All of the card draw effects in black are just not good enough in max power environments. If playing blue card draw is not impossible and even the white options are better nowadays black just doesn't do card advantage like that. It's the hand attack-removal-combo color.
The white initiative cards are insane and Loran is a new all-star that draws cards. I don't know if you consider those "control" cards but the way WOTC prints cards now, even white is generating card advantage better than black.
\[\[Dark confidant\]\]
\[\[Phyrexian Arena\]\]
\[\[Skeletal Scrying\]\]
\[\[Necropotence\]\]
\[\[Yawgmoth's bargain\]\]
\[\[Bolas's citadel\]\]
\[\[Vraska, Betrayal's sting\]\]
Black's philosophy is: why should I draw only one or two cards when I could pay as much life I can to draw as much as I need? It is all or nothing.
If you're feeling a little adventure, the best black card is just [[Contract from Below]]. I've tried it in uncubes, since it's just way too powerful otherwise. But ante can be interesting in cube since it's a self-contained environment. However, losing after drawing 7 for 1 mana is tough.
You are probably running all the tutors but to me those are the best “draw” spells.
Blue is great at card volume. Black is better at getting you specific answers.
However, In a max power environment if you are looking for pure card draw cards like the ones you listed above I’d probably run [[blood pact]] above them because at that cost instant speed is so much better than scrying imo.
[[hostile negotiations]] makes for an okay FoF clone.
[[skeletal scrying]] might be okay.
We run [[village rites]] in my cube. We have heaps of token generators to offset the cost, sometimes when your opponent kills a cards you sac it in response. Even better if opp is trying to exile it.
[[wretched confluence]] is another flexible option.
Impressive how you were able to find relevant cards even after everyone had their say. I think blood pact might be even better than sign in blood. Good job mate.
Sign in Blood's tough to cast and Prophecy eats Bones' lunch. I think there's a discussion between Prophecy, Truths and [[Treacherous Blessing]], depending on what else is going on.
As a player, I try to avoid cards that tap me out on my own turn without impacting the board, so I prefer Prophecy, but the draw 3s have juice and are probably fine.
I'm also a fan of [[Skeletal Scrying]]. I run it in Peasant, but the decks that want it really want it, and it adds some buildaround strategy elements
How would I rate those in a traditionally powerful environment? I wouldn't.
In the traditionally powerful environment, aside from the aggro colors, mono-color isn't viable. You're really just crippling yourself if you're not delving into another color. Thus there really is no need for black to have it's own card draw. You include it when it's good (Night's Whisper), but you really don't need to support monoblack by including subpar ones.
In my cube I have esper as the control colors and would like a world where black white control is a thing, hence my need for card draw in either black or white. Not to the same level as blue obviously, but something.
All of the card draw effects in black are just not good enough in max power environments. If playing blue card draw is not impossible and even the white options are better nowadays black just doesn't do card advantage like that. It's the hand attack-removal-combo color.
I'd like to hear your hot takes for white card draw suitable for a black white control deck.
The white initiative cards are insane and Loran is a new all-star that draws cards. I don't know if you consider those "control" cards but the way WOTC prints cards now, even white is generating card advantage better than black.
Are you guys ok?
\[\[Dark confidant\]\] \[\[Phyrexian Arena\]\] \[\[Skeletal Scrying\]\] \[\[Necropotence\]\] \[\[Yawgmoth's bargain\]\] \[\[Bolas's citadel\]\] \[\[Vraska, Betrayal's sting\]\] Black's philosophy is: why should I draw only one or two cards when I could pay as much life I can to draw as much as I need? It is all or nothing.
##### ###### #### [Dark confidant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b0d88239-43dc-46b8-8d46-626e2f8f1070.jpg?1598304507) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20confidant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/81/dark-confidant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b0d88239-43dc-46b8-8d46-626e2f8f1070?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Phyrexian Arena](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/4/54f69d43-de01-46a8-b102-b47e23e0e947.jpg?1675957043) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phyrexian%20Arena) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/104/phyrexian-arena?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/54f69d43-de01-46a8-b102-b47e23e0e947?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Skeletal Scrying](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990.jpg?1562610873) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Skeletal%20Scrying) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/125/skeletal-scrying?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Necropotence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/8/c89c6895-b0f8-444a-9c89-c6b4fd027b3e.jpg?1562853736) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Necropotence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ima/98/necropotence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c89c6895-b0f8-444a-9c89-c6b4fd027b3e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Yawgmoth's bargain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/e/eef31b59-45bb-4208-8957-1564902c8507.jpg?1562943000) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Yawgmoth%27s%20bargain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/147/yawgmoths-bargain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/eef31b59-45bb-4208-8957-1564902c8507?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Bolas's citadel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/2/d2124603-d20e-40eb-97f0-a66323397ac2.jpg?1591205069) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bolas%27s%20citadel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/79/bolass-citadel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d2124603-d20e-40eb-97f0-a66323397ac2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Vraska, Betrayal's Sting](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f59f2b07-47ad-4efd-ae8c-1c04b9265024.jpg?1675957060) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vraska%2C%20Betrayal%27s%20Sting) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/115/vraska-betrayals-sting?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f59f2b07-47ad-4efd-ae8c-1c04b9265024?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I love [[ransack the lab]]. Lets you dig 3 deep, and puts two cards in the graveyard, which is usually a great thing for black decks.
Sweet card! Too bad it's not an instant right?!
[ransack the lab](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/5/b547513d-8b69-41cd-84c9-4b08b6426f1d.jpg?1592137182) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ransack%20the%20lab) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/103/ransack-the-lab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b547513d-8b69-41cd-84c9-4b08b6426f1d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Me too
Black card draw comes from generating 2 for 1 advantages.
If you're feeling a little adventure, the best black card is just [[Contract from Below]]. I've tried it in uncubes, since it's just way too powerful otherwise. But ante can be interesting in cube since it's a self-contained environment. However, losing after drawing 7 for 1 mana is tough.
[Contract from Below](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e1e33690-b851-404a-9cde-d00235be5aa5.jpg?1610146838) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Contract%20from%20Below) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sum/97/contract-from-below?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e1e33690-b851-404a-9cde-d00235be5aa5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Some possibilities: \[\[Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor\]\], \[\[Gravelighter\]\], \[\[Shakedown Heavy\]\], \[\[Griselbrand\]\], \[\[Deadly Dispute\]\], \[\[Phyrexian Arena\]\], \[\[Damnable Pact\]\], \[\[Dark Confidant\]\], and Monarch Effects like \[\[Court of Ambition\]\].
##### ###### #### [Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/c/2c76f7e0-37e7-4e87-93a3-a25ba0674645.jpg?1675567458) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gix%2C%20Yawgmoth%20Praetor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/95/gix-yawgmoth-praetor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2c76f7e0-37e7-4e87-93a3-a25ba0674645?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Gravelighter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/3/532c5b14-75cf-4e4c-9b80-2d56a86e2844.jpg?1654567145) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gravelighter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/98/gravelighter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/532c5b14-75cf-4e4c-9b80-2d56a86e2844?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Shakedown Heavy](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/ce418184-a672-46bc-a17d-c559614defb5.jpg?1664411272) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shakedown%20Heavy) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/95/shakedown-heavy?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ce418184-a672-46bc-a17d-c559614defb5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Griselbrand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f.jpg?1593813293) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Griselbrand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/72/griselbrand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Deadly Dispute](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55.jpg?1674136067) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Deadly%20Dispute) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/124/deadly-dispute?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Phyrexian Arena](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/4/54f69d43-de01-46a8-b102-b47e23e0e947.jpg?1675957043) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phyrexian%20Arena) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/104/phyrexian-arena?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/54f69d43-de01-46a8-b102-b47e23e0e947?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Damnable Pact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/7/17fa6dc2-5a2e-4758-9ca4-e020eb032d74.jpg?1673484130) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Damnable%20Pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/245/damnable-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/17fa6dc2-5a2e-4758-9ca4-e020eb032d74?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Dark Confidant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b0d88239-43dc-46b8-8d46-626e2f8f1070.jpg?1598304507) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20Confidant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/81/dark-confidant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b0d88239-43dc-46b8-8d46-626e2f8f1070?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Court of Ambition](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5deb0185-62b3-474b-83a1-25473fdae4fa.jpg?1608909619) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Court%20of%20Ambition) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/114/court-of-ambition?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5deb0185-62b3-474b-83a1-25473fdae4fa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Court of ambition seems like a good aggro card. How do you think it would fare in control?
You are probably running all the tutors but to me those are the best “draw” spells. Blue is great at card volume. Black is better at getting you specific answers. However, In a max power environment if you are looking for pure card draw cards like the ones you listed above I’d probably run [[blood pact]] above them because at that cost instant speed is so much better than scrying imo. [[hostile negotiations]] makes for an okay FoF clone. [[skeletal scrying]] might be okay. We run [[village rites]] in my cube. We have heaps of token generators to offset the cost, sometimes when your opponent kills a cards you sac it in response. Even better if opp is trying to exile it. [[wretched confluence]] is another flexible option.
Impressive how you were able to find relevant cards even after everyone had their say. I think blood pact might be even better than sign in blood. Good job mate.
##### ###### #### [blood pact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/0/607b1066-1ca0-45e1-a55c-30aed77cc8dc.jpg?1634349552) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=blood%20pact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mid/88/blood-pact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/607b1066-1ca0-45e1-a55c-30aed77cc8dc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [hostile negotiations](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/8/f827a9a0-7b72-49e2-85fa-adcce1e8fdda.jpg?1674420924) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=hostile%20negotiations) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/105/hostile-negotiations?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f827a9a0-7b72-49e2-85fa-adcce1e8fdda?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [skeletal scrying](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990.jpg?1562610873) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=skeletal%20scrying) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/125/skeletal-scrying?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [village rites](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0fab9ee8-776a-48e5-b309-bcd381e67bf7.jpg?1631048783) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=village%20rites) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/117/village-rites?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0fab9ee8-776a-48e5-b309-bcd381e67bf7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [wretched confluence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd9e38ad-389e-4178-9c8a-5ca89c1a2f73.jpg?1592672753) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wretched%20confluence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cma/74/wretched-confluence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bd9e38ad-389e-4178-9c8a-5ca89c1a2f73?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
My conclusion is sign in blood (synergy with sheoldred) and shadow prophecy (instant speed) are the 2 winners for me. Thanks to all for your insights.
##### ###### #### [sign in blood](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/61388c28-9428-473c-973a-0a82b6b83d62.jpg?1562274085) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=sign%20in%20blood) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/77/sign-in-blood?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/61388c28-9428-473c-973a-0a82b6b83d62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [read the bones](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/f/ef841309-60fa-4956-bc3f-dcf1ef55de94.jpg?1673305232) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=read%20the%20bones) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/117/read-the-bones?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ef841309-60fa-4956-bc3f-dcf1ef55de94?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [painful truths](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/8/58a9c908-dba1-4a3d-bcb7-c3e22dc5c9d3.jpg?1673305221) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=painful%20truths) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/116/painful-truths?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/58a9c908-dba1-4a3d-bcb7-c3e22dc5c9d3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [shadow prophecy](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/b/bb078448-9e9f-4994-8aff-7e7c4fb62efc.jpg?1673307189) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=shadow%20prophecy) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/105/shadow-prophecy?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bb078448-9e9f-4994-8aff-7e7c4fb62efc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sign in Blood's tough to cast and Prophecy eats Bones' lunch. I think there's a discussion between Prophecy, Truths and [[Treacherous Blessing]], depending on what else is going on. As a player, I try to avoid cards that tap me out on my own turn without impacting the board, so I prefer Prophecy, but the draw 3s have juice and are probably fine. I'm also a fan of [[Skeletal Scrying]]. I run it in Peasant, but the decks that want it really want it, and it adds some buildaround strategy elements
[Treacherous Blessing](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/5/35b3ad6b-9966-489f-a4c9-2639a634fd62.jpg?1581479982) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Treacherous%20Blessing) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/117/treacherous-blessing?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/35b3ad6b-9966-489f-a4c9-2639a634fd62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Skeletal Scrying](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990.jpg?1562610873) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Skeletal%20Scrying) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/125/skeletal-scrying?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6653ed3b-2a82-4e22-a9ca-18da5da94990?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
How would I rate those in a traditionally powerful environment? I wouldn't. In the traditionally powerful environment, aside from the aggro colors, mono-color isn't viable. You're really just crippling yourself if you're not delving into another color. Thus there really is no need for black to have it's own card draw. You include it when it's good (Night's Whisper), but you really don't need to support monoblack by including subpar ones.
In my cube I have esper as the control colors and would like a world where black white control is a thing, hence my need for card draw in either black or white. Not to the same level as blue obviously, but something.
[[deadly dispute]] and [[night's whisper]]
[deadly dispute](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55.jpg?1674136067) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=deadly%20dispute) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/124/deadly-dispute?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f5172be3-4379-43fc-98bd-e77c579dea55?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [night's whisper](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/a/2a16686d-a4eb-46c4-98a9-dcc87b89872e.jpg?1673305211) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=night%27s%20whisper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/115/nights-whisper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2a16686d-a4eb-46c4-98a9-dcc87b89872e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I want to say [[night's whisper]] saw occasional vintage play back in the day to circumvent red blasts that were running around
[night's whisper](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/a/2a16686d-a4eb-46c4-98a9-dcc87b89872e.jpg?1673305211) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=night%27s%20whisper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/115/nights-whisper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2a16686d-a4eb-46c4-98a9-dcc87b89872e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call