Just another day at the rot farm.
This is my standard B/G dredge deck. Will be trying some alternative builds to see how they fare. A major divergence from most decks is I'm not running Deathrite Shaman. I just don't want to pay for it in paper.
General Playstyle:
The basic approach to the deck is to use your enablers to build your graveyard and fix into playables. You play your little creatures like Mystic, Wayfinder, and Lotleth and then bestow them with evasive/huge creatures like
Herald of Torment
and Nighthowler. This voltron approach is very appealing as it outraces Mono-Black's ability to remove your creatures, and Esper Control's Ability to achieve a clear board state for a control game. All their attempts really do is create a bigger graveyard for you.
The deck contains the majority of its on-board interactions in creatures. Solid ETB effects within CMC are welcome additions, and they can even see some reuse with an active Whip of Erebos on board. Satyr Wayfinder,
Nylea's Disciple
,
Mogis's Marauder
, and Shadowborn Demon play into this.
Grisly Salvage is a serious trooper in this deck as it not only ramps, but can perform a combat trick with Nighthowler. If that damage is just not enough this little interaction can get you there.
Weaknesses:
The mana base on this deck can make for some risky starts. Once you have a B & G on board, however, the deck just starts building itself. The upcoming Temple of Malady will slow this deck down a bit, but in exchange for Scry + B/G fixing it's a welcome addition. Mana Confluence may also find a 2-3x spot as this deck rarely worries about its life total.
The deck is heavily creature based, and while removal doesn't hurt it much anything that targets the graveyard can. Rest in Peace and Scavenging Ooze are pretty big threats, although for the time being all you need to worry about is the Scooze. Upcoming threat is Agent of Erebos, but he seems harder to justify a SB for unless dredge really becomes threatening.
Maybe:
Bow of Nylea > Whip of Erebos
This is purely a test. Bow is less expensive and contains more utility. Deathtouch is solid evasion for this deck, and really shines on a stacked Lotleth Troll. It shuts down burn by getting creatures out of range, increasing my life, and killing their phoenix. Even the graveyard recycle can come in handy against a Scavenging Ooze as you can 'counter' their exiles. Will be testing it to see if it holds up well. At its cost I think it may be MB potential, and then sided out for a specific counter. Still, it hurts losing the explosive lifegain of Whip, as well as the ability to recall creatures for their ETB effects/swings.
Mogis's Marauder
for evasion. Not much to say about this. It works well with smacking people in the face, and in conjunction with a whip can end games. With this deck's setup you can have either Green or Black intimidate voltrons.
Voyaging Satyr/Manaweft Sliver > Sylvan Caryatid. This deck requires bestow targets, and caryatid slacks in that department. It's a wonderful card in the deck, but it's just not always what you want. I'll be messing with the other mana dorks some. Also considering the newest hind.
