For boarding out against Dimir control, I really disagree with boarding out 2 Bloodsoaked Champion. It's a creature that if they can't counter, then they're essentially ---forced--- to exile it. Getting one or two of those guys out early on is too important IMO.

Honestly, I say get rid of some Battle Brawlers. Chief of the Scale is important for potential Bile Blight, Mardu Strike Leader for potential free creature generation, and the drain/blocking shenanigans from Brutal Hordechief is important since they're gonna potentially get big dudes like Pearl Lake Ancient and Silumgar, the Drifting Death out

As for what we're boarding ---in--- though, I think that's correct with Gods Willing and Valorous Stance

So I think this deck looks really cool, but I was showing a friend who has played for a while and they said that the deck needs more removal like Thoughtseize or Hero's Downfall if you wanted to win game 1 with it at all. I started to get the cards to build this deck, (I have like almost all of them except a hordechief and a temple of silence haha), but I was wondering if he was right about this and if there would be room for Thoughtseize or Hero's Downfall without messing it up? Or what about Murderous Cut? how important is Read the Bones? I am newer to magic and haven't gotten into playing standard competitions yet, but this seems like it would be fun to play!

Also whattabout Utter End?

aas713 I'd say Read the Bones is important for this. The deck really revolves around getting Obelisk of Urd in. If it's not in our starting hand, we need to be able to draw into that or Sorin, Solemn Visitor or Brutal Hordechief

I kinda agree with Hero's Downfall though. And honestly 26 creatures seems to be quite a bit, though I'm not exactly sure what I would cut

I've done some testing against Abzan Midrange. As feared, it didn't go well. The deck was picked apart by removal, and by the time an Obelisk was drawn, it was way too late. I sided in 4 Gods Willing, but it just wasn't enough to even come close to stabilizing.

I played Sorin, Solemn Visitor but his presence didn't impact the game state like I had hoped. This deck isn't a traditional aggro deck; it needs to hold back before an Obelisk enters play. Sorin's +1 is predicated primarily on being on the offensive.

Brutal Hordechief is a lightning rod for removal, and is win-more with an Obelisk out. I'm afraid it doesn't fit what I am going for.

I don't think removal is where this deck wants to be. I think it's the flip side: protection. Abzan Midrange can run up to 15 pieces of removal, with up to another 10+ options in the sideboard. How can we compete with that? We can't, and this deck shouldn't try. We only want to interact with the opponent when we are bashing them in the face with +2/+2 warriors.

I'm going to modify the deck somewhat drastically, but before I do, I'll wait for some feedback.

I say for starters lets mainboard Gods Willing, maybe cut a Sorin. I feel like 11-12 one drops is too many, maybe cut it down to 8 or something.

I'm thinking Bloodsoaked Champion has to go, perhaps to the sideboard to bring in against control. Him not blocking goes against the resiliency aspect of the deck.

I'll make some changes and see how it looks.

I have gone ahead and done a little editing just to see how things work:My Rendition of Orzhovian Warriors

Let me know what you think

@aas713, let me know how that works for you. I'm apprehensive about battling tier 1 decks that outclass ours in the removal department.

Check this out. It's fresh out of the oven, so it may get a different layer of frosting: The Conjuring of Urd, Demigod of Tribes

Liliana Vess does seem pretty great, and the new Conjuring of Urd deck also seems pretty great! I will have mine up and going soon and will let you all know of its performance as soon as I play test.

Truth is that there needs to be multiple Chief of the Scale active in order for them to be worth it.

I say drop them to mainboard Valorous Stance

I moved Chief of the Scale to the side for burn matchups, added Valorous Stance to the main and removed Sorin altogether. The deck isn't aggressive enough for him and doesn't feel like it benefits when he's in when there is no Obelisk out. I added Rush of Battle, Take Up Arms and Bloodsoaked Champion back in. What do you think?

I think I like all these changes. Rush of Battle can be super crazy if we have that and an Obelisk. +4/+3 with lifelink is a ridiculous combat phase. The crazy scenario is when you do that and Brutal Hordechief's ability together. Doesn't seem likely to happen, but dare to dream right? Haha

Curious, how has your deck been performing at FNM? There's a guy in my play group that runs warriors and has been doing well. He loses to UB control (crux of fate) but most of the time he goes wide and goes right for the jugular. His matches are done with enough time to grab coffee.

I haven't had a chance to run this deck at an FNM. I have the deck built and ready, though. I've been doing a lot of drafting. Glad to hear a variant puts up good performance results! I expect to get wrecked by control unless I get lucky.

Control destroys aggro so that's kind of to be expected

I played something pretty close to this variant at FNM, minus a hordechief, strike-leader, and 22 lands because 24 just seemed way too much. I ran 2 Sorin's main board because i couldn't get a hold of the hordechief or strike-leader beforehand. Honestly, Sorin kept me in the game for some match ups. That lifelink for 16 when you're low from flying dragons can really make a come back. I went 2-3. I played a mardu warriors, boros heroic, 2 dimir control, and an abzan aggro budget. I 2-0ed the abzan and boros heroic. 1-2ed mardu warriors because i got stuck drawing creature protection with only 2 creatures on the board against a Rabblemaster and Alesha. Dimir control smashed me 0-2 both matchups. I'd get them to about 8 or a little less before they threw out a Crux, then next turn salimgar. God's willings and valorous stances didn't do much because he canceled most things i got out, anyway. Honestly, some thoughtseize or something should really be considered for sideboard against the control matchups. Salimgar's -1/-1 ability destroys this deck if your Urd was canceled or you couldn't draw into one(which happened every time).