This deck is based on a deck I encountered (and lost to) many times when Return to Ravnica and Theros were in standard.
The goal of this deck is to run on the defensive for most of the game, building up a wall of deathtouchers that can proactively snipe using Viridian Longbow, regenerate using Swarmyard, and come back using Profane Command.
The ideal win situation would have a few Pack Rats on the field (buffed by Typhoid Rats and Mutavaults), plenty of devotion, a Gray Merchant of Asphodel in the graveyard (either discarded because of Pack Rat or put there some other way), and a Profane Command in hand. Profane Command brings back Gray Merchant of Asphodel and triggers its effect, and then my strongest creatures are given fear and I swing for game.
Desecration Demon is there for board presence and Vampire Nighthawk is another deathtoucher, with the added bonuses of flying and lifelink. Phyrexian Arena gives me the cards I need, fueled by Vampire Nighthawk and Gray Merchant of Asphodel. All these cards add a devotion of two, which is no small boon, given my win-con.
I'm relatively new to deck building, but I know that beginner advice is to have nine different spells with four of each in a deck, but an earlier prototype tried that and failed, prompting me to add Desecration Demon. Can anyone tell me just by looking at this that I cut back on the right cards, or is only a live game going to be able to tell me that?
Thanks to NHarvey for pointing me towards Go for the Throat and Phyrexian Arena.
If anyone feels that there are still strictly better cards I could put in the deck, or even ones that are more of a side-grade, please let me know.
Meta-question: Does this deck belong in any other hubs?
