Topic: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

Deck Link : http://deckbox.org/sets/644355

Theme : So the overall theme of this deck is "My gain, your pain"

Goal: The goal of this deck is to get "Sanguine Bond" out ASAP , then combo (festering newt / bubbling cauldron) over and over. This combo becomes deadly if  Sanguine Bond is on the table.

Step 1 - Diabolic Tutor for (Bogbrew Witch/ Sanguine Bond)
Step 2- Bogbrew Witch for (Bubbling Cauldron / Festering Newt)
Step 3- Gain life and kill other player


Does anyone have any tips on how to make this deck stronger or any ideas on how to tune it up? Anything I'm missing?  hmm

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

Any ideas?....

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

First off what level of play is this seeing?  If it's for the tabletop, go for it.  If it's for a more competitive environment like FNM or something else, it's a bit too many steps to realistically see it come to fruition in a game.

Consider the following matchup against R/G mid-range.  Your ONLY win con is to drop a five-cost enchantment and then start the shenanigans on T5 or T6 - with notable life swings, but not huge ones.  R/G will likely have Polukranos on T3, either version of Xenagos or Arbor Colossus/Stormbreath Dragon on T4.  If you put that much power on the board before you could even begin thinking about your combo, they will just run you over.

Against mono-black, Erebos comes in and your entire plan just doesn't work.  What's the backup?

So again, the level of play is quite critical as you can get away with a lot more on the tabletop than in a more competitive environment and that will definitely shape the type of feedback you can/will get.

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

I saw somebody running a similar strategy with Gift of Immortality on the Festering Newt.  Adding some white gives you more flexibility to deal with enchantments as well.  I definitely think you'll need a plan B.  I would actually use sanguine bond as the plan B.  I like the idea and have a similar deck that makes angels from the life gain.  Just always have a back up plan with life gain.

Last edited by Talus21 (2014-03-25 20:13:37)

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

It looks like you have a Temple of Silence.  What if you added white and used Orzhov Keyrune to do triple-duty: ramps you into Sanguine Bond a turn earlier, can be a good blocker, and its lifelink helps combo you off.

You could run some Vizkopa Guildmage to give you an alternate win.

You definately need some Duress and/or Sin Collector in the sideboard to protect your combo.

If you can get your hands on a Blood Baron, he'd really help you out.  I realize he's like $17 though.  Obzedat would be a (slightly) cheaper alternative.

If you're not going to add white, then I would at least drop the staffs and add a couple more removal spells (Hero's Downfall, Doom Blade, or Ultimate Price) and add Underworld Connections or Read the Bones to get some card advantage.

Good luck!

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

If this isnt a standard format. I much prefer Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood as its so much cooler.

Re: Mono-Black Deck needs some fine tuning

wow! thank you all so much for the help. I will work some white into the deck and see if i can get a stronger/faster deck.