I'm also have a Human Tribal Anafenza build I'm working one. I like what you have and it's given me some ideas I might wanna try out. My list will also use a fair sure of sac outlets/death triggers, as well as token generation. Granted many of the tokens will be spirits and zombies, thanks to cards like Abzan Ascendancy, Requiem Angel, Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts and Xathrid Necromancer. I plan on using Conspiracy to turn all my creatures into Humans so I can get unlimited tokens with a free sac outlet.
I've been working on a similar project with mono colored decks and had luck with these guys. - Talrand, Sky Summoner. Showcase blue's spell craft and denial in a deck filled with counters. B - Geth, Lord of the Vault. A fine example of zombie tribal and reanimation. Ob Nixilis, the Fallen. He plays well in a mono black wienie/aggro deck. There's a fair number of ways in black to trigger landfall.
I like the list and I have been playing this type of deck before RTR entered the scene. My build is start mono green and has more of a flash package in it. I run Yeva, Nature's Herald and Wolfir Avenger MB and Skylasher SB. A flash guy makes for a decent surprise fight, especially if it can regenerate.
I feel Rancor would work great in here since it makes the guys bigger for fighting and gets through with trampling damage. And it seems the Rootbound Crags are only in for Armed/Dangerous. While I do like that card, Revenge of the Hunted can be as good if not better. Miracle on T2 buts pressure on them or even hard casting it late game can give you the win. Though, If you'd rather keep the red in, I'd say swap the Crags for Stomping Ground, it'll work better with Arbor Elf.
And I notice you have quite the fight package with the Trackers,Pit Fights and Prey Upons. I'd say you can cut the PU since Pit Fight is much better even if it is 2 mana. Or if you still want some fighting tricks, Garruk Relentless is perfect, he fights and makes deathtouch wolves that love to fight and kill stuff.
I'm glad someone else has been daring enough to try a list like this and do well. Hopefully, my suggestions are helpful to you.
First of all, it seems silly to build a Talrand deck if you know someone in your metagame runs those types of cards. There is another red enchantment that does a similar thing, it says something like whenever a player taps a land tap all other lands they control. I cant remember what its called...
The card is War's Toll. An annoying card as well for this deck, but a counterspell and/or bounce spell will take care of it. Not to mention, if it bothers you, it'll most likely be a nuisance to everyone else. It's good to have answers to all problems, but sometimes it's better to let someone else deal with it. Like the green or white player who loves blowing up enchantments.
Pretty cool list thus far. I was thinking about making a Human/Angel deck as well, though the general was going to be Saffi Eriksdotter. She's great with returning cards like Eternal Witness, which can then return Saffi to get more uses or Angel of Glory's Rise which returns all your humans back to the field. So if you have a sac outlet, like Greater Good which can dump more humans into the graveyard, you can make a loop of sac your humans and AoGR to keep getting effects.
For tokens, you could always use Thraben Doomsayer or Increasing Devotion. And with tokens running around, Rootborn Defenses is a perfect option to survive board wipes and get a creature. Field of Souls is like Requiem Angel, so if your nontoken creatures die, you get a free spirit.
I like the list. I run a very similar style Talrand deck, basically counter drakes. Some cards I've had luck with is Guile and Lullmage Mentor. Nothing better than countering say Sorin Markov, getting a drake and merfolk then using Soin against them. Also, no Rhystic Study? Drawing into a counterspell from them casting anything, then countering the spell is fun. Other random cards that seem okay that have pulled their weight are Steel Sabotage (counter a Blightsteel or bounce something annoying/save one of your own artifacts), Into the Roil (bounce with card draw, which can be imprinted on Isochron and kicked each time if you pay for it) and Psychosis Crawler (holding onto counters means big hands and drawing lots of cards hurts everyone, not to mention fine target for Rite of Rep or Stolen Identity).
You'd probably be looking at using Prey Upon over Pit Fight. Even though the name isn't as cool, it does cost 1 less for the same exact outcome.
Actually, PreGatecrash I did use Prey Upon. While helpful, instant speed is much better and the deck can afford to pay 1 more mana to get surprise fights. That's why Ulvenwald Tracker is annoying to my opponents, too.
In my mono G build, I run all those low budget options and actually I decent removal in the form of Ulvenwald Tracker/ Pit Fight. With an Ooze or Wolfir Avenger, I can kill just about any creature in my way. I'd imagine Pit Fight with Wild Defiance be decent, but I'm sure everyone in that thread probably has actual proof and practice with this combo.
Well, maybe 3 Revenges and 3 Rancors can replace the Burst of Strength and Increasing Savagery. One set of vipers (maybe Wasteland) can become the Ooze. I was also thinking swap Ambush Viper with Wolfir Avenger and/or Yeva, Nature's Herald make for good surprise aggro and defense.
The Renaissance is a probably best for sideboard, though you could sneak one in the main. Actually, another decent sideboard option is Dryad Militant for early aggro and flashback hoser.
If you're running mono green aggro, you want Predator Ooze and Rancor. With Arbor Elf you can get him out turn 2 and most people can't deal with that. Then with a Rancor, he's practically unstoppable. Granted, most things with Rancor are much better. Also, if you bloodrush most of your guys and/or need a way in slower games to return some creatures, maybe try Creeping Renaissance. Garruk, Primal Hunter might help for slow games, too. He can make creatures and draw you cards. And lastly, for early and late games, Revenge of the Hunted is great for slamming massive damage.
Without seeing your sideboard, it's hard to know what you're already working with. From what you mentioned you have Rapid Hybridization, Negate, Simic Keyrune and Runechanter's Pike. Is that all and what quantities? Also, what kind of meta are you in? Aggro heavy? Midranged? Control? Knowing this might help with suggestions.
But back to a problem you had in your original posting, the card draw. Think Twice is a fine option, but there's not much else instant speed draw for these colors. You are running Bone to Ash I assume for the drawing, has this been worth it? And since you have Negate in the sb, if BtA is working, would Scatter Arc be viable? Basically, the other options for instants are Crippling Chill, Fleeting Distraction, Inspiration and Thought Scour.
Even though I was half joking, the Refuge does help with the Urban Evolution which is decent card advantage. And someone mentioned Talrand, Sky Summoner and if you're bouncing and countering his drakes can help get damage in if the ground is cluttered. Or just an idea since you barely have a board state it seems, Devastation Tide could be played on someone else's turn, but regardless, it will empty their side of the field (or I did mention Cyclonic Rift earlier). And last suggestion, maybe as a sideboard card you can include Fog, Clinging Mists (if you're losing too much life) or Druid's Deliverance (if you try out Cackling Counterpart it might be fine). Not the most amazing options I suppose, but if you're getting hit fast by creatures, it'll slow them down.
These suggestions might not be perfect, but I merely am trying to provide some assistance to your deck building process. If you don't like any, that is fine by me. I figured sometimes a random idea could be of some use.
Actually, I do have a suggestion as to how you could include Rancor. With Alchemist's Refuge! Send your wolfir in, they block with a 1/1 then you flash it in and get some damage through. It sounds a bit foolish, but surprise Rancors do fit the theme of flashing stuff in. And possibly you could include a few sorcery speed spells.
I was thinking about a similar list after staring at Shambleshark for awhile. I like the idea of a flash creatures deck, though most are okay. Shamshark is decent since a Wolfir could evolve him twice. I was thinking for just getting some beats in you could use Yeva, Nature's Herald. Her flash granting ability goes to waste with all your guys being able to flash already, but a surprise 4/4 is still good. And could evolve Shamshark..... As for spells, they seem decent, especially Mystic Genesis. Simic Charm could work for you since it buffs a guy, hexproofs your stuff or bounce someone back, even Snapcaster for an extra flashback. You could Urban Evolution for card draw and ramp and/or Cyclonic Rift is good to clear the board if Aetherize can't do it. Also, a Rancor could help to get some damage through.
I like the deck idea you got going here. I've been trying to help my buddy make a list that uses the Chalice of Life and this looks nice and controlly. I know you want to hit 30 life really quick, but how well does the Heroes' Reunion work for you? I'm just curious if it becomes a dead card once you get a flipped Chalice or two.
Also, have you thought about Terminus as a sweeper? It still leaves you a Thragtusk beast token and the potential to draw him again and still rids the board of troublesome creatures, like undying guys and indestructibles. What about Azorius Charm and Selesnya Charm? They both provide versatile options for controlling the board and could replace some of the okay sideboard cards that cost a bit more just to gain life. Just some questions and suggestions for you. Hopefully, the deck has been working out well.
Predator Ooze is my favorite card of all time. Not only did he help me crush in standard, he still lives on in EDH decks shambling over my opponents, growing more threaten with each turn and kill.
B - Geth, Lord of the Vault. A fine example of zombie tribal and reanimation.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen. He plays well in a mono black wienie/aggro deck. There's a fair number of ways in black to trigger landfall.
R - Jaya Ballard, Task Mage. She provides a few explosive options and discard outlet to burn the world.
Heartless Hidetsugu. Much like Jaya and burns everyone. However, I prefer him in the 99. Granted, you put a Loxodon Warhammer or Basilisk Collar on him and you win games instead of draw.
I feel Rancor would work great in here since it makes the guys bigger for fighting and gets through with trampling damage. And it seems the Rootbound Crags are only in for Armed/Dangerous. While I do like that card, Revenge of the Hunted can be as good if not better. Miracle on T2 buts pressure on them or even hard casting it late game can give you the win. Though, If you'd rather keep the red in, I'd say swap the Crags for Stomping Ground, it'll work better with Arbor Elf.
And I notice you have quite the fight package with the Trackers,Pit Fights and Prey Upons. I'd say you can cut the PU since Pit Fight is much better even if it is 2 mana. Or if you still want some fighting tricks, Garruk Relentless is perfect, he fights and makes deathtouch wolves that love to fight and kill stuff.
I'm glad someone else has been daring enough to try a list like this and do well. Hopefully, my suggestions are helpful to you.
The card is War's Toll. An annoying card as well for this deck, but a counterspell and/or bounce spell will take care of it. Not to mention, if it bothers you, it'll most likely be a nuisance to everyone else. It's good to have answers to all problems, but sometimes it's better to let someone else deal with it. Like the green or white player who loves blowing up enchantments.
Champion of Lambholt/ Champion of the Parish and Juniper Order Ranger love this. Fiend Hunter loves to enter the battlefield then be sacrificed so it can permanently exile creatures. Borderland Ranger might not put lands onto the field, but he'll get allt he lands out you need. Another fine reanimator on theme is Karmic Guide.
For tokens, you could always use Thraben Doomsayer or Increasing Devotion. And with tokens running around, Rootborn Defenses is a perfect option to survive board wipes and get a creature. Field of Souls is like Requiem Angel, so if your nontoken creatures die, you get a free spirit.
Actually, PreGatecrash I did use Prey Upon. While helpful, instant speed is much better and the deck can afford to pay 1 more mana to get surprise fights. That's why Ulvenwald Tracker is annoying to my opponents, too.
The Renaissance is a probably best for sideboard, though you could sneak one in the main. Actually, another decent sideboard option is Dryad Militant for early aggro and flashback hoser.
But back to a problem you had in your original posting, the card draw. Think Twice is a fine option, but there's not much else instant speed draw for these colors. You are running Bone to Ash I assume for the drawing, has this been worth it? And since you have Negate in the sb, if BtA is working, would Scatter Arc be viable? Basically, the other options for instants are Crippling Chill, Fleeting Distraction, Inspiration and Thought Scour.
Even though I was half joking, the Refuge does help with the Urban Evolution which is decent card advantage. And someone mentioned Talrand, Sky Summoner and if you're bouncing and countering his drakes can help get damage in if the ground is cluttered. Or just an idea since you barely have a board state it seems, Devastation Tide could be played on someone else's turn, but regardless, it will empty their side of the field (or I did mention Cyclonic Rift earlier). And last suggestion, maybe as a sideboard card you can include Fog, Clinging Mists (if you're losing too much life) or Druid's Deliverance (if you try out Cackling Counterpart it might be fine). Not the most amazing options I suppose, but if you're getting hit fast by creatures, it'll slow them down.
These suggestions might not be perfect, but I merely am trying to provide some assistance to your deck building process. If you don't like any, that is fine by me. I figured sometimes a random idea could be of some use.
Also, have you thought about Terminus as a sweeper? It still leaves you a Thragtusk beast token and the potential to draw him again and still rids the board of troublesome creatures, like undying guys and indestructibles. What about Azorius Charm and Selesnya Charm? They both provide versatile options for controlling the board and could replace some of the okay sideboard cards that cost a bit more just to gain life. Just some questions and suggestions for you. Hopefully, the deck has been working out well.