Kiora, Master of the Depths. Cheaper than CoCo and works great with Tidecaller and awaken lands. She isn't rotating and she's less than 1/3 the price. I'm testing a build much like this and it works well.

Aruun I mentioned Kiora to MetaMaster to tickle your timmy. Seeing how we're beginning to talk post-rotation and all ;)

Also, I'm really digging your spoiler's up top. Looking good.

Aruun, I think Scatter to the Winds seems a bit out of place. It feels like a hard-wall "NOPE", where Bant answers, like Reflector Mage, just sit there petting people to death while all of their shots just happen to miss. It's a bit mana intensive in blue and awkward as the only counterspell I can see (my bad if it's not).

Having said that, it seems like a good candidate for 3x Assault Formation to go in place of. 4x might mess up your CoCo a bit much, especially without being a wall deck, and with 2 it's really iffy to draw. Tell me if I'm wrong about how useful Scatter to the Winds is, and I can get cracking on another idea.

Maybe -1x Elvish Visionary and -1x Void Grafter to put in 2 Pilgrim's Eye? I, personally, have found that it just feels SO great to play it, totally fix your mana with a nice attacking/blocking body, and proceed to curve out perfectly into something like 2x Reflector Mage when you were just screwed out of blue, followed by a 1-of in the deck Bounding Krasis that lets you barely hit for lethal. (I'm directly referring to a game I just played and did that in, if you wanted proof.)

Maybe Unknown Shores instead of Crumbling Vestige? Better aesthetics for the deck, and more importantly, your curve resides mainly at 3. While it's a bit slower than Crumbling Vestige, having 3 other lands makes it practically impossible to be mana screwed, since you usually wouldn't use the extra 1 mana anyway.

I can say from some play testing that Scatter to the Winds is just what this deck wants. It looks clunky as mentioned a couple times here, yes. However, it plays well. Keeping mana up for Coco or counter is something that's no joke. Not to mention your bouncing more than Pamela Anderson on Bay Watch. I should mention it seems to work well with the Krasis option though. But I haven't yet played Void Grafter.

Though I usually don't snatch Winds with Halimar Tidecaller it is a nice option for lengthier games.

Pilgrim's Eye looks really weak here. There's plenty of value and there's Nissa if your looking for a land. I personally play 3x Prairie Stream with an identical mana base. The extra is great.

Assault Formation is a tad off if your looking to be competitive. Sure it looks great on paper but it's taking spots that dissolve the tempo. I run 2x Silkwrap in those "extra" spots. I'd rather just spot remove a pest in the way.

HairyManBack, just like Scatter to the Winds looked clunky to me (thanks for the clarification there), Pilgrim's Eye looks weak but is often that little nudge between a bad draw with 3 lands for 5 turns with all kinds of problems and a smooth curve of effortless board filling and tempo gain on answers.

As for Assault Formation it's better here than Gideon, Ally of Zendikar's famed -4 suicide. I tested a deck much like this against a friend's hyper-aggro deck, and I'd like to say my Altar of the Brood hitting half his deck was what made his draws bad enough, but even with an answer to everything he played I was severely lacking firepower. I had one turn where damage just barely lined up for lethal, exactly. One more turn, and he could have hit any number of combos and knocked me from 10 to -35.

If you want to know what in hell I was up against (or need some kind of absurd challenge), just google turn 2 flip Kytheon.

While a card may not be the best, a deck that is capable of achieving high class mediocrity with complete reliability will almost certainly beat out most decks that achieve the highest of high class once upon a perfect draw.

NotSquishedYet - I can see where you're coming from. In light of your challenges with aggro I do believe damage with these builds is an issue sometimes. It is considerable to note it's damage comes from a spread flooding the board with 3/3 Boars (give or take).

I full heartily believe this particular build needs more mana. But I haven't played it myself to understand the idiosyncrasies. My playtesting has been with Kiora, Master of the Depths and Rattleclaw Mystic. Without saying there's less of a mana issue. I like your points.

"While a card may not be the best, a deck that is capable of achieving high class mediocrity with complete reliability will almost certainly beat out most decks that achieve the highest of high class once upon a perfect draw."

NotSquishedYet that is so right you made me cry! This is why pilgrim's eye is important in this deck or at least more than two nissas.

Leading of of this, a few more things to consider:

• Clutch of the currents, despite its awaken and its occasional ability to carry a game and give the last umph needed to win coupled with the fact that it's 1 mana removal, it's still very bad and inconsistent. Reasons Why:

  • Its not actually removal. Its stall. This deck needs removal. Not stall.
  • Its sorcery speed, which stasis snare is not. This is mas mas mas mas mas - important for a control deck of any type.

-Now that your deck is complete with sylvan advocates, pilgrim's eye or additional nissas as budget allows are very good. I have absolutely no idea what to bring out for them, but the ability to blink to find lands and out land your opponent is undeniably good. As the game reaches farther stages and you have animated lands, you want to have enough base to cast other spells. If you need some convincing, here are reasons why running more than two copies of the legendary nissa vast wood seer is more than ok:

• She is to good not to have on turn three. Even if you are stuck with multiples, this is ok. Having another one geared up isn't always the worst, and its certainly better than not having one turn three in a three land hand. - She is to good not to have on turn three. Even if you are stuck with multiples, this is ok. Having another one geared up isn't always the worst, and its certainly better than not having one turn three in a three land hand.

• She provides a fast clock once flipped. The addition of the planeswalker to the mix can be a massive steal in tempo when you get one for free. Consider that you are making an investment when you play her on turn three in addition to getting a land and body. The amount of removal that would be thrown at her is small in the current format. As hopefully you have larger threats to make other people deal with. This investment provides consistency in a both the deck and endgame allowing you to worry less about 3 turns from now and more about what is happening on the board in front of you. In a deck like this being able to play for the present and have a plan for the future is very good.

First of all, HairyManBack, I must say I respect you for the genial, collaborative manner. It is quite refreshing.

Kiora, Master of the Depths and Rattleclaw Mystic are, indeed, another good approach.

It may primarily be my unfortunately zero-budget mana base, but I tend to have more trouble trying to fix into a color, working reliably off of any other two, than I do gaining the mana to do more.

Kiora working with Rattleclaw seems like it would provide great fixing and ramping, even if it's a tad clunky, but I'd like to have other options to help them out that leave a hand without Green mana still viable.

Actually, to all parties looking on, if it can be fit in I believe there is a brilliant opportunity to abuse Gideon, Ally of Zendikar even more than Nissa, Vastwood Seer  ^Flip.

Step 1: Oath of Gideon, Eldrazi Displacer

Step 2: Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, -4

Step 3: +1, swing 6, flicker with Eldrazi Displacer, -4

Step 4: Troll around using Gideon's -4 every turn.

You guys. You're making me misty eyed here with your beautiful banter here on my deck. My utmost thanks to you!

I don't know if I can go through point by point and address things, but some big comments I have:

Thanks for the defense of Scatter, HairyManBack. I'm more than willing to revise it, but from the games I've played so far, it's either been something I can hide up my sleeve while I decide if I should CoCo or not, or been the card I hold at the pivotal moment midgame when I'm either going to win or lose. Generally, one counter is all it takes to push this deck into winning territory, and for that, it stays.

This actually goes into a couple comments here, especially yours, Ninjadude51. I know you say I need removal, not stall. But in all honesty, this card is so versatile and useful in this deck, I firmly believe it's exactly what it needs. This deck is in the heart of midrange, and wins by literally being one turn ahead of your opponent. It can't handle long fifteen turn engagements with control decks. It can't aggro games into oblivion within six turns, either. It wins by putting your opponent just behind enough to swing for a narrow win. And it does this with surprising consistency.

In addition to the tempo it provides for very, very cheap, and repeatedly with Tidecaller, I should mention that I've used it to win games on multiple occasions simply returning one of my own creatures to my hand. If it's midgame and by opponent has just a bit too much life, and I don't have a CoCo in my hand or a Displacer on the field, bringing my Wall of Resurgence back to my hand and re-casting him will do just enough to let me swing for lethal damage. It's 1CM means that after turn 4 I can realistically do that with any of my creatures. It functions as much as a Displacer stand-in as it does stall against the opponent. Combine all that with the option late game to both stall and awaken my land for an extra +3/+3, and it's seriously won me several games. But you're absolutely right about Nissa. She's a beast. But between her and Coco... I don't think I can bring myself to invest in another 2x of her. Haha.

On that note, though, you guys are making me seriously consider Pilgrim's Eye. Perhaps it would be a better fit than Elvish Visionary? It functionally draws a card just the same; however, it not only ensures I'm not mana screwed (which NotSquishedYet masterfully mentioned is vitally important to be consistent) but means that midgame I'm more likely to not draw mana, which is perfect. CoCo digs the shit out of this deck for creatures, and less land means more fodder for it to drop down. It's as much of a chump as Visionary, with the boot of being flying. My only hesitation is the 3CM. Granted, it's colorless, which means I'll basically always be able to cast it - which is great. But still, it seems spendy. But perhaps I need to get over that hesitation!

@MetaMaster22: CoCo is definitely very expensive and I get your hesitation. Unfortunately, it's a difficult card to beat. In addition to the suggestions of Kiora, perhaps try replacing it with Gather the Pack or Seek the Wilds?

+1

Look at my Deck for Ideas Awaken Bounce

Cards, that convinced me in my Deck:

Sylvan Scrying - Finds Fetchlands or even better-> Lumbering Falls

Seeker of the Way - Early Creature that saved my Ass many times

Rite of Undoing - Re-provides your "Enter the Battlefield"-Creatures and bounces your Opponents best Creature

Thunderclap Wyvern - With Sylvan Advocate you Land Creatures have Flying an get +1/+1

Kiora, Master of the Depths - Untaps a Creature and a Land Creature

Sorry, English is not my native Language.

Greetz

Land Creatures get Flying with Halimar Tidecaller not with Sylvan Advocate My fault

I never thought of using Clutch of Currents on my own guys. Just when I thought I knew what I was doing. * Devouring a slice of humble pie *

Alright, I playtested it a bit and I weirdly love Pilgrim's Eye. Mainboarded 3x over Elvish Visionary. I also replaced one Crumbling Vestige with a Wastes. I figure the lack of color production here is balanced by the Eye's ability to snag it if I have a Displacer on the field and no colorless mana for its ability. I also sideboarded Bounding Krasis over Mizzium Meddler, so now Krasis and Void Grafter can be exchanged as needed. Let me know what you guys think!

@stepla: Never thought of Rite of Undoing, and really love its potential in this deck. I'm just sad it's cycling out in two months! Thanks so much for the suggestions, though.

@HairyManBack: pat pat It's okay, now ;)

Now to figure out how to reuse CoCo... XD I'll get back to you guys when I find it... and I will!

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. Who's with me for some gamebreaking?

Already nailed it. Enter 2x Greenwarden of Murasa. Any idea where to put them for InfiniCoCo?

Aruun, HairyManBack, I need some thoughts on something funky and I think you'd have the best shenanigans for it: Standard Esper Bogles.

I was taking another glance at what you've evolved into here. It looks like there's such an abundance of 3CC spells that it's negating the synergy it once showed. I know you'll more than likely snatch great value with CoCo. But it seems a tad slow with the curve.

My experience running 24 lands with no mana accelerators or draw power displays problems. Especially with as many mid-range drops. And tend to hurt much more with mulligans. I think some earlier drops would really help here.

Example might be the common Bant Collected netdeck would run Warden of the First Tree. Both great earlier, mid, and late. Much like Sylvan Advocate. Not to particularly suggest running Warden. But as an example of earlier drops/mana sinking.

Nice deck.

Excellent synergy.

+1 from me.

By the way, I've been playtesting against this deck: Cast a Shadow

You might want to try a few games to see if they affect your Sideboard.

Nice deck.

Excellent synergy.

+1 from me.

By the way, I've been playtesting against this deck: Cast a Shadow

You might want to try a few games to see if they effect your Sideboard.

After watching that Two Hour mirror match in the SGC Clomubus semifinals, I started thinking about what would be better to have in a mirror match, and I had an idea I wanna float by you.

Void Grafter in the SB for the mirror match. It can be hit by CoCo, protects your creatures from the opponents Bounding Krasis, Reflector Mage, Declaration in Stone. It's got the booty to survive a Dromoka's Command fight clause, and it's flash lets it be a great surprise blocker. Not sure what you'd take out for it in a game 2 match up, maybe Tireless Tracker, but anything to keep the game from going to turns at any tourney or FNM!

In watching these decks all weekend no one can deny they're impressive, but what I kept coming back to was that they really looked like they needed some evasion to close out games, especially in the mirror. They ran one big flier in Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip, but even she was almost never a closer.

My first thought was Firemantle Mage, but he's out of colors (though I wonder if a splash would be possible). This kind of effect I think would be the best, though, so you can crash through a board stall once you have both started tempoing each other too much. Unfortunately, it just doesn't look like Bant has a good effect in those colors.

Second was Eldrazi Skyspawner, because it's a two-creatures for 3 deal and the flying might just chip away long enough to let you win in one huge swing.

Now I'm wondering if something like Linvala, the Preserver might be a good sideboard card for the mirror? You'll both be running a lot of creatures, but the two fliers she puts out might be enough and the life gain will be useful. She also tangoes with Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip.

Alternatively, Dragonlord Dromoka might be amazing because it turns off combat/end of turn Collected Company, has lifelink, flies, beats down an Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip. It's kind of like your mainboard Sigarda, but very difficult to get rid of with Dromoka's Command (you can fight a Sylvan Advocate or Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip into Sigarda with a counter to kill her).

Final funny thought was Shaman of Forgotten Ways, just to use Formidable. :P

Some other creatures I was wondering about in a Bant build just for value: Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit or Harbinger of the Tides both seem great, not sure if the double mana puts the deck off or not.

I don't usually build this kind of deck, but I just figure that if the meta swerves towards Bant Company decks, the Bant Company deck that has one or two cards to get through defenses will have the best shot.

if your ever worried about mana fixers thereis a sweet standard card called Oath of Nissa.

cause green needed a Ponder like card XD

FatherLiir: You know, in a previous version of this deck, I actually mainboarded 3x Void Grafter. When it did go off, it felt great. But I often had nothing to respond to, and simply plopped it down on their end step for a 2/4 body. Bounding Krasis does this much better since you can tap their blocker and swing the following turn for 3. I absolutely will consider it as a sideboard card, especially since I am running into bucket tons of removal, but my experience has told me that it looks better on paper than in reality. But I really appreciate the suggestion!

abby315: Absolutely fantastic analysis and suggestions! Thank you so much.

I actually hadn't been keeping up with tournaments whatsoever, and had no idea Bant CoCo had become so common. I've been running it for months now but it really seems to have picked up in popularity. While I personally haven't run into any mirror matches, I imagine your take on the situation is just about right.

Something I noticed from all the decklists on SGC is that my mana curve is generally cheaper. Since I use a combination of tempo cards with more of a human weenie vibe, I tend to be slightly more aggressive. But if we both get enough tempo, I imagine a stall is likely to happen.

Your suggestion of Dragonlord Dromoka is so spot on, and I'm absolutely running it in a sideboard position. I'm starting to run into a lot of control decks (especially an izzet Fevered Visions burn-control thing) and this is just so damned good. Counter spells are made worthless, lifelink to save me from burn, and all slapped onto a huge 5/7 body that's extremely difficult to deal with. I love it! I love it so much I may even playtest it and run it over Sigarda.

I had considered Anafenza for awhile now, but with my leaning towards human tribal and the fact that I'm already running 5x creatures that aren't human, I'm unsure about her. I might playlist it a bit, as well.

As always, thanks so so much for the advice!

Ksiegrist06: Fantastic card, especially in a superfriends shell. But since I run CoCo, I want as few slots taken up by non-creature spells... and since I run no planeswalkers, the second effect is totally lost on me. I'm just not sure I can squeeze room in it for the deck. But thanks a bunch for the suggestion - I'll keep it in mind. :)

Although I haven't playtested it in a control meta Void Grafter has been a dead drop for me. If he was 3/3 it would be a different story. But that 2 power is just lackluster for Bant Coco if there is no targets. I have had in SB and put him main against control. But still he was expensive and conditional even then.

The mana base looks unreliable. Even with the Knight. I playtested it several times and it was clumsy and turns too slow for an aggressive approach. For instance, there's only 9 green sources. 2x Commands in my hand without green is certainly GG against a good deck that got a draw.

The Knight can help but with, again, only 13 white it's likely it's simply getting in the way. Most than not it looks like you'll have 1 white. Just as an example when I look at pro-tour decks that rely on the Knight for tempo and mana there generally running 17-18 white sources. I could see 16 cutting it in a build that isn't relying on him a lot. I guess it's how your trying to approach your scheme.

I'm also not a fan of peek lands in a low land count deck. As you're less likely to have it come into play untapped and it turns out to ruin an aggressive strategy.

Take it as you may but personally I would run at least 24 lands here. Probably 25 with a full set of Evolving Wilds. Or manipulate the land base with plenty of white with 24 lands and minimal Wilds. Maybe 23 lands with lots of white but I've played enough games to know it just doesn't cut it for me in the end.

The deck looks sweet though! Good playing and good luck!