Swamp/Black Cards Creep Me Out. Help Me Change My Mind.
General forum
Posted on Nov. 2, 2021, 9:56 p.m. by lespaul977
I've never been a fan of the horror genre, so I've never quite taken a liking to skeletons, zombies, vampires, rats, etc. in the swamp side of MTG. I know this is really general, but what are some of the swamp/black mechanics you use in your decks, and what makes playing black decks fun for you?
TriusMalarky says... #3
i like the new innistrad black and white swamps in foil
November 2, 2021 10:16 p.m.
wallisface says... #4
I am a huge fan of “cruel control” archtypes, which tends to lean heavily into black as far as hand disruption, and fair-but-strong midrange plays. Black has a good ability to consistently control what opponents are allowed to have in their hand, and what creatures they have in play - and these interactions appeal to me greatly as they allow me to play a highly-interactive midrange game
November 2, 2021 11:31 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #5
Most scary Magic cards are not up my ally. I get where you're coming from!
That said, I love having access to Duress in any format...
November 3, 2021 1:55 a.m.
rotimislaw says... #6
As person at heart, I'd revert your question: why not to play Black?
Leaving aside flavour of Skeletons, Zombies and other monstrousities (which I can understand not everyone might enjoy), it's the graveyard shenanigans, enemy board and hand control, and treating everything like a resource which lead to fun play patterns: pay life to draw cards, sacrifice creatures to advance plan, discard your own cards for gain...
I like the perseverence and relentlessness of . And challenge it brings with assessing what you're willing to give away on your way to win.
November 3, 2021 9:02 a.m.
Discard, life drain, theft.
Philosophically, there are aspects of black that are pretty benign, like self-care, desire for improvement, and resourcefulness. The "horror" aspects are just easier to show in a game that's about defeating somebody else. If there was, like, a vacation/spa/resort set that dealt with relaxation counters and the Fun mechanic, a lot more of black's potential benevolence would come through.
November 3, 2021 12:17 p.m.
...Murder...for real though, black is my favorite color. haha. really the only thing black doesnt do very well is counter things and destroy enchantments...
November 3, 2021 9:44 p.m.
TypicalTimmy says... #9
Scytec, what you don't want to pay 1/2 of your life to counter a spell? Lol
November 4, 2021 1:53 a.m.
I couldn't care less about my life, it's just so inefficient. If i payed after the spell was countered or if it had split second, i wouod play it. But it feels bad to pay half your life then get dispelled. Haha.
November 4, 2021 8:52 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #11
Reusing your trash while wasting others' cards is the plan of my black decks. I like the recursive threats that you can bring back after taking a removal spell, like Bloodghast, Gutterbones, Nether Traitor. I'm not much of a horror fan myself, the flavorful explanations I don't care for, but annoying people with seemingly insignificant threats, that somehow just shrugged off the literal Wrath of God is the part of I like the most.
November 4, 2021 9:49 a.m.
FormOverFunction says... #12
I would recommend not trying to make yourself like it at all lol. I’m still sort of stuck in the 90’s version of M:tG where you’re imagining yourself as a planeswalking wizard dragging creatures out of the ether for battle and twisting magic spells into existence with your fingers. A blue-cloaked weirdo with brine in your beard, standing defiantly on a tower-made-of-seashells, or a grimy near-abomination forcing zombies from the murk in which you live. If you don’t find that slimy persona appealing, don’t worry about it! I think there’s value in investing some personal preference in your decks that way, rather than slaving yourself to whatever the current set’s meta demands for flying as close to the sun as absolutely possible (is my wild-a$$ bias showing?).
November 4, 2021 3:04 p.m.
griffstick says... #13
Reiver Demon and Crypt Ghast and Cabal Coffers and Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Black loves being black lol. It's also my favorite color. I love cards that destroy one trick pony combo decks. Black has cards for this like Sadistic Sacrament Bitter Ordeal and Praetor's Grasp. Black has extra turns spells too, Temporal Extortion. Black has counter spells Imp's Mischief and Withering Boon and Stromgald Cabal and Deathgrip. Blacks wants all the power Necropotence and Bolas's Citadel and Worst Fears. Life for power K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth. Black also has the best artwork Deliver Unto Evil and Withengar Unbound and The Meathook Massacre
Grubbernaut says... #2
I like having the best tutors and reanimation.
November 2, 2021 10:05 p.m.