Nvm misread tokens

@enpcI used to play Mercy Killing but it is not very good removal even with Illness in the Ranks.

@the.beanpoleEchoing Truth is good but illness costs less and is permanent.

@HydraxI like beck. I'm worried that it costs too many mana when paired with Hunted Phantasm or Hunted Troll and also that if they counter the troll/phantasm then they get a 1-for-2. I am going to playtest it and see how it fits in. With regard to Curse of the Swine and Swan Song: curse was in the initial deck but it is weak removal even without the tokens (and the tokens are often a pain) and Swan Song used to be a three of on the sideboard but modern sideboarding is very robotic and it doesn't fit well on the mainboard because, unless there are two Illness in the Ranks on the 'field, then the token will be annoying to remove (it would require a full spell to itself).

Thanks for your suggestions and +1s everyone. I am adding Swan Song to the maybeboard because it just fits so well with the theme.

So hey, what about running Virulent Plague for a matchup that is a big tokens build? I realize that it isn't great compared to the Illness in the Ranks, be able to allow for better synergy with giving away bigger tokens maybe?

@TheRedGoat-I have considered using Virulent Plague and then adding Hunted Horror but it is very hard to deal with control decks when I test that out because there are so many cards that are useless (I already use illness) unless I have my hunted creatures. I will consider making the change.

I haven't seen a Blood Illness list in quite some time, so +1 for bringing back such a unique build! (It never really left the kitchen table but it was fun)

A couple suggestions,

Forbidden Orchard: It was used in the old lists as a way to achieve easy mana fixing while giving yourself plenty to things to kill with Illness in the Ranks

Since you aren't using white (which would give you access to Twilight Drover, Suture Priest, Zealous Persecution, and Orzhov Pontiff) I'd recommend playing some kind of direct tutor effect to get you illness or a hunted creature, (I don't know exactly what, I know Dizzy Spell is the only transmute for a one drop it's just an idea) simply to improve consistency.

In any case it's nice to see an older deck brought back, Cheers!

@Sargeras-I do play Forbidden Orchard you must have missed it. Also, I used to play white but I cut it for more consistency and because I didn't play much white. I was only using Suture Priest and path so I removed it leaving one Godless Shrine and four Forbidden Orchard and so I kept white on the sideboard. In regard of Dizzy Spell: I like the idea of finding illness more easily but I don't want to play four mana for it and the deck can function without illness. Maelstrom Pulse provides token removal while still being useful without the hunteds. I am debating over whether to put back in some of the cards you noted above for white. Thank you for your suggestions!

The hand disruption would probably be better in the sideboard. Since Invalidating the opponent's tokens is an important part of this strategy, I would replace mb Thoughtseize with Virulent Plague.

The issue is that I only give the opponents 1/1s and so Illness in the Ranks is perfect. Thoughtseize is more important than it looks because it allows me to ensure that a hunted creature resolves. If an opponent is using a token based deck illness should still be enough to cripple them and allow an easy win. Despite all that I am making a maybeboard intended to make the deck less competitive and more fun/towards the theme.

Nice deck! I say no Genesis Chamber.

Thanks! You're probably right. If only Illness in the Ranks was just for your opponents.

I'd consider Damping Matrix in place of stony silence if you want to cut white.

How consistent is this deck if you don't have illness in the ranks in your opening hand? When you play this, what would you consider the ideal opening hand?

@lagotripha-Thanks for the suggestion. I added Damping Matrix.

@Superabletie4-While it is important to get out an Illness in the Ranks ASAP Maelstrom Pulse can work in the meantime and the deck can control the game well while waiting for important cards. The ideal opening hand for casual play would be 1 illness, 3 Forbidden Orchard, 2 Blood Artist, and a Hunted Phantasm but for more competitive play you would want a Thoughtseize and maybe an Abrupt Decay.