My Necromancer book: Malacoda And His Skinny Friends!

[silverclawgrizzly]

So lately I've been playing with a Necromancer book I put together. I refined it some and probably will some more. But so far after about 7 matches with various opponents and mages it's undefeated(that'll no doubt end now that I'm posting about how awesome it's doing.) Anyway this is what it's looking like as of 2/31/2014:

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Malacoda And His Skinny Friends![/spellbookname]
[mage]Necromancer[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]1 x  Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a09]2 x  Jet Stream[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x  Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j18]1 x  Poison Gas Cloud[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ01]1 x  Altar of Skulls[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j19]1 x  Deathlock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ04]1 x  Graveyard[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j11]1 x  Idol of Pestilence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW02]2 x  Wall of Bones[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNC02]2 x  Deathfang[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c23]1 x  Malacoda[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC07]1 x  Mort[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC01]2 x  Acolyte of the Bog Queen[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC13]2 x  Skeletal Archer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC14]2 x  Skeletal Knight[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC15]2 x  Skeletal Minion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e19]2 x  Ghoul Rot[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e04]1 x  Chains of Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e40]1 x  Vampirism[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e25]1 x  Maim Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e14]1 x  Enfeeble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e27]1 x  Marked for Death[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e31]1 x  Poisoned Blood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]1 x  Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]1 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]1 x  Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e16]1 x  Force Hold[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e08]1 x  Death Link[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e20]1 x  Harmonize[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e24]1 x  Magebane[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNQ01]1 x  Cloak of Shadows[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ02]1 x  Death Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q05]1 x  Demonhide Armor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ05]1 x  Libro Mortuos[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q22]1 x  Moonglow Amulet[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i08]1 x  Drain Life[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKI01]1 x  Drain Soul[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI03]2 x  Reassemble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI05]1 x  Unholy Resurgence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]1 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

[silverclawgrizzly]

I have my doubts about the Alter of Skulls as I haven't managed to make it work but once so far. The title mentions Malacoda but there have been about 2 matches so far I haven't cast him, preferring to focus on my skeletons. Last match I played was about seven hours ago against a Druid which was the hardest fight so far. I've currently played a Force Master, two Warlords, Air Wizard, Druid, Priestess, and a Beast Master with it. I've learned I have to be VERY flexible with my strategy with this book and it's surprising how well it does so.

Yes I put attack spells in a Necromancer book. Burn me as a blasphemer if you will!!! Other than that comments and suggestions are welcome.

[Borg]

Hi Silverclaw,
I'm currently in my noon break a work so I don't have the time to go into great detail but the thing that strikes me most is that you have relatively few targets for your Death Ring and Libro Mortuos, so I think you're not getting the most out of those two cards.
The selection of Skeletons seems more toolbox than focused.

I'm wondering how efficient the Acolytes are.
Do you play them often ? It seems like you have plenty of healing already with Mort and 2 Reassembles.
Wouldn't you be better off with 2 Skeleton Sentry's instead ? I like those very much as they're much more durable ( 11 life) than the Minions ( 5 life ) and could potentially benefit more from Mort's healing ability.

Sorry , gotta go ...
grtz

[Avarice]

Yeah, malacoda, I feel is a must in a necros spellbook. I was toying with the notion of a skeletal army also. Besides the druid match you explained, what was your 2nd hardest match? Forcemaster? I would assume she would dissolve your eagleclaws, and pull you away from Malacoda to avoid the poison.

[silverclawgrizzly]

Borg you're right about the Acolytes. I took them and the Alter of Skulls out and put in some Incantations like Battle Fury. The skeletons I have aren't that numerous but I feel like zombies swarm and Skeletons generally stick around.

My second hardest was the Force Master yes. I managed to keep the dissolves away though by using the skeletons as speed bumps so she can't get to me. Nullify for the inevitable Teleport/Dissolve combo. It came close to the wire with her though.

Beat a Fire Wizard yesterday and that was no picnic either.

[Avarice]

Using skeletons as your fullbacks 8s a great idea. Lol. Thx for the info. I look forward to using this build at my local game store. How did the thwart the attack of a fire wizard, if you don't mind sharing?

[silverclawgrizzly]

Well first you have to understand that the Fire Wizard is played by my roommate who's used him to toast me multiple times now. Nor for some reason he figured I was going to just swarm creatures out and started the mana denial game early with Mordok's Obelisk and Essence Drains. In other words, he didn't summon any creatures.

He got off a few fire balls on me(which of course Burn tokens showed up for) and hurt my mana supply but after I killed his Wizard Tower and Obelisk I was able to get enough creatures out to slow him down so that he had a lot of trouble getting within range of me to attack. Even with Teleport I was able to run away and rely on my Cloak of Shadows to protect me. He got me down 22 life I think.

He was able to focus heavily on me towards the early game but I put on a Regrowth Belt and let my creatures do the work. He focused on my Graveyard which took him forever to get rid of. All the while my Archer(Eternal Servant), Death Fangs(2 of them), and Skeletal Knight just wailed on him. He almost killed the knight but Unholy Resurgence saved it. He got 2 Skeletal Minions and a Death Fang but in the end I still had two archers, two knights, and eventually even Mort out and the damage just overwhelmed him.

If not for the belt I'd have likely lost. If the Surging Wave I hit him with hadn't rolled a 1 on the effect dice it's have been over a lot sooner.

[Avarice]

Thanks silver for the detailed breakdown. I look forward to using this deck in my casuals.

[Avarice]

Kept most of the spells the same, just tweaked a tad. Removed acolytes and grabbed a wraith, and altered some curses. Played a warlock today, won pretty handily. Deploy, move, curse. Rinse and repeat. Dot w/ skellies very effective. No Malacoda needed.

[silverclawgrizzly]

Yeah I got ride of the Acolytes too. I don't always bring Malacoda out myself but I like having him as a finisher late game if I can pull it off.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

[Avarice]

Thx silver. Oh yeah, I squeezed an armor ward in there to help protect cloak and book. I may swap out, add a 2nd cloak and another minion.

[silverclawgrizzly]

Here is the current version of the book. I added Knockdown to slow opposing creatures down and keep them in the squares I need them. The book is really becoming centered on preventing movement of opposing forces.

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Malacoda and His Skinny Friends 2.0[/spellbookname]
[mage]Necromancer[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]1 x  Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j19]1 x  Deathlock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ04]1 x  Graveyard[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j11]1 x  Idol of Pestilence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW02]2 x  Wall of Bones[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j18]1 x  Poison Gas Cloud[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x  Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNC02]2 x  Deathfang[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c23]1 x  Malacoda[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC07]1 x  Mort[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC13]2 x  Skeletal Archer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC14]2 x  Skeletal Knight[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC15]2 x  Skeletal Minion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e04]1 x  Chains of Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e40]1 x  Vampirism[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e25]1 x  Maim Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e14]1 x  Enfeeble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e19]2 x  Ghoul Rot[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e24]1 x  Magebane[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e08]1 x  Death Link[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e31]1 x  Poisoned Blood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e27]2 x  Marked for Death[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]1 x  Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]1 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]1 x  Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e20]1 x  Harmonize[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e16]1 x  Force Hold[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNQ01]1 x  Cloak of Shadows[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ02]1 x  Death Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q05]1 x  Demonhide Armor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q22]1 x  Moonglow Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ05]1 x  Libro Mortuos[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i08]1 x  Drain Life[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKI01]1 x  Drain Soul[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI03]2 x  Reassemble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI05]1 x  Unholy Resurgence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]2 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i19]1 x  Piercing Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]1 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i15]1 x  Knockdown[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

[Avarice]

Not bad silver. Have you thought about swapping out Moonglow ammy for meditation? Especially if you have 2 spawn points, i5 can come in handy to Not waste an action. In the couple of matches I've played I don't use graveyard, just book. I feel there isn't that many creatures that would warrant libro AND graveyard. Thoughts?

[silverclawgrizzly]

I agree completely on the graveyard, and have in fact thought of removing it completely though I suppose it does act as a back up to the book. The few times I've played the graveyard though it's been cool combined with the book as I pretty much got everybody out really fast.

As for the meditation amulet, you know I've never actually used it in any of my books. I know I should probably try it out sometime, maybe I'll swap it out today as I know I'll get 1-2 games in later.

[Avarice]

Cool. Please let me know how it works for u.