Once Battle for Zendikar comes in, would you consider playing Undergrowth Champion?

It will be added to my deck. Along with Canopy Vista. Now we wait for more cards that fit well.

Also Retreat to Kazandu feels like it might come into the game too late to be good. I'm still on the fence.

I'm going to be running a slightly modified version of this list for FNM this week. I'll report back how it went. I made some slight changes, most notably adding 3 Den Protectors to the list.

Once rotation hits I'll be adding Undergrowth Champion, Canopy Vista and potentially Endless One (look that one up, it could be fun)

Other options could include Lantern Scout to replace Abzan Battle Priest.. At a lower cost and the same benefit for the turn it comes in (and you don't have to worry about it being removed and losing lifelink once out) I think it might be a better card... Needs play testing of course.

Could you give more details about how you won vs your match ups, which cards in the sideboard were brought in, what you took out for them? Maybe describe some plays? More information for those wanting to better understand the inner workings of the deck?

Would appreciate it :)

Noctem, I am more than happy to provide more details. I will take better notes next time I play and post updates here. Thanks!

Thanks :)

I'll give back some info myself once I get some games in during this week.

Lost to Black/Blue control but I may have sideboarded poorly. Should've played all 4 feat of resistance instead of keeping valorous stance in. Crux of fate, hero's downfall, various blue counters... When he finally established board control he killed me slowly with icefall regents, and thoptor spy network. Wish I could've replayed him a third game!

I smashed an ensoul artifact deck with stormbreath dragon in it. That card was scary though because of protection from white! Thank goodness for avatar of the resolute!

Lost to Mardu Goblins 2-1. Used a lot of convoke spells to burn mem by tapping his goblins.

Lastly, I drew with a sphinx's tutelage deck. So happy about that. He was pissed because the counters grew so quickly. The game I did lose to him was close. I got milled out the turn before he would've been killed by my creatures so it could've gone either way.

All in all, if I had subbed in cards better, I think I would've won more games. I'll try it again this Thursday! Thanks again

thechusenone thanks for the report! Glad to hear you enjoyed the deck. Good luck this week!

You should take out the collected company tag since you're no longer using it and it's not really a good card for the deck because of the hangarbacks.

Went 1-2 again! Won against mono black aggro

Lost to Mardu Dragons Lost to 4-color rally w/Jace & Liliana.

Both of their decks were very impressive. Still had fun though! Added in hallowed moonlight in my sideboard for that rally deck next time

Noctem, thanks, I totally forgot to update the Hubs. Good catch.

As for me I went 2-2 and participated in 2 feature match games which you can watch here if you're curious (Matches 2&3):

http://www.twitch.tv/mtgcanada/v/16667726

Starting at 1 hour 15 minutes and then again for a second match afterwards.

Match 1 vs RDW aggro 2-0 win

The deck did very well in this matchup and I didn't have any real trouble getting the wins. He ended up killing himself with Eidolons during one of the matches which I thought was an interesting to note considering.

Match 2 vs Hangarback Abzan 2-1 win (feature match 1 in the video above)

Won the first match by top decking an Abzan Falconer (cheeky as my opponent said). Second match was a loss. Third was a win via an aggressive play and his lack of removal on draw.

Match 3 vs Hangarback Abzan 0-2 loss (feature match 2 in the video above)

Goddam abzan. The opponent got very powerful starts both matches and although I did manage to get 2 scales out right off the bat I simply didn't get enough on the draw to compete with his fleece into removal into anafenza into removal into hangar into hangar into removal etc.. Too bad.

Match 4 vs UB dragon control 1-2 loss

I hate control. I hate playing it, I hate playing against it and this was no different. I managed to get him very close to death both times I lost (7 hp ~ ) but then he would just bust out the removal control and that would be the end of it. I was top decking while he would have ojutai out. Anyway I firmly believe that if I hadn't had slow starts I would have won before he could really get going.

Tomorrow there's a standard tournament where I played tonight and I think i'll participate and see how I do.

Noctem, thanks for the breakdown. I will check out the video. Abzan Control is a tough match-up for this deck. However, I have a feeling that will change after rotation.

For the standard today I'm guessing I'm going to be going against some of the following BW warrior, Rally deck, BR thopter, hangarback abzan, UW planeswalker control, UB dragon control...

Need suggestions for the sideboard to be efficient!

Let us know how you did, Noctem! I played a 5-round win-a-box tournament today. Went 2-2-1.

Beat Black-Green Elves. He couldn't keep up. This counter deck, when rolling with Managorger and Hardened Scales is a nasty beast.

Lost to Green-White Constellation Control (sooo many silkwraps and Courser of Kruphix's and then eventually Sigil of the Empty Throne and other annoying creatures to finish me off).

Draw to Abzan Hangarback Midrange (of course someone is playing this deck). Basically, just a grind to see who can outlast the other, or who doesn't get land-screwed.

Lost to Black-Green Demonic Pact - Couldn't finish him after getting him down to 5 both games before he stabilized. He used Woodland Bellower, Ugin, Hero's Downfall, Bile Blight, and Languish. Typical demonic pact deck.

Beat a 4-colored Assault Formation deck (pretty funny deck-type).

After the third round, I added 2 Den Protector and 2 Hidden Dragonslayer and took out Salt-Road Quartermasters. Seemed to workout okay. Also played Feat of Resistance instead of Valorous Stance. I do prefer it over Valorous Stance to give Falconer and Battle Priest counters instead of having to tap for outlast.

I'll be back next Thursday for some feedback! Sideboarding is critical, too. I added 3 Hallowed Moonlight because someone at my store as a sick rally deck. Good luck!

I ended up being 2 wins 3 losses at the tournament, but I got mana flooded multiple times during game where I had the win if I could only get fuel to keep up the pressure. Basically drawing lands mid game with my opponent on the ropes for 4+ turns in a row caused the losses, and this happened more than twice.

First match vs Abzan aggro 1-2 loss

It's Abzan + mana flooding on the 3rd match.

Second match vs Abzan aggro 1-2 loss

It's Abzan + mana flooding again.

3rd match was a free win, opponent mia.

4th match vs RG Xenagos manifest 2-0 win

The deck performed very well and I secured the wins quickly.

5th match vs RDW

Got mana flooded again twice against the opponent. Considering the decks, ours should have easily taken the match like it did during the first match. However the land flooding gave the opponent what he needed to come back and win.

So I think there's an issue with the land base in this deck. Basically I think cutting it down to 20-21 might be a solid idea especially post rotation when we have the new dual land to help. Either that or I just have the worst luck with mana flooding.

My sideboard was specifically tailored to the meta where I play. 4x Naturalize (UR thopter, constellation, etc..), 4x Glare of Heresy (Abzan, hits fleece, anafenza and rhino for example), x3 Surge of Righteousness to deal with BW warriors, abzan, RDW, Red goblins, atarka red and finally 4x Feat of Resistance because it's a useful card in case of large amounts of targeted removal. Out of 13 players who participated at least 7 were using Abzan in one of form or another (control, mid range, aggro). When I played vs the RDW and saw the red goblins I was sad I didn't put in Hallowed Moonlight to deal with the tokens, but I didn't end up facing them.

Noctem, that's interesting you got Mana Flooded so badly. I haven't experienced that issue yet. Since the deck has so many 3 drops, I wouldn't go lower than 21. But maybe that's just because of my play style. I do plan on using the new dual lands once BFZ is out. If you playtest it with less lands, let me know how it works out. What card do you plan to bring use in place of the land you remove?

Sideboarding for your local meta is exactly what you need to do. At my primary LGS there is only one player running Abzan Midrange/Control. However, at the other LGS I go to, most of the players are running some form of Abzan.

Abzan Control is a tough match-up for this deck and it's made worse by the fact that its so popular right now. I'm not really sure what sideboard cards will help against the matchup. Since rotation is only a couple of weeks away, I am just going to leave the deck as-is until I get a sense of what the new meta is like than I will make the needed adjustments.

Thanks again for your feedback. I'm glad you are enjoying the deck. It's fun to play a meta that is under the radar :)

No worries Darleen, I always try to provide as much feedback as I can when I play decks like this.

I'm also pretty surprised that I got flooded as much as I did, maybe I just don't know how to shuffle ;) I'm guessing that it might be just RNG but it was fairly consistent, so I'm not sure what to make of it. I'll continue playing the deck for now and see what happens.

As for cards to bring in I'm thinking of reworking the creature base a little to make it work.

Oh and you should really look at Glare of Heresy for a sideboard card. It catches any white permanent of which there are MANY in standard right now! That's an excellent counter to Abzan control as well since their win conditions usually revolve around rhino and elspeth, both of which are neutered by this card. Vs Abzan aggro it takes care of Anafenza and fleece as well. So right now considering my meta it was one of the best cards I could put in.

Endless One? Post rotation.

Endless One could be interesting, the problem is that once you dump your mana into it, it doesn't have any immediate impact on the board and the opponent can just use removal.

And also, when would you realistically want to play it? Early to possibly fuel Avatar of the Resolute? Then it competes with Servant of the Scale for essentially the same role except that you can't transfer the counters upon death. Mid game unless you're already winning.. and don't need utility or something.. I'm not sure there's value spending a chunk of your mana to bring it out as a 4/4 or 5/5 even with Hardened Scales out to help fuel it.

I think some extended playtesting is going to be needed to see if it's really worth the slot.