Angels are those that are looked to for inspiration, power, and hope. When those angels turn against you all is lost, especially hope. When Nahiri and Emrakul got ahold of these Angels, the worst came of it. They turned against the ones that looked for inspiration and hope, and struck them down.
I attempted to take my two favorite things in magic and put them together in my standard deck, Mardu and angels. The goal of this deck is to win early game through removal and win mid game with Angels, and take it late if necessary. The angels in the deck can take care of most problems that will arise in standard, but there is also a strong presence of burn in the deck. There are five cards in the deck that can tick down the opponent by 3 damage here and there within play. This deck is the version that takes advantage of artifacts in Kaladesh and works as a more controlling than midrange deck.
The creatures in this deck are mainly Angels with a splash of creatures that are utility and help me stabilize in dire situations. Thraben Inspector gets me an early game body as well as card draw and fuel for Unlicensed Disintegration. Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim is a terrific two mana costed creature in this deck. It's toughness of 3 stops most aggro and with deathtouch I can trade her into larger creatures. Her mana abilities also help fuel the deck allowing me to sacrifice a creature that will be killed for health and assurance it's in grave instead of exile and if I get enough life it can exile nonland permanents for the cost of creatures. Combustible Gearhulk is a tank in this deck drawing me 3 cards or burning them for life. Now with the Angels, Gisela, the Broken Blade is an amazing Angel for 4 mana giving me flying defense and lifelink. Archangel Avacyn
is a pro in tough situations, protecting my board and providing me with a 4/4 vigilance that flips in the event my creature dies giving her more power and a 3 damage burn. For another strong enter the battlefield option I have Linvala, the Preserver for possible 5 life and another 3/3 body. Finally, Bruna, the Fading Light is a tough Angel on her own but her cast trigger brings back my Angels and melds with Gisela for the all powerful Eldrazi Horror Angel, Brisela, Voice of Nightmares.
There is a fair amount of removal spells in this deck to help me through what I need to get accomplished. With the instant speed I have Unlicensed Disintegration and Fatal Push. Shock is a great addition adding in some burn damage or use during combat to take out a larger creature.
Heart of Kiran
is a powerhouse in this deck as it is easy to make it a creature through the utilization of loyalty counters on my planeswalkers and it is an artifact that gives a trigger to both Unlicensed Disintegration and Spire of Industry.
Finally the walkers in this deck are key. Liliana, the Last Hope is an essential piece to slow and render creatures useless early game and return creatures from my grave to hand to keep the Angels coming. Nahiri, the Harbinger is a terrific add to this deck allowing for card cycle to find what I need, a minus ability that takes care of tapped threats, and finally, an ultimate that lets me get my dangerous enter the battlefield effects on the field. Finally, the last walker is Sorin, Grim Nemesis who allows for lifegain, card draw and burn, and an ultimate that swarms the enemy while gaining life.
There's great options in these colors for a strong sideboard for each different encounter. Generally I would sideboard like this, but it is up to how my opponent is playing their specific deck.
Against the more aggressive matchups I would sideboard 1 Combustible Gearhulk, 1 Bruna, the Fading Light, 1 Linvala, the Preserver, and 3 Fiery Tempers. After taking out these cards I would sideboard in 2 Thalia, Heretic Cathars, 1 Stasis Snare and 3 Radiant Flames.
For the more controlling matchups I have great options as well. In most matchups I would sideboard out 3 Fatal Pushes, 3 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrims, 1 Gisela, the Broken Blade, 1 Shock, and 1 Implement of Improvement. Taking out these cards would make room to sideboard in 2 Anguished Unmakings, 2 Ruinous Paths, 3 Lost Legacys, and 2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghets.
