This is my take on a Modern Dredge build, based on ideas Theone10 and I have been throwing around. While, between the two of us, we have gotten this deck to be quite functional it is still VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS!
*NOTE: This deck is NOT recommended for anyone who is not already quite familiar with other, eternal format, Dredge variants. My description below assumes a working knowledge of Dredge. Please read one of the many great primers around the web if you don't understand the basic principles of the archetype.*
HOW THE DECK WORKS: This deck plays out as a sort of aggro-combo hybrid, much like Legacy Manaless Dredge decks do -- EXACTLY the goal going into building this deck! What I mean by that is that, you may have a few early 2/1's and 2/2s out nicking at your opponent's life total, and then when you start "going off" (between turns 3 and 5 typically) the deck is absolutely explosive and you will usually win immediately. Much like Manaless Dredge, the deck is highly resistant to all non-hate disruption due to the fact that 99% of your interactions in the deck are activated abilities that cannot generally be countered. You are more likely to lose to a crappy combo of draws and dredges than to disruption.
For most of the spells you do cast, even if they happen to get countered, they're still useful in your graveyard as well. Also, unlike in Legacy and Vintage, dedicated graveyard hate is not as firmly established as a sideboard necessity in Modern -- often getting 1-3 slots if any.
THE GAME-PLAN AND COMBOING OUT: Much like Legacy Manaless Dredge, you ALWAYS want to be on the draw. From there, mulliganing is occasionally correct -- but 8 cards on t1 is the best position for this deck to start from. Depending on whether or not there is a Faithless Looting in your opener, you either drop a land and play that, or do nothing and discard either a dredger or
Phantasmagorian
in your cleanup step. Turn 2, you will play either your first or second land, netting you any copies of Bloodghast in the yard. You may also have a dredged-in Narcomoeba or two. Once you are able to set up this scenario, in any number of ways, you're ready to Suspend your Gargadon.
Using the suspended Greater Gargadon as a sac outlet, the decks next phase is to create an army of zombie tokens via Bridge from Below -- multiples if you've been lucky. From there, you can hardcast any copies of Gravecrawler in the 'yard, and of course any lands you play will bring back any and all Bloodghasts.
At this point, it is quite easy to get the Gargadon out, usually with a few active zombies. And also, removing the last counter is technically "casting" him without paying the mana cost, so casting even one Gravecrawler at this point will also "reanimate" the
Vengevine
or two you're quite likely to have in the graveyard at this point.
The next, and last, step is to swing in for a million.
Thanks a lot for looking, and as always all questions, comments, suggestions, and up-votes (of course!) are much appreciated! And of course, a HUGE thank you goes out to Theone10 -- without whose ideas and testing this deck would not exist.
