Sooo everyone is saying vamps is bad this and vamps is horrid that. So I set out to make the best vamps deck I could in standard and back is up with results. So far I am very happy with this deck

Won 2012 gameday and two FNM's so far in the month this decks been up and running. Yes it's beat delver decks, solar flare, and turbo fog, with a pretty high ratio. Sure this deck might not win you a pro tour, But to say that it isn't competitive right now I think is just really silly.

Gut shot is in for delver decks and can shot down birds/elfs if you need.

Pillar of flame is for undying.

Go for the Throat is great vs all these pump decks coming out.

I will say that Nobles are pretty much a dead card after turn 3 if it isn't out yet. But they can still be used to sac to aristocrat if need be.

The problem I see with most lists is that blood artist is in it. Don't get me wrong it's an AMAZING card, but not for a vamps style thing that you want nocturnus procs on. Yes it black, but the goal is to fly over. Things are not dying often in this setup with captains giving first strike and nighthawks having deathtouch. You force a block where something will for sure die or you fly over and hit.

Now this is where it gets tricky. Everyone also says "ZOMG NOCTURNUS IS ONLY FOR MONO BLACK HARRBLAHRRG." Well my friend. I've found the cure fore your top deck red cards. That being sign in blood. You control the top of your deck with this if needed. People think that he's wasted if there isn't a black card on top, but really, he's still good on his own, but he's a WTFBBQ WIN CONDITION if there is black on top.

What I've learned while playing this is that it's okay to do something different to try to shift the meta, and some times you might just roll your local FNM's as well. And also first strike and deathtouch together with lifelink is way OP.