Jadelight Ranger is an important card. Constrictor decks vary in their play style (that's one of the reason I like them). This card provides card filtering. Which honestly is an important part of the game today. The filtering alone is enough to warrant play, however, it becomes a much larger component in the Sultai version that runs The Scarab God...in this version, the filtering provides a conduit to put viable options into the graveyard to bring back with the God. If you'd like to witness this please watch any of Aaron Barich's matches you can for GP Memphis this past weekend. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but what does in this standard?
Obviously, I think Ranger is important...just my opinion though.
Just a few quick thoughts. Regarding Abzan Constrictor...Siegehorn Ceratops was amazing with the snake. I had a game with 2 20/20 Ceratops and once I drew Rhonas the Indomitable to give them trample it was over. I went 3-1, the loss was to G/W cats, though my last win was against another G/W cats deck. Also, one win was a bye...so take things with a grain of salt. Over all I think Abzan constrictor can be good and is real fun to play, however, Sultai, is more in my wheelhouse.
Jadelight Ranger is a very good card. I overlooked the importance of the filtering and truly was missing it this past Friday. There are other ways to get the filtering, but this is on a body. The other option I'd consider is Search for Izcanta.
Just some thoughts. I wish this deck and its variants continued success.
@hoser2-I did get greedy on the manabase. Mulling a 1 land 1 hub hand depends greatly on what's in hand and if the land is dual. A 2 hub hand gets shipped. I mostly wanted to use this as a starting point then tweek the mana and/or sideboard. Thanks so much...value your opinion as I've read many of your posts!
Edit...I've swapped out the hubs for 2 plains, 1 concealed courtyard and 1 scattered groves. This prior to FNM starting.
I like your Abzan list...I went through many of the same card choices, but ended up wanting to tryout something with more counters options. In my current meta Verdurous Gearhulk was dying to Abrade too often. I know this is not what I would consider and optimized list, but here is what I'm taking tonight:
Hello. So odd. I thought I was the only one looking at Abzan. I went Abzan for this week using Siegehorn and a 2/1 split of Castout and Ixalan's Binding...with 2 more binding in the board for FNM tonight.
Hello. Have you considered running Gifted Aetherborn? I'm currently running Sultai, but if I was just G/B I would probably have access to them at least in the sideboard. Other than that, I've some success testing Kitesail Freebooter as well. My LGS is all over the place, Control, Aggro, Cats and Ramp.
Is there a consensus on which is better...Shaman (GB) Elves or the Vizier (GW) Elves? I keep seeing people talking about the Vizier deck, but not seeing it doing well. Sorry, just a little confused on which direction to take.
Obviously, I think Ranger is important...just my opinion though.
Jadelight Ranger is a very good card. I overlooked the importance of the filtering and truly was missing it this past Friday. There are other ways to get the filtering, but this is on a body. The other option I'd consider is Search for Izcanta.
Just some thoughts. I wish this deck and its variants continued success.
Edit...I've swapped out the hubs for 2 plains, 1 concealed courtyard and 1 scattered groves. This prior to FNM starting.
4 Aether Hub
4 Blooming Marsh
2 Concealed Courtyard
2 Scattered Groves
2 Sunpetal Grove
3 Swamp
4 Forest
1 Plains
2 Field of Ruin
Creatures (22)
4 Walking Balista
4 Winding Constrictor
3 Siegehorn Ceratops
3 Kitesail Freebooter
3 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
3 Rhonas the Indomitable
2 Verdurous Gearhulk
4 Blossoming Defense
3 Fatal Push
3 Oath of Ajani
2 Cast Out
1 Ixalan's Binding
2 Vraska, Relic Seeker
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Aethershpere Harvester
2 Ixalan's Binding
2 Duress
2 Lost Legacy
2 Thrashing Brontodon
1 Liliana, Death's Majesty
1 Fumagte
1 Cast Out
I know this is 61 cards in the main, but i do that sometimes...I just didn't want to cut anything further.