Bontu's Monument

Legendary Artifact

Black creature spells you cast cost less to cast.

Whenever you cast a creature spell, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Discussion (51)

LordBlackblade on Karlov/Sorin Blessed

1 week ago

And it looks like spoilers don't work in comments, at least not for me! So much for keeping things neat. Anyway, here's what I wanted to say:

Cuts

Lands

• Esper Panorama - Seems unnecessary in a two color deck. If you build it right, color fixing should never be a problem

• Geier Reach Sanitarium - You have access to better card draw effects in black

• Kabira Crossroads - One time life gain doesn't make up for coming in tapped

• Memorial to Folly - This one is just okay. The effect is alright, probably not worth losing a land for in my opinion

• Orzhov Guildgate - I personally avoid tap lands like the plague, they slow you down to much in my opinion

• Radiant Fountain - One time life gain doesn't make up for this not producing colored mana

• Scoured Barrens - See Kabira Crossroads

Enchantments

• Curse of Fool's Wisdom - This really screws over one opponent, but what you should be shooting for is stuff that does "splash damage" so to speak, remember, you will usually have three or more opponents in a game.

Artifacts

• Armillary Sphere - This one is just okay. Ensures you hit land drops, but doesn't boost you

• Bontu's Monument - I don't feel like you're running enough creatures for this effect to pay off

• Fountain of Renewal - "On your upkeep" effects seem really powerful, but on a multiplayer format, your upkeep happens less often relatively speaking. It's not terrible for the cost, but I'm sure we can do better

Sorceries

• Final Parting - I don't think you have enough graveyard interaction to make this better than other tutors

Creatures

• Drana's Emissary - See Fountain of Renewal

• Ranger of Eos - This can only snag four of your creatures. Granted those creatures are pretty good for your strategey, but I personally don't think it is worth it

Instants

• Murder - There are definitely better kill spells we can find

• Ray of Distortion - Not bad, you're definitely getting that choice is key in EDH; however, I think there are a couple better options to choose from

Adds

Enchantments

• Ashes of the Abhorrent - Deathgreeter in enchantment form. Also hoses some graveyard strategies

Artifacts

• Sun Droplet - This card is a sleeper! Not that it says each upkeep, helping you stack those sweet, sweet Karlov triggers

• Talisman of Hierarchy - I love the talismans. Great rocks in any multicolor EDH deck in my opinion

Sorceries

• Read the Bones - One of my favorite black draw spells. Card selection plus draw is generally very powerful

• Syphon Mind - A critically underplayed draw spell in my opinion. Puts you up quite a few cards on each opponent

Creatures

• Blood Artist - This guy does work in so many situations. Usually an auto-target in most metas, that just goes to show how powerful the effect is

• Cliffhaven Vampire - If you're going to run Sanguine Bond, you should consider this guy too

• Deathgreeter - A lower-aggro Blood Artist. Most people won't mind the life gain, and Karlov can get swol

• Divinity of Pride - Similar to Serra Ascendant, big beater for cheap plus lifelink!

• Vizkopa Guildmage - See Cliffhaven Vampire

Instants

• Return to Dust - Gives you options and can snag two cards for one. Considered a staple in some circles

(I've been on this site a long time and I still haven't figured out the quirks of coding on here all that well!)

LordBlackblade on Karlov/Sorin Blessed

1 week ago

I took a gander. Honestly, not bad for you first list!

Here are some adds that might be worth considering. I know multimedia already recommended some of these, but here is my take:

Adds Show

Enchantments

• Ashes of the Abhorrent - Deathgreeter in enchantment form. Also hoses some graveyard strategies

Artifacts

• Sun Droplet - This card is a sleeper! Not that it says each upkeep, helping you stack those sweet, sweet Karlov triggers

• Talisman of Hierarchy - I love the talismans. Great rocks in any multicolor EDH deck in my opinion

Sorceries

• Read the Bones - One of my favorite black draw spells. Card selection plus draw is generally very powerful

• Syphon Mind - A critically underplayed draw spell in my opinion. Puts you up quite a few cards on each opponent

Creatures

• Blood Artist - This guy does work in so many situations. Usually an auto-target in most metas, that just goes to show how powerful the effect is

• Cliffhaven Vampire - If you're going to run Sanguine Bond, you should consider this guy too

• Deathgreeter - A lower-aggro Blood Artist. Most people won't mind the life gain, and Karlov can get swol

• Divinity of Pride - Similar to Serra Ascendant, big beater for cheap plus lifelink!

• Vizkopa Guildmage - See Cliffhaven Vampire

Instants

• Return to Dust - Gives you options and can snag two cards for one. Considered a staple in some circles

Here are my cut recommendations to make room for upgrades/changes:

Cuts Show

Lands

• Esper Panorama - Seems unnecessary in a two color deck. If you build it right, color fixing should never be a problem

• Geier Reach Sanitarium - You have access to better card draw effects in black

• Kabira Crossroads - One time life gain doesn't make up for coming in tapped

• Memorial to Folly - This one is just okay. The effect is alright, probably not worth losing a land for in my opinion

• Orzhov Guildgate - I personally avoid tap lands like the plague, they slow you down to much in my opinion

• Radiant Fountain - One time life gain doesn't make up for this not producing colored mana

• Scoured Barrens - See Kabira Crossroads

Enchantments

• Curse of Fool's Wisdom - This really screws over one opponent, but what you should be shooting for is stuff that does "splash damage" so to speak, remember, you will usually have three or more opponents in a game.

Artifacts

• Armillary Sphere - This one is just okay. Ensures you hit land drops, but doesn't boost you

• Bontu's Monument - I don't feel like you're running enough creatures for this effect to pay off

• Fountain of Renewal - "On your upkeep" effects seem really powerful, but on a multiplayer format, your upkeep happens less often relatively speaking. It's not terrible for the cost, but I'm sure we can do better

Sorceries

• Final Parting - I don't think you have enough graveyard interaction to make this better than other tutors

Creatures

• Drana's Emissary - See Fountain of Renewal

• Ranger of Eos - This can only snag four of your creatures. Granted those creatures are pretty good for your strategey, but I personally don't think it is worth it

Instants

• Murder - There are definitely better kill spells we can find

• Ray of Distortion - Not bad, you're definitely getting that choice is key in EDH; however, I think there are a couple better options to choose from

shwanerz88 on Black...life matters!

2 weeks ago

Looks nice, Vilis, Broker of Blood would be my first recommendation for additional card draw on theme. Dread Presence is another good option. Bontu's Monument & Whip of Erebos would be other good additionals for life gain.

Meachman on WB Vampires Reworked

3 weeks ago

I know it's minor, but I like two-drop mana rocks over three-drops when I can get them-- Talisman of Hierarchy and Orzhov Signet and Star Compass. Bontu's Monument is kind of like ramp for your black creatures and also gives you incidental life gain/drain.

Bojuka Bog is a nice graveyard-hate piece with little downside and Tainted Field comes in untapped and will usually give you colored mana. Caves of Koilos is also nice coming in untapped and Silent Clearing gives you the option for card draw when you need it.

Working in some on-theme card draw will help you find your threats and answers. Dawn of Hope synergizes nicely with what you're doing. Icon of Ancestry is pseudo-card draw that buffs your creatures. With all the life you're gaining, Underworld Connections is a nice source of card draw that doesn't really hurt. I also like Marchesa's Decree since you're already running enchantments to discourage your opponents from attacking you and the monarch is a fun mechanic.

Anything that lets you get more activations out of your commander or protect your commander--Illusionist's Bracers, Swiftfoot Boots (to use her when she comes out), and Etchings of the Chosen.

Settle the Wreckage and Kaya's Wrath are some efficiently-costed wraths if you must wipe the board.

Triskaidekaphobia could be an interesting alternate win-condition.

Suggested cuts: Arvad is kind of expensive and has payoffs with only 4 cards in your deck (including the commander) Cast Down doesn't let you deal with your opponents' commanders. Life gain that doesn't do anything but gain life like Sanguine Sacrament and Beacon of Immortality. Impale (Murder is cheaper, Mortify is more versatile, exile effects might even be more efficient)

Se7enfoot on Nezumi Gang Lord

4 weeks ago

Love these builds that don't use relentless rats/rat colony. Do many useful things to do. I bolstered my deck with Gruesome Fate , Zulaport Cutthroat & Ayara, First of Locthwain . With over thirty creatures you could benefit from Bontu's Monument

bradtheimpaler13 on Heart of Black Coal - Ayara ETB trigger EDH

1 month ago

Sidisi, Undead Vizier over the primordial or the pontiff. I definitely think you should run Bontu's Monument

ShutUpMokuba on Help with Scarab God deck

1 month ago

It really depends on your meta and your budget. However for now i'll try to list some cards that i really like in that type of deck.. In the creature compartment i would suggest Diregraf Colossus, Undead Warchief, maybe Death Baron, Cryptbreaker, the obvious Gravecrawler, Sidisi, Undead Vizier and Lich Lord of Unx. For card draw i would add Graveborn Muse or Midnight Reaper. Soulless One can be a good card if you are on a budget. Grimgrin, Corpse-Born is a great card too as he gets really big and destroys your opponents' creatures fast.Zombie Master is good on its own in a tribal deck but becomes great with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. More expensive cards are Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Ghoulcaller Gisa; if i had to pick i would choose the first. Also Grave Titan can get you a lot of tokens.

Enchantments: Grave Pact for removal, Phyrexian Arena/Kindred Discovery/Rhystic Study and the great and cheap Monastery Siege for card draw, Black Market for ramp, Rooftop Storm enables a lot of Gravecrawler combos, Paradox Haze doubles your commander's effect while Training Grounds makes his second effect cheaper.

Artifacts: Phyrexian Altar for the gravecrawler combo, i love in this deck Bontu's Monument, Door of Destinies/Vanquisher's Banner/Coat of Arms because you are going for a tribal deck (and why not Herald's Horn. Illusionist's Bracers doubles the scarab's firs ability.

PW: Liliana, Untouched By Death does everything you want in a Scarab god deck.

Lands: Reliquary Tower, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Bojuka Bog to exile an opponent's graveyard. Unholy Grotto is fine here. More lands to to fix your mana base like Sunken Hollow would be nice.

If you are going for a mill version i would suggest other cards like Dreamborn Muse, Mindcrank and so on..

The problem with your deck in my opinion is that even if you play cards with some synergy because of the zombie tribal element and some way to double your commander's drain ability there are a lot of cards that do not enough for you here. Remember that playing a deck that is a constant menace to your opponents gets you a big target on your head. To be more specific with my suggestions i need to know your budget, your meta and the path you want to take with this deck. Also there are too little cards in the removal compartment, in the draw compartment and in the mana base fixing compartment.

RainB00ts on Ratchet Rats

2 months ago

Initially looking at the list there are too many lands. I would say cut down to 36 or 37. Your mana curve is mainly 3 drops so 45 lands is too many. You don't need Unknown Shores and Evolving Wilds since you are mono black. Cutting those lands frees up 8 or 9 extra card slots.

Instead of Hex, I suggest Plague Wind and/or In Garruk's Wake as they are better board wipes (better to have more than one piece of board wipe). Mutilate is an interesting option since you are running a lot of swamps. Or use all Snow-Covered Swamp and try playing Dead of Winter .

Another tutor to consider is Mausoleum Secrets . I've always wanted to play this card but don't run many black decks that can take use of it.

Consider some other card draw options to help prevent you from running out of gas. Such as: Night's Whisper , Read the Bones , or Sign in Blood . Maybe Phyrexian Arena or Greed

Lightning Greaves would be a good addition to the deck. Gives your commander haste and lets you use its tap ability right away. Plus the protection of opponents not being able to target it.

If you want another cheeky option, I think Thornbite Staff goes infinite with your commander. Equip to your commander, use your commander's ability to sacrifice a rat, the staff untaps your commander, then your commander's ability resolves. Rinse and repeat xD

For spot (single creature) removal you could also consider Defile , Murder , Hero's Downfall but Doom Blade and Tragic Slip are pretty good.

Other ramp cards could be: Wayfarer's Bauble , Mind Stone , Thought Vessel . Bontu's Monument may be good as well but not exactly ramp.

If you want to lean heavier into the creatures who make your opponents discard theme (by swapping out a current creature as 37 is already pretty high), Sadistic Hypnotist is a brutal card ;)