Aristocrats is a versatile and resilient deck. This deck is so close to being viable in Modern, and I believe that all it needs is a good sac outlet. Viscera Seer isn't impactful enough, Cartel Aristocrat is efficient, but doesn't do enough, and Falkenrath Aristocrat comes down too late to make a difference most games. For example, if they reprinted Carrion Feeder, I think Aristocrats would become a top-tier modern deck. Aristocrats revolves around three types of cards.
Aristocrats are creatures that sacrifice other creatures for value.
Viscera Seer, is run for an early sac outlet. The scry can be relevant, but it would be much better if it made itself bigger, like Carrion Feeder.
Cartel Aristocrat is run for consistency. It can push through damage, but the main reason I run it instead of two more Viscera Seer is that the deck has other things to do on turn one, and Viscera Seer doesn't do enough, as stated before. The protection can be useful for dodging removal, and you should wait to use the aristocrat's ability until it can be useful.
Falkenrath Aristocrat is the deck's finisher. When it comes down, the game usually ends soon after. However, it often doesn't do enough to end the game before your opponent has won which is largely why Aristocrats isn't tier-one. The ability to dodge removal is powerful, but be aware of cards like Path to Exile, which doesn't destroy. Falkenrath Aristocrat is also weak to lingering souls and similar cards, which make it impossible to attack into and expect to reduce your opponent's life total.
Aristocrats also utilizes creatures that like being sacrificed. These are the creatures that you want to sacrifice.
Doomed Traveler is extremely powerful in this deck. Having two bodies to sacrifice is what makes it amazing, but having the best chump blocker in the game is also good when you don't have a sac outlet. The spirit token's flying isn't to be underrated, as it can easily push through enough damage to have a Zulaport Cutthroat or Blood Artist be lethal.
Bloodsoaked Champion is a good early-game threat, but what it really excels at is the late game, when you can sacrifice it 2-4 times in a turn. Bloodsoaked Champion makes mana-flooding a little less horrible, but can't really do much without a sac-outlet.
Lingering Souls: while the spirit tokens don't necessarily like to be sacrificed, they are often sacrificed to push through damage. However, try to conserve spirit tokens, as they can push through damage themselves.
The third type of card is cards that like other creatures being sacrificed.
Blood Artist and Zulaport Cutthroat are basically the same card. The reason I run more Zulaport Cutthroats than Blood Artists is that it has one power, and can get through damage that way, and it gets through Leyline of Sanctity. Blood Artist, however, is better against aggro decks, as it also counts your opponent's creatures dying. These two cards can quickly turn the tide of a game to your favor, and make most races unwinnable for your opponent.
Liliana, Heretical Healer
is a powerhouse in this deck, as it can easily represent 1BB for a planeswalker and a zombie. All three of her flip side's abilities are useful, and while discarding a card isn't always the most pleasant experience, it fuels her -x and can put a Bloodsoaked Champion into your graveyard. The -x is the ability that will be activated most of the time, as it can represent multiple bodies at times, and means recycling a creature that has been removed or sacrificed. Not much needs to be said about the ultimate, as it just says win the game.
Xathrid Necromancer often represents 3-6 extra bodies to sacrifice. This and Falkenrath Aristocrat form a humans sub theme. It is sometimes worth it to wait to sacrifice a Bloodsoaked Champion or Doomed Traveler until this is on the battlefield.
Removal: Although I advise against it, you can kill your own creature to get a death trigger or two.
Card:lightning Bolt is just good. It kills most small creatures, and can push through damage later in the game.
Tragic Slip is here because it can kill small (really small) creatures, or, once you have a board presence, it can kill everything short of Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, and now the new wurm from Guilds of Ravnica.
Kolaghan's Command can kill a small creature, destroy an artifact, disrupt your opponent, and, surprisingly, this is the most relevant of its modes, return a creature from your graveyard to your hand. There is very little that this card can't do, and I don't see a reason to not run it.
Of the lands, don't be afraid to take damage from them, as you can gain it back with Zulaport Cutthroat or Blood Artist. The deck runs one utility land in the form of Westvale Abbey
, which can easily win the game if you have mana and five creatures.
Sideboard:
Butcher of the Horde is for the aggro and burn matchups
The extra Cartel Aristocrat is for control and midrange, as it dodges removal, and also decks with small creatures, as it can hold them back.
Felidar Cub is for opposing graveyard hate, as there is a lot of it with Vengevine looking like it's here to stay. Notably, Rest in Peace and Leyline of the Void prevent creatures from dying, which makes it almost impossible for Aristocrats to win.
Grave Pact can make it impossible for most aggro decks to win, and kills Slippery Bogle and other hexproof creatures, which can be very relevant.
Path to Exile is removal for big creatures when you really need removal for big creatures. Something to note is that having different removal spells helps get around Meddling Mage.
Tidehollow Sculler should be brought in against control and combo decks, and if you sacrifice it in response to the ETB trigger, the leaves the battlefield goes off before it, and they never get their card back. Also to note, my foil playset Tidehollow Scullers are signed by rk Post.
Wear / Tear is, yet again brought in for opposing graveyard hate, but it can also work as a shatter, which, with KCI and Affinity decks a constant presence, is very, very good.
What do you think? Should I be running cards that I'm currently not? Are some of my cards bad? If you have suggestions, please leave a comment!
