Been playing this the past couple weeks and can't really get it to work. I think the primary problem is that I was overly optimistic in how I expected my opponents' gameplans to look. I was hoping for a reasonable stream of bodies under Shelob, but there's just not enough nontoken, noncommander creatures dying often enough to fuel her sufficiently, and they're rarely dying without my intervention. Which wouldn't be so bad, except a lot of the creatures that die aren't very exciting to resurrect, and ofc commanders aren't going to be relevant. Mono black is also pretty restrictive in terms of having answers outside of creatures.
If I decide to rebuild, I'll likely be looking for more proactive strategies - possibly a grave pact engine, some additional draw, and possibly more 2-drop ramp as the deck feels glacially slow without it.
As far as why I built Shelob - once upon a time I really liked
Geth, Lord of the Vault. But upon revisiting, he's honestly awful to play because of how insanely complex the decision tree can get once you're generating 30+ mana. Really hard not to monopolize the clock. Shelob solves this problem by restricting herself to enemy creatures that have died since she entered - no mill, no reanimating the same STEve 20 times, etc. But unfortunately I think that maybe makes her TOO restrictive. I was mostly trying to angle for big wipes that would let me get a bunch of cards under her, but either she'd get removed, or I'd be too slow to stop getting beaten down early. Could probably use some protective equipment while we're at it.
Anyway, here's the current list although I don't recommend it.
1 Shelob, Dread Weaver
1 Blood Curdle
1 Power Word Kill
1 Sickening Shoal
1 Dismember
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Price of Fame
1 Heartless Act
1 Tragic Slip
1 Pile On
1 Grasp of Darkness
1 Devour in Shadow
1 Go for the Throat
1 Karn Liberated
1 Curtains' Call
1 Ulcerate
1 Poison the Cup
1 Sudden Death
1 Defile
1 Malicious Affliction
1 Snuff Out
1 Murderous Rider
1 Murderous Cut
1 Infernal Grasp
1 Victim of Night
1 Chain Devil
1 Vona's Hunger
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Gravelighter
1 Szat's Will
1 Tergrid's Shadow
1 Virtus's Maneuver
1 Demon's Disciple
1 Slum Reaper
1 Liliana's Triumph
1 Plaguecrafter
1 Sheoldred's Edict
1 Soul Shatter
1 Merciless Executioner
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Mutilate
1 Dead of Winter
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Languish
1 Kagemaro, First to Suffer
1 Blood on the Snow
1 Imp's Mischief
1 Darkness
1 Expedition Map
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Grim Tutor
1 Profane Tutor
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Thought Vessel
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Mind Stone
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Cabal Stronghold
35 Snow-Covered Swamp
//Sideboard
