Vraska's Touch

Standard* Madnote

SCORE: 46 | 59 COMMENTS | 61137 VIEWS | IN 29 FOLDERS


Standard Update —Sept. 22, 2013

Deck has been updated with the new Standard cycle and the Theros set!

OcelotProblems says... #1

I like the idea of the deck, the one thing I'm wondering is if it will be vulnerable to "indestructible" monsters, maybe we will get a new "target player sacrifices a creature" in Rav, which would probably fix that problem. +1!

September 13, 2012 9:46 a.m.

Madnote says... #2

The Xathrid Gorgon is ideal for pesky monsters that can't be killed (regeneration, indestructable), but yeah some more specific removal may be helpful.

September 13, 2012 11:16 a.m.

Madnote says... #3

And I just realized Naturalize can break any creatures the Xathrid Gorgon turns to stone.. That was a completely unintentional combo.

September 13, 2012 11:19 a.m.

theHopp says... #4

This looks like it will be really fun to play! Here are my suggestions:

swap 4 lands for +4x Woodland Cemetery (obviously),

-2x Vampire Nighthawk , +2x Fog .

Having Fog will keep your CMC low and you don't have to debate swinging with the creature.

September 13, 2012 12:03 p.m.

DrGodCarl says... #5

I know it'd be a waste and huge shift to your deck, but it'd be fun to splash white (or some birds/card:Avacyn's Pilgrim, or 4+ B/W duals and 4+ G/W duals) to play Odric, Master Tactician and just swing with him and three assassins. He'd also be good at forcing your opponent to block your deathtouch creatures before you can get the assassins out.

You know what, I might just go build this deck idea now. Sounds combo-y, but it could be fun.

September 13, 2012 12:03 p.m.

MonkeyMind says... #6

Revenge of the Hunted ? Boardwhipe with a Deathtouch creature...you might want to put some equipment with First Strike on a Deathtouch dude as well (keeps your cheap dudes alive).

September 13, 2012 12:36 p.m.

MonkeyMind says... #7

If you get your 3 assasin tokens from Vraska the Unseen , it'll be a win with Revenge of the Hunted as well. You kinda have to put like 3 of those in ;)!

September 13, 2012 12:37 p.m.

theHopp says... #8

Oh I love the idea of Revenge of the Hunted in this deck.

Here's a fun thought: Splash blue for a little unblockable action via Artful Dodge or Ghostform

September 13, 2012 1:03 p.m.

Madnote says... #9

Yeah the lands are not a final choice, just put those in as place holders until I determine which dual lands I'll be using.

I absolutely love the idea of Revenge of the Hunted for sure! I can look into first strike equipment, any suggestions for a cheap one off hand (standard of course).

As far as splashing a third color I am going to try to avoid that for now. A buddy was considering splashing white to use Populate on the assassin tokens, but I personally prefer 2 colors. With many more Ravnica cards to be released, this deck is still very much open for adjustments.

Thanks for all the tips and comments!

September 13, 2012 1:29 p.m.

MonkeyMind says... #10

Sharpened Pitchfork is probably the cheapest and best option in (post rotation) standard.

September 13, 2012 1:57 p.m.

theHopp says... #11

card:Executioner's Hood would give nearly-unblockable as an equipment and it is very cheap

September 13, 2012 4:17 p.m.

Madnote says... #12

They just revealed a new card that will definately make this deck..

Golgari Decoy 3GElf RogueAll creatures able to block Golgari Decoy must do so.Scavenge 3GG2/2

Can either use this with Vraska's assassins for a win, or pair it up with Deadly Allure to kill creatures.

September 14, 2012 12:13 p.m.

What would be a good combo is using Lotleth Troll with Deadly Allure. Lotleth Troll has regenerate for 1 black which makes it great to clear creatures over and over with Deadly Allure.

September 14, 2012 1:29 p.m.

Madnote says... #14

I had plans for another deck with Lotleth Troll but I do really like that combo.. Hm, will have to get 8 of that card lol!

September 14, 2012 1:49 p.m.

squire1 says... #15

I am thinking that Vraska decks should really be splashing blue for Artful Dodge , Ghostform , or Tricks of the Trade

September 14, 2012 2:22 p.m.

Madnote says... #16

Yes, an easy obvious technique is to splash blue. But, I feel a tactic that specificly clears the field while you are working up to bring out Vraska the Unseen with the same colors you'll need for her to begin with will be more precise and effective.

As I said above, a lot of things can change with the new cards still having rough 150 more to be revealed, but at this time I feel keeping it black/blue is more ideal.

September 14, 2012 2:51 p.m.

squire1 says... #17

yeah, some things are obvious for a reason. I would at least playtest it with blue.

September 14, 2012 2:58 p.m.

MonkeyMind says... #18

Did you read about the new land spoiler 'Rogue's Passage' http://goo.gl/LVgyy ? There's your unblockable ;)!

September 17, 2012 11:46 a.m.

Madnote says... #19

Thanks MonkeyMind! I will add that as soon as it is in TappedOut's database. I'm also waiting to add Golgari Decoy, which will work for letting the assassins get through.

September 17, 2012 12:33 p.m.

Madnote says... #20

With the last few Return to Ravnica cards being revealed, I feel I am closer to a final deck list. Still waiting on a couple cards to squeeze in. But I am wondering if I should bump Vraska the Unseen up to 3 from 2. The deck is somewhat centralized around her.

September 17, 2012 5:22 p.m.

If you can budget/trade into that many I'd consider that a fine idea, as she is the deck's primary win condition. I'd personally drop a Giant Scorpion for a third since it is probably the weakest creature in that slot. I'd replace the other Giant Scorpion s with Thrill-Kill Assassins.

Grave Betrayal might be a fun addition to the deck, and could really help set board control (although it may require mana ramp to be used efficiently). Druid's Deliverance is a decent fog, plus can populate you another Vraska Token. Korozda Guildmage can give intimidate to a token to slip through other decks defenses, Treasured Find can recover a key card from the graveyard, Sundering Growth could replace Naturalize although the double green could push your mana base but again it has populate. I see someone already mentioned the unblockable land.

September 18, 2012 4:31 p.m.

Madnote says... #22

Thank you for the AWESOME suggestions Gallows! Those are some fantastic cards to provide populate, control, and unblockables without having to waste adding an addition color to the deck.

I will definately be altering this deck with those suggestions soon! =)

And thank you everyone for the +1's! Hopefully the database will have more RtR cards added for me to show you all a fresh version of this.

September 18, 2012 4:44 p.m.

You may want to consider Acidic Slime for longer games as it can help remove most non creature threats and still falls into the deathtouchy domain. Maybe as a sideboard card?

September 19, 2012 8:24 p.m.

Nightshade Peddler Now you can pack meaner creatures and give them deathtouch.

September 20, 2012 4:55 p.m.

MonkeyMind says... #25

I'd say 4x Vampire Nighthawk instead of 3 (it's just an awesome card).

Naturalize is more a sideboard card so I'd take that out and put in something more useful.

I'd take out the 3x Prey Upon as well. I know it's a good card and it works well with your Deathtouch, but it kills one of your creatures as well. Instead of doing Prey Upon , you might just as well go for something that let's your creature live (any kind of removal will do like Murder , Tragic Slip or something similar). It's kind of the same for Deadly Allure .

However, Deadly Allure and Prey Upon would make sence if you can keep you're creature alive in the fight (by giving them First Strike for example as I've suggested earlier). I'm not 100% if that would keep them alive with the 'fight' rule of Prey Upon , so you'd have to ask that at the forum. Give it some thought Madnote :).

September 21, 2012 6:05 a.m.