MTG Salvation

Tried to stay around the $20 range, and the only thing that cuts it close is the Obelisk of Urd. I'd love some feedback:



The ideal setup is T2 phalanx leader, T3 preeminent captain, T4 attack, captain swings in scaleguard or the sentinels, and some zingers on the leader for a massive attack.

The first thing I would suggest is more lands. You're not even playing one drops and your curve goes all the way up to CMC 5.

I'll get rid of scale blessing (2) in favor of two more plains. 4 mana is a lot to spend on giving an unknown number of creatures +1/+1.

My real question is regarding the spells. Whenever I see lists that have lots of 2-ofs, I think the player is just forcing cards that they like rather than what is doing work. I've had some decent luck with spirit bonds, but it 1.)doesn't produce solider tokens and 2.)is really competing against citadel siege and the obelisk, since anything less than CMC4 is going to spent on creatures. I think two sieges is probably enough. Should I invest in a couple 1-drop soliders?

I started a thread similar in Standard deck Creation where I discuss some of my choice, here I would advocated a low curve too, I tried to top off at 4 CMC, here's my deck list without a sideboard I have not figured out yet.




I know your budget is around $20, but I think dropping the +1/+1 counter sub-theme will help you with efficiency and free up card spots for more aggressive creatures. But if you stay with counter theme i would consider Echoes of the Kin Tree because its a reusable bolster engine thats not restricted to sorcery speed like outlast. I think the obelisk could be dropped for something cheaper, maybe Spear of Heliod or Great Teacher's Decree or even a strong finisher like Sunscorch Regent

I like the spear and acolyte's reward. Since all of my creatures are soldiers, it seems wrong to cut out obelisk, but I guess something like great teacher's decree might get more value since a deck like this is looking to close the game out by turn 6. The decree and obelisk would both be turn 4 slots, but I wouldn't have to tap any creatures for the decree. Acolyte's Reward is a solid defensive card should Decree not present itself.

For a one-drop soldier, who would you recommend? DTK has some solid one-drop white warriors, but, you know, soldier deck.

I have not really had too much time to play test the deck, but the rewards were helpful as a psudo-removal for white, but I also recognize that it can be underwhelming if if my board position isn't stable, I'm thinking about feat of resistance or Center soul as a possible replacement depending on testing.

Someone else mentioned Dictate of Heliod on my thread, which is another card for consideration for the whole obelisk, and spear debate. I personally like spear best because its 3 CMC and it can be removal in a pinch too.

As for 1 CMC creatures, if you stick with the +1/+1 counter theme Herald of Anafenza seems like a good option, otherwise I would pick soldier of the Pantheon, nyxborn shieldmate or Favored Hoplite, which ironically is all the 1 CMC soldier creatures in standard.

Have you had a chance to test this anywhere? What are your results like if you have? I think my biggest concern is 3/4 CMC fatties in G/R ramp that just eat our critters before we can build a larger board state.

Haven't done any real testing yet, but plan to once I get it all pieced together. I've never bought single cards before, so the hold up has mostly been my own heels dragging.


Out of the listed 1CMCs, I'd lean towards soldier of the pantheon just for the late-game utility (lots of multi-color in standard). I'm less inclined toward Herald of Anafenza because the outlast ability is 3CMC, which is a heavily contended slot in the deck, and the chances of me wanting to make a token instead of spear, decree, captain, falconer, etc., is unlikely.

I really see the value in my guys having first strike, so I'd like to wedge Archetype of Courage, but in terms of 3CMC, I'd rather have the abzan falconer. If I weren't trying so desperately to stick to the $20 figure, I'd 4-of Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit in place of the Phalanx Leader. Maybe her price will go down a little bit after the new card smell wears off.

I used to play a similar deck, with a larger focus on heroic. I think you want a bunch of protection-from-color spells to get damage through. That was usually my win-con. That or a big ol' High Sentinels of Arashin.