[Primer] The Aristocrats

[Lightning_Dolt]

I don't think silverblade is good at alll without Champs and KoI and just overall more aggro deck like how Act 1 is.

I am making the Obzedat/Conscripts switch myself in the sideboard. Obzedat seems to fit into Act 2 really well since you are often grinding out life totals.

Yeah, Dpaine hit the nail on the head. Silverblade Paladinis not nearly as good in the Act 2 version. In the aggro version, I would still play him.

Zelous Conscriptsis a pet card for me, and it steals games. I like it as a one of because you never really want to draw multiples. If I was to remove it, it would be for a second Orzhov Charm, not a Ghost Dad.

Sorin Is
usually OK vs Blitz. He despenses cumps, gains some life, and makes souls tokens a bigger threat. He also has the same must-kill psychological effect as other planeswalkers, typically buying you some time.

I have updated my sideboard and sideboarding guide. As always, advice and feedback appreciated.

Aristocrats Act 2 Post-DGM Sideboarding Guide

[deck]Sideboard (15)
2x Obzedat, Ghost Council
2x Sire of Insanity
2x Dreadbore
3x Sin Collector
2x Oblivion Ring
2x Mark of Mutiny
2x Electrickery[/deck]

VS Blitz
-4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
+2 Dreadbore, +2 Electrickery

VS Esper
-4 Tragic Slip, -3 Blaspemous Act, -1 Orzhov Charm, -1 Zealous Conscripts
+2 Obzedat Ghost Council, + 2 Oblivion Ring, +2 Sire of Insanity, +3 Sin Collector

VS Jund
-3 Blaspemous Act, -4 Blood Artist
+2 Mark of Mutiny, +2 Dreadbore, +3 Sin Collector

VS UWR
-4 Blood Artist, -3 Blaspemous Act, -1 Orzhov Charm, -1 Zealous Conscripts
+2 Obzedat Ghost Council, +2 Dreadbore, +3 Sin Collector, +2 Sire of
Insanity

VS Junk Rites
-3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, -1 Orzhov Charm, -3 Tragic Slip
+2 Mark of Mutiny, +2 Electrickery, +3 Sin Collector

VS Bant
-3 Blasphemous Act, -4 Tragic Slip, -4 Blood Artist
+2 Sire of Insanity, +3 Sin Collector, +2 Obzedat, Ghost Council, +2 Mark of Mutiny, +2 Oblivion Ring

VS Gruul
-4 Lingering Souls
+2 Dreadbore, +2 Oblivion Ring

VS Mirror
-3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, -4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
+1 Dreadbore, +2 Electrickery, +2 Mark of Mutiny +2 Oblivion Ring

Edit: Depending on the way the meta shapes up, the aggro shell might become good again. Brad Nelson is testing the aggro version with MD Sin Collectors right now. We'll see what happens.

[dpaine88]

What do you guys think of Searing Spear over Orhzov charm?

[Lightning_Dolt]

Some of the early builds ran it. I prefer the non-situational removal to the reach.

[dpaine88]

Those of you running Skirsdag, have you found him to be better/worse lately?

[LP, of the Fires]

He's always a champ for me.

[dpaine88]

Ugh I just did terrible at my local TCG 1k.

Came expecting to play Bant Flash, Jund, Humans/RDW, Junk Rites. Didn't play a single one.

Wanted to dodge the mirror, hexproof and esper, played them all.

Round 1 - American Auras, amazingly won this one despite his massive GoST with reckoner to save the day.

Round 2 - Mirror and he got Reckoner + BA + act both games pretty early.

Round 3 - Bant Hexproof- got rocked by Invisable stalkers with rancor and unflinching courage.

Round 4- Esper control- mulled to 6 both games and really didn't have a shot anyways

[Lightning_Dolt]

Ugh I just did terrible at my local TCG 1k.

Came expecting to play Bant Flash, Jund, Humans/RDW, Junk Rites. Didn't play a single one.

Wanted to dodge the mirror, hexproof and esper, played them all.

Round 1 - American Auras, amazingly won this one despite his massive GoST with reckoner to save the day.

Round 2 - Mirror and he got Reckoner + BA + act both games pretty early.

Round 3 - Bant Hexproof- got rocked by Invisable stalkers with rancor and unflinching courage.

Round 4- Esper control- mulled to 6 both games and really didn't have a shot anyways

Sorry about your luck man.

I was able to get a lot of testing in this week, but my results are pretty mediocre.

I was 2-1 at FNM for 7th place (23 players).

I
played:

RUG Cyclops (2-1)
BUG Aggro (1-2) (God I wish people would give up on this deck, it's not good. Lost after mulliganing to 5 / 4 in G1 and G3)
Naya Blitz (2-0)

I actually took the time to scout and record what the meta is at my LGS

4 Naya Blitz
2 American Midrange
2 Jund Midrange
2 Bant Hexproof
2 BUG Aggro
1 RDW
1 Boros Burn
1 RUG Cyclops
1 BW Midrange
1 Jund Aggro
1 Fog Machine
1 Selesnya Tokens
1 4 colour control (no red)
1 Junk Rites
1 Humanator
1 Aristocrars (me)

As you can see, my meta is all over the place. This means I can't have really narrow cards in the sideboard. I've been working on adjusting it since then.

Also went to a Saturday event and went 3-2 for 7th place (about 25 players).

Played

Naya Blitz (2-0)
Junk Rites (2-0)
Humanator (1-2) (Bad mulligans, then Flood / Screw. Sin Collector did some work.)
Jund Midrange (2-0)
American Control (1-2) (Absolutely infuriating draw go deck, wish I had [card]
Sire of Insanity[/card])

So, what I have to share, is a new list, and a bit of new tech. Here's the list, then I'll explain.


[deck]The Aristocrats
Johnny_Spike
Gamesday Deck for 5/18/2013
Standard

Lands (24)
2 Plains
4 Blood Crypt
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Clifftop Retreat
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Sacred Foundry

Creatures (20)
4 Blood Artist
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat

Spells (16)
2 Dreadbore
4 Tragic Slip
3 Blasphemous Act
4 Lingering Souls
3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Sideboard(15)
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
3 Mark of Mutiny
2 Sin Collector
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Tribute to Hunger
2 Duress
2 Profits // Losses
[/deck]

So, first off, main deck Dreadbore. I hate Orzhov Charm. I have from the second I saw it spoiled. I think instant speed is not enough to justify the life lost. With this deck, flash creatures don't
seem to blow me out like they did with RDW, so I'd prefer to preserve the life total. Moving the dreadbores to the main frees up two SB slots too. Since those slots are at a premium, I believe this is a good call. This does however, leave you vulnerable to Obzedat, Ghost Council, so either legend rule him, Tribute to Hunger him (VS Esper), or Tragic Slip him. Sadly, dreadbore also took the place of the singleton Zealous Conscripts, which I will miss.

Next, MD Sorin, Lord of Innistrad vs Skirsdag High Priest. SHP was very good for me for a couple weeks, but now everyone knows to kill him. That, combined with the fact that he is slow against a lot of the aggro decks I'm playing against, and is a terrible top deck / independent creature makes me want to not play
him. Sorin, Lord of Innistrad on the other hand, is generally a card I want to see, and gives a boost vs control G1. Comes down to personal preference, but MD Sorin also frees up sideboard slots.

Speaking of the sideboard, Obzedat and MoM are no brainers. The rest of it is a little less intuitive. Sin Collector has been amazing in my testing. He is good in every control match up, vs jund, and vs Junk Rites. Seeing their hand and snagging supreme verdict / unburial rites / whatever spot removal has been huge. If you haven't tried him, I suggest you to. Oblivion Ring is a catch all, and a good answer to Boros Reckoner / Voice of Resurgence / anything else that's problematic. Tribute to Hunger is there for Bant Hexproof, which is seeing play in my meta, and will
likely see more because it top 8'd a SCG open this weekend. I also think it's an acceptable choice against some hyper aggro decks. Duress is for Jund / Bant Hexproof / Control. Finally, [card]Profits // Losses[/card] is my bit of super secret tech.I think this card is a decent upgrade to Electrickery. It does the same thing, but it can hit Falkenrath Aristocrats in the mirror, can be used as a combat trick, can finish the game if you have a bunch of tokens (Surprise Cockfags!) and is more relevant late game. I believe it is just more flexible and likely better in this deck.

OK, so, new sideboarding guide.

VS Blitz
-4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
+2 Oblivion Ring, +2 [card]Profits // Losses[/card]

VS Esper
-4 Tragic Slip, -3 Blaspemous Act -1 [card:
12805s7h]Boros Reckoner[/card]
+2 Obzedat Ghost Council, + 2 Oblivion Ring (Or Tribute to Hunger if they are playing Obzedat), +2 Sin Collector +2 Duress

VS Jund
-3 Blaspemous Act, -4 Blood Artist, - 2 Boros Reckoner
+2 Obzedat, Ghost Council, +3 Mark of Mutiny, +2 Sin Collector, +2 Duress

VS UWR
-4 Blood Artist, -3 Blaspemous Act
+2 Obzedat Ghost Council, +2 Sin Collector, +2 Duress, +1 Oblivion Ring

VS Junk Rites
-3 [card]
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad[/card], -2 Dreadbore, -2 Tragic Slip
+3 Mark of Mutiny, +2 [card]Profits // Losses[/card], +2 Sin Collector

VS Bant
-3Blasphemous Act, -4 Tragic Slip, -4 Blood Artist
+2 Sin Collector, +2 Obzedat, Ghost Council, +3 Mark of Mutiny, +2 Oblivion Ring, +2 Duress

VS Gruul
-4 Lingering Souls
+2 Oblivion Ring, +2 Mark of Mutiny

VS Mirror
-3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, -4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
+2[card]Profits // Losses[/card:
12805s7h], +3 Mark of Mutiny +2 Oblivion Ring

VS Bant Hexproof

-4 Blood Artist, -3 Blasphemous Act, -2 Dreadbore
+2 [card]Profits // Losses[/card], +2 Duress, +2 Tribute to Hunger, +2 Oblivion Ring +1 Obzedat, Ghost Council

VS BUG Aggro
-3 Blasphemous Act, -4 Blood Artist
+2 Oblivion Ring, +2 Tribute to Hunger, +3 Mark of Mutiny

VS RDW
-4 Lingering Souls
+2 Oblivion Ring, +2 Mark of Mutiny

VS Jund Aggro
-4 [card]Falkenrath Aristocrat[/card:
12805s7h]
+2 Oblivion Ring, +2 [card]Profits // Losses[/card]

Hope this helps. Comments and criticism welcome as always.

[Pendulum]

@Johnny_Spike/anybody who's interested: What are your thoughts on Liliana of the Veil? I've personally found her to be much more game-breaking than Sorin or spot removal vs. Bant Hexproof and control decks, as well as the mirror.

Also, and unrelated, a mini-rant about a terrible card that should be up for consideration anyways, Stuffy Doll. I know, I know, it's the Magic card equivalent of a sex pillow, but I got talked into playing a one-of in my SB and after a bunch of playtesting moved it to the main. It's been amazing for me, and not just as Reckoner #5. It forces your opponent to prioritize their removal*, turns their Thragtusks into a liability, and makes Red Deck & friends have to jump through so many hoops to keep themselves off their own clock they usually just scoop.
[*- most times, landing an early threat against my opponent
game 2 produces an easy tell while they ponder whether to use their O. Ring or save it for Doll. ]

[zemanjaski]

Orzhov Charm is REAL bad without 1 drops to recur and abuse.

[Lightning_Dolt]

@Johnny_Spike/anybody who's interested: What are your thoughts on Liliana of the Veil? I've personally found her to be much more game-breaking than Sorin or spot removal vs. Bant Hexproof and control decks, as well as the mirror.

Also, and unrelated, a mini-rant about a terrible card that should be up for consideration anyways, Stuffy Doll. I know, I know, it's the Magic card equivalent of a sex pillow, but I got talked into playing a one-of in my SB and after a bunch of playtesting moved it to the main. It's been amazing for me, and not just as Reckoner #5. It forces your opponent to prioritize their removal*, turns their Thragtusks into a liability, and makes Red Deck &
friends have to jump through so many hoops to keep themselves off their own clock they usually just scoop.
[*- most times, landing an early threat against my opponent game 2 produces an easy tell while they ponder whether to use their O. Ring or save it for Doll. ]

Liliana seems pretty good. She can give you multiple edicts, so those two sideboard slots cound be Lilly's. However, I think the discard generally hurts us, since we have zero card draw. Against Bant Hexproof, my plan is to Tragic Slip their non-hexproof guys, use [card]Profit // Losses[/card] to sweep their non-Traft guys in response to enchanting and Tribute to Hunger their Geist of Saint Traft in response to enchanting or at the end of the first main phase. The fact that Lilly only edicts at sorcery speed hurts it imho. I want to teach people not to play auras / punish them for doing so because they are bad
cards. Not sure how strict this forum is, but ------>Also, not willing to spend $50 each on Liliana's this close to rotation.

As far as stuffy is concerned, I think the CC is too high to be relevant sadly. Really low impact on his own, does nothing the turn he enters, really bad top deck.

[LP, of the Fires]

I rather liked my orzhov charms. Options baby. I've never really been unhappy casting dismember and a dismember that is a split card of saving grasp or instant speed doomed traveler? Seems good.

I'll also put myself in the SHP camp I think, though I like what sorin offers. I haven't tested as much as you to know what's actually better so I'd tell anyone reading this to go with Johnny's advice over mine, but I've found that SHP wins games when I untap with him in play, much more so then Sorin.

[Lightning_Dolt]

With orzhov charm, I was only using the other modes if my life was too low to use the second mode. The life loss is relevant against faster decks. Depending on how the meta continues to evolve, I might look at b/w midrange again. I think a lifelink / discard heavy deck could be well positioned if the meta is all midrange.

[Pendulum]

With orzhov charm, I was only using the other modes if my life was too low to use the second mode. The life loss is relevant against faster decks.

Can you elaborate on why you feel this is the correct choice? I don't like Charm either, but with Blasphemous Act being so pivotal to the deck you don't want to care about killing a creature until it's going to be game-breaking. Most of the time, when I was playing it, I'd only use the second mode to kill an opposing Reckoner, and there it's just a slightly-better Searing Spear (btw, love the Profit//Loss tech for the same reason, the idea of Reckoner blocking Reckoner oops I win there and kill your other dude too is just too
good to pass up).

Depending on how the meta continues to evolve, I might look at b/w midrange again. I think a lifelink / discard heavy deck could be well positioned if the meta is all midrange.

Discard's value is definitely going up, I feel. Now that we have the entire block and everything's just going to continue to build in complexity and synergy, having the option to get rid of their key cards is just great. I'm not so sure on lifelink, though.

[Lightning_Dolt]

With orzhov charm, I was only using the other modes if my life was too low to use the second mode. The life loss is relevant against faster decks.

Can you elaborate on why you feel this is the correct choice? I don't like Charm either, but with Blasphemous Act being so pivotal to the deck you don't want to care about killing a creature until it's going to be game-breaking. Most of the time, when I was playing it, I'd only use the second mode to kill an opposing Reckoner, and there it's just a slightly-better Searing Spear (btw,
love the Profit//Loss tech for the same reason, the idea of Reckoner blocking Reckoner oops I win there and kill your other dude too is just too good to pass up).

Depending on how the meta continues to evolve, I might look at b/w midrange again. I think a lifelink / discard heavy deck could be well positioned if the meta is all midrange.

Discard's value is definitely going up, I feel. Now that we have the entire block and everything's just going to continue to build in complexity and synergy, having the option to get rid of their key cards is just great. I'm not so sure on lifelink, though.

Against the super aggro decks like Blitz, gruul and BUG you are often just dead in the water if you don't use any removal. Reckoner is obviously public enemy number one, but there are a number of other must kill creatures. I've just found that the loss of life is a liability vs fast aggro.

[zemanjaski]

Orzhov Charm is pretty tepid against aggro yeah; you're conceding significant virtual card advantage when using it compared to the alternatives.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Sorry, had to update the SBing guide. Keep forgetting Sin Collector is not Duress. Makes it useless vs Bant Hexproof. I need English copies so I can actually read the cards lol. That has burned me in sanctioned play twice now.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Kinda mediocre weekend.

I was 2-1 at FNM. Played Grixis Control (1-2 player stabilized on 1 life with his 1 of [card]Curse of Death's Hold[/card]) , Naya Blitz (2-0), Jund Aggro (2-0)

I was 3-2 at a Sunday event. Played Jund Midrange (2-1), Junk Tokens (1-2), Jund Aggro (2-1), Frites (1-2), Jund Aggro (2-0)

I am actually thinking it's time to break out Act 1 and see how it goes. I'll be testing this:

[deck]The Aristocrats
Johnny_Spike
Gamesday Deck for 5/25/2013
Standard

Creatures (28)
1 Zealous Conscripts
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
3 Knight of Infamy
2 Silverblade Paladin
4 Sin Collector
2 Skirsdag High Priest

Spells (8)
1 Orzhov Charm
4 Tragic Slip
3 Lingering Souls

Lands (24)
2 Plains
1 Swamp
4
Blood Crypt
3 Cavern of Souls
1 Clifftop Retreat
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Sacred Foundry
1 Vault of the Archangel

Sideboard (15)
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
2 Sire of Insanity
3 Mark of Mutiny
2 Profits // Losses
2 Oblivion Ring[/deck]

Thoughts?

Maybe -1 Lingering Souls +1 Orzhov Charm...

I feel like this list will be a little soft to fast aggro, but well positioned against everything else. Hopefully the fast aggro decks will fade due to Jund being so good.

Any ideas for shoring up the aggro match up a little? Are Reckoners / lifegain worth throwing in the SB?

[Pendulum]

Are you having much of a problem with non-creature permanents that you couldn't switch out those SB O. Ring's for Fiend Hunter? He's got great synergy with the deck, and I've even used the sac-with-ETB-on-the-stack trick a few times.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Are you having much of a problem with non-creature permanents that you couldn't switch out those SB O. Ring's for Fiend Hunter? He's got great synergy with the deck, and I've even used the sac-with-ETB-on-the-stack trick a few times.

I have played with Fiend Hunter a bit and he's always been good. Great suggestion.

How do you stack the triggers?

[Pendulum]

Just like with O. Ring.
1. Cast Fiend Hunter, it resolves.
2. Enters-the-battlefield ability goes on the stack, you choose a creature to exile.
3. Sacrifice Hunter to an Aristocrat with ETB still on the stack. The Leaves-Play ability will trigger.
4. Let the Leaves-Play ability resolve, returning nothing.
5. ETB trigger resolves, exiling the chosen creature forever.

In my (more midrange) build it's not usually a relevant play, but in this build you might find it more useful because then you can get a creature exiled while turning Morbid on at the same time.

[Solemn10]

Yeah,you can't target planeswalkers and enchantments with sin collector. Sin collector instant sorcery. Duress non land non creature.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Yeah,you can't target planeswalkers and enchantments with sin collector. Sin collector instant sorcery. Duress non land non creature.

I know, but I sometimes forget. I wish my copies were in English.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Just like with O. Ring.
1. Cast Fiend Hunter, it resolves.
2. Enters-the-battlefield ability goes on the stack, you choose a creature to exile.
3. Sacrifice Hunter to an Aristocrat with ETB still on the stack. The Leaves-Play ability will trigger.
4. Let the Leaves-Play ability resolve, returning nothing.
5. ETB trigger resolves, exiling the chosen creature forever.

In my (more midrange) build it's not usually a relevant play, but in this build you might find it more useful because then you can get a creature exiled while turning Morbid on at the same time.

OK, thanks.Fiend Hunter was quite good when I tested it
against Blitz because they basically couldn't remove it. Should be really good against BUG too.

Maybe -1 Orzhov Charm, -1 Lingering Souls in the main, and -2 Oblivion Ring in the side.

[Pendulum]

Yeah, it's a beating against Blitz. I didn't like mine in the main much because against a deck with an optimal removal package it's lackluster, but like I said your list gets extra value out of it simply by dint of it being a human and a creature. Taking out the cards you suggested should work well for you. I -might- be a bit wary about cutting down to 2 Lingering Souls because they do just such a great job of taking the game over (or taking it back), but Hunter seems better at that, lol.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Yeah, it's a beating against Blitz. I didn't like mine in the main much because against a deck with an optimal removal package it's lackluster, but like I said your list gets extra value out of it simply by dint of it being a human and a creature. Taking out the cards you suggested should work well for you. I -might- be a bit wary about cutting down to 2 Lingering Souls because they do just such a great job of taking the game over (or taking it back), but Hunter seems better at that, lol.

I'd like to fit the 4x Fiend Hunters in the SB to be a direct swap in for Sin Collector, but not sure what to cut. I'll think about it more.

[Lightning_Dolt]

2-1 at FNM last night.

0-2 Rage-Quit-take-the-deck-apart-Drop at gamesday today.

Turns out the deck is not good against control like I thought it would be. It's actually not good at all.

I am abandoning the Aristocrats and moving to Dega Mid.

It's a sad day. I really like the deck, but it's just not working out.

Try again tomorrow with a new deck.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Top 8 at the SCG Open and Top 4 at the GP. Guess the deck is still good and I'm just in a funk. I have a PTQ in Monday. Not sure uf I should play Dega Mid or Aristocrats.

I was 3-2 at gamesday #2 with Dega mid.

[zemanjaski]

Have you seen the Junk Aristocrats deck built around Valroz? It is very resilient, which I like.

[photodyer]

Now that Xathrid Necromancer is in Standard, is it time to revisit the Dega lists? While I enjoy playing Act 2 and hitting the combo win, there is a ton of synergy to be built upon between the original human-heavy list and Blood Artist from Act 2.

Another card that I think needs revisited--at least from a testing perspective--is Thatcher Revolt. We all know the down sides of the card compared to LS, but the interactions with Artist (6-point life swing), Necromancer (put 6 power on the field in 3 bodies), FA (pumps), SHP (T3 Demon) and Champion (pumps) make for some crazy synergy plays from a 3-drop. OTOH, the card sucks without support and offers no defense or sustained board presence.

Thoughts?

[rcwraspy]

Has everybody seen AJ Sacher's B/W Humans list that won SCG Richmond last night? I'm posting it here because a lot of the synergies are similar to Aristocrats and it shares a few cards, though it's running 1 less color. There may be some take-aways. But depending on how prevalent Burning Earth becomes, it may be a good idea to stick to 2 colors.

[deck]
Creatures (21)
4 Blood Artist
1 Bloodthrone Vampire
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Xathrid Necromancer

Planeswalkers (3)
3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Lands (23)
7 Plains
5 Swamp
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
2 Mutavault
1 Orzhov Guildgate

Spells (13)
1 Orzhov Charm
4 Tragic Slip
4 Gather the Townsfolk
4 Lingering Souls

Sideboard
1 Pithing Needle
2 Lifebane Zombie
2 Sin Collector
2 Intangible Virtue
1 Brave the Elements
2 Doom Blade
2 Profit
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Appetite for Brains
[/deck]

[rcwraspy]

Now that Xathrid Necromancer is in Standard, is it time to revisit the Dega lists? While I enjoy playing Act 2 and hitting the combo win, there is a ton of synergy to be built upon between the original human-heavy list and Blood Artist from Act 2.

Another card that I think needs revisited--at least from a testing perspective--is Thatcher Revolt. We all know the down sides of the card compared to LS, but the interactions with Artist (6-point life swing), Necromancer (put 6 power on the field in 3 bodies), FA (pumps), SHP (T3 Demon) and Champion (pumps) make for some crazy synergy plays from a 3-drop. OTOH, the card sucks without support and offers no defense or sustained
board presence.

Thoughts?

you could probably quantify it using Ham's hypregeometric whosywhatsits. You could factor the percentage you could see Thatcher's Revolt without having already seen any 1 of the other cards it has synergy with.

[LP, of the Fires]

Seeing how thatcher has synergies with 12 cards you want to play(champion, necro, artist), I don't think the percentages are needed so much as finding space for all the cards and seeing if your deck is cohesive enough. Thatcher/souls/Xathrid are a lot of three drop, but if you can jam, you can jam.

[photodyer]

Even more synergy in Dega (add FA to the your list, LK)...Thatcher just does some absurd things with these cards. But it also introduces variance--high risk, high return.

I think this is the logical starting point for the deck base:

[deck]
CREATURES (24)
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Blood Artist
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Xathrid Necromancer
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat

SPELLS (13)
3 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
4 Tragic Slip
3 Lingering Souls
3 Thatcher Revolt
[/deck]

Thoughts?

[LP, of the Fires]

Basically what I told my friend to play at FNM Friday. He ended up winning with basically the original aristocrat deck adding necromancer. I suggested adding thatcher revolt to it and his eyes lit up.

[Pendulum]

Okay, Thatcher Revolt is pure genius. I was gonna work on a UW Superman list but that's just too tempting not to test out.

[photodyer]

A friend here locally has also been getting mileage out of working the necromancer and GTTownsfolk into an Act 2 shell. Dropping Blasphemous Act with Necromancer on the field is outright comedy...killing the other guy's board and having a bunch of zombies rise back up on your side is all but unfair. Obviously having Reckoner there to send damage to the dome is all the more punishing, but he's otherwise not synergistic with the deck's focus. I think my bud is going to drop Reckoner in favor of Champion to max out the human theme.

[photodyer]

Sam Black showed up at SCGI Jersey with an unexpected twist on the deck...it focuses massively on creature theft and sacrifice as well as hand disruption:

[deck]
LAND
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Godless Shrine
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
2 Clifftop Retreat
4 Isolated Chapel

CREATURES
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Cartel Aristocrat
1 Bloodthrone Vampire
1 Corpse Blockade
4 Lifebane Zombie
1 Sin Collector
2 Falkenrath Aristocrat
3 Restoration Angel
3 Zealous Conscripts

OTHER SPELLS
3 Tragic Slip
3 Lingering Souls
4 Mark of Mutiny
1 Barrage of Expendables

SIDEBOARD
1 Pillar of Flame
1 Tragic Slip
1 Appetite for Brains
1 Blood Artist
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Olivia Voldaren
1 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
2 Sin Collector
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
3 Devour Flesh
[/deck]

It's a really interesting buid; 9 sac outlet creatures and Barrage maindeck means there should always be some way to
sac something, and 7 threatens and 3 Restos mean that you are taking their best creatures away as they hit the board midgame. Lifebane and Sin Collector are getting you into their hand (and are also great with Resto), and the zombie is deadly if they aren't playing swamps. Corpse Blockade is really ingenious in this deck because he's a sac outlet that is hard to remove and makes attacking difficult for the opponent if they don't have evasive creatures.

I know LK will love the miser-style sideboard, though I'm scratching my head on a few of the cards (e.g., if I want Pillar, I want a better chance to see it); I recognize that this deck will not tolerate heavy sideboarding as it would kill its functionality (except against control, where I love the fact that it allows to to go more threat-heavy with relevant creatures against creature-light decks that kill the threaten strategy). I still don't like Devour and refuse to play it over Tribute; Sam even talks in the deck
tech about how he lost to Ghost Pants with Devour in his hand (though it was a nut draw for the Bant guy; Tribute might not have saved him either, but it would have at least provided a means of gaining some life).

I don't know yet how he finished out the Standard, but it seems like a fun deck to play and a seriously frustrating deck to play against.

[LP, of the Fires]

Looks cool, but probably folds to a blood artist deck. I am happy to see corpse blockade make an appearance. My buddy asked me about it for the sideboard of his orzhov midrange deck and I told him he was genius.

I'm with you on devour Photo. Card just looks very weak, though I know what it's there for. I'd still rather play cards that are actually good in other matchups besides hexproof though and likely would have gone with some number of barter in blood or liliana.

[photodyer]

Yeah, I could see going those routes as well, though this deck probably doesn't want discard parity with Lili or creature loss with Barter when it has better things to do with its cards (other than tossing LS anyway; half a card likely means a little CA).

He does have some ways to deal with Artist (Barrage was an 11th-hour addition for such things...steal their creature, sac it to barrage and then kill Artist or other low-toughness problems) and Artist decks post-board (I cringe at the thought of playing B/W and seeing Baron come down across the table), but this deck says he was banking on lots of midrange and fewer X/1 swarm decks. I'd be interested to find out exactly what he played and how he fared, as this deck is really soft to hexproof pre-board (they can already have enough creatures to kill him in play before he can fish with the Zombie and it can't hit The Invisible Man regardless) and doesn't get lots better
post. In general it seems like people just flat don't want to acknowledge Ghost Pants as a deck even when it has the kind of success we've been seeing in getting onto (if not topping) leader boards...Sam talked about targeting for Tusk, but ignoring hexproof will get you dead in this meta.

[LP, of the Fires]

[deck] Creatures(23):
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Xathrid Necromancer
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Blood Artist
4 Cartel Aristocrat
2 Skirsdag High Priest
1 Zealous Conscripts

Spells(10):
4 Tragic Slip
4 Gather the Townsfolk
2 Lingering Souls

Lands(23):
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Blood Crypt
4 Godless Shrine
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Dragonskull Summit
4 Isolated Chapel
3 Clifftop Retreat

SB: 2 Boros Reckoner
SB: 2 Blasphemous Act
SB: 2 Appetite for Brains
SB: 1 Zealous Conscripts
SB: 1 Doom Blade
SB: 2 War Priest of Thune
SB: 2 Mark of Mutiny
SB: 1 Slayers' Stronghold
SB: 1 Thundermaw Hellkite
SB: 1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad[/deck]

Current work in progress. The main deck is mostly perfect, the sideboard is something I'm working on. Some would say inspired by this article http://www.channelfireball.com/articles ... istocracy/ though the idea was 95% done in my head(and scrawled on dirty napkins) when that went live. I think this deck is very well positioned against the top dogs of the meta(namely UWR and Jund), and once I perfect the board, I'd say it's the blade.

Things worth noting:

1) You're a calculating beatdown deck with resiliency and a good long game, but you really just want to kill the other guy.
2) In many matches, it's correct to hold your cartel if there's nothing else on board.
3) Champion CAN be slowrolled until you can make him big, but that comes up once in a million games and it's usually correct to just play him asap and let him eat removal. Be aware of times where you can just blank there tragic slip though/pillar though.
4) Cavern doesn't always need to name human. Against the flash decks, naming vampire is probably better since it's virtually impossible for them to deal with outside of turn//burn
while cartel is just shock a turn, skirsdag is actively bad, and champion gets laughed at by azorius charm. Forcing through a necromancer on the other hand is a different story.
5) The Act/Reckoner combo in the board may be unnecessary but I do like both cards individually and I didn't want to run gy hate in my board so instead, this is largely how I deal with reanimator if I face it.
6) The board is infinitely customizable. Cards worth considering are:

Lifebane Zombie
Intangible Virtue
Slaughter Games
Obzedat, Ghost Council
More Lingering Souls
More Soirn
Duress
Sin Collector
Nearheath pilgrim
Thalia
Olivia Voldaren
Rakdos's Return
etc.

Of all those, the most appealing are Obzedat, virtue, lifebane, Thalia, and Sorin personally. With this deck, I'd rather avoid morphing into a more controly version post board and each of these cards has significant impact on the game while still being aggressive. I'm hedging against golgari charm and curse by not including X/1's (though lifebane is
insane). Sorin is a 1-of so far because in matches where I want him, he's generally just going to be a 4 mana emblem most of the time. Obzedat is on the bench for color consideration reasons and because lifebane zombie

Intangible virtue is one of those very powerful niche affects that can create dominating board presence but I don't think I have room for two, and if I was going to add a 1-of, it would be something like profit//loss for it's versatility against the random jank you'll find in larger tournaments.

Questions, comments, and suggestions are as always welcome.