three weeks ago I made something similar, budget deck focusing strictly on infect and evasion.. but you showed some really interesting wither cards here, probably need to reconsider :D http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/sepsis-1/

SaffronOlive made a mono-black infect deck a while back, but it feels way different than this deck. This deck seems more focused on proliferating for reach, while his infect deck was a mono black control deck.

Anyway, cool deck, +1.

Don't expect it to stay $20 for long.

@Midn8 JohannKlink saturn999 thanks for the comment & upvote.

As for this deck staying $20, that's up to you\whomever decides to play this. I don't plan on changing the main board on here since it's a foundation for others to build from. Also I don't play this much in RL, it's more to show my friends what $20 can do!

I meant that people would start buying this deck, so the price of all the pieces would increase.

The same thing happened with the $20 Mikaeus deck, and now the guy who built it has to keep swapping cards around to make the price go down.

I noticed after commenting that it had increased by a dollar already haha

SKUFFLEZ If I have 4x Phyrexian Crusader what would you replace? This would just be for casual games.

workonyou Septic Rats for sure; First Strike and the Protections make up for the potential -1/-1 in stats.

Wonderful budget deck. Haven't seen one of this in a while, you deserve a +1.

maybe could include black sun's zenith

I'm not sold on the idea of Black Sun's Zenith in this deck, simply because of it killing Plague Stinger, Ichor Rats and Ichorclaw Myr by default (unless Hand of the Praetors is in play). Although I will say that i could definitely see the potential if you're not worried about killing your own creatures.

Maybe a couple of Tainted Strikes to give the wither creatures infect for that killing blow?

Just like any other time that you'd want to add something in, you have to take something out. Scar is the only card that seems like a possible replacement since it's the same cost, and it's "weaker" than Virulent Wound. I agree that anyone thinking of adding this should limit it to 2; as to not affect the "counter engine" too much.

Yes, I was thinking Scar as well, but depends on your synergy. I figured if you were going to add it, -2 instants in general. Perhaps 1 Scar, 1 of the others.

Love the use of the enchantments! destroy a creature with -1/-1 and then put those counters to another...so dirty! +1 for sure.

Another good maybe board addition would be Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, since you are running many double black CMC creatures the devotion can be well worth it to cast Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon for cheap.

so i ran into this b*tch Melira, Sylvok Outcast today any recommendations to get rid of her?

@ghostdesigns I suggest replacing 2-4 Scars depending on the type and how many annoyances you're dealing with; if they're only teching in 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast and nothing else, you likely only need 2-3 answers in the deck to hold in your back pocket.

Some of these (creature) kill-card suggestions won't work depending on the converted mana cost or color. One mana: Deathmark Fatal Push \ Two mana: Doom Blade Go for the Throat Ultimate Price Smother

Mono black deckbuilder's toolbox is my big list to help out mono-black players. I can reccomend Endless Whispers to lock out Melira, Sylvok Outcast sacrifice decks. Infinite Obliterationis practical against any similar creature combo. Bad Moon has potential here, but Lashwrithe is a must for the longer-range infect strats. Needle Specter has potential to empty their hand. Profane Command looks good with the fear mode and creature recursion later game. With all that low cost counter stuff, you seem pretty well set up against low cost aggro, but I'd consider Glistening Oil for the card advantage. On that note Delirium Skeins/Wrench Mind sideboard can ease a lot of controlier matchups.

Why the combination of infect and wither? this is a dope deck but don't you want to be dealing damage either in poison counters or regular damage? If you're split between wither and infect then your creatures are doing damage to two different life pools.

@GreenisGod, as mentioned previously, the creatures with wither are used more for defence and their abilities, rather than to deal damage. i.e. Kulrath Knight has some serious control potential, if your opponent isn't careful and Midnight Banshee can act as a slow, but effective board clearer, to make up for the lack of such.

this seems like a nice cuget casual deck. I would get rid of the midnight banshees its to expensive for a deck with only 2o lands it seems like it would be almost impossible to get out

I'm pretty Black Sun's Zenith would work well in this deck.

Since you can target your own creatures with any -1/-1 counter, throw in 2-3 Power Conduit to perform cool buffs

I just beat the $1,000+ Jeskai Flash 6.7 in online magic with this deck. You got my vote...

Apologies about the large delay in replying; but i guess that's life!

@Blard I had looked at Black Sun's Zenith before for adding to the maybeboard, but I wasn't sold on the idea (36% of our creatures have 1 toughness <Plague Stinger & Ichor Rats>). After @GrammarWizard suggested Power Conduit I figure it could be worth a shot, specifically in slower multiplayer situations. The buffing could easily get out of hand if you have a Proliferate source like Contagion Clasp already handy, especially since it is repeatable unlike Grim Affliction.

@fs4317 Thanks for reporting your recent success; proud of you!

Interesting take on poison/wither, I personally prefer Green/ Blue infect though, and it's shockingly budget friendly. Turn two or three victories with Glistener Elf or Blighted Agent with huge buffs is super effective. None of my friends let me play the deck, and that's even guys with T-1 netdecks haha. Overall, I like this. I might try out a few of the cards.