The “graveyard” archetype isn’t a single archetype. It’s a bunch of different archetypes that use the graveyard as a resource. Some of them intersect and synergize, and some interact negatively.
I usually think of two large groups of graveyard archetypes:
- Dredge archetypes: decks that want to create a big graveyard
- Madness archetypes: decks that wants to discard specific things to the graveyard
Dredge archetypes
Modern Dredge and Triple ISD Spider Spawning is what I picture when thinking of this category of decks.
Enablers are usually cards that mill cards from the library to build a large graveyard by using dredge, mill, and, in constructed, combos. Some mechanics like explore and surveil also help to a smaller degree. These enablers don’t usually work well in madness archetypes, because they don’t actually discard the cards, and hitting the right ones is left to chance.
An exception is 2002 UB Psychatog, which looted, cast a lot of spells over a long match, and resolved Fact or Fiction to reach a large graveyard, which fueled Psychatog for the kill.
A list of payoffs that work in these dredge decks:
- [intersection with madness decks] Cards that are more or similarly as efficient when used from the graveyard like Vengevine or Deep Analysis
- [intersection with madness decks] Cards that have effects in the graveyard, like Genesis, Wonder, Firemane Angel
- Cards that are usable, but not more efficient from the graveyard like Raven’s Crime, Spider Spawning
- Cards that count cards in the graveyard like Bonehoard, Multani, Yavimaya’s Avatar, Spider Spawning
- Cards that are fueled by the graveyard, like Ox of Agonas, Murderous Cut
- Cards that reward a small library, like Thassa’s Oracle
- Explicit mill payoffs, like Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Madness archetypes
Standard UG Madness and Legacy BR Reanimator is what comes to my mind to illustrate these decks.
This other category contains decks don’t particularly care about large graveyards, but instead focus on getting discarding the right cards.
The enablers are looters, mongrels, or searches, which allow choosing the right cards to discard while getting value for them. These enablers are a bit slow for dredge archetypes, though they work provided enough time. Effects like Entomb and Buried Alive work in some cases
The payoffs:
- [intersection with dredge decks] Cards that are more or similarly as efficient when used from the graveyard like Vengevine or cheap flashback (Deep Analysis)
- [intersection with dredge decks] Cards that have effects in the graveyard, like Genesis, Wonder, Firemane Angel
- Reanimation like Zombify
- Madness cards like Basking Rootwalla, Fiery Temper
- Cards that depend on reaching thresholds in the graveyard, like Nimble Mongoose, Traverse the Ulvenwald.
- Cards that reward a small hand, like Hazoret the Fervent
- Explicit discard payoffs , like Bone Miser, Drake Haven
Why I run Bone Miser
I changed by graveyard archetype drastically at some point, from UBG Dredge to UBR Madness.
Bone Miser is completely worthless in dredge decks, but a powerful payoff in madness decks. It quickly generates a lot of value when combined with any Faithless Looting or Thought Courier.
Why I’m probably cutting Bone Miser
Despite seemingly being support for zombies and wizards, Bone Miser is not much more than a vanilla 4/4 for 5 in those decks. That makes it quite narrow – only the madness decks want to run it, and even in them it is a clunky payoff due to the cost and vulnerable due to being a creature.
Options I’m considering:
- Asylum Visitor
- Tortured Existence
- Skyclave Shade, though it’s quite wordy
- Woe Strider looks good, but perhaps too good
- Living Death is tried and tested, I removed it because it warps the game around it so much
- From Under the Floorboards should work well in zombies, tokens, and incidentally lifegain
Options I’ve discarded:
- Waste Not, the enchantment version which addresses the fragility but is just as narrow
- Archfiend of Ifnir is way above my power level
- Ruthless Sniper and Faith of the Devoted are too narrow and probably not good enough
Desolate Lighthouse - MTG Cube Theory 