This is a modern orzhov deck which mainly functions as a mono black deck splashing for white, but most of the mana symbols of the main cards are hybrids. Had to include some white lands for path and obzedat mainly. The main wincon is basically a Nightsky Mimic With an aura attached to it beating face, while supported by ample discard and removal plus Athreos's awesome ability. Also, there will be decent pressure put on by late game finishers obzedat and athreos, as with both out they can easily be active. The opponent may deal with my early threats easily, as there is little protection for them at all in the main board outside of athreos and orzhov charm's secondary emergency function. But, I can outlast thanks to decent life-gain and hopefully prevail.
The key to this deck is knowing which strategy to take and what deck you're playing against. A turn 1 duress helps you analyze this immediately, and this slot can be interchangable with thoughtseize and inquisition of kozilek. I'm doing a slightly budget version of this deck, and because I own a lot of the more pricy cards (Mana Confluence, Obzedat, Ghost Council, etc.) because they are in standard I've only calculated the cost to be a little less than 30 bucks. That's including the 14 from the two athreos in the main. He may be a questionable inclusion, but between the creatures I play and the auras, his devotion is very consistent to get going as early as turn 4. Even without that, his ability is incredibly aggro, as I'm already potentially hitting them for 7 in the air turn three with mimic. Then, if they kill him, I can get him back OR they take a bolt. If they take the bolt, that will be fine because I can get another threat online quickly with a Tidehollow Sculler. He's a very solid X-Factor in this deck, as he enables me to have so much fun with my opponent's hand. Also, he gets a threat online very easily, as edge of the divinity also will give him a 3/3 bonus. He immediately becomes bolt proof, and is locking down an important card for the opponent while slowly draining their life total.
In the side, I have
Batwing Brume
and other orzhov power houses against aggro.
Souls of the Faultless
is insane against aggro and burn for stabilization. They won't be able to attack me in many situations, as I'll also be pressuring them with my Nightsky Mimic or another suited up orzhov critter. He almost was a nyx fleece ram, but I decided Faultless was a much better card despite the more restricive cost, plus he triggers Nightsky Mimic's ability.
Castigate is just another form of unconditional removal for threats I cannot deal with when they hit the table. Beckon Apparition is almost purely for anti-goyf purposes, as it also has a lot of synergy in the deck at the same time. I was going to say Tormud's Crypt, but this card oozes flavor and also doesn't take me off of my game plan while also reducing the power of a goyf if I take the only type of card that is a one of in the grave, which will likely be a land since I don't use fetches. I can suit up the token as well with an Edge of the Divinity, the deck's Best supporing actor, and sail over most players' armies.
Emerge Unscathed
comes in primarily against pesky control decks, or anyone using heavy removal in path to exile and bolts. I'm not worried about doom blades, and those will definitely be sided out game 2 against me. However, plenty of things get black creatures, so emerge is necessary in this deck. Brave the Elements is also a very real card for this sideboard, but I think I like the ability to get a free spell the next turn and use one card both offensively and defensively better than a card that could make me loose all of my auras instead of just the auras on the critter being spot removed.
