I'm a Soulflayer player since the beggining of Pioneer. I always played Soulflayer even with the unfavorable meta, making modifications on the deck to keep up with it. Even thought, i always did good/great results in FNM. Now, after the new recent bans Pioneer got, this deck will rise again and will show the Huge threat it is. Get ready, it's soulflayer time!!!
Yes, i play "Jund" Soulflayer, and not regular BG. Why? Well, red is just a splash for Hazoret the Fervent and Samut, Voice of Dissent. i played lots of matches and Hazoret the Fervent and Samut, Voice of Dissent are just too good to ignore. That way, you can get more indestructible and double strike, abilities that make a whole difference when you play, trust me.
The secret behind Soulflayer is: don't play lots of creatures you can't cast. That way you will be very dependent on the combo, and will be more inconsistent. That's why we don't run Chromanticore anymore, for example. Those kinds of creatures just stay in hand, and are too heavy. Soulflayer must be an aggro deck too, able to win even without Soulflayer combo.
Explanations of Mainboard cards
Soulflayer, Zetalpa, Primal Dawn, card:lotleth trol, Sylvan Caryatid, Grisly Salvage, Gather the Pack and Commune with the Gods are pretty obvious, any list runs that.
Bassara Tower Archer: you need more hexproof in your graveyard. and with bassara, you can also block spirits (you will need). the best cmc 2 hexproof creature for that.
Murderous Rider: adds lifelink and can kill important creatures or planeswalkers. on the jund list we only run 2. it's enought.
Hazoret the Fervent: gives more indestructible and haste, two really great stats. also, it's very aggro, and often you will not have many cards in hand. Works great with card:lotleth trol, discard your hand, play
Hazoret the Fervent and attack with both. The discard ability is also useful, helping discard things for soulflayer or burning out your opponent.
Rhonas the Indomitable: really really great. pairs well with most creatures of the deck. his ability is a win con, giving +2 and trample boost to a double strike Soulflayer or to Samut, Voice of Dissent and Hazoret the Fervent, for example. also gives deathtouch, great with double strike/ first strike.
Banehound: the main lifelinker of the deck. you can play early to block aggro decks and also gives haste to soulflayer. perfect match with Zetalpa, Primal Dawn on graveyard.
Samut, Voice of Dissent: a strong guy, good on graveyard or in hand. can close out games and is an element of surprise for attacking or blocking.
Demonic Embrace: new addition of m21. can make your guys huge and gives evasion. great with your double strike guys or with your gods. card:soulfayer will become 7/5, Samut, Voice of Dissent will become 6/5 flyer double striker, Hazoret the Fervent 8/5 flyer, Rhonas the Indomitable 8/6 flyer. helps block flying creatures and can be cast from graveyard easily, and also helps discard a creature you want for card:soulfayer.
Explanation of Sideboard cards
Ashiok, Dream Render is for Niv-Mizzet Reborn (stops bring to light). also good against graveyard decks. 2 in 1. Remember, you can also mill yourself while getting rid of opponent's graveyard. just perfect for soulflayer.
Thoughtseize best black card in pioneer, right? use against combos, controls, any match you need more interaction.
Abrupt Decay is just a great destroy that targets any nonland permanents and can't be countered. perfect. it's a must have, and yes, is better than trophy. trust me. bring against aggro, enchantment and artifact decks, or even planeswalker decks (they often run cmc 3 planeswalkers and oaths)
Gemrazer is your backup enchantment/artifact destroyer. And it's a great creature, 4/4 with 2 good abilities. it's easy to mutate because of low cmc creatures, and is also tutorable. Works very well with Banehound.
Legion's End against monoblack control, spirits, aggros, or anything that need to be exiled. another good piece of removal.
Grafdigger's Cage your backup graveyard hate, also good against Collected Company decks, Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath, Possibility Storm or anythng that comes from graveyard or from the deck.
Ritual of Soot it's your global removal for spirits and other aggro decks. sometimes the combo takes time, and some aggro deck are fast or annoying.
the sideboard can be changed anytime, depending on your local meta. That's why we got Maybeboard.
Explanation of Maybeboard
maybeboard will be your backup sideboard when your need to adapt your deck.
Phyrexian revoker and pithing needle: if you need to, use them, against some combos or planeswalkers. phyrexian revoker is good because can be tutorable.
thought distortion, savage summoning, destiny spinner and mistcutter hydra: use those if your meta is control heavy or blue heavy.
fierce empath: new addition from m21 to pioneer. you can tutor soulflayer or zetalpa for soulflayer. reeally good card. also, fierce empath itself is tutorable. the problem is: dont fill your graveyard and can be slow. Needs testing.
damping sphere: it was our side against lotus breach. hate of lands and storm type decks.
nullhide ferox: if you need more hexproof, also a huge boy.
slaughter games and necromentia: our anti-combo pieces. necromentia can hit lands and slaughter can't be countered. depends on the meta.
kalitas and gifted aetherborn: some people like against aggro. also gives more lifelink. (vampire of dire moon also works)
skylasher: if your meta is spirits/flyers heavy. it's a great weapon.
vine mare: adds hexproof and also great against midranges (sultai, bg, rakdos) hits 5 lol
scavenger ooze: another graveyard hate backup, if you need more against dredge, uro or mirror match. can be tutorable and is an early drop.
grull spellbreaker is good for more aggro and perfect against settle the wreckage.
agonizing remorse: your backup thoughtseize if you need more discard. better than duress. also good against graveyard cards like uro.
witch's vengeance: if your meta is tribal heavy (spirits, humans...) it's a good call.
Questions
Why not mana confluence?
- you can replace llanowar waste for them. my reason is: i don't a mana base too painful. we got a lot of shocks, and thoughtseize on sideboard. sometimes lifelink fails. don't spend life points if you don't need it.
WHy not questing beast?
- i don't have it yet. same thing with elder gargaroth. Questing beast seems perfect, you can put in the deck if you want. it's a must have for BG version. Elder gargaroth need tests.
Why not Rankle?
- right. You can use 1 or 2 copies of rankle (replace 1 hazoret or 1 demonic embrace). it's a good card. good for discaring own stuff for souflayer or sacrificing a creature for soulflayer. and also great because kill opponents creatures and discard their cards.
