The Vilest of all Vile Horrors

[Blade]

216.1. Some effects put tokens into play. A token is controlled by whoever put it into play and owned by the controller of the spell or ability that created it. (If no player controlled the effect that created it, the token is owned by whoever put it into play.) The spell or ability may define any number of characteristics for the token. This becomes the token's "text." The characteristics defined this way are functionally equivalent to the characteristics that are printed on a card; for example, they define the token's copiable values. A token doesn't have any characteristics not defined by the spell or ability that created it.

Yeah, we all know the old Hunted Horror and Despotic Scepter/Brand trick. I originally created a deck based around this, but after some tweaking I found some pretty cool combos to go with it. Without further ado, here's the deck:

Lands

6 Mountain
5 Swamp
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Badlands
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Creatures

3 Hunted Dragon
4 Hunted Horror
4 Varchild's War-Riders

Spells

4 Despotic Scepter
2 Endless Whispers
3 AEther Flash
3 Tainted AEther
4 Terminate
4 Brand
2 Decree of Pain
2 Mogg Infestation

Sideboard

4 Leyline of the Void
4 Red Elemental Blast
3 Rite of Consumption
4 Shattering Spree

As you can see, this ain't your daddy's vile horror deck. Here's some card choices:

Creatures: Anything that puts creatures under your opponents control is a good thing.

Scepter: Why no Stylus? Endless Whispers. If they somehow kill one of your creatures, you get tokens plus you can get them right back.

Whispers: See above. Besides, if they chump block/damnation/sacrifice/whatever, you get free creatures

Aether Flash: Goodbye Knights, Survivors, Spirits and a lot of your opponents creatures.

Tainted Aether: Amazing card. Works great with Aether Flash. You are only putting one creature in play at a time but they are getting much more. Stack the flash first to make them sac a creature or land for every Survivor they would get.

Terminate: Best kill spell ever. Save for fatties because you only have 4.

Brand: Obvious. Don't be afraid to cycle.

Decree of Pain: Kinda expensive but works great to kill those pesky X/2's or below. Faeries hate it.

Mogg Infestation: This + Aether flash = Plague Wind. Add Tainted Aether or Brand and its practically GG.

SB as always is a meta call.

I don't have any matchup information yet, but I can tell you that Faries, elves, merfolk and thresh are all great matchups, Stax and combo suck, and everything else falls in between.

Any suggestions?

EDIT:

After several good comments here's the revised decklist. Thanks for all the help and keep it coming.

Lands

4 Mountain
3 Swamp
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Badlands
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Creatures

3 Hunted Dragon
4 Hunted Horror
4 Varchild's War-Riders

Spells

4 Despotic Scepter
3 AEther Flash
3 Tainted AEther
4 Terminate
4 Brand
2 Isochron Scepter
2 Dingus Staff
4 Mox Diamond
2 Mogg Infestation

Sideboard

4 Leyline of the Void
3 Red Elemental Blast
3 Shattering Spree
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Massacre

[GreenOne]

I don't like decree of pain. The cycle ability is cool cause they can't counter it. However they can stifle it and it costs 5.
Did you try with Massacre or Infest in its place? Massacre's free cost in some random matchup (landstill, UGw Thresh, Rw Goblins, etc) can be quite good.

Are you playing 25 lands? (Did I count right?)
Seems a bit too much, even considering your quite high CC (that Massacre/infest contributes lowering) and your own Tainted Aether.

[Isamaru]

This combo is copyrighted by Stephen Judd (Isamaru), I think. Did you ask him for permission to build a deck around it?
No offense but that's just sad, the combo isn't even that innovative and directly derived from the game rules.

I didn't copyright the interaction... I worked meticulously and diligently in the face of criticism for years, finding the best way to utilize the interaction effectively, in my own way.

This is an approach I wouldn't personally take, though I think Mogg Infestation is a neat idea with Brand and Endless Whispers. (Still, Brand doesn't fit my playstyle and I think it's a bit risky.) I did try BR long ago, and an Endless Whispers variation too, it's got neat interactions with Despotic Scepter.

It's effectively a different deck here, that's all, so the only thing is to not think of it as whatever the name "Vile Horror" means - that name no longer matters.

My actual deck doesn't have a catch phrase name on it anymore, I just refer to it as my Hunted Horror deck, I suppose. It happens to use Horror as a win condition, though it's not the entire focus of the deck itself. I don't think a single card should be the entire focus of a deck in any case. (Even Belcher uses more than Charbelcher to try and win.)

[Blade]

I didn't copyright the interaction... I worked meticulously and diligently in the face of criticism for years, finding the best way to utilize the interaction effectively, in my own way.

This is an approach I wouldn't personally take, though I think Mogg Infestation is a neat idea with Brand and Endless Whispers. (Still, Brand doesn't fit my playstyle and I think it's a bit risky.) I did try BR long ago, and an Endless Whispers variation too, it's got neat interactions with Despotic Scepter.

It's effectively a different deck here, that's all, so the only thing is to not think of it as whatever the name "Vile Horror" means - that name no longer matters.

My actual deck doesn't have a catch phrase name on it anymore, I just refer to it as my Hunted Horror deck, I suppose. It happens to use Horror as a win condition, though it's not the entire focus of the deck itself. I don't think a single card should be the entire focus of a deck in any case. (Even Belcher uses more than Charbelcher to try and win.)

After googling your deck I realize that mine may seem similar but I promise there was no 'copyright infringement' or disrespect intended. I've seen Vial Horror decks for a long time and I truly thought I had a new and original idea here. I like your decklist and any advice or criticism you have is appreciated.

[dahcmai]

Lol, people have no sense of humor anymore. Anyway Sarcasm is kind of lost on the net.


As for the deck, there's always this little gem for it.

http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=46729


Despotic Scepter works, but I always liked this one.

[Isamaru]

After googling your deck I realize that mine may seem similar but I promise there was no 'copyright infringement' or disrespect intended. I've seen Vial Horror decks for a long time and I truly thought I had a new and original idea here. I like your decklist and any advice or criticism you have is appreciated.

Blade, if you reread my post, I tried to make myself clear that I don't "own the ruling," or whatever their joke is, and that the name "Vile Horror" doesn't matter.

Anyway, I made some comments on your deck above too, but one idea might be using Isochron Scepter with Brand (you also have Terminate etc. to put on it) so that you will be able to Brand back Varchild's tokens each time you pay the upkeep.

[ssilver]

Oh man... Terminate on a Stick... That would be brutal.

[Blade]

I love the Stick, especially with Whispers, but the biggest question is what to take out? Maybe -1 Brand and -1 Scepter for +2 Sticks? Any ideas?

And what about -2 Mountain and -2 swamp for +4 Mox Diamond? Helps with early Orchids and your 2nd Urborg.


As for the deck, there's always this little gem for it.

http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/Card...aspx?&id=46729

Despotic Scepter works, but I always liked this one.


Scepter: Why no Stylus? Endless Whispers. If they somehow kill one of your creatures, you get tokens plus you can get them right back.

[Isamaru]

Like GreenOne said, take out Decree of Pain... but take out some land too, you don't need 25 land.

[ImaBorgerman]

Based on the deck concept, giving your opponent creatures and most probably killing than stealing them, do you think Dingus Staff will have a place here? :tongue:

For example:
Aether Flash + Dingus Staff + Varchild's War Riders = gg?

[Isamaru]

You could also substitute sort of Death Greeter (http://magiccards.info/ala/en/71.html) for Dingus Staff, but it has to come down before Aether Flash...

[Blade]

After several good comments here's the revised decklist. Thanks for all the help and keep it coming.

Lands

4 Mountain
3 Swamp
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Badlands
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Creatures

3 Hunted Dragon
4 Hunted Horror
4 Varchild's War-Riders

Spells

4 Despotic Scepter
3 AEther Flash
3 Tainted AEther
4 Terminate
4 Brand
2 Isochron Scepter
2 Dingus Staff
4 Mox Diamond
2 Mogg Infestation

Sideboard

4 Leyline of the Void
3 Red Elemental Blast
3 Shattering Spree
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Massacre

[Isamaru]

Consider Chrome Mox over Mox Diamond.

I think you should focus on either Tainted AEther or AEther Flash, instead of both.

What I always find when working with Brand decks is that you want more than just 4x Brand... and then you immediately find that every other non-Brand card destroys them instead of gaining control of them. The predicament you're left in is "do I destroy them now by playing Aether, or do I wait to see if I draw Brand?"

So what I'd recommend is taking out some of the redundancy and replacing it with disruption and card draw - Hymn to Tourach and Phyrexian Arena.

[Blade]

Consider Chrome Mox over Mox Diamond.


I tried this first. Diamond is better because you will usually have more dead lands than dead cards.



I think you should focus on either Tainted AEther or AEther Flash, instead of both.


Both of these cards work great separately and are amazing together. I love both and these are possibly the last 2 cards I would cut.


What I always find when working with Brand decks is that you want more than just 4x Brand... and then you immediately find that every other non-Brand card destroys them instead of gaining control of them. The predicament you're left in is "do I destroy them now by playing Aether, or do I wait to see if I draw Brand?"

In playing the deck I can tell you the answer is ALWAYS destroy the tokens with flash or Aether. While a bunch of 1/1s are nice, its always better to leave the opponent with nothing than the chance of you having something.


So what I'd recommend is taking out some of the redundancy and replacing it with disruption and card draw - Hymn to Tourach and Phyrexian Arena.

I like the arena idea, but if I don't take out the Flash or Tainted, what else can be cut?

[Isamaru]

mhmm - I highly recommend taking out Brand... it's just so one-time...

[Willoe]

I'd recommend Chrome Mox over Mox Diamond. It also lets you drop your land count as it's pretty high. You also have more fodder for Chrome Mox than you have for Mox Diamond, making Chrome Mox "less dead". I know that you don't want to pitch a bomb, but you certainly don't want to pitch another mana source.

Mox Diamond is great in decks with land recursion, otherwise it sucks in my opinion. It's acceleration and all, but it requires you to play approx. 26 lands plus 4 Mox Diamond. Then you've already used half your deck just on mana sources! Unless you want the mana badly, I don't think that's a good idea.

[Isamaru]

Willoe's right.

You may want to take a look at this thread http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=3490129 but don't take it too seriously.

[Shabbaman]

I have a casual version of this deck. I've stretched it into five colors, with an appropriate expensive mana base of fetches and duals, and Forbidden orchard. There is only 1 white (Ghostly prison), 1 green (Hunted troll, which sucks because it lacks evasion) and 1 gold card (crime/punishment) in it, so you could just as well say it's RUB (UBR, whatever). The blue splash gives you Hunted phantasm and Leyline of singularity.

If you go with Tainted aether Hunted phantasm is better than Horror, because Horror only gives two tokens to your opponent. Hunted horror has more downsides: it's tokens have 3 toughness so they're difficult to get rid of. It's casting cost is actually too low, or better, usually you want to cast it later than turn two because your answers are slower than turn two.

Another thing I noticed is that quick aggro decks (weenies) are problematic. Blue also helps, because then you can run Academy ruins. Engineered explosives and/or powder kegs are great against weenies, and can even get rid of unwanted tokens. I think that's the flexibility you want from your cards.

[Phoenix Ignition]

I've been trying to do something similar, I'll post it to give you ideas, but I don't think it's quite tournament worthy.

Taking a slightly different approach I've made this:


// Lands
1 [TSP] Academy Ruins
1 [7E] Swamp (3)
1 [BD] Mountain (2)
4 [ON] Polluted Delta
2 [ON] Flooded Strand
1 [10E] Island (3)
2 [B] Volcanic Island
3 [B] Underground Sea
3 [CHK] Forbidden Orchard

// Creatures
4 [RAV] Hunted Horror
4 [MI] Phyrexian Dreadnought
2 [FD] Trinket Mage
2 [RAV] Hunted Phantasm
4 [RAV] Dark Confidant

// Spells
4 [SC] Stifle
3 [TSP] Trickbind
4 [US] Brand
4 [CST] Brainstorm
4 [AL] Force of Will
2 [FD] Engineered Explosives
1 [ALA] Executioner's Capsule
4 [DS] AEther Vial

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [SOK] Pithing Needle
SB: 3 [ALA] Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 [US] Gilded Drake
SB: 3 [DS] Echoing Truth
SB: 2 [TE] Propaganda
SB: 3 [PT] Pyroclasm

[Isamaru]

These decks are all over the place, there's no focus.

(It looks like you'll be using Hunted Phantasm to... pitch to Force of Will.)

[HdH_Cthulhu]

Shouldnt be Brooding Saurian a 4 off in this deck?
4/4 for 4 is rather weak but it has a built in Brand every turn!

[Shabbaman]

Unfortunately Brooding Saurian doesn't work with tokens.

[Phoenix Ignition]

These decks are all over the place, there's no focus.

(It looks like you'll be using Hunted Phantasm to... pitch to Force of Will.)

Yeah I know, because getting a 4/6 unblockable + 5 goblins for 2 cards is terrible. With the added bonus of pitching to FoW.

[Aj-capra]

Here the list who im testing now

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

// Lands
1 [TSP] Academy Ruins
3 [B] Tropical Island
1 [US] Swamp (2)
3 [ON] Polluted Delta
3 [ON] Flooded Strand
1 [CHK] Island (3)
3 [B] Underground Sea
3 [CHK] Forbidden Orchard

// Creatures
2 [DIS] Trygon Predator
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
4 [RAV] Hunted Horror
2 [MI] Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 [RAV] Dark Confidant
3 [FD] Trinket Mage

// Spells
1 [ALA] Executioner's Capsule
1 [TSP] Trickbind
4 [CST] Brainstorm
3 [DS] Echoing Truth
4 [AL] Force of Will
2 [FD] Engineered Explosives
4 [SC] Stifle
4 [DS] AEther Vial

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [ALA] Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 [10E] Pithing Needle
SB: 2 [US] Gilded Drake
SB: 2/3 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 2/3 Eng. Plague
SB: Smother??

Sb isn't complete yet!!

I prefer to play green because trygon and gofy are very strong. I've just tested this build and with trygon I won a lot of matches othervise I lost.

I think if sdt is better than brain in this deck. Sdt is good vs confidant too, but brainstorm is good versus fetches.

[Isamaru]

Was Brand supposed to be in there... or do you like using Forbidden Orchard because it has great art? :smile:


Yeah I know, because getting a 4/6 unblockable + 5 goblins for 2 cards is terrible. With the added bonus of pitching to FoW.Right.