A long time ago, in a Magic format far far away...

*cue music*

MTG Arena has a new format called Historic, which is essentially every card that exists on MTG Arena plus a small subset of curated cards that Wizards of the Coast decides to add when they want to. Given that the name of the new format is Historic, it's time for a brief history lesson.

The year is 2003 and Mono-Black Control rules the world.

Mono-Black Control | Standard | Osamu Fujita, Japanese Nationals 2003

• Creatures (4)
• 2 Undead Gladiator
• 2 Visara the Dreadful

• Spells (30)
• 2 Skeletal Scrying
• 4 Smother
• 1 Haunting Echoes
• 1 Mind Sludge
• 2 Cabal Therapy
• 3 Corrupt
• 4 Chainer's Edict
• 4 Diabolic Tutor
• 4 Duress
• 4 Mutilate
• 1 Mirari

• Lands (26)
• 23 Swamp
• 3 Cabal Coffers

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Corrupt
• 3 Graveborn Muse
• 1 Haunting Echoes
• 2 Laquatuss Champion
• 1 Mind Sludge
• 4 Nantuko Shade
• 1 Riptide Replicator
• 2 Withered Wretch

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For some reason the concept of Mono-Black Control has never left the Magic psyche. People talk about Mono-Black Control constantly when new sets release, always looking to reclaim former glory of playing tons of Swamps for profit. Well, it's not exactly a "new" set, but the 20 curated cards that have been added to MTG Arena for Historic do add some cards that may breathe life into the idea of Mono-Black Control Again.

Time Stamps:

Match 1 - 00:25:45

Match 2 - 00:47:26

Match 3 - 01:11:44

Match 4 - 01:26:47

Match 5 - 01:59:47

Mono-Black Control | Historic | Jim Davis

• Creatures (11)
• 3 Clockwork Servant
• 4 Dread Presence
• 4 Murderous Rider

• Planeswalkers (4)
• 1 Ugin, the Ineffable
• 3 Liliana, Dreadhorde General

• Spells (21)
• 3 Cast Down
• 3 Disfigure
• 4 Tendrils of Corruption
• 3 Duress
• 4 Phyrexian Arena
• 4 Mind Stone

• Lands (24)
• 22 Swamp
• 2 Castle Locthwain

• Sideboard (15)
• 4 Noxious Grasp
• 1 The Elderspell
• 2 Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage
• 4 Hypnotic Specter
• 3 Cry of the Carnarium
• 1 Duress

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They're back!

Okay, so we don't get Mutilate, Corrupt, or Cabal Coffers, but what we do get is one of the best non-Blue card draw engines ever printed in Phyrexian Arena. Drawing two cards a turn gets out of hand very quickly, and new tools like Tendrils of Corruption plus ample amounts of removal help to keep our life total under control. Mind Stone is also one of the best mana rocks ever printed and fits perfectly.

These cards join an already impressive suite of Black control cards, with Dread Presence front and center as a key "swamps matter" card. Liliana, Dreadhorde General is a great finisher, while Murderous Rider deals with anything and helps gain some life back too. Add in some more removal and great value cards like Clockwork Servant to fill the gaps and we've got quite a nice little brew.

We were even able to keep up with Field of the Dead! If you're looking for a fun and nostalgic first Historic brew, this is a great place to start!