---

 

Over the next few articles I'm going to be bringing you a number of budget decks from Zendikar, all of these will be in the block constructed format. I'm quite excited as this is the first time I've played with the Zendikar cards as I waited for the prices to fall first which is something I do on every release although you can sometimes grab a bargain with the pre-releases as the prices aren't set in stone at that point.

Today's deck will be from the dark side of Zendikar and no it won't be based on Vampires I didn't want to bore you with whats been going round in the casual room for what seems like ages now. There may be a few vampires included but it's only to fill in slots.

The main card I wanted to focus on is Bala Ged Thief as he hasn't been given any love, I've had quite a few comments while playing the test games how no one has seen this card being played before is it because it's a bad card or one that has been missed I'll leave you to read the game write ups to decide. So what does Bala Ged Thief actually do? Well he's a bit expensive for his size 4 mana for a 2/2 but it's his ability that interested me. He has discard built in, it's not overly powerful but because he's an Ally the more you have the stronger the effect.

Now we have the main card I wanted to build round we will need some more allies to help use his ability. I had a look at the other allies that are available in black and we have the following, Hagra Diabolist and Nimana Sell-Sword. Hagra's ability makes an opponent lose one life for each ally you control when one enters play, while Nimana gives himself a +1/+1 counter each time an ally comes into play. This only gives us 12 allies though which isn't great so I added four Stonework Puma's as well to increase the count.

     

The allies are nice but they are all high cost creatures so we need something to fill in the early mana curve so for this I looked at the vampires to give them a leading hand. Vampire Hexmage was the first I thought of as she is my favorite card from Zendikar, she has so many uses with her counter removal ability, like being able to remove an opposing players counters from one of their allies or she can kill planeswalkers straight out no questions asked. Outside of Zen block is where she is most known in her form to strip the counters from Dark Depths. Don't forget she also has first strike as well. The other vampire that I used is Gatekeeper of Malakir which is very useful as he has Cruel Edict built in if you pay his kicker cost. 

Next up is a few odd cards that I thought would be good in the deck the first is Bloodchief Ascension which has a nice ability if you can get your beats in early. At the end of every turn if a player was dealt two or more damage a counter is placed on the card. When the card has 3 or more counters on it everytime a card is placed an opponents graveyard that player is dealt 2 damage. I thought this would also work out well with Hagra Diabolist. I also included two Needlebite Trap's, thinking they could be very useful if your opponent is using the uncommon land cycle that gives you a few life points when they are played. They could play turn one tapped Graypelt Refuge as an example giving the a life point and you could hit back by casting for one mana Needlebite Trap for five damage and you would gain five life. It never played out but it will I'm sure at one point. I also added Sadistic Sacrament to remove any cards I don't like can't ever seeing me cast it with its kicker cost though.

You will also notice from my deck list I'm playing a lone Ob Nixilis, the Fallen he's not really part of the deck just a card I wanted to play. He did help win a few games though but if I was to use him properly he would be in a different deck that used his landfall ability, you can take him out if you can't afford it and replace him with something else Halo Hunter is quite big and cheap dollar wise.  

Final deck, price from MTGOTraders as of the 02/11/09 $20.09 without Ob Nixilis its $12.09

 

Games 

Game 1 vs sachmat

My opening hand is 2 swamps, 2 Stonework Puma's 2 Nimana Sell-Sword and Vampire's Bite

sachmat starts off with Adventuring Gear and Khalni Heart Expedition while I get mana screwed on my initial two swamps. I then draw into and play Vampire Hexmage before sachmat's cast's a creature.

In my next turn I'm still not drawing any mana so attack with my Vampire Hexmage and cast Vampire's Bite so I don't have to discard it. sachmat then plays Turntimber Basilisk and equips it with the Adventuring Gear.

I still don't draw any swamps so send the Vampire Hexmage in knowing she wont be blocked as she has first strike and then discard one of my Stonework Puma's. We both get stuck for a few turns me with no land and the Hexmage and sachmat with his Basilisk although at this point in time I do have sachmat down to 8 life which isn't bad considering I can't cast anything.

Then comes the land and I can play my kickered Gatekeeper of Malakir taking out the basilisk now I hope I can start the deck moving but alas sachmat concedes at this point giving me my first victory.

I won with the early strikers and didn't see a single rouge enter play which is a bit of a shame.

Win 1

Lost 0

Game 2 vs DonMendieta

My starting hand is 1 swamp, Piranha Marsh, Vampire Hexmage, Vampire's Bite, Hagra Diabolist and Nimana Sell-Sword this is after the mulligan due to no land.

I start things off with the Piranha Marsh and swamp into Vampire Hexmage while Don plays Surrakar Marauder.

We exchange blows and then Don plays Vampire Lacerator and Blade of the Bloodchief looks like its mono black all round this game. I send in my Hexmage taking Don down to 13 life keeping back that Vampire's Bite for when I really need it.

Don attacks and drops me down to 14 life and drops down Hagra Crocodile. I play my 5th land and start hitting out with the rouges, first down is Nimana Sell-Sword who turns himself into a 3/3. I stop attacking at this point as the rouges can win from here on out by their ability's if played right.

Don plays Adventuring Gear on his Hagra Crocodile and drops a swamp boosting it to a 7/5 and sends in the croc and the Surrakar Marauder which also has its intimidate activated but that won't help it vs a black deck. I block the Surrakar Marauder with my Nimana Sell-Sword taking it out and block the 7/5 croc with my Vampire Hexmage and take the opportunity to cast my Vampire's Bite boosting her to a 7/5 with first strike which is very nice and takes out the croc. Dons Vampire Lacerator which is equiped with the Blade of the Bloodchief is now boosted to a 6/6.

As Don only has two cards left in hand this turn I cast Bala Ged Thief and as I already have a Ally in play Don loses both of his cards from his hand which was 2 swamps, you never know it could have been worse! I don't attack and pass. Don plays Guul Draz Vampire and passes.

My turn comes round and I play Hagra Diabolist taking another card from Don's hand (a swamp), 3 life and boosting my Sell-Sword to a 5/5. As I'm on 14 life Don is still taking damage from the Lacerator at this point in the game. Don plays Adventuring Gear on the Lacerator and drops a swamp boosting it to a 8/8 and then re-equips the Blade of the Bloodchief to the Guul and sends in the Lacerator. I block with my Sell-Sword and sacrifice my Vampire Hexmage to remove the tokens from the Lacerator taking it down to a 4/4 and it dies to my Sell-Sword.

I draw into a second Hagra Diabolist and play him taking out Don.

Now that was how I had hoped the deck would work with the combination of the black allies.

Win 2

Lost 0  

Game 3 vs Apparition

 

My starting hand this game contains 2 swamps, Vampire's Bite, Gatekeeper of Malakir, Disfigure, Hagra Diabolist and Bala Ged Thief.

Apparition has a nice start with Arid Mesa into a plains and then Scalding Tarn into Island. I have my two swamps and then play Bloodchief Ascension.

Next from Apparition is Misty Rainforest which is sacrificed for a forest and then he plays Khalni Heart Expedition. I draw my third swamp but hold off playing the Gatekeeper of Malakir until Apparition casts a creature.

In Apparition's next turn he plays Khalni Gem which is great when used with Khalni Heart Expedition / land fall cards as you get to replay two of your lands. I don't draw my fourth land and have to pass the turn.

Next turn Apparition plays Emeria, the Sky Ruin which is a bit strange as so far he's playing 3 colours so it won't be easy to use its ability. I draw and play Stonework Puma so I can at least get a few beats in and add some counters to Bloodchief Ascension.

In Apparition's turn he casts Day of Judgment to kill my loan Puma I would have waited until there were a few more creatures, seems an odd play to me. I draw and play my Vampire Hexmage.

Apparition is now on 7 lands and has the Khalni Gem out so has access to 9 mana which is a bit scary and plays Sphinx of Lost Truths with the kicker payed so he draws 3 cards as well. Now I get to use my Gatekeeper of Malakir which takes out the Sphinx and I play my much needed fourth swamp so my allies can start flowing. I also attack with the Hexmage taking Apparition down to 14 life the other four points were due to the fetch lands.

In Apparition's next turn he plays a kickered Rite of Replication on my Gatekeeper. I don't fancy my chances against 5 Gatekeepers so Disfigure my own in response leaving him with nothing. I start to play out my Allies first is Bala Ged Thief taking a forest from Apparition's hand.

Next up from Apparition is another Sphinx of Lost Truths and Oracle of Mul Daya. I play my fifth swamp and then Hagra Diabolist triggering Bala, Apparition loses 2 life and another forest. At the end of my turn the third counter is added to Bloodchief Ascension from the damage from Hagra. 

Apparition in his turn plays a kickered Rite of Replication on my Bala Ged Thief creating 5 token versions forcing me to discard my entire hand. At the end of Apparitions turn my Bloodchief Ascension triggers taking another 2 life dropping him down to 8. In my turn I'm lucky and draw another Ally Nimana Sell-Sword which triggers my other two in play in response Apparition plays Harrow which deals him two damage from my Ascension and the damage from the combination of Hagra and Bala/Ascension finishes him off.

Overall I think that was a very good game, I need to watch out for Rite of Replication though as that is a very powerful card more so if I was playing larger creatures.

Win 3

Lost 0      

Game 4 vs Guillermo Cotrina Cuenca

A very vampiric starting hand this time in the form of four swamps, 2 Vampire Hexmage's and Bloodchief Ascension.

I start off with a swamp into Bloodchief Ascension and Guillermo plays swamp into Guul Draz Vampire looks like we will be up against vampires again this game.

Next turn I down my Vampire Hexmage and Guillermo plays Quest for the Gravelord and then Disfigures my Vampire Hexmage. Quest looks like a good card it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Turn 3 and I play my second Vampire Hexmage which is taken out in Guillermo's turn by Marsh Casualties but not before I sacrifice her to remove the token form Quest for the Gravelord, Guillermo sends in his Gruul for another point of damage this turn.

My next turn and I play Bala Ged Thief taking Marsh Casualties, makes me wonder what else Guillermo is holding back. Guillermo plays a Vampire Lacerator and passes.

I play a second Bala Ged Thief on the next turn and take both of Guillermo's remaining cards Gatekeeper of Malakir and Vampire Nighthawk. Guillermo sends in his Lacerator for two and plays a swamp.

My turn and I don't draw my fifth swamp for Hagra Diabolist so play Sadistic Sacrament taking the other three Vampire Nighthawk's I don't like the idea of them against me with flying and lifelink it would be hard to take them out, I send in both of the Bala's for four damage and my first counter is added to Bloodchief Ascension at the end of the turn. Guillermo sends in both of his guys for three damage and plays a swamp.

Just in time I draw my fifth swamp this turn which enables me to play Hagra Diabolist for three damage this also triggers both the Bala's but Guillermo has no cards left in his hand at this point in the game. I attack with both Bala's dealing 4 damage and at the end of my turn Guillermo is dealt a further two from my Ascension, nine damage in one turn isn't bad. In Guillermo's turn he takes a further damage from his own Lacerator dropping him down to six and attacks for two damage.

Next turn I play Nimana Sell-Sword and Guillermo conceeds.

Win 4

Lost 0

Game 5 vs tsygna

  

A not bad starting hand 1 swamp, 2 Piranha Marsh's, Hagra Diabolist, Bloodchief Ascension and two Stonework Puma's.

I start out with the Piranha Marsh's and Bloodchief Ascension and tsygna is playing from what I can see G/U with Khalni Heart Expedition and then Umara Raptor.

I draw Gatekeeper of Malakir and play him taking out the Raptor. tsygna triggers the Heart for two land including a plains and plays Rite of Replication on the Gatekeeper so we now have one each.

I attack with my Gatekeeper which isn't blocked adding a counter to the Ascension. tsygna plays Turntimber Ranger generating a wolf token, I know now I'm up against an ally deck which isn't good as I expect it will be faster than mine if its three colours (will contain more allies).

I play Nimana Sell-Sword and pass, tsygna plays a second Turntimber Ranger I think its not going to work out this game as the Turntimber will easily overrun me with wolf tokens and with two out I don't think I stand a chance. tsygna then plays Ondu Cleric generating a further two wolf tokens.

My turn and I draw a second Bloodchief Ascension and play Hagra Diabolist which gets in a few points of damage. tsygna plays Kazandu Blademaster triggering more wolves and attacks, I lose my Gatekeeper to one of the Turntimber's and take 17 damage.

Not much I can do really I play both of the Stonework Puma's in my hand but it dosen't really count as much. tsygna attacks for the win on turn eight.

tsygna played a very nice deck that has made me think of adding green to mine to increase the allies 

Win 4

Lost 1

Thoughts

The deck played out very well and the allies did their thing, the only thought I have is should the deck try to branch out into another colour to add more allies and if so which colours/allies would you think best suite the deck?

One more thing before I go has anyone found a deck that can play Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet in Zen block yet he looks a great card but that mana cost just says no in so many ways, answers on a postcard please (or the comments section will do). 

Until next time may you slay many a vampire in block constructed