So this is the (for now) final form of a Deck i've been building around for quite some time now.
It all started as a 'low budged project', and it still is, if you swap out the Plainswalker and some of the mana base/removal.
I am open minded for any criticism and/or ideas making this deck better.
The base idea is to build up your Paladin of Atonement with the various cards that lose you life and blow it up with your Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim while you have your Defiant Bloodlord in play, hitting them double time for ,ideally, leathal damage.
This combo in itself is the build-around for the rest of the deck, hence why you can still make it a low-budged but fun deck in my opinion.
With the new Ixalan cards (like the Paladin mentioned above), i've edited my defences from having a lot of hard removal and Wall of Resurgence and Shambling Vent to a solid Vampire based ground force, that also benefits from life manipulating effects.
For removal, i went for Anguished Unmaking because of its life loss. Personally, i prefer the 'exil-mechanic' but this is debatable. Gatekeeper of Malakir found it's way into this deck thanks to the comment of xyr0s, who helped fix the manabase as well. Thanks's dude!
The mana base is, like mentioned above, focused on manipulating your life total in both ways with Caves of Koilos, Ifnir Deadlands and Shefet Dunes as well as Scoured Barrens.
Because Defiant Bloodlord cost quite a lot of mana, i included a bit of ramp with Orzhov Signet.
The Vault of the Archangel is just a little 'icing on the cake' and not specifically required to make the deck work, especially if you want to keep it 'low budged'.
Speaking of 'low budget', Isolated Chapel is a luxury that can be replaced by standard lands as well.
Considering my whole theme is heavily influenced by Vampires, Sorin, Lord of Innistrad and Sorin, Solemn Visitor are great additions, but not a 'must have'.
Finally, i added Vanquisher's Banner for the Vampire-Synergy and Conqueror's Galleon
for either fliping it or using Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim to blow it up.
There are a lot of 'maybe cards' for this deck, especially Karlov of the Ghost Council, but all in all, i find it real fun to play in its current state.
As already mentioned, please feel free to critique :-)
So long, and thanks for the fish!
