Mono Black Control is back in standard! And with rotation being once a year again we get to play with it for a bit longer than anticipated.
MAINBOARD
The Land: Aether Hub produces energy to help be fuel as another resource, while they can tap black in a pinch it's not really all that necessary.
Blighted Fen
provides a great edict effect in the late game. Geier Reach Sanitarium is great for digging through the library towards answers when we have since extra mana.
The Hand Hate: Harsh Scrutiny and Transgress the Mind are great here, they are effective and play well in the early mid and late game.
Pick the Brain
comes at a higher cost, but delirium is possible with this deck so a one of works fine in place of a fourth transgress. Honorable mention of TKS, as it also fills this slot.
The Removal: Murder is good enough in the format, I don't like the cost but unconditional removal at instant speed can't be overlooked.
Grasp of Darkness
is key, it kills most threats and we never have to worry about whether we have the to play it. Essence Extraction kills, but it also gives us that all important health that black decks like to sacrifice for advantage.
Blighted Fen
as discussed in the land.
Stasis Locks:
Deadlock Trap
is freaking awesome, removing their biggest threats at instant speed for only one . This thing nullifies Planeswalkers, stops attackers, clears blockers... It's just bonkers.
Card Draw:
Live Fast
isn't
Read the Bones
or
Painful Truths
but it fits the energy theme and gives us the cards we need. Geier Reach Sanitarium is advantage but it's not draw per say.
Creatures:
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
is fun, and while powerful probably the easiest to cut out replaced with suggesting like a Kalitas, but digging into your opponents deck has some serious advantage. Demon of Dark Schemes is a beater that produces energy, he can act as a wincon on his own, and can wipe the board given weaker threats or being played in the second main after combat damage. Thought-Knot Seer is a beatstick and this deck packs enough hand hate to make this bugger back breaking.
Plainswalkers: Liliana, the Last Hope and Ob Nixilis Reignited are both super powerful wincons, and this deck packs the removal necessary to keep them alive long enough to ultimate.
SIDEBOARD
Flaying Tendrils is going to keep you alive against hyper aggressive decks.
Lost Legacy is tech for things out standard removal package has issued with. Emrakul, the Promised End, Fevered Visions, or combo packages like Aetherflux Reservoir, Panharmonicon, etc. I want initially sold on the card but in testing it has faired pretty well.
Ruinous Path is always nice, it awakens and it kills... walker heavy decks get punished by this card.
Noxious Gearhulk
is great against decks with heavy hitters. I usually side this in for Essence Extraction when I need that extra bit of reach.
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet can be a nice side in for Gonti when you need some extra bodies for protection, his zombies just can't be beat.
Distended Mindbender
cab be brought in for more hand hate and heavy hitter ability if needed.
