few questions for you more experienced players:
1. Would it be wiser to use Tezzeret's Gambit instead of Sign in Blood as a draw engine? It's still 2 life loss for 2 cards, the tradeoff being Proliferate for +1 mana cost.
2. What's a good ratio of Cathedral of War vs Inkmoth Nexus? The original plan was to use Cathedral until I grabbed a few Inkmoths, but during some casual play I found that Cathedral works INCREDIBLY well with this control shell, and with Crusader especially. I did have some problems with the mana curve where occasionally I'd find myself sitting at 2 Cathedrals and a Swamp and have to wait several turns to put down my BB removals and 3-drops though. Should there ever be less than 18 Swamps in this build? What would be an ideal ratio of Inkmoths to Cathedrals?
3. I'm having trouble with opponents top decking into crazy enchantments that I can't discard or remove (Witchbane Orb and Leyline of Sanctity). Theoretically Ratchet Bomb + Profane Command would do well as enchantment wipes - you wipe the board and then once they play their mid/late creatures, you pop them off with Command and fetch back your Crusaders with it. Anyone have any experience in this area?
Thanks all!
Then I played a few on MTGO and got resoundingly WRECKED.
The deck looks like this:
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Blackmail
1 Wrench Mind
4 Ravenous Rats
2 Nezumi Shortfang
2 Chittering Rats
2 Hypnotic Specter
2 Nyxathid
2 Tragic Slip
2 Verdict of Geth
2 Hero's Downfall
2 Victim of Night
2 Mutilate
2 Profane Command
The games looked something like this:
Game 1, I force discard and control the field, smacking him around with Rats and Hippy. Then I notice this new mechanic called "Retrace" in his graveyard. I go, "Well, that's probably harmless," as he dredges Life From the Loam and proceeds to beat me soundly in the face.
Game 2 - I force discard, and he tosses away Bloodghasts and Nether Traitors like skittles. He keeps discarding his nev-r-die weenies, puts a Blasting Station on the field, and makes a casual show of beating me soundly in the face.
Game 3 - I Duress, see Knight of Glory, and derp. He drops the Knight, followed by another Knight. I pray for the Mutilate that never comes as he proceeds to beat me soundly in the face.
I start to notice a pattern. Involving my face.
So, my question is this: Is there any way to make this sort of deck viable in the current Modern metagame? Call me sentimental, but I REALLY want to play this sort of deck, but I'd also like to win a game once in a while. The only thing I've seen is the Infect version with Phyrexian Crusader (which I'm not too keen on). I'm sure I can sub out some cards for more effective alts like Thoughtseize, but it just seems like the overall MonoBlack Discard/Control I used to love just isn't viable anymore. Any suggestions?