This Zombie-Birthing Pod deck is based upon a deck used by Phillip Drennon to get 8th place at the StarCityGames Standard Open in Las Vegas, Nevada,
Card Explanations:
Birthing Pod: What makes this deck tick. Without it the other cards just form an aggressive blue-black Zombie deck.
Diregraf Ghoul
: A great aggressive one drop that allows for a serious early attack. He can be sacrificed to fetch out cards with the Birthing Pod.
Gravecrawler: Really awesome. He can be reanimated over and over while trading with other creatures or landing two damage at a time. The downside isn't a downside at all unless your whole operation gets shut down, at which point there really isn't any hope for you anyway.
Blood Artist: Also really awesome. Should be the first fetch if you don't have one turn 2. A win condition on its own given enough sacrifices.
Geralf's Messenger: The Zombie ace! Two life lost for your opponent every time it enters the battlefield, which should be a lot (every turn if you can manage it). Combines nicely with Blood Artist.
Phyrexian Metamorph, Phantasmal Image, Clone: They've landed a titan? No problem! Get one of your own by sacrificing Geralf's Messenger! Also can copy Geralf's Messenger first to gain undying, and then be sacrificed to come back as a 7/7 titan instead!
Go for the Throat: Allows removal of big or pesky creatures, such as titans and
Fiend Hunter
.
Disciple of Bolas: New card, looks cool, works with your sacrifice theme, nets you life and cards if you're short on options, why not?
Perilous Myr: An awesome two-drop to use to fetch a messenger if you find yourself without one at some point.
Manic Vandal: An easy anti-artifact fetch.
Precursor Golem: Good, but take it out vs. Delver or opt for Zealous Conscripts instead because Delver opponents have Vapor Snag. THAT hurts.
Zealous Conscripts: Excellent to pod into, because you can take control of a permanent, or you can just untap Birthing Pod and go for...
...Mikaeus, the Unhallowed: A boss.
Black Sun's Zenith: Like, the best Zenith. Also, gets rid of +1/+1 counters on your messengers to allow them to be recycled.
Sideboard:
Appetite for Brains
: The best hand removal because it EXILES the card you pick. Even if they just have cheap cards, you still get to see their hand. Play against Reanimator and Control.
Curse of Oblivion
: Good for vs. Delver opponents because of Snapcaster Mage, also playable vs. Reanimator.
Deathmark
: Eliminates problems like Restoration Angel, Champion of the Parish, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite,
Wolfir Silverheart
, and mana birds/elves/pilgrims.
Despise
: Plucking out planeswalkers is the main purpose of this card, but you can also take out Wolfir Silverhearts and other annoying expensive creature cards.
Memoricide: Good vs. other Birthing Pod decks, Wurmcoil Engine, Reanimator strategies, Kessig Wolf Run,
Inkmoth Nexus
,
Battle of Wits
, and a bunch of other stuff. Use against any deck that relies too much on one card.
Mental Misstep: Good vs. aggressive or burn decks. Also stops Pillar of Flame!
Surgical Extraction: Play this vs. Reanimator to eliminate Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite or even Unburial Rites.
Unbreathing Horde: Here's my version of Phyrexian Obliterator, for use vs. creature-heavy decks that pack Green and/or Red. Counters Naya, [[Burning Vengeance, and RDW decks, but is pretty much useless against other black decks and decks that pack white or blue for their evasion/exiling/bounce capabilities.
