This midrange mono black deck is about devotion, but keeping your opponents creatures off the battlefield, and card advantage are all things this deck also focused on. Every card in this deck except for Erebos, God of the Dead gives you at least 2 devotion to black which fuels the almighty Gary. This deck is focused around Gray Merchant of Asphodel but has other win conditions. Every creature in this deck can cause so much trouble for your opponent especially Phyrexian Obliterator. Card advantage is important so you don't have to play off the top of your deck giving you a chance to play smarter and combo cards together. Having a removal package is also important. Some creatures are just too powerful to keep in play. Having the 8 removal spells and 3 Inquisition of Kozileks are great for this.
Bloodghast is an auto include in mono black devotion. Its free devotion.
Gatekeeper of Malakir is a 2/2 and gives 2 devotion to black. You can cast it for an extra swamp and force your opponent to sac a creature.
Griselbrand is extremely powerful and allows you to fill your hand back up with cards. Usually you cast this with a Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx.
Phyrexian Obliterator is the best card in this deck. As simple as that. It makes your opponent sacrifice permanents and gives 4 devotion to black.
Gray Merchant of Asphodel is what this deck is based around. It can completely change the game. Just a turn 5 drop can potentially do 10 damage to your opponent and gain you 10 life. A huge swing in momentum if I doesn't kill your opponent.
Erebos, God of the Dead is a 4 drop indestructible 5/7 most of the time. 5 devotion is pretty easy to get and your opponent not being able to gain life is a plus. If you can't draw into a Phyrexian Arena then the draw ability is not bad.
Who doesn't love drawing cards? Phyrexian Arena allows you to draw an extra card every turn for just 1 life. Great for digging through your deck to find the card needed in a certain situation.
Whip of Erebos is great because it gains you life and allows you to reuse Gray Merchant of Asphodel and attempt to make your opponent sacrifice some permanents with Phyrexian Obliterator. 1 is only needed.
Inquisition of Kozilek is great for hand disruption. Great turn 1 play, but can also be great for later in the game to plan your next move.
Surgical Extraction is great for taking out the key card in a deck or a card that is powerful against this deck.
Victim of Night is one of the best if not the best removal card for black. Not much explaining to do; it gets rid of your opponent's creatures.
Dismember is also a great removal spell but it can hurt more than help against Aggro decks. Mainly for killing creatures Victim of Night can't and infect decks.
Slaughter Pact is only for emergencies. Only 1 is all you need.
Bile Blight is great against token decks. I play a lot of token decks in my meta which is why I play this card.
Profane Command is great in almost any situation. Its just a fantastic card.
