I just picked up Abzan after being out of magic for a bit. I gave up playing after/during R2R and am completely new to this standard of course. I know a good deck when I see it though. The card advantage generated by this deck is pretty good! I think overall I'll be able pilot the deck pretty well just from my ability to play the game... But being unfamiliar with standard is going to hurt me. I've been reading till my eyes bleed the last few days.
If yall don't mind gives a rundown of how you feel standard is currently. Key cards to watch out for or remove instantly ect. My understanding of the deck in a control midrange form is as follows
1- tap land
2- Tseize (their 3 drop/problem cards)
3- courser
4- removal/rhino
I guess what I'm looking for overall is just a brief rundown of what to kill asap what I can safely ignore and what is a prime target for a seize in most matchupa
Thoughtseize is generally just a curve disruptor in this format, as there are a lot of cards that gain incremental advantage after several turns in play. When not worried about being tempo'd out, it's usually about grabbing walkers or things that gain value when you don't have an immediate answer.
There aren't a ton of kill on site creatures in the format however:
1. Goblin Rabblemaster needs to be killed. If you can't kill it, having a creature that can eat the tokens it makes is the best answer.
2. Anything that looks like it's setting up a Raided Wingmate Roc needs to be ganked pre-combat.
3. Jeskai Ascendancy needs to be removed quickly in post-board games.
4. Devotion needs to be kept under control. This is usually done through just making sure that they can't just go off. It'll take some getting used to knowing when but a few games will alert you to timing issues.
Sweet thanks! That's a big help. I probably wouldn't look twice at green setting up devotion so I'll look out for that. And if someone is swinging in when there's little advantage to doing it they are setting up the roc raid play. I'm sure rabble will be the most killed card lol I expect to see a lot of red at the shop.
If you want some good looks at both cards in standard and playing decisions behind them, I highly recommend checking out the VS's videos over at Star City Games. Really entertaining, and useful, watches. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5Eu-Zxvbg
Thoughtseize is generally just a curve disruptor in this format, as there are a lot of cards that gain incremental advantage after several turns in play. When not worried about being tempo'd out, it's usually about grabbing walkers or things that gain value when you don't have an immediate answer.
There aren't a ton of kill on site creatures in the format however:
1. Goblin Rabblemaster needs to be killed. If you can't kill it, having a creature that can eat the tokens it makes is the best answer.
2. Anything that looks like it's setting up a Raided Wingmate Roc needs to be ganked pre-combat.
3. Jeskai Ascendancy needs to be removed quickly in post-board games.
4. Devotion needs to be kept under control. This is usually done through just making sure that they can't just go off. It'll take some getting used to knowing when but a few games will alert you to timing issues.
And that's pretty much it. I'm sure I missed a few that people will address.
9. Outpost Siege wins games if unanswered and is hella resilient in most g1's. Unless you run Dromoka's Command mb (GREAT IDEA BTW) you pretty much Tseize it or lose to it in my experience.
Thanks for the responses guys. I sleeved up Abzan midrange and of course am doing above average with it. On deck taking me down consistently is BUG creatureless control. Playing a Naya midrange list to some success also.
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I just picked up Abzan after being out of magic for a bit. I gave up playing after/during R2R and am completely new to this standard of course. I know a good deck when I see it though. The card advantage generated by this deck is pretty good! I think overall I'll be able pilot the deck pretty well just from my ability to play the game... But being unfamiliar with standard is going to hurt me. I've been reading till my eyes bleed the last few days.
If yall don't mind gives a rundown of how you feel standard is currently. Key cards to watch out for or remove instantly ect. My understanding of the deck in a control midrange form is as follows
1- tap land
2- Tseize (their 3 drop/problem cards)
3- courser
4- removal/rhino
I guess what I'm looking for overall is just a brief rundown of what to kill asap what I can safely ignore and what is a prime target for a seize in most matchupa
There aren't a ton of kill on site creatures in the format however:
1. Goblin Rabblemaster needs to be killed. If you can't kill it, having a creature that can eat the tokens it makes is the best answer.
2. Anything that looks like it's setting up a Raided Wingmate Roc needs to be ganked pre-combat.
3. Jeskai Ascendancy needs to be removed quickly in post-board games.
4. Devotion needs to be kept under control. This is usually done through just making sure that they can't just go off. It'll take some getting used to knowing when but a few games will alert you to timing issues.
5. Whisperwood Elemental can't be left unchecked for particularly long.
6. Elspeth is a really good magic card.
7. Taisugur can't be left in play for hours.
8. Sorin, Solemn Visitor needs pressure or is a two for one.
And that's pretty much it. I'm sure I missed a few that people will address.
9. Outpost Siege wins games if unanswered and is hella resilient in most g1's. Unless you run Dromoka's Command mb (GREAT IDEA BTW) you pretty much Tseize it or lose to it in my experience.
10. This card is a big fat dumbo that should be prioritized lower than the first 9 but ahead of most anything else. Lightning Helix sucks to eat but you can tolerate it. If you don't have removal you're prolly dead quickly tho.
GW ~ Angels ~ WG
Modern:
RBW ~ Shadowmancer ~ WBR
Legacy:
BUG ~ Shadow Delver ~ GUB