A Mono-Black deck with light splashes of red and blue for some powerful cards to gain a better position in the mirror and against Esper/Azorius.
The Usual Suspects
This deck is mostly made up of proven Mono-Black staples, such as Gary, Desecration Demon, Downfall, Thoughtseize, Connections, and everything else. These cards are in here because they are an integral part of why the deck is so successful. The main omission is Pack Rat. Although it's a powerful card, it's more than useless against control, and I need this deck to be able to take game 1 against Esper/Azorius. The land base doesn't allow for multiple copies of
Mutavault
to fully take advantage of the rat either. Without further ado, let's get into the reasons to splash red and blue.
Splash of Red
2x
Rakdos's Return
- Very powerful against many decks. Forcing an opponent to top deck is one of the nastiest things you can do.
1x Dreadbore - Although just a singleton, the extra unconditional removal is appreciated.
2x Slaughter Games - By now we know the main threats in each popular deck. This doesn't stay in against many match ups, but casting this naming Sphinx's Revelation against UW(B) or Pack Rat/Gray Merchant of Asphodel in the mirror is game-breaking. We need all the help possible turning the popular mirrors in our favour. This is a fantastic option.
Splash of Blue
2x Psychic Strike - May not seem important, but nobody expects counters from a Mono-Black shell. Comes out of the blue to take away threats which are otherwise difficult to answer (Blood Baron of Vizkopa anyone?).
1x Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver - What a monster this card can be. Amazing against pretty much every deck. It gets massive beaters/blockers from Monsters, big threats in the mirror for free, and mills control (it's always nice getting rid of their AEtherling or Elixir of Immortality).
Sideboard
3x Codex Shredder - I'm probably going to get a lot of grief for this, but hear me out. This is one mana to mess with someone's scry for an entire game. That alone is deliciously evil, but it gets better. This destroys control. Those 12 scrylands are now guildgates. Nice. Think you'll outsmart me by leaving a card you don't want on top? Sometimes I'll let you draw after the scry and mill the card after. It's all about mind games, making the control player agonize over small things like scry. Mill that Elixir. Mill that Verdict they wanted so badly. Laugh about it. This card is just mean, and that's not even all. Had something countered and want it back? The second ability becomes relevant. Already slaughtered away their revelations? Go for their Aetherling too! All this from a one drop artifact they won't have a chance to counter.
2x
Dark Betrayal
- The usual answer to
Obzedat, Ghost Council
and making the mirror easier.
1x Devour Flesh - For those hex proof decks, Blood Barons, and anything else with protection.
2x Dispel - Love being able to add in some counter spells. This is a great help against control as well as the now popular Boros Burn. Also useful in the mirror.
1x Doom Blade - Comes in often for obvious reasons
2x
Staff of the Death Magus
- It's like someone new Boros Burn was going to be a thing. Longterm life gain in this matchup is nothing to scoff at.
2x Duress - Boros Burn, Control, mirror, hexproof auras
1x Slaughter Games - More for control and the mirror
1x
Mizzium Mortars
- Blowout against mono-blue and all other aggro decks. Helping with the pesky Baron is nice too.
