Help with Mono Black Zombie strategy and sideboard

Standard Deck Help forum

Posted on Aug. 11, 2017, 2:47 a.m. by paintballnsk

Hello,

I put together the typical Mono Black Zombie deck to start playing at my local FNM and Standard Showdowns. Would someone please help explain the deck tech to me, especially the sideboard? I've never really played standard, and I'm not familiar with the meta at the local shops. I'm an admitted novice, but I've been playing about 2 months, mostly commander.

Here's the deck list:

4 Cryptbreaker

4 Diregraf Colossus

4 Dread Wanderer

1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

4 Lord of the Accursed

4 Relentless Dead

4 Dark Salvation

3 Fatal Push

3 Grasp of Darkness

4 Liliana's Mastery

4 Ifnir Deadlands

19 Swamp

2 Scavenger Grounds

Sideboard:

1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

1 Grasp of Darkness

1 Aethersphere Harvester

2 Liliana, the Last Hope

2 Never / Return

4 Transgress the Mind

1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship

2 Scrapheap Scrounger

1 Murder

I have Liliana, Death's Majesty in there instead of Liliana, the Last Hope. How crucial is The Last Hope to make the deck work? I just didn't want to drop $45 on 2 cards that rotate out in 7 weeks haha. I can use the other Lilianas for commander.And other things I can sideboard are Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince, Torment of Hailfire, Abolisher of Bloodlines  Flip, and Plague Belcher.

Would appreciate the help. Thanks!

Argy says... #2

I will explain how I think the Sideboard works, but I might not understand it fully.

To see how the rest of the deck works, look up the Amonkhet Pro Tour final match on YouTube.

Liliana, the Last Hope is expensive because it is the best Planeswalker in this deck. Making unlimited Zombies in a way that can't be stopped, then giving them all a boost due to either Liliana's Mastery or Lord of the Accursed is very difficult to play against.

August 11, 2017 10:19 a.m. Edited.

Minihorror227 says... #3

I went ahead and put you deck list on here for people to comment on


Zombies

Standard Minihorror227

0 VIEWS


August 11, 2017 11:58 a.m.

paintballnsk says... #4

Thanks Minihorror!

I did my first ever FNM tonight and tried the deck. It kicked butt. 3-1, and the match I lost was super close.

I definitely need to practice with the sideboards. And I guess I didn't play the deck right. First match was against GR Tron (I think). So I think I just did well first round and shut it down quick. Second round I brought in more removal spells, but I have no idea what to cut. So I cut Dread Wanderer for Never / Return and Murder. I still won, but barely. I should have cut the [Fatal Push]. Someone explained to me the reason for the Dread Wanderer is synergy with Diregraf Colossus and it's a perfect card to discard with the CryptKeeper...

So What do I cut if I want to fit in the vehicles or Lilianas. One guy had a decent UW Allies deck. He was the one that beat me. What would you cut to make the deck work against that? I assume it would need the artifacts in there for their flying?

Thanks!

August 12, 2017 12:04 a.m.

Minihorror227 says... #5

Do you remember some of the cards that he was using? I used to run an allies deck before. I would think the best thing against that type of deck is removal and keeping your creature size higher than theirs. The Dread Wanderer would be worth keeping in the deck during this because of its energy with the diregraf Colossus. I would say that you need some type of board wipe. In standard there is Yahenni's Expertise and Flaying Tendrils. Of course both of these would not be used until you have boosted your creatures up enough not to die or in times where it's needed

August 12, 2017 12:15 a.m.

paintballnsk says... #6

Archangel Avacyn  Flip and Selfless Spirit popped up each round, but that's all I remember. He also had some exile enchantments. The flying was enough to beat me down for the most part.

August 12, 2017 1:23 a.m.

darkmatter32x says... #7

May want to consider Metallic Mimic

August 12, 2017 1:40 a.m.

paintballnsk says... #8

If Metallic Mimic dies, is it still a Zombie in the graveyard, or does that ability go away when it exits the battlefield?

August 12, 2017 3:20 a.m.

Argy says... #9

It only has the the you choose for it while it is on the battlefield.

When it is in the Graveyard it is only the "Shapeshifter" type.

It is also not counted as a "Zombie spell".

August 12, 2017 10:27 a.m.

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