Mono-Black Venom & Vitality

A mono-black midrange deck that grinds opponents down with deathtouch blockers, pinpoint destruction, and a life-drain/lifegain engine that turns every kill into a life swing.

• Bloodletter of Aclazotz + Bloodthirsty Conqueror: Bloodletter doubles all life your opponents lose, and Bloodthirsty Conqueror converts that loss into life for you, so every drain trigger becomes a huge two-way swing.
• Vein Ripper + removal: Each creature that dies makes each opponent lose 1 (2 with Bloodletter) while you gain that much, turning Bitter Triumph and Withering Torment into drain spells.
• Marauding Blight-Priest + Vampire Nighthawk: Nighthawk's lifelink triggers the Blight-Priest, draining each opponent for 1 while you gain life, and its deathtouch makes it a superb blocker.
• Preacher of the Schism + deathtouch: It provides a lifelink token and the initiative, while its deathtouch body trades up in combat, bridging early defense into your drain engine.

Keep hands with 2–4 lands and a mix of cheap interaction (Bitter Triumph, Withering Torment) plus at least one threat. Mulligan hands that lack early plays or are clumped with expensive 5-drops. An opener with Deep-Cavern Bat, a removal spell, and three lands is ideal.

• Early: Deploy Deep-Cavern Bat to disrupt and hold up cheap instant-speed removal to trade with their early creatures. Use Nocturnal Hunger to kill a creature and gain life.
• Mid: Land Vampire Nighthawk and Preacher of the Schism to dominate combat with deathtouch and lifelink while draining the opponent's life total.
• Late: Close with Bloodletter of Aclazotz, Vein Ripper, or Bloodthirsty Conqueror, letting your destruction spells and drain triggers finish the game while your lifegain keeps you safe.

Fliers and spell-based combo decks can go over the top, and graveyard or non-creature engine decks dodge your creature removal. Bloodletter and Bloodthirsty Conqueror are removal magnets, so bait removal before committing. Sweepers punish a wide board, so avoid overcommitting without a follow-up threat.