Instead of duress, I would use pacifism because it stops someone from blocking your swing for 20

This should definitely include dudes like Crater Elemental and Scion of Glaciers case you're ever drawing for lands. Maybe even Wall of Frost. This deck is awesome and I'm considering investing in it.

I have a sultai version of this deck. It seems to be very fun.Sultai Mill

Really cool, hadn't thought of that combo with Lagonna-Band Trailblazer. May I suggest at least 2 of Scourge of Skola Vale

Nirc, Scourge of Skola Vale seems like a good option. I'll have to test it out.

Yea I think they help cover the big weakness of the deck which is enchantment removal and subsequently blocking your (relatively) low-power creatures. Even if your Assault Formation is removed from the game either multiple times or you can't draw another one, you can sac one of your not-as-useful-anymore creatures for one, also since your low-power creatures could get blocked more easily he has trample which is great

Try running Abzan Beastmaster to draw silly amounts of cards and force your opponents to waste removal. Also, Whip of Erebos can give you lots of life while allowing any dead walls to deal substantial damage.

I don't really recommend splashing a fourth color, but there's some silly synergy with Break Through the Line as well

Have you considered yoked ox?

Agreeing on Abzan Beastmaster. Am I the only one who has thought about putting in a Courser of Kruphix? Many advantages as filtering out lands to find your Formation much quicker, then it is an enchantment you may sacrifice instead of the formation... Oh, did I mention 4 toghness? There are lots of single enchantment removals, but not as many Back to Nature. Make it harder for your opponent to choose.

I love that somebody broke Assault Formation. Sweet deck! Have you played this at FNM yet? I'd love to hear how it performs.

@Halstinavos is doing an excellent job maintaining a relatively low CMC in this deck. I would suggest having a couple or a few Scourge of Skola Vale mainboard. This is an experienced recommendation from my plays when using my Claustrophucked deck, which is essentially the Modern brother to this deck. Since you don't have access to Doran, the Siege Tower, your Assault Formations obviously become a handicap when it isn't out. Kin-Tree Invocation is one way around that flaw but having several Scourges might help a lot (especially if you cast a Shape the Sands or two on a lowly creature, sac it with Scourge during your opponent's ETB, then swing next turn with a 11/11, 12/12, or even a 17/17 trample Scourge).

If by chance you suffer from lack of black mana, I suggest replacing all if not a few of your Disowned Ancestors with Yoked Ox. I don't know how often you use outlast but I rarely do in my deck. I prefer to use those two mana to cast more creatures. Replacing it with Yoked Ox will reduce your dependency to black mana. In the end, they are essentially the same 0/4s for one drop.

I hope my experience helps you. We toughness guys got to help each other. Toughness thugs for life lol... hmm I might just rename my deck to that :)

I can't help but think that blue might be a better choice than black. You can replace Disowned Ancestor with Sidisi's Faithful, Monastery Flock has evasion and can block flyers when you don't have Assault Formation, and I feel like Commune with the Gods isn't really enough to dig for Assault Formation seeing how key it is to the deck. Kruphix's Insight digs one card deeper and gives you three enchantments. Just some thoughts though.

@dcarson That's not a bad idea, Glint is also a possibility. Disowned Ancestor's and Archers' Parapet's ability are definitely worth mentioning, though

Their abilities are decent, but I don't think they're game changing. Also, Triton Tactics is always fun.

Yeah blue gives you access to Dig Through Time, as well. Not bad

I don't think I would want to switch away from using black in the deck though, blue could be really good, but I like Kin-Tree Invocation. I am definitely going to play a few different builds with this and see how each one does and change the deck on here accordingly. As of yet though, I have not had the opportunity to take any iterations of this deck to an FNM. Soon.

I'm surprised you don't run Mana Confluence. Your Nyx-Fleece Ram should cancel out the pings. You'll have easier access to any needed color mana.

I was running a Similar deck BUG, with similar mechanic. It was pretty interesting. I've been using 2x Scourge of Skola Vale and Aqueous Form. I've used Glint to protect. And Sidisi's Faithful, a 0/4 that can return a creature you control with any kind of enchanment from opponent so set it free.

Another variant is the Kin-Tree (rush) deck. It is based on the Ensoul Artifact over Darksteel Citadel or Ornithopter, so you can have both power and thoughness (and can get a 5/5 flying or indestructible). Also you can pump the thoughness with Shape the Sands. In the sideboard I've used Phenax, God of Deception so I can go to a mill approach (if I'm fighting against a tricky deck) and Liliana Vess for card search.

I think BUG would work better: You can protect your creature, use a mill approach, use a discard control approach, clear the field, destroy or return to the hand everything that can be blocking, use the graveyard or go with a high mana generation with Sylvan Caryatid =)

Grim Guardian might be worth it since you have 8 ench already but his cmc is a little cmc is a little high

Glad to see Assault Formation getting the deserved TLC. +1 for that but what type of list could you put together if you don't have a budget?

I honestly don't know FrostDefiance, I didn't build it around a budget on purpose, I just started building a deck around an idea I had for Assault Formation and it turned out to be pretty cheap. Do you have any suggestions? It doesn't have to stay budget based.

good job i like it and want to play it on friday at fnm

When I saw Assault Formation spoiled I initially thought about Break Through the Line and Wall of Frost. But you seem to have made a solid deck without using those two colours. Only suggestion I have would be to up the count of communes to help dig for that all might assault formation. Besides that this deck is awesome. +1

Fun to play. I've found more success with Abzan Beastmaster than Commune with the Gods, but haven't tried Courser of Kruphix yet. My opponents couldn't stop laughing. One played Act of Treason on my Nyx-Fleece Ram and swung for zero. Rhox Faithmender is also a fun card for this deck. There are ways to protect the enchantment and this forum should help with strategies for that since the success of this deck is so dependent on Assault Formation staying on the field. +1. Thanks!!!