BLACK, Deck of Lords and Titles

Commander / EDH* rob_shifflett

SCORE: 15 | 43 COMMENTS | 2755 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS


PayOneLife says... #3

Volrath's Stronghold could be a nice utility land. And adding in Volrath the Fallen is great with your reanimate and the amount of expensive creatures you have. He's one of the most liked characters in the game, going along with your 'lords and titles' theme.

Subterranean Hangar does a similar thing to bottomless vault, but allows you to put a counter on it at the end of your opponent's turn so you can threaten with open mana.

Braids, Cabal Minion is banned now, just to let you know.

Shizo, Death's storehouse will kill your creatures when you have horobi out, so be careful!

Lake of the Dead could help you have some explosive turns.

Balthor the Defiled is a cool black legend with a pretty powerful ability. He's also the same mana cost as Braids ;)

Lim-Dul the Necromancer is pretty beasty too

December 15, 2014 3:16 a.m.

trombas says... #4

Cool deck, +1 from me. I'll be keeping an eye on it

December 23, 2014 1:17 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #6

Thanks for the upvote.

Volrath the Fallen, Volrath's Stronghold, Subterranean Hangar will be added shortly. Balthor the Defiled & Lim-Dul the Necromancer will make the sideboard. Lake of the Dead just doesn't seem worth it, without Crucible of Worlds.

I appreciate the suggestions PayOneLife.

December 23, 2014 1:47 a.m.

PayOneLife says... #8

Yeah, I thought about that after posting Lake of the Dead. It would be more of a bomb for a single turn win but overall I reckon you're right it probably isn't worth it.

December 23, 2014 1:53 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #9

PayOneLife Also, Shizo, Death's Storehouse will kill opponents legendary creatures I target while Horobi, Death's Wail is in play. Not to mention the benefits of getting another players damage through to a mutual enemy.

December 23, 2014 2:25 a.m.

PayOneLife says... #10

Ah yeah, I hadn't thought of that. This is shaping up to be a killer deck!

December 23, 2014 3:36 a.m.

Cybersix says... #11

Black has a hard time dealing with non-creature permanents...

Maybe your group is different but most Black players need a plan for dealing with Dovescape Sphere of Safety Enchanted Evening Spirit of Resistance Darksteel Forge Mycosynth Lattice Stasis and other common non-creature 'pillow-fort' elements.

I'd suggest a Nevinyrral's Disk , Oblivion Stone and All Is Dust. Tutoring for All is dust is sometimes the only way out of a nasty pillowfort for mono black. Karn Liberated may be overkill since you are an aggro deck.

If you are trying to respond to lots of different strategies, I would also suggest the follow NB lands: Boseiju, Who Shelters All Cavern of Souls Hall of the Bandit Lord

January 4, 2015 8:48 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #12

Steel Hellkite is the only answer I have right now. I am usually playing against at least 3 other players, so most of the time my opponents take care of any lockdown.

All Is Dust does not take care of artifacts.

Nevinyrral's Disk comes into play tapped.

Boseiju, Who Shelters All Cavern of Souls Hall of the Bandit Lord will be added.

Oblivion Stone & Unstable Obelisk are going in as soon as I find a card to cut. Any ideas?

When I was contemplating this issue these cards came to mind: Choice of Damnations Coercive Portal & Curse of the Cabal. Care to discuss them, Cybersix?

January 4, 2015 1:48 p.m.

LegitAstroBoy says... #13

If I were to build around this commander, I would definitely include some cheap artifacts that have the ability to target creatures for the synergy with Horobi, Death's Wail. Things like Rod of Ruin, Staff of Domination, Staff of Nin, Barl's Cage, Cauldron of Souls to wipe out any number of creatures, Oblivion Stone, Predator, Flagship, Dauthi Embrace, Desert, Maze of Ith, Tower of the Magistrate, and Touch of Darkness could be a one sided board wipe. This will allow you to keep your opponents' creatures off the table and allow you to swing in big. Also, including equipments like Loxodon Warhammer will just kill your creatures if you have your commander out so I would steer clear of those.

Overall, I love the idea of this deck. +1 from me! Thanks for commenting on my Sherei EDH! If you liked it, make sure to leave an upvote! :)

January 4, 2015 10:04 p.m.

Cybersix says... #15

Ah, I forgot Curse of the Cabal! I recommend it...in monoblack even 'hardcasting' it is not too steep.

What to cut? Well of course it is your call but I'd suggest Fated Return as awesome as it is...why? High cost+ it's just another one creature recursion spell in a world where lots of people can exile...

January 6, 2015 11:18 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #16

I just can't let go of Fated Return. Every time that it has resolved, I either stopped myself from being Immediately eliminated or won the game entirely. I don't cast it until late game, when someone is attacking me. By the time I cast it, exile spells have already been used. Imp's Mischief has not been the last three times i drew it, so it is getting the cut.Thanks for the discussion.

January 6, 2015 3:07 p.m.

Virlym says... #17

Maga, Traitor to Mortals (really only good late game), Pestilence Demon (I feel he only really shines when you give him deathtouch, and is op when holding Scythe of the Wretched), Urborg Justice (you already have 3 versions of Grave Pact, a 1-time use version is a little limited), Abhorrent Overlord (High maintenance, but I can see it having its uses), Read the Bones, and Night's Whisper seem a little lack-luster.

To make up for the one-time use draw that Read the Bones and Night's Whisper provide, you can use things like Staff of Nin (which synergizes nicely with Horobi, Death's Wail) and Erebos, God of the Dead (which also allows you to keep life-gain decks at bay for a while).

Other ways to deal with normally hard to get rid of things would include Duplicant (for things like Iona, Shield of Emeria, Gild for any spot removal that Horobi, Death's Wail fails at, Phyrexian Tribute is a costly way to remove a single artifact (but it's still an option), You could also use Gate to Phyrexia if yuo don't mind waiting until your upkeep, Or use Karn, Silver Golem to deal with artifacts like creatures,

Because you are going a more aggressive route, I would strongly suggest Sacred Armory. With Horobi, Death's Wail it becomes a 2 mana spot removal, and without him it's a nice shade buff.

January 7, 2015 10:53 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #18

THanks for your time, Virlym.

Maga, Traitor to Mortals wins games.

Pestilence Demon is staying now that you have enlightened me on its syn with Scythe.

Abhorrent Overlord is a 6/6 flyer that brings at least 2 1/1 flyers(I have had 15).

Read the Bones does exactly what it should.

Gild 4 mana for removal of 1 creature on my turn. That is the definition of 'lack-luster'.

Phyrexian Tribute too costly.

Karn, Silver Golem does not have a use beside that, so not worth it.

Sacred Armory was in my beta version of this. It just never performed the way i wanted it to.

Gate to Phyrexia Staff of Nin & Duplicant will make it in for trials, soon.

January 7, 2015 5:06 p.m.

Virlym says... #19

A few other cards you may want to consider if you want more threat potential:

Because you already have Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, consider running Triskelion. It's an instant win combo (you could also just use it for board clear / control if you don't want an instant win). Pair it with Scythe of the Wretched to gain the board. You could use Horobi, Death's Wail (or just give it deathtouch) without Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and still have it be able to kill a few creatures. I probably wouldn't run this in my deck, but that's just because I don't like running infinite combos (although, I do know a number of mono black ones if you want to know/use them).

You also may want to consider some planeswalkers (you have the superfriends tag). Sorin Markov wins games, Liliana of the Dark Realms boosts mana nicely, Liliana Vess is just wonderful all around, and the new Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath has a reusable Disciple of Bolas for an ult.

January 8, 2015 8:20 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #20

Superfriends means planeswalkers? I thought it meant legendary. I tagged that because I have 13 Legends. I'll fix that. Liliana of the Dark Realms and Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath will be in when I have the funds. I only use Liliana Vess when graveyard is my main strategy. I vowed to never play Sorin Markov and I will stand by it. Too much power in EDH for the cost. 30 life for six mana that is easily doable on round 3.

Triskelion+Scythe of the Wretched with Horobi out does not give you the board. Horobi's replacement effect kills the creature because it was targeted before trisk's damage gets in. Plus, I just dont like Triskelion. It has little to no combat applications, so it just doesn't have a place in this Battlecruiser. Pestilence Demon is a better fit, for it's 7/6 flying, it's ability gets around hexproof and shroud, it+Scythe still works with Horobi in Play and this is a demon deck. Flavor is important to me.

Thanks again, always happy to discuss cards and Strategies.

January 8, 2015 11:58 a.m.

Virlym says... #21

Understandable. Also, just to clarify the interactions a bit :

Triskelion + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed = infinite damage (you use the last counter to ping Triskelion).

Triskelion + deathtouch / Horobi, Death's Wail = at least 3 creatures dead for 6 mana and a 1/1 sac fodder body.

Triskelion + deathtouch + Scythe of the Wretched = limited creature control.

Triskelion + deathtouch + Scythe of the Wretched + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + a lot of mana = all the creatures on the field are now yours.

As you can see, the board control requires too much. You would really only want it for the first interaction, but the second one can still make it not useless (that was the only reason I mentioned it). I mentioned the Scythe of the Wretched to give it another application after you showed interest in it with Pestilence Demon.

Also, Pestilence Demon has no interaction with Horobi, Death's Wail as it never targets. You would either need to give Pestilence Demon deathtouch for a quick board wipe, or use more mana (and try to not have it kill itself before everything else, as it will die before the 7th activation resolves).

January 8, 2015 7:07 p.m.

rob_shifflett says... #22

I am aware of Triskelion's tricks. I just don't like it, especially in this deck.

I am also aware that Pestilence Demon does not interact with Horobi, Death's Wail. That is one of the reasons why it is a better fit. As said in my last post: Pestilence Demon is a better fit, for it's 7/6 flying, it's ability gets around hexproof and shroud, Pestilence Demon+Scythe of the Wretched still works with Horobi in Play and this is a demon deck. Flavor is important to me.

January 8, 2015 9:02 p.m.

Cybersix says... #23

Please no Triskelion..everyone does it...

January 9, 2015 5:53 a.m.

rob_shifflett says... #24

It just isn't that fun.

January 9, 2015 6:03 p.m.

CuteSnail says... #25

Thanks for your suggestions earlier. I've tried to incorporate some into the build, the issue is, my deck irl is missing a few of the better cards. That build has more draw.

About suggestions for you, after skimming the deck here's what I've come up with.

Burnished Hart is almost an auto include in any non-green deck.

Kozilek, Butcher of Truth and Eye of Ugin makes for an insane amount a draw. Especially if you have an altar out.

Noticed you were missing both Phyrexian Arena and Necropotence. The best of the best for black card draw.

Mind's Eye has served me very well in my time and it pretty powerful, especially against blue.

I run 35-36 lands, which seems low, but I'm constantly flooded with mana thanks to Gilded Lotus and Thran Dynamo. Also, black is weak against enchantments and Iona is some times a pain, so Unstable Obelisk fits both mana ramp and removal.

Hope that helped!

January 27, 2015 12:08 a.m.

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