Grave Pact-centric multiplayer deck for critique

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

Here's the list:

3 Mortician Beetle
4 Myr Servitor
4 Nether Traitor
3 Pawn of Ulamog
2 Braids, Cabal Minion
2 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Butcher of Malakir

4 Skullclamp
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Loxodon Warhammer
4 Exsanguinate
1 Spawning Pit
1 Blasting Station
2 Recurring Nightmare
4 Grave Pact

2 Cabal Coffers
20Swamp

It's just supposed to be a multiplayer deck for my usual group. Some of the shit people use is pretty degenerate, so I don't feel too bad using Skullclamps. There's some more things I'd like to include, but can't find the room for. The biggest two I can think of are maybe a couple more Loxodon Warhammers and maybe one or two Buried Alive since it has synergy with Recurring Nightmare, Nether Traitor, and Myr Servitor. Oh yeah, I'd also maybe like a couple Expedition Map to help find Coffers.

So, anyways, any commentary/ ideas?

EDIT: Also, Innocent Blood would obviously be pretty good, but I'm not sure how I could fit it in. Anyone want to help me tweak the numbers on this deck a bit?

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

The Source: Your source for no one giving a fuck about your casual group decks.

[MGC_player]

I ran a Gravepact deck in my casual group a long time ago. I abused recursion and Mindlash Sliver to shred their hands and with Gravepact the board was empty most of the time. Since it is multiplayer, Fleshbag Marauder could possibly be used.

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

I ran a Gravepact deck in my casual group a long time ago. I abused recursion and Mindlash Sliver to shred their hands and with Gravepact the board was empty most of the time. Since it is multiplayer, Fleshbag Marauder could possibly be used.

Those both seem like solid suggestions (and thank you for commenting on this thread, glad not to have it completely DOA). What sort of recursion engine did you mostly use in your build? I've thought of maybe adding a Hell's Caretaker or something similar to give me another reanimation engine, but I also feel like if my build becomes increasingly reliant on reanimating things as its main strategy, I'm going to need a decent discard outlet (and space is tight right now.) Mindlash Sliver would be really appealing if I did this though, since it's both a good creature to be able to recur, and also a solid discard outlet to get my fatties into the graveyard. But it sort of seems like it would take the deck in a new direction.

The version I've been trying these days is a little different from what I posted, I think the changes are -1 Mortician Beetle, -1 Loxodon Warhammer, +2 Buried Alive.

So far, Nether Traitor has been MVP and Myr Servitor has been a little shoddy. This deck is undefeated in my group so far, and pretty much all the wins come from a big Exsanguinate, Kokusho, the Evening Star shenanigans, or some combination thereof. I'm a little afraid though, because this one cat in our group likes to run Bojuka Bogs so I think I may need to strengthen the beat-down plan a little bit.

Any thoughts from anyone on all that?

[Jeff Kruchkow]

Casual or no, Id play some number of dark rits to help get out pact faster.
And you could rebuild it around Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker and a bunch of 1/1 little utility dudes (Bile Urchin, Viscera Seer, Mortician Beetle, Mindlash Sliver, etc)

[SpikeyMikey]

I used to run a multiplayer mono-B Gravepact deck. I ran a tighter list with less 1 and 2 ofs but I got great mileage out of Phyrexian Plaguelord and Shambling Swarm. Saccing Swarm to Plaguelord is sexy. Carnival of Souls is luls too, allowing you to go big mid-game with Recurring Nightmare and boneshredders. For a while I ran Oversold Cemetery too but it got to be too many enchantments and not enough critters.

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

Plaguelord is probably a good call. So, um, +1 to that. And... I'm off to read the Drunk Thread.

[MGC_player]

Those both seem like solid suggestions (and thank you for commenting on this thread, glad not to have it completely DOA). What sort of recursion engine did you mostly use in your build? I've thought of maybe adding a Hell's Caretaker or something similar to give me another reanimation engine, but I also feel like if my build becomes increasingly reliant on reanimating things as its main strategy, I'm going to need a decent discard outlet (and space is tight right now.) Mindlash Sliver would be really appealing if I did this though, since it's both a good creature to be able to recur, and also a solid discard outlet to get my fatties into the graveyard. But it sort of seems like it would take the deck in a new direction.

The version I've been trying these days is a little different from what I posted, I think the changes are -1 Mortician Beetle, -1 Loxodon Warhammer, +2 Buried Alive.

So far, Nether Traitor has been MVP and Myr Servitor has been a little shoddy. This deck is undefeated in my group so far, and pretty much all the wins come from a big Exsanguinate, Kokusho, the Evening Star shenanigans, or some combination thereof. I'm a little afraid though, because this one cat in our group likes to run Bojuka Bogs so I think I may need to strengthen the beat-down plan a little bit.

Any thoughts from anyone on all that?

The deck I used was one I used for FNM before most of the stuff rotated. I sold it off some time ago, but let's see what I can remember + whatever new modifications there are available. It's most likely something in a different direction.

Land
21 Swamp
2 Cabal Coffers

Creatures
4 Mindlash Sliver
4 Shriekmaw
4 (2 mana creature that is allows you raise dead by pitching a card)
3 Fleshbag Marauder
4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
2 Kokusho, the Evening Star
2 Viscera Seer

Stuff
4 Exsanguinate
4 Tortured Existence
2 Recurring Nightmare
4 Gravepact

It is quite a bit different from the original list. In the original I had Haakon, Stromgald Crusaders, and Nameless Inversion. I also had 2 Warhammers to assist with beatdown and Doomed Necromancers as additional sacrifice outlets and recursion. Anything that wasn't there during the Coldsnap/TS/Lor standard is a new addition.

[Rico Suave]

Bloodghast is really, really good in this deck.

Bitterblossom is also really good.

If you want life gain, I would highly recommend Bloodchief Ascension. It is very nice on the mana and though it takes a couple turns to build up it isn't like you'd be using Exsanguinate in that time either. And once Ascension is active it's pretty insane in multiplayer - especially if you've got Grave Pact online.

Diabolic Intent is a sacrifice outlet, works great with any token generator or a recursion dude, and also helps you find what you need for cheap. Works really great with Bloodghast.

Mimic Vat is pretty handy. Kokusho on a Mimic Vat is probably lights out if your opponents can't remove it very quickly.

[GGoober]

WHERE ARE THOU ICHORIDS?!?!?!

Seems good with Gravepact. Bloodghast + Ichorids to go with the casual GY theme. Ichorid already kills himself so I'll play him over ghast just for flavor of the deck.

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

4 Myr Servitor
4 Nether Traitor
3 Pawn of Ulamog
2 Braids, Cabal Minion
2 Phyrexian Plaguelord
2 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Butcher of Malakir

2 Bloodchief Ascension
4 Skullclamp
2 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Exsanguinate
2 Buried Alive
1 Blasting Station
2 Recurring Nightmare
4 Grave Pact

2 Cabal Coffers
20Swamp

This is what I'm using these days. And I feel like a heel; this game creeps up and takes over just about any multiplayer game it's in.

I think the number one issue I'm having with it though, is that I'd like a way to tutor for Grave Pact. Most of the deck is sort of built under the assumption that you have a Pact online, and I'm finding without it, I don't really have enough ways to control the board. Wondering if anyone has thoughts?

Also, Butcher of Malakir is seeming largely win-more/ unnecessary. I'd like a splashier reanimate-able fatty (but ideally something I can hardcast also)... Any ideas on that front?

Or just other decklists to share? :cool: