MTG Salvation

I really enjoyed the +1/+1 counter themes that I played during the pre-release events of Ravnica Allegiance, and so I wanted to make a deck that focused on counters. I chose Atraxa, Praetors' Voice to have access to the colors I care about, and because she supports the theme. I recognize that Atraxa has a reputation for being built as a superfriends build, so I will have to let my opponents know that I'm building it in a much less competitive manner.

Because I'm building something new to me, I need help! I haven't played with many of these cards, and I'm looking for some help from the community about which of these cards have worked well, which haven't, and any other suggestions. The decklist is comprised of cards that I definitely own and am considering, while the list that follows is a list of cards I either am considering to put in the list, or need to track down a physical copy of the card.

Thank you in advance for your help!



Other ideas

• Creatures
• Mikaeus, the Lunarch
  
• Biomancer's Familiar
  
• Combine Guildmage
  
• Festercreep
  
• Gyre Sage
  
• Incubation Druid
  
• Sage of Hours
  
• Selfless Spirit
  
• Thrummingbird
  
• Anafenza, the Foremost
  
• Fertilid
  
• Marwyn, the Nurturer
  
• Plaxcaster Frogling
  
• Vorel of the Hull Clade
  
• Abzan Battle Priest
  
• Corpsejack Menace
  
• Ezuri, Claw of Progress
  
• Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
  
• Meren of Clan Nel Toth
  
• Odric, Lunarch Marshal
  
• Prime Speaker Vannifar
  
• Viral Drake
  
• Archangel of Thune
  
• Biogenic Ooze
  
• Galloping Lizrog
  
• Ghave, Guru of Spores
  
• Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper
  
• Kalonian Hydra
  
• Sunscorch Regent
  
• Vulturous Zombie
  
• Prime Speaker Zegana
  
• The Haunt of Hightower
  
• Avenger of Zendikar
  
• Craterhoof Behemoth
  


• Enchantments
• Land Tax
  
• Retribution of the Ancients
  
• Abzan Ascendancy
  
• Hadana's Climb
  
• Citadel Siege
  
• Smothering Tithe
  
• Wilderness Reclamation
  
• Doubling Season
  
• Inexorable Tide
  


• Artifacts
• Hangarback Walker
  
• Azorius Signet
  
• Dimir Signet
  
• Golgari Signet
  
• Orzhov Signet
  
• Selesnya Signet
  
• Commander's Sphere
  
• Darksteel Ingot
  


• Instants
• Swan Song
  
• Heroic Intervention
  
• Abzan Charm
  
• Titanic Brawl
  


• Soceries
• Biogenic Upgrade
  
• Rishkar's Expertise
  


• Planeswalkers
• Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
  

Notes

• Do you think the experience cards Ezuri, Claw of Progress and Meren of Clan Nel Toth are worthy of inclusion if they aren't the general?
• Is green-based spell ramp enough, or should I consider signets, since the mana base will be cheap?
• Do I need a quick finisher, like Avenger-Hoof, or should this deck naturally be able to finish off a table without those finishers? Same idea with Sage of Hours tricks.
• Without infinite mana, is Simic Ascendancy a fool's errand, or is it a realistic threat that can end the game later?
• I tried to avoid a lot of the "goodstuff" cards like Eternal Witness, Krosan Grip, Beast Within, and Sylvan Library. But is the deck lacking in recursion?

I'm a big fan of cards like gilder bairn and vorel of the hull clade in +1/+1 counter decks. They can give a huge burst to a creature that's just about to land damage.
Fertilid I would say is an auto include in this deck as you can ramp so hard with it if the counters just keep coming back.

kalonian hydra is a great addition too but you've got to keep it swinging and it's less subtle than most other cards that interact with +1/+1 counters.

I'm on a fan of the Experience Counter creatures unless you can recuss them or have constant access. As a commander they're OK hut trying to fit them into the 99 doesn't go in my opinion.

Simic ascendancy is insane in a deck like this. If you have five creatures on the filed with counters you win in four turns. You can proliferate the counter on the enchantment too so can speed up the whole process. With all the creatures coming in and adding counters I think this is a pretty viable wincon if its not played too late.

I also have a +1/+1 counter-focused Atraxa deck, but since it's built around a non-mtg theme, I won't delve into specifics or power level choices, but I'll give some of my thoughts...

• Gavony Township
• Elspeth, Sun's Champion is just really good utility.
• Since my build is a little different, I'm not sure about how they will perform for you, but the +1/+1 counter lords were a little lackluster for me. The same can be said for Bred for the Hunt, though I have not actually tried it myself and am now curious.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will test the lords to see how they perform and report back.