Elegy in B Minor

Modern Combo Mono-Black

Balaam__

Sorcery (20)

• 4x Dimir Machinations
• 4x Inquisition of Kozilek
• 4x Scheming Symmetry
• 4x Thoughtseize
• 4x Unearth

Creature (16)

• 4x Maralen of the Mornsong
• 4x Netherborn Phalanx
• 4x Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
• 4x Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire

Land (24)

• 4x Cavern of Souls
• 4x Field of Ruin
• 4x Ghost Quarter
• 12x Swamp

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Sideboard

Instant (12)

• 4x Apostle's Blessing
• 4x Dismember
• 4x Surgical Extraction

Artifact (3)

• 3x Tormod's Crypt

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Maybeboard

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Grim Tutor

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A Modern format version of my original Vintage format Maralen of the Mornsong deck, Threnody in B Major. We lose a bit of acceleration without fast mana and tutoring isn’t as direct, but the core mechanics are remarkably well preserved, all things considered.

The Mana Base

We’re running mono black so the classic Swamp will be most of what drains into our mana pool, but we do have a few tricks up our sleeve.

• Cavern of Souls enables us to fly under blue’s radar, dodging potential counterspells. Since it’s likely you’ll get to play two copies of this land, just name ‘elf’ and ‘demon’ as your creature types and you’re all set.

The two remaining lands will be discussed further down below.

Disruption

This deck lacks the raw speed of its Vintage counterpart, so I’ve elected to include hand disruption to help compensate. Think of it in these terms: We’re not as fast off the starting line anymore, so if we can’t outpace the opponent what we can do is to trip him before he has the chance to zip past us.

• Thoughtseize removes potential threats before they become problematic.

• Inquisition of Kozilek functions much the same. Use it on anything suspicious.

Seek, And Ye Shall Find

Being both mono black and Modern format, we lose access to most of the best tutors. Demonic Tutor is out; so are Vampiric Tutor , Cruel Tutor , Demonic Consultation , Worldly Tutor and Sylvan Tutor . Diabolic Tutor is too slow; Infernal Tutor doesn’t really help us; Spoils of the Vault is too risky for a number of reasons, and while Grim Tutor is an option...I don’t personally own any, so I’ve left it out. What we need is a reliable method of distilling each half of our creature combo to our hand, and to do that we’re going to utilize one legitimate tutor followed by two cards that contain the Transmute mechanic.

• Scheming Symmetry will find any card, and for cheap. But it opens the door for the opposing player to set up a big play of their own. If only there were some way to undo that terrible drawback...

• Dimir Machinations will let us call Maralen of the Mornsong or Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire to hand for 3 mana. Aside from this, it really shines when used just after playing Scheming Symmetry . Cast it and consign to oblivion whatever the opponent just put on top of their library.

• Netherborn Phalanx is here to tutor up Ob Nixilis, Unshackled . I think if I ever acquired a playset of Grim Tutor , I’d replace the phalanx with it simply because it would have more overall value.

The Duo

Maralen of the Mornsong + Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is a devastating, one-of-a-kind combo that was very fun to design a deck around.

In my Vintage format Threnody in B Major deck, I was able to circumvent the only real downside to the combo (that being it works best if Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is on the battlefield first) using graveyard reanimation techniques to bypass his 6cmc requirement. I haven’t found a consistent way to pull it off in Modern, but I’m open to suggestions if anyone has any ideas.

• Maralen of the Mornsong is a harsh mistress. Immediately upon entering play she levies a hefty series of restrictions on friend and foe alike, upending the core mechanics of the game itself. Drawing cards for any reason ceases; a mandatory 3 life penalty per draw step is imposed on all players, putting everyone on a clock.

Some things to keep in mind: “Players can’t draw cards” doesn’t just refer to the draw step. It’s an all inclusive effect that shuts down any and all methods of drawing a card, such as cycling, multiple choice cards (like Cryptic Command ), or even just a straight up draw spell (like Oona's Grace ). The opponent may still choose to play these spells or select a particular multiple choice option, but they will not draw any cards.

I included Unearth primarily as a way of ensuring Maralen of the Mornsong stays in play, one way or another. If mana is tight, remember—you could shave off one by casting Thoughtseize or Inquisiting yourself if she happens to be in hand, then simply Unearth her. Also viable on Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire .

• Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is the other half of our creature feature. A capable (if overcosted) card in his own right, he comes with a bit of built in evasion in the form of flying, and has two additional characteristics that compliment each other quite well. He’s a Trampler that grows stronger the more creatures die around him. Of course, it’s his middle trait we’re most interested in. Combined with Maralen of the Mornsong this is a match made in Heaven—for us. For everyone else, it’s a match made...elsewhere.

Search and Destroy

A turn or two after the combo materializes, the opponent will already be hemorrhaging life points. Let’s do what we can to help them along.

• Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire was a pleasant surprise when I was looking at the Kaldheim expansion. Right away I knew he’s a perfect fit for what this deck is striving for. His creature type falls under the umbrella of protection offered by Cavern of Souls , and Deathtouch is a nice bonus. But we’ll be using this arrogant braggart mostly for his Boast ability—a reuseable 10 point hit to the opponent’s life total for only two mana.

Remember those other lands we glossed over when detailing the mana base? Here’s where they’re put to full use.

• Field of Ruin targets any non-basic land the other player has on the table and obliterates it. Then each player searches their library for a basic land card to play; the opponent reeling from losing a whopping 10 life, while we get to plop down a fresh Swamp for our trouble.

• Ghost Quarter is salt in an open wound, particularly if used immediately after Field of Ruin . ”That’s the saltiest thing I ever tasted—and I once ate a big heaping bowl of salt!!”

• Scheming Symmetry can be used as a tutor if absolutely necessary, but the preferred usage is once Maralen of the Mornsong + Ob Nixilis, Unshackled are in play. 10 life points lost for a mere . Yikes.

TL;DR

•Stall for time playing Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek

•Find Maralen of the Mornsong and Ob Nixilis, Unshackled and play them

•Force the opponent to search their library using Scheming Symmetry , Field of Ruin , Ghost Quarter or Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire ’s ability for massive life loss

The Sideboard

The sideboard looks good, but I think it could be better.

• Apostle's Blessing to protect our key combo creatures, since anyone familiar with the combo will want to remove one of them as quickly as possible. No need to adjust the mana base, just pay the phyrexian mana cost. Instead of frittering away our life points on fetch- or shocklands, use it here.

• Dismember for a little creature removal of our own. I debated something like Go for the Throat , but I settled on Dismember .

• Surgical Extraction to try and avert catastrophe before it strikes twice.

• Tormod's Crypt to banish graveyard-centric decks.

”A time to search, and a time to give up as lost...”

Top Ranked	Achieved #9 position overall 3 years ago Achieved #1 position in Modern 3 years ago
Date added	3 years
Last updated	3 years
Key combos	Maralen of the Mornsong + Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 0 Mythic Rares 20 - 7 Rares 20 - 4 Uncommons 4 - 4 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.78
Folders	Modern, Modern Decks, modern, Ideas, Playtests