Hardened Scales is one of my favorite cards from Khans of Tarkir, and for good reason. When it's put in a deck like this, it becomes totally unfair. There are many different ways to win turn four. Here is a turn three win:
Turn One: Plains,
Favored Hoplite
.
Turn Two: Forest, Hardened Scales, and Gods Willing. Swing for three.
Turn Three: Forest,
Nature's Panoply
, and
Solidarity of Heroes
.
Nature's Panoply
places four counters, and
Solidarity of Heroes
gives eleven. Swing for eighteen and shake hands.
Here is a breakdown of the cards in the mainboard:
--
Favored Hoplite
My favorite play on turn one. His heroic ability is awesome.
--
Hero of Leina Tower
If I don't have
Favored Hoplite
, this card isn't bad. It is great around turns three and four, especially when I have a good amount of mana and few spells in my hand.
--
Phalanx Leader
This card is amazing when Hardened Scales is out. Two +1/+1 counters on all of my creatures!
--
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
A solid creature. If I can't get a
Favored Hoplite
, I like this card more than
Hero of Leina Tower
on turn one.
--Abzan Falconer
Kills decks without flying and helps deal with decks that have a lot of it.
--
Blossoming Sands
I don't particularly like this card, since the life is of little use to me and it can slow me down. I put it in reluctantly because I couldn't get the right color land.
Phalanx Leader
is tough to cast because it costs two white mana, and almost half of the deck is green.
--
Nature's Panoply
This card gives two +1/+1 counters to my creatures, four with Hardened Scales.
--
Feat of Resistance
Great protection for my creatures. Also gets +1/+1 counters.
--
Phalanx Formation
Dangerous.
--Gods Willing
More protection. The scry is nice, and so is the turn three win.
--Inspiring Call
Great protection and draw, as long as my creatures have counters.
--
Center Soul
Good protection, evasion, and heroic trigger. A solid card all around.
--
Solidarity of Heroes
Awesome once my creatures have some +1/+1 counters. I can't believe it's an uncommon.
--Valorous Stance
This card is cheap and vertical. It can be used both for protection and removal.
--Hardened Scales
What would I do without this card?
Here's a breakdown of the sideboard:
--
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
If this card is working well, I can throw it in for a
Hero of Leina Tower
. Four toughness is a real pain against cards like Bile Blight and Lightning Strike
--
Tethmos High Priest
Good at reviving my creatures against heavy removal, since it brings back almost all of my creatures.
--
Return to the Ranks
For decks with heavy removal.
--Abzan Battle Priest
Lifegain to help me against burn.
Suggestions are welcome, upvotes aren't frowned upon either!
