I initially began construction of this deck to play to some of B's more notable themes. In particular, I wanted to utilize the concept of trading life for power or advantage, as well as graveyard recursion.
As I continued adding cards to the deck, a vampire theme emerged, so I ran with it. I began to envision a vampire general who engaged in diabolical arts to gain advantage over her enemies; if you're familiar with the Baali from Vampire: the Masquerade, that is what I had in mind.
The vampire theme allowed me to justifiably add life steal cards like Tendrils of Agony to offset some of the life-loss from the initial starting set of cards. It also played well into the graveyard recursion theme; vampires are undying, after all.
Despite the vampire theme, the deck seeks to win less on the back of vamps and more on the idea of control and advantage. In its current incarnation the deck doesn't have a whole lot of creatures, especially for a deck that has a tribal flavor to it. Instead, the deck seeks to keep recurring the creatures it does have (or gets fatties into play for less mana from the yard) while decimating enemy board presence with one-sided sweeps, one-sided sacrifice effects, etc. While I designed the deck for multiplayer, I have found it more than holds its own in duels as well.
The deck ended up being constructed well before Olivia Voldaren was even spoiled; it started off using either Kaervek the Merciless or Lyzolda, the Blood Witch, though I was never satisfied with either thematically. Olivia, of course, was a perfect thematic fit. Even still, I intentionally excluded artifact equipment like Lightning Greaves or Blazing Torch, as I want Olivia to win through her sorceries and minions than her own power.
I've starred cards that are likely to get cut, and have cited proposed replacements at the bottom.
I know you stated that you don't want to win off using Olivia, but any Olivia deck needs Basilisk Collar. The ability to gun down armies is always fun. You can also add Quietus Spike to also gain this ability, as well as hit extremely hard with the equipped creature.
Edit: Sanguine Bond is also a perfect fit for this deck.
"Some of the other guys dared me to go out, but I knew it weren't no ordinary giant giga-blasting blaze of unending flames that would scorch the whole world."
—Norin the Wary
I run an Olivia EDH, and I have to say, Wound Reflection is invaluable. It's an instant win if you get Sorin on the board.
Also, Blade of the Bloodchief is a must for Vampire Tribals, and if you wanna be a douchebag, Bloodchief Ascension always draws lots of hate
For even more hate on Ascension, throw a Mindcrank into the mix!
This led to the following cards:
As I continued adding cards to the deck, a vampire theme emerged, so I ran with it. I began to envision a vampire general who engaged in diabolical arts to gain advantage over her enemies; if you're familiar with the Baali from Vampire: the Masquerade, that is what I had in mind.
The vampire theme allowed me to justifiably add life steal cards like Tendrils of Agony to offset some of the life-loss from the initial starting set of cards. It also played well into the graveyard recursion theme; vampires are undying, after all.
Despite the vampire theme, the deck seeks to win less on the back of vamps and more on the idea of control and advantage. In its current incarnation the deck doesn't have a whole lot of creatures, especially for a deck that has a tribal flavor to it. Instead, the deck seeks to keep recurring the creatures it does have (or gets fatties into play for less mana from the yard) while decimating enemy board presence with one-sided sweeps, one-sided sacrifice effects, etc. While I designed the deck for multiplayer, I have found it more than holds its own in duels as well.
The deck ended up being constructed well before Olivia Voldaren was even spoiled; it started off using either Kaervek the Merciless or Lyzolda, the Blood Witch, though I was never satisfied with either thematically. Olivia, of course, was a perfect thematic fit. Even still, I intentionally excluded artifact equipment like Lightning Greaves or Blazing Torch, as I want Olivia to win through her sorceries and minions than her own power.
I've starred cards that are likely to get cut, and have cited proposed replacements at the bottom.
1 Bloodghast
1 Guul Draz Assassin
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Mephidross Vampire
1 Malakir Bloodwitch
1 Kalastria Highborn
1 Vein Drinker
1 Vampire Hexmage
1 Ascendant Evincar
1 Vampiric Dragon
1 Butcher of Malakir
1 Nirkana Revenant
1 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
1 Anowon, the Ruin Sage
1 Reiver Demon
1 Dread
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Phyrexian Obliterator*
1 Avatar of Woe*
1 Promise of Power
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Ancient Craving
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Necropotence
1 Syphon Mind
1 Liliana Vess
1 Skullclamp
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Living End
1 Victimize
1 Buried Alive (not recursion, but works with it)
1 Reanimate
1 Torrent of Souls
1 Oversold Cemetery
1 Dead Reckoning
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Eyeblight's Ending
1 Ashes to Ashes
1 Consume Spirit
1 Tendrils of Corruption
1 Terminate
1 Rend Flesh
1 Urborg Justice
1 Grave Pact
1 Living End
1 Living Death
1 Comet Storm
1 Plague Wind
1 Curse of the Cabal
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Extraplanar Lens
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Caged Sun
1 World at War
1 Exsanguinate
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Cover of Darkness *
20 Swamp
9 Mountain
1 Lake of the Dead
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Lavaclaw Reaches
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Rakdos Carnarium
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Command Tower
1 Akoum Refuge
* = Considering dropping for bloodline keeper, falkenrath marauders, rakish heir, markov blademaster or stromkirk captain
UBW Sharuum
BR Olivia Voldaren
UR Jhoira
URG Riku
U Vendilion Clique
Edit: Sanguine Bond is also a perfect fit for this deck.
Cockatrice Username: seriph0
Also, Blade of the Bloodchief is a must for Vampire Tribals, and if you wanna be a douchebag, Bloodchief Ascension always draws lots of hate
For even more hate on Ascension, throw a Mindcrank into the mix!
EDIT: Shizo and Shinka always go down well too!
Bloodflow Overseer
of House Dimir