Original inspiration for this deck idea comes from MenacingBunny's deck Hardened Drana of Jund.
Playtesting and scaling assistance provided by Silight.
A post rotation take on Jund, abusing the additional counters of Hardened Scales. The idea is to flood the board with small guys and make them huge by attacking. Many of the creatures apply counters when they do combat damage, and then Hardened Scales doubles that, or triples that depending on the number of copies that are in play.
This deck does have a sharp mana curve at 3, but I think I've offset that and improved it's functionality greatly. Here is a more detailed break down of the cards chosen.
Lands:
Bloodstained Mire - Allows me to fetch up either a swamp or mountain or either of the Tango lands, so I can fix my mana as needed for my hand. Also helps thin out the deck for Collected Company.
Wooded Foothills - Allows me to fetch up either a forest or mountain or either of the Tango lands, so I can fix my mana as needed for my hand. Also helps thin out the deck for Collected Company.
Cinder Glade
- One of the new Tango lands. Yes, it is slow in my opening hand, but it is fetch-able which makes it very relevant.
Smoldering Marsh - One of the new Tango lands. Yes, it is slow in my opening hand, but it is fetch-able which makes it very relevant.
Llanowar Wastes - Early mana fix that helps ensure I have the color I need for the creature or spell I need to cast.
Swamp/Mountain/Forest - Because mana.
Creatures:
Honored Hierarch - My alternate turn one play if I don't have Hardened Scales in hand. It gets bigger with Renown, which triggers independently of all of the counter shenanigans this deck has going on. Plus, once it is renown, it taps for a mana of any color, so it helps with fixing or allowing me to play more expensive cards a turn earlier.
Endless One
- A strictly less better Hangarback Walker model. The reason it gets the slot over Hangarback Walker is his cost. Since I am vulnerable for my first few turns while I set up my board state, this allows me to get an at cost or better creature for aggro decks. And it only gets better with Hardened Scales.
Undergrowth Champion
- An aggressive "Landfall" creature that dodges combat damage, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, etc. With the fetch lands in use here, I can double on counters rapidly, making him a serious threat or serious chump blocker.
Managorger Hydra - One of my win cons for the deck. Sure it's a dink 1/1 for 3 mana, but whenever anyone casts a spell, he's getting bigger. With Hardened Scales in the deck, big becomes huge, huge becomes disgusting, and disgusting becomes game changer very quickly. The trample helps seal the deal and ensures that damage is getting through despite chump blocking.
Drana, Liberator of Malakir - Another piece to the counter distribution chain. Her flying, first strike make her a worthwhile creature, but when she does damage, all other attacking creatures get counters before combat damage resolves.
Shaman of the Great Hunt
- Another enabler for counter distribution that gives counters to creatures that do combat damage. Haste makes him a serious threat when he lands, and his second ability becomes relevant very quickly, allowing me to restock my hand at an alarming pace.
Spells:
Wild Slash - Another option for dealing with early small threats. Can also serve as a burn spell in a pinch. it's low cost makes it a desirable choice.
Murderous Cut - I know everyone is excited for
Ruinous Path
, but it is a strictly worse Hero's Downfall. Murderous cut is fast and can be cheaper with the help of delve. The fetches help feed that as well as spells and creatures.
Hardened Scales - While a big part of the deck, it is possible to win without it. Having it on the battlefield just makes winning so much easier. Counters, plus more counters equals win. Simple math.
Collected Company - Given the low cost of most of my creature base, this spell gives me a chance to cycle through my deck, put some creatures into play, recycle the rest, and do that at instant speed. What more could you ask for?
Sideboard:
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - Makes death a not so permanent effect for my creatures. The ability to put that onto the battlefield tapped and attacking just makes her an excellent sideboard addition.
Duress - Pesky control decks got you down. Take the steam out of their hand by removing their removal and other annoying spells.
Languish - Still on the fence about this one, but it hits so many aggro and mid range decks. My creatures can very quickly get out of harm's way of this, so it seem an ideal choice for the sideboard.
Plummet
- Chump blocking fliers beware, Drana is getting through.
Ruinous Path
- Pure planeswalker hate, it may be replaced by Murderous Cut eventually.
Temur Sabertooth - Defy board wipes, make my guy indestructible, save creatures from removal. Seems like the best choice for certain matchups.
Ultimate Price - Because screw the lack of instant speed removal. Most cost efficient removal for mono colored creatures or decks.
