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:
19 Swamp
Sideboard:
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
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!
Minihorror227 says... #3
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.
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.
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".
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.
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is great against aggro decks because they hate your life total going back up, and the mirror match because you stop their Creatures recurring and "out-zombie" them
Grasp of Darkness deals with Hazoret the Fervent, flying Cretures such as Gisela, the Broken Blade, their Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Aethersphere Harvester is a great blocker due to its five toughness and flying, and stalls aggro decks due to its Lifelink
Liliana, the Last Hope helps to face off against other decks that go wide (get lots of little Creatures on the field), such as Servo decks, White Weenies, etc.
Never / Return kills Planeswalkers
Transgress the Mind deals with Indestructible Creatures like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, Gods, and also can take care of most annoying Enchantments
Skysovereign, Consul Flagship repeatedly picks off little Creatures, provides another Flying blocker, is good against decks not packing many Instants, and makes life difficult for Control decks that rely on Essence Scatter
Scrapheap Scrounger wastes destruction cards, so it is useful against Control, and helps to Crew Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
Murder is an all-purpose kill spell that shuts down Torrential Gearhulk, and most other fatties
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.