B/R Vampires

[justinhering]

Here is my current build of B/R Vampires. It has definitely trended more towards mono-black after Mirrodin Besieged came out.

4 Pulse Tracker
4 Viscera Seer
3 Vampire Lacerator
4 Kalastria Highborn
4 Bloodghast
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
2 Captivating Vampire

4 Lightning Bolt
3 Go For The Throat
2 Arc Trail
3 Dark Tutelage

4 Lavaclaw Reaches
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Dragonskull summit
4 Marsh Flats
7 Swamps

Sideboard:

3 Demon of Death's Gate
3 Vampire Hexmage
2 Vampire Nighthawk
2 Duress
2 Memoricide
2 Into the Core
1 Go For The Throat

I may toy with the sideboard some, but it works out pretty well for me in most match-ups.

I think this deck matches well against most decks in standard right now and is especially rough on ramp decks (Eldrazi and Valakut). Aggro decks have to be faster which is often challenging. Kudoltha Red may be the best matchup.

In the mirror match, I like Go For The Throat mainboard over Burst Lightning which I removed from the build completely. It costs one more than Burst Lightning but can remove anything from the game sans artifact creatures.

[aaren]

Hello there justin, love the deck by the way. My one reccommendation to you is playing doom blade as oppose to go for the throat. My reasoning being the only creature that you have to be scared of is grave titan or maybe a mirror. I feel there are so many other threats in the artifact category. I.e wormcoil engine, a steel hellkite resolving (which is now played in that mono blue) and every single creature thats made from tezz. I know grave titan would be bad but he comes out turn six and hopefully you can outspeed a deck by turn six and block while pinging some damage when they hit the graveyard. But thats just me. Let me know what you decide.

[justinhering]

Thanks for the advice, Aaren. Its a tough debate. One thing I thought of is 2 Doom Blade in the sideboard. I am concerned about the mirror matchup and Grave Titan, but I have other answers for him as well.

I actually worked on a tweaked list that I am going to playtest this week prior to Star City Games on Saturday. Here are the changes...

Mainboard:

-1 Vampire Lacerator
-1 Go For The Throat
-2 Arc Trail

+2 Burst Lightning
+2 Forked Bolt

Sideboard:

-2 Memoricide
-2 Into the Core
-1 Go for the Throat

+1 Duress
+2 Doom Blade
+2 Mark of Mutiny

Preemptive answers to questions...

Why Forked Bolt over Arc Trail? Forked Bolt fits the mana-curve much better than Arc Trail and accomplishes about the same thing. Both are sorcery speed and great early removal. The curve on this deck is sexy with Forked Bolt.

Why Burst Lightning? I found myself wanting more instant speed removal and burn this last tournament. I relied too much on creature damage to win games. The two extras give me more main board removal and late game win conditions.

Why did you remove memoricide? It never worked. I used it against control and it would either get countered or I never cast it due to strategy. I think one more Duress is better against control and it fits the curve better.

Into the Core scares me with its high mana cost and double red requirement. I would rather Mark of Mutiny their Wurmcoil Engine and sac it to Viscera Seer.

Can't wait to playtest the tweaked version.

[jankstere]

RED DECK WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
BLUE WHITE CONTROL SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! did i mention....RED DECK WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[aaren]

well i agree with memoricide but i like arc trail better still due to the fact that stoneforge/squadron hawk jut seem too perfect for the 2-1 damage. and its nice to get it off before the equips start coming. And i dont know the deck as well as you so ill take your word for burst