SKAAB FACTORY - Vial Zombie Tribal
Modern Aggro Combo Competitive Mill Primer Reanimator Sacrifice WUB (Esper) Zombie
Land (19)
Leave-the-Battlefield (LTB) Triggers (9)
Removal (2)
Sacrifice Target (8)
Finishers (3)
Zombie Generator (8)
Sacrifice Enabler (7)
Enter-the-Battlefield (ETB) Triggers (4)
Sideboard
Maybeboard
Creatures (25)
Instant (12)
Artifact (6)
Sorcery (13)
-
1x
Bontu's Last Reckoning
- 2x Collective Brutality
-
2x
Never / Return
-
2x
Revoke Existence
- 4x Unearth
- 2x Vindicate
Land (1)
Planeswalker (4)
Top Rank: #17 on T/O (#1 in Modern) - thanks for reading!
GREETINGS!
This is the updated version of my Esper Zombie build, featuring Aether Vial, Skaab Ruinator, and Master of Death. The objective is to use Aether Vial in conjunction with self-mill abilities to play as many zombies as possible from my hand and graveyard.
I discovered that Skaab Ruinator's additional cost does not trigger when it is put into play with Aether Vial, which inspired me to revamp my existing Vial Zombie build.
An older version of this deck can be be found here, along with a detailed primer:
AETHER HORDE - Vial Zombie Tribal [Primer - Ret.]
OPENING
In my starting hand I want to see at least 2 lands, Aether Vial, and an assortment of Zombies with sequential mana costs (for example, 1-drop, 2-drop, 3-drop).
The ideal opening is to cast a Vial on turn 1. If this isn’t possible, Stitcher's Supplier is the next best choice, although this will slow down the horde’s growth potential significantly.
On turn 2, Vial will now have 1 counter and I can use it to cheat-in a 1-drop Zombie. Then I cast two more 1-drops or a 2-drop (Relentless Dead, Tidehollow Sculler, or Wayward Servant).
On turn 3, Vial now has 2 counters. First I use Vial to cheat-in a 2-cost Zombie, then I can then cast a 3-drop like Death Baron, Diregraf Captain or Plague Belcher (targeting a 1-drop).
On turn 4, Vial now has 3 counters. I then cheat in a 3-drop with Vial (Skaab Ruinator is the most aggressive play) and then choose a strategy:
1) I can either assemble a Gravecrawler or Master of Death sacrifice combo with Carrion Feeder and Wayward Servant, Diregraf Captain, and/or Plague Belcher; or -
2) Go for the kill directly with Skaab Ruinator and/or Plague Belcher with the support of zombie lords (Diregraf Captain and Death Baron).
Further turns will depend on the board state, but the deck seeks to win by turns 4-6.
CARD CHOICES
Zombie Sacrifice Combos
Carrion Feeder allows for crazy sacrifice combos with Gravecrawler. Each time a Crawler enters the battlefield, Wayward Servant syphons life (bypassing hexproof).
Then when a Crawler dies, Diregraf Captain and Plague Belcher drain life. I can continue sacrificing and casting a Crawler and trigger multiple instances of life drain per turn. The best part is that these triggers allow me to win simply by playing and sacrificing Zombies.
Master of Death is the latest addition to the horde and is an amazing card value engine for this build. I can use Vial to play Master for free (surveilling 2 cards), then sacrifice it with Feeder or Belcher (or use it as a chump blocker), then return Master to my hand during my next upkeep and repeat the process. This is the self-mill engine I really needed to bring this deck together! With Servant in play, I net zero life-loss when Master enters the battlefield. Plus I can stack multiple Masters.
Zombie Lords
Death Baron is a mandatory inclusion because it bestows the entire horde with deathtouch, which makes every Zombie a threat.
Diregraf Captain has deathtouch and drains life each time a Zombie dies.
Removal
Bone Shards functions as a self-discard or sacrifice enabler as well as removal for any creature or Planeswalker.
Prismatic Ending can exile any permanent with mana value 3 or less, especially Dauthi Voidwalker, Grafdigger's Cage, and Rest in Peace.
Finishers
Skaab Ruinator is an under-utilized Zombie that hits hard as a 5/6 flyer. Prior to running the Skaabs, this deck lacked the ability to effectively deal with flying creatures other than removal or outracing them. I usually cheat Skaabs into play with Vial, but being able to cast them from my graveyard is a major advantage. Stitcher's Supplier and Master of Death provide food for my Skaabs.
Plague Belcher is a large 4/5 body with menace and acts as a sacrifice enabler for Crawlers, Masters, and Suppliers. I don’t want to play a Belcher unless I have a suitable sacrifice target. The Belcher’s life drain ability acts as a back-up for Diregraf Captain.
Recursion
Relentless Dead is another tool for bringing Skaab Ruinator into play from the graveyard. I’ve been on the fence about running Relentless Dead for years, but I think the deck needs additional recursion.
An alternative to Relentless Dead I have been exploring is Unearth, but I am thinking that an additional Zombie body I can cheat into play with Vial is more useful.
TIMING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
It’s important to note that managing mana and using Vials to cheat in the proper creature at the right time is critical to outrace faster decks.
For example, sometimes the situation requires choosing to mill myself with Supplier early in the game, so I can add Zombies to my graveyard and hopefully stumble upon some Crawlers and Skaabs later.
Having a Servant in play is critical if I am going up against a burn or aggro deck, since the fetchlands and shocklands cause significant life-loss. I always choose to cast a Servant first before another Zombie.
WHY ESPER?
Mono-Black Zombie decks are more consistent than multicolor decks, but lack the ability to deal with certain threats that are common in a competitive Modern setting. This deck needs life gain to deal with burn, and the splash of White for Wayward Servant provides it. Servant is highly underrated and has helped me in every single matchup.
Mono-Black builds do not have access to low-cost, large-bodied zombies with flying like Skaab Ruinator. Now with Prismatic Ending and Master of Death, there is even more reason to splash Blue.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Rotting Regisaur is versatile. Besides being a giant 7/6 body, it conveniently helps me discard Crawlers or other cards clogging up my hand to feed Skaab Ruinator. But I play my hand so quickly that discarding cards hurts more than helps. I generate enough self-mill without it.
Diregraf Colossus is useful for generating zombie tokens. I exclude it because I am focusing on life drain effects and enhancing large evasive zombies.
Wight is a 3/2 for only 2 mana and has “zombie-touch.” I would include a playset if space allowed. It also doesn’t synergize with the other cards very well.
Relentless Dead is another card I really would like to include, but I have no space. Plus it consumes a lot of mana with its abilities and this deck is very tight with mana.
The same goes for Undead Augur and Blood Scrivener. Both are useful for drawing cards, but are too slow for my taste.
Fatal Push’s Revolt trigger is easy to achieve with fetchlands and Carrion Feeder. I am testing Bone Shards instead to have more firepower against Planeswalkers and to enable sacrifice effects.
Path to Exile is the most efficient way to remove an indestructible creature, but is usually helps the opponent more than me, since it gives my opponent a free land. This is an especially bad idea against ramp decks.
SIDEBOARD
If I think I will face graveyard-hate, I swap out Suppliers for Tidehollow Scullers. The Scullers are great because I can sac’em while they are still on the stack to permanently exile the chosen card.
Under construction
I have been tinkering with zombie tribal for many years. Any comments and suggestions are welcome!
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Revision 32 See all
(1 year ago)
| +3 | Altar of Dementia | main |
| -1 | Bone Shards | main |
| -3 | Death Baron | main |
| +1 | Diregraf Captain | main |
| +2 | Headless Rider | main |
| -1 | Prismatic Ending | main |
| -1 | Relentless Dead | maybe |
| Top Ranked |
|
| Date added | 5 years |
| Last updated | 1 year |
| Exclude colors | RG |
| Splash colors | WU |
| Legality | This deck is Modern legal. |
| Rarity (main - side) | 6 - 0 Mythic Rares 29 - 2 Rares 20 - 10 Uncommons 1 - 1 Commons |
| Cards | 60 |
| Avg. CMC | 1.73 |
| Tokens | Zombie 2/2 B |
| Folders | inspiration, Zombie, Deck Ideas, Interesting Decks, Modern Decks I Did Not Make, Modern Decks, This is just neat |
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