Thanks, well said Chris. The reason the cards others have mentioned I didn't include is simply 4 mana is hard to play, while still keeping mana open to protect Abzan Lords.
Both Ajanis (M15 and Mentor of Heroes) and High Sentinels are pretty great though, but that is a bit more mid range/late.
The idea of taking out Feat of Resistance for Ephemeral Shields is a good swap for mana saving, but I like it since it gives a +1/+1 counter as well. Might play test and run 2 of each to see which is better. Great suggestion.
I was also considering adding another 1 drop pump Mortal's Ardor or a game ending pump like Dauntless Onslaught, unsure if it is worth it though.
Yes, I thought of Cavalry Pegasus as a substitution for Abzan Falconer, just need more play test. The problem I have is if I top deck Pegasus, I have to wait a turn before my Humans fly, whereas if I top deck Falconer, all my creatures have the potential to fly that turn.
Obelisk seems a bit much cost wise, but Preeminent Captain is a solid card. Could add him and rename the deck, Outlasting Soldiers.
I apologize, I can't post Links. (Not enough posts, need 5 minimum)
I am planning to build this deck, but a little more midrange-y. I think the +1/+1 counters mean this deck can handle a little more time on the table and won't get outclassed quite as quickly as most weenie decks do.
I'm planning on building a deck like this as soon as I get the cards, one difference though I want to include Brave the Sands so as to help enable more outlast and convoke shenanigans.
Hers is the list I'm going to start from, and see where it goes from there.
I'm literally just playing the deck posted in the original post with Ephemeral Shields over Defiant Strike. Not that I didn't go through the probabilities with a excel spreadsheet and find nothing I could improve, the deck is one of the most elegant I have ever seen with how much redundancy and consistency it has. Thank you MarcusHyrule.
After a bit of testing... yeah I take back my comments on Feat of Resistance, we need 4 of this. Although activating heroic and drawing a card is nice with Defiant Strike, the strength of this deck is your creatures never dying while always getting bigger so I think that the 13th-16th protection spells are needed!
I am having SO MUCH FUN playing this, you are always killing their Sylvan Caryatid/Courser of Kruphix with a combat trick (these cards are in their deck to also stop early aggro, so they do block with them) or keeping a Fabled Hero alive through three removal spells, it's hilarious. Since the protection spells can help with attacking, blocking or countering removal you never have a dead card - I use them aggressively and early - even casting Gods Willing for scry if I have too many protection spells in hand.
Erm... do we need a sideboard? I can't think of what I could possibly remove.
You honor me Chris, thank you. I am glad you are enjoying the deck and that is why I wanted to post it to get it circulating on the forums. It would be nice to see this deck top 8 somewhere.
I agree, drawing a card is nice, but another 4 protection spells is actually better. Almost unstoppable. I like the fact you pointed out that the cards are buffs, blocks, and counters to removal. That was the intent while building the deck. Cards with multiple purposes thus never losing card advantage. As for sideboard, if you go up against something that pumps bigger creatures perhaps some white removal/exile cards.
Looks awesome guys! White has always been my absolute favorite color so I'd love to see a (at least a little) competitive deck come from some of us doing some serious play testing. Right now, I believe white has the most forms of both removal and protection plus we have some pretty fun ass creatures to play with (in my opinion) too. I find the 3 drop slot really cluttered in my deck but I love it. I've been having a great time with it and has been consistently been ridiculously overkilling them turn 5/6 consistently and sometimes 4. My deck is based around +1/+1 counters and soldier tribal because my favorite card is High Sentinels of Arashin.
also, this works when you play an anthem instead or basically any other way. It's almost impossible to not have some sort of +1/+1 on your creatures. Sentinels has been consistently coming in as a 5/6 (for free too sometimes!)
Reasons why I only have 2/3 split of the lords is that they always are really bad in multiples. AND I think if our creatures are flying, we normally don't really care about having first strike. So having them both on the field isn't really beneficial. I'm thinking about just adding more raise the alarm over bond-kin.
I don't like obelisk of urd, it's too annoying to cast and I'd rather be running triggers or something better. I don't know about keeping fabled hero, I may try Nyxborn Shieldmate in his place as a trigger and have another 1 drop and lower the curve.
Cards I want to try: Ephemeral Shields, seems sweet when I always have so many soldiers to tap for convoke. Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, I think I have enough devotion to turn it on. Selfless Cathar, Dat +1/+1 just looks so good to me (but it's probably not good) Eidolon of Countless Battles, Looks like she would shine in this deck bestowed and as a creature.
Brewing this deck for days, until I saw this thread... I really like it, because it feels like mono colored slivers !
I prefer the Trailblazer (W : 0/4 heroic) over Soldier of the Pantheon or Favored Hoplite. The former can deal with the more agressive decks, blocking Coursers, Oozes, Soldiers and Satyrs. Even the Rhino and Nissa's manlands after a single heroic trigger (or counter from Phalanx Leader). And it resists burns and Anger of the Gods. Plus, it makes an effective defender if I really have to trigger Outlast (losing a blocker in doing so).
Since multiple First Strike don't stack, the fourth Ainok Bond-Kin is dismissed. I was considering Archetype of Courage to fit that role however. But it will slow down the curve too much... Right ?
You never get enough of evasion however, so the full set of Falconer is required (as was 4 Galerider in Slivers decks).
Some playtesting required to see if a fourth Captain is relevant. After all, two on the battlefield may not really make sense (emptying our hand too fast, making us more vulnerable to sweepers, with too many creatures to protect...)
Going an extra land at 21 gives me extra chances to get that 3rd land by the 9th card (T3 if I won the toss). And this is required to play the Captain or Hero. I figured that less than 1 land in 5 being colorless would be playable in this deck. I made room for 2 Nykthos and 2 Fountains. Getting the extra mana from devotion might be interesting to finish the game a turn faster (emptying your hand of instants to Multi-trigger the Leader). And extra Life for free is never bad, particularly if it doesn't hurt our spellcasting.
At first, I was considering spells like Ordeal of Heliod (for the counters), Launch the Fleet and Defiant Strike. But reading this thread convinced me it was a bad choice. No need for the cantrip of Defiant Strike... That extra card is better staying on the battlefield rather than being top decked. Ordeal is too slow, and between the 11 counters producers and the occasional Outlast activation, really not necessary. Launch the Fleet is pretty exciting... But I am certain that it is better to make certain my lords stay on the battlefield rather than add a couple weenies.
Ajani would be great however. This one makes me think a lot. Elspeth, not (doesn't fit our curve, and unless you side in an extra 3-4 lands, no way I put her in my sidedeck).
Getting lords to give flying, +1/+1s and first strike is fantastic. Only missing part is deathtouch and vigilance, so I'm thinking about splashing black for that, and maybe Athreos... If my Soldiers are going to die eventually, better they take my opponent with them (3 damages) or bounce back in my hand. Not certain however if it's worth the trouble. The same goes for splashing blue (Ephara's Enlightment, Chasm dork, Ordeal of Thasa) or green (Hardened Scales, any Hydras, Boon Satyr, and all those instants and sorceries that put counters on my Soldiers).
So I tried the same deck as MarcusHyrule casually against 2 players.
Tried 3 games against Mono-Black Aggro. It could be my bad resource management, but MB-Aggro seems to have more creatures out than me. Still need more playtests and learning.
Played against a casual UR aggro. Main threats came from Flamespeaker Adept + Aqueous Form, Spellheart Chimera with different buffs. The protections and heroic triggers worked very well against his burn spells.
Overall, it's a really fun deck, not too expensive to build, and is a solid foundation to build on.
I liked the soldier since he is a 2/1 which could become a heavy hitter quickly, but Lagonna offers the defense you need plus heroic so it can also become bigger quickly.
The deck doesn't have any hard removal since it is meant to be a quick win and centered around the idea "I can make you drop to 20 before you" like a burn deck instead of a "I can make a better board presence and outlast you" like a Midrange style. But if you are having trouble you could try swapping some cards around and see if you prefer to have some Oppressive Rays to slow down your enemies.
2 Brimaz could be nice. Phalanx could make the tokens bigger. Perhaps swap out 2 Fallen Heroes. The double strike is pretty nice but tokens could also help for blocking.
Another card someone mentioned was Brave the Sands . Being able to block with your pumped guys could also help.
After play testing I haven't had any trouble playing him turn 3 mana wise. However, I am usually afraid of him getting killed off. Most of the time, depending on match up, I play him on turn 4 to make sure I have a God's Willing or something else to protect him.
How are the Outlast creatures performing? I can see Abzan Falconer being useful, but Ainok Bond-Kin seems a bit lacking. I would be tempted to replace him with another Heroic creature.
Ainok Bond-Kin doesn't do much when you have Fabled Hero out, but every other creature would have first strike which is pretty great for double blocking on their big creatures. (Currently playing with 2 Brave the Sands . The vigilance is amazing, and blocking two creatures is unreal, especially when they have first strike.
Also, first strike is perfect when going up against spirits or birds that also fly when you also have Abzan Falconer .
Now if you don't want to run 4 of Ainok Bond-Kin and do 3 instead that would be fine. As someone mentioned in an earlier post, having two sources of first strike isn't needed.
First, I think this mono white deck is awesome and consistent! Ephemeral Shards seems like a great card many are not prepared for. I know this isn't mono white, but blue seems like it offers a lot for the deck. what are your thoughts on Yoshida Akira's list at a recent standard event:
4x Abzan Falconer
4x Ainok Bond-Kin
4x Fabled Hero
4x Favored Hoplite
4x Phalanx Leader
4x Soldier of the Pantheon
4x Defiant Strike
4x Feat of Resistance
4x Gods Willing
Abzan Needs +1/+1 counters. Phalanx Leader said no problem.
GWU Bant Manifest - The Future Is Here. Or it will be at the end of turn. GWU
also see ajani steadfast
Find me on TappedOut also!
Trade with me!! Always in search of cards!
Both Ajanis (M15 and Mentor of Heroes) and High Sentinels are pretty great though, but that is a bit more mid range/late.
The idea of taking out Feat of Resistance for Ephemeral Shields is a good swap for mana saving, but I like it since it gives a +1/+1 counter as well. Might play test and run 2 of each to see which is better. Great suggestion.
I was also considering adding another 1 drop pump Mortal's Ardor or a game ending pump like Dauntless Onslaught, unsure if it is worth it though.
Yes, I thought of Cavalry Pegasus as a substitution for Abzan Falconer, just need more play test. The problem I have is if I top deck Pegasus, I have to wait a turn before my Humans fly, whereas if I top deck Falconer, all my creatures have the potential to fly that turn.
Obelisk seems a bit much cost wise, but Preeminent Captain is a solid card. Could add him and rename the deck, Outlasting Soldiers.
I apologize, I can't post Links. (Not enough posts, need 5 minimum)
4x Soldier of the Pantheon
2x Aegis of the Gods
4x Ainok Bond-kin
4x Phalanx Leader
2x Abzan Falconer
2x Fabled Hero
2x Abzan Battle Priest
4x High Sentinels of Arashin
2x Ajani's Presence
2x Gods Willing
4x Feat of resistance
1x Hall of Triumph
1x Spear of Heliod
2x Ajani Steadfast
2x Flooded Strand
2x Windswept Heath
3x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
17x Plains
I haven't done any testing yet as I am still compiling cards, but I like the look of the list so far.
Sets completed in the "Vale" Block
Vale: The Shadowlands
More sets to come
My Have/Want List
Sets completed in the "Vale" Block
Vale: The Shadowlands
More sets to come
My Have/Want List
Hers is the list I'm going to start from, and see where it goes from there.
4 Favored Hoplite
4 Soldier of the Pantheon
4 Phalanx Leader
3 Ainok Bond-Kin
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Abzan Falconer
4 Ephemeral Shields
4 Feat of Resistance
2 Ajani's Presence
2 Devouring Light
Sorcerys (2)
2 Launch the Fleet
3 Brave the Sands
2 Dictate of Heliod
Lands (21)
16 Plains
3 Flooded Strand
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
CCL Winner- July '08, Aug '08 Sept '08, Oct '08
Survivor- CCS: Lost in Takenuma, CCS: Stranded In Tolaria
You honor me Chris, thank you. I am glad you are enjoying the deck and that is why I wanted to post it to get it circulating on the forums. It would be nice to see this deck top 8 somewhere.
I agree, drawing a card is nice, but another 4 protection spells is actually better. Almost unstoppable. I like the fact you pointed out that the cards are buffs, blocks, and counters to removal. That was the intent while building the deck. Cards with multiple purposes thus never losing card advantage. As for sideboard, if you go up against something that pumps bigger creatures perhaps some white removal/exile cards.
4x Soldier of the Pantheon
2 Drops
2x Ainok Bond-Kin
2x Raise the Alarm
4x Phalanx Leader
3 Drops
4x Preeminent Captain
3x Abzan Falconer
2x Fabled Hero
4 drop
4x High Sentinels of Arashin
4x Gods Willing
2x hall of triumph
2x Spear of Heliod
23x plains
My favorite play EVER was
T1: Soldier of the Pantheon
T2: Swing (18) Phalanx Leader
T3: Swing (15) Preeminent Captain
T4: Swing, captain plays High Sentinels of Arashin attacking, Raise the Alarm into Gods Willing targeting Phalanx Leader. SoTP, Phalanx, Captain, 2 soldiers, and Sentinels gain +1/+1 making Sentinels a 9/10 FLIER. (-2)
also, this works when you play an anthem instead or basically any other way. It's almost impossible to not have some sort of +1/+1 on your creatures. Sentinels has been consistently coming in as a 5/6 (for free too sometimes!)
Reasons why I only have 2/3 split of the lords is that they always are really bad in multiples. AND I think if our creatures are flying, we normally don't really care about having first strike. So having them both on the field isn't really beneficial. I'm thinking about just adding more raise the alarm over bond-kin.
I don't like obelisk of urd, it's too annoying to cast and I'd rather be running triggers or something better. I don't know about keeping fabled hero, I may try Nyxborn Shieldmate in his place as a trigger and have another 1 drop and lower the curve.
Cards I want to try:
Ephemeral Shields, seems sweet when I always have so many soldiers to tap for convoke.
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, I think I have enough devotion to turn it on.
Selfless Cathar, Dat +1/+1 just looks so good to me (but it's probably not good)
Eidolon of Countless Battles, Looks like she would shine in this deck bestowed and as a creature.
Some Sideboard cards could be:
Find me on TappedOut also!
Trade with me!! Always in search of cards!
17 Plains
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Radiant Fountain
Creatures (23)
4 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
4 Phalanx Leader
3 Ainok Bond-Kin
4 Abzan Falconer
3 Preeminent Captain
2 Fabled Hero
3 High Sentinels of Arashin
4 Gods Willing
4 Ajani's Presence
4 Ephemeral Shields
4 Feat of Resistance
Brewing this deck for days, until I saw this thread... I really like it, because it feels like mono colored slivers !
I prefer the Trailblazer (W : 0/4 heroic) over Soldier of the Pantheon or Favored Hoplite. The former can deal with the more agressive decks, blocking Coursers, Oozes, Soldiers and Satyrs. Even the Rhino and Nissa's manlands after a single heroic trigger (or counter from Phalanx Leader). And it resists burns and Anger of the Gods. Plus, it makes an effective defender if I really have to trigger Outlast (losing a blocker in doing so).
Since multiple First Strike don't stack, the fourth Ainok Bond-Kin is dismissed. I was considering Archetype of Courage to fit that role however. But it will slow down the curve too much... Right ?
You never get enough of evasion however, so the full set of Falconer is required (as was 4 Galerider in Slivers decks).
Some playtesting required to see if a fourth Captain is relevant. After all, two on the battlefield may not really make sense (emptying our hand too fast, making us more vulnerable to sweepers, with too many creatures to protect...)
Going an extra land at 21 gives me extra chances to get that 3rd land by the 9th card (T3 if I won the toss). And this is required to play the Captain or Hero. I figured that less than 1 land in 5 being colorless would be playable in this deck. I made room for 2 Nykthos and 2 Fountains. Getting the extra mana from devotion might be interesting to finish the game a turn faster (emptying your hand of instants to Multi-trigger the Leader). And extra Life for free is never bad, particularly if it doesn't hurt our spellcasting.
At first, I was considering spells like Ordeal of Heliod (for the counters), Launch the Fleet and Defiant Strike. But reading this thread convinced me it was a bad choice. No need for the cantrip of Defiant Strike... That extra card is better staying on the battlefield rather than being top decked. Ordeal is too slow, and between the 11 counters producers and the occasional Outlast activation, really not necessary. Launch the Fleet is pretty exciting... But I am certain that it is better to make certain my lords stay on the battlefield rather than add a couple weenies.
Ajani would be great however. This one makes me think a lot. Elspeth, not (doesn't fit our curve, and unless you side in an extra 3-4 lands, no way I put her in my sidedeck).
Getting lords to give flying, +1/+1s and first strike is fantastic. Only missing part is deathtouch and vigilance, so I'm thinking about splashing black for that, and maybe Athreos... If my Soldiers are going to die eventually, better they take my opponent with them (3 damages) or bounce back in my hand. Not certain however if it's worth the trouble. The same goes for splashing blue (Ephara's Enlightment, Chasm dork, Ordeal of Thasa) or green (Hardened Scales, any Hydras, Boon Satyr, and all those instants and sorceries that put counters on my Soldiers).
1st, GP Toronto Sunday Super Series 2016 : Ally Company RWBG
Top 8, PPTQ Shadows over Innistrad : Boros Humans WR.
Use a hypergeometric calculator for your deckbuilding maths,
and use TopDecked to manage your decks and collection on your Apple or Android device.
So I tried the same deck as MarcusHyrule casually against 2 players.
Tried 3 games against Mono-Black Aggro. It could be my bad resource management, but MB-Aggro seems to have more creatures out than me. Still need more playtests and learning.
Played against a casual UR aggro. Main threats came from Flamespeaker Adept + Aqueous Form, Spellheart Chimera with different buffs. The protections and heroic triggers worked very well against his burn spells.
Overall, it's a really fun deck, not too expensive to build, and is a solid foundation to build on.
Cheers OP
Any sideboard recommendations?
A sideboard that could help would to be as Patbou pointed out eariler, Lagonna Band Trailblazier
over Soldier of the Pantheon if you are going against more aggro or non multicolored decks.
I liked the soldier since he is a 2/1 which could become a heavy hitter quickly, but Lagonna offers the defense you need plus heroic so it can also become bigger quickly.
The deck doesn't have any hard removal since it is meant to be a quick win and centered around the idea "I can make you drop to 20 before you" like a burn deck instead of a "I can make a better board presence and outlast you" like a Midrange style. But if you are having trouble you could try swapping some cards around and see if you prefer to have some Oppressive Rays to slow down your enemies.
Another card someone mentioned was Brave the Sands . Being able to block with your pumped guys could also help.
Have you had any problems casting Fabled Hero with only 20 land?
Also, first strike is perfect when going up against spirits or birds that also fly when you also have Abzan Falconer .
Now if you don't want to run 4 of Ainok Bond-Kin and do 3 instead that would be fine. As someone mentioned in an earlier post, having two sources of first strike isn't needed.
6 Plains
4 Mana Confluence
4 Flooded Strand
4 Island
2 Temple of Enlightenment
Creatures
4 Favored Hoplite
4 Hero of Iroas
4 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
3 Fabled Hero
2 Battlewise Hoplite
4 Gods Willing
4 Ajani's Presence
2 Feat of Resistance
2 Triton Tactics
4 Ordeal of Thassa
4 Aqueous Form
3 Ordeal of Heliod
1 Ordeal of Heliod
2 Feat of Resistance
2 Triton Tactics
3 Disdainful Stroke
4 Negate
3 Stubborn Denial