Joaoguaxinim, to choose the creatures, I worked backwards. I started with the lands, the Lilianas, and the Fatal Pushes plus two wildcard slots. Then I tried to include as many creatures as possible to take advantage of Liliana's +1 and -3 abilities and Stitcher's Supplier. Then I looked at the mana curve and I tried to keep costs as low as possible. Since there are so few viable 2-drops, I tried to increase the odds of playing two 1-drops on turn 2. The goal is to be able to tap out completely each turn, so no turn is wasted.

Where is Liliana, deaths majesty and Doomed Dissenter?

Skyler1776, I'm throwing in a couple of Liliana, Death's Majesty and testing it out. I realize I need more late-game punch, like Liliana DM's non-zombie boardwipe. Doomed Dissenter isn't a zombie in the graveyard, so I'm going to pass on it for now.

I was considering a similar deck but including Demon of Catastrophes. Fill in with a creature card that nets you a zombie in return, like Doomed Dissenter or Reassembling Skeleton or Stitcher's Supplier

This way you get a 4 Drop 6/6 flier with trample and something in return. Or maybe I'm crazy, I pulled DoC and while returning to Magic felt he has potential in all of this.

ILuv3M3, Demon of Catastrophes is definitely an option for a similar build. I would include it in a build that doesn't rely on Liliana, Untouched By Death or Stitcher's Supplier as much, because if it's discarded, it's useless other than as lunch for Bone Dragon.

I would consider to run Reassembling Skeleton and/or Skeleton Archer, as Reassembling can be a recouring threat along with death baron, and the Archer to be a kind of Chupacabra that will have deathtouch after entering the battlefield. I know they don't get back with Liliana, but Reassembling don't need her to get back, and archer can be Bone Dragon food after making it's thing.

joaoguaxinim, I agree about Reassembling Skeleton. 2 were in a previous version of this deck. I'm not sure what to cut to keep them. Skeleton Archer seems too expensive for its ability. I think I would run Desecration Demon instead.

Probably Dread Wanderer slot after rotation

With all the self mill, thoughts on using Embalmer's Tools...

joaoguaxinim, true. Maybe we'll get lucky and get a better recurring critter.

OldScarecrow, Embalmer's Tools is an interesting card. It only reduces the cost of Dread Wanderer, Reassembling Skeleton, and Bone Dragon. The tools cost 2 mana, so you would have to use at least 3 abilities in order to benefit from it. The self mill ability is useful, but I'm not sure if tapping a body is worth it. Maybe someone can come up with an artifact heavy zombie deck. That could be why Phylactery Lich was reprinted...but that seems janky to me lol

zAzen7977 great looking zombie deck you put together and plus +1

For the sideboard impaired like myself, what would you remove/replace for the various matchups?

I really like this version compared to the more ramp up decks with the 12 lords. Its also much more rotation proof, since we will lose the 2 lords.

Just a thought about sideboard against control: Since the lords dont stay much most of the time to get full effect,Scrapheap Scrounger is a common answer to control and could also pair them up with Phylactery Lich. Even if you have to get them both back 5 mana for a 5/5 and a 3/2 is a good deal. Also you can run 1 or 2 Treasure Map  ^Flip for more carddraw which will synergize with the lich.

I find the lords really luckluster against U/W control and the like, since they have no creatures, so menace and deathtouch are useless and they dont stick around too much to really pressure with the lord effect most of the time.

Also i would run 2 Lost Legacy in the sideboard since scarab god (Teferi too) is everywhere and the artifacts that deal with graveyards are not a viable option here imo.

It would be very intresting to hear your thoughts on how to deal with certain matchups.

+1 for the deck! self-milling zombie deck is as good as it can get ^^

SirChris39 and Zazmage, thanks for your comments and +1!

Zazmage, sounds like you and I are on the same page. I think this self-mill variant is is both more resilient and mana-efficient than a straightforward lord-based zombie build.

I'm still not sold on Phylactery Lich. Losing an artifact and Lich to a single artifact-hate spell is pretty rough.

You're right about Lost Legacy, I'm actually already running two on the sideboard for the reasons you mentioned.

OldScarecrow, regarding matchups, I haven't played Standard in a long time, so I'm out of the loop. I've tried to design the sideboard to help against general deck types. Against control, Duress and Desecrated Tomb, and Liliana's Mastery if you go up against heavy removal. Against weenie/ramp/mirror, bring in Yahenni's Expertise and Settle the Score. Against burn, bring in Battle at the Bridge.

zAzen7977 you are most welcome and I have a similar deck to yours

I plan to play almost this exact deck. However I will be adding Creeping Chill x4 with all the "milling" action you have going on thats 12dmg / 12 heal.

Thanks for the comment Stickboy101, good point about Creeping Chill. I considered including the playset, but I'm not running any discard-enablers and I worry that my hand will get clogged with 4-cost Chills. I'll have to test it out to know for sure tho.

I was thinking about this also, however in my testing i cycle atleast 2 normally. also "Macabre Waltz" helps to toss them and get 2 back from GY

I love the idea of this deck and it seems good but how will it hold up againt other decks that have more than one color?

Stickboy101, I've been tinkering around with Creeping Chill and I moved a playset to the sideboard. I think they should come in against aggressive burn decks which deal damage faster than this build. I'm also considering maindecking 1-2 Macabre Waltz, which may be useful when you need a discarded Doom Whisperer, but I would have to cut removal to make room, and I think the deck needs as much removal as possible.

Thanks Apex_killjoy02! And that's a good question. I think the deck is consistent, fast and resilient enough to be competitive against multi-colored decks. Actually, I think the deck is much stronger now than it was pre-rotation with the addition of Doom Whisperer, Barrier of Bones, Necrotic Wound, and Severed Strands. My main concern is dealing with white decks running Remorseful Cleric, or decks sideboarding Sentinel Totem or Silent Gravestone. If my graveyard is cleared, I can fill it up again, or I can bring in Duress, Never Happened, or Sorcerous Spyglass from the sideboard to try to catch a threat before it's played.

How are you only running 16 zombies in here?! Have you seen Midnight Reaper? Check him out. 20 zombies has you at least a 50%, on average, chance to net that 4 points of damage liliana gives you off of a mill, which I'd expect would be a top priority to maintain being that you're running the full playset of liliana in your mainboard.

Also, I see you're considering Josu Vess, Lich Knight in here. JUST DO IT. You run 2 copies of Cabal Stronghold, but have literally 0 cards to cast from all that extra mana you can gain off it. I understand Liliana's ultimate can allow you to cast whatever zombie creatures you haven't already exiled with Bone Dragon or Graveyard Marshal, but I feel Josu, who btw, can be kicked in that particular interaction as well, is the perfect card to actually get you the win off ramping 11+ mana. 4/5 with menace is a fine body without the kicker, anyways.

Torgaar, Famine Incarnate I feel works as a "Self-sacrifice enabler'' for you here, who again, has a bit of synergy with Cabal Stronghold. Keep in mind it gives you the option to bring you, or your opponent to 10 life when it's successfully cast. It's a neat card, just saying.

I can be more specific, but instead I'm just going to work on brewing a deck inspired by this one, and I'll forward that to you and you can roast me right back if you please hahah. For now, I will share my Golgari deck that shares quite a bit of similar interactions with your deck: Liliana & Vraska Scissorfest

Great suggestions fettywapmtg! I took your advice and made some changes, let me know what you think. I've also been toying around with a Golgari deck, I'll check yours out.

Hey zAzen7977, I'm a new player to Magic, 'been playing for 3 months now. Because of what I got on my deck builder's toolkit, I've searched for a mono black.

I've been using your first version of this deck since then, playing against my friends at home, and I`ve just participated on my first showdown today and ended up in 5th out of 10 players.

I battled against a full Planeswalker deck, a Mono Blue (that focused on milling my deck... oh the irony). The last one was a meta R/B Aggro.

The deck performed pretty well against all of them, I feel that I lose mostly because my newbieness, not picking the right targets, attacking too soon etc.

Gotta say that Lost Legacy is really important to me as part of the side.

It was a blast and I want to thank you for sharing such fun deck.

It's quick and strong, if my opponent can't control the horde, it's almost impossible to lose.

I'm watching your future updates and can't wait to try it with the new cards from guilds.

Cheers!

donboni, thank you for your comment!!! I'm glad that you enjoy the deck as much as I do, and that you've had success playing it! Zombies are really satisfying to play with lately, especially with the return of Death Baron.

It's impressive that you've only been playing for three months, you're doing great. I've been playing for years and I'm still learning.

I really like MtG because the game is always changing and the community is so large, friendly, and like-minded. Plus TappedOut is an awesome resource! My decks have improved thanks to all the suggestions and comments I've received. Many heads are better than one.

Although I will miss Fatal Push, I think the deck is going to be even stronger after the rotation. Let me know how your battles go, and what your thoughts are about the new changes!

have you thought of running Price of Fame? pretty good removal and really hates on pesky legendary creatures plus gives you an edge on draw and self-mill with Surveil

also, I have no earthly idea on how to link a card in the comments