First post in competitive and I'm a little worried about breaking some kind of rule, but here goes:
I've heard a lot of opinions on Ajani, Mentor of Heroes in the Standard Aggro Meta, and a lot of them posit that he is too high on the Mana Curve. However, I think that as the end of a 5 turn combo, he's pretty deadly, and here's why:
The great thing about this combo is that even if they manage to wipe your beefed up board with another Supreme Verdict, you can get your card advantage back with Ajani's secondary +1. This gives you the ability to keep up with the tempo and creature removal of control/removal decks
In a fight against a mono-black deck, drop a Aegis of the Gods as your 2-drop. If they can remove it, that consumes their creature removal on turn 3 so they can't go with Lifebane Zombie. If they can't remove it, Lifebane and Thoughtseize become useless.
Thoughts on this in the standard meta? Would love some opinions!
I run him as a 1 of in Standard mainly to help clogged board states. When they have a polukranos and a Stormbreath out they have to worry about an 8/8 trampler on turn 5. What can also happen is you get a fleeceman lion monstrous , and the opponent can't do anything to stop him so you just wait back until you draw one of the things that gives it evasion. I've had an unblockable 12/12 fleecemane pull out some wins I probably wouldn't have won without it
It simply comes down to mana count. How many lands are you playing? Are you playing mana dorks? With no dorks and 24 lands I'd probably be comfortable playing 2 if I deemed the effect powerful enough and on plan. Ie. I play this and I win the game. If you are playing no dorks and less than 24 lands I'd probably pass. Simply on the basis of how long your deck is designed to have games go and the probability of hitting 5 lands. To actually curve out to 5 lands on time like the example above you'd want 25-26 lands. Obviously you don't need to go straight to 5 in the deck but within 7 draws? If you cut into 22-23 land range the numbers go down significantly. 2nd consideration is how more or less effective does the card become when played late (after curve). I think Ajani is probably fine for most of the midgame and only loses the edge about t8 onwards if you haven't won and the opponent has stabilized. So there is a prime 3 turn or so window which is probably adequate. The final consideration is if there is a more effective card in that slot. Cards like the other Ajani comes to mind for some matchups. Mind you big Ajani might be better where it's better. My hunch is if needed in a low land deck put 2 in the board + like a mutavault. I'm not even convinced it's necessary given the timing of the deck.
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In g/w aggro I like both Ajani. Nothing like Anjani pumping something pumping it again next turn then trade it for caller of the pride and 1 shotting through the air.
First post in competitive and I'm a little worried about breaking some kind of rule, but here goes:
I've heard a lot of opinions on Ajani, Mentor of Heroes in the Standard Aggro Meta, and a lot of them posit that he is too high on the Mana Curve. However, I think that as the end of a 5 turn combo, he's pretty deadly, and here's why:
1. Turn 1, mana and Experiment One or Soldier of the Pantheon
2. Turn 2, Voice of Resurgence or another two drop
3. Turn 3, if you go first, Loxodon Smiter if you don't go first, leave mana open for Rootborn Defense or some other anti-Supreme Verdict card
4. Turn 4, again situational. If you go first, drop another Soldier of the Pantheon if you go second and have already blocked their Supreme Verdict, go ahead and drop a Loxodon Smiter or Brimaz, King of Oreskos
5. Turn 5, drop Ajani, Mentor of Heroes and start beefing/smacking
The great thing about this combo is that even if they manage to wipe your beefed up board with another Supreme Verdict, you can get your card advantage back with Ajani's secondary +1. This gives you the ability to keep up with the tempo and creature removal of control/removal decks
In a fight against a mono-black deck, drop a Aegis of the Gods as your 2-drop. If they can remove it, that consumes their creature removal on turn 3 so they can't go with Lifebane Zombie. If they can't remove it, Lifebane and Thoughtseize become useless.
Thoughts on this in the standard meta? Would love some opinions!
GWU Knightfall Modern
UW Tempo Legacy
UGR Burning Wish Cobra Vintage
Damia http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=410191
DDFT Legacyhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=505247
Domain Zoo http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=10212429#post10212429