Death and Taxes V2.5: Mmmm, Tastes Like Abzan

Modern* Serra_Sentinel

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Optimization —Aug. 1, 2015

I need help optimizing my land count and targeted discard for this build. I plan on buying a playset of Thoughtseize post rotation. Thoughts?

Sigmafie says... #1

This is a pretty sweet setup. +1

July 28, 2015 11:56 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #2

Currently this list is a lot less taxing and more Orzhov aggro. Things like Aven Mindcensor and Leonin Arbiter and things that generally interrupt multiple aspects of your opponent's game plan are more tax like effects. This list is super neat though. I really like the direction you took with it. It has a lot of b/w cards that I really enjoy seeing in general. If you really intend to make it a tax deck I would consider swapping out a few things and tweak the deck to be a bit closer the core that a lot of modern D&T/hatebear decks run while adding a hint of some of the fun cards from a deck type called dead guy ale. It is a taxing while still aggressive and removal heavy strategy. AEther Vials, the 2 creatures mentioned previously, Thoughtseize/Inquisition of Kozilek, Mirran Crusader, Phyrexian Revoker, Surgical Extraction, Lingering Souls, Liliana of the Veil, Bitterblossom, Sorin, Lord of Innistrad and Fulminator Mage would be the types of things to look into. But, if you intend to keep it as close to what you currently have, which seems like the goal, then there are a few potential improvements that I would suggest. No matter what you do with the deck those cards are always good to keep an eye on during your construction because of the insane value they have by themselves.

I am not entirely sure what Rally the Ancestors can do in your list that is super meaningful. You won't be able to attack with those creatures because it exiles them at the upkeep and they don't have haste. I mean you can block with them but that seems to be about it combat wise. There are potential interactions with Mentor of the Meek and maybe something cheeky with Cartel Aristocrat but I would honestly change it out. Zealous Persecution would be my suggestion. With all of the twin decks running around as usual one of my favorite blow out cards is Batwing Brume. It has been known to swing the game in so many crazy situations. If you see a lot of eldrazi due to tron, titans, or goyfs that just get too damn big I would suggest maybe adding some Tragic Slip because all of the easy access to morbid triggers. Orzhov Charm seems pretty lame with the best mode being a Go for the Throat that just hurts you. They might be better as just more 1/2 drop removal spells. Blade Splicer is always a fun one because it is an easy sac target while still producing a very relevant creature. It is also a human which just makes it all the better here.

1 mana disruption is really really good if you ever have access to black. Often it is better to Thoughtseize out an enemy's threat and take the damage than it is to let the thing hit the table first. If there is a chance that they can out race you with other types of damage then Duress is fantastic to ease some of the pain. Inquisition is a really good catch-all in modern due to the nature of the low average CMC of most cards in the format but the issue is the restriction sometimes. It can't hit Splinter Twin, the main threats in tron, or a few other really key cards. It really depends on your meta but I would highly recommend adding a suite of 1 drop discard that best fits your needs based on play-testing and meta analysis into your 75 cards.

When it comes to sideboard you have a huge arsenal to really hate out a lot of different decks. Rest in Peace to ruin goyf/snapcaster/reanimator strategies. Surgical Extraction/Extirpate will deal with a lot of pesky combo decks or anything that has a lot of scary 4-ofs. Like mentioned earlier, Batwing Brume is just amazing. Oblivion Ring can deal with pesky harder to hit permanents. Leyline of Sanctity for burn and or decks that get into your hand a little too much. Wilt-Leaf Liege is always fun against an early lili of the veil. Deathmark is super efficient against the right match ups. Mark of Asylum speaks for itself in value. Stony Silence can often be a blow out to robots and artifacts as well as Pithing Needle which is also a really good catch-all. I could go on for hours for what you could include in here but I will simply say the same thing that I mentioned about discard spells.

Sorry about the short novel but I really like this deck and think there are a lot of cool things to do with it so I wanted to share my thoughts.

July 29, 2015 10:25 p.m.

Serra_Sentinel says... #3

MR H3AT

First off, thanks for commenting :D I really appreciate all of the suggestions. As stated above, I really just want it to be a competitive-as-possible Aristo-bears deck that hinges on humans.


I really derped with Rally there, I thought it gave haste. So, that and Immortal Servitude are getting removed ASAP.
As far as the bear part of Aristo-bears goes, I want to use the Arbiter and Mindcensor, as I love those cards. If I have Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, would it still be worth having one mana disruption later, and is she really that good in a list like this? I'm not entirely sold on the Cartel Aristocrat. Does it give enough value for its spot? Would Tidehollow Sculler still be okay? As I said, I've never played this style deck.

July 29, 2015 10:41 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #4

First off I just want to mention that most of my experience with this deck style comes from Death and Taxes in legacy. It is an entirely different beast. Most of my modern knowledge comes from playing tron which basically plays itself and often doesn't care what your opponent is doing. I am no modern expert.

Rally is super funny if you have certain interactions built into the deck. ETB is the easiest way to go but it doesn't look like there is a way to make it viable. The only reason I know this is because I am trying to use it in standard. It has a fun interaction in mono black devotion with Grey Merchant of Asphodel and Mogis's Marauder. Immortal Servitude on the other hand has a lot of potential. Especially in a really grindy match up like abzan or jund.

I can not speak highly enough of Thalia. When I play decks with her there are very, very few times I don't want her. It is almost an insta win against storm, it really hurts instant based decks if they can't deal with it fast enough and even when they do they have to devote more resources to it. Also they just can't ignore it most games. On the same hand it is a bit harder to cast 1 drop removal spells but often that is totally fine. You can simply cast them the turn before you put her out a lot of the time but even when you can't it is often worth just paying the extra mana for it. Or you can wait for them to remove her then do it. Tidehollow is awesome as well and forces them to deal with it or you just get amazing value out of it and no matter what thalia won't make it cost more.

The aristocrat is a very interesting card. It seems really good in your deck against other fair decks. The more unfair your opponent is playing, the worse she gets. But even against grixis twin she seems feasible.

Be super careful about adding Leonin Arbiter it is a symmetrical effect which forces you to pay extra as well. But if you add both him and Aven Mindcensor then Ghost Quarter basically becomes Strip Mine. Land destruction + thalia type effects + arbiter/mindcensor + other disruption like discard/removal = a very unhappy opponent who can't do anything.

July 29, 2015 11:12 p.m.

Serra_Sentinel says... #5

I did some reworking, I'm not sure if Teysa works here anymore, except for being a Path with no downside in some situations. Let me know if I missed anything and if this works better. Does Dark Confidant have/need a place here? I don't know what my meta is honestly because it's been so long since I played there, so, I kinda want a general sideboard plan.

July 29, 2015 11:35 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #6

Confidant is just fine here. Just make sure the game doesn't go too long with him on the board. It can kill you in some match ups. Whatever your sideboard it I would suggest having 2-3 Batwing Brume, 3 Duress some amount of leylines for burn, the full set of Rest in Peace, and the rest is kidnda up to you based on what you don't want to lose to.

July 30, 2015 12:10 a.m.

Serra_Sentinel says... #7

I need to get to work trading up for these things. So far I only have two of the Necromancers, and I think that's it.

July 30, 2015 12:19 a.m.