Kreldin, 12 years ago
This is the deck I took to the PTQ on April 6th, in Brooklyn, NY. I came in 22nd place (out of 213 players), finishing 6-2-0. Very happy with the results. My two losses were to RG Aggro and Bant tempo. Against RG Aggro, his turn 1 and turn 2 creatures were just much bigger threats, and although my Vampire Nighthawk was successful in stalling them early on, I just couldn't keep up the pressure. Against Bant tempo, he literally dominated every turn. Couldn't resolve my threats, he unsummoned what I did manage to get through, and played good combat tricks I wasn't expecting in the form of Rootborn Defenses. Next time around, I need a better SB plan for RG Aggro (and, presumably, Naya Humans/Blitz). These decks are just too fast.

Dominator42, 12 years ago
-1 Ponder
-1 Preordain
-1 Mystic Remora
-1 Apex Hawks
-1 Skyshroud Falcon
-1 Spectral Searchlight
-1 Manalith
-1 Plains
+1 Spire Owl
+1 Everflowing Chalice
+1 Crookclaw Elder
+1 Viral Drake
+1 Arctic Aven
+1 Commander Eesha
+1 Phantom Flock
+1 Seaside Haven


Dominator42, 12 years ago
-1 Goblin Fireslinger
-1 Roiling Horror
-1 Lightning Reaver
+1 Prodigal Pyromancer
+1 Cunning Sparkmage
+1 Vithian Stinger


Dominator42, 12 years ago
-1 Arbor Elf
-1 Taunting Elf
-1 Bellowing Tanglewurm
-1 Drove of Elves
-1 Dauntless Dourbark
+1 Magus of the Candelabra
+1 Wurmcalling
+1 Worldspine Wurm
+1 Boundless Realms
+1 Sylvan Primordial

First impressions:
UNJ, 12 years ago
I was surprised at how strong this deck was when I first played it! It seems more on the casual end of my EDH decks but it does not play around.
So much life gain was absolutely stellar when paired with Necropotence / Reliquary Tower. So much so that I've been considering Dark Tutelage to join Necropotence and Phyrexian Arena.
All that card draw is the reason Caged Sun made the cut, just so ya know ;)
In closing, the 'taxes' of gain one lose one added up fast! I need to maximize this (while avoiding infinite combos, of course.)

1000+ views!
drevpapcun, 12 years ago
Thanks guys for giving my first real deck some attention and helping me out, I really appreciate all the comments and views!
Changes
kaibadragon, 12 years ago
Decided that since Murder is in a permanent state of sideboarded in (due to the fact that my friend also plays Mono-Black), I noticed that they don't cause any problems regarding the one extra mana versus Victim of Night. Thus, I decided to make them a permanent change.
Huge fixes - Update
Op_Zero_Films_ at IronPika, 12 years ago
Here is the fixes so you all can follow what happened. +3 Ash Zealot +2 Goblin Arsonist +3 Guttersnipe +4 Mist Raven +2 Wingcrafter -2 Somberwald Vigilante -4 Firefist Striker -3 Invisible Stalker -1 Cinder Elemental +1 Counterflux +1 Izzet Charm +2 Volcanic Geyser -2 Devil's Play +2 Sulfur Falls -2 Mountains Side board changes -3 Negate +3 Cyclonic Rift -2 Bomber Corps +2 Reverberate
Ryojin, 12 years ago
Lots of updates based on playtesting, also got some new cards for FNM coming this week featuring modern.

gruesomejones, 12 years ago
need Alchemist's refuge, another devastation tide
poophy, 12 years ago
Act of Treason has been sideboarded in favor of Madcap Skills. i still think that Act of Treason is fun trick, but i'm hoping to get more consistent use out of Madcap Skills. playing both Act of Treason and Spark Trooper, i seemed to be relying too much on one turn tricks and losing to anything that could just keep hitting turn after turn.
added a Gideon, Champion of Justice not so much because i think that he's a great card as much as that when i pulled him i thought that he was funny. and, should an opponent also think him not much to worry about, there's always a chance to give him double strike for a serious hit.
i also got around to building that token deck around Assemble the Legion, Red/White Token, it's proving rather inconsistent itself, but i'm having fun with it.

Yep -Let's Go for It!
Taytora, 12 years ago
Alright, forget it -let's go all out (aside from Boros Reckoner and Thundermaw Hellkite if possible). Falkenrath Aristocrat is now on the list. I've realized I probably cannot support a T3 Vampire Nighthawk and still be able to curve into a T4 Hellrider reliably. Thoughts here?
Some changes
RussischerZar, 12 years ago
Moved the Shambleshark to the sideboard in favor of Farseek. -1 Fathom Mage +1 Master Biomancer. Thinking about Prime Speaker Zegana in place of Fathom Mage. Maybe in the sideboard? That's already so full though.
Deck is 61 cards at the moment since I can't decide on what to remove. I basically need every card.
I'm also thinking splashing red for Kessig Wolf Run, maybe replacing Gavony Township. Kessig could pump Master Biomancer for additional counters on new creatures, or Champion of Lambholt for unblockable-ness. I might try and see which is better.

NotStiffler, 12 years ago
Added a Tainted AEther and made some Swamps Vault of Whispers so I can potentially get them back with Glissa, the Traitor *oversized*.
Madcow457, 12 years ago
just took 3rd at FNM only reason I lost was because of 4 bonfires in the same game and they just wrecked me. Match 1. Boros agro 2-1 I rolled but he got it with a good bonfire for game 2 Match 2. Prime speaker Jund 2-0 Was my father actually rolled him even got a angel of serenity and I still won Match 3. Esper control I got in really good early both games and he couldn't come back Match 4 G/R/W mid range 1-2 this match pissed me off so much 4 bonfires the match game won he went to 5 and i had a good start got bonfired recovered and then bonfired again, next match knight of infamy got there with aristocrat and won, and game 3 it was really close at the end until he bonfired and got me
Switching up the sideboard.
Meb112, 12 years ago
So after looking at my deck a realized that it's a joke going against a mill deck, on account of my dependence on Mwonvuli Beast Tracker. In fact she would be helping them out. So I found a good alternative in Signal the Clans. It allows me to search but the card goes right into my hand. Granted, I still may be forced to discard the card but in the end it's better than having it on top of my library. I also realize that this one change has altered a good amount of my sideboard since I need a mountain and Evolving Wilds to sub in for a better chance to pull fire mana, but I feel that I play against mill decks enough to justify this.
I also realize that it may be a bad idea to even think about putting fire in via my sideboard but in combination with Verdant Haven it's surprisingly easy to pull that 1 fire mana I need.

Added Sideboard
Zedes1, 12 years ago
Centaur healers against any kind of aggro, essence scatter against naya and gruul blitz, negate and staff of nin against control, sundering growths against any deck that relies on enchantments/artifacts such as BoW, Black tide, any deck with assemble the legion, and for detention spheres/orings.
Updates and Playtested more Options
IamSuperman825, 12 years ago
The following change(s) are now final.-Scourge of the Noblis +Felidar Umbra
-Emblem of the Warmind +Mark of Fury
-Crown of the Ages +Forest (5/13/13)
The Following Changes Have Done Well in Playtesting and Will Most Likely Stay
-Nomad Mythmaker +Wood Elves
-Leyline of Sanctity +Enchantress's Presence
-Ethereal Armor +Land Tax
-Serra's Embrace +Chromatic Lantern
The Following Changes Havent Seen Battle Yet For Testing
-Angelic Destiny +Aura Shards
-Scavenging Ooze + Mirari's Wake
SB: -Tornado Elemental + Scavenging Ooze
Thoughts On Specific Changes:
Mark of Fury is just amazing with my Enchantress theme.
Land Tax got all 9 of the basic lands in my deck and I didnt have a problem the rest of the game.
Chromatic Lantern helped tremendously with mana fixing since I do run a plethora of utility lands.
As sad as I may be to see Crown of the Ages go, having that extra Forest when Land Tax hit the board was extremely helpful.
I will continue to play test and hopefully the other changes Ive made will surface and prove their worth.
