Which are currently the best Black creatures in Legacy?

[DeMarki]

I am trying to build a monoblack deck and I'm trying to figure out which would be the most efficient and reliable choices in my disposal.

I'm looking for creatures that will really affect your opponent's gameplay, either by disrupting or heavy beatdown.

After doing some research, I came across those 5, which look like the best for the buck in monoblack:

Tombstalker
Hypnotic Specter
Nantuko Shade
Dark Confidant
Phyrexia Negator

Which of those 5 creatures are worth a spot in a monoblack deck(NO green or red splash, please don't mention Tarmogoyf), or remind me if I am missing a good creature from this list.

[DrJones]

Phyrexian Negator is awful, even Urami and the Phyrexian Totem see more play than Negator.

[Knuckles29]

If you have Top in there you can use TOmbstalker and Confidant.. if not then you need to check your curve for COnfidant. This isn't really groundbreaking advice, anyone would tell you the same.

Negator hasn't been good in a while, and is only for aggro.

Shade is ok

Specter is underrated, but the format isn't real scarred of him any more

And I am not mentioning this to be a jerk, but maybe even Malikar Bloodwitch, pro StP ain't bad. It is too new, and probably too high cost; but I play more casual so it is ok there

[DeMarki]

Phyrexian Negator is awful, even Urami and the Phyrexian Totem see more play than Negator.

I left Negator in my list since I have been playing him in Vintage where he rocks, not sure about Legacy though since I am new to the format, hence the thread I created. :)

[paK0]

Shriekmaw is a decent one.

[Media314r8]

Some unconventional newer mono black cards:

Gatekeeper of Malakir and vampire nighthawk both seem to border on playable, nighthawk racing extraordinarily well, especially with jitte, and both capable of killing goyf with some profit. (albiet for three mana)

Dusk Urchins is a conditional ancestral recall that trades profitibly with everyone but goyf.

Demigod of Revenge is decent is a combo/control deck, or some odd damnation, tenrils, chainer's edict poxless MBC similar to train wreck.

Ashenmoor Gouger is probably better than Negator right now.

[Elfrago]

Tombstalker
Hypnotic Specter
Nantuko Shade
Dark Confidant
Gatekeeper of Malakair
Withered Wretch

[DeMarki]

Some unconventional newer mono black cards:

Gatekeeper of Malakir and vampire nighthawk both seem to border on playable, nighthawk racing extraordinarily well, especially with jitte, and both capable of killing goyf with some profit. (albiet for three mana)

Dusk Urchins is a conditional ancestral recall that trades profitibly with everyone but goyf.

Demigod of Revenge is decent is a combo/control deck, or some odd damnation, tenrils, chainer's edict poxless MBC similar to train wreck.

Ashenmoor Gouger is probably better than Negator right now.

I don't like those options, except perhaps for Gatekeeper of Malakir, he looks pretty efficient if you ask me.

Demigod of Revenge is too slow for a fast aggro deck with efficient beaters, same with Dusk Urchins.

Vampire Nighthawk isn't bad, but I can't find a single reason anyone would play it over Hypnotic Specter.

Ashenmoor Gouger isn't bad, but he just feels kinda underwhelming.


So far I am sticking to Hypnotic Specter, Tombstalker, Nantuko Shade and perhaps Gatekeeper to complement the removal spells.

Is Nantuko still considered top notch for monoblack, or is it outdated?

[Nidd]

You are all forgetting Korlash.
And I smell some serious potential in the form of Dross Harvester.

[Tacosnape]

This is a short list.

1. Dark Confidant
2. Gatekeeper of Malakir
3/4. Tombstalker/Nantuko Shade.

Confidant's only as good as your ability to not die horribly off of him, and if this is Mono Black Control, I'd say you're better off with Phyrexian Arena or something else entirely.

Gatekeeper of Malakir belongs in nearly every mono black deck that doesn't strive for a combo finish.

Stalker's better than Shade in a vacuum, but Stalker has that downside of fighting every other ridiculously good card in the format for graveyard resources, meaning Tombstalker gets a little weaker with things like Tarmogoyf or Grim Lavamancer. Tombstalker also doesn't fill as fast without fetchlands. Tombstalker's also very dangerous to run alongside Confidant.

Shade's solid, but is at his best when you don't have to overcommit mana elsewhere.

[Shanghi Knights]

don't forget oona's prowler its another terribly under estimated card.

[DeMarki]

How about Nyxathid, combined with powerful discard spells such as Hypnotic Specter, Hymn to Tourach, Duress and Thoughtseize?

[Digital Devil]

Shriekmaw, Dark Confidant, Tombstalker. Either you run Confidant, or you run the other two.

[Nidd]

How about Nyxathid, combined with powerful discard spells such as Hypnotic Specter, Hymn to Tourach, Duress and Thoughtseize?

Nyxathid is pretty bad. Discard is great, but there are creatures that compliment it more than Nyxathid: Tombstalker for example. Playing discard spells means your GY will fill fast -> Tombstalker is easily powered out.

[DeMarki]

Nyxathid is pretty bad. Discard is great, but there are creatures that compliment it more than Nyxathid: Tombstalker for example. Playing discard spells means your GY will fill fast -> Tombstalker is easily powered out.

You could play both. :)

By the way, how is Hypnotic Specter in Legacy, is he still considered a threat, or just annoying?

[Eldariel]

You could play both. :)

By the way, how is Hypnotic Specter in Legacy, is he still considered a threat, or just annoying?

Turn 1 Hypno is great, turn 3 Hypno is decent. He's still disruptive as ever, but the damage isn't amazing so as a 2/2, you won't be relying on it to kill the opponent. Its primary purpose is clearing out the hand.

And yeah, you usually play it in decks with Ritual 'cause turn 1 Hypno kicks major butt but turn 3 is merely "Ok". Without the chance of dropping it turn 1, I wouldn't play it.

[Valtrix]

I don't think a T1 hypnotic specter is really that great right now. So many decks will be able to deal with that already with:

+Lightning bolt
+Daze
+Force
+Swords

One of which is in pretty much every deck. Yes, removal is not a reason to necessarily argue for/against a creature, but I think that in this case it matters for a card which is not that great unless you get him out first turn, since even then it's not looking that great.

That said I also think oona's prowler is a very underrated card, though I have no experience with it in Legacy.

[The Pharmacist]

Royal Assassin
Stone-Throwing Devils
Juzam Djinn

[Nihil Credo]

I don't think a T1 hypnotic specter is really that great right now. So many decks will be able to deal with that already with:

"Use a counter or a removal spell. If you don't, you're in deep shit" is about as good as you can ask of your turn 1 play.

[DeMarki]

Would running 4 Gatekeeper of Malakir be enough for maindeck removal or should he compliment other removal spells for a deck to be effective?