Need some help Aether/Dark deck

[Murax]

I need some help with this deck.  I'm not even sure if it's great but I can kill AI 3 80% of the time.  I'm looking to make it either faster or have a higher win %.  Also if there is any other cards that can help me advance past lvl 3.  My Mark is Dark 

Thank You for the help!   

(http://www.screenshotdumpster.com/view/m7Gbd50073/elem)

[icybraker]

Not a bad deck.

I'd take out the Short Sword; you already have one weapon, and it's just taking up space. You seem to be a little low on pillars; for this reason, I'd take out both Vampires, and maybe a Steal and a Drain Life. If things really get slow, also get rid of your Devourers; this deck looks like it concentrates on damage from the Dragons and the PUS, while still providing a good amount of creature control, perm control, and defense.

You want to end with the smallest deck possible; a 30 card deck with only the bare neccesities will be faster than what you have here.

Nice deck; great work so far

[acelink]

I think your deck idea is good.  I would change it a little more by:
-Taking out: Short Sword, Vampires, dusk mantle, 1-2 Black pillars
-Put in: Few more devourers and dimensional shields.

I was thinking about trying something like this... Stall them with black early game, dimensional shield late game = good game... It wouldn't make it faster but it would make it more stable/higher win chance.

If you plan on going for level 5s, devourers are useless... they have too much mana gain

[Murax]

Not a bad deck.

I'd take out the Short Sword; you already have one weapon, and it's just taking up space. You seem to be a little low on pillars; for this reason, I'd take out both Vampires, and maybe a Steal and a Drain Life. If things really get slow, also get rid of your Devourers; this deck looks like it concentrates on damage from the Dragons and the PUS, while still providing a good amount of creature control, perm control, and defense.

You want to end with the smallest deck possible; a 30 card deck with only the bare neccesities will be faster than what you have here.

Nice deck; great work so far

Well I made the changes you suggested and it made the deck faster but I find myself sitting there for several turns doing nothing     I also can't seem to win against any fast deck.  If they put out little 1/1 or 2/2 critters, I can pretty much call it a loss.  Any other suggestions to help this deck out a bit?

Thank You

*edit*  I tried it against lvl 5's

[icybraker]

If you feel yourself losing a lot, I suggest getting rid of the Aether portion of the deck entirely. You don't need it that much at all; it's just there for flavor. A very fast and sound deck can come from a mono-Dark.

For your mono-Dark, ditch the Short Sword, 1 or 2 Steals, a Drain Life if you want, and all the Aether cards (this is all from your original deck). Add maybe 5 Obsidian pillars, an Eclipse, and a couple more creatures if you have room. Go for exactly 30 cards.

Good luck.