What is a man? throws glass A miserable little pile of secrets! But enough talk... On to the description!
A vampire deck that's seen a great deal of success so far, and the first deck I completed after joining MtG in 2010. The low-mana creatures are what really makes this deck work, being able to quickly fill the board with swing-happy creatures, so that on turn 3 or 4 when I drop one of the 8 lords in this deck, it leads to some really explosive plays.
I've always loved stories about vampires, which i have to say, influenced me when I started playing this game. From Hellsing to Castlevania to classic tales of blood-drinking horrors that spread fear and terror in centuries past, the dark tales of vampiric lore have held a special place to me.
I actually did give this deck a backstory, and went so far as to create a fan-made PlanesWalker that the story centers around. I won't go into great detail at present, but this is just one of the things I've really immersed myself in.
I guess I should quickly explain the name. My Vampire Nocturnus have promo art, which just screams Castlevania. His flavor text, to me symbolizes that when I topdeck a black card, the sun sets, and the cursed night begins, empowering vampires with evil strength. After this, opponents' lives tend to "set" pretty quickly, if you know what I mean. It reminds me of the day changing to night in Castlevania 2, after which the minions of Dracula relentlessly pursue the cursed Simon Belmont until dawn.
I guess I should explain some of my sideboard choices.
Rakdos Charm:
Oh my bloody Dracula, this card is amazing. Hits Affinity, Dredge, Death's Shadow, and many more, in many cases clinching a win by itself. Tarmogoyf is a lot less scary when he's suddenly a 1/2 or 2/3. Can be a giant middle finger to things like Kitchen Finks if timed properly. It says "NO" to delving for Tasigur, the Golden Fang, Gurmag Angler or Become Immense. Artifact hate is never a bad thing. This is actually my favorite Instant in all of Magic. Incredibly versatile card. This card is so versatile it almost feels like I'm somehow cheating by having extra sideboard slots. This has value in the Thopter matchup for obvious reasons, as does the next card:
Engineered Explosives:
Trying this out over Ratchet Bomb. Answer to token generation, affinity, delver, and so on. Just an overall great sideboard card. Being able to immediately wipe 2 CMC for 4 mana is very nice, admittedly. Especially against decks like Merfolk. Here's the thing, tough: if I don't immediately use it, EE requires me to have 2 mana open. This deck dislikes constraints on my own mana. In the case of ratchet bomb, it can pop at any time for free. I mostly use this for Affinity and Tokens. So I'm on the fence about which to run. For the moment, it stays.
Crumble to Dust:
More or less neuters Eldrazi Tron with one card.
Grafdigger's Cage:
My out to Instant Reanimator, Dredge, flashback effects and more.
Leyline of the Void: Goyf can go die. So can Dredge (again).
Liliana, the Last Hope:
Good for picking off one toughness creatures, can buff my bigger things or vamps buffed with lords, can filter through my deck faster to get my creatures, and has synergy with Kalitas.
Surgical Extraction:
Do I really need to explain this one?
Dragon's Claw:
Burn is my worst matchup. Worse than Eldrazi last banlist. They're a lot less scary when their burn spells only deal 2 damage. I can also gain life off of my own red spells.
Fulminator Mage:
Land hate that can attack or chump block. Effective against Tron in particular. Effective against the occasional Valakut deck. Can block and sac to kill a manland. He's faster than Crumble to Dust, good as that card is, coming in before Tron can be assembled if I'm going first. He's also black, triggering Nocturnus' buff.
Pithing Needle, Torpor Orb, Slaughter Games, Boil, Shatterstorm, Inquisition of Kozilek and Pyroclasm are also good side cards. Maybe Deathmark too, or Vampire Hexmage to deal with walkers.
As of SoI I should mention: I feel the best new vamps (besides Kalitas) are Heir of Falkenrath
(half the set screams "abuse Bloodghast!" and she's a 3/2 flyer for 2 mana), Asylum Visitor (a 5th Bob basically, and 3 power for 2 mana is big), Falkenrath Gorger (great out to Liliana, can be sided against Jund/Abzan. Has great stats for 1 mana) and Insolent Neonate (draw power).
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