You know after a long day of work...what's better than a little Ciroc? What's the greatest combination in MTG history? Booze and Magic, but you know what goes great with Ciroc? Surrak! But who wants their Surrak warm? Nobody! That's why you gotta get it on the rocks. And let me tell you something, Surrak rocks. Prepare to drown away all your tormenting thoughts, long days at work, stressful yelling from a parent or spouse, into alcohol...and Magic.
Deck name was inspired by my buddy User:Tundernan
This is an Abzan Aggro deck. It's built around going toe to toe with all the relevant decks in the meta with about a 50/50 match up preboard against virtually everything. The sideboard and the player's skill is what's really really key to the decks performance. Abzan has access to many different strong cards that hose different archetypes and strategies. Playing out your mana to its fullest potential is also one of the keys to successful piloting. I'll be continually updating the main AND the side so the sideboard guide may not always be exact to that moment but should give you a general idea of what to do.
Most of the cards are strong cards in their own right and their strength need not be explained. But the sideboard and some of my atypical choices and the new inclusions in recent lists, I'd be glad to explain!
Warden of the First Tree
: A very complicated card that I'll explain in its own section. A strong card that can get out of hand over time if not dealt with early.
Den Protector: These are flex spots, but I chose to run Den Protector here as in most stages of the game, you want to get back one card most of the times that can just win you the game. Den Protector does that job perfectly and really stresses your opponent's answers.
Tasigur, the Golden Fang: For the same reasons as above, Tasigur really stresses your opponent's removal spells. I found myself with lots of cards in the grave that weren't doing anything as well. So it can come out for one mana and start getting you card advantage. Great card.
Surrak, the Hunt Caller: A new inclusion of recent lists. Surrak hits control decks really really hard. It's really easy to get the 3 power and he often has haste. A great surprise Game 1 and can just steal games away. With Anafenza out he becomes unstoppable.
Murderous Cut: A removal spell not usually seen in Abzan aggro, I felt that a 1-of would help the deck as it can sculpt what cards your opponent picks for Tasigur, and can be a really cheap removal spell.
Sideboard Card Choices:
Hornet Nest:Mistcutter Hydra:Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Sideboard Plan and Match Up Analysis (WIP):
UB Control Variants: -4 Dromoka's Command -3 Hero's Downfall -2 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
+2 Thoughtseize +2 Duress +2 Foul-Tongue Invocation +2 Mistcutter Hydra
Reasoning - Hero's Downfall lacks targets as their threats are mostly Hexproof. Their threats are actually pretty problematic so getting rid of them is really really good for us. Replacing it with Foul-Tongue is better. If they run Ashiok, take out 1 Downfall and 2 Anafenza's as Ashiok can be trouble and Anafenza is just okay in the match up. Mistcutter's get around their counterspells and a hasty threat that can't be blocked by Silumgar or Ojutai forces them to have removal or die. The rest is pretty self explanatory. Difficult match up, it's probably 55-45 match up.
Token Strategies:
-2 Abzan Charm -2 Foul-Tongue Invocation -2 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
+1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor +3 Bile Blight +2 Duress
Reasoning - Sac effects are bad against tokens as they just pick the worst token they have. We don't need to race them so some number of Surrak can come out he also gets chumped very easily. Sorin can gain lots of life and a single swing can change turn the tables. Duress can steal a lot of their spells like Outburst and Ascendancy. Probably a 60-40 match up. Dice roll matters.
RDW:
-2 Foul-Tongue Invocation -1 Surrak, the Hunt Caller -2 Den Protector -2 Abzan Charm
+1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor +3 Bile Blight +3 Ultimate Price
Reasoning - Charm misses almost everything they have and losing 2 life to draw 2 cards isn't worth the risk when we have so many pain lands as well. Den is too grindy for the match up, and sac effects are bad against Rabble and the tokens they're bound to have. Sorin gains a lot of life and Blight and Price put in work against them. 75-25
Mirror:
-3 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
+2 Foul-Tongue Invocation +1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Reasoning - I'm not sure about taking out Surrak, but Sorin is better as getting out of their lethal range is very important. The ulti can also just win the game. Sac effects are very strong as well. Deathdealer and Fleecemane can't get around it making it strong in the mirror. 50-50 really really depends on the dice roll and how familiar you are with the match up. The better player will usually pull out the win.
Abzan Control:
-2 Foul-Tongue Invocation -2 Dromoka's Command
+2 Thoughtseize +1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Reasoning - This match up is difficult. You basically lose this match. 30-70. Just try to tempo them out and really tax their removal.
When to use Warden: WIP
General How-To-Play: WIP
Match ups: WIP
