It wouldn't be a real MTG set release if we didn't make a new mono black deck that showcases all of the new and awesome black cards, so I am here to do that for you today! We are going to be using the new bomb from Thunder Junction in a one turn kill combo {If you haven't heard about this card yet, you are going to very shortly). If that isn't enough, we will also include plenty of other ways to dwindle the life total of our opponent. This one will be a lot more low to the ground than normal, as the deck is centered around pulling off a combo, not necessarily grinding it out, or hoping to get to the late game for a win. We will have a well-rounded sideboard to be able to handle most of the threats that I foresee us facing, and if we need to, we can play that control game until it is time to pull off our flashy victory. The new set really is opening up a lot of doorways for many decks. Mono black undoubtedly will get better, but we do have to let things play out to also see how much better other archetypes get. I would definitely expect the sideboard to be dynamic, and changed frequently.
Relevant New Cards
This is the card that is expected to be the bomb for us in the new set. It is a board wipe, one-turn-kill combo piece, and hefty discard spell all in one. The card is effectively the swiss army knife for the essence of mono black. It is perfect. What we will be doing with the deck is using a couple of different standard-legal tutors to find it when we don't have it in our hand, or to find Bloodletter of Aclazotz if that happens to be the missing piece. Casting Dread with the mode that makes the opponent lose half their life rounded up while Aclazotz is out is a one-turn-kill, no matter what their life total is. They could have over one million life and it would not matter. It is the perfect finisher, and we can even use it as a combo with Archfiend of the Dross as well, as making the opponent sacrifice creatures can also cause significant life loss.
This card is also effective in the deck because it acts as a tutor, and we can draw three cards from it. It is helpful for setting up our combo also. We can cast the spree on the first mode for three mana - making it a turn three combo set up to get our Bloodletter on the board on turn four. If we have that card in hand, then we put Dread on top of our deck, or vice versa if Dread is in hand and we haven't found Bloodletter yet. We want to ensure Bloodletter is on the board on turn four or sooner, then cast Dread to end the game. This card is pivotal in helping us set up that combo.
This card is another one that I believe will be relevant and see a bunch of play in the new set. Being able to take a card out of plot should be a very powerful ability. We just want to ensure that the coast is clear to pull off our combo. We can make the opponent discard a counter spell, removal, or anything that might halt our big move. This on turn two, Avarice on turn three, Bloodletter on turn four, and Dread on turn five is our ideal setup for winning the game by the fifth turn!
Caustic Bronco is likely a card that could have it's own deck built around it. The reason for including it here, is we just wanted to either get extra cards in our hand, or pressure the life total of the opponent early, or both! This card and Preacher of the Schism should draw out early removal to clear the path for Bloodletter. If you really wanted to get cheeky, you could throw in a couple Breach The Multiverse with this deck and then make the opponent lose seven life when it's on top if you saddled the Bronco (you can directly put any card on top of your deck with Avarice).
Relevant Cards from Previous Sets
This card is really helpful because it acts as another tutor, but also allows us to cast one piece of our combo by using the bargain mechanic. (Note that at least one additional spree cost must be paid if you cast Rush of Dread with this card). This is the reason for using cards like Hopeless Nightmare and another reason that Preacher of the Schism is so good!
Braids is just a nice piece to the deck that once again will demand removal out of our opponent. She can cause early pressure to the opponent's life total, and she can draw us some cards. It is important to have some type of early game, and not just hope to cast cards on turn four and five and simply win. We will likely have to do something else before that due to the fast-paced Standard Meta that we currently have.
I know that I've mentioned this card probably five times or so already in the article, but it is indeed the second piece of our combo to kill the opponent on turn five. You have likely seen me run this card if you have looked at any other list that I've put on here, so we won't dwell too much on what it does. Just know that we need it on the board when we cast Dread for victory.
There are other cards as well such as Preacher of the Schism that will be important for us to set up our combo. It can draw us cards, and makes tokens that we can use to cast Beseech with the bargain cost. Hopeless Nightmare also helps out with that.
I hope you are somewhere close to as excited as I am to see this deck in action! It should be a good time no matter how it goes. Every MTG Player loves a good combo!
