This is my flagship deck. I've built this off of the preconstructed
Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath
deck, adding cards from the Graveborn preconstructed deck, and updated it as "new" cards caught my interest.
The main plan of this deck is fairly obvious, you tutor up whatever is useful at the time, and then you use it. Be careful of wasting your resources, though. You can get your creatures back, but not your reanimation spells.
Fun little interactions include:
1) Let your
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
go to the grave from her own exploit trigger, finding
Rune-Scarred Demon
, and then using Ever After to get sidisi and something else back. If you can reanimate sidisi and rune-scarred, you can tutor up
Ever After
and something else at the same time.
2) Use
Call the Bloodline
to fuel
Razaketh, the Foulblooded
's tutor effects and any reanimation.
3)
Dark Depths
combo!
4)
Reaper from the Abyss
pairs very well with
Sheoldred, Whispering One
.
5)
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
and
Razaketh, the Foulblooded
create an insanely powerful engine. Pair this with the first interaction's creatures, and you're going to find the cards you need. However many they may be.
6)
Helm of the Host
on Marit Lage!
7) To date, I have not been able to swing with
Kokusho, the Evening Star
equipped with
Blade of Selves
, but that's the dream.
There are two infinite combos at the moment.
Grave Titan
+
Nim Deathmantle
+
Ashnod's Altar
, or
Geralf's Messenger
+
Nim Deathmantle
+
Ashnod's Altar
.
As of this write up, I have no plans to include the Mike and Trike combo, as that is almost too simple to accomplish. (Buried Alive to fetch them and pitch them at once, Ever After to win.) I may change my mind if the playgroup gets more competitive.
Leyline of the Void
might be needed for the "mirror" match with other reanimator decks, but I have yet to decide where to put that.
Roadmap for Replacements:
Dregs of Sorrow
->
Damnation
((((Done))))
Damnation is just so much better and the casting restriction on Dregs of Sorrow hurts pretty badly when I need it to kill black creatures in a mostly black-oriented playgroup.
Cabal Therapy
->
Blade of Selves
((((Done))))
Cabal Therapy does almost nothing, and I need a slot for Blade of Selves.
Indulgent Tormentor
->
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
((((Done))))
Indulgent Tormentor does mostly nothing, and Mikaeus the Unhallowed is one of the most impactful creatures with the monoblack color identity.
Sadistic Sacrament
->
Hero's Downfall
((((Done))))
I'm in dire need of removal that can get around spirit mantle.
Infernal Offering
->
Demonic Tutor
((((Done))))
Infernal Offering helps my opponents, and Demonic Tutor is something I can't really reason against including.
Diabolic Servitude
->
Solemn Simulacrum
((((Done))))
Diabolic Servitude is a really reluctant inclusion, and Solemn Simulacrum is really good in colors where it is difficult to ramp.
Underworld Connections
->
Duplicant
((((Done))))
It gets really difficult to keep a Scarab God player from having their commander out, and that is the main enemy of any person playing a reanimator deck.
Crystal Vein
->
Ancient Tomb
Crystal Vein is almost strictly worse than Ancient Tomb.
Sword of the Animist
->
Reanimate
((((Done))))
I have very few games where I can have something to equip Sword of the Animist to, and Reanimate accomplishes something that ramp does in a more immediate sense.
AEther Snap
->
Quicksilver Amulet
((((Done))))
Aether Snap has little use other than to proc Dark Depths, and sometimes I want to be able to put a threat on the board at instant speed.
Black Market
->
Sorin Markov
((((Done))))
Surprisingly, Black Market doesn't perform well in this deck. It gets removed instantly and doesn't impact the game instantly. Sorin Markov also gets removed instantly, but it also marks another player for death.
Charcoal Diamond
->
Vessel of Endless Rest
((((Done))))
It ramps and renews a single resource once.
Polluted Mire
->
Rise of the Dark Realms
((((Done))))
I'm so greedy. So very greedy.
Demonic Tutor
->
Living Death
((((Done))))
Demonic Tutor doesn't actually do that much in a deck that has a commander who tutors, it turns out. Living Death will end a game in my favor most games.
