A mill deck without the blues! Abzan token deck with massive combos to catch your opponent unawares. Altar of the Brood
+
Panharmonicon
+ ETB token spawners = sudden deck splurge.
This is my first attempt at building a deck, so feedback would be appreciated!
Update 2: Having played a lot with this deck now, I've really enjoyed it. It's definitely not a "competitive" deck, but it's a lot of fun to play and when it goes off it's ultra-satisfying. I've changed some of the cards to give me more longevity and a different removal option.
Cost was a factor for the build, although with Panharmonicon and Anafenza, the Foremost you're looking at more than 40 from scratch (somehow this still qualifies as budget? I must be a bit of a cheapskate...).
Altar of the Brood is the pivotal card for milling, although it really gets going after Panharmonicon hits the field. It's an "equal opportunity" mill card, so is very effective at controlling multiplayer games (although it generates hate from all directions).
Almost every card is chosen because it's triggered abilities are improved by Panharmonicon, and the token spawners are there to trigger the Altar, provide ramp and instill fear.
Using Scion spawners like Blisterpod makes a turn 3 Panharmonicon drop viable, although the better strategy would be to hold back for turn 4 and get some meat out, in the form of Anafenza, the Foremost and Catacomb Sifter on turn 3.
Fairgrounds Warden is in for aggro control. Tidehollow Sculler is in to get into their hands/heads as well. Both of these cards will exile additional times if dropped/flashed after Panharmonicon. They are the key pieces of removal in the deck.
Hornet Queen
is the finisher card if it comes down.
Brood Monitor
is weaker, but with Panharmonicon it pays for itself, and a 7-creature drop on two Altars triggering twice each would put 28 cards through the mill for each opponent.
Anafenza, the Foremost is in because 4/4 for 3, but also to put opponent's creatures straight from the library to exile, to prevent any nasty surprises (I'm looking at you, Eldrazi).
I only have 1 Siege Rhino, and he's in because obviously he's in! the life drain is doubled by Panharmonicon. Combined with Flash spells he could finish the game on his own, and at the end of the day it's a 4/5 with Trample for 4.
Catacomb Sifter is a solid Scion spawner, and the scry should feed well off Blisterpods and Scion sacrifice.
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice is now in the deck. 2/5 puts her out of bolt range, and her life-gain ability adds serious longevity, feeding off Panharmonicon to give extra life from all of the 1/1's hitting the field. Her Populate activated ability is a good mana dump as long as you have a scion on the field. 3 mana for a scion or insect at the end of your turn will help in the end game.
Blisterpod is early game cannon fodder, and the resulting Scion adds ramp and triggers Altar. It makes a turn 2 5-card mill possible (turn 1 land-altar, turn 2 altar-forest-blisterpod).
Prophetic Prism gives early card draw and alleviates issues with tri-colour decks, as well as improving the utility of Scions. Again, Panharmonicon doubles card-draw.
Cloudshift and Eerie Interlude are in to get some re-triggering and removal defense, with the latter being a finisher in the right situation. Having them in allows you to get your creatures down before a Panharmonicon and then get the boosted triggers later. It's really effective/frustrating to block a full attack with everything, use Eerie Interlude before damage step to pull every (non-token) off, and get them all back at the opponent's end step for mega-mill/lifegain/token-spawn before the beginning of your turn.
Fog in lieu of more removal, mainly to hold off aggro decks in the early game and give a chance to make it to panharmonicon.
Lands are quite boring, mainly due to cost and the need to have mana on turn 1 and 2, but
Evolving Wilds
is necessary to get some early mana diversity, and an additional quick-trigger on the altar.
In the maybe pile I've left a couple of Populate cards.
Scion of Vitu-Ghazi
would be a solid 5-drop to come in after Panharmonicon. He is out to maintain the mana curve. As I've aimed this at semi-budget,
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
is in the maybe for if I felt like splashing cash. Wall of Omens and Elvish Visionary would add early card draw, but the former is not cheap and ultimately I felt other options were better.
Sideboard is a bit random, as it's made from cards I have rather than specifically bought and built. Sundering Growth is preferable to Naturalize and
Desecration Plague
, but I only have one so have left the others in for enchantment/artifact/land removal.
Filigree Familiar
is a versatile card which synergises with Panharmonicon.
Long Road Home
is additional flash, with bonus counters!
Feat of Resistance
is a great little defensive Instant to prevent removal.
Sigil Captain
because he was part of the original vision of the deck and couldn't bear to part with him. Additional Blisterpod if I think moar scions is the answer. Orbs of Warding because Leyline of Sanctity is a very expensive sideboard card.
Mind Rot
to mess with the opponent's hand. Gonti, Lord of Luxury because my group make nice decks that I like to play with. Abzan Charm is a very versatile card that I can use in various situations.
