Subject: For 'Deck Workshop' -- The Mosh Pit! Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 11:59:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Remus Shepherd To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Hi, Frank -- Here's a rough sketch of a deck that I used in a local tournament recently, to good effect. It is the nemesis of combo and control decks...and has about a 50-50 chance against sligh. (If anyone can improve those odds, please let me know. :) ) It also answers the question of what you do in a Bottomless Pit. You Dance. The Mosh Pit: =-=-=-=-=-=- 4 Bottomless Pits 2 Megrim (Secondary damage, not really necessary) 4 Dark Ritual (First turn Pit) 4 Bone Dancer (a.k.a: 'Mr. Kill Card') 4 Blood Pet (Second turn Pit) 3 Dauthi Mercenary 4 Wall of Souls 4 Necromancy 4 Diabolic Edicts 3 Spinning Darkness 2 Infernal Tribute 1 Feldon's Cane (To win if the game becomes an eternal stalemate) 18 Swamps 3 Ebon Stronghold (More second turn Pits) Haven't built a sideboard. Probably would have done better if I had...especially if I can figure out what to do against sligh. :) The idea is to get out a first or second turn Bottomless Pit. The disruption it causes is enough to destroy most combo or control decks. Protect yourself with a Wall of Souls, and let your opponent's hand bleed away. You should be able to cast more than he can by the time both player's hands are empty. Don't worry if you end up discarding some cards; they'll just feed your Spinning Darknesses later. Once all hands are gone, any creatures you put into play are protected by the simple fact that your opponent isn't holding anything to kill them with. In the three or more turns it takes him to draw creature elimination, your Mercenary will have caused a lot of damage, or you'll have acquired a bunch of friends with the Bone Dancer. Infernal Tribute will give you card advantage; sacrifice lands (you should never need to have more than 4-5 in play), Blood Pets, or excess Pits to draw cards. Use late game Rituals to power the Tribute or to cast the spells you draw with it. Remember that you can hold Edicts and Darknesses in your hand until your next upkeep phase, to give your opponent the chance to put a target in play for you. The Summer of '98 is beginning to look very Black... But at least it gives us an excuse to dance. :) ... ... Remus Shepherd (remus@netcom.com)