cool deck. i've been trying to build a mono-black EDH discard deck for a while now but maybe i'll go black-red instead. i wasn't aware of Terminate and Blightning.

jruland: If you're looking for a mono-black list, my other version is Funeral Mist 8-Rack. There is a good resource for those styles of decks at this website: http://tinyurl.com/8rackprimer

ooo that's a cool list. how much success have you had with Murderous Cut? i've been considering throwing it in there.

It's an instant speed removal spell with no limitations on what it kills and costs 1 mana most of the time. It's pretty good. Especially in a deck where you are dumping cards in your graveyard.

yeah good point. i like the lack of limitations on targets.

if you like the utility of Surgical Extraction then Extirpate may be another card to consider

Extirpate would definitely be an option. I like Surgical Extraction in the current metagame, as the phyrexian mana lets me play Land, Discard Spell, Surgical on turn one against an aggressive deck. If I start running into more counterspells, Extirpate will definitely be replacing it.

i would honestly consider running Kolaghan's Command over Blightning. It just has so much more utility and instant speed is a huge benefit.

Kolaghan's Command is one of the cards that I will likely be putting in once I get some copies (it's pricey right now, and I just invested in some other pieces of this deck). ;) I don't think they will be replacing Blightning though. Discarding two is huge, and this deck plays largely at sorcery speed anyway. Maybe two of the Funeral Charms.

With SoI I'd put in Alms of the Vein over Syphon Life. You may even get to cast it for .

I've definitely been looking at the Madness cards to see if there are any options. Unfortunately, Alms only gets cast once, where I can cast Syphon Life every land I top deck during the end of the game. That being said, I'll definitely look into it. :)

Ah I didn't notice the Retrace on Syphon Life, fair enough really.

I like (though hate to play against it) the deck though! +1

May wanna consider Liliana of the Veil but she is insanely expensive right now.

Infernal Tutor maybe a good card in this deck, so you can search that key card you are looking for.

I think she would work great...just not $110 each great. I have a friend who will lend me a playset if I take the deck to a PPTQ. Infernal Tutor is a good idea. I'll give it a shot.

I used to play a rack deck that was similar, but I went mono black control. Nice build! Upvoted!

Thanks for the plus one! Favor returned. Hmm, since you're avoiding Lili I would definitely run at least three Liliana's Caress in here to add some pain. Aside from that I love the list and hope it runs well. Personally, I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to this deck style, but the color splash seems to add quite a bit on a budget.

I like anything Rakdos...this is something I want to try :-)

Rakdos in modern is wonderful to see. The fact that this is so grindy makes me happy as well. Heck, I have a commander deck that isn't built too differently. Mogis Hellbent, where I win via attrition and deprivation of answers. I hope you continue to see success with this. +1

Cool deck! The only thing I'd recommend is Kolaghan's Command over maybe Blackmail or Necrogen Mists and more Raven's Crime.

Great stuff!

Necrogen Mists is resulting in an overpopulated CMC 3 point in the deck, and pulling up your curve. I think that you will be doing a fine job of emptying your hand without it.

I think you can take them out, run 4 Lightning Bolt (its either removal or helping you get your opponent dead combined with the other damage - easy to get out of your hand for Ensnaring Bridge). You can then cut two land and run 2 Thoughtseize or an extra two Inquisition of Kozilek.

I think Smoldering Marsh needs more basic lands to work well, and more fetches to get basics and/or the Marshes. I think 2 Dragonskull Summit is strictly better here - you only need 1 basic instead of 2, and Blood Crypt also enables it. Or consider some Blackcleave Cliffs if you have any.

Augur of Skulls is welcome in any 8-rack deck. also try a copy or two of Spawning Pool

also try Guttural Response to get those blue spells

If you're wanting to speed up the game, Lilana's Caress couldn't be better here.

Ok. I am playing in a PPTQ this weekend and looking at picking up two copies of Kolaghan's Command and two copies of Ricochet Trap. The traps are to replace my other traps in the sideboard (Ravenous Trap) to address Hurkyl's Recall and similar effects, which merfolk uses to squish me. I am thinking about cutting some combination of 1-2 Necrogen Mists or Funeral Charm. I'll also see if I can borrow some copies of Liliana of the Veil. Thoughts/suggestions welcome.