Out of curiosity, how often does Hythonia the Cruel go monstrous? I'm working on a similar deck, so I'm looking to figure out what's effective and what isn't effective. Have you considered Deathrite Shaman s? They're perfect for a board lockdown, as they can easily drain your opponent for 2 life every turn. Your deck seems pretty solid overall. I love seeing decks that actually can live up to the name "The Rock", because most of these builds are just silly by comparison. Check out my list once I get it posted, will ya?

Also for sideboard, you need Mistcutter Hydra . Against blue, it's a near-solid win. Sadly your sb already looks really solid, so I have no idea what you should cut from it.

@ bear-h8ter She get's mostrous more often than not. But I mainly play her flavorwise and I feel like she has to leave my deck sooner or later.

I have considered DRS, but my usually doesn't know 'board lockdown'. Mabye in a mirror-match. But even then DRS will only live for so long. (nice shennanigans if a board lockdown happens: use removal on your own Gray Merchant of Asphodel and bring him back with the Whip)

I also have considered Mistcutter Hydra , but I've found her a bit lackluster. Most control decks I've seen are Esper and they run Hero's Downfall and Doom Blade , what really makes the Hydra not as strong. Plus I cannot revive her with the Whip, another downside :/

How does your deck do against mono-red and other very aggressive decks?

Underworld Connections will work better with Gray merchant. I suggest using them instead.

@ TheHorse it all depends on the draws. If I can get T2 Caryatid T3 Demon/Reaper it's almost over for aggressive decks. Otherwise it's tough but not un-winable.

@ thewrush instead of what?

Underworld Connections instead of Read the Bones . UC also gives 2 black devotion.

@ thewrush

The thing with Underworld Connections compared to Read the Bones is: RTB has an more immediate effect on my play, whereas UC are more long-term oriented. True, they give me Devotion for Gray Merchant, but what realy stands out from RTB is the scry2. Cycling through up to 4 cards for 3 mana and 2 life is just insanely good.

Hythonia is freaking bad. Also 2 doom blade/hero's downfall will be better than 4 hero's.

I know Hythonia the Cruel is a weak point and she should be removed. But hey, if you lose againt my deck I can say: "wow, you're bad. You just lost against a deck utilizing Hythonia the Cruel !"

As for the Doom Blade : you're wrong. Doom Blade is better against decks running non-black creatures. True. But: If I happen to play against a deck running black creatures I have 2 dead cards in my deck. And this is something I don't want. Right now, there is no dead card in my deck, and I really don't mind spending one more mana ;)

Why only 2 Mutavault instead of 4?

I have many spells that cost me BB or GG. Don't want to screw up my manabase early on.

Well you are running the Sylvan Caryatid so your dual colors shouldnt be a problem.

Can't count on Sylvan Caryatid all the times. It's called consistency. If I happen to have Mutavault, Forest and Caryatid in my opening hand it's 'ok', but if I don't draw another Swamp or Tomb I'm in a very bad position. Running 4 Mutavaults would increase the chance of drawing into another Mutavault leaving me with only 2 colored mana.

Have you thought about dropping Hythonia the Cruel for either another Desecration Demon or Keepsake Gorgon ? Having another sweeper or a monstrous effect you can control is better than one that can hurt you as well

Think of Hythonia the Cruel as an unblockable 7 life swing to finish the game. If I replaced her it'd be a Desecration Demon . Keepsake Gorgon is just bad. If the monstrous-effect added 3 counters like in Hythonia's case, ok but else..

Maybe I'll take out 1 Boon Satyr and the Hythonia to run 2 Pharika's Mender , but that depends on how much enchantment hate will be around.

you're my new best friend for using gray merchant like me +1, you seem to get golgari pretty good let me know what you think my deck needs please :3 Post Rotation Rock

+1 for the name alone

Thank you :)

I can not speak highly enough of Devour Flesh they get around everything and with all the removal you have sometimes you'll run into one lone hexproof or indestructible guy who is just ruining your day. I suggest swapping Putrefy for Devour Flesh . Putrefy is awesome but I just don't see enough worrisome artifacts used that aren't also enchantments which you can get rid of with your Golgari Charm but a hexproof or indestrucible opponent could be a real threat and the life they gain isn't too much of a bother when you have your big boys out and swinging. So -2 Putrefy and +2 Devour Flesh is my suggestion. They work extremely well in my similar deck Don't bother, I'll kill it anyway (rock) (not so subtle hint to please come check it out and take out your anger at my criticism of your deck on it)

Other then that nit picky detail, I love it +1 from me

If they are left with one Fleecemane Lion or one Witchstalker I'm fine with that. My Reaper of the Wilds can block these bitches all day long. And if they happen to have a BBV online: so what. I swing with my DD for 6 damage each turn, or are you going to sac BBV to it? The thing with Devour Flesh is: If the happen to have a Mutavault (plenty of those in current standard) or any token generator it is basically useless. However there are some nice shenannigans you can make with saccing your own Gray Merchant of Asphodel and revive him with Whip. Other than that I like the diversity of my removal. Each removal can hit at least 2 relevant targets (given the Doom Blade does not, but I get to choose which creature dies).

Personal preference here. I would have 1 Read the Bones MB and put 2 Underworld Connections MB and put in 2 Mistcutter Hydra SB vs Esper/Mono-U. Applies pressure and can trade with BBoV at 5 mana.

My Boon Satyr already can trade with BBV and they don't even see it coming. I don't like running only 1 Read the Bones MB. It's my primer acceleration spell. Don't quite understand why I should cripple it? I will likely put one UC main and remove the Hythonia :'(

As for the Mistcutter Hydra : I don't have nearly enough ramp to really make it work and to be quite honest: Mono U is the least of my concerns as a match-up.

I love the Golgari Control/Midrange feel. I even built something sorta similar around slivers. I like the 3 Read the Bones , but I would suggest also putting in 2+ Underworld Connections as the lifegain from Whip of Erebos will keep you alive and the card advantage generated makes the deck go deep.

+1, rock on rock lobster

Removed 1 Abrupt Decay and 1 Hythonia the Cruel :'( to put in 2 Underworld Connections .

Thank's for the feedback Nigeltastic