This is certainly a well-made deck, it looks like you have carefully thought out your creature choices. I took the time to read through the comments and it looks like a lot of avenues have been covered for johnny suggestions, so i'll just focus on the few suggestions I can think of that could help your tempo.

I think Despise should have some sort of role to play in this deck, be it mainboarded or sideboarded. The only thing stopping you from swinging hard into your opponents early game is their creatures and the occasional removal spell, so having a means to eliminate their creature before they can play it (especially for any ETB effects) will help you immensely. I won't mention the significance of this for removing key creatures or planeswalkers that could shut your game down (i.e. from a White player's perspective: Mirran Crusader, Gideon's Lawkeeper, Fiend Hunter, Grand Abolisher to name a few. Don't neglect the occassional Faith's Shield or Apostle's Blessing that could pop if you've already waited for the creature to be cast).

Next, you have a ton of lands (23) and a low curve (capping at six 4cmc creatures). I think you have room in here to add a bit more firepower, maybe 2x Grave Titan or 2x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. This is a low-key change for a card that can sit in your hand until you have 6 lands, and there is no question you will run out of cards to cast with all that land and land-draw available, so you might as well have a game-ender to lay down at that point. You could probably even get away subbing out 1 more swamp for a creature.

Also, I think you could probably do without Mortarpod and possibly even Fume Spitter. I know that the ping can be great but your creatures are going to die anyways since you're going to be throwing them all at your opponent in order to stay effective, and you may not have the mana to attach Mortarpod effectively OR use Fume Spitter after the first few turns. Having something like Black Cat is timeless in lethality because it forces a random card discard for your opponent and will make them think twice about attacking you, which is crucial if you need a bit more time or you've just lost your offensive initiative. Further, it adds to the zombie tribal and would help make something like Ghoulcaller's Chant even more effective in this deck.

Think about it, a Geralf's Messenger brought back for two more lives RIGHT after your opponent had to deal with it and its ETB effect twice already.

And finally, consider adding 1 or 2 Exsanguinate as a finisher or lifesaver for a turn where you're already sitting on a ton of mana with nothing left to cast. That card works wonders for any tempo deck. I would at least try to fit one or two in your sideboard.

That's it! Hope that helps a bit! And a well-deserved +1 as well.

Also, I normally wouldn't recommend this, but it may be worth it in your deck's case to have some Undying Evil in here. That card is a fantastic means to keeping your creatures in the game, and a free return on a Phyrexian Obliterator , Black Cat, or Phyrexian Metamorph with all of the removal out there could be an asset to maintaining an aggressive approach against your opponent. Cards like the obliterator or aristocrat have auto-bullseyes painted on their foreheads and that card ensures it stays on the field and the opponent wastes a killspell.

If I were you, I would keep it pretty close to straight zombies (B or UB) - no Phyrexian Metamorph or Falkenrath Aristocrat, but I think Phyrexian Obliterator can stay. Make another deck for Falkenrath Aristocrat. If you would like an example of a fast BR vamps deck, here's one I made: Stromkirk Wins. Also, would you please answer my question in response to your comment on The End of HvZ? Thanks!

Do you have any reasoning behind your suggestion to take out the metamorph and aristocrat, other than theme?

Nevermind...for some reason I thought you had Diregraf Captain in your deck, in which case Mortarpod is much more useful if you limit yourself to zombies. I'm looking at too many decks and getting them confused - sorry.

why the Porcelain Legionnaire?

I like this, will serve as inspiration for my black deck.

@vampire_nighthawk don't be! I completely understand, it's easy to get things mixed up when you are all over the place.

@taeroen I think I mentioned in the updates, but it's for the versatility and mind game potential.

@albertflasher Thanks man! Hope it serves you well~ If you think you can make some better changes to it, I'd be happy to know!

Your deck is very interesting. Caught my attention because it has because it has some similarities with my deck:sacrifice-of-the-damned.I do not know if the purpose of Fume Spitter is to remove the +1 / +1 counters of Geralf's Messenger, if it is, Hex Parasite is also a good option. Nice deck!Take a look at my deck and give me your opinion!

deck:sacrifice-of-the-damned

Alright, I finally read through all the comments, thought about your deck, and have come to a conclusion.

My conclusion is:

.

.

.

You're playing the wrong splash.

I believe, absolutely, that you should be playing U/B Zombies. Diregraf Captain is TOO strong to be ignored, and you get access to some of the sickest effects in Magic.

You are keen on making this a tempo deck, correct? Well, the number one tempo card in standard at the moment is probably Vapor Snag. Also, you get things like Phantasmal Image. Think of this scenario:

Geralf's Messenger

Opponent: Target's the Image. It dies.

IMAGE TRIGGERS WITH UNDYING

You: Image returns to play, copying Geralf's Messenger

---

That just seems too strong to ignore. Plus you get things like Think Twice or, even better, Forbidden Alchemy to power through your deck and smooth things out.

Unfortunately I'm suggesting you basically re-make your entire deck, so I will sit down and think out a list that I think would make you happy. You tell me what you think, cards you like, don't like, and any information about your local meta (The FNM report is super helpful!) and I'll see if we can't make you the best list possible for Zombies.

Sound like a plan?

-BuLLZ3Y3

True, Image has some sick interaction with undying, as does Phyrexian Metamorph. Metamorph is more resilient, but in the scenario with the Messenger, you don't really care if it leaves the battle field, so long as it was not exiled. In tempo decks, I don't think generic card advantage is needed. But gravecrawler and the Messenger do provide for some card advantage that will carry you through a game. My meta is pretty aggro oriented, but control is coming back in popularity. Will be seeing a lot of B/U control and Esper Control. Atm, with this list, B/U control is still a very difficult matchup. What do you think about taking out a swamp, and 2 Phyrexian Metamorphs for 3x Brimstone Volley?

I have been playtesting this deck against some of mine for the past hour and a bit or so because I really like it. Here were the results (from your deck's view):

0-2 vs. White Lightning (white weenie excel)

2-0 vs. deck:puresteel-paladins-entourage (mono-white equipment)

1-2 vs. The Broken Token Battalion (W/B human tokens (primarily) + big drops)

0-2 vs. Fury of the Forsaken (W/U spirit tokens + spirit tribal)

So, what I noticed during these games was your deck's crazy potential for strict damage to the player. Thus, I have to agree with you that red is an excellent choice as a compliment colour. I got to fire off your Vampire Aristocrat a few times, and boy is that some cheap sh*t with Gravecrawler. 90% of the time you were also able to bring back the Gravecrawler the same turn you attacked. And don't doubt the Highborn Ghoul either, he has a unique advantage in your deck: he's not high enough a threat to warrant a killspell, but yet his intimidate means he cant be blocked. With 2 of these out it was rough.

If I could make some suggestions, here is what they would be. First, take out that 1 mountain you have. It actually cost you the game vs my token battalion deck because you couldn't play a number of your cards (the Phyrexian Obliterator in particular, which would have won you the game). Almost all of your cards have solid black mana costs only. So since red is the secondary colour of this deck, I would second its mana to ONLY your dual lands. You would be suprised how terrible it is to draw great cards in your hand, only to have a mountain that hinders you from playing any of them.

Take out Stormblood Berserker. You have the right idea with bloodthirst but he is not the card for this deck. I would rather see a vampire with bloodthirst or something. Also, take out the Phyrexian Metamorph. It doesnt serve its purpose often and it will cost you 2 life to often copy something ultimately redundant. It's a control card that doesn't really fit with your aggro/tempo element.

I also would advocate to get rid of your Mortarpods. Most of the time they just sat around and weren't useful. It's a great ping card but by the time you have the mana to start using it and not cast creatures, the 1 damage it deals isn't that significant anymore. It does combo nicely with Gravecrawler though, so I will give you that. Fume Spitter is a MUCH better alternative.

Overall, here are my suggestions: -1 Mountain -2 Phyrexian Metamorph, -3 Stormblood Berserker, -2 Geth's Verdict, -2 Mortarpod. THEN, +3 Despise, +4 Ghoulcaller's Chant (non-negotiable), +3 YOUR (mixed) CHOICE of Skinrender, Black Cat, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Cemetery Reaper, Geth, Lord of the Vault, Highborn Ghoul, or even more Falkenrath Aristocrat. My personal suggestion would be 3 Cemetery Reapers, but that's just me.

Wow sorry I didnt mean Vampire Aristocrat there, I totally meant Falkenrath Aristocrat. Lol.

And my reasoning for the Cemetery Reaper is because he would be a monster with your zombie push. You are constantly slamming your opponent with zombie cards, and so having their stats buffed a bit with a fellow zombie card (that, I might add, can exile opponent's creatures from their graveyard so your opponent can't res them, AND getting a free 3/3 zombie from it) is an awesome deal. I would probably see him as a direct replacement for your Stormblood Berserker cards.

This is all just one person's opinion though. Whatever angle you take this deck runs well and had my vote a long time ago.

I think Skinrender & Cemetery Reaper would be awesome in this deck.

if you wanna check out my take on this, look at my deck deck:dablackattack... its tooken first and second in my past 2 FNMs...

seconded on the Cemetery Reapers

@MetaphysicalxProdigy: Thanks so much for the feedback man!! I agree with taking out the Phyrexian Metamorph, against other aggro decks, it's not that great and it can end up a dead card. Decided to remove 1 to mainboard a Sword of War and Peace, and I'm going to remove the other one to make my 2 drop slot a 4 of. I'm torn between either Highborn Ghoul and Vampire Interloper, so for now I'm splitting it at 2/2. Despise is a strictly proactive card, but that means I'm not playing a creature. That's why I feel it's better in the sideboard. Ghoulcaller's Chant certainly seems like it should be good, but the only targets I have are Highborn Ghoul and Geralf's Messenger. Otherwise it's not worth it. Mortarpod kills a lot of things in the meta right now, and always gives me something to do with my mana. Skinrender I don't like, because I could be playing an Obliterator or and Aristocrat instead. I used to run Cemetery Reaper as a 4 of, but it's just not a bomb like Geralf's Messenger is, and I would run Phyrexian Metamorph over the Reapers for just that reason. Black Cat is more control, because I can't really be aggressive with a 1 power 2 drop, and zombie Mikaeus is too expensive to cast reliably. Keeping Geth's Verdict in here is imperative to deal with Hexproof creatures, especically since I am taking out Phyrexian Metamorph completely.

Thank you all for taking an interest in my deck and I hope I am clear in explaining the reasoning behind my decisions.

I am glad I could give you some thoughts for your deck! And you are also clear in your explanations - I agree with you for your choice about Skinrender and Cemetery Reaper. All that I can suggest is for you to somehow try Ghoulcaller's Chant, because that card would just make this deck just that much more devastating than it already is. Don't forget that it works for Diregraf Ghoul and Highborn Ghoul in addition to Geralf's Messenger and Gravecrawler. It would really compliment with going 4 slots of Highborn Ghoul. And it's not like you would even need to use it for Gravecrawler either. But it doubles as a Disentomb as well, and say you were giving someone absolute hell with your Falkenrath Aristocrat or Phyrexian Obliterator and they JUST managed to kill it and would be screwed if it came out again? Well, the card's versatility gives you that option too.

To me, the focal point of power in this deck is the Geralf's Messenger and the Gravecrawler. The vampire is great but can be limited if you dont have Gravecrawler or another expendable creature available (not to mention susceptibility to -1/-1 counters). The fact that you could res Geralf's Messenger a second time, with ANOTHER zombie card, and make your opponent lose 4 life and deal with 2 creatures all over again (in addition to your other zombie ressurected) seems worth it for just 1 mana to me. If you get a chance I would recommend trying it with 2-3 of them in just once or twice, just to see what I mean (and humor me :P). It fully supports the tempo of strict life loss and creature bombardment against your opponent better than any other card, even other creature cards like Cemetery Reaper (because, as you said, it's more valuable to have Geralf's Messenger out). But either way man, you have done well with this deck, and I think it can only ever get much stronger from here.

p.s., i dont think Despise ever made it into your sideboard. Also, in the event you play someone who has an answer for Highborn Ghoul, I would have some sideboard-specific cards for him in case his intimidate gets nullified.

You asked what I thought, and I think this: I believe your deck could kick the pants off of mine. I had a haphazardly thrown together assortment of cards, you have a very well-thought-out Magic machine.

Definitely a +1 from me.

Soulcage Fiend you sure it does enough? it could kil lyou (which opponents will try to take advantage of)

i actually prefer Olivia Voldaren over aristrocrat because olivia can controll the field a bit while aris gets chumped all day by Lingering Souls' tokens..

other than that, +1

and a side note.. i miss Bloodghast

Olivia Voldaren is really more of a control card. While her abilities are awesome, she's a 3/3 for 4 that doesn't do anything the turn she comes in and, playing aggro, you rarely even have the mana open to make much use of her. Falkenrath Aristocrat, on the other hand, is 4 damage the turn she comes in with the added bonus of being one of the most annoying creatures to remove; and that's before you consider the fact that she's basically a Killing Wave on a stick with Blood Artist out.

huginnson A flying 3/3 for 4 that cant be Geistflamed or Gut Shot is better than Falkenrath Aristocrat... Falkenrath Aristocrat is great. but The Blood Queen is better.

Soulcage Fiend is very underrated. It shines in my deck, because it's almost always guaranteed 3 life lost. Of course, against decks that can race with me, I'd side it out. But if I'm ahead in life total, it's a great card! And yes, Olivia Voldaren is more of a control card. I never really want to have more than 4 mana, and I'd have to wait a turn before I swing with a 3/3 or I'd have to heavily invest in her, potentially not playing another beater. Falkenrath Aristocrat is so relevant because of the haste, and I can always sacrifice a creature in response to a Gut Shot; they probably won't waste a burn spell on it anyway. Also, the Killing Wave on a stick with Blood Artist out makes for an easy finisher.

So I had a playtest against my deck:birthing-of-the-genesis-elves,

Game 1 we both mullagan to 6, you got a little mana screwed which slowed you down and left you unable to cast removal effectively on my elves. I cast a Genesis Wave , flashbacked it and ended it next turn.

Game 2 you sideboard 3x Whipflare for g' blastl. You are a lot quicker this time getting 2 gravecrawlers straight out, I try to build up some mana but the best I can do is viridian emessary. Turn 5 you swing with gravegrawler and 2x Falkenrath Aristocrat ftw. You had a few burn spells left in your hand but didnt need them.

Game 3 I sideboard Stingerfling Spider for hollowhenge scavanger. We both get off to a decent start, you are quicker and litter the board with zombies. I chump block and turn 5 Birthing Pod into Molten-Tail Masticore and start picking your creatures off (card:Geralf's Messenger was annoying) you eventually found an answer by Incinerate ing after I had blocked a Stormblood Berserker but by that time you only had 2 zombies out (one a gravecrawler) I was down to 5 life lol. I got a few more creatures out and eventually Primeval Titan you drew mostly land and kinda ran out of steam at the end.

I like the deck, its hard to stop and can be very quick lol. I probably didnt play it to the best of its ability but I still might suggest some card advantage (in some draw spells), the creature resilience worked wel but when I did get rid of them, you had nothing left in the tank. +1 anyway it was fun to play.