This is gaining traction in Modern. Curious what this can turn into with access to the entire card pool. Chrome Mox and Dark Ritual come to mind as a crucial engine pieces Modern does not get to utilize.
::Analysis::
This deck consistently gains 7 life while draining 7 from your opponent before the game even starts. With the luck of the draw on your side it can be even more.
Soul Spike suicide black life gain. "Power at any cost". The only other time I ever look at my hand like a cannon is when I'm playing Lion's Eye Diamond. Soul Spike is not even the best effect from this Coldsnap cycle. I will definitely be squeezing these spells into some mono colored EDH decks.
Chancellor of the Dross for such a janky rare it has been surprisingly powerful to build around. A potential 3/6/9/12 life swing on turn 1. After turn 1 it is perfect fodder to feed to Chrome Mox,
Grief and especially Soul Spike.
Dash Hopes the general consensus about cards that let opponents choose has always been bad but this card has proven to be devastating in the early game. It either adds a 25% drain life tax or deals with a serious early game threat better than . Fits this strategy surprisingly well. After turn 4 it becomes perfect fodder to feed to Chrome Mox,
Grief and especially Soul Spike.
Profane Tutor the way this deck flows waiting 2 turns is kind of a benefit. Allows you time to regroup from the initial attack, draw 2 and tutor what the moment calls for. The simple synergy alongside Soul Spike is elegant.
Cursed Scroll MVP. This deck consistently hits 3 lands so top deck mode is a blessing for this cursed engine of consistent COLORLESS damage.
Surgical Extraction was in the sideboard but moved into the main because the synergy alongside Dash Hopes and Grief is just too cheap, efficient and powerful. Turn 1 offensive tech has been Chancellor of the Dross + Grief + Surgical Extraction. Turn 1 defensive tech has been Dark Ritual + Dash Hopes + Surgical Extraction
::Testing::
Kaervek's Spite & Tomb of Urami I will never get another chance to make this work. A Profane Tutor silver bullet/scorched earth policy/end game.
2x Bloodstained Mire and 1x Badlands for the potential late game ending Bump in the Night.
Unmask is Grief #5.
The God hand is 4 Chancellor of the Dross and 2 Soul Spike. Only saw this once out of more than 100 games.