Let's look at Matthew Sutton's list, who got 9th-16th
Vampires
Main deck
Creatures: 31
4x Bloodghast
4x Bloodthrone Vampire
3x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Kalastria Highborn
4x Pawn of Ulamog
4x Pulse Tracker
4x Vampire Lacerator
4x Viscera Seer
Spells: 7
3x Blade of the Bloodchief
4x Vendetta
Lands: 22
4x Marsh Flats
14x Swamp
4x Verdant Catacombs
Sideboard: 15
4x Arrogant Bloodlord
3x Dark Tutelage
3x Doom Blade
1x Gatekeeper of Malakir
1x Skinrender
3x Smother
Here's Nathan Zamore's list, which placed 5th-8th
Vampires
Maindeck
Creatures: 31
4x Bloodghast
4x Bloodthrone Vampire
3x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Kalastria Highborn
4x Pawn of Ulamog
4x Pulse Tracker
4x Vampire Lacerator
4x Viscera Seer
Spells: 7
3x Blade of the Bloodchief
4x Vendetta
Lands: 22
4x Marsh Flats
14x Swamp
4x Verdant Catacombs
Sideboard: 15
4x Dark Tutelage
1x Disfigure
1x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Marsh Casualties
2x Skinrender
3x Smother
Here's Matt Wehner's list, also placing in 5th-8th place
Br Vampires
Maindeck
Creatures: 22
4x Bloodghast
4x Gatekeeper of Malakir
4x Kalastria Highborn
4x Pulse Tracker
2x Vampire Lacerator
4x Viscera Seer
Spells: 14
2x Arc Trail
2x Burst Lightning
2x Dark Tutelage
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Mark of Mutiny
2x Sword of Body and Mind
Lands: 24
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
4x Dragonskull Summit
4x Lavaclaw Reaches
12x Swamp
Sideboard: 15
2x Arc Trail
1x Dark Tutelage
4x Doom Blade
4x Duress
3x Manic Vandal
1x Mark of Mutiny
3 vampire decks in the top 16, and of those 3, 2 are in the top 8 ?? What made these lists so successful ?? Vampires were always considered tier two decks, but recent results prove otherwise. In the recent 5K Standard Open- Boston, Caleb Durward earned himself a 3rd-4th place finish. What's Caleb Durward's list then ? The main deck is EXACTLY THE SAME as Nathan Zamore's and Matthew Sutton's list, and Caleb Durward's sideboard is the same as Zamore's except that Durward uses Doom Blades, while Zamore uses Marsh Casualties.
Same lists, having success. That can't purely be coincidences. From what I can see, those decks are able to play fast games early in the game, yet they were also able to play amazing midgames. Blade of the Bloodchief seems like an essential piece for these decks, playing it while Bloodthrone Vampire, with Bloodghast (Although any vampire would be fine as they aren't really needed in midgame). Early in the game, Pulse Tracker and Vampire Lacerator are able to cut down the opponent's life total, making it easier for vampires to win in the midgame. The low curve of the deck helps it compete against decks with cards of better quality, and that may be the reason why vampires are able to have this level of success in this event.
For Matt Wehner's list, having almost the same creature package, but splashing red for burn spells proved that going in another direction, vampires are also able to win. Having Lightning Bolt, Arc Trail, Burst Lightning for removal, and Mark of Mutiny to act as a form of Psuedo-removal, clears the way for the vampires to attack. Mark of Mutiny lets you take control of an opposing creature for a turn, make it bigger, and use it to attack your opponent. You need to return it to your opponent at the end step though, and this can be solved by sacrificing it to Viscera Seer. If all else fails, point the burn spells at the face.
Vampires also seem to be able to deal with Valakut decks, Valakut decks takes time to set up, vampires use the early game to bring down their life totals. It seems like Vampires will be a competitor at future events, especially for players that are on a lower budget.
That's all I have for today, hope you enjoyed reading !
