Named_Tawyny says... #2
If you're playing Abzan colours, Siege Rhino really should be in there - I'd probably drop the Ornithopters for it. Might also switch out the Scourge of Skola Vale with some Courser of Kruphixes, helps with the mana filtering.
Abzaconda is my deck, if you want to see another take on it.
April 30, 2015 1:48 a.m.
Scourge turns your useless combo creatures into one giant monster. I see it as a must-have. Besides, by taking out the combo creatures, it might as well be just a regular abzan deck.
April 30, 2015 5:23 p.m.
I thought so too Frisbo, but I'm just not seeing it.
Even if I play a scourge turn 3 and use it's ability turn 4, I can't attack until turn 5
It's just too slow
May 1, 2015 3:36 p.m.
paveltay154 says... #5
I love how you advertise this as a budget deck and it's other 100$. Nice waste of my time, If you want an actual assault formation budget deck look for it on youtube and there's a couple real good ones on there for less than 50$
May 13, 2015 4:56 p.m.
Halstinavos says... #6
paveltay154, I removed the budget tag just for you. I made this deck up as soon as Assault Formation was revealed and it has changed quite a bit since it was first posted. I don't quite understand your anger, seems like you are getting bent out of shape over something pretty trivial. Regardless, it will no longer be "advertised" as budget.
May 14, 2015 6:35 p.m.
Halstinavos says... #7
I was also testing out Siege Rhino. Those have been swapped out for what they originally were, which is Archers' Parapet. The deck is only about $80.
May 14, 2015 6:45 p.m.
Still like the rhinos
Considering tweaking mine into a midrange deck
Arashin cleric vs ram...discuss?
May 16, 2015 7:27 a.m.
Played my first FNM in forever with this deck. Has so much fun!!! 1-2 dropped but still a really ridiculous deck
I'll try to post my list tomorrow for feedback
May 23, 2015 12:49 a.m.
I say that the ram wins the spot. The game will probably last more than three turns, and the ram will survive anything but hard removal or a roast, so game one it is a great card to have.
May 24, 2015 8:37 a.m.
I just started MTG back up after a 10 year-ish pause, and Assault Formation was in one of the first boosters I opened. I played a very similar build this past FNM and, when not getting controlled into the ground, found myself having stand-offs until the opponent could amass their combo for the win over me. I went 2-2 overall and won a few games with sneaky, "oh, you don't want to block that? well, here's a couple Shape the Sands".
I'm augmenting mine now for some more evasion to close out the games fast. Orator of Ojutai and Roar of Challenge are coming in along with some Gods Willing for protection as well as clearing the path to swing through.
The deck was very fun to play, and even the first turn Thoughtseize gave no clue what was coming at them if the Assault Formation wasn't in my opening hand.
Sideboarding in Duress actually helped a few times. My Scourges would get taken out almost everytime I played them.
For perspective, 3/4 decks I played against were BANT.
May 31, 2015 1:54 p.m.
I think the odds of getting the starting hand capable of a turn 3 win is kinda slim, especially since you only run a 3-set of two of the cards involved. It also assumes that your opponent only has one creature out by turn 3, also assumes they don't have any protection.Good looking deck, just don't think the title is justified.
June 8, 2015 7:07 p.m.
Added some scry lands for the sandsteppes
Seems to help find things you need
June 8, 2015 9:29 p.m.
flaame1979 says... #16
I just recently made an assault formation deck, and then decided to browse and see how others may have done it...I noticed knockadoon, your playtests where the swarm was too much, and I didn't see anyone else put forward Profaner of the Dead. It's blue, but some comments already suggested trying some other blue cards, so it might work out if that's something that you haven't solved yet. I also like to bring my Rotting Mastodons back with Foul Renewal to help with that one kinda big guy they always seem to have.Anyway, good luck with it.
June 15, 2015 2:42 a.m.
Oh man I need to add Scourge of Skola Vale to my deck! I'm still in the progress of tuning mine.
If you're running Commune with the Gods you could take advantage of Hooting Mandrills delve cost. I'm also trying to run Grim Contest which helps control the board even when you don't have Assault Formation up.Fruit of the First Tree + Scourge of Skola Vale could be pretty silly as a T3 into T4. Sultai Flayer isn't too bad either, there are a lot better 4 drops, but my Big Butts Deck is Green/Black so I don't have access to white.
June 25, 2015 2:26 p.m.
+1 from me. Tried this at a local FNM tourney. I think subbing in Kruphix's Insight for the Communes would work better. For an extra mana, you can keep 3 enchantments (including the Nyx Ram btw).
Your deck would be in trouble against weenie swarm. However, your deck is (almost) Languish-proof. Global creature destroy compensates though.
I almost went 4-0, but ran into a mono-red deck goblin deck. The goblins didn't scare me, but he got craploads of direct damage. Pain lands also did me in due to a different curve.
Oh well, that's Magic.
August 8, 2015 12:02 p.m.
I have seen this deck before but i would love to see a BFZ version +1 for sure
October 22, 2015 8:25 p.m.
Here's my take on this type of deck for BfZ: Bant Formation - post rotation
October 23, 2015 1:13 a.m.
_Budgetlover says... #21
I know this card ain't matching the colours of the deck, but I just wanted to mention it Benthic Infiltrator
October 26, 2015 2:01 p.m.
Looks pretty cool, I'm using Assault Formation as a secondary win condition in one of my decks Standard felidar sovereign +1 from me
frisbro says... #1
Amazing deck. I tried one of these assault formation brews already, and I suggest a graceblade artisan or two. It is a great way to stabilize the deck if you don't get AF.
April 22, 2015 4:45 p.m.