Zomboss - Modern Reanimator

Modern Aggro Mono-Black Reanimator Zombie

CoreDummy

Creature (26)

• 4x Blood Artist
• 4x Butcher Ghoul
• 2x Cemetery Reaper
• 2x Diregraf Ghoul
• 4x Geralf's Messenger
• 4x Gravecrawler
• 2x Liliana, Heretical Healer  ^Flip
• 4x Nantuko Husk

Land (20)

• 20x Swamp

Enchantment (2)

• 2x Retribution of the Ancients

Instant (4)

• 2x Dismember
• 2x Doom Blade

Sorcery (8)

• 2x Ghoulcaller's Chant
• 2x Profane Command
• 4x Sign in Blood

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Sideboard

Artifact (2)

• 2x Pithing Needle

Instant (6)

• 2x Dismember
• 2x Doom Blade
• 2x Surgical Extraction

Sorcery (7)

• 2x Damnation
• 3x Infinite Obliteration
• 2x Self-Inflicted Wound

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Maybeboard

Creature (6)

• 4x Lifebane Zombie
• 2x Lord of the Undead

Enchantment (3)

• 3x Endless Ranks of the Dead

Artifact (1)

• 1x Relic of Progenitus

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Zomboss!

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Introduction

"Sometimes dead is better" - Stephen King

Enter the Crawling dead. Much like the AMC hit and miss "The Walking Dead", this deck is aimed at killing your opponents hope and doing so in a much quicker fashion.

The deck revolves around some basic Zombo cards and graveyard synergy. What started off as a budget build into Mono Black eventually led me down this path and I must say that the deck is really lots of fun to play with. In addition to the fun factor, it also has been proven to be powerful enough to maintain steady win rates at my local FNM as well as a few other FNM event locations here in South Africa.

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The Curve

My idea from the start was to maintain the CMC of 3. No more, no less. 3 shall be the CMC and number of the CMC shall be 3. Four shall it not be, neither shall it be 2. Expect if it were to be proceeded by 3. Five is right out! Once the CMC of 3 be the number that be reached, then thou shall lobest thine Zombies at opponents face. (I love Monty Python)

The base of it was to retain the CMC of 3 for specific reasoning... The reanimation factor perfectly fits into the scheme of the plays. Meaning... As most effective plays can be done when 4 disposable mana is available. Enabling some great combos. In addition the further early game (Round 1 - 4) allows for a good setup or removal strategy. Mostly giving a solid lead early on. Having Blood Artist onboard along with the Undying creatures also plays into a dynamic of its own. Adding more possibility. Whilst also relying on 3 - 4 mana.

My reasoning might still need some refinement, however I am happy with the current CMC.

Liliana, Heretical Healer   - Props to AndWelcomeToTheJam

Geralf's Messenger

Cemetery Reaper

Nantuko Husk

With Dismember coming in for removal, where 2 life is more usually used to pay the cost along with  and 

Having 37.5% of the cards set at the Maximum CMC hasn't really been an issue thus far.

Another cool thing worth noting is that this also forms the basis for a Tiny Leaders deck which I am currently working on! :)

I will add that in cases where board control is lost and the opponent gets a chance to establish a good lead I am overly reliant on my Cemetery Reaper to buff up my creatures. This really only happens when I don't get the combo off. But still is a possibility. 

Having said that, I believe a well placed Profane Command can greatly assist me in re-establishing a lead. 

 

 

 

 

Running only 20 lands has proved to be effective and efficient. 

 

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The Play

The deck offers versatility. This was my first and foremost focus. Make something versatile.

Either Diregraf Ghoul or Gravecrawler on Turn 1

Followed by Blood Artist

and then Butcher Ghoul or Geralf's Messenger

with the 4th turn adding Cemetery Reaper to play.

This gives you a potential 10 damage on board.

Having said that, this relies on establishing your board and not needing to deal with anything else. Doesn't happen too often but when it does it feels a bit underwhelming but still OK.

 

Gravecrawler Turn 1

Followed by Blood Artist

and then Geralf's Messenger

with the 4th turn adding Nantuko Husk

Thus giving potential Lethal on the 5th / 6th turn.

With my recent idea of adding Profane Command I can knock my opponent for X life and give my creatures Fear. This feels more solid than my current build. So I'll test it some and update later on. 

 

Simple as can be... 

Step 1 - Establish much Zombie

Step 2 - Remove his/her stuff

Step 3 - Establish more Zombie + Possible +1/+1 Buff

Step 4 - Profit

 

I am eager to see what the actual synergy will be between Geralf's Messenger and Retribution of the Ancients as it can also potentially ensure a victory in the mid to late game. With the assistance of Nantuko Husk and excess mana. All this whilst also applying -1/-1 counters to his threats. 

With 4 mana available and the required creatures in play you can keep sacrificing Geralfs Dude to the Husk and removing the counters. Setting up a Husk with 10/10, costing the opponent 8 life and getting a total of -4/-4 on his creatures. If a Blood Artist is in play you can add an additional 4 life lost to the mix. Totalling then at 12 life lost just by doing your thing. If the board establishes the right way this can be achieved at around turn 6.

But what about Liliana? You ask

Liliana, Heretical Healer   was added by a suggestion from a fellow Tappedout.net member. I still have to play test with her and I'll post in the Updates section. However, It's Liliana... She is OP as hell. So yeah. I can see her adding MUCHO value to the deck. Whether it be in getting the opponent slowed down or amping up my own tempo. She is a sure win.

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The Draw

So you might be looking at it and saying: "If you don't draw into what you need early on, then you are screwed" 

Well, Yes and No... I have a set of Sign in Blood available to assist with the draws and believe me when I tell you: They ALWAYS seem to end up in my hand when I need them. Don't know if it's luck but it works. Besides. Adding more draw means having to remove more combo pieces and ultimately slowing the deck down.

With my recent addition of Ghoucaller's Chant compliments of dritchie it is damn near INSANE. I completely overlooked the card when I did my initial concept and I am super glad that there are some copies in now. It opens up yet another path to get my Zombos back on the board and has actually meant the difference between winning or losing.

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The Bad

I am open to all comments and suggestions. 

Please and Thanks! It really greatly assists me in getting this bad boy even more refined and oiled up. 

So what are the downsides?

Well, actually I can't think of too many of the top of my head. But sure killers will be Pithing Needle, Tormod's Crypt, Grafdigger's Cage and basically any effects / creatures aimed at shutting down Graveyard play.

Please do add some more as I am sure that I am missing a LOT.

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Sideboarding

Now we get to the least favourite topic... The Sideboard.

I honestly have no clue what to add or remove in order to establish a solid and effective sideboard. All whilst still maintaining speed and combo efficiency. 

I am all ears and would really immensely appreciate any and all assistance in getting my sideboard sorted. 

Please help me out! :)

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Changes

Removed 2x Tragic Slip

Added 2x Liliana, Heretical Healer  

Removed 4x Dying Wish

Added 4x Ghoulcaller's Chant

Removed 2x Diregraf Ghoul

Added 2x [Pithing Needle]]

 

30 Aug 2015

Consider adding Profane Command to Mainboard

Considering complete Sideboard Overhaul

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Stuff

Thanks to everyone for helping out with the deck and thanks to Jacques Coetzee for the initial concept of the Husk / Geralfs Messenger Combo.

 

Some of my other creations:

My deck:

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Date added	9 years
Last updated	9 years
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	2 - 0 Mythic Rares 14 - 9 Rares 10 - 6 Uncommons 14 - 0 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.10
Tokens	Emblem Liliana, Defiant Necromancer, Zombie 2/2 B
Folders	Other Peoples' Decks.