League of Extraordinary Counters

Modern* BGW (Abzan, Junk) Budget Counters

chataolauj

Creature (20)

• 3x Abzan Falconer
• 3x Avatar of the Resolute
• 3x Corpsejack Menace
• 3x Cytoplast Root-Kin
• 2x Daghatar the Adamant
• 3x Endless One
• 3x Gyre Sage

Land (24)

• 6x Forest
• 2x Llanowar Reborn
• 6x Plains
• 2x Sandsteppe Citadel
• 3x Sunpetal Grove
• 3x Swamp
• 2x Temple of Malady

Enchantment (6)

• 3x Hardened Scales
• 3x Ordeal of Nylea

Instant (8)

• 2x Abzan Charm
• 2x Emerge Unscathed
• 2x Gods Willing
• 2x Solidarity of Heroes

Sorcery (2)

• 2x Essence Harvest

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Sideboard

Creature (2)

• 2x Ivorytusk Fortress

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Citadel Siege

Instant (1)

• 1x Abzan Charm

Sorcery (2)

• 2x Shoulder to Shoulder

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Only the name of the deck is extraordinary, so the deck is just...well...just any ordinary Abzan +1/+1 counter deck, or IS IT?

Game Plan

The gameplan is very simple; PLACE AS MANY COUNTERS ON YOUR CREATURES AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE THEM FLY TO SWING BIG. That is pretty obvious with Abzan Falconer in the deck. The gameplan sounds simple enough, but how do we maximize the efficiency of our turns? This is very important as this deck can be very slow if it's not played right.

I tested this deck against AI with competitive decks to see how many efficient scenarios I could start out with, and these were the results...

Five Turn Scenario 1

• T1: Llanowar Reborn
• T2: Land + Gyre Sage
  • Move the +1/+1 counter from Llanowar Reborn to Gyre Sage
    • Gyre Sage = 2/3
• T3: Land + Hardened Scales + Endless One or Avatar of the Resolute
  • Either cast triggers Gyre Sage's Evolve and Hardened Scales. Cast Endless One for three mana with the two remaining lands and Gyre, or Avatar of the Resolute
    • Gyre Sage = 4/5 via Evolve + Hardened Scales
    • Endless One = 4/4 via Hardened Scales or Avatar of the Resolute = 5/4 via Effect + Hardened Scales
• T4: Land + Cytoplast Root-Kin + Abzan Falconer + Attack
  • Tap Gyre and land to cast Cytoplast Root-Kin. Move +1/+1 counter onto Abzan Falconer
    • Gyre Sage = 8/9 via Evolve + Hardned Scales, and Root-kin + Hardened Scales
    • Endless One = 6/6 or Avatar of the Resolute = 7/5 via Root-kin + Hardened Scales
    • Cytoplast Root-Kin = 5/5 via Hardened Scales
    • Abzan Falconer = 4/5 via Graft
• T5: Land + Corpsejack Menace + Solidarity of Heroes
  • Attack and see how blockers are declared, if any, then using Gyre Sage and a land, Solidarity of Heroes the four creatures with counters on them.
    • Gyre Sage = 40/41 via Hardened Scales + Solidarity of Heroes + Corpsejack Menace
    • Endless One = 34/34 or Avatar of the Resolute = 27/25 Hardened Scales + Solidarity of Heroes + Corpsejack Menace
    • Cytoplast Root-Kin = 24/24 Hardened Scales + Solidarity of Heroes + Corpsejack Menace
    • Abzan Falconer = 16/17 Hardened Scales + Solidarity of Heroes + Corpsejack Menace

The math for Hardened Scales + Corpsejack Menace + Solidarity of Heroes is very confusing at times, so I'll use Gyre Sage at T5 to exaplin the order in which the effects resolve in:

1. Gyre is 8/9 and has 7 +1/+1 counters. Casting Solidarity of Heroes will double the 7 +1/+1 counters. Hardened Scales triggers, so 8 +1/+1 counters will be doubled instead
2. Solidarity of Heroes will resolve adding 16 +1/+1 counters
3. Corpsejack Menace's ability will now resolve and Gyre will get 32 insted of 16 +1/+1 counters making her 40/41

Of course you get to choose the order in which they resolve, but this order is the most effective order.

Five Turn Scenario 2

• T1: Forest + Hardened Scales
• T2: Land + Endless One for two mana
  • Endless One = 3/3 via Hardened Scales
• T3: Forest + Hardened Scales + Avatar of the Resolute + Attack
  • Avatar of the Resolute = 6/5 via Hardened Scales x2
• T4: Land + Cytoplast Root-Kin + Attack
  • Cytoplast Root-Kin = 7/7 via Hardened Scales x2
• T5: Land + Abzan Falconer + Solidarity of Heroes + All out attack for the win
  • Cytoplast Root-Kin = 16/16 via Graft + Hardened Scales x2 + Solidarity
  • Abzan Falconer = 5/6 via Graft + Hardened Scales x2

Five Turn Scenario 3

T1: Forest + Hardened Scales

T2: Land + Endless One for two mana

• Endless One = 3/3 via Hardened Scales

T3: Land + Ordeal of Nylea attached to Endless One + Attack and put two lands on field tapped

• Endless One = 5/5 via Ordeal of Nylea + Hardened Scales

T4: Land + Hardened Scales + Gyre Sage + Avatar of the Resolute

• Gyre Sage = 4/5 via Evolve + Hardened Scales x2
• Avatar of the Resolute = 6/5 via Hardened Scales x2

T5: Land + Abzan Falconer + Solidarity of Heroes + All out attack for the win

• Endless One = 12/12 via Solidarity + Hardened Scales x2
• Gyre Sage = 12/13 via Solidarity + Hardened Scales x2
• Avatar of the Resolute = 14/13 via Solidarity + Hardened Scales x2

I know that these scenarios won't ever go according to plan because opponents will, majority of the time, have something to remove cards on the field. These scenarios are just to provide my thoughts on how I would utilize the deck, so they're far from perfect, but I still like these scenarios as the best way to win or start out the match.

Synergies

Hardened Scales + Corpsejack Menace: This is pretty self explanatory.

Daghatar the Adamant + Hardened Scales/Corpsejack Menace: Move a +1/+1 counter from one of your creature to another, then Scales or Corpsejack will add another one to that creature. If you have both Scales and Corpsejack on the field, then it'll add 4 +1/+1 counters to that creature instead of just 1. Also a good way to remove +1/+1 counters from your opponent's creatures.

This is supposed to be a casual deck, so don't expect it to be competitive; it could be competitive, but I don't feel like spending money on expensive cards. Any suggestions would help! Also, don't forget to upvote if you like this deck!

Date added	8 years
Last updated	8 years
Exclude colors	UR
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	22 - 3 Rares 19 - 1 Uncommons 4 - 2 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.28