Revolt’s Return
This time, Grave Pact is back as the nail in the coffin.
Vengeful Rebel illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek
While we have seen a similar winning strategy before, Orzhov Revolt takes a different approach than that of its predecessor. Overall, the deck has sacrificed many of its noncreature-based matchups in favor of stomping out opposing aggression. Let’s take a look at how this Orzhov Revolt list sets itself apart.
Dedicated Removal
Removal buys time for Grave Pact while making each sacrifice trigger more potent.
This version of Revolt runs more dedicated removal, with Fatal Push, Exile and Kiku’s Shadow answering creatures directly. While restrictive in its targets, Exile is an amazing mirror-breaker against other black-based decks. The lifegain stapled to the removal allows Orzhov Revolt to win the damage race, especially if it removes an opposing Desecration Demon from the game. Kiku’s Shadow kills nearly every popular creature in the meta where Terror or Ultimate Price would fall short, making its sorcery speed restriction worth it.
The plethora of interaction helps Orzhov Revolt stave off aggressive strategies until it can get its engine online. Cheap removal lets the deck stabilize as it sets up revolt enablers that don’t immediately affect the board. Without direct kill spells, Orzhov Revolt’s opponent could safely flood the board. At that point, even an online Grave Pact won’t do much to turn the corner, as the opponent can sacrifice fodder to keep its most problematic creatures around for a swift end to the game.
Creatures as Removal
These creatures halt aggression, work on breaking board stalls, and trade to set up for Grave Pact.
Because the deck isn’t focused on artifact synergies, it runs Vengeful Rebel and Gifted Aetherborn instead of multiple Walking Ballista and Herald of Anguish. While these new cards can’t sacrifice artifacts on demand to synergize with Grave Pact, they are stand-alone efficient threats that work well to stabilize when behind or remove blockers to press the advantage when ahead.
Compared to the other version of revolt we have seen perform well, Orzhov Revolt doesn’t need as many sacrifice outlets, nor creatures to sacrifice. Gifted Aetherborn and Vengeful Rebel simplify the board so that each Grave Pact trigger is more potent. The opponent has fewer choices to make and Orzhov Revolt makes each sacrifice undesirably painful.
Lean Lands
Cantrips draw you towards lands and cheap ramp acts as a slight land substitute
The deck plays very few lands, going so low as 17! Mishra’s Bauble and Blood Pet pull double duty, acting as revolt enablers and reducing the amount of lands needed in the deck. Having mana-sinks as flood protection isn’t necessary, as flooding isn’t very likely in the deck, letting the deck keep to lean effects on efficient cards.
Frank Karsten’s equation recommends 21 lands, meaning that four Renegade Maps help get the land count closer. However, the inability to cycle it the turn it is played leads to instances where you topdeck Renegade Map instead of the land you needed. A similar risk is taken with Mishra’s Bauble. As for Blood Pet, it’s creature status makes it vulnerable to popular removal effects. Despite these risks, Orzhov Revolt can stall the game with its removal to eventually draw the lands it needs.
Vengeful Rebel
A powerful swing in tempo that slots right into Orzhov Revolt
Orzhov Revolt seeks to bridge itself into the mid game by answering each of the opponent’s creatures as they come. A clear board allows it to set up its engine with Grave Pact and Hidden Stockpile. With removal on demand from then on, the deck closes the game with its efficient threats. Vengeful Rebel slots right into the deck as it sweeps up the opponent’s creatures, is sacrificed for the Grave Pact, or ends the game through combat while the opponent is on the back foot.
