This is a deck built to do a lot of direct damage.
The direct damage can be dealt in numerous ways:
1) It can be dealt by land cards
Leechridden Swamp
2) By creatures;
Vexing Devil
, if the opponent choses;
Hellhole Rats
, based on CMC of card opponent must discard; by extort from either
Crypt Ghast
or
Thrull Parasite
; or by
Indulgent Tormentor
, if the opponent choses (though typically they chose to let me draw a card, which is also great)
3) By Planswalker
Chandra Nalaar
4) Or by both Instants and Sorceries (
Lightning Bolt
and
Blightning
)
It also has a decent opportunity for some life gain alone the way, which can be very helpful
1) Via land cards (
Akoum Refuge
and
Bloodfell Caves
)
2) By creatures; Either by using extort from
Thrull Parasite
and
Crypt Ghast
, or by Lifelink from
Vampire Nighthawk
.
It should also be noted, that while I am yet to ever play this deck in a group, both
Leechridden Swamp
and Extort affect all opponents, not just target opponents.
30 out of the 60 cards are 3 CMC or less, and only 8 being 4 CMC or more. Out of the 30 cards with 3 or less CMC cards 12 are 1 CMC, and 8 are 1 CMC creatures. They each play a slightly different role if played in the first or second turn.
1)
Pharika's Chosen
is mostly defensive. Since it has deathtouch it makes it less likely someone will attack. Or offensively, it makes it less likely they will block. Though even if they do, their creature will die.
2) When playing
Vexing Devil
I expect that most of the time folks will take the direct damage versus letting me put out, in particular in the early game. Though if they don't that is usually better for me, because I get a strong creature card early game. Often if someone doesn't take the damage in the early game, they may have a "destroy creature" card. If so, welcome folks using it on
Vexing Devil
, because then it decreases the likelihood they can use a "destroy creature" card on one of my more important cards, like a card with extort.
3)
Thrull Parasite
, using extort early and often. With so many low CMC cards it can easy to put two or three cards out at a time, even in the early turns. Though if I have a
Thrull Parasite
, and the swamps to spare, I will often only put out one card even if I can afford to put out two, and often the lower CMC card, and extort as much as possible. This will allow me a chance to potentially use extort every turn. Which recks massive damage quick if played properly.
