ebaskes

Thanks! I hope this serves as a good starting point for other MBD players!
Cheers! :)

I'm currently testing this deck with pack rats.
This card solves several problems...
One, I can use it in a game where I get ahead on field advantage to end the game even faster.
I can discard late game dead draws
It puts an alternate clock on the opponent and fills the field quickly for lots of chump blocking.
It replaces norn's annex, and a few other various cards. I'm going to FNM shortly, so ill report on how it goes.
It has a nice synergy with Underworld connections, Dakmor Salvage
I don't have to play offensively with him. I can use them as blockers first
A problem this produces is that it takes out Nyxathid, a powerful beater, but he comes down a turn earlier and puts more damage down by the t4 than Nyxathid does and guarantees bodies on turns 3 and 4 if you get a third land.
Another problem is that it isn't always the right choice. If an opponent is running a lot of removal, they may be able to beat him back. And, he has a big investment, it's mot always right to run with him.
I like Silent arbiter. It does a good job dealing with aggro. I'll give it a try. It's 4 CMC which I don't always get down, while I could cast Norn's for three. Also arbiter is a bit more susceptible to removal. I will certainly give him a try.

I'm not sure how I feel about Norn's Annex. It doesn't really work too well in non-win more situations. When you're already ahead, it's great. But it's not so effective if you've fallen behind early. It wont really stop too much from coming through. Not like ensnaring bridge.
If it lands, it might help keep you and your opponents closer.
What it's useful for is matching pace in decks with lots of little creatures. It'll let you win if you're able to get ahead, but that's it.

Thanks!
I find that it mostly has issues dealing with heavy aggro. For instance, I was playing against a Boros battalion deck my friend has. His deck has about 35+ creatures, so his topdecks are good. Unless you pull a removal heavy opener, it can be tough to keep up.
Against my modern black suicide deck, it's the same. If you don't get rid of the early game rush, it can be tough to stop the overwhelming force. In this match up it seems to be more like a race for card advantage, whichever deck draws more tends to win. These decks are similarly matched, although I think this one is marginally better.
Against a R/G Valakut deck (only runs one scapeshift for cost reasons), It's all luck. This deck can definitely control the game, but valakut can win games or of nowhere. It's easy to deal 18+ damage in a turn. If you can effectively use removal and disruption you can win. Going first seems to have a high correlation to which deck wins. I'd say it's about a 40-60 matchup with this deck holding the slight edge because it can control tempo pretty effectively, when in the right hands.
Against most decks at my local card shop, this deck dominates the modern front. Although it's a pretty casual playing area and they don't all have great decks. Some of them are gimmicky so this deck generally does a pretty fantastic job of tossing out the good stuff.
Online, I've had mixed results. Against combo decks it tends to perform quite well, but again, it can have trouble keeping up with heavy aggro. When Lily is played this problem fixes itself somewhat well. Also boardwipes can win you the game. Expensive things like damnation work, but cheaper options like mutilate or black suns zenith do alright too.
Against control decks this deck is alright, it depends on how much draw they're running and how much choice removal you have (IoK over Raven's crime)

No problem man. Good luck with your deck!

Oh absolutely. Raven's crime just about doubles the number of cards you have that can make an opponent discard one. And with dakmor salvage or dark last, (a good sideboard) you can dredge for it if you toss it with small pox. After testing I still like sign in blood, too. The two mana has saved me a lot in situations where I have only two lands. This deck tends to work most efficiently with 3, so being able to draw with only two lands down is pretty big.

I agree with you about using disruption for tempo control. It works well. Since you're running black you could run kozilek's inquisition because that's a turn one cast that can wreck your opponent's early game tempo! Toss out their cheapest spell and you can get a Headstart even more than before.

Here's how I feel about perplex...
Both outcomes are beneficial in theory. But if an opponent is willing to discard their hand to cast a spell it's likely that they've picked the "cheaper option". If their hand is more important than this spell, they'll keep it, otherwise, they'll pitch the hand. They say you should never let your opponent make choices if possible because a good player will choose the better one for them


Otherwise I really enjoyed this list. Cool deck

Kalastria highborn is probably better than child of night.
I like your deck. I used to play vampires back in the day

I think gatekeeper of malakir beats out Markov patrician as your three drop.
Also blood artist does the same thing as falkenreath noble for two fewer CMC. You could stick a blade of the bloodchief on him since you would want to keep him alive for a long time. He'd get buffed as his ability happened.
As for exquisite blood, you could run whip of erebos. It works (possibly) better because it takes place with creatures as well. And is cheaper.

You should run some sort of mana dump with all that mana you'll be producing. Also Nissa's chosen is pretty cool

I'm a big fan of Vault Skirge. 1/1 flyer with lifelink for 1 CMC, essentially. And he's black.

If you have afew copies of the rack out they will either cast it and take damage or try to hold onto it, and take damage. Either situation is a lose. With top decking you have the option to cast funeral charm on their turn to take away their top deck. The idea is that regardless of how they play, they're going to take damage. That's why Wrench mind is so powerful. You can empty their hand on turn three before they get a chance to cast the rest of their cards. A 2 for 1.

I see your point, read the bones I definitely more controlling. I will try a copy and if I like it will update the list.

Necrogen mists should be a 4 of. You're getting huge bang for your buck in MP

And it will kill or seriously mame just about anything in modern and if you're blocking you can even kill titans

Sounds good man! I'd suggest inquisition of kozilek at 3 to 4. It's a turn one cast, which you only have four of, that can throw out your opponents best early game spell. Maybe take out another bloodline keeper and a vampire nocturnus. Otherwise it's really up to you. Also I suggest you run at least 2 dismember over go for the throat. It's essentially a 1 CMC kill spell with all the life gain you're running. Plus it can kill regen, indestructible, and artifact creatures.

I'm not a big fan of read the bones, it's too slow for me. Generally I find that I get what I need when I play sign in blood.
I agree on caress somewhat, it's slow. But it can also do six-ten damage over the course of the game which can really put an opponent into panic mode.
Waste not can put your opponent in a tough spot. Worst case, you get a chump blocker, but if you cat something with which they choose which card to discard you can generate enough mana to empty their hand AND draw. I think you should try it out, if you haven't already. I think you might like it.

Inquisition of kozilek/thoughtsize> despise/duress
Spot removal is great.
Nyxathid
Run smallpox. It's amazing.
'Dakmor salvage for soft lock with Raven's crime
Funeral charm for instant speed discard
Gatekeeper of malakir is awesome
Necrogen Mists is quite nice for late-midgame.
Liliana of the veil is super expensive but also super good. I assume you're somewhat on a budget.
Liliana's caress is good but its a bit slow. Run maybe just two.
Norn's annex is fun (not fantastic) against aggro decks and is a budget version of ensnaring bridge. It'll keep you on par with their swarm. Will-o-wisp should do the rest.

I play a modern version of this deck. It's a lot of fun to watch your opponent's plans go out the window as their hand empties

You need some spot removal. Also discard is great. Take your opponents strongest spell and toss it out. Since you're running vampires, anowon the ruin sage is a fun card.

the only problem with this deck is that it won't work against decks that aren't heavily creature based. You need an alternate win con or at least some sort of hand removal. since you're in budget, might i suggest adding a few despise/duress?

simply because it's faster