   Cryptic
Looming.
Description of deck by it's author
(quoted):
I was browsing the Black card file when I came
across Crypt Champion. This is essentially a Red/Black creature that
allows everybody to return to play a creature with a casting cost of
three or less. I almost kept scanning the cards, but something caused me
to linger. What was it?
Ah yes, it was another Dissension card. Loaming Shaman
is a three casting cost creature (so, it can be returned if available)
with a nice 3/2 body and the ability to force a player to shuffle back
cards from their graveyard into their deck. This allows you shuffle back
any dead small creatures and then be the only one to get an advantage off
the Crypt Champion.
After that, it was a small matter to round out the
deck...
This deck is a very classic Abe design with a Dissension
spin. There are lots of creatures, and many of them are cheap; they have
effects on the game; there's a Goblin Bombardment; and the graveyard is an
added resource.
Yep, that's an Abe deck alright.
We have a lot of stuff here, so let's get cracking.
Smoothing our mana are Birds of Paradise and Civic Wayfinders. Both are
nice creatures and add to our ability to play a deck with three colors of
mana.
Next up is my removal pack. This includes Ghitu Slinger,
Keldon Vandals, and Bone Shredder. Each can take out an opposing
permanent, while also creating a decent body. The Bone Shredder makes a
fine flying speed bump, while the Vandals can really hit for some damage.
I tossed in a pair of Ravenous Rats as a way of keeping
opposing hands down. If you can get your opponent to play their cards
quickly, then you'll gain card advantage with your creatures and
recursion. By playing their permanents as quickly as they get them, they
leave themselves open to your own removal. When you play, say, a Keldon
Vandals and pop an artifact, then they now have to deal with a 4/1
creature. Your one card kills and artifact and causes them to kill it with
a blocker or removal spell. Either way, the cumulative effect of these
trades is fortuitous for you. Ravenous Rats “encourages” an opponent to
play into this situation.
I also have a quartet of Wall of Blossoms. These are
your card drawing engine of doom and flowers. These make great blockers,
early and can be recurred later for more cards.
Another fun and classic Abe card is the Spike Feeder.
You can hop the counters to another creature, then recur it. You can also
sacrifice it for four life, and then recur it. It turns Bone Shredders and
Birds of Paradise into fine flying beaters with the counters.
After that, I decided to include two each of Exhume and
Unearth. Unearth will bring back all of your creatures except the Crypt
Champion himself, who costs too much. This will only run you a bill of one
Black mana. Exhume will allow everyone to return a creature of any size. I
wanted some recursion method for the Champion, and with the Loaming Shaman
cleaning out graveyards for you, this is usually a low priced Zombify.
Lastly, I wanted a way of killing your own creatures so
that the Champion can recur it. Many creatures “self-die,” like the Spike
Feeder and echo creatures. Other creatures need another outlet for death,
so I threw in the Goblin Bombardment.
You'll note that I steered clear of classics like
Volrath's Stronghold and Erratic Portal. Those would be good here, too.
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