Duel Deck: Grave Experiments

No sideboard found.

The owner of this deck hasn't added a sideboard, they probably should...

Innistrad Duel Decks, based on popular Block Constructed decks. These decks are aimed for semi-new players looking to learn how decks tick, and casual players who just want fun decks. Key concepts covered by this deck: Remembering Options, Reaching Critical Mass, Combat Math.

This deck, based off of the U/G dredge deck that was popular early in the format, is paired against a R/W Humans deck. As the deck is supposedly tuned to be played against R/W Humans, there are a number of originally-sideboarded cards that are played in the main deck, including Ambush Viper, Gnaw to the Bone, and Sever the Bloodline. Instead of splashing R like later decks did, I decided to splash B for flavor and for distinction reasons.

While the deck originally did not run Laboratory Maniac and Havengul Lich, I included them just for fun and as an additional facet to the deck. It may prove to be a trap for the pilots. Wingcrafters allow for extra evasion on the beaters, while Sever the Bloodline allows for some much-needed spot removal for the bigger R/W threats that mess up their game plan, like Champion of the Parish or Thraben Heretic. Keep in mind that you will only be able to cast it late in the game, and for a hefty price; the deck's biggest issue is surviving the early game. If the deck is able to get one or two Mulchs/Tracker's Instincts off, they can easily overwhelm the R/W deck with a Kessig Cagebreakers or a Ghoultree or a Splinterfright. Dawntreader Elks help with early game aggression and providing a chump blocker and ramp in times of need.

The altered card in the deck is Havengul Lich, a card that showcases the graveyard-based nature of the deck as well as being the only Mythic in the deck.

Here is a link to the other deck:
http://www.mtgvault.com/malzenith/decks/duel-deck-holy-inquisition/

Difficulty: 6/10
Matchup Against Pair: 20-80
Fairly simple to play combo deck; not too many decisions involved. Victory is partly luck and partly reliant on when to use Gnaw to the Bone and when to go for an attack when at parity. The matchup is a very skewed uphill climb due to how fast the opposing deck is, so your victory is partly reliant on what cards you can draw and if your opponent can find answers to your cards.

Your first few turns should strongly depend on whether you are on the play or on the draw, and what the R/W deck does first. If you are on the play, your ideal hand should include a couple of lands, an early drop, a Boneyard Wurm or Ghoultree, and some way to get creatures off the top of your deck into your graveyard - generally Mulch is the best idea, but Tracker's Instincts works well if you feel lucky with your land drops. If you are on the draw, your ideal hand should include an Ambush Viper, or a Gnaw to the Bone/Mulch, in order to cushion the early blows that the R/W deck can deal, especially if they land an initial Champion of the Parish - and it will happen often.

If you can stabilize with a decently sized Boneyard Wurm or a Ghoultree, build up your defenses with extra creatures (Deranged Assistant, or a Splinterfright to fuel your graveyard with flashback effects and creatures), and when you are comfortable enough to swing in, do so; a 7/7 Boneyard Wurm is a nightmare to block, moreso if paired with a Wingcrafter as the R/W deck has no way to deal with flying creatures other than outracing them or removing them.

Should their defenses prove too rough to get through reasonably, or the board is at a stall where neither side can afford to attack due to a possibly lethal counterattack, Laboratory Maniac often helps a lot as you will have a second win condition - just be careful not to play into any spot removal they have, as a Brimstone Volley will turn your victory into a loss. Havengul Lich also provides a quick way to get Splinterfrights and Boneyard Wurms from your graveyard back into the battlefield.

• Innistrad
• Graveyard
• Combo
• U/G