What We Do in the Shadows
Ixalan Standard / Vampires Tribal
Named in honour of the hilarious film What We Do in the Shadows. It's about a sharehouse of vampire flatmates in modern day New Zealand.
The goal of the deck is to go wide with loads of vampires creatures and 1/1 vampire tokens with lifelink, then drop Sanctum Seeker into the fray and swing.
Mainboard Breakdown
Creatures
4x Vicious Conquistador - Get out early and chip + extra damage.
4x Duskborne Skymarcher - Same same but different, flying and can buff others.
4x Metallic Mimic - Upgrades all our creatures and tokens as they come out.
4x Gifted Aetherborn - Awesome value, one of the most effective individual cards in the deck.
2x Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle - Makes us tokens when we attack, yup.
3x Skymarch Bloodletter - More flyers, surprisingly effective.
4x Sanctum Seeker - Win condition, provided we are getting creatures out.
1x
Vona, Butcher of Magan
- We don't mind paying life to destroy a nonland permanent, not at all! That said, it is a significant chunk of life, and this guy hasn't been really useful so far. Maybe gets cut.
Instants
2x Fatal Push - We have tokens popping in and dying constantly so Revolt almost always triggers.
2x Cast Out - Instant speed exile, very useful. Other options are Gideon's Intervention and Ixalan's Binding. Haven't played with either of those yet, will test with them.
Enchantments
2x Legion's Landing
- We always want more tokens, and will usually swing with 3 creatures by turn 4 or 5, so it gets flipped most games it makes it to the battlefield.
3x Arguel's Blood Fast
- This has been super useful. We burn through cards very quickly and don't mind losing 2 life for a draw. Allows us to keep moving at high speed. One of the most essential pieces of the deck. It probably does not get transformed if we go down to 5 life, unless another is in hand and we can play that. The card draw is better than the ability on the flip - we'd rather gain life by attacking or blocking with a token than sacrifice.
Sorceries
3x Call to the Feast - More tokens! There is also Queen's Commission, but it is less value (3 CMC for 2 tokens vs 4 CMC for 3). I think I prefer this card, but it may be swapped for Anointed Procession.
Land
4x Concealed Courtyard
4x Unclaimed Territory
6x Plains
8x Swamp
Sideboard Breakdown
The sideboard can be significantly improved. I'm not familiar with most of what is in Standard currently, so not sure what to be prepared for.
2x Cast Out - More exile, particularly for artifacts and enchantments. Perhaps Demystify or Decommission are better. Could also be, as noted above, Gideon's Intervention or Ixalan's Binding>
2x Crook of Condemnation - For all the tricky graveyard stuff that's in use. Since dealing with graveyard is essential for several tough matchups, could be a 3-of.
4x Duress - Snag their nasties before they can be played.
2x Settle the Wreckage - For big stompy creatures. Deals with hexproof and indestructible jerks. Possibly mainboardable.
2x Vraska's Contempt - More removal... I guess?
3x Walk the Plank - Same.
Maybeboard Breakdown
Adanto Vanguard - Seems decent, and we don't mind paying the life to make him indestructible. Haven't tested yet.
Anointed Procession - This seems like a shoe-in, but I haven't tested with it yet. Could replace Call of the Feast?
Bishop's Soldier - Lifelink fits, but the card is underwhelming. Gifted Aetherborn is much, much better. I think this guy gets a pass.
Bloodcrazed Paladin - Great as an answer to a board wipe, but I'm not convinced of his utility. Definitely deserves testing.
Decommission or Demystify - more permanent than the enchantments that exile, but just not sure if we really need these.
Ixalan's Binding or Gideon's Intervention - As noted above.
Painful Lesson - Card draw and life we don't mind using. Arguel's Blood Fast
is better. Think it's a pass.
Vampire's Zeal - Great with Gifted Aetherborn or any of the lifelinkers. I think it's the only combat trick worth consideration.
Dispossess and Lost Legacy - Maybe better than some of the other removal stuff I've selected?
Vanquisher's Banner - Less susceptible to removal than Metallic Mimic, plus card draw. Hmm...
Etcetera
I have just returned to magic after a couple years off, and I had only played for about one year before, so I am still very much a novice. I'd love to hear any suggestions for the deck. It has been loads of fun to play on MTGO, and while I'd love to play at FNM, the cost for paper cards is prohibitive.
So far, I've played about 10 games online (casual/just for fun category) and have won 6 or 7. A couple losses were due to serious misplays (still getting back into the zone) and/or running out of cards in hand. Arguel's Blood Fast
sorts that issue handily.
I understand this may not be a competitive level deck, but I have won against Ramunap Red, UW control, and UB control, among others. Have only played one energy tokens deck (temur/four colour energy I think?) and didn't last long (I ran out of gas early).
Really enjoy the playstyle of the deck and hope we get some more good vamps when Rivals comes out.
Thanks for any input on card selection/count and especially sideboard.
