<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of the Dark Realms" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of the Dark Realms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.komarckart.com/index.html">Michael Komarck</a>)</h6>
<h1>What Is Dead May Never Die</h1>
<p>Welcome back to <em>Diabolic Intent</em>, where we build decks around iconic villains and their diabolical schemes! This week's featured guest hails from a TV show often noted for its heart-wrenching and gory deaths, the most notable of these being the tragic final season deaths of the show's fanbase, character arcs, and cultural impact. This makes my resurrection of the exceptionally dead conversation around Game of Thrones rather appropriate, given our guest's penchant for similarly necromantic activities.</p>
<p>The Night King's ultimate goal was a bit of a bummer, in that it involved a lot of eternal winter and darkness. In spite of this rather misanthropic campaign strategy, his ideology swayed many loyal recruits from a historically underrepresented base: dead people! Fortunately for us, swampy mages have been championing the right for dead people to serve in private militias since 1993, giving us a wide range of cards to choose from.</p>
<p>Obligatory Spoiler Warning: I'd say I don't want to ruin the ending, but the show kinda beat me to the punch there. (Follow up warning: like many fans, I found the ending of this show maddeningly unsatisfying, and as much as I've tried to forget and move on with my life like everyone else over the past nine months, my pent-up emotions make themselves apparent a few times here.)</p>
<hr />
<h2>Commander - Varina, Lich Queen</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Varina, Lich Queen"></div></div>
<p>Varina is a good choice for those seeking a little variation from the standard Dimir or mono-black Zombie deck. We're looking for a <em>lot </em>of variation, in that we're only running 15 creatures (half the average amount for her), and only 5 of them are even Zombies! Those numbers belie the utility we'll end up getting from Varina's ability, but it's safe to say that we're not leaning all that aggressively into Zombie tribal. Ironically, all of our noncreature Zombie-related cards are black, but the flavor gods demand blue and white for reasons explained below. More ironically still, the next section has none of the white cards.</p>
<hr />
<h2>White Walkers</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chainer, Dementia Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Scarab God"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Geth, Lord of the Vault"></div></div>
<p>Mr. Freeze's inner circle was populated by a number of fellows with a similar contempt for the concept of death. Note the common feature of these particular reanimators being that they can make use of creatures in our <em>opponents' </em>graveyards. Rather than packing our own Zombies, our primary strategy will be to fill the yards by slaughtering our enemies with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Damnation" href="#" target="_blank">Damnation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life&#039;s Finale" href="#" target="_blank">Life&#039;s Finale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, then follow up with our suite of necromancers to bring them back on the cheap!</p>
<p>We also have the option to preempt our wipes with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Betrayal" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Betrayal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, giving us our creatures immediately. Note that it's cards like these (and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Scarab God" href="#" target="_blank">The Scarab God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) that give us our value with Varina, since they add the Zombie creature type.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Nigh-Invulnerable</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Plate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shielded by Faith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hammer of Nazahn"></div></div>
<p>Indestructible has proven to be an exceptionally useful keyword for writing about villains because of how perfectly it captures the Achilles' Heel aspect of so many popular villains' invulnerability. The Nightman and his compatriots were immune to most relevant forms of physical and magical attack, and even outside our (important) flavor concerns, it is in our best interests to limit the weaknesses of our White Walker cards listed above. This means that, in their particular case, exile removal is a stand-in for "dragonglass" (obsidian), Valyrian steel, and characters with whom they have no previous dramatic involvement leaping out of the shadows with a knife.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zombie Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boneknitter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer"></div></div>
<p>While the Boss Zombies' resistances to traditional violence were based on preventing it, their wight soldiers were something of an opposite in that they took inordinate amounts of punishment but could also mostly ignore it. Along with the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we'll throw in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zombie Master" href="#" target="_blank">Zombie Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boneknitter" href="#" target="_blank">Boneknitter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to represent these subordinates' unstoppable shambling.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that the unfortunate title of the Regenerate mechanic frequently confuses players about how it actually works, in that it's less "regeneration" and more "death prevention", but that's actually kind of perfect for our flavor needs.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Iceman Cometh</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blustersquall"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frost Titan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time of Ice"></div></div>
<p>While reanimation was their most notable signature, our wrinkly lads were also quite famous for their wintry demeanor, complementing the literal winter surrounding them at all times. Blue has a long standing tradition of Letting It Go, which manifests mechanically in tapping down creatures. These cards will turn out to be remarkably practical, not just for incidentally screwing with our opponents' plans, but in some cases letting us completely blow out late-game creature gridlocks with our Zombies!</p>
<p>I've put in most of what I consider to be the most valuable freeze/tap cards, but it would be inappropriate to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Frost" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Frost</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Wall stands in definitive opposition to the Night King, and were it not for the exceptional luck of encountering a dragon to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it may have proven to be an unbeatable opponent (considering that waiting on Dragon Delivery Express was his only plan that we know of).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winter&#039;s Rest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winter&#039;s Chill"></div></div>
<p>Also on the snow topic, you better believe we're cramming in snow-covered lands instead of basics, so let's throw in some snow tech for fun and profit. Who the hell thought <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter&#039;s Chill" href="#" target="_blank">Winter&#039;s Chill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was a good idea? It's terrible, I love it.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Darkness, No Parents</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darkness"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cover of Darkness"></div></div>
<p>Rarely is a section so explicitly necessitated by our villain's actual name, but here we are. (Get it? He's called The Night King because he brought The Long Night! But there's also a case to be made that it's the show writers' <a href="https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/12392">confused butchering of a different character's name from the books</a>.) These are both solid cards besides, and we've got a consistent tribe to declare for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cover of Darkness" href="#" target="_blank">Cover of Darkness</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Breaker of Toys</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disenchant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dismantling Blow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aura of Silence"></div></div>
<p>These are realistically all cards that we should toss in anyway, but I'd like to call specific attention to the fact that they translate well into that totally sick thing White Walkers do where they just grab someone's sword and freeze it so it SHATTERS (god, this show used to be so COOL, pun definitely intended). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disenchant" href="#" target="_blank">Disenchant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is pretty much the best value there is, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aura of Silence" href="#" target="_blank">Aura of Silence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> disrupts the entire enemy toy production process, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dismantling Blow" href="#" target="_blank">Dismantling Blow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was accidentally stapled to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divination" href="#" target="_blank">Divination</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Fixer-Upper</h2>
<p>Alright, it may be time to disembark the Flavor Train and see about putting in some synergies.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Killing Stuff is Cool</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvester of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Market"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overseer of the Damned"></div></div>
<p>The EDHREC pages for our board wipes and White Walkers recommend all manner of goodies to take advantage of how much we love to watch our enemies die. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overseer of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Overseer of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is of particular note in that it's almost a White Walker in its own right.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Freezing Stuff is Cooler</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunblast Angel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Verity Circle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Theft of Dreams"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Verity Circle" href="#" target="_blank">Verity Circle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an absolute must-have in this deck. Like holy god, can you imagine that with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blustersquall" href="#" target="_blank">Blustersquall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Disgusting. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Theft of Dreams" href="#" target="_blank">Theft of Dreams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fills a similar role and has some bonus flavor for the dream infiltration that our King does to Bran. (Final gripe: why didn't they just clarify that the Bran crossing the Wall with the dream mark thingy was the reason the Night King could pass the Wall? Someday I will process the grief of the ten years I lost to this show but perhaps it is not this day.) And our potential value with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunblast Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Sunblast Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just too good to pass up!</p>
<p>Whoomp, there it is! Check out the final decklist!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Uh Done Wannit feat. Sheez McQueen" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Varina, Lich Queen
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Command Tower
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Morphic Pool
*1 Sea of Clouds
*8 Snow-Covered Island
*7 Snow-Covered Plains
*12 Snow-Covered Swamp
[/Lands]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Aura of Silence
*1 Black Market
*1 Cover of Darkness
*1 Gift of Doom
*1 Grave Betrayal
*1 Ice Over
*1 Indestructibility
*1 Quiet Contemplation
*1 Shielded by Faith
*1 Time of Ice
*1 Verity Circle
*1 Winter&#039;s Rest
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bond of Discipline
*1 Borrowing 100,000 Arrows
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Damnation
*1 Day of Judgment
*1 Deadly Tempest
*1 Fumigate
*1 Life&#039;s Finale
*1 Necromantic Selection
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rise from the Grave
*1 Rise of the Dark Realms
*1 Sleep
*1 Theft of Dreams
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Blustersquall
*1 Cryptic Command
*1 Darkness
*1 Despark
*1 Disenchant
*1 Dismantling Blow
*1 Giant Killer // Chop Down
*1 Go for the Throat
*1 Icy Blast
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Thoughtweft Gambit
*1 Utter End
*1 Winter&#039;s Chill
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Bone Miser
*1 Boneknitter
*1 Chainer, Dementia Master
*1 Frost Titan
*1 Geth, Lord of the Vault
*1 Harvester of Souls
*1 Lim-Dûl the Necromancer
*1 Niblis of Frost
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Royal Assassin
*1 Subjugator Angel
*1 Sunblast Angel
*1 Tempest Caller
*1 The Scarab God
*1 Zombie Master
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Darksteel Plate
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Grimoire of the Dead
*1 Hammer of Nazahn
*1 Helm of Kaldra
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What do you think? Is Winter coming for some of these cards, or do you Hear them Roar? Is the decklist Growing Strong, or is Yours The Fury at some of my inclusions? Would a revision see these cards Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken, or Did We Not Sow ourselves a cohesive list? And whose nefarious designs should I reconstruct in the next installment of <em>Diabolic Intent</em>?</p>
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the night king

Diabolic Intent - The Long Night