I'm just going to throw out some random ideas that came to mind as I looked over this since this is basically what my current standard mono-black is going to look like after I leave that format.

drop Dash Hopes and sideboard Hero's Downfall , increase Dismember to 2-3x, and either drop the Runechanter's Pike or the Lashwrithe to increase either the Bad Moon or Phyrexian Arena . and maybe drop 1x Inquisition of Kozilek and increase the count of whichever artifact to chose to keep. also work on getting a 2x of both of those enchantments since they are both really good to have 2 of.

try not to mess with your mana to much since it is at an almost perfect area for your intentions. unless you get your hands on 2x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

I feel this will make the deck a little more streamlined and reliable.

This deck is just great! Congratulations! I'd love to play with it!

Whatever u do, don't run Doom Blade that card sucks, and in modern it's a bad joke. If u go that route try Vendetta instead. I really like Devour in Shadow but most of the time Victim of Night is just as good. (other options instead of Go for the Throat which doesn't hit Lashwrithe or Vault Skirge , Affinity, Ichorclaw Myr , Wurmcoil Engine Batterskull etc. I think the only thing Victim of Night misses is Vampire Nighthawk and Huntmaster of the Fells  ^Flip which may or may not even be ran in it's own deck. Jund.

Would love it if you would check out my suicide black deck. Maybe even play test it once and let me know what u think. I know a fellow mono-black player will be able to appreciate it.

deck-large:suicide-black-09-12-13-1/

I made a deck similar to this. Found a card named Nantuko Shade , thought it was pretty good.

Why the use of Runechanter's Pike ?

awesome deck! I have pretty much all these cards so I will probably be building this.

+1

Hey, I like this deck, it's pretty cool so you've earned a +1 from me!

Some minor changes I would make would be: Drop the Dash Hopes .. It is a fun little idea, but if you really need something countered the opponent will almost always take the 5 damage.. I think it would better be replaced with another Dismember .

Dismember is one of the strongest bits of removal in Modern and makes appearances in decks that don't even use black. And since you've got the ability to gain a fuckton of life back with Gray Merchant of Asphodel means you can essentially cast your Dismember s for 1 colorless. That's pretty powerful.

I could also see replacing Runechanter's Pike with another copy of Lashwrithe . It can come down as a beater if need be, or it can buff up one of your beaters.. all around I think it would be more versatile than the Pike.

The last thing I would consider would be dropping Bad Moon for another copy of Phyrexian Arena . It will count as one more towards your Devotion to black, and it will give you very nice card draw. It's a great card for decks like this. :)

Also, for added ramp, you could add a copy or two of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx . With such heavy mana symbols this card would rule in this deck.

Wow, no love at all for Dash Hopes ?! Just like it's Red cousin Browbeat , it's mainly there for the early 5-damage, especially since my 2-drop curve is severely lacking.. Which leads into the next issue...

Runechanter's Pike is a remnant from when this was a heavier discard/control type deck (there was originally three..), but sticks around because it makes for a decent turn-2 drop for later (it comes out sooner than Lashwrithe ), but mainly because the First-Strike alone that it provides turns Vampire Nighthawk into one of the scariest creatures in existence..

@Cipher001: I really like the suggestion for Nantuko Shade as it would be a fabulous late-game mana sink, I'd like to squeeze one in, but I'm really not sure what to trade out for it..

All-in-all; I'm loving all the votes & feedback! In the short-term I plan on getting ahold of another Phyrexian Arena to replace a single Sign in Blood (so they would balance at 2&2), and I may eventually find a way to wiggle in another Bad Moon , but as far as Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx is concerned; I really don't feel like getting one of those until I have at least a single Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth for hopefully obvious reasons..

Oh and @lil_cheez; Thanks-- that's what she said!! XD

What are your thoughts on Bloodghast ?

@MindAblaze!; Wowie-wow-wow! I think Bloodghast is a phenomenal card! Unfortunately A) I don't own any.. (sad face..) and B) I'm not really sure where I would fit it in, considering how everything tends to have a specific synergy with (nearly) everything else.. But what would you consider trading out for it?

I have a feeling though-- that if I did have a set I probably would've already put together a bitchin' Mono-Black Vampire deck accordingly, either that, or try to fit 1 or 2 into my sacrificial Innistrad Slaughterhouse.. deck..

Other than that, what do you think of this particular deck thus far? :)

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx could be stellar

Needs more removal, also consider Pack Rat . Each token DOES add to devotion and it's a great way to drop extra removal spells or lands when they no creatures or you're mana flooded. I'd drop Lashwrithe , Runechanter's Pike , Bad Moon , Dash Hopes , and Royal Assassin for 4x Hero's Downfall for planeswalker hate and 2x Pack Rat for consistency. You could also easily run 22 lands instead of 24 opening room for 2x Doom Blade . 2x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx could be very helpful as well. These changes will add a ton of consistency and competitiveness to the deck.

Also, 2x Whip of Erebos would be great. It combo's with Gray Merchant of Asphodel extremely well since you can bring it back from the graveyard and get its eotb effect twice, in addition to life link making the deck stronger. You should be running 4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel as well. Maybe drop a Vampire Nighthawk for it, since he has the least board impact.

Being as this is more control I don't know if Bloodghast really fits here anyway. I just thought I'd throw it out there because I've heard whisperings that it goes well with Devotion, and I've seen a number of MBD builds for Modern lately.

If I had to pick something it seems like the singleton Bad Moon (wicked anthem for black weenie though!) and Runechanter's Pike would be what I'd cut. Anthems are best when they can stack, and only running one has a minimal impact on your guys individually. Runechanter's Pike is on my short list because you only run 13 instant and sorceries. The chances of getting more than a +2/+0 boost aren't huge, although First Strike on any of your guys isn't bad. It almost makes the Obliterator worse though. Makes him (it?) a lot easier to chump block, since it no longer takes damage.

I personally like Dash Hopes as a singleton. If you're comfortable always getting the less advantageous option then run it all the way. In this case 2 mana for a hard counter OR a five life drain is good either way.

I wonder... Do you feel like 24 land is necessary or could you get away with going down to 22? It would make squeezing a few of those extra cards you're talking about above in without hurting you too much. Add a couple Nykthos and those Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth s and you could easily get away with it.

How about some Mimic Vat works wonders with Gatekeeper of Malakir and Gary

That's disgusting...

Kicks ass with Geralf's Messenger as well.

I'm currently building a modern devotion deck with the same tactic and also running 4x Isochron Scepter with Geth's Verdict Naturalize and Remand (may be swapped to Mana Leak or Echoing Truth to fully utilize Grave Pact and the defense system I use Mortician Beetle as the 1 drop.

theemptyquiver would approve

I will add 1 or 2 Lashwrithe (it is often the card which wins the game in my deck The Dark Realms ssp. Modern). And why not profit from the devotion in rampa by Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx ? ;) I like this mono-black deck!

This is the deck! I've been looking for you thank you. You inspired this. You get credit in the description. Thanks again and plus one. http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/making-friends-and-influencing-people/

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Geth's Verdict for creature removal. I know it's lacking in targeted removal but it gets around creatures protection from black and it makes your opponent choose; which can be fun to watch itself. Also, if opponent only has 1 creature out just as good as anything else. But thats just one of my own preference for creature removal. The deck I am working on also centers around Phyrexian Obliterator if you want to check it out it's called Phyrexian Nightmare.

Inquisitor's Flail on your obliterator will make any opponent quit.

Nice i realy like this deck its seems pretty good.And for matbyrne never thought about that Card together with the phyxerian obliterator. That would no more than just be insane xD thanks for that i am making a mono-Black deck with that guy by myself.