A singleton "break in case of emergency" Gravedigger seems good. I like having access to the ability, definitely, just not all that often. Looks like I'll test going down to one copy.

Really. The format is not all that fast, real action starts on turn two, and I have no one drops to cast one turn one. Getting the right mana makes a difference in every game. And because we can run 8 tapped lands to use on turn one, we are able to run brown lands. One does not exclude the other.

No Revelation or Bones? I've tried numerous variations of this deck experimenting with both and trying without, and Bitter Revelation would be high on the list of auto-include cards for this deck after testing: the quicker I can dig for Nissa/Liliana the better and fuelling the graveyard at the same time is just gravy.

I've also come to hate Winnower. It does kill some key cards, but there is an awful lot it doesn't kill: off the top of my head I think 60% of the creature pool is immune to its ability. Menace makes the card decent, but I don't think it's required for this deck: I think Cruel Revival is a far better choice for the 5 mana slot.

I'm not sold on the mana base, but if it works for you, great.

And lastly I know it's been discussed earlier in the thread but I think the singleton Gravedigger is really nice. Considering how important the walkers are to this deck the extra recursion just gives you that extra safety barrier.

I've come to a similar conclusion as GoCovert Blue regarding the number of copies of Evolving Wilds in slower control builds like this. The "comes into play tapped" lands effectively function as 1-mana drops for this sort of deck, which has ZERO 1cc spells apart from the 1 copy of Bone Splinters.

I'm surprised at how few threats some of these lists are running, particularly covertgo's. I'm not arguing with the decklists -- you guys are far more experienced and have had way more MD success than I have.

However, how do you usually end games? I can't imagine either planewalker's ultimate is too reliable. Woodland Bellower is a pretty big body, but it's the only one in the deck so any hard removal shuts that down. I really like Winnower but it doesn't strike me as a "I win now" sort of card in the same way as say, Gaea's Revenge. Do you just incrementally build up card advantage then chip them down over a long period? How often does shadows of the past do enough damage to seal the deal?

As I was typing, I realized I didn't see Erebos's titan in the list. With so much removal plus the land-grabbers to make BBB feasible I'm sure it's a great card vs most decks.

Still though, I'm curious how you finish your typical game.

Starting to get bored of seeing it and thopters on steam. 3 maindeck reclamation sage here I come.

I thought I posted a reply, but I don't see it. Anyway: In most of these lists, the Necromantic Summons are also win conditions (especially with spell mastery). I cut them from my list, so I've been running Gaea's Revenge (one of), but they do perform their function well. That said, I actually do use Liliana's ultimate, in particular, as a common win condition. I actually don't think I've ever used Nissa's ultimate, mostly because once she flips she's basically a Library of Alexandria with upside (!) and that alone is more than enough to win most games with just two or three activations. And it's really not that uncommon to just beat down with, say, a Fleshbag and a Sage for a few turns while they're in topdeck mode and their board is clear.

Curious how this one goes.

I have to agree on Bitter Revelation in this deck, you don't mulligan for it but you generally have no problems tapping out for it because the format is slow enough that you can deal with the board afterwards. I personally consider it to be Evolutionary Leap copies 3-5 since that is the engine that makes the deck tick.

On another note, I've cut Gaea's Revenge. I always have stuff I'd rather cast and if not, I'm winning anyway. Graveblade hits just as hard or harder in the lategame whilst controlling early aggression.

Liliana's Ultimate is actually really easy to get because of her +2 only needing 3 activations, but I rarely use it because her - ability is so good in this deck. Nissa's ultimate has won me a lot of games but her +1 provides so much advantage that you're usually winning regardless. Her - minus ability is nothing to sniff at either: while I'd rather reach for her ult a timely 4/4 can turn the tide, especially against aggro. The singleton Gaea's Revenge does so much work it isn't even funny and my addition of Graveblade Marauder adds another win con as well as shutting out the more aggressive decks that may outpace us.

This deck isn't about a single definitive win con though - it's about complete control of the board state and building advantage through the mid to late game so your Nissa/Lily/Graveblade, hell even the incremental damage build up from your Fleshbags etc can seal the deal.

The walker control deck is deceptively simple to pilot, but knowing when to use which card and why will be the deciding factor in a lot of games. I truly believe this is quite possibly the strongest all-round deck in the game ATM, but knowing your match-ups and your primary targets for removal is going to be massive in most games. Hell, if you could sideboard and games were a best of three I'd say this deck was practically unbeatable given the current pool.

You running a singleton of Graveblade vs Gaea's Revenge?

I believe Hakeem is running the pair as per my initial suggestion, but I too question the cut of GR. Whenever I've been able to cast GR it's demanded an instant response from my opponent or they have lost. And who doesn't like more win cons? Plus for 7 mana what could be a better investment? By the time you're ready to cast, yes you should be winning anyway but Gaea gets you there that much faster. In terms or creatures it is the best in the pool so if you have a deck that can run it why not?

Without nearly any green removal, GR is insanely good. It's extremely difficult to remove and with haste gives you instant board advantage when it enters play. That singleton Gravedigger does bring it back. I think by far it's a great Singleton/Wincon in the deck.

Any chance you can give an updated list? Really love your decks

You'll get no argument from me: like I said, GR is the best creature in the pool. I trialled Kothoped for a while and paired with Nissa it gave me stupid card advantage given the nature of the deck but it also nearly killed me too due to that self same nature, ultimately being too much of a risk.

GR as a singleton is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Definitely.

I agree on how fast it closes games but I'm not convinced it's necessary. I am a certified Durdler, though.....

Definitely not necessary but when one card is a win con without any other interaction it's hard to ignore. GR is the Baneslayer of origins (especially given the downgrade in creature power from the last iteration): if you can, why wouldn't you run it?

Because I don't need it. It is a powerful card in the meta but I'm not convinced this deck is where it belongs.

So a single Graveblade instead?