Mono-black control. Yes, it's a thing, and it is born out of sheer hatred and spite. But how do you build it? Fret not my necrotic neophyte, for I have your back.
For this particular build, I chose Kaervek, the Spiteful and his ability to weaken creatures by -1/-1. Out of the gate this ability is annoying, but not lethal. Plus, it affects our creatures as well. So why Kaerveck?
I was initially drawn to him due to the fact that he seemed to be a strict downgrade from Kaervek the Merciless in Time Spiral. This particular legendary seems to be a challenge, while also fitting our needs. Hindering creatures, making our opponents sacrifice permanents, or rendering their lands useless is our goal, and Kaerveck gets us a third of the way there.
So how do we build mono-black control?
When I think about control, I think blue. Counter your opponents' spells until they are left with nothing. Mono-black control is a bit of a twist on this. What we want to do is control our opponents' boards and make them lose life or lose their permanents.
In a typical black control deck, we tend to see tons of X damage spells, board wipes, and mass discard. The aim is to control the board and limit your opponent's options in hand until you swing in big with some nasty finishers (I'm looking at you Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon). Cards like Exsanguinate, Painful Quandary, Gray Merchant of Asphodel (better known as Gary), and Bottomless Pit are hallmarks of the theme.
However, I wanted a challenge. I desired something a bit off the beaten path and decided to take a slight stroll into unknown territory. This is where Kaerveck came in. He's new, and new is rather exciting! Unknown and untested.
At first glance, his ability seems so small, so unassuming. I felt that if he entered the battlefield he'd be seen more as an annoyance than a threat. That's where the idea came in to do an Aristocrats sub-theme. Mono-black sees everything you have as a resource, be it creatures or your life total... so why not play to that? Generate tokens, and kill your own creatures for pings of damage while controlling the board. Afterall, Kaerveck is spiteful.
We make tokens through cards like Bitterblossom, Breeding Pit and Abhorrent Overlord. Kaervek, the Spiteful, Illness in the Ranks and Night of Souls' Betrayal help hinder and kill everyone's creatures, while cards like Bastion of Remembrance and Falkenrath Noble turn all the carnage into life drain.
This was a good start, but we need more ways to cause our opponents suffering.
This is where we introduce Dictate of Erebos. With our current course of action (i.e. killing our creature tokens), Dictate acts as a way for us to slow clear our opponents' boards as well, leaving them open for attacks. If we don't have access to one of our many board wipes, this enchantment will help facilitate a similar effect.
Another way we can control our opponent's boards is through their lands. Making it so your opponents can't cast spells is another way to control the board. Cards like Infernal Darkness and Contamination make our opponents' lands tap for black instead of their intended color. This can be incredibly annoying, but also set us up for a sneaky little combo in the future.
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Toxic Loyalty by Chase Carroll
'Toxic Loyalty' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Chase Carroll
Event:
Rank:
Commander
Market Price: $675.62
Pox
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $4.48
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/2324_200w.jpg
Each player loses a third of their life, then discards a third of the cards in their hand, then sacrifices a third of the creatures they control, then sacrifices a third of the lands they control. Round up each time.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/fifth-edition/pox
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Market Price: $27.73
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/179536_200w.jpg
Each land is a Swamp in addition to its other land types.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ultimate-masters/urborg-tomb-of-yawgmoth
Infernal Darkness
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.91
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/4742_200w.jpg
Cumulative upkeep—Pay {B} and 1 life. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
If a land is tapped for mana, it produces {B} instead of any other type.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ice-age/infernal-darkness
Sudden Spoiling
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $4.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/94326_200w.jpg
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Until end of turn, creatures target player controls lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 0/2.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2014/sudden-spoiling
Pitiless Plunderer
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $4.85
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155775_200w.jpg
Whenever another creature you control dies, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/pitiless-plunderer
Phyrexian Arena
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $11.51
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/121534_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/conspiracy-take-the-crown/phyrexian-arena
Kormus Bell
Market Price: $0.44
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/1816_200w.jpg
All Swamps are 1/1 black creatures that are still lands.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/fourth-edition/kormus-bell
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.34
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/206460_200w.jpg
When Gray Merchant of Asphodel enters the battlefield, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. (Each {B} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/gray-merchant-of-asphodel
Grave Titan
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $8.45
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/94307_200w.jpg
Deathtouch Whenever Grave Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, create two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens.
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Witch's Cottage
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.22
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/198390_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)
Witch's Cottage enters the battlefield tapped unless you control three or more other Swamps.
When Witch's Cottage enters the battlefield untapped, you may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/witchs-cottage
Bitterblossom
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $35.86
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/179459_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life and create a 1/1 black Faerie Rogue creature token with flying.
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Midnight Banshee
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.53
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/98793_200w.jpg
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.) At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on each nonblack creature.
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Rankle, Master of Pranks
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $11.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/198584_200w.jpg
Flying, haste Whenever Rankle, Master of Pranks deals combat damage to a player, choose any number — • Each player discards a card. • Each player loses 1 life and draws a card. • Each player sacrifices a creature.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/rankle-master-of-pranks
Massacre Wurm
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $3.32
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215523_200w.jpg
When Massacre Wurm enters the battlefield, creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, that player loses 2 life.
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Damnation
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $40.00
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/128220_200w.jpg
Destroy all creatures. They can't be regenerated.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-masters-2017/damnation
Exsanguinate
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $7.20
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/36342_200w.jpg
Each opponent loses X life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/scars-of-mirrodin/exsanguinate
Necropotence
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $31.69
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145298_200w.jpg
Skip your draw step. Whenever you discard a card, exile that card from your graveyard. Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library face down. Put that card into your hand at the beginning of your next end step.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/iconic-masters/necropotence
Jet Medallion
Market Price: $25.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/94132_200w.jpg
Black spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2014/jet-medallion
Mortuary Mire
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212430_200w.jpg
Mortuary Mire enters the battlefield tapped.
When Mortuary Mire enters the battlefield, you may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
{T}: Add {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/mortuary-mire
Toxic Deluge
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $12.67
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/219532_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, pay X life. All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/toxic-deluge
Revel in Riches
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $5.31
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/142012_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control ten or more Treasures, you win the game.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ixalan/revel-in-riches
Mutilate
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.61
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/93723_200w.jpg
All creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn for each Swamp you control.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/duel-decks-anthology/mutilate
Phyrexian Tower
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $13.01
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216140_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{T}, Sacrifice a creature: Add {B}{B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/phyrexian-tower
Cabal Stronghold
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $3.71
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/164377_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{3}, {T}: Add {B} for each basic Swamp you control.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/cabal-stronghold
Phyrexian Obliterator
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $21.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/161537_200w.jpg
Trample Whenever a source deals damage to Phyrexian Obliterator, that source's controller sacrifices that many permanents.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/masters-25/phyrexian-obliterator
God-Pharaoh's Statue
Market Price: $0.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/187246_200w.jpg
Spells your opponents cast cost {2} more to cast.
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent loses 1 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/god-pharaohs-statue
Beseech the Queen
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $6.81
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/37325_200w.jpg
({2/B} can be paid with any two mana or with {B}. This card's converted mana cost is 6.)
Search your library for a card with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of lands you control, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/planechase/beseech-the-queen
Bontu's Monument
Market Price: $3.67
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/129741_200w.jpg
Black creature spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
Whenever you cast a creature spell, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/amonkhet/bontus-monument
Death Cloud
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.60
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/68344_200w.jpg
Each player loses X life, discards X cards, sacrifices X creatures, then sacrifices X lands.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/modern-masters/death-cloud
Painful Quandary
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $13.93
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/36379_200w.jpg
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/scars-of-mirrodin/painful-quandary
Woe Strider
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/206627_200w.jpg
When Woe Strider enters the battlefield, create a 0/1 white Goat creature token.
Sacrifice another creature: Scry 1.
Escape—{3}{B}{B}, Exile four other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.)
Woe Strider escapes with two +1/+1 counters on it.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/woe-strider
Sol Ring
Market Price: $2.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227075_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}{C}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-legends/sol-ring
Castle Locthwain
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.76
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/199388_200w.jpg
Castle Locthwain enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Swamp.
{T}: Add {B}.
{1}{B}{B}, {T}: Draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/castle-locthwain
Night of Souls' Betrayal
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145468_200w.jpg
All creatures get -1/-1.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/iconic-masters/night-of-souls-betrayal
Polluted Bonds
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $30.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/18743_200w.jpg
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/shadowmoor/polluted-bonds
Falkenrath Noble
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216045_200w.jpg
Flying Whenever Falkenrath Noble or another creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/falkenrath-noble
Dictate of Erebos
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $10.92
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/82278_200w.jpg
Flash Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/journey-into-nyx/dictate-of-erebos
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $13.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/145475_200w.jpg
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may have target player lose 3 life. If you do, put three +1/+1 counters on Ob Nixilis, the Fallen.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/iconic-masters/ob-nixilis-the-fallen
Bastion of Remembrance
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.34
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212177_200w.jpg
When Bastion of Remembrance enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token. Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ikoria-lair-of-behemoths/bastion-of-remembrance
Clackbridge Troll
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/198782_200w.jpg
Trample, haste When Clackbridge Troll enters the battlefield, target opponent creates three 0/1 white Goat creature tokens. At the beginning of combat on your turn, any opponent may sacrifice a creature. If a player does, tap Clackbridge Troll, you gain 3 life, and you draw a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/clackbridge-troll
Torment of Hailfire
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $10.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/135074_200w.jpg
Repeat the following process X times. Each opponent loses 3 life unless that player sacrifices a nonland permanent or discards a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/hour-of-devastation/torment-of-hailfire
Illness in the Ranks
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/67493_200w.jpg
Creature tokens get -1/-1.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/gatecrash/illness-in-the-ranks
Dread Presence
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.92
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192519_200w.jpg
Whenever a Swamp enters the battlefield under your control, choose one — • You draw a card and you lose 1 life. • Dread Presence deals 2 damage to any target and you gain 2 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/dread-presence
Plaguecrafter
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196771_200w.jpg
When Plaguecrafter enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. Each player who can't discards a card.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/plaguecrafter
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $16.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216249_200w.jpg
Swampwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Swamp.) At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/sheoldred-whispering-one
Westvale Abbey // Ormendahl, Profane Prince
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $6.01
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/115917_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{5}, {T}, Pay 1 life: Create a 1/1 white and black Human Cleric creature token.
{5}, {T}, Sacrifice five creatures: Transform Westvale Abbey, then untap it.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/shadows-over-innistrad/westvale-abbey
Cabal Coffers
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $76.18
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/37339_200w.jpg
{2}, {T}: Add {B} for each Swamp you control.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/planechase/cabal-coffers
Skullclamp
Market Price: $4.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212351_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +1/-1.
Whenever equipped creature dies, draw two cards.
Equip {1}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/skullclamp
Dingus Staff
Market Price: $0.51
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/6012_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature dies, Dingus Staff deals 2 damage to that creature's controller.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/weatherlight/dingus-staff
Contamination
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $29.68
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/6825_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Contamination unless you sacrifice a creature.
If a land is tapped for mana, it produces {B} instead of any other type and amount.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/urzas-saga/contamination
Ayara, First of Locthwain
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.90
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/198909_200w.jpg
Whenever Ayara, First of Locthwain or another black creature enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
{T}, Sacrifice another black creature: Draw a card.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/ayara-first-of-locthwain
Scourge of Nel Toth
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.83
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216136_200w.jpg
Flying
You may cast Scourge of Nel Toth from your graveyard by paying {B}{B} and sacrificing two creatures rather than paying its mana cost.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/scourge-of-nel-toth
Diabolic Intent
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $20.78
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/167787_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Search your library for a card and put that card into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/battlebond/diabolic-intent
Breeding Pit
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/93566_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Breeding Pit unless you pay {B}{B}.
At the beginning of your end step, create a 0/1 black Thrull creature token.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/duel-decks-anthology/breeding-pit
Withering Wisps
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/4947_200w.jpg
At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice Withering Wisps.
{B}: Withering Wisps deals 1 damage to each creature and each player. Activate this ability no more times each turn than the number of snow Swamps you control.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/ice-age/withering-wisps
Black Market
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $3.73
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216565_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature dies, put a charge counter on Black Market.
At the beginning of your precombat main phase, add {B} for each charge counter on Black Market.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/black-market
Massacre Girl
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188199_200w.jpg
Menace When Massacre Girl enters the battlefield, each other creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Whenever a creature dies this turn, each creature other than Massacre Girl gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/massacre-girl
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Market Price: $17.47
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/71039_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}: Choose a color. Add an amount of mana of that color equal to your devotion to that color. (Your devotion to a color is the number of mana symbols of that color in the mana costs of permanents you control.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros/nykthos-shrine-to-nyx
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $7.28
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/91033_200w.jpg
Flying, trample Whenever an opponent searches their library, that player sacrifices a creature and loses 10 life. Whenever another creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Ob Nixilis, Unshackled.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/magic-2015-m15/ob-nixilis-unshackled
Crucible of Worlds
Market Price: $42.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/168749_200w.jpg
You may play lands from your graveyard.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2019/crucible-of-worlds
Crypt Ghast
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $6.90
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/94301_200w.jpg
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
Whenever you tap a Swamp for mana, add an additional {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2014/crypt-ghast
Dark Prophecy
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.71
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/69253_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature you control dies, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/magic-2014-m14/dark-prophecy
Syr Konrad, the Grim
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222410_200w.jpg
Whenever another creature dies, or a creature card is put into a graveyard from anywhere other than the battlefield, or a creature card leaves your graveyard, Syr Konrad, the Grim deals 1 damage to each opponent.
{1}{B}: Each player mills a card.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-zendikar-rising/syr-konrad-the-grim
Black Sun's Zenith
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $4.91
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/94298_200w.jpg
Put X -1/-1 counters on each creature. Shuffle Black Sun's Zenith into its owner's library.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2014/black-suns-zenith
Abhorrent Overlord
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.52
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/70992_200w.jpg
Flying
When Abhorrent Overlord enters the battlefield, create a number of 1/1 black Harpy creature tokens with flying equal to your devotion to black. (Each {B} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros/abhorrent-overlord
Bojuka Bog
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $1.70
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212363_200w.jpg
Bojuka Bog enters the battlefield tapped.
When Bojuka Bog enters the battlefield, exile all cards from target player's graveyard.
{T}: Add {B}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2020/bojuka-bog
Blade of the Bloodchief
Market Price: $2.32
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/139901_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature. If equipped creature is a Vampire, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead.
Equip {1}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2017/blade-of-the-bloodchief
Pestilence
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.63
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/2679_200w.jpg
At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice Pestilence.
{B}: Pestilence deals 1 damage to each creature and each player.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/classic-sixth-edition/pestilence
Kaervek, the Spiteful
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215665_200w.jpg
Other creatures get -1/-1.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/kaervek-the-spiteful
Snow-Covered Swamp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.56
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230149_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/kaldheim/snow-covered-swamp-280
Infernal Genesis
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.47
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/7316_200w.jpg
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player mills a card. Then they create X 1/1 black Minion creature tokens, where X is the milled card's converted mana cost.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/prophecy/infernal-genesis
Twilight Prophet
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $24.29
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155783_200w.jpg
Flying Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have the city's blessing, reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. Each opponent loses X life and you gain X life, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/twilight-prophet
Blanket of Night
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.40
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/5806_200w.jpg
Each land is a Swamp in addition to its other land types.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/visions/blanket-of-night
K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $4.95
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196427_200w.jpg
({B/P} can be paid with either {B} or 2 life.)
Lifelink
For each {B} in a cost, you may pay 2 life rather than pay that mana.
Whenever you cast a black spell, put a +1/+1 counter on K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2019/krrik-son-of-yawgmoth
Decree of Pain
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $2.88
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/139932_200w.jpg
Destroy all creatures. They can't be regenerated. Draw a card for each creature destroyed this way.
Cycling {3}{B}{B} ({3}{B}{B}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
When you cycle Decree of Pain, all creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2017/decree-of-pain
For our MVP's, I've chosen this deck's top three performers! Each offers a unique and repulsive way for us to limit our opponents' means of killing us.
First we have Phyrexian Obliterator. This monstrosity is a disgusting card that offers both offensive and defensive options. It's the perfect bargaining chip. "Don't swing at me or I'll essentially wipe your board" seems pretty good, right?
Next we have Massacre Wurm. This wiggly lad does a lot for just one card. Its enters-the-battlefield effect can help kill your opponents' creatures—however, its secondary ability is what causes the most harm (and it can even combo off with our secret spice).
Lastly, we have Massacre Girl. Words cannot even begin to describe how much I adore this card. She is a board wipe on a stick, slashing at every creature that comes near her. Our tokens being 1/1s makes initiating the carnage even easier!
Mono-black control is about causing eternal suffering. What would this deck be without a combo that causes immense amounts of pain?
For maximum pain, this combo requires three pieces (four if you want your lands back). You will need Kormus Bell, a card that gives creatures -1/-1 (Kaervek, the Spiteful or Night of Souls' Betrayal), and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. Playing Urborg with Kormus Bell out turns all lands on the battlefield into 1/1 creatures. While this would normally not affect the game much, playing Kaerveck or Night of Souls' Betrayal will destroy everyone's lands. For us this will trigger Bastion of Remembrance or Falkenrath Noble, pinging your opponents for a massive amount. What's more spiteful than destroying all your opponents' lands?
Now, this will hurt you in the process, but there is a way to get your lands back. Enter Crucible of Worlds. While you can cast all your lands from the graveyard with this card, remember that the Kormus Bell combo will still kill your lands (though it will still ping your opponents). This beautiful combo is the secret spice to this particular deck because it is one your opponents won't see coming.
Looking at the state of this deck, cuts are incredibly difficult to make. In a theme so precise, it can be a hard choice what to remove. Cut the wrong thing and a combo could be dismantled.
Cards like Blade of the Bloodchief, Bontu's Monument and K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth seem like good candidates for future cutting. All three cards have no direct impact on the board state, nor do they interact with any of our combos. Blade of the Bloodchief was originally added to help make Kaervek, the Spiteful bigger so that combat swings would be deadlier. However, drawing it late game would be less than stellar. Bontu's Monument creates a similar feeling.
Lastly, we have K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth. This creature is truly a mono-black powerhouse. However, he ultimately has very little interaction with our theme or combo pieces. These are all cuts that, while they hurt me, would help make room for future tweaks.
What a deck. To be honest, this theme was a challenge for me. Mono-black is an incredibly hard color to build. It is strong in destruction but weak in card draw, which can be the difference between a win and a loss. However, mono-black offers a lot in the way of control and salt, as this deck demonstrates.