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OK, I have decided to try to write an article for Pojo. I will be writing on the possibility of playing Zombie Decks in the IBC ( Invasion Block Constructed ) format. The idea of a good and tournament worthy Zombie deck came to me a couple weeks ago at the JSS Qualifiers. After discussing the Planeshift and Invasion sets, we realized how many good Zombies there are out there in just those two sets. That led me to the idea of building and playtesting a good Zombie deck. Though I have not done it yet, alot of other people where I play have, and I have learned a bit from them. So, on to the discussion of the Deck.

Zombies are an interesting bunch, with alot of good abilities. These abilities include Regeneration, which alot of Zombies have, and abilities that require sacrificing the creature. They also have protection from a couple of colors, namely white and green. They also have a number of other strengths against white and green. In the Invasion Block there are only a handful of really playable Zombies. I will list these later on. Zombies are also the creature type to have the two best Lords, Lord of the Undead, and Zombie Master, but only Lord of the Undead is leagal in IBC. Zombies are also in the best colors for the IBC format, red and black. There are a couple of zombies that are in blue, and they are OK, but blue doesn't have the good support that red has in IBC.

Well, on to the subject of the good Zombies and their roles, strengths, and weaknesses. The first one is Nightscape Familiar.

Nightscape Familiar

Casting Cost: 1B

Power/ Toughness: 1/1

Card Text: Red and blue spells you play cost 1 less to play. 1B: Regenerate.

That guy is very good for inly being a common. The familiars in general are good, so he is already looking good. Two mana for a 1/1 is kinda spendy. However, Regeneration is very nice. It is also a little spendy, but in the long run it is worth it. He fits in just about any IBC deck that runs black. Being a familiar and having Regeneration is just so good, so I would recommend this guy to just about any Zombie deck.

The next Zombie to discuss is the Phyrexian Scuta. Here are his stats.

Phyrexian Scuta

Casting Cost: 2BB

Powe/ Toughness: 3/3

Card Text: Kicker: Pay 3 life. If you payed the kicker cost, Phyrexian Scuta comes into play with two +1/+1 counters.

That guy is good, but let me tell you, he has been overrated alot. Now, you are probably thinking, "Overrated, the guy is a Juzam Djinn that you only lose life once for". Not true. For one thing, those counter are only counters. If the Scuta get remove form the game and comes back in, he is only a 3/3, as he only comes into play is you payed the kicker. Bounce would be similar, but you could alsways pay the kicker again, losing 3 life and having the Scuta bounced again, maybe forcing you to pay another 3 life. On top of that, paying the kicker is only really effective in the early game, as later on you won't be able to afford that kind of life payment. However, he is good enough to include two or three copies of in a deck.

The next Zombie to look over is probably the nastiest one of them all, Pyre Zombie.

Pyre Zombie.

Casting Cost: 1RB

Power/ Toughness: 2/1

Card Text: At the beginning of your upkeep, if Pyre Zombie is in your graveyard, you may pay 1BB. I you do, return Pyre Zombie to your hand. 1RR, Sacrifice Pyre Zombie: Pyre Zombie deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

OK, that guy is just plain mean. I mean, a  Hammer of Bogardon on a stick ( A creature, more appropriatly. )?!?! That is brutal. Lesse, champ...er, chump blocker. Direct damage source. 2/1 Creature. He can come back. That guy belongs in so many decks. He is a little expensive, but well worth it for what he can do. I have seen so may good decks ruined by that guy. Attacking with him can be a very bad thing for your opponent ( Well, it is with all creatures, but he is just more so ). If they don't block, he's alive for next turn. I they do block, let the damage resolve, and then sacrifice him in response to lethal damage. That could get 2 points through, and they migh lose the creature, if not, put the 2 points on the blocking creature or another nasty threat. That will probably kill their guy, and he can come back. Just so mean.....

The last guy that we wil discuss before moving onto the subject of deckbuilding with Zombies is not a Zombie, he is the Zombie's Lord.

Lord of the Undead

Casting Cost: 1BB

Power/ Toughness: 2/2

Card Text: All Zombies get +1/+1. 1B, Tap: Return target Zombie from you graveyard to your hand.

He is one of the best lords, the only one better is Zombie Master, just because he gives all Zombies cheap Regeneration. He makes all Zombies more powerful, and can bring them back. He is not too powerful by himself, but the impact he has on the game is just too much. That is all I have to say for him.

Now, deckbuilding with Zombies. Starts out pretty easily. A couple of the Familiars and Shivan Zombies ( Shivan is a 2/2 Pro-white creature for 2 mana ) is a good start. 2 or 3 Phyrexian Scutas, and 3 or 4 Pyre zombies is just great. Round out the Zombies with a few Lord of the Undead and your Zombie Base is good. The mana curve is rather low, so I think most decks can get away with 22 land, though that is a little tight. I tstill works very well. Then, you go on to some good spells. Disrution is the key, and the only playable disruption in IBC is discard, so we will start there. Ravenous Rats and Addle are two of the best discard spells in IBC so 4 of each is optimal. Some removal is necessary too. By that I am aiming at the two best burn/removal spells in IBC, Terminate and Urza's Rage. They are both good, though the Rage is better. 4 Terminate and 3-4 Rage is very good. A little searching can be nice, too. Unfortunately, the only search that red or black has in IBC is ! Diabolic Intent. The only way it ca

4 Nightscape Familiar

4 Shivan Zombie

4 Pyre Zombie

3 Phyrexian Scuta

3 Lord of the Undead

4 Ravenous Rats

4 Addle

4 Terminate

3 Urza's Rage

3 Diabolic Intent

4 Urgborg Volcano

7 Mountain

12 Swamp

For the sideboard, there are alot of good options. I am not sure how one should look, so I have written nothing for this. Thank you for reading, and Pojo, if this looks like some text is missing, please don't post it. My e-mail is eladamri_13@yahoo.com

Knut Koeneman