So yes, the pachyderm in the pavilion is that this is
technically not a “burn” deck in the truest sense, as we’re not inflicting direct damage upon targeted sources. But if you take a step back and get the spirit of what we’re doing here, I think we can all agree this is a darn close approximation for a color that isn’t traditionally known for this archetype.
Let’s go over the spells we’ll be slinging to inflict this pseudo-burn on our opponent:
•Bump in the Night is the cornerstone of this build, and the card that initially sparked the idea to construct this deck. As close to a mono black Lightning Bolt as will likely ever come.
About That Flashback... Show
Yes, I am aware
Bump in the Night has Flashback. However, the main stipulation when I was constructing this build was to have it remain completely mono black. Splashing
through
Bloodstained Mire or
Blood Crypt would enable more value from
Bump in the Night, but would thereby leave no reason we wouldn’t run
Lightning Bolt or all manner of red burn spells, thus defeating the purpose of the deck. If you’d like to incorporate those ideas into a deck of your own, by all means feel free to do so, but this shall forever remain
mono black.
•Fruit of Tizerus is a black Shock, but with the added utility of recastability owing to its Escape cost. Expect to cast this spell multiple times per game.
•Vicious Rumors is a Swiss Army knife of a spell; a little of this, a little of that, all beneficial for us. Best sideboarded out for something else if playing against certain archetypes (Reanimation, Escape/Flashback, the upcoming Disturb mechanic, etc.)
•Sovereign's Bite is a wonderfully effective card that can help stabilize against aggro decks in particular. For just we drain for 3 and get replenished for 3.
•Syphon Life can also rescue us from the grip of impending doom, while stinging the opponent for 2. With Retrace, drawing into multiple lands owing to a poor shuffle goes from nightmare to dream come true.
•Lastly, Bond of Agony: an epic finisher suggested to me courtesy of Chasmolinker. I really don’t know how I missed this one; it’s too perfect. As long as we’re ahead in the life total race by 1 point or more, simply pay into this card’s casting cost to finish off your opponent then and there. The risk/reward is high here, introducing an exhilarating tension that may be missing from the life of a more analytically cautious player...