My go-to decks in Standard B01 currently are a Red Prowess deck and a Selesnya Enchantment deck. The former is something I picked up a while back based on the meta. The latter is one that I have been playing for a while and enjoy playing.

It’s time for a little variety. While I do play a few other decks in other formats, I decided to build a new one focused on the new Commit a Crime mechanic introduced in Outlaws of Thunder Junction for Standard B01.

Commit a crime is well represented across Blue, Black, Red and Green. It’s no big surprise that there is only one White card using the mechanic. For my first build, I decided to go with a mono-Black build focused around Tinybones, Vadmir, New Blood, Kaervek, the Punisher and Gisa, the Hellraiser.

From there, I added a few additional cards that should complement these nicely. Among these are Tinybones, the Pickpocket, Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor and Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal. I also threw in Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (which is almost an auto-include in Black decks these days).

From there, I filled out the deck with cards to go and commit crimes. It’s the usual mix of removal spells and others that target my opponent.

Deck

• 2 Tinybones Joins Up (OTJ) 108
• 2 Tinybones, the Pickpocket (OTJ) 109
• 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
• 4 Deep-Cavern Bat (LCI) 102
• 3 Vadmir, New Blood (OTJ) 113
• 2 Kaervek, the Punisher (OTJ) 92
• 2 Gisa, the Hellraiser (OTJ) 89
• 3 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
• 2 Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal (LCI) 88
• 3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107
• 2 Gix’s Command (BRO) 97
• 2 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
• 3 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
• 2 March of Wretched Sorrow (NEO) 111
• 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97

Lands

• 2 Demolition Field (BRO) 260
• 2 Mirrex (ONE) 254
• 2 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
• 18 Swamp (MH3) 315

I have played 10 games in Standard Play to get a sense of how the deck works. I won 7 times (70% win rate) so far. A good start but it’s time to take it to Ranked and see how it fares against the top decks in the meta.

In the meantime, a few observations from those first 10 games:

• The deck feels a little top-heavy with 9 cards costing 4 or more mana. I may lighten it up a bit, perhaps with Preacher of the Schism.
• Aclazotz is a great card. It is one of those that needs to be removed quickly or it can put the game away. I don’t like playing against it but I sure do like watch it resolve.
• I may add one or two more Instant or Sorcery spells and cut the corresponding number of creatures (21 at the moment).
• I might look to make it a Dimir deck to give me a few spell options. On the creature side, perhaps Lazav, Familiar Stranger or Nimble Brigand. Both cost 3 mana and could help with my first point above.

Anyone else playing a Commit a Crime deck? How is it going ?