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Journey would be a decent pick. It is the best card here, but I’d rather leave my options open, and not be WB if possible. Then I like Hexmage more and more lately, and even found it a little more consistent than the 1/3. It may be double Black, but most Black decks are Black dominant in Zendikar.

I like mono Black a lot when it’s open, and even though I don’t know yet if it is, Mind Sludge is excellent in the archetype. Grazing Gladehart would be a fine pick too, but I’d rather give myself a chance at going monocolored.

Extremely strong in the deck. Even though Quest for the Gravelord would be pretty good, it is not anywhere close.

With Marsh Casualties, 2 Mind Sludge, and 3 Crypt Ripper, I’ve most of what the deck should need. Now I’m only missing removal and early guys, if possible Vampires, as I’ve Blade of the Bloodchief and Feast of Blood.

I don’t think I’ll be splashing, but I’m also pretty sure I won’t run a third Mind Sludge nor a Crocodile when I’ve already so many heavy drops. I’m unlikely to play the Trap, but if I was to receive another Red removal spell I would probably consider a splash, when I’m not playing anything else anyway.

Crypt Ripper is a better card in the deck, but I have already more heavy drops than I need, when I’m lacking removal.

It’s annoying to see how hard it is to find early drops when even Bloodseeker and Guul Draaz Vampire would make me happy.

I may run it if I keep missing guys. I won’t play a third Mind Sludge, and don’t really fear facing the card in a non-mono-Black deck. And I’d be rather surprise to face one.

Veeeeery surprised.

I’d pick Disfigure over the Specter, as I like the card better and as it fits my curve much much better. But Gatekeeper is just everything I need: early drop, Vampire, removal, and even a card to return with Expedition.

I’d almost counterdraft Gladehart here if I was not so scared I’d face the 4/2.

There’s no way I run two Pumas here, and Steppe Lynx is the best card there is against my turn 5 Mind Sludge draws.

19 Swamp

1 Vampire Lacerator
2 Surrakar Marauder
1 Vampire Hexmage
1 Blood Seeker
1 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Crypt Ripper
2 Bog Tatters

1 Vampire's Bite
1 Disfigure
2 Soul Stair Expedition
1 Blade of the Bloodchief
1 Trusty Machete
1 Marsh Casualties
2 Mind Sludge

Sideboard
1 Soaring Seacliff
1 Zendikar Farguide
1 Forest
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Desecrated Earth
1 Bog Tatters
1 Steppe Lynx
1 Plains
1 Hagra Crocodile
1 Savage Silhouette
1 Island
1 Timbermaw Larva
1 Shieldmate's Blessing
1 Forest
1 Bold Defense
1 Stonework Puma
1 Expedition Map
1 Ior Ruin Expedition
1 Mindless Null
1 Feast of Blood
1 Inferno Trap
1 Kabira Crossroads
1 Tanglesap
1 Hedron Scrabbler

With this deck, I can’t afford missing a land drop in the first five turns. Well, I guess this applies to most decks in Zendikar limited, but it is even truer here as Mind Sludge can go from bomb to useless depending on the timing I cast it. My first match is very easy, mostly because of the discard spell. I play it for four versus my WR opponent in the first round, and finish him of with Crypt Ripper, which will clearly be my killing pattern in this event. In the second game, I open with Disfigure on his Lynx, Soul Stair Expedition, Gatekeeper of Malakir with kicker, and Crypt Ripper, never allowing him to put me under any pressure.

My second match opens the same, with a turn 5 Mind Sludge. With three Forest and a Swamp in play, he then draws Timbermaw Larva, which I hope I’ll be able to stop with Crypt Ripper, but his next two draws are Baloth Cage Trap and Vines of Vastwood. In the second I’ve turn 4 Ripper, turn 5 Mind Sludge (yes, again) and he can’t do a thing. In the final game, I open with Hexmage, and he has only played a Harrow when I cast on turn 5… well, I’m pretty sure you can guess how this story ends. If you need a clue, my deck likes me.

In the first two games of the finals, I have turn 5 Mind Sludge. Yes, again. In the first he draws only spells afterwards, and manages to win, and in the second I win with Crypt Ripper. Hmmm. Déjà vu…

In the final game I keep a hand featuring 5 Swamp, Disfigure and (obviously) Mind Sludge. My next four draws are lands, and I’m already half dead by the time I reach turn 5, and literally dead two turns later.

Until Monday...

Oli