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) 23210 Forest (MID) 38411 Swamp (MID) 3824 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 2064 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 1002 Eaten Alive (MID) 991 Tainted Adversary (MID) 1241 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 1084 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 812 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 1122 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 1194 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 1124 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 2001 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 2543 Deadly Brew (STX) 1761 Daemogoth Woe-Eater (STX) 1752 Grizzly Ghoul (MID) 2261 Daemogoth Titan (STX) 174
The second added another copy of Skeletal Swarming and Jadar, dropping out Eaten Alive:
4 Skeletal Swarming (AFR) 23210 Forest (MID) 38411 Swamp (MID) 3824 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 2064 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 1001 Tainted Adversary (MID) 1242 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 1084 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 813 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 1122 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 1194 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 1124 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 2001 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 2543 Deadly Brew (STX) 1761 Daemogoth Woe-Eater (STX) 1752 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) 2329 Forest (MID) 38412 Swamp (MID) 3824 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 2061 Ecstatic Awakener (MID) 1002 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 1083 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 813 Lolth, Spider Queen (AFR) 1124 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 1194 The Meathook Massacre (MID) 1124 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 2001 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 2542 Deadly Brew (STX) 1761 Bloodline Culling (MID) 892 Infernal Grasp (MID) 1074 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) 624 Plains (MID) 3804 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 274 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 94 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 244 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 244 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 224 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 352 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 3744 Attended Healer (ZNR) 62 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) 622 Plains (MID) 3804 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 273 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 93 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 244 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 244 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 223 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 352 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 3744 Attended Healer (ZNR) 62 Story Seeker (KHM) 342 Doomskar (KHM) 93 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
Still tweaking, Sunset Revelry was a welcome addition:
4 Cleric Class (AFR) 622 Plains (MID) 3804 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 273 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 93 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 244 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 244 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 223 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 352 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 3744 Attended Healer (ZNR) 62 Doomskar (KHM) 93 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 442 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) 623 Plains (MID) 3804 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 273 Dawnbringer Cleric (AFR) 93 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 244 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 244 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 223 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 353 Borrowed Time (MID) 64 Attended Healer (ZNR) 62 Doomskar (KHM) 93 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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