Deck Name: Ratocalypse Now
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Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Tribal Aggro-Swarm
Colors: Mono-Black (B)
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Description

"Ratocalypse Now" is a Legacy Tribal Aggro-Swarm deck that floods the battlefield with an endless horde of rats, forcing opponents into an overwhelming tide of destruction. Utilizing Rat Colony's scaling power, Pack Rat's ability to grow, and Marrow-Gnawer's explosive token generation, this deck snowballs into an unstoppable force.

The deck thrives on aggression and disruption, combining hand attack elements from Ravenous Rats & Burglar Rat, along with targeted removal like Dismember & Doom Blade. Meanwhile, Piper of the Swarm enables rats to evade blockers with Menace and even steal enemy creatures, turning their own threats against them.

This deck dominates in both 1v1 and multiplayer games, with a strong ability to grind through control decks while overwhelming aggro opponents through sheer numbers. With Mutavault as an extra rat attacker and Ogre Slumlord ensuring that every fallen creature creates more rats, there is no escape from the swarming apocalypse.
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How to Play

Early Game:
Establish early board presence with Rat Colony & Ravenous Rats.
Use Inquisition of Kozilek & Duress to disrupt key spells from your opponent.
Leverage Dark Ritual for an explosive Pack Rat start to snowball quickly.

Mid-Game:
Play Marrow-Gnawer to double your rat army and grant them fear, making them nearly unblockable.
Maintain control of the battlefield with Dismember & Doom Blade.
Use Piper of the Swarm to give Menace to all rats and start stealing opponent's creatures.

Late Game:
With Ogre Slumlord, every creature that dies (yours or theirs) spawns more rats.
Continue pressuring with Mutavault as an extra rat attacker.
Finish off the opponent with overwhelming numbers or by stealing their win conditions using Piper of the Swarm.
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How the Swarm Works

Step 1: Establish an Army
Play Rat Colony aggressively and force early trades.
Use Pack Rat to multiply threats and outscale removal.

Step 2: Overrun Opponents
Deploy Marrow-Gnawer to give your rats fear, making them unblockable except by other black creatures and artifacts.
Use Ogre Slumlord to ensure that even board wipes fuel more rats.

Step 3: Total Domination
Piper of the Swarm lets you control opponents’ creatures, shifting the battlefield entirely in your favor.
If the opponent somehow survives, Mutavault provides extra lethal damage.
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Sideboard Strategy

Against Creature Decks:
Doom Blade & Fatal Push: Efficient removal for non-black threats.
Plague Engineer: Destroys tribal strategies like Elves, Humans, and Goblins.

Against Control Decks:
Duress & Thoughtseize: Strip away counterspells and removal.
Pithing Needle: Shuts down planeswalkers and activated abilities.

Against Combo Decks:
Leyline of the Void & Nihil Spellbomb: Disrupt graveyard-based combos like Reanimator and Dredge.

Against Artifact/Enchantment Strategies:
Nihil Spellbomb: Helps against decks relying on graveyard recursion.
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Skill Level and Playability

"Ratocalypse Now" is perfect for players who love relentless aggression, tribal synergy, and battlefield control. Managing swarm tactics and strategic sacrifice effects is key to maximizing this deck’s potential.

Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Playstyle: Hyper-aggressive tribal with hand disruption and sacrifice synergies
Best For: Both 1v1 and multiplayer Legacy formats
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Quote:
"The rats come in swarms, an unstoppable tide of hunger and death."

Last Update: 10/02/2025