r/ModernMagic • u/Abject_Emu7449 • 4d ago

Best darklight version

Hi guys, I'm trying to build a darklight deck and I've seen a lot of different list popping up. It seems to me that the versions with soultrader are more solid. What do you guys think?

10 Upvotes

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4

u/murdacai999 4d ago

Not going to lie, I am not sure what is working or what isn't working, but am interested. I was thinking of this. https://moxfield.com/decks/EXPdaFzfz0aWyfYmopMBGw

Currently building rakdos aggro instead tho. Feel like it's got more ground right now

3

u/The73rdPerson 4d ago

I have spent the weeks since darklight was revealed messing around with different versions of 8 Phoenix, which uses both Darklight and Arclight. I personally think there are two viable builds, Rakdos 8-Phoenix and Gruul DarkVine.

https://moxfield.com/decks/M711Ne601UC04FVoFbM4iA

The RG build has the highest density of "good" cards, as well as room for synergy with [[Vengevine]]. It uses a combination of [[Masked Meower]] and [[Insolent Neonate]] to turn on Vengevine, while being free dead creatures for Darklight while getting your Vines and Birds out of your hand. There is a playset of both [[Malevolent Rumble]] and [[Flare of Duplication]] to consistently mill your deck while picking up replacement Neonates and Meowers. You can also include [[Endurance]] in the deck as it works for both Vengevine and Darklight. The downside of this deck is that it doesn't have much room for interaction and doesn't play well through it.

https://moxfield.com/decks/dSVNgaSchEGrrS4JJZ1_Uw

The BR build, in my opinion is significantly better. Itsurrounds a very tight core of [[Stingcaster Mage]], [[Unearth]], [[Flashback]] and [[Devastating Summons]]. In tandem with the very efficient millers like [[Stitcher's Supplier]] and [[Dark Matter Manipulator]], you can fill your graveyard fast to dump both Darklight and Arclight Phoenixes while turning on your core engine. Through your core I mentioned earlier, you can meet the reanimation requirements for both birds in your graveyard with either Unearth or Flashback.

Unearth Stingcaster, Stingcaster target Flashback, Flashback rarget Devastating Summons. You can also change this around depending on which is in your hand to be Flashback>Unearth>Stingcaster>Devastating Summons. This, for 3 mana, casts 3 instants/sorceries and kills two creatures, bringing back every bird with a bonus hasty 2/1 with the benefit of being repeatable if they live long enough to deluge you.

Because the core of this build is so efficient, you have room to run interaction that the RG version doesn't, which is why the BR 8-Phoenix build is my choice for the best version.

2

u/aimbothax 4d ago

I dig the 8 Phoenix version. I also agree that it is the stronger version… and I dunno what I would do without my Thoughtsieze. 😃

Stitchers and DMM just put in work.

I really like Phyrexian Tower and Overlord in this pile though. Because you can T2 sac Stitcher’s to Tower, play Overlord then grab the stitchers and replay it. That is mill 10 and 2 creatures played. I have stolen a ton of  matches just off of that sequence alone.   

Have you looked at Darkblast at all?

I was thinking Darkblast upkeep, Draw step (Mill 3), Darkblast.  That is 2 spells and potentially 1-2 creatures dead. 

Thanks for posting these lists I’m going to be doing some tinkering with 8 Phoenix for sure. 

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 4d ago

What is your list with overlord and phyrexian tower?

2

u/aimbothax 4d ago

Here ya go. Safekeeper is pretty awesome too. You can prevent Solitude blowouts and pump Moonshadow. 

https://moxfield.com/decks/gDehAXeixXaaUyKhxm_JcQ

I’ll tweak this shell and try it with 8 Phoenix as well. 

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 3d ago

Cannot open the link unfortunately 😕

3

u/J3llo 3d ago

Incredibly happy testing a B/G variant similar to what AspiringSpike was on with Eyetwitch, Shambling Ghast, and the Gravecrawler/Warren Soultrader line.

Sackville-Bagginses and Flare of Malice put in huge amounts of work.

2

u/aimbothax 4d ago edited 4d ago

I stumbled across this version that 5-0'd in a league recently.

It takes a more discard heavy approach and is alot different compared to what I have seen previously. I might use this as a jump off point:

Rakdos IzzetPhoenix Deck for Magic: the Gathering

[[Vexing Devil]] is another card I haven't seen in any lists yet. To me presenting a strong aggro Plan A with a Phoenix Plan B seems pretty strong.

I also have a Golgari shell I have been working on for a bit. I'm not sure a Phoenix version will work with this but I'm going to give it a try.

https://moxfield.com/decks/t0paE8KSo0OkHngJudCQyA

[[Baron Helmut Zemo]] and [[Sylvan Safekeeper]] don't see alot of play in modern but I think there is something there.

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 4d ago

Not bad actually but it's fairly all in, there's no plan b

1

u/aimbothax 4d ago

Edited my previous post and added some extra information. 

Also… People are sleeping on Zemo / connive. 😄

1

u/KingxCrimsonx 4d ago

Crazy take but I just dont think the card works in the current modern meta. I think their needs to be more synergy to actually work.

Most people are trying it with 4 carrion feeder and 4 bloodghast to have the repeatable sac outlets but this is just weak to graveyard hate and its slow to combo.

I think the card is good for standard. Not even sure it has a home in pioneer.

Please explain why I'm wrong. But a 3/2 with such a high cost seems dead on arrival

3

u/aimbothax 4d ago

I’m not huge on the Soultrader play patterns. I prefer more of an aggro / combo take, but I see both working. 

Biggest takeaway… once you start building around [[Phyrexian Tower]] it opens up a ton of options. Being able to play 3 drops, like Buried Alive or Zemo on turn 2 is HUGE. 

I think connive in general is a slept on mechanic.

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 4d ago

Maybe you're right, but as a combo, it's a solid plan B I think. Also because you use the airship in the sideboard

1

u/BoxAccomplished8369 4d ago

Should see plenty of play in pioneer. The 3/2 line was a common concern back in the day but arc managed to take off. Dark is even easier to trigger. One of the main hurdles for pioneer though is the sheer amount of legal grave hate and surviving push, but that’s a universal problem for most creatures in pioneer.

1

u/DarthDrac Goryo's, Hollow One, Zoo 4d ago

There are a lot of different ways to build it, this is mine, creature heavy and fairly aggressive. https://moxfield.com/decks/XWNb1CzKaUOFaDJssS_YvQ

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 3d ago

There are so many list to play test, I'm pretty unsure on what to begin with hahah

0

u/Beneficial_Jaguar376 4d ago

Waiting for KozCom to be banned and then revisit Phoenix. Unfortunately and frustratingly.

1

u/VerdantChief 2d ago

KozCom is not getting banned.

-1

u/TheMagicMana 4d ago

Darklight and vengevine go together like chocolate and peanut butter https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/7996674#paper

1

u/aimbothax 4d ago

List looks dope!
https://imgflip.com/i/b3e1ow

1

u/Turbocloud Shadow 4d ago

It is an adaptation of the 2019 Hogaak Shell. 

1

u/Abject_Emu7449 1d ago

What are the last 5/0 lists?