Borg
07-08-2020, 06:09 AM
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose is very likely to see play in Legacy.
Lifelink / Life Gain is a nice ability to have in your deck but it doesn't finish the opponent.
When that life gain also turns into life loss for the opponent however, you have a winner IMHO.
How to build around him ?
Obviously he'll need protection.
That's where Mother of Runes comes in.
A tried and tested creature that excels in keeping other vital creatures alive.
Our preferred T1 drop.
If you don't have a Mother in your opening hand, Thoughtseize is a nice alternative on T1.
Arguably even better on T2 to see if you can safely play Vito on T3.
Thoughtseize rates slightly better in this deck IMO due to the fact that the life loss won't sting as much as in decks that don't have Life Gain.
Dark Confidant is another A+ card that is just a perfect play right after casting a Mother.
The average life loss inflicted by him will be 72/59=1.22 which is very acceptable.
Just like Thoughtseize, his drawback is reduced by the Life Gain, resulting in another "better than normal" top card.
These 16 cards are the core of the deck.
Sunspring Expedition is an absolute bomb with Vito.
For just 1 mana you can gain 8 life and deal 8 life loss to the opponent.
Ideally played on T2.
If you started with a Thoughtseize on T1 try to play a Scrubland first as you need it to cast Sunspring Expedition with it as well on T2 BEFORE you play your second land to maximize you quest counters.
A fetchland on T3 will put 3 quest counters on it as you play Vito.
Since you only have to sacrifice the enchantment to trigger its effect it will be very hard to stop it once there are 3+ counters on it.
Sunbeam Spellbomb gives you another serious life gain/loss card with the added ability to be used as card draw.
Can be played for just 1 mana and used at the appropriate time. Great Synergy with Vito.
Elixir of Immortality is very similar to the Spellbomb but costs 1 more mana to trigger.
It does allow you to put your lost Vito's or Sunspring Expeditions or even fetchlands back into your deck though.
I don't want to run on just noncreature cards, so I need creatures/alternatives in case Vito should not come online.
The most intimidating creature in this setup seems to me Lone Rider.
With all the life gain, he'll just transform sooner rather than later and he becomes an abolute beast when that happens.
4/4 Lifelink Trampling First Striker.
Kunoros, Hound of Athreos seems just too good to pass up.
3/3 with Vigilance, Menace and lifelink for just 3CMC is just great in this deck already but with his added abilities to restrict graveyard shenanigans ( Uro, anyone ? ) he's a must have imo.
Murderous Rider // Swift End is another perfect fit.
Able to put a swift end to blockers or problematic creatures AND planeswalkers first and then add a body to the life gain/loss strategy.
While we're on to removal, Vindicate also has a place in this deck as well as Swords to Plowshares of course.
StP has the added ability that , in the right situation, it can just sword one of your own creatures ( say a 4/4 It ) to deal 4 life loss to your opponent and finish the game.
For the mana base I suggest at least 9 fetches, preferably probably even 10, to reliably trigger the Expedition as fast as possible and because the damage will likely be offset by all the life gain anyway.
Add a Karakas for more Vito protection and a Volrath's Stronghold.
SB is still a work in progress.
Thanks for reading this post.
//CC1
4 Thoughtseize
4 Sunspring Expedition
4 Sunbeam Spellbomb
4 Mother of Runes
3 Swords to Plowshares
1 Elixir of Immortality
//CC2
4 Lone Rider // It That Rides as One
4 Dark Confidant
//CC3
4 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
4 Murderous Rider // Swift End
3 Vindicate
1 Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
//Lands
4 Scrubland
4 Marsh Flats
3 Flooded Strand
3 Bloodstained Mire
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Karakas
//Sideboard
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Plague Engineer
3 Disenchant
2 Pithing Needle
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Null Rod
1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1 Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
Lifelink / Life Gain is a nice ability to have in your deck but it doesn't finish the opponent.
When that life gain also turns into life loss for the opponent however, you have a winner IMHO.
How to build around him ?
Obviously he'll need protection.
That's where Mother of Runes comes in.
A tried and tested creature that excels in keeping other vital creatures alive.
Our preferred T1 drop.
If you don't have a Mother in your opening hand, Thoughtseize is a nice alternative on T1.
Arguably even better on T2 to see if you can safely play Vito on T3.
Thoughtseize rates slightly better in this deck IMO due to the fact that the life loss won't sting as much as in decks that don't have Life Gain.
Dark Confidant is another A+ card that is just a perfect play right after casting a Mother.
The average life loss inflicted by him will be 72/59=1.22 which is very acceptable.
Just like Thoughtseize, his drawback is reduced by the Life Gain, resulting in another "better than normal" top card.
These 16 cards are the core of the deck.
Sunspring Expedition is an absolute bomb with Vito.
For just 1 mana you can gain 8 life and deal 8 life loss to the opponent.
Ideally played on T2.
If you started with a Thoughtseize on T1 try to play a Scrubland first as you need it to cast Sunspring Expedition with it as well on T2 BEFORE you play your second land to maximize you quest counters.
A fetchland on T3 will put 3 quest counters on it as you play Vito.
Since you only have to sacrifice the enchantment to trigger its effect it will be very hard to stop it once there are 3+ counters on it.
Sunbeam Spellbomb gives you another serious life gain/loss card with the added ability to be used as card draw.
Can be played for just 1 mana and used at the appropriate time. Great Synergy with Vito.
Elixir of Immortality is very similar to the Spellbomb but costs 1 more mana to trigger.
It does allow you to put your lost Vito's or Sunspring Expeditions or even fetchlands back into your deck though.
I don't want to run on just noncreature cards, so I need creatures/alternatives in case Vito should not come online.
The most intimidating creature in this setup seems to me Lone Rider.
With all the life gain, he'll just transform sooner rather than later and he becomes an abolute beast when that happens.
4/4 Lifelink Trampling First Striker.
Kunoros, Hound of Athreos seems just too good to pass up.
3/3 with Vigilance, Menace and lifelink for just 3CMC is just great in this deck already but with his added abilities to restrict graveyard shenanigans ( Uro, anyone ? ) he's a must have imo.
Murderous Rider // Swift End is another perfect fit.
Able to put a swift end to blockers or problematic creatures AND planeswalkers first and then add a body to the life gain/loss strategy.
While we're on to removal, Vindicate also has a place in this deck as well as Swords to Plowshares of course.
StP has the added ability that , in the right situation, it can just sword one of your own creatures ( say a 4/4 It ) to deal 4 life loss to your opponent and finish the game.
For the mana base I suggest at least 9 fetches, preferably probably even 10, to reliably trigger the Expedition as fast as possible and because the damage will likely be offset by all the life gain anyway.
Add a Karakas for more Vito protection and a Volrath's Stronghold.
SB is still a work in progress.
Thanks for reading this post.
//CC1
4 Thoughtseize
4 Sunspring Expedition
4 Sunbeam Spellbomb
4 Mother of Runes
3 Swords to Plowshares
1 Elixir of Immortality
//CC2
4 Lone Rider // It That Rides as One
4 Dark Confidant
//CC3
4 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
4 Murderous Rider // Swift End
3 Vindicate
1 Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
//Lands
4 Scrubland
4 Marsh Flats
3 Flooded Strand
3 Bloodstained Mire
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Karakas
//Sideboard
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Plague Engineer
3 Disenchant
2 Pithing Needle
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Null Rod
1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1 Kunoros, Hound of Athreos