So last time I did a deck tech, it was right after States when I played Junk Midrange. However, as time has passed since then, I have realized that the deck had a big problem, it's mana base. I would constantly lose because of my own mana base. If I drew mana correctly, I had a 60% or better chance to win (with mono blue devotion being about 55%) according to the numbers and games I played.
So, my quest to re-do the deck went underway. I still feel that junk (with a proper manabase) is one of the strongest decks in the format. However, I went from junk to golgari midrange. From there, I have gone to mono black after seeing it's great success and the fact that every matchup is 50% or better. I like those odds.
So, I have lately been running Owen Turtenwald's GP winning list. You can view it here:
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpabq13/welcome
However, I wanted to try to change it up a bit, based on what I've read and seen, I have taken a slight twist to the deck. Is it any good or better? Maybe, but most likely probably not. However, I thought I'd do a deck tech on it. I plan on going to FNM with it tomorrow so we'll see!
The deck at a glance:
//land
13 swamp
4 mutavault
4 watery grave
4 temple of deceit
//creatures
4 gray merchant of asphodel
3 desecration demon
4 pack rat
4 nightveil specter
1 erebos, god of the dead
//spells
2 dimir charm
4 thoughtseize
4 hero's downfall
1 ultimate price
1 whip of erebos
4 underworld connections
3 far//away
//sideboard
4 pharika's cure
4 lifebane zombie
1 doom blade
1 dark betrayal
1 far//away
2 duress
2 erebos, god of the dead
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Now let's talk about some of the cards and decisions
So mutavault is the first card I want to talk about. I think it is too integral to not run. The synergy between it and pack rat is too good, that I think running four of both is key. Additionally, it can block pro black stuff (biggest thing is blood baron of vizkopa!). It allows you to go from midrange to very aggressive and I think having four is a very good call, despite all others only running 2-3 when splashing.
Desecration demon is a great card. 6/6 flier for 4cmc. It is something that is very good and acts as pseudo removal on its own. However, with the way that the meta is shaping itself, with more white weenie, aggro, and blue devotion making itself well known, this card is not doing as well as it was a few weeks ago. Additionally, since I am not running devour flesh (to gain my self some life) this card is less good as well. It still is a great card, but that is my justification to only run 3 when most run 4 regardless of splash.
In testing, this card has been amazing. Most 2 cmc removal is conditional, and you must pick based on meta shifts, but I think right now this is a good call. In every matchup there are things you will want to hit with it. Most notably, it hits master of waves, nightveil specter, and pretty much anything from an aggro deck. Its other modes are also relevant. Countering an anger of the gods, mizzium mortars, thoughtseize can all be good. Additionally, vs control, getting to fateseal after a scry can be good as well. However, I realize there are some decks that this card is bad in (G/W comes to mind) and for this reason I only run 2 that way I can board them out and board in the correct removal.
This is a card that I constantly think if I want to cut or not. However, right now, I think it is fine as a 1 of. It gives good contingency if I decide to start discarding things to pack rat, it gives lifelink which can become very important vs aggro or the mirror match as well. Additionally, it can make pack rat token permanent when it reanimates pack rat. This would be the 4th desecration demon if it were to be taken out.
The original reason to splash blue. Being able to far something that has pro black (blood baron) is very good, it acts as devour flesh as well for 1 more mana. For 5 mana you get to take care of 2 of your opponents creatures, something that this deck I think needs. Last standard there was mutilate and barter in blood. I feel that this can act as a pseudo barter in blood that has some flexibilty. Additionally, you can use Far to unsummon your own gray merchant to recast it! Or, more importantly, to counter a detention sphere's target triggered ability.
The only thing to consider is that I have 4 in my 75, something to debate as well.
Finally, a sideboard card. This will be the only sideboard card I talk about, I think the rest are pretty self explanatory. With my changes, I feel that I lose some power to G/W (as mentioned above) and G/R devotion decks. That is why I up this card to 4. Additionally, this card can hit blood baron of vizkopa or boros reckoner. This card is essentially unblockable outside of the mono black mirror match, which is an argument to bring him in any game that you have additional slots.
Anyway, that is my standard deck in its current form. I don't know if it's better than going back to Owen's original list. In testing vs mono blue and esper, it has done very well. I will let you know how it goes this weekend though!
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