Recently there has been a strong rise in Pitch Dredge decks, such as @The-Atog-Lord 's list with 20 blue cards and an anti-hate sideboard. With the help of @ajfirecracker I have been exploring and experimenting with a different take on Pitch Dredge. I call it Pitch Hulk or Hulk Dredge.
What Makes This Special:
My current list and original list can be found here.
In my opinion what sets it apart from other Dredge lists is the consistency and power of the sideboard. It is a black and green Pitch Dredge list that relies on the power of Vintage staples such as Molderhulk, Ghoultree and Hollow One. This decks power lies in the fact that it only needs to resolve one or two threats to win. As you can see, the aforementioned cards are immense creatures that are either free or steeply discounted because of this deck.
The post-sideboard plan is to draw between one and three threats and then get the lands necessary to play them. Often this means dredging anywhere from five to twenty cards to hit cards like Dakmor Salvage, Riftstone Portal and enough creatures to cheaply cast your creatures.
Card Choices:
Molderhulk: This card is an okay Dread Return target, and gets instant value upon hitting the board. It is also easily castable without an exiled graveyard.
Ghoultree: This card is the true hulk in the deck, as it is big and dumb. Casting a one mana 10/10 feels sweet, and with a lack of Swords to Plowshares in the meta, it tends to stick.
Blooghast: While I agree in the notion that this card is often a worse Ichorid, this cards value in this deck is not in game one. Often game one you will not need to get any back, and it does not contribute significantly to the clock. I believe this cards has its place in the deck because of the post-sideboard game. The sheer number of lands in this deck, and the consistency at which you are able to make land drops leads me to believe that it is better than Ichorid in this deck. Additionally Ichorid is half a turn slower (which can be quite important if you are trying to race Cage or Priest) and it eats creatures in your graveyard which is not something you normally want to do in this deck.
Dakmor Salvage: Honestly one of the most important cards in the deck. It increases our dredge consistency, allows us to slow dredge if needed and helps us consistently make land drops for Blooghast or to work our way up to casting something. Combined with Riftstone Portal and a Bazaar it allows us to reliably cast a Molderhulk turn 3 provided enough creatures in the graveyard.
Strengths:
Higher chance of winning through a resolved Containment Priest or Grafdigger's Cage.
Not as dependent on the graveyard as other sideboard strategies.
Consistent
Could take opponents by surprise
Quick clock
Has free counter-spells
Weaknesses:
Weak to Leyline of the Void (although not as much as other sideboard strategies)
Can be weak to go-wide strategies
Can be weak to Swords to Plowshares type effects (although a 6 or 10 point life swing is pretty big)
Reason For This Post:
Since I am not on MODO, I am unable to consistently test and tune this deck-list with other people. I am making this post because I sincerely believe that it could be very strong both in the current meta-game and in the future. I want, and need help from the community in tuning, refining and overall improving the deck-list.
Questions and Changes
Blooming March, Llanowar Wastes or Bayou could replace Mana Confluence potentially.
I am very unsure if the correct number of Bloodghasts is 4. I have a feeling 2 or 3 would be fine.
Golgari Thug could be interesting as he is an easy to cast dredger with lots of value.
Call to the Netherworld, this card seems really weird, but I think that in this list it has potential. It is completely untested as I just found it, but the ability to turn on Force of Will for free at instant speed, return a dredger to hand before a one shot graveyard exile effect or return a killed or countered Molderhulk or similar creature seems really strong.
Dark Withering could be an interesting removal spell, but I am unsure if it provides enough value to be of use.
Thank you for reading this far! If you have any questions or comments please let me know. I really like brewing, and I am excited to try and improve this alternative approach to dredge!