This is a green black midrange beatdown deck that utilizes cards with -1/-1 counters. The deck has several interesting synergies that give it an edge.
Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons and Nest of Scarabs have great synergy with this deck. However, this deck only plays 2 Nest of Scarabs since it doesn't do that much for us on its own.
Festering Mummy
is a good -1/-1 target, can help take down value creatures in the early game, and synergies with Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons.
Butcher Ghoul is great with -1/-1 counter cards. At first, you can use the counters to kill it and make it come back as a 2/2. However, the real synergy with Butcher Ghoul is when it has already activated undying, because when you place a -1/-1 counter on a creature with a +1/+1 counter the counters cancel out and the Ghoul can activate undying again. However it is important to note that those counters will not cancel out instantly so Plague Belcher targeting Butcher Ghoul (that has a +1/+1 counter), will not leave Butcher Ghoul on the battlefield (Source: https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/8599/what-happens-when-a-creature-with-persist-and-undying-dies-return-to-battlefi).
Channeler Initiate allows you to generate mana easily, is a good target for -1/-1 counters and can also act a a beater in the late game. Unlike Exemplar of Strength (Which this deck does not play) you can remove the counters from this creature on your own terms.
Skinrender is removal-on-wheels that can generate scarabs, snakes and has a nice 3/3 body, while destroying or minimizing a threat from your opponent. The only clear drawback to this card is that if your opponent has no creatures you'll need to put the counters on Skinrender or another creature you control. However, if this is the case you are probably already winning and won't need to play Skinrender in the first place :)
Plague Belcher, Crocodile of the Crossing, and
Baleful Ammit
are all good -1/-1 counter creatures that are exceptional when they have another creature to "sacrifice". However, I may tweak the ratio of counter-creating creatures to counter-accepting creatures if my current list ends up being too top heavy.
Dusk Urchins allows you to draw cards, can generate Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons value, and is a great target for -1/-1 counters.
Golgari Charm, Abrupt Decay and
Cauldron Haze
all help your creatures survive and can help you clear a path to victory. However,
Cauldron Haze
does have some anti-synergy since you'll need to place -1/-1 counters on creatures again, so this deck only plays 2.
Budget Replacements:If you'd like to build this deck but are on a budget, Abrupt Decay can easily be swapped for Putrefy. Also, verdant catacomb and Overgrown Tomb can be replaced with
Golgari Guildgate
and
Jungle Hollow
or even Evolving Wilds or Grasping Dunes. Dusk Urchins can be replaced with 2
Baleful Ammit
and 2 Crocodile of the Crossing. This lowers the cost of the deck down to only $30 (as of 5/17/17 when this was published).
Future Acquisitions:
I think the
Quillspike
, Devoted Druid combo would be decent in this deck. It's a quick win con, with Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons on the board you also generate infinite snakes, and on their own the cards aren't too bad. Since the combo is only 8 deck slots you can sideboard it easily if your opponent wises up and adds in a Pithing Needle. However, Devoted Druid is pretty expensive right now because of the Devoted Druid Vizier of Remedies combo, and I don't know how well this combo would perform.
Sideboard:
I left a lot open in the sideboard, since everyone's meta will be a little different. I chose 4 Glaring Spotlight since one of my friends plays a
Slippery Bogle
deck that Skinrender would be atrocious against.
Bling: If you make this deck, and you have access to a 3D printer, definitely check out these tokens I designed http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2245778
EDIT: Switching Butcher Ghoul for Young Wolf
