Classic discard deck with recursion works better in my testing. Not trying to implement the mechanics of madness or hellbent specifically anymore(waiting to have the mana to use the madness or hellbent "deal" doesnt work out so well when you're competing with a board, its waiting for a combo that doesn't pay off very well or very often). A focus on board presence. 23 creature & planeswalker cards. 15 non-creature or planeswalker spells.
Cards I've tested, and why I didn't keep them in my current build.
Avaricious Dragon(and the hellbent mechanic) - great body and discard outlet, and even provided me with draw. But I have enough discard outlets, and top decking 2 cards is worse than just retaining a hand. Subsequently scrapped all my cards with the hellbent mechanic after dropping this creature.
Hazoret the Fervent - 2 damage isn't good enough to discard a card and pay 3 mana. Unless you have avaricious dragon. This strictly is not a combo deck, and without the AD, or other outside help, she has a hard time creating an empty hand for you. More than half the time this thing wasn't a creature, so it provided no board presence.
Lupine Prototype- Also not helpful most of the game due to hellbent requirements.
Dread Slag - Better, but unreliable stats. You'll miss opportunities trying to attack after you play all your spells and discarding.
Almost had a working version of BR vamps with Demon of Deaths Gate, Bloodbond Vampire, Bloodflow Connoisseur, Bloodghast, Bloodhall Priest, Bloodline Keeper, Bloodlord of Vaasgoth, Butcher of Malikir, Champion of Dusk, Furyblade Vampire, Indulgent Aristocrats, Markov Dreadknight, Stromkirk Occultist, Sanctum Seeker, Vampire Nighthawk, Viscera Seer. But it's pretty vulnerable to the weenie problems like board whipes.
Madness only works if you're playing things at the 1-4 mana costs, with no late game curves, just multiple small drops late game.
