Geralf's Messenger is really nice espacially for the devotion, the problem is that i would be kind of vulnerable to flying and Vampire Nighthawk provides me with a competent defender from that + lifelink that i need earlier in the game so iam not killing myself. I have tried Griselbrand , Butcher of Malakir and even Sheoldred, Whispering One in earlier versions of the deck, however i found that the risk of having it in your hand and not being able to cast them outweights the benefits they give you (at least with this deck, you just dont get them on the board reliable and they are a pain to draw in your opening hand). Overall i settled on a mana cap of 5.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!
May 16, 2014 5:46 p.m.
jessebow2000 says... #4
definaly put Surgical Extraction in your deck and maybe anouther discard card like Wrench Mind
May 17, 2014 10:37 p.m.
@jessebow2000 I have put Surgical Extraction 4x in the Sideboard right now, but i really want to find a place in the main deck for it. Get out Bile Blight 2x for it? The problem is that that is my only mass removal right now against tokens. I even played with the thought of getting rid of Liliana of the Veil to put them in. What do you think?
May 18, 2014 8:08 a.m.
jessebow2000 says... #6
put Bile Blight in the sideboard against token decks and put Surgical Extraction in the main
May 18, 2014 2:24 p.m.
@nitecamel In a very early version of this deck Underworld Connections was actually in there. It doest make the cut here because, even though i do prefer cards over others for devotion if they fullfill a very similiar role that i need in this deck, i cant just put cards in it that serve no or nearly no other role than giving devotion. Underworld Connections doesnt provide with enough value to justify a card slot and doesnt fit with what the deck is trying to do. Thanks for the suggestion!
May 19, 2014 7:32 p.m.
Emrakul-the-Format-Broken says... #10
As much as Grave Pact ramps up the devotion, 2 Desecration Demon s is simply a better investment in this deck.
May 25, 2014 2:21 p.m.
Emrakul-the-Format-Broken says... #11
And replace the Swamp in the sideboard for a single Torpor Orb to deal with Pod and Splinter Twin .
May 25, 2014 2:22 p.m.
@Emrakul-the-Format-Broken I dont think i need another 4 drop creature, Phyrexian Obliterator is just better then Desecration Demon , however i played with the thought to switch put 2x Grave Pact for 2x Surgical Extraction . It would bring down the devotion but would up the controle and disruption. The Torpor Orb is a great suggestion, ill put it in the Sideboard. Thanks!
May 25, 2014 2:34 p.m.
Emrakul-the-Format-Broken says... #13
No problem! I've always loved mono-black, even when Theros wasn't out and mono sucked. If you're gonna put 2 more Surgical Extraction in mainboard, then they must come from your sideboard, otherwise you have 6. So put two of them in from the sideboard and add two Deathmark to the sideboard against green and white. Also, It doesn't seem like there's much point to the Silence the Believers in the sideboard, I'd remove them for 2 Pithing Needle s against planeswalkers and such. Or one needle and one Memoricide .
May 25, 2014 3:39 p.m.
@Emrakul-the-Format-Broken Deathmark it sure should have place in my Sideboard as soon as can find a place for 2x Surgical Extraction . I dont really know what to take out for it, but i definatly think it has to go in. As for Pithing Needle against Planeswalkers i have 4x Hero's Downfall in main and sideboard combined, that is usually enough. Memoricide fills a very similiar role to Surgical Extraction and i dont think i need it in addition. Silence the Believers is in there to get some exile against indistructability and effects that trigger on dying like "undying" for example.
May 25, 2014 5:47 p.m.
Bubbleberry says... #15
You might think of some other hybrid-symbol black permanents to look into as well, that way you can still easily run mono black, but use the abilities of some other nice color effects that could help out your overall game plan before you drop that big Gray Merchant of Asphodel
May 26, 2014 2:51 a.m.
@ Bubbleberry yeah i had some on my mind, have to test some more.
Im getting rid of Torpor Orb in the sideboard, when i put it in i thought it only affected enemy creatures, but it counters all my Gray Merchant of Asphodel and Gatekeeper of Malakir . Im replacing it with a Pithing Needle against Pod.
I still dont know what to take out of the Main board to bring in 2x Surgical Extraction (or maybe 4 times?? i relly like it :D )
May 26, 2014 11:09 a.m.
Geralf's Messenger is very nice here. Try dropping the Whip of Erebos and 2x Inquisition of Kozilek for 3 of the messenger and 3 Dismember . Don't bring Surgical Extraction in to the mainboard. Some sideboard suggestions are Grafdigger's Cage or Ratchet Bomb .
May 30, 2014 11:08 a.m.
Dropping 4 cards to bring in 6 cards (2x Whip +2x Inquisition for 3x Messenger + 3x Dismember) doesnt seem like a good idea at all :DI just won games at FNM because of Whip of Erebos so i dont think i want to take it out. Geralf's Messenger is very good and i played with the thougt of putting him in, but my 3 drop creature slot is currently occupied by Vampire Nighthawk and i dont plan on getting rid of him. The Playset of Inquisition of Kozilek is absolutely crucial for this deck and there is no way i take them out. Since i play with Whip of Erebos and love to whip back Gary or a Phyrexian Obliterator to swing in again, i will not put Grafdigger's Cage . It just completly works against this deck (And it is one of those cards i definetly need my Inquisition of Kozilek to get rid of if my opponent has it) Ratchet Bomb would be an idea against token based decks, maybe i will get rid of Drown in Sorrow in the Sideboard and bring in the Bomb for it x2.I absolutely love Dismember and i really want to find a place for it. Not really sure where though.
May 31, 2014 11:22 a.m.
BurningPyres says... #19
Nice deck here is my version of Mono-Black Devotion in modern. Which mine is a bit more aggro.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/mono-black-devotion-23-04-14-1/
Bloodghast is awesome because he keeps coming back. Also Gravecrawler adds to that aggro, plus side is with Geralf's Messenger and Gray Merchant of Asphodel he keeps coming back.
May 31, 2014 11:55 a.m.
@BurningPyres My deck is not an aggro deck, so i dont play Gravecrawler or Bloodghast . Please read my comment above for my thoughts on Geralf's Messenger
May 31, 2014 12:01 p.m.
Emrakul-the-Format-Broken says... #22
Death Cloud is not automatically good in mono-black decks. The idea that it is is a common misconception.
June 15, 2014 6:41 p.m.
I agree, i dont think Death Cloud would be good in this deck. Im playing with the thought of getting rid of Grave Pact and put in more removal.
June 15, 2014 9:25 p.m.
colossusgb says... #24
Why isn't there at least one Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
heavencharge says... #1
Considered Geralf's Messenger over Vampire Nighthawk as 3-drop? If you up the Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx then maybe you can cheat a Griselbrand in play on turn 5
May 16, 2014 5:20 p.m.