Hey, IsThisWolfe! It's nice to see a fellow Abzan Life deck! I'd highly recommend taking a look at my take on a Felidar Sovereign deck. The only thing i'm worried about in your deck, other than you using mostly new BFZ cards, is the fact that you've added some of the new uncommon lands. Although Blighted Steppe is decent in the mid-game, I feel like a few Canopy Vista may be better in this deck, because of the amount of early game that you have. Other than that, the deck looks somewhat solid! Abzan Life-Gain deck.

I commented on the thread instead of here, but main points were that I think Inspiring Call would be great with all the counters and Mastery of the Unseen maybe. Here's my deck but I keep changing it constantly because I'm not happy with it yet. Win by life

I would say to ditch Bone Splinters for something that is better. You just don't generate enough tokens to afford to sacrifice creatures. I would throw in Abzan Charm instead; yes it doesn't hit every creature, but it hits what matters, exiles, allows for card advantage, small boost to your creatures, and is at instant speed.

I would also ditch Stone Haven Medic It is just not good. If you must run a random life gain guy, Arashin Cleric is better in my opinion: he instantly nets you 3 life and is a better blocker. Same with Tandem Tactics. I can't think what to replace it with, maybe more removal like Utter End, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar for some synergy with Sorin, or hell, even Feed the Clan would offer more synergy here.

If you really want to keep in Evolving Wilds I would remove 2 Forests, since you really don't have much green in your deck to add in Shambling Vent I feel like it is a must in your deck.

I would also get rid of Bloodbond Vampire, I get why it is in here, but you wont always be gaining life, but you can always swing in for damage. I think you really want to run Drana, Liberator of Malakir. This is an early evasive threat, that will offer synergy with Sorin to not only net you more life but get in for more damage. Not only that but allow for easier ways to get damage through.

Undergrowth Champion seems a little lackluster in here. You don't have fetch-lands to abuse this guy, nor are you running any land ramp either. I get why people run this guy, but without support to abuse him I don't think he is too stellar.

You should also find a place for Siege Rhino if you can, he is so much value it's crazy, and he also support your theme of life gain. I could also suggest to drop the number of Felidars to 3 and not 4. I don't think it's god enough to run a full play-set, I get it that he is obviously the "win-con" behind the deck, but you need more early game threat or removal to control the board so you can get to the 40 life mark with a little bit more ease.

TL;DRRun Siege Rhino, Drana, & more removal.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks for all the great feedback! I feel my deck is a lot more sturdier now!

This deck has potential. I like it.

I don't like Abzan Battle Priest that much, but I guess the lifelink ability is good, I still wouldn't run 3. I would add a couple Hangarback Walkers and Wingmate Rocs if you can. Warden of the First Tree and a Dragonlord Dromoka would also be nice 1 ofs

2Ruinous Paths and 2Utter Ends is plenty I think, don't need that third ruinous path probably. Can probably get away with only 2 Sorins also. Those suggestions are kind of what I'm leaning towards, but I haven't tested anything yet in real games so who knows.

Feed the Clan is stupidly overpowered when you have an Alhammarret's Archive.

Yeah, I'm not sure if feed the clan is overkill/heal. I was going to MB them, but then I thought you can probably just get to 40 life with creatures who have lifelink and other lifegain while still being able to just get your opponent to 0 if you don't win from the Felidar Sovereign. I think 40 life = win should be like an alternate win condition that could make the game end quicker if there's just no chance for your opponent. Will also help avoid people just playing you to a draw even though they have no chance of winning.

Bloodbond Vampire potentially could be a devastating card here. She could get 3 counters a turn easily. 1 counter per creature with lifelink plus any other spell cast to gain life.

Mpc3rd, Feed the Clan + Alhammarret's Archive + Defiant Bloodlord. Now that's overpowered.

Slowgod, while Hangarback Walker is undeniably a great card i dont want to spend 20.00 on a single card that i would probaly run two of (or even play one of). I dont want too many 5+ drop cards but Dragonlord Dromoka seems like it would work very nicely in this deck. If i run Dragonlord Dromoka though i probaly wont run Wingmate Roc.So i think ill drop 1 sorin and drop 1 Abzan Battle Priest to make room for 2x Dragonlord Dromoka

I personally think you should find place for Infinite Obliteration. I don't know standard very well but it can take care of other threats before they happen, Like Seige rhino

Dragonlord Dromoka definitely belongs on your sideboard. He will shutdown your opponent's responses on your turn. Good against control plus likelink for all your creatures. A better card for this deck than Defiant Bloodlord

Brave the Sands should at least be a 3 of card. As this needs to be played early game. Languish would be better in that spot.

Abzan Battle Priest is hard to pull off and keep up. At turn 4, pretty much every spot removal card in the format is available for your opponent and the priest is is an easy target. Maybe try Arashin Cleric or Seeker of the Way instead? Both are two drops and will keep turn 4 open for Siege Rhino.

this deck looks very, very mean. I know Defiant Bloodlord seems very unplayable, but could you maybe give it a shot. It looks like it could kill an opponent very quickly with your deck. Even as a 1 of, it will still give you options in the late game if it sticks. Looks fun to play! +1 from me!

The "counters" theme you have going on here is kind of interfering with the "life-gain" theme. Your deck doesn't really know which way to go. I would pick one or the other, and move in that direction. The Allies from BFZ provide a large base for life-gain tactics, as there are lots of creatures that have or grant lifelink, and the vampire tribe in that set is kind of built around lifegain, though Abzan Charm, Dromoka's Command, and Siege Rhino are always playable in any deck running Abzan colors. Otherwise, go for counters with a more Abzan (the clan) theme with counters and all. Undergrowth Champion,Woodland Wanderer and Infuse with the Elements are all good additions from BFZ.

Definitely looks fun. I'm out of touch with Standard, so I don't have much advice to give, but this certainly seems like a fun deck.

+1

Very nice deck +1

Soul Warden and Essence Warden are good for entering tokens and creatures for some quick life gain.

I would take out Feed the Clan (I understand why it's there but you have other more effective ways of gaining life IMO).

In its place I would put another Sorin, Solemn Visitor and a couple of Kalastria Healer.

This is mostly because I have tested this against my aggressive Triple A (BFZ Allies) and it kept over running things before the life gain could gather speed.

Every time I play this I am also constantly lacking Black mana.

You could replace some Plains with Caves of Koilos to overcome this.

Nice deck! +1 But I must say I struggle with the hangerback walker, he saeems to be in here to justify Inspiring Call, how about Divine Verdict instead? (although it is a shame its cmc is 4...)

Have you considered Blighted Steppe? I think you could shave a basic or 2 to fit it in, especially if you play 4x Windswept Heath to help fix. Also consider Mastery of the Unseen, Drana's Emissary, and Cleric of the Forward Order as life gain cards to add.

I'm sorry but wouldn't wind swept heath and cave of koilos do the apposite of what your trying to do? Use lifegain lands is what i say.