These are some pretty awesome recommendations, thanks a lot for taking the time and thought to help a bit. And holy cow, Return to Ravnica really had some tasty treats for this deck that I'd overlooked! Teleportal and the charm in particular. Both of them definitely add in some utility as well as taking the place of most of those earlier cards in ensuring that the vampires drink deeply from the blood of my foes. I was initially pretty reluctantly on the Dragonshift from a mechanical and flavor stand-point, but after thinking about it I definitely warmed up to it. Reflavor it a little and it is simply the vampires' own thrist overcoming their sanity, and rather than feasting simply destroying. And when you buff up the base damage of those suckers already covered in +1/+1's? Definitely makes for a potent swing!Thanks a lot for helping to create a new look for vampires! Who needs black, anyways, am I right?
Permalink
Clout's mostly on there to ensure the survival of the Lord. Hexproof helps shield the illusions from having to sac them, and Clout gives the Lord a slight buff as well as the shrouded needed to keep him safe from removal and burn. In addition, the Mist doesn't have the sacrifice clause, and so I can ensure the primary beaters safety until a Lord comes out as well.
Okay, this deck looks insanely fun to play. Very awesome idea, I support it whole-heartedly.
Hello, and thanks for the recommendations! 1) The main reason I put the Lacerators in is just to help whittle my health down, as I do want to take some damage to potentially make that Death's Shadow all the most scary, all the more quicker. I do like Spark Elemental, and I will definitely think about this after some playtesting, but having a cheap blocker is also always nice. 2) While I wish I could replace the Goblin Guides -- the price, ugh -- I'm really not sure that Blood Artist would fit better. I really don't want to gain any life, if possible. Just burn them, myself, smash, and win. Also, that 2/2 that consistently swings starting from turn 1 is just too good. 3) Whoa, that's a neat card. I will admit that I don't know the newer sets as much as I'd like, but I will definitely look into that sucker. Black Bolt with the chance of recursion? Yes, please. Sort of iffy as it can't blast critters, but at that affordability, it's definitely a good idea. 4) Blood Lusts are interesting, and I've been toying around with the idea of throwing either them or Flame Rift into the deck, but I just run into the problem of space. I really don't want to throw away the Bushwhackers, because they ensure that the Death's Shadow gets to swing when it comes to party, in addition to a slight buff. 5) I really want to, just -- as you said -- it's the money. Once I get the core deck solidified, I definitely plan to get some in order to speed that sucker up. Your ideas were really helpful; thanks a lot for the feedback.
Well, you already grabbed Inexorable Tide, why not some other cards with Proliferate? Thrumming bird runs the risk of getting removed pretty easily, and you're not able to buff it with Modular. With something like the Throne of Geth, you have a guaranteed hit of it, at the cost of sacrificing an artifact and giving even more counters. There's also Steady Progress and Tezzy's Gambit, for drawing fun. I honestly prefer the Gambit, one extra card for one extra mana or 2 health. If you have any comments or suggestions for my Death's Shadow aggro deck, feel free to let me know! http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=340180
Oh, I actually can make a contribution. What about Innocent Blood? B for everyone to sacrifice a creature.
Also, if Slivers still operate like they used to, a Deathmark would be very nice as it practically reads, Pay B: Kill Target Gemhide. A Sliver deck without Gemhides is a slow mother.
Thanks for the feedback! And while turn 5 does start the real nasty beats, the deck does hold up surprisingly well before then as well. Done a bit of playtesting, and a Turn 1 Goblin Guide, Turn 2 Hellspark hits like a truck. What do you think about a touch of renanimation? Also, I'm tempted to throw in Virulent Swipe after your deck reminded me of its existence. An extra 4 damage for 1 is always nice.
Very neat deck! Used to play a similar deck back in the old days of Orzhov. Gotta admit, wish I had been able to have Fume Spitters instead of Festering Goblins. Most the cards I could suggest probably won't do much for you, but I always loved Hissing Miasma as a way to help curb token decks that always proved to be the bane of my sacrifices. I love playing Selesnya, but I always hated going up against it.
Have you thought about Godhead of Awe? Turns all other creatures in 1/1 which, while it won't shut them down my any means, will still make them all be building from a much smaller base.
Very interesting! It looks like a very neat deck. I choose to go after Banefire mostly because of its uncounterability. It's also the reason for the sideboard, in case someone has or sideboards in a Leyline of Sanctity. I was also doing to best to work off of a budget, and I was pretty happy when the deck itself managed to end up costing less than $40!