Initial Look at Vampires in Rivals of Ixalan


The complete Rivals of Ixalan is up at the mothership site and I was able to browse through the new cards and on the possible new deck archetypes to be created, not to mention deck upgrades of the current tribal in the set. I have mentioned before that Merfolks is going to be a thing in Standard with the completing card components here in RIX and now I am looking at a possible Black White Vampires build for the tribe.

The notable Vampires from the set are as follows:

White
Bishop of Binding
Famished Paladin
Forerunner of the Legion
Martyr of Dusk
Paladin of Atonement
Skymarcher Aspirant

Black
Oathsworn Vampire
Champion of Dusk

Multicolor
Elenda, the Dusk Rose
Legion Lieutenant

Spells
Radiant Destiny
Arterial Flow
Baffling End

Non-Vampire notables
Dire Fleet Poisoner
Ravenous Chupacabra

As based on the previous Ixalan set, Black and White are the primary colors of the tribe and that also Lifelink is the common ability.

Legion Lieutenant and Radiant Destiny will be your anthem effects to get you to deal more damage on your curve. I am noting at least twelve one-drops in the decklist.

Champion of Dusk is already a solid 4/4 for five, plus the card draw etb effect is a bonus to replenish your hand after your first wave of Vampires. I do also take note of Elenda, the Dusk Rose, but with 1/1 for four mana, I do not think she will fit in the slot as there better and more aggressive four-drop Vampires available.

With those in mind, here is my first version of the deck B/W Vampires for Standard:

Creatures
3 Adanto Vanguard
2 Champion of Dusk
2 Duskborne Skymarcher
2 Forerunner of the Legion
3 Gifted Aetherborn
4 Legion Lieutenant
3 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
4 Sanctum Seeker
4 Skymarcher Aspirant
4 Vicious Conquistador
1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan

Spells
2 Legion’s Landing
3 Radiant Destiny

Lands
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Forsaken Sanctuary
2 Shefet Dunes
1 Ifnir Deadlands
4 Plains
6 Swamp