Theme
This is not an Avacyn Deck. This is an equipment/boros aggro deck. The aim is to get utility dudes out, attach blades to them, and get in damage. All of this before other teams really have an opportunity to ramp up and counter the strategy. A sub-theme is using flash and instant effects to hide what little tricks you can pull off with Avacyn. Avacyn is the commander for vorthos reasons mostly, I have kamigawa cards to represent timayo, nahiri, and cards around innistrad. Honestly this deck is not very far from being a full vorthos list, but i think it looses a bit too much power to do so.
The cards that mean the most in the EARLY GAME are; Imposing Sovereign, Ashling the Pilgrim, Stoneforge Mystic, Knight of the White Orchid, and Boros Reckoner. These are the best targets to get a word on and begin swinging because they have some type of enter the battle field mechanic, or static effect that helps secure the strategy. The other low cost creatures can do the job, but they tend to have other effects that make me not want to have them be my swinging folks - like trying to protect with Mother of Runes or be sneaky with Aven Mindcensor. The equipment you most likely care about here is; Sword of the Animist.
1 Imposing Sovereign
1 Ashling the Pilgrim
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Wall of Omens
1 Dwarven Blastminer
1 Whitemane Lion
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Stonecloaker
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Bastion Protector
1 Dualcaster Mage
1 Flickerwisp
1 Iroas, God of Victory
1 Seht's Tiger
1 Angel of Finality
1 Firemane Avenger
1 Restoration Angel
1 Indomitable Archangel
1 Hero of Bladehold
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Stonehewer Giant
1 Karmic Guide
1 Archangel of Thune
1 Sun Titan
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1 Sol Ring
1 Scroll Rack
1 Marble Diamond
1 Boros Signet
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Burnished Hart
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Sword of the Animist
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Moonsilver Spear
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Steelshaper's Gift
1 Reforge the Soul
1 Wheel of Fate
1 Council's Judgment
1 Blasphemous Act
1 Descend upon the Sinful
1 Martial Coup
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Boros Charm
1 Chaos Warp
1 Return to Dust
1 Land Tax
1 Chained to the Rocks
1 Blind Obedience
1 Spirit Bonds
1 Legion's Initiative
1 Aura of Silence
1 Stasis Snare
1 Assemble the Legion
11 Plains
6 Mountain
1 Boros Garrison
1 Temple of the False God
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1 Slayer's Stronghold
1 Cliftop Retreat
1 Arcane Lighthouse
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Command Tower
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Rugged Prairie
1 Needle Spires
1 Sejiri Steppe
1 Homeward Path
1 New Benalia
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Tarnished Citadel
Theme
This is not an Avacyn Deck. This is an equipment/boros aggro deck. The aim is to get utility dudes out, attach blades to them, and get in damage. All of this before other teams really have an opportunity to ramp up and counter the strategy. A sub-theme is using flash and instant effects to hide what little tricks you can pull off with Avacyn. Avacyn is the commander for vorthos reasons mostly, I have kamigawa cards to represent timayo, nahiri, and cards around innistrad. Honestly this deck is not very far from being a full vorthos list, but i think it looses a bit too much power to do so.
The cards that mean the most in the EARLY GAME are; Imposing Sovereign, Ashling the Pilgrim, Stoneforge Mystic, Knight of the White Orchid, and Boros Reckoner. These are the best targets to get a word on and begin swinging because they have some type of enter the battle field mechanic, or static effect that helps secure the strategy. The other low cost creatures can do the job, but they tend to have other effects that make me not want to have them be my swinging folks - like trying to protect with Mother of Runes or be sneaky with Aven Mindcensor. The equipment you most likely care about here is; Sword of the Animist.
MID GAME is where the deck thrives. Using Firemane Avenger, Baneslayer Angel, and Stonehewer Giant you can become immediately relevant and powerful against almost any deck. With targeted low cost disruptions in the form of Council's Judgment, Chained to the Rocks Stasis Snare, Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, and Chaos Warp you can expect to take down one or two obstacles a game which are not allowing you to get through damage quickly. The artifacts you most likely care about here are; Swiftfoot Boots, Sword of Feast and Famine, Sword of Light and Shadow, and Sword of Fire and Ice.
LATE GAME is where you will be weakest. Are most likely strapped to the teeth with equipment, but if that hasnt won or wont win you the game soon there are little you have in the form of outs. Sun Titan, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, Ajani Vengeant, Nahiri, the Lithomancer, Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Assemble the Legion, Umezawa's Jitte, and Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion. The goal with the games little late game presence is that you just try to out value folks at the table with double strike damage, and efficient planeswalkers. If you are here you have gone too far is the message. Equipment you want at this point is; Basilisk Collar and Umezawa's Jitte.
Important/Unique Cards Cards
Basilisk Collar + Archangel Avacyn or Firemane Avenger or Ashling the Pilgrim Unexpected but powerful removal. Deathtouch can be very powerful with these cards.
Seht's Tiger - Never underestimate the power of a supersize protection from a color. It is common it can buy you the one more turn* you need.
Legion's Initiative - One of my new favorite cards in commander.
Radiate - This is just a fun card, and can cause some really interesting game states. This is my, don't forget to have some fun card.
Cards I think are amazing/or are very common but didn't make the cut:
Cloudshift
Eldrazi Displacer
Sunforger - I just don't think I have enough good targets.
Aurelia, the Warleader Amazing, comes in when I want to up the power.
Grand Abolisher
Silverblade Paladin Amazing, comes in when I want to up the power.
Batterskull If I owned one it would be in.
Repercussion This doesn't have a lot of impact in my playgroup; but I imagine it is in most others though.
Sensei's Divining Top
Magus of the Wheel
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit Not sure how to fit this in.
Chandra, Flamecaller
Staff of Nin
Radiate
Boros Reckoner
Kor Sanctifiers
Links http://edhrec.com/commander/Archangel Avacyn/
Removed these from the deck list;
Sensei's Divining Top
Magus of the Wheel
Elspeth, Knight-Errant
For these cards;
Chandra, Flamecaller
Staff of Nin
Scroll Rack
Reddit History;
https://www.reddit.com/r/EDH/comments/4jhexf/decklist_archangel_avacyn_the_rise_and_fall/