APPLE01DOJ

Since I have no idea about your history playing just mono-black decks, I'm going to try and explain this as easily as possible.

This primer is mostly for people who want to play Mono-black competitively in Modern, I've been playing the deck for a number of years, so I have a strong understanding of what exactly should be played in mono-black. I'm sorry to say this but most of your points are either for casual players or just don't make sense.

I have to wonder if you've even tried to bring a mono-black deck to the competitive scene, as Phyrexian Arena is often the card that allows mono-black decks to grind out against decks like UW Control in addition to cards like Whip of Erebos.

While Fatal Push can work well when you play Ghost Quarters colorless lands in the manabase make it more difficult for you to cast cards like Phyrexian Obliterator, Gifted Aetherborn, and so on. Having actually tried to play Fatal Push in black decks, it works well when against decks like Death's shadow, but is painful against any deck that plays 3 drops and up, if anything play I'd play dismember. This is based on my experience with these decks.

I've added some of your suggested cards to the primer as mono-black aggro lists are usually hard to come by.

As for Crypt Ghast, if your 4 drops aren't game winning, you really shouldn't be playing them. Cards like Abyssal Persecutor, Phyrexian Obliterator, Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet, Lashwrithe, etc. are all better suited for the format.

As I said in the primer, Bitterblossom is usually only a 1-of in lists that I've seen. However, when combined with cards like Lashwrithe and Whip of Erebos the card can be much more powerful. The real issue is that it doesn't do anything immediately, and that can often be the difference between winning and losing.

Unless you are playing some sort of reanimator deck, Sheoldred, Whispering One is not viable for modern.

I've been playing mono black and g/b in modern for about 4 years. Despite anything you say or possible could fact is mono black Control, Midrange, Aggro, Devotion is not a competitive deck in modern. There is only 2 viable black decks in the format, Eldrazitron and 8Rack everything else is casual. So you need not bring that nonsense of casual or competitive into discussion.

Now I sympathize with you, when I started playing I said I want to be that person who makes mono black competitive. I've built about every mono black deck there is, from Aether Vialing Death's Shadow, to Rite of Consumptioning, Abyssal Persecutor, from Deathrite Shaman 8Rack to Tasigur, the Golden Fang, Painful Truths Smallpox and even Obliterator Devotion. My first deck was ramping Crypt Ghast into Sheoldred, Whispering One and honestly that deck has a better track record then most of the stuff listed above. The fact of the matter is that without access to artifact and enchantment mono black no matter how it's built will not be competitive.

Now you say Phyrexian Arena is what enables mono black to grind out games, no it's not. Dark Confidant is the card that does.

You say Fatal Push struggles against decks with three drops. No it doesn't. You just need to build your deck with more fetches. And before you argue about cost or anything like that, we're talking "competitive" remember? Basically the only thing that Fatal Push struggles against is Gurmag Angler and Primeval Titan. Victim of Night can't hit Gurmag Angler either for that matter.

Now I'm not saying Phyrexian Arena or Victim of Night are bad cards, they're both great. I'm saying Phyrexian Arena shouldn't be a 3 of in any "competitive" build. You're not going to cast it over Liliana of the Veil turn 3 and multiple copies will clog your hand while you find an opportunity to cast it. I'm not saying Victim of Night isn't worth running. I'm saying Fatal Push is the best removal mono black has. It's easy to trigger without a significant drawback with the same cost and more reach than Lightning Bolt.

APPLE01DOJ

I'm sorry that you don't understand what "competitive" in modern means. If were talking about viable decks in the meta, I'm sorry to say you either have no idea what you are talking about, or please just stop commenting. The fact that you think 8-rack is viable alone makes me wonder if you've ever played at a GP before. I have.

Having played with multiple people at SCG Modern events, Phyrexian Arena is the engine, especially if you are playing a lot of 4-6 drops. Many people even argue that Arena should be played over Lilli in some cases, as the engine makes everything else you play stronger. The fact that it requires something like Abrupt Decay is what makes it better. If you continue to say otherwise I can't say there's much hope for you.

If you recall from the primer, I said that without fetches Fatal Push is not viable. Obviously with fetches, push becomes the card to play, I'm sorry you don't read, but that's not my problem.

Now about the meta, if were talking about taking this to a place like a GP or online, you'll likely have a different list, because you want to make sure you can beat a deck like Eldrazitron, which is a colorless deck. Honestly if thats the meta you want to play mainboard Fulminator Mage and play Liliana, the Last Hope for recursion. Cards like Ratchet Bomb and whatnot can also be effective.

Of course you aren't going to win every game with a mono-black deck, even a deck like Soul sisters can be a hard matchup at times. If we are talking about a deck like Lantern Control, which has kinda dropped off as a matchup, then sure, we'll probably lose.

However, just because the online meta says a deck isn't good, doesn't mean you shouldn't play it. There's a reason decks like Bogles continue to perform well, even though the meta dictates they are not viable.

Actually Sargeras APPLE01DOJ Is the go to for advice on monoblack/G/B G/Bx and rock variants on this site. So I'm sorry that YOU actually don't understand what competitive in modern means. The fact alone that your shooting down Fatal Push (fetches or not) would tell any competitive magic player that you're confused.

Snapdisastermage

If you can't read what I've already said about Fatal Push, please don't comment.

How does the deck have negative upvotes? It seems very good btw, been following a few mono black devotion decks for modern lately.

viperfang4

Negative upvotes are caused by fake accounts upvoting a deck.

Nice primer! Very informative!

Have you considered Geralf's Messenger, Gatekeeper of Malakir, Fulminator Mage or Demigod of Revenge?

Well, oops, did not read through all the primer before i did that. This is a deck, but it is more of an overview of all the mono black strategies: 8 rack, devotion, etc. It drew me in cause i have been interested in making a devotion deck with possibly a demigod control sb.

I am a mono black player and it is all i have played in modern for a few years and I really enjoyed this primer +1 or -1 im not really sure

nope. the devil plays richard garfield EDH and turns all of his islands into black lotuses.

Catalog9000

Thanks for the upvote!

Negative upvotes are the result of fake accounts upvoting a deck.

Why is this budget tagged?

jolli20

This deck is a primer for pretty much any and all mono-black strategies, including many which are budget. As mentioned in the primer, the list at the top is one that I play, and I have given examples of decks that are well within the realm of budget.

If you are looking to build on a budget yourself, feel free to go through the primer, as I've included many budget alternatives and strategies to cards.

Cheers!

you might want to include a note at the beginning, before the "description" category to let people know that there are budget examples so impatient people don't read the decklist and go "this isn't budget!" and leave. Also I think the "Hello, welcome to the primer" paragraph in "Description" should actually come before "Description" itself just to give a bit of lead in to the rest of it and help avoid any confusion (idk maybe some people don't realize they can expand each section?).

Very well written, despite my criticism, and informative; I hope you do one on RDW next as I'm a huge fan of both red and black and would love to see your analysis on them!

ElPared

Thanks for the upvote and critique, I do plan on revamping the primer and will definitely take your suggestions to heart.

As for a burn primer, I have actually made one already for everything (save Jund Burn) I'll put a link here for you.

The Arsonist's Glee: Getting Into Burn On A Budget

Modern Sargeras

SCORE: -7 | 1 COMMENT | 1436 VIEWS | IN 3 FOLDERS

I have some other primers on my profile if you want to check them out as well.

I know it's not considered a good card for modern, but with your devotion, is a Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx worth it?

Quicksilver

The issue in my build is that most of the time, we are discarding our hand to Lilli, or are playing lower cost spells to keep our curve. If I was playing Bloodghast or Gravecrawler I might consider it more, but most of the time it's really just another swamp in our deck.

Great primer! What do you think of Phyrexian Scriptures as a variant Damnation? Also, I'm guessing Josu Vess, Lich Knight doesn't cut it in the 4-drop spot, but is there a possible shell for it?

BlazingAbsol

First off, thanks for the upvote, really appreciate it!

As for your suggestions:

While I like the saga cards, Phyrexian Scriptures isn't really on par with damnation, or many of the smaller sweepers (Like Flaying Tendrils or Mutilate) in many cases. The fact that it can't hit artifact creatures makes it bad against affinity, which would be a downside for your sideboard. The other reason is that since it wraths the turn after you play it, and you'd likely die before it was of use to you. (Imagine top-decking this when you need it!)

As for Josu Vess, Lich Knight, if you wanted to build a shell around him, you'd likely be doing the same thing you would for a deck that plays Grave Titan or Sheoldred, Whispering One, in that you'd want to be playing Crypt Ghast or Heartless Summoning to enable cost reduction. (If you wanted to use his kicker more consistently)

Although if you wanted to go taller with finishers, Grave Titan and the above Sheoldred would likely do more for you, but yes you can build a shell with him, as his 4 cmc mana cost does allow him to be an on-curve 4/5.

Cheers!