Death Rats

[Caininite]

I think it would have been better off with the  {Underworld Connections} or maybe a few  {Read the Bones}. I just don't like  {Diabolic Tutor} limited use tho.

[Blazingblevins]

Any thoughts on this?

[LadyGrixis]

Here's my suggestion:

LANDS
-4 {Temple of Silence}
+2 {Mutavault}
+3 {Swamp}

Reasoning: You don't really need to scry with an aggressive Rat Deck. It sets you a turn back and you don't have any White splash that I can see. If anything, it should be a {Temple of Deceit} or a {Watery Grave} to work off of {Nightveil Specter}. The {Mutavault}s allow you to count those as extra rats, adding to {Rat Pack}'s overall ability, as well as having some board state for early game if you've been playing lots of other spells.

CREATURES
-4 {Nightveil Specter}
-4 {Gray Merchant of Asphodel}
+4 {Drainpipe Vermin}
+2 {Gutter Skulk}

Reasoning: First of all, if you're running a proper Rat Deck, then it's going to be Aggro with some hand control. So {Gray Merchant of Asphodel} is an amazing card, but I wouldn't recommend him for this deck....there are much better things to do, like overrun your opponent with lots of little nasties! Also, {Nightveil Specter} is another amazing card....but if you're running 4 {Mutavaults} (and believe me, you ALWAYS want to run 4 Mutavaults), then a three-costed black card is definitely a set-back with as a four-of. Maybe sideboard it instead? The addition rats, however, are GREAT to throw out quickly and overwhelm your opponent. {Gutter Skulk} is a two-drop for 2/2, a bear essentially, as well as a rat to trigger {Pack Rat}'s ability. And {Drainpipe Vermin} is a one-drop for 1/1 with an extra bonus of hand control as an ability.

OTHER SPELLS
-2 {Read the Bones}
-3 {Devour Flesh}
-2 {Crypt Incursion}
+4 {Mind Rot}
+4 {Doom Blade}

Reasoning: Oookay, so {Read the Bones} is really just not that great (unless you're playing limited). It's a three-cost that lets you Scry 2, then Draw 2 and lose 2 life. {Erebos, God of the Dead} and {Underworld Connections} are much better draw card options, since they can be reused and remain on the field (unless someone wastes a spell to remove them....and in that case, we don't really mind). {Devour Flesh} kills lots of things, but {Doom Blade} will take care of most creatures for the same mana cost, as well as not allowing your opponent to gain life from destroying a bomb; and for all of the other things that it won't take care of (like Planeswalkers and Black creatures), there's {Hero's Downfall}. {Crypt Incursion} is always fun, but I would sideboard it at most since you never know if you'll be playing an opponent whose deck isn't creature-based. I would add {Mind Rot} simply because it goes along with your whole "hand control" theme; and, as an opponent, it would be really hard for me to play much of anything when I'm constantly having to discard things from my hand.

SIDEBOARD
-4 {Dark Betrayal}
-2 {Pithing Needle}
+1 {Duress}
+2 {Shrieking Affliction}
+3 {Underworld Connections}
+4 {Gift of Orzhova}

Reasoning: {Dark Betrayal}, although it IS a one-drop, isn't as good as the other removal spells offered in Black. {Pithing Needle}, although nice, isn't necessary when you have so much hand control, as well as {Hero's Downfall} to take care of Planeswalkers and bomb cards. {Duress} is something you can add in if you're going against Esper or other Mono Black decks, since it takes care of ALL noncreature spells (including Planeswalkers, those dirty skanks). {Shrieking Affliction} combos OH SO NICELY with your hand control, making your opponent lose like every turn they have one or fewer cards in hand. {Underworld Connections} is just another draw option to reload your hand, as well as providing devotion for Erebos. And {Gift of Orzhova}.....because flying lifelinking Mutavaults and Rats seems like a great thing, as well as providing more devotion

So, here's what the final deck would look like:

LANDS (26)
4x {Mutavaults}
22x {Swamp}

CREATURES (16)
4x {Desecration Demon}
4x {Pack Rat}
4x {Drainpipe Vermin}
2x {Gutter Skulk}
2x {Ogre Slumlord}

OTHER SPELLS (18)
4x {Hero's Downfall}
4x {Thoughtseize}
4x {Mind Rot}
4x {Doom Blade}
2x {Whip of Erebos}

SIDEBOARD
2x {Erebos, God of the Dead}
4x {Duress}
2x {Shrieking Affliction}
3x {Underworld Connections}
4x {Gift of Orzhova}

I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!!!

[LadyGrixis]

Sidenote: Can you tell I have a thing for Rats and Mono Black decks? XD

[Blazingblevins]

Lol. I say I hit a special place in your heart. Ratsssss. Have u ran this in a PTQ?

[LadyGrixis]

Perhaps