Friday, December 3, 2021

Holy Skeletons!

Today is a deck dump of sorts, presenting variations on two home brews I've recently developed. One is Golgari (black/green) 'skeletal' deck, based on Skeletal Swarming and creature sacrifice. The other is mono-white clerics, focused on life gain and Righteous Valkyrie. First up: Skeletons.

I love tribal decks in Magic, and have a soft spot for skeletons (for some reason). The tribe has never been viable on its own, but I was excited to see Skeletal Swarming, and wanted to build a Standard deck around that. The first iteration was decent:

3 Skeletal Swarming (AFR) 232
10 Forest (MID) 384
11 Swamp (MID) 382
4 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 206
4 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 100
2 Eaten Alive (MID) 99
1 Tainted Adversary (MID) 124
1 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 108
4 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 81
2 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 112
2 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 119
4 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 112
4 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
3 Deadly Brew (STX) 176
1 Daemogoth Woe-Eater (STX) 175
2 Grizzly Ghoul (MID) 226
1 Daemogoth Titan (STX) 174

The second added another copy of Skeletal Swarming and Jadar, dropping out Eaten Alive:

4 Skeletal Swarming (AFR) 232
10 Forest (MID) 384
11 Swamp (MID) 382
4 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 206
4 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 100
1 Tainted Adversary (MID) 124
2 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 108
4 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 81
3 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 112
2 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 119
4 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 112
4 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
3 Deadly Brew (STX) 176
1 Daemogoth Woe-Eater (STX) 175
2 Grizzly Ghoul (MID) 226

The third (and current) iteration dropped down the Ecstatic Awakener copies and removed Daemogoth and Grizzly Ghouls, opting for more Shambling Ghasts (for mana acceleration):

4 Skeletal Swarming (AFR) 232
9 Forest (MID) 384
12 Swamp (MID) 382
4 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 206
1 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 100
2 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 108
3 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 81
3 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 112
4 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 119
4 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 112
4 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
2 Deadly Brew (STX) 176
1 Bloodline Culling (MID) 89
2 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
4 Skullport Merchant (AFR) 120

Overall, it does alright. Getting multiple copies of Skeletal Swarming out can make for some fun.

Now, clerics. 

I enjoy this tribe, too, and there are plenty of good options currently in Standard. Cleric Class is a great card and good opener. The first iteration:
4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6
24 Plains (MID) 380
4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
4 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 9
4 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
4 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 35
2 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374
4 Attended Healer (ZNR) 6
2 Story Seeker (KHM) 34

Based on the mana curve, it had too many lands, so I dropped two out, added Voice of the Blessed, and some removal with Doomskar for version 2:
4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6
22 Plains (MID) 380
4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
3 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 9
3 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
3 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 35
2 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374
4 Attended Healer (ZNR) 6
2 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
2 Doomskar (KHM) 9
3 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44

Still tweaking, Sunset Revelry was a welcome addition:
4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6
22 Plains (MID) 380
4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
3 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 9
3 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
3 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 35
2 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374
4 Attended Healer (ZNR) 6
2 Doomskar (KHM) 9
3 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
2 Sunset Revelry (MID) 38

The fourth and current iteration adds one land back in, more removal (Borrowed Time), and drops out Valkyrie Harbinger:
4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6
23 Plains (MID) 380
4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
3 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 9
3 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
3 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 35
3 Borrowed Time (MID) 6
4 Attended Healer (ZNR) 6
2 Doomskar (KHM) 9
3 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44

It also does alright. It's more aggressive- it generally wins fast (with Righteous Valkyrie) or not at all.

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