you need card draw. plain and simple

so maybe Read the Bones or even Chronicler of Heroes would work you want at least 3x of one of them or 3x of one and 2x of another.

I can only think to drop the Herald of Anafenza since in MANY play-tests that I have done I have found the outlast ability to be really slow and mana intensive to the point that I don't see it be terribly useful in FNM ( if the ability could be instant speed I would not be saying this), to bad the herald doesn't pump out a spirit every time a +1 counter is put on it.

take a look at my Abzan please =]
Anafenza goes to war

I aslo run a Abzan counter deck and I will agree that card draw is a must Chronicler of Heroes is a good card to run ass it helps with card draw. U may also need some type of removeval Banishing Light is a great card and its pretty cheap. Have you tried one of the hydra cards like Mistcutter Hydra ? Have you tried Reap What Is Sown .

P.S can u please check my Abzan deck. Abzan Assault.

I like the Chronicler of Heroes, good addition. I considered Reap what is sown but initially disregarded it, but with a few heroic triggers now in there it's worth a thought. I think dropping the Herald is probably the right move...

The Hooded Hydra might add in well. Putting extra counters on him would make killing him terrifying. Espcially if you double it with Hardened Scales

Haha, I just made a very similar deck: Abzan Counters.

I would definitely splurge for the Ajani, Mentor of Heroes . He's just stupidly powerful in a deck like this one and really ties it all together.

I would put in one to three more lands: twenty lands would be fine for this deck's mana curve...but since you're playing budget, 13 of those 20 lands are coming in tapped. I honestly think 22 or 23 lands would be great for this deck--don't be afraid to try it out.

On what to take out...try taking out Hardened Scales . I know, I know, Hardened Scales combos with the whole deck, but it is not a creature, nor a heroic trigger. It only works IF you got the heroic triggering thing going on--heroic triggering is more of a priority than going over the top with Hardened Scales .

I mean a couple Hardened Scales , not all of them.

Thanks for the further suggestions guys; tweaks made :)

You have 7 heroic creatures and no mainboard targeting spells to trigger heroic, I think.

sorry, could not read. frigging shifting order put instants pst sideboard. I feel stupid.

Man I think Inspiring Call would be a great addition to this deck. Counters board wipe so hard.

try Dromoka's Command and Inspiring Call to offset burn/removal. Plus they give you nice extra's... I know you have god's willing and Rangers' Guile but these might work different for you

I agree, Dromoka's Command is excellent, and potentially a double heroic trigger - it's only not included due to its cost; Inspiring Call is sideboarded already :)

I would strongly suggest adding Dragonlord Dromoka to the sideboard. I play a deck very similar to this in my area, and control decks are a bitch, especially when you have spent several turns pumping up a creature, only to have it bounced/exiled/killed as soon as you attack with it.

also, Servant of the Scale may be a good one to add to the main board, since you can pump it up without worrying if someone kills it, plus it works unbelievably well with hardened scales... like, I have been sitting with 2 hardened scales on the board, played a servant (it gets 3 counters here rather than 1), and immediately killed it to put 5 on something else. it is a mean hearted card.

all around, good looking deck. +1 from me

also, While Ajani, Mentor of Heroes is great in this deck, I have had (just slightly) better results with Ajani Steadfast and his -2 ability, plus, the +1 ability can be incredibly useful as a means of buying a few extra turns in the case that you are getting beaten down and are running low on health (considering that you are not running Abzan Battle Priest, and (if you ever happen to get it) the -8 can be useful in the instance that you are playing big green monsters, or lifelink oriented decks. just food for thought =)

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree that Dromoka is excellent, but he's also expensive, hence not in the budget deck - otherwise for sure; same goes for Ajani (the one I have in there was a trade, I wouldn't pay money for him otherwise).

Servant of the Scale is an excellent suggestion though! I think he'll come in when Theros rotates to replace the heroic dudes.

I would recommend putting in [Abzan Beastmaster] for card draw against decks that you know aren't going to kick out big booty creatures, especially when you can guarantee your creatures are able to get higher and higher toughness qualities as you go.I thoroughly enjoy the prospect of [Citadel Siege] targeting [Phalanx Leader] with his Khans ability. It gives me shivers.+1

Abzan Beastmaster: At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you control the creature with the greatest toughness or tied for the greatest toughness.