Ink and Verdict 2.0 — the same "removal is the engine" philosophy, reborn in Witherbloom colors. Where the original turned every targeted spell into Silverquill drain triggers, this build turns every kill into life, and life is the fuel for everything: Infusion spells upgrade (Foolish Fate, Poisoner's Apprentice, Follow the Lumarets, Moseo, Vein's New Dean), while Pest Mascot and Blech, Loafing Pest grow a +1/+1 counter with every point gained. Bogwater Lumaret drips life on every creature you play, so the engine is running by turn two — then your trampling, ever-fattening pests finish the job.
Roles
Threat:Pest Mascot (trample, grows on lifegain), Shopkeeper's Bane (gains 2 on every attack — a threat that feeds itself), Blech, Loafing Pest (team-wide counters), Witherbloom, the Balancer (affinity for creatures — a 7-cost dragon that usually costs 2-3).
Removal:Grapple with Death (kill + gain 1 — the deck's signature card), Foolish Fate (drains 3 with Infusion on), Hero's Downfall, Poisoner's Apprentice (-4/-4 on a body), Witherbloom Charm.
Card flow:Follow the Lumarets (two cards with Infusion on), Witherbloom Charm (sac → draw two), Titan's Grave surveil in the late game.
Mana: 23 lands, all four Titan's Grave double as card selection.
Synergies & curve
The curve stops at three (the lone Witherbloom, the Balancer cheats itself down with affinity), so the deck plays two spells a turn early. The core loop is fully circular: removal gains life → life turns on Infusion and grows Pests → bigger pests force more blocks → Arnyn drains when the small ones die. Even the manabase joins in — Jungle Hollow switching Infusion on for the turn it enters.
Weak spots
Seven guaranteed taplands (plus a conditional Deathcap Glade) — clunky draws lose tempo.
Everything is ground-based: an evasive board race (fliers!) is the fastest way to lose.
The engine needs lifegain to start each turn — instant-speed answers to Bogwater Lumaret can keep Infusion switched off.
Signature play: Grapple with Death their blocker (gain 1, Infusion on) → Pest Mascot grows → Foolish Fate now drains for 3 → swing with pests grown fat on your own removal.
2× Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist
$0.35
1× Blech, Loafing Pest
$0.35
4× Bogwater Lumaret
$0.27
4× Burrog Banemaker
$0.22
1× Deathcap Glade
$2.70
2× Follow the Lumarets
$0.11
2× Foolish Fate
$0.13
6× Forest
$0.16
4× Grapple with Death
$0.20
2× Hero's Downfall
$0.30
2× Jungle Hollow
$0.24
2× Moseo, Vein's New Dean
$0.80
2× Noxious Newt
$0.28
4× Pest Mascot
$0.29
2× Poisoner's Apprentice
$0.15
4× Shopkeeper's Bane
$0.19
9× Swamp
$0.18
1× Temple of Malady
$0.15
4× Titan's Grave
$0.20
1× Witherbloom Charm
$0.29
1× Witherbloom, the Balancer
$3.89
