Mono Black Control

CoreySnetsel · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 15

With IPA and OTJ cycling out of Extended, I've been trying to find some decent builds for Mono Black Control. I've been playing a similar build on MTGO for a few weeks now, and it does well, but I was going through MWS a few days ago and found another couple of cards that would help out a lot. For future reference, because a lot of you may call me a scrub, but I didn't play after maybe 2 weeks post-Saviors until just recently (started about 2 months ago), so a lot of the TSP block and early Lorwyn and Shadowmoor block cards were beyond me, and those are mainly where the cards were until a few nights ago. Here's the build, I'm looking for suggestions on main deck as well as sideboard. I'm not going to say the deck is solid, or as solid as it could be, but I would greatly appreciate any suggestions given, and based on that, would mold the deck a bit different.

// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)

// Lands (25)
23 [UG] Swamp
2 [SHM] Leechridden Swamp

// Creatures (9)
4 [FUT] Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
4 [PLC] Magus of the Coffers
1 [ON] Undead Gladiator

// Spells (26)
3 [SHM] Corrupt
3 [TO] Mind Sludge
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
3 [PLC] Damnation
4 [EVE] Unmake
3 [FD] Night's Whisper
3 [MR] Nightmare Lash
3 [AP] Phyrexian Arena

// Sideboard (15)
SB: 2 [7E] Ensnaring Bridge
SB: 2 [10E] Ascendant Evincar
SB: 3 [CHK] Cranial Extraction
SB: 2 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 3 [SHM] Torture
SB: 3 [SHM] Blowfly Infestation

So, in a nutshell, my main wins are pretty much like the old OD/ONS block MBC deck, with a little added removal in the way of Damnation, Unmake, and Nameless Inversion. The sideboard is nice for playing against Weenie, Elves, or Gobbers, as the Torture/Blowfly Infestation combo tends to draw more so with the draw mech I have going on. I was kind of thinking about tossing some Crucible of Worlds in there to use lands as my discard for Undead Gladiator, since I can make enough mana with the Magus to cover a few Undead cycles on my upkeep to keep him coming back, and if need be, I can play him for the 3 for an added creature. The only thing I didn't like all that much about Korlash is that he can be targeted, but I have gotten around that pretty well. I had also been considering running Bitter Ordeal instead of Cranial Extraction, but that would really only work any time I would use Damnation or after a Torture/Blowfly combo. I know that of some of the suggestions that I'll probably get, I'll get Thoughtseize, Bitterblossom, and possibly Hypnotic Specter. They haven't been the furthest from my mind, but I'm wanting to play stuff that I have myself budgeted for right now, and plan on adding those in due time.

Suggestions? Thank you.

loxiel · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

As you mentioned, you have much larger card pool than what you think in extended format. I reckon you use card-search site such as http://magiccards,info or Gatherer in mtg official website before you ask any suggestion. But I'm going to give you some card suggestions because as you said you have no idea of cards in sets what you are missing. Smile

At first, as Duress is gone, you need something to disrupt your opponent's hand in early turns. What I can think right now is Thoughtseize but if you are on budget probably it is hard to get.

Second, Nameless Inversion is not a smart choice considering Extended is dominated by Tarmogoyf. Compatitive aggro decks in extended are very fast and you need cheaper removals than Unmake. I reckon Terror.

Third, Magus of the Coffers doesn't have any synergy with your build. Corrupt and Mind Sludge only counts your swamps not your black mana. If you really wanna use the Magus I reckon Consume Spirit, Mind Shatter or Profane Command.

Forth, Ensnaring Bridge doesn't work in your deck as a sideboard. Unfortunately you are drawing too many cards with Phyrexian Arena,

CoreySnetsel · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 15

*Early Post Edit*
I'm strictly playing on MTGO, I do not play the paper version, and prices are a bit different online on some things than they are paper, Thoughtseize being one of them. Just wanted to throw that in there, and forgot about that when I posted this a few minutes ago.
*Edit Over and Out*

Thank you for your suggestions.

I was anticipating the Thoughtseize suggestion, and it's not so much that it's outside of my budget (as on MTGO, it's 5 bucks). I'm wanting to get them, but I'm kind of on a foil kick on MTGO right now, and money issues for about another 2 weeks or so. Another good early disruption would be Raven's Crime, but I would most likely end up

As far as the others (Magus of the Coffers, Nameless Inversion, Unmake, and Ensnaring Bridge), I do have a bit of rebuttal, but am open to any suggestions of what to put in there, as I don't have a problem testing to make the best build I can with the current card pool.

As far as Nameless Inversion goes, I do understand that this format is flooded with Goyf. Nameless Inversion is kind of my replacement for the old Mutilate, with the exception of dealing to all creatures. I can hit a turn 2 EOT on Goyf, killing him off, as that keeps threats off the board. I could use it a little bit later on, and/or store it as a random toss play when I have an Ensnaring Bridge on the board.

As far as Unmake, again, I was looking for somewhat quick casters to remove. The terror suggestion is great, as that was something I was thinking about myself, but I like the added bonus of being any creature that can be targeted, and it gets around other meta builds (Bubble Hulk, Elfball, when and if they come out with a Lark build).

With Magus, it helps out with Phyrexian Arena and with the Bridges. It gives me the mana to be able to do whatever I need to later on in the game and hold off my opponent. For instance, I just played this build online as I have it posted above. I had 2 Magus in play with 10 Swamps. I had the Gladiator in hand, but no possible kill at that point. I cycled all additions from 1 Magus to the Undead Gladiator, drawing 3 and returning him to my hand 2 times, ending with him in the grave. I then drew from the Arena and draw step to draw into 2 Corrupts for the win. It does help out with Bridge in the sense that with the extra mana, you can play extra spells, but I have lost a game to holding 2 cards and having a swarm of 1/1's attack me.

Bridge is good against Tarmo, Glimpse Elves, Elf Ball, Bubble Hulk, Demigod Stompy, pretty much any big aggro deck, and anything with Sorcery or passive pumps. It does lock down Korlash, but I still get the added 6 swamp search from the Grandeur ability.

Profane Command wouldn't be a bad addition either, due to the return and -X life deal, as that would give me an alternative win condition to go along with Corrupt and Nightmare Lash/Korlash. I have to hit the bed right now, as I work in about 6 or 7 hours, but tomorrow when I get off, I'll tweak the deck out a bit, and repost the changes I've made based on your suggestions. Thanks again, and people, I need more!

(Sorry for the long post).

bananaman2 · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

I agree with cutting Nameless Inversion from the deck. Since there is no synergy with the cards you're playing if you still want the -3/-3 effect try out Last Gasp. I also like Smother in this slot.

Your 4 drop seems to be where all the action is. I'd consider a bit of 2 drop artifact acceleration to get you to there earlier instead of playing Magus of the Coffers. While you don't get the ridiculous mana that the Magus is capable of you're far more likely to hit a turn 3 damnation against zoo or affinity. Try out Mind Stone in this slot, or if you really want the black mana then you have Talisman of Dominance, Talisman of Indulgence or Coldsteel Heart. These also stick around after a Death Cloud should you encounter that matchup.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

R3wind · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 975

Persecute is a lot better then Mind Sludge! It costs less and can still wipe their whole hand out. Main deck Thoughtsieze is a must! Sometype of tutor is also needed along with the drawing from Arena. With the tutor effects you can one of bombs like Loxodon Warhammer, Jitte, Corupt, Persecute, Tendrills of Coruption, Profane Command and Defence Grid.

asamodious · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 140

you coud play both mind sludge and persecutre.

thoughtseize is amazing you need it to protect and successfully cast your good cards. at least put them in the sideboard, no less then 4 of them, its amazing.

CoreySnetsel · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 15

Alright, here are the changes I made to the deck. Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)

// Lands
23 [UG] Swamp
2 [SHM] Leechridden Swamp

// Creatures
4 [FUT] Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
1 [ON] Undead Gladiator

// Spells
3 [SHM] Corrupt
3 [TO] Mind Sludge
3 [PLC] Damnation
3 [FD] Night's Whisper
2 [MR] Nightmare Lash
3 [AP] Phyrexian Arena
4 [ON] Smother
4 [CS] Coldsteel Heart
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
1 [7E] Persecute

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [7E] Ensnaring Bridge
SB: 2 [10E] Ascendant Evincar
SB: 3 [CHK] Cranial Extraction
SB: 2 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 3 [SHM] Torture
SB: 3 [SHM] Blowfly Infestation

Pretty much, what I did was this:
-4 Magus/+4 Coldsteel Heart
-1 Nightmare Lash/+1 Persecute
-4 Nameless Inversion/+4 Smother
-4 Unmake/+4 Thoughtseize

Any other suggestions, I'm fixing to hop on MTGO right now and check on picking up a few of the cards I need that I don't have.