Mono-Black Anti-Angels Midrange

A grindy mono-black midrange deck that shreds the Angels player's hand, answers every threat with cheap efficient removal, and closes out via Gray Merchant of Asphodel drains while deathtouch blockers like Vampire Nighthawk deter flying attackers.

Gray Merchant of Asphodel counts every black pip on the battlefield, so stacking Gifted Aetherborn, Vampire Nighthawk, and Phyrexian Rager turns Gary into a massive life swing that outpaces the Angels deck's lifegain engine. Vampire Nighthawk is a flying deathtouch lifelink blocker that both walls big Angels and trades profitably, while Gifted Aetherborn does the same on the ground. Duress and Agonizing Remorse strip the enablers (Giada, Bishop of Wings, Righteous Valkyrie) before they can snowball, and Heartless Act / Cast Down cleanly remove the rest. Cry of the Carnarium sweeps Angel tokens and small utility creatures.

Keep hands with at least two lands, a discard spell (Duress/Agonizing Remorse), and a cheap removal spell. Snap-keep two-land hands featuring Gifted Aetherborn or Vampire Nighthawk plus interaction. Mulligan any hand with fewer than two lands, or one that is all removal and no way to pressure the board. Six-card hands with a discard spell and a removal spell are acceptable against Angels since you must disrupt their curve.

Early: deploy a deathtouch blocker (Gifted Aetherborn or Vampire Nighthawk) and use Duress/Agonizing Remorse to strip their key Angels enablers before they resolve. Trade removal efficiently any time a lord or lifegain payoff appears. Mid: stabilize with Phyrexian Rager card advantage and use Heartless Act/Cast Down/Bloodchief's Thirst to answer each Angel one-for-one while keeping a Nighthawk on defense. Late: land Gray Merchant of Asphodel for a huge drain, then chain a second Gary or swing with your lifelink evasive creatures to finish while their life total spirals.

Angels that go wide with tokens can overwhelm your spot removal, so lean on Cry of the Carnarium. Hexproof or protection effects (like Sephara or Selfless Savior style protection) can blank targeted removal, making edict and discard effects critical. Lifegain payoffs like Righteous Valkyrie and Bishop of Wings can outrace you if left unanswered, and you have no true sweepers at common/uncommon, so falling behind on board early is punishing. Fast aggro decks and graveyard strategies that ignore your discard can also pressure this list.