Geralf's Messenger

Creature — Zombie

Geralf's Messenger enters the battlefield tapped.

When Geralf's Messenger enters the battlefield, target opponent loses 2 life.

Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)

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Tradebinders

Have (25)	Panda213 , Apoptosis , SinfulDrug , Kamotz , sabrepaisan , DNSolver , vishnarg , gnarlicide , BatmanUriah , mrbloo1848 , NeonKnight , Ohthenoises , MTG_Player , Blueogre007 , tap_to_kill , Destoo1 , caprioG04 , mmdw34 , GrandeKhan , rogueknight0881 , erabel , tj70 , capriom85 , lwsgreer , cestdesconneries
Want (13)	Panda213 , shinobigarth , x754 , fuegodiego , ryuzaki32667 , capriom85 , GriffinRider , Unforgivn_II , Draygo , Ohthenoises , AstroFalcon751 , whiteknight07 , Apoptosis

Geralf's Messenger Discussion

lynx77 on Boardwipe Steal

5 hours ago

An impressive starting point. The mana ramp is good, though some 5 drops would make use of Liliana of the Dark Realms after casting her on turn four.

The early game will be an issue. I'd recomment the following swaps:

Minus the Sheoldred, Whispering One , 1 Black Sun's Zenith , 1 Geth's Verdict , 2 Go for the Throat and 2 Swamp .Add in 4 Gravecrawler , 1 more of Geralf's Messenger and 2 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen

This cuts back at the early game removal but would give you more room in the early game to deliver a boardwipe later on. It would keep your opponent busy not slow down your mana ramp.

Atsu on Scar-Striped Scavenger

7 hours ago

@yuval - I could see Slumbering Dragon work wonders in a Jund Mid-Range deck, but for Jund Aggro I just don't feel like he fits.

In regards to Geralf's Messenger , I find that triple black isn't all that hard to obtain when you have 18 lands that fulfill Swamp criteria. Can still be a bitch at times, which is actually why I chucked out Strangleroot Geist . I would find myself almost always lacking two Forests by turn two if I had him in my hand. I find it funny that I have no issue with triple Swamp, but huge gripes with double Forest ~.~

I actually have Abrupt Decay mainboarded in my actual deck, but have it sideboarded on here due to someone else's suggestion that I felt like respecting (since it doesn't really matter in the end to me). Nevertheless, you made a good point about it. Thanks! :)

Putrefy is definitely solid, but I have Tragic Slip as my regeneration hate. I don't have much Artifact hate other than Abrupt Decay , but it's destruction power is limited to three mana or less. Going to have to reconsider it.

I like Brimstone Volley for it's synergy with Vexing Devil . Nine damage in one turn? Sign me up! It's definitely one of the lackluster sideboard cards, so I may consider bringing back Putrefy after all. I like the option of being able to target either a creature or player though. Too tired to make a clear decision about it atm ~.~

I don't understand why I would ever run Ground Seal in this deck, ever. Locks up my graveyard so I can't scavenge or abuse Gravecrawler . I'd literally be countering myself lol :p I was considering Rakdos Charm , but the free cast of Tormod's Crypt is too good to pass up.

Slaughter Games is a better Sever the Bloodline since it gives me the option of removing Unburial Rites or Sphinx's Revelation . The flashback and single Swamp requirement is nice, but I gain more overall utility through Slaughter Games.

Removing lands for Mulch actually hinders it's effectiveness (less lands = less lands to Mulch), so losing lands for it is definitely a no go. I also don't find that this deck needs mana fixing through Mulch, since the majority of the cards are of low cost. I feel that Mulch belongs in a mid-range version of this deck where the excess mana will find some use.

Definitely going to play around with Grisly Salvage , but I'm not sold on it yet. My main gripe is that it isn't much of an aggro card (I <3 Aggro), but the utility that it can bring makes up for it.

Nice shameless plug lol. I'll give it a look~

yuval on Scar-Striped Scavenger

8 hours ago

Great deck. Others have already suggested Slumbering Dragon but it's ultimately your choice if you want to add it or not. The one thing I think you need to DEFINITELY add is Grisly Salvage

If I had to remove anything I'd probably prioritize Geralf's Messenger . That triple black is a bitch. Then I'd also probably take out some Gravecrawler s because you now have fewer zombies.

You should mainboard Abrupt Decay over Tragic Slip and move Slip to the sideboard to fight Aristocrats decks. Decay is a better mainboard because it is more flexible against many kinds of decks. It can kill creatures against Aggro, Detention Sphere against Control, and even targets Loxodon Smiter against midrange and Reanimator decks (but would probably be boarded out for game 2).

Also, definitely sideboard Putrefy , it's amazing removal. I'd drop Brimstone Volley . You should also consider something better to replace Tormod's Crypt . If you're using it to fight Reanimator, Ground Seal would probably do a better job. Also consider Sever the Bloodline for you sideboard.

My last tip would be to consider dropping to 20 lands and playing 2x Mulch to fill the gap. The extra land fetch would offset the low land count so that you'd pretty much be at the same place you are now, except you'd also be feeding your graveyard with Scavenge targets and/or Gravecrawler . The added Grisly Salvage I recommended above might also help. Playtest it and see if it works.

Cool deck overall, please give me advice on mine: Golgari Counter Shenanigans

Atsu on Scar-Striped Scavenger

17 hours ago

Been playing around with Geralf's Messenger and I have yet to run into an issue playing him by Turn 3 with 18/22 lands that fulfill the triple swamp cost. I run into more trouble getting Strangleroot Geist out for some reason haha

Still don't like Spike Jester for this deck. Great aggro card, but better alternatives such as Strangleroot Geist exist that bring more synergy to the deck. Spike Jester is only better in the sense that it's slightly better scavenge food.

Vampire Nighthawk shows promise, but I prefer Geralf's Messenger for his Undying Ability, being a Zombie for Gravecrawler , and the aggressive -2 life when it comes to play and when it dies and comes back. It being a Zombie is the reason why I no longer run Diregraf Ghoul .

lycan622 on Mono black Standard.

18 hours ago

honestly, in a mono-black, Vampire Nighthawk , and Geralf's Messenger are a must. u want fast with good damage, and a lot of destruction on your opponents field. i don't really like Skirsdag High Priest , because u gotta tap ur creatures to do it, preventing the attacks of whats meant to be an aggressive deck. Crypt Ghast is good if you run a high drop like Griselband, which i would for the fact that he's a turn 5 7/7 with life link and flying. and if your gonna run Altar's Reap run Grave Crawler, so u dont have to lose a creature, or you can use it on Geralf's Messenger to do more damage. if you want to do the control aspect though, you really need to have blue in here. the black control currently in standard will not stand up to most of the commonly built decks

iceteademon on Budget Black Zermb-Rush

19 hours ago

Some good points! I haven't looked at this deck listing in ages, will update :)

Am trying to get hold of more Gravecrawler and more Geralf's Messenger , they really go well in this deck, but they're just that little bit pricey :/ I don't run the Unbreathing Horde , they're not quite as good or speedy as I thought.

Wight of Precinct Six is my new favourite thing ever, though he doesn't have a way to break through, he's epic in terms of just how much power you can get for a 2-drop - he replaces Sewer Shambler which just isn't working fast enough, my 3-drops are abundant and potent already. I've dropped the Sign in Blood , just because I always find I have better things to use my mana on - Gravecrawler and more importantly Ghoulraiser give me enough card advantage. Pontiff of Blight was also a silly premature idea, my games roll through fast without him and he's only ever been a dead end.

Mainboarded in some Manor Gargoyle because invincibles are awesome, and he's the best phylactery you could ask for.

raca137 on Mono black Standard.

20 hours ago

dude this deck is so sloppy i do not know where to start. There are alot of problems with this all black deck. There is no synergy between your cards they are just all throw together.

black decks need to be super fast or kill everything in sight with a ton of removal/phatty creatures.

here is what black cards you should look at.