Why Waste Note is Not a Waste of Time

WHY WASTE NOT IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME

Hello again everyone! Today, I am going to discuss one of my current favorite decks in Pioneer. I believe is a very underrated and underappreciated deck. Mono Black Waste Not, or as I have been calling it as of late, Mono Black Beseech Not.

As you can imagine already, I have been playing Beseech the Mirror in the deck and think that it was a massive addition. The ability to be a committed discard deck while also having a tutor package has felt very strong to me. Playing 4 Extinction Events and 4 Necromentia against decks like Mono Green, Lotus Field, and Creativity is very appealing which is just one of the many reasons I have liked the Beseeches.

I must admit I was not a believer until I put in the reps. I thought it was a worse midrange deck compared to Rakdos Midrange, but I am now a follower of the Waste Not religion. This is a deck that will have a future in the Pioneer metagame as it exploits flaws in Heroic and Phoenix while having a good match up against Rakdos Midrange.

Here is the list I have liked recently:

The notable changes from the new set are Hopeless Nightmare and Beseech the Mirror. Hopeless Nightmare is a fine card in the early game.

It is stronger with Waste Not already in play. It outclasses Duress occasionally, which is what would normally be played. Beseech is very good in this deck. I am on 3 currently because I don't want the deck to be too clunky on 4 mana spells. It competes against Sheoldred, Extinction Event, and Rankle’s Prank in the same slot. Rankle’s Prank is a card I am trying out.

It can be flexed around if you prefer another card, but it has been insane in some situations. Which also means it is mediocre in other spots.

The big draw to the Beseech build of this deck is Pithing Needle vs Rakdos Sacrifice. It is almost impossible for them to deal with Pithing Needle in game 1. Getting to play effectively 4 copies is backbreaking for them.

This list is on Trial of Ambition over Sheoldred's Edict as another value card that can sacrifice to Beseech and it often times is just as good. You miss the extra edicts vs walker heavy decks and Mono Green, but I am still on 1 Edict as a strong bullet from Beseech.

Bankbuster in my build is a 3 of maindeck because if you know anything about me you know I love busting for value. After drawing cards, it can easily become fodder for Beseech.

My favorite play pattern with the deck was activating a Bankbuster 3 times vs Rakdos and then Beseeching it off to Pithing Needle a Buster they had just played and not been able to activate. The third copy here is likely very flex as well, depending on your expected metagame. Liliana is incredible in this deck and a key piece to how you win many games. The primary goal of this deck is to get a Waste Not into play and hellbent the opponent quickly. You can then bury them in value with Castles, Geir Reaches, and Bankbusters. This makes Go Blank a great card as well, and one I have strongly considered playing a 4th copy of. My two losses have been to a top deck Creativity with my opponent on 4 lands in a tight game 3 where they flipped the Worldspine Worm. I think this is a good matchup otherwise. A nightmare matchup in Orzhov Yorion value pile. I will need to get more reps in but currently I am 7-2 on MTGO and think the deck has some real potential.

My sideboard plans are as follows:

Rakdos Midrange:

In: +1 trial +1 bankbuster +1 sheoldred +1 ritual of soot +2 duress

Out: -3 Hopeless Nightmare -1 Necromentia -1 Rankles Prank -1 extinction event.

Not certain on this plan yet but I have generally liked upgrading Hopeless into duress and an additional edict to buy time and nab potential Bankbusters and Fables. Ritual is typically better than Event in the matchup and Rankles Prank often times ends up being a very awkward card.

Mono White aggro:

In: +2 Trial +3 Ray +1 Languish +1 Ritual +1 Sheoldred

Out: 3 Hopeless Nightmare 1 Necromentia 3 Go Blank 1 Needle

This matchup is about keeping their things off the board and staying alive, which 6ish sweepers makes very reasonable to do. The key is to not allow a Thalia to lock you out of the game or let an Adeline go unchecked. Wedding announcement can be scary but with this many sweepers it often times isn't good enough.

Heroic:

In: +2 Trial +3 Ray +1 Ritual +1 Sheoldred +3 Duress

Out: 3 Hopeless Nightmare 3 Go Blank 1 Necromentia 1 Needle 2 Bankbuster

I don't love languish here as sometimes there creature gets above 4 toughness and we have plenty of other removal. Duress can show us what is going on and rip the most important card for them post board in Showdown of the Skalds.

Spirits:

In: Same as Heroic +1 Languish

Out: Same as heroic +1 Extinction Event +1 Rankles prank and keep an extra buster

This is a tempo aggro deck which means I like Buster here quite a bit to force them to make actions and punish patience. I don't love sweepers here to begin with and don't want to go to high on the CMC so I could honestly see more busters and less 4s but Event is a bit awkward and the others will almost always be better.

Mono Green:

In +3 duress +2 Ray +1 Sheoldred +1 The Elderspell +1 Needle

Out: 2 Trial 3 Bankbuster 3 Hopeless Nightmare

I like ray as more elf answers and think it and duress are upgrades to nightmare and trial in many cases. Elderspell seems sweet in theory but may just be better as a copy of The End.

I am still new to this archetype but think it feels very good in the current metagame and think it is vastly underexplored. I would highly recommend giving it a try in the near future if you enjoy these style decks!