A Budget-ish Black Blue Ninja deck
The goal of the deck is to disrupt the opponent with the 1-3 drop ninjas, so graciously ninjutsu-ed in by some cheap evasive creatures, and some solid blue-black instants to stall the game until the 4-6 drops ninjas (or Elbrus, the Binding Blade
) can come in and overwhelm the opponent with their respective effects.
For the creature lineup,
Tormented Soul
and Ornithopter are the deck's enablers. The aforementioned cheap, evasive creatures that can help the ninjas come in. Ornithopter is especially amazing here because it can be cast again for 0 mana, right after it has already been used for a ninja, setting up for the next turn's ninja.
Mistblade Shinobi
, Ninja of the Deep Hours. and
Throat Slitter
are the deck's bread and butter. Mistblade is a little underwhelming, but being able to ninjutsu in for one mana is invaluable. He makes it easier to leave mana for other disruption or to set up for next turn, or can be used to save more valuable ninjas from removal while they're attacking (like right after they're put into play via ninjustu), by using them as a ninjutsu target for Mistblade. Deep Hours draws cards, that's really all that needs to be said about him. Slitter is a doom blade on a stick, can never have too much removal.
On the bigger end of things,
Higure, the Still Wind
and Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni are the deck's legendary big'uns. Higure is a three-of for good reason, he's great. He draws ninjas and he grants evasion. Ink-Eyes, on the other hand, lets you recycle your opponent's biggest, scariest creatures for yourself. If your opponent has nothing to deal with either of these two soon, they'll win you the game. They're the usual win cons.
Elbrus, the Binding Blade
is stupidly easy to set off with this deck, making it pretty great, but honestly I just run it as a modern legal alternative to Silent-Blade Oni. If I'm playing with friends or anywhere where Oni is fair game, I take him instead, he fits the theme, is cheaper mana wise, can be tutored with higure, is harder to play around, and is above all, absolutely hilarious. Either way, these cards serve as the biggest, scariest thing to round out the deck. They will usually end the game immediately if your opponent can't deal with them. Also, just bragging for a bit, but I have stolen an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn with Oni, there is nothing more satisfying.
The
Mask of Riddles
is the deck's post-ninjutsu evasion. While it still hasn't completely won me over it's competitors (Aqueous Form, Cobbled Wings, and Distortion Strike), I currently feel it's the best fit for the deck. I would love any advice here, as which of these 4 to put into the deck haunts me constantly.
As for instants, we're in black and blue so there's all sorts of goodies to choose from. Go for the Throat as it's just really good removal,
Downpour
to tap creatures to allow multiple ninjas through, Mana Leak because we need a counterspell, and finally Cyclonic Rift, a bit overcosted bounce but with the bonus that it can be overloaded for 7 mana to easily win the game or save yourself from an alpha strike. I like what I have but certainly it's an area where I would appreciate advice, like if I should add some hand attack and if so, in place of what.
