I've always liked Exalted so I centered around trying to make a good, budget friendly deck.
I'll be taking this to my local FNM tonight and give a detailed report on how it faired. I could use some suggestions of the sideboard. A few weeks ago when I went it seemed there were several token decks, which is why I have the Illness in the Ranks.
May 10th - FNM @Prairie Dog Comics
-3rd of 20-
Still a good turnout of my deck. This was also my first time testing it in a tournament setting with the adjustments I made to it to give it more of an edge. No worries, the modifications still barely affected the price and I found the Desecration Demons are not necessary, they just give a nice little mid - late game edge. Here's the report.
Round 1: Mono-Black Exalted vs. G/W Tokens [2-0]
It seems like I always start out with a relatively new player. He spent his turns ramping up into mid-game when I already have a +4 or 5 exalted buff waiting for an attacker. Both game one and two were won easily, nothing to really report.
Round 2: Mono-Black Exalted vs. Red Aggro [1-2]
Same guy I went 2-1 with last week. First game he had three Vexing devils within the opening phase of the game, and I had to let two of them resolve just for a lack of kill cards. I held out for awhile but was unable to stop a Hellrider backed by a Burning Tree - Lighting mauler combo he played the turn previously. Bah.
Game two I was able to bash at him due to him only have two Mountains on the field. That hindered him pretty bad. When he finally did drop his third land I had control of the game and swung with my Tormented Soul.
Game three. The loss was my own cockiness. This deck has been amazing in the fact that I very rarely have to mulligan. I drew an amazing hand, however just one problem -- Both lands were Cathedrals. I contemplated for a bit before keeping. Didn't draw a land for 2 turns. Fffffffffffffff-
Needless to saw his deck worked the way it should and burned me to death by turn 4. Lesson learned.
Round 3: Mono-Black Exalted vs. G/W Selesnya [2-0]
Game one was spent waiting when she consecutively played her playset of Farseek turn after turn, eventually ramping into... more ramp. She said she had a good hand that would give her early ramp, but she didn't expect to keep drawing ramp. Hah. Stuff happens.
Game two was a bit rougher. Populate is a bitch of a mechanic when you make an 8/8 Golem then throw a second and third onto the fired. Gahhhd. However I had a Nighthawk and my Desecration Demon in play, both keeping her at bay until she charmed by Demon and kept laying down Fog to negate my combat damage. Eventually I was simply able to push past her after several turns of drawing the exact kill cards I need. (Holy crap, no one expects Murder for some reason.)
Round 4: Mono-Black Exalted vs. B/W Control [2-0]
I wasn't expecting this deck. He used Priests of Avacyn to keep taping my creatures and help back with counter spells like Syncopate and Dissipate until he could drop Hexproof creatures. Game one started with him using two Priests to keep me at bay until I could use some Tragic Slips and Dead Weights on them. I was able to consecutively sneak damage in with a Tormented Soul pinging at him for 2 damage a turn for literally 4 turns. It was awesome.
Game two he was land flood into the mid game. Not much else to be said.
Round 5: Free For All, Mono-Black Exalted vs. R/W/D Naya vs. G/R Counters
Yeah. You read that right. FREE FOR ALL, BITCHES. Prairie Dog works a little differently were your ranking is tied with how well your opponents have done. The reason I was higher in the ranking was due to my only loss being to the Red Aggro, who actually went undefeated and placed 1st. (Good on him, he's a cool guy.) Second place went to my friends R/G Aggro deck. Anyway, they let the three of us that were tied for 3rd decide on what to do.. The crowd cheered for a free for all. Give the people what they want, right?
It was pretty awesome, actually. Everyone crowded around our table to watch a FFA where only the victor would walk out with packs.
One game. No two out of three. Here we go.
I played more control since I had never tested Exalted in an FFA situation. I duressed the Counter player and got rid of his Biomass. He responded by hitting me with 7 from his Hydra. Saw that coming I suppose.
The Naya played kept his attention on the R/G Counter due to him being more of a threat, however I was simply biding my time and building up my mana pool and kill card collection as they went at it. Naya threw down three Rancors on a Reckoner and finished off the Counter player. My turn.
Murder --> Voice of ResurgenceTragic Slip --> Boros ReckonerTragic Slip --> VoE Token
BOOM. Desecration Demon next turn. Next combat phase he had no creatures to sack. 10/10 flyer buffed by Exalted flew into his phase. He drew and shook my hand.
All in all, a fun night of Magic!
May 3rd - FNM @Prairie Dog Comics
-1st of 16-
Split for 1st! Not as many people as we have had previously, but still a nice turnout. The final was going to be against my best friend, so said screw it and split. Vampire Nighthawk is godly in this deck. I would be happy to never see him leave Standard.. Tormented Soul was a good early game attacker as well as a win condition of a few occasions.
Round 1: Black Exalted Vs. B/W Extort [2-0]
I felt that this player was pretty new to the game. I was about to beat him pretty easily without too much trouble. Not a lot to report.
Round 2: Black Exalted Vs. B/R Aristocrat [2-1]
Alright, this guy was a more experienced player. He was hitting me with early Cacklers and pumping out Aristocrats that he kept protecting with Geralf's Messenger. First game I won due him being land flooded and I was simply able to overwhelm him.
Second game went more in his favor. He mirrored my Nighthawk turn three and kept me at bay with burn spells until he dropped a Hellkite. It was down to the wire.
Game three I was back in control. Early Cathedrals and lifegain creatures, bolstered by the continued kill cards I kept drawing, got me the win and the match, He even was able to drop duo Aristocrats but I kept my Nighthawk twins on standby as Tormented Soul did his thing.
Round 3: Black Exalted Vs. Red Aggro [2-0]
This round was tight. He had a ton of early aggression with Reckless Waif and Stromkirk Nobles. We continued to trade blows until late game when he ran out of burn and tried to win using a Vexing Devil. Luckily I had stocked up 2 kill cards and negated enough enough damage to swing for win next turn with Tormented Soul.
Next match was just as close, and I was honestly surprised that my deck was keeping up with mono-red. I sideboarded in some extra kill cards which helped a lot. I was able to land two Nighthawks this game, keeping him at bay until he burned them. However by then they had already done their fair share and I was able to rush in with a Servant back up by some kill cards for victory.
The last match would of been against my friends R/G Aggro deck, but as I said we split for first since we basically share our collection anyways.
All in all I am proud of this deck. From this point I can only improve upon it!
