Orzhov Vampires [Budget/Casual]

Modern* Budget Casual Vampires WB (Orzhov)

Kazierts

Creature (29)

• 4x Cordial Vampire
• 4x Dusk Legion Zealot
• 3x Indulgent Aristocrat
• 4x Legion Lieutenant
• 1x Oathsworn Vampire
• 4x Silversmote Ghoul
• 1x Stromkirk Condemned
• 4x Vampire Cutthroat
• 4x Vampire Nighthawk

Land (20)

• 4x Caves of Koilos
• 4x Scoured Barrens
• 12x Swamp

Enchantment (3)

• 3x Etchings of the Chosen

Instant (4)

• 4x Village Rites

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Feast of Blood

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Sideboard

Creature (4)

• 2x Blood Baron of Vizkopa
• 2x Vampire Hexmage

Enchantment (2)

• 2x Sanctimony

Artifact (2)

• 2x Nihil Spellbomb

Land (3)

• 2x Ghost Quarter
• 1x Plains

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Ashiok, Dream Render

Sorcery (3)

• 3x Duress

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This is an idea that has been in the back of my mind for a long time since I had a friend who had a Monoblack Vampire deck. However, it was rather expensive.

Now, due to the increased amount of vampires, thanks to Ixalan and other editions, I decided to make a budget list to diversify my decks a little(the only playable one I have is a Monoblack Infect).

What's the goal? Show

This deck aims to play cheap costed vampires to overwhelm opponents while also having strong tribe sinergies to help them grow.

Creatures Show

4x Cordial Vampire {B}{B}

Cheap costed "lord" that can help grow my board really, REALLY fast. One thing to note is its effects trigger with any creature that dies, so blocking can be highly detrimental to my opponent.

Important to note that it works really well with Indulgent Aristocrat's ability. By sacrificing one vampire you can get 2 +1/+1 counters on each vampire you control.

4x Dusk Legion Zealot {1}{B}

The Zealot by itself isn't particularly useful. However, it's a cheap redraw that can help find a lord while also being buffed by order lords.

Worst case scenario it can just be sacrificed to either Indulgent Aristocrat or Etchings of the Chosen

3x Indulgent Aristocrat {B}

At first it may not seem like a lot but this one has some very interesting utility. Since I have already mentioned the "combo" with Cordial Vampire, I will just talk about some other uses it could have.

At face value, it can be used to sacrifice a vampire that isn't important anymore, like Dusk Legion Zealot, or that is going to die anyway to gain value and pump the team for a massive attack.

Another utility it can have is related to something said above. You can sacrifice one of the vampires that's going to die from a removal or blocking, right? The same can be done if the opponent is trying to you a boardwipe that deals damage, one example being Anger of the Gods. We can just sacrifice one to potentially save the entire board.

The Aristocrat gets much better with recurrable creatures so they turn to fuel for him. That's the reason why I cut Call of the Death-Dweller for Silversmote Ghoul. With this, now there's the repeated possibility of growing the team while also making it easier to get the Ghoul back, since a lot of vampires have lifelink.

4x Legion Lieutenant {W}{B}

An excellent lord and one of the reasons to splash white. Two mana for an anthem effect on a 2/2 is a great deal. Not much else to say about this one.

4x Vampire Nighthawk {1}{B}{B}

Decided to replace some other creatures for Nighthawk because of its versatility. At first glance 3 mana for a 2/3 isn't good but also isn't bad. Its main appeal comes from its keywords abilities lifelink, deathouch and flying. All of these bring immense utility to the table, and thanks to having 2 power plus lifelink, this means it can easily bring Silversmote Ghoul back to the field with the help of one of the anthems.

All in all an excellent card, even outside of dedicated vampire decks. Almost 100% sure it's going to be more worth than running Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle and Sanctum Seeker.

4x Silversmote Ghoul {2}{B}

The Ghoul is a really new addition to the tribe that has immense utility and sinergizes really well with the archetype.

The most basic thing to realize about it is that since a lot of vampires have lifelink it's pretty easy to trigger its ability to come back from the grave. Which means it's an easily recurrable threat that gets buffed by the lord effects. It's important to note that the ability doesn't trigger during the opponent's end step though.

The sweetest interactions, however, are with the sacrifice "theme". Since it's recurs itself, this means it can be used by Village Rites to provide card advantage without losing a body permanently, can be sacrificed to Etchings of the Chosen to protect other vampires and thanks to, but only its own sacrifice effect, these effects it can be used with Cordial Vampire to keep the army growing.

Also, Feast of Blood by itself is enough to trigger its ability.

1x Oathsworn Vampire {1}{B}

A poor man's version of Silversmote Ghoul, not because it's cheaper in price, but because it's worse than it.

As mentioned, it has a similar use to the Ghoul since it also has built-in recursion. However, it's a little bit different. Instead of needing to gain at least 3 life to trigger its ability, any amount of lifegain is enough to allow it to be cast from the graveyard. Despite being more flexible with its condition to recur itself, it's a bit worse than the Ghoul due to having to be cast rather than just coming back for free.

All in all, even tough it's a bit worse than Silversmote, it can serve as an extra copy of the former.

4x Vampire Cutthroat {B}

This serves mostly as a 1 drop to apply pressure in the early game that's also useful thanks to its keywords, both of which provide evasion and lifegain, with the latter being a way to help recur Oathsworn Vampire, by enabling him to come back, and Silversmote Ghoul, with the help of lords and anthems.

The ideal 1 drop for this deck would be Vampire of the Dire Moon. However, it can be a bit pricy to some people, so I decided to put the Cutthroat instead just to reduce the overall price. If it's not out of budget, definitely consider grabbing 4 copies of Vampire of the Dire Moon

Noncreatures Show

Normally, I'd separate things into Instants, Sorceries, Enchantments and Artifacts. However, since this deck is mostly creatures, I decided to have a single category for all noncreature cards.

4x Village Rites {B}

4x Feast of Blood {1}{B}

3x Etchings of the Chosen {1}{W}{B}

An excellent anthem effect for tribal decks. It has the standard +1/+1 for all creatures of the chosen type and a sacrifice outlet that can protect the board, sometimes in more ways than just one.

While the ability to give indestructible to a creature is pretty nice, this combined with Cordial Vampire's can help the Vampires survive a boardwipe like Pyroclasm with just one vampire sacrificed!

This a staple in any tribal deck that is able to cast it.

Manabase Show

4x Caves of Koilos {T}{WB}

It's a bit painful for sure, but when it comes to a budget manabase, painlands are amazing given they come into play untapped and, if needed, can just tap for a colorless instead of having to hurt its player. However, this shouldn't be a problem to Vampires as a good amount of them have lifelink, thus offseting the damage taken. Vampire Nighthawk for example will quickly get all the life lost back while providing fuel for the card:Cave of Koilos.

4x Scoured Barrens {T}{WB}

12x Swamp {T}{B}

Sideboard Show

1x Ashiok, Dream Render {1}{UB}{UB}

2x Blood Baron of Vizkopa

3x Duress {B}

2x Ghost Quarter {T}{C}

1x Nihil Spellbomb {1}

1x Plains {T}{W}

2x Sanctimony {1}{W}

2x Vampire Hexmage {B}{B}

This is definitely an arguable one. Still, there's quite a few cards, namely Planeswalkers, that are threatening by having counters. The Hexmage is a one-shot answers to these threats.

Also, First Strike is decent on top of what it already does.

Top Ranked	Achieved #26 position overall 3 years ago Achieved #4 position in Modern 3 years ago Achieved #1 position in Modern Budget 3 years ago Achieved #1 position in Modern Casual 3 years ago
Date added	3 years
Last updated	1 year
Exclude colors	U
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	9 - 2 Rares 27 - 7 Uncommons 8 - 5 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.00
Folders	Vamp, Maybe