So I have an abzan deck that wins me quite a few matches, but I was looking at the red and white parts of the jeskai clan, and I really like Monestary Switft Spear and Monastery mentor. I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas on how this deck could be a nice standard threat, or monster? I figure quite a bit of low drops, a titan's strength or something, things like that.
Lithomancer's Focus was actually really nice; pretty much a Giant Growth. Focus felt safer to use compared to Titan's Strength. A focus on anything but the Abbot would bounce or take out a Siege Rhino. It helps to keep your guys alive. The problem I was facing was getting through. Defiant Strike is a great card to trigger prowess and cantrip; also allowing you to target opponents early drops if you are digging for lands. The first few turns were swingable, but once a decent sized creature landed, it was difficult to get by. I feel like Ride Down is an underrated card. It allows us to keep going sideways.
When RW, it had a lot more 1CMC spells, but would eventually slow down when the opponent dropped a creature that would eat one of our guys if we swung; lack of removal. I haven't tackled the mana base for this deck yet.
I've been looking for a deck for Zada, Hedron Grinder, and had just decided on a prowess deck. There are two directions I think prowess go. Jeskai and Naya. They both have different strengths. Jeskai gives us access to Stubborn Denial, Dig Through Time, Charm and Ascendncy. Naya gives us Become Immense, Managorger Hydra, Evolutionary Leap. I'm not sure which might actually be better so here are my two lists up for discussion
I honestly think Naya is the best way to go about building this deck. Green gives us 2 really good cards: Atarka's Command and Dromoka's command.
I also included Dragon fodder for its synergy witch Atarka's command, plus it also triggers prowess. Valorous stance let's us kill their big road block like Anafenza or Rhino.
Maybe Outpost siege in the sideboard could help the deck have a better late game. I doubt you'd see much enchantment hate after the first game in a match.
I 100% agree with Defiant Strike. The cantrip is too good. I slightly prefer Lithomancer's Focus instead of Titan's Strength. Puts a majority of the creatures out of siege rhino range.
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Monastery Mentor
3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Crackling Doom
4 Defiant Strike
4 Lithomancer's Focus
1 Magmatic Chasm
2 Ride Down
1 Fiery Impulse
24 ??????
Lithomancer's Focus was actually really nice; pretty much a Giant Growth. Focus felt safer to use compared to Titan's Strength. A focus on anything but the Abbot would bounce or take out a Siege Rhino. It helps to keep your guys alive. The problem I was facing was getting through. Defiant Strike is a great card to trigger prowess and cantrip; also allowing you to target opponents early drops if you are digging for lands. The first few turns were swingable, but once a decent sized creature landed, it was difficult to get by. I feel like Ride Down is an underrated card. It allows us to keep going sideways.
When RW, it had a lot more 1CMC spells, but would eventually slow down when the opponent dropped a creature that would eat one of our guys if we swung; lack of removal. I haven't tackled the mana base for this deck yet.
Thoughts?
I want to do Boros tokens with Zada, would that help? There's not enough can trips though
Naya -
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Seeker of the Way
3 Monastery Mentor
2 Zada, Hedron Grinder
2 Hangarback Walker
2 Managorger Hydra
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Titan's Strength
2 Artful Maneuver
2 Valorous Stance
3 Atarka's Command
2 Evolutionary Leap
1 Retreat to Valakut
1 Become Immense
6 Mountains
4 Plains
2 Cinder Glade
2 Canopy Vista
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
Jeskai -
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Elusive Spellfist
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Zada, Hedron Grinder
2 Shu Yun, The Silent Tempest
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Titan's Strength
2 Artful Maneuver
2 Valorous Stance
2 Jeskai Ascendancy
2 Dig Through Time
1 Taigam's Strike
6 Mountains
3 Plains
3 Island
2 Prairie Stream
4 Flooded Strand
4 Shivan Reef
CCL Winner- July '08, Aug '08 Sept '08, Oct '08
Survivor- CCS: Lost in Takenuma, CCS: Stranded In Tolaria
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Zada, Hedron Grinder
Instant/Sorceries : 25
4 Atarka's Command
4 Titan's Strength
4 Hordeling Outburst
2 Become Immense
4 Dragon Fodder
4 Defiant Strike
1 Temur Battle Rage
2 Secure the Wastes
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Lands : 22
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
4 Canopy Vista
4 Cinder Glade
2 Battlefield Forge
2 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains
3 Wild Slash
3 Seeker of the Way
1 Feat of Resistance
1 Temur Battle Rage
4 Woodland Wanderer
3 Exquisite Firecraft
Naya token swarm!
2x Canopy Vista
2x Cinder Glade
2x Flooded Strand
1x Forest
3x Mountain
2x Plains
4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Abbot of Keral Keep
3x Kytheon, Hero of Akros
3x Monastery Mentor
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Seeker of the Way
4x Dromoka's Command
3x Valorous Stance
4x Wild Slash
4x Dragon Fodder
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2x Evolutionary Leap
2x Exquisite Firecraft
3x Fiery Impulse
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
3x Mastery of the Unseen
2x Secure the Wastes
2x Silkwrap
I honestly think Naya is the best way to go about building this deck. Green gives us 2 really good cards: Atarka's Command and Dromoka's command.
I also included Dragon fodder for its synergy witch Atarka's command, plus it also triggers prowess. Valorous stance let's us kill their big road block like Anafenza or Rhino.
I'm not sure about Kytheon, hero of akros.
Hell, deck could even include known combo kill of Become Immense + Temur Battle Rage.
Starting with this
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Seeker of the way
3 Abbot of keral keep
3 Monastery Mentor
4 defiant strike
4 jeskai ascendancy
4 wild slash
4 Treasure cruise
4 Atarka's command
2 jeskai charm
2 Dromoka's command
22 lands