I primarily play FNMs at the local game store, but I have entered a Starcity tourney once or twice. First time was right after Innistrad came out, and my deck did pretty well. The second was after Innistrad was out for a bit, and everybody, I mean goddamn everybody, was running blue and a full playset of Snapcaster. Out of 18 people (about 8 or 10 that came up from Ontario (I live in a really small town)) 14 was running blue. Only 4 people (myself included) decided to run something else. One was a werewolf deck, the other 2 were Kessig wolf run, and I ran Zombies.
I'm sorry, nothing against UX control, but when everybody plays it, it gets annoying after a bit. I think Snapcaster was one of the worst cards in the set. Even Kessig can be dealt with, Spellskite can steal its boosts. No one plays tribal anymore, which makes me sad.
I started as Worldwake was in its prime, and I got hooked to aggrocontrolcombo (yes, all three at the same time) decks. My first real deck was a WR lifegain deck that ran Lord of Shatterskull Pass, Cunning Sparkmage, Basilisk Collar and Kor Firewalker.It was hilarious to use the Sparkmage Collar combo to ping my Opps field, then swing with a huge Lord.
But, that was not to last. It wasn't that good, and I had to tear it apart. But, my next deck, ohhh my next deck. I decided, you know what, Imma go with a theme. I look at my cards, and some of the cards on gatherer, and decide that Goblin's fiery suicide, and humorous flavour text, was perfect for me. I make it a challenge, the only creature I am allowed to have will be goblins. Shortcutters, Tunnelers, and Battle Rattle Shamans were my bread and butter, until I found my Winstigator.
To clarify, Warren Instigator is a small goblin, 1/1 for RR, but it has 2 key abilities. First, it has double strike. Woo, a double striking goblin, how useful! But, it's real use came with it's second ability. "Whenever Warren Instigator deals combat damage to an opponent, you may put a Goblin permanent from you hand onto the battlefield." Turn three double Siege Gang Commander anybody? Or how about sneaking in a chieftain during combat to power up all my gobbos?
When Scars came out, my deck really took off. Mountain, Memnite, Kuldotha. Mountain, Bushwacker Kicked, Swing for eight. Mountain, chieftian, swing for 10. Lightning bolt. I put 2 Koths in my deck, providing Mountain damage by turn 6. I was the king at FNMs, regularly winning 10 packs a week. People started playing goblins, there were 6 at its highest, and we only usually got around 18 people. But, none of them were as focused, as streamlined, as mine. I literally spent a year fine tuning it, honing it to a razor edge. And then Zendikar rotated out and I wept. I did not weep for Winstigator. I did not weep for Lightning bolt. I did not weep for Goblin Guide. I wept for Goblin Bushwacker. RR for a 2/1 haste that gave all my other goblins +1/0 and haste. This common was a bomb for me, and it is really easy to see why.
But, I had to move one, so I made a Black Zombie deck. I was working on it for a few months, and it seems to have come together. I finally had my 4 Phyrexian Crusaders (getting them was like pulling teeth), my 4 Cemetary Reapers, and my 2 Geth, lord of the Vaults. It seemed to work fine, and Innistrad came out. 3/4 Flying zombie for 3? Yes please! Oh wait, it's in Blue, well that should be fine. I'll just splash in Blue. What's this, 5/6 Flying Zombie that can be played from the graveyard for 3? Oh god yes! Also, in blue? Ehh, UB it is! What's this, your mana hates you? Ok, as they say, once you go black...
So, now I play Black zombie controlcomboaggro, which is really fun. My only mana ramp to speak of is Solemn Simalcrum, but that's fine. I like it jus the way it is.
Oh, right, this thing had an article. First, take out curiosity and Stalker. Run Vault Skirge instead. Also, run 3/3 of Doom Blade and GFTT. or 3/2/2 of DB, GFTT and Dismember. Take out Royal Assassin, and put in Grave titan. Batterskull seems, off, in your deck. I would suggest a Wurmcoil Engine or two.
