The Immortals Standard Format Creatures: 26 4 Lotleth Troll 4 Pack Rat 4 Burning-Tree Emissary 4 Voice of Resurgence 2 Blood Scrivener 2 Imposing Sovereign 2 Cartel Aristocrat 1 Tymaret, the Murder King 2 Obzedat, Ghost Council 1 Varolz, the Scar-Striped Instants: 2 2 Bile Blight Enchantments: 4 2 Spear of Heliod 2 Whip of Erebos Sorceries: 4 2 Immortal Servitude

Artifacts: 3 3 Springleaf Drum Lands: 23 1 Blood Crypt 4 Godless Shrine 2 Mutavault 4 Overgrown Tomb 1 Sacred Foundry 3 Temple Garden 4 Temple of Plenty 4 Temple of Silence Sideboard 2 Unflinching Courage 1 Immortal Servitude 1 Erebos, God of the Dead 1 Sundering Growth 3 Thoughtseize 2 Scavenging Ooze 3 Skylasher 2 Doom Blade

The deck clearly gets its name from the ‘build around me card’ named Immortal Servitude. You basically play a bunch of synergistic 2-drop creatures, some of which can fill up your graveyard. Discarding to a Pack Rat has never felt so wrong knowing you will probably be getting your discard fodder back into play later in the game. It feels like an ordinary beatdown deck at times until you get hit by a board wipe (aka. Supreme Verdict). Then in the later turns, boom! *MIRACLE!* you drew your Immortal Servitude and recovered your team back into play.

Miracle! (well, sort of…)

Here’s a brief run-down of card choices from dekc designer Charles Trottier:

Enablers

Springleaf Drum

Turns every creature into a hasted Birds of Paradise providing solid mana-fixing.  Enables a turn 4 double Pack Rat or a turn 3 double creature without a board.

Burning-Tree Emissary

As in other decks, provide a fast-paced start, that can even bring in to “free-wins”.  Although, mostly playing turn 3, since red is a splashed color and the deck meeting solid mana requirements, Springleaf Drums can be cast out of him on turn 2 to play any creature of the deck (except Cartel Aristocrat).

Discard Outlets

These are strong resilient creatures that offer the ability to fill your graveyard into an Immortal Servitude or empty your hands to connect with Blood Scrivener and negate discard spells.

Lotleth Troll

Being able to go turn 1 Springleaf, turn 2 Troll with the possibility to regenerate him, by producing a black mana with Springleaf Drum.  Also, being able to discard without paying any mana is relevant.

Mmm….Heart!

Pack Rat

Mid to late game engine, I don’t need to say much about the ratz.

Sac Outlets

These are used to be able to take full advantage of a Voice of Resurgence token, as well as protect multiple creatures or token from a Bile Blight or Detention Sphere.

Cartel Aristocrat

His use in the deck is solely as a sacrifice outlet.  His protection ability is sometimes relevant to get in the last points of damage.

Tymaret, the Murder King

His strength is the fact that he presents himself as a Sac. outlet in the graveyard, which only Scavenging Ooze can deal with and can be flashed with Rats or Troll.   He also presents an alternate win condition with the possibility of sacking all your guys to burn your opponent down, supported by Immortal Servitude and presenting a nice interaction with Burning-Tree Emissary that way.

Varolz, the Scar-Striped

He presents himself as an alternate win condition.  Instead of using the Immortal Servitude plan, every mana becomes : Put a +1/+1 counter of target creature.

Every troll deck needs an actual troll right?

Generating Advantage

Voice of Resurgence

Virtually preventing your opponent from playing during your turn, Voice’s power is strengthened by the sac outlets enabling a fast-paced threat.

Blood Scrivener

Supporting a “suicide all-in” start, Blood Scrivener appears to be a key to certain match-up, bringing extra resources and boosting the odds of drawing a game winning Immortal Servitude.

That’s right, he made the cut

Spear of Heliod

Supporting the fast pace game, Spear also prevents Drown in Sorrow and is a relevant removal against certain match-ups.

Whip of Erebos

Forms an alternate recursion to creatures, with sac outlets for Voice of Resurgence, 7-mana Pack Rats or enabling sac outlets for the turn. Ultimately, the lifegain is game-breaking against red decks and combos with Obzedat as the additional altenate win condition.

Immortal Servitude

The deck contains 23 2 drops, with a deck fully constructed on graveyard interaction.  Not much more to say.  It’s a one sided full graveyard reanimation spell for 5 mana.

Additional Win Conditions

Obzedat, Ghost Council

Alternate win condition, comboing with Whip of Erebos and gaining much welcome life.  Funny fact : can be cast on turn 3.

It’s just an awesome card

I hope you give this deck a try and see all of the cool things it is capable of doing. If you’re tired of the run of the mill Standard deck, then go for it. It’s really like a breath of fresh air.