I just got back into standard after a little time off of magic, and I've been reading tons of articles telling me that standard is a two deck format with no room for innovation. Those articles then proceed to tell me that WOTC is negligent and reckless because they dont print "hate" cards. "If only we had Hero's Downfall and Pithing Needle, then all of our problems would be solved!" Um well, we have Authority of the Consuls which hoses about a 30-40% of the metagame, and how are you desperate for downfall when Anguished Unmaking is in the format? I really think all you standard players/bloggers missed something because this deck is nuts, its called Abzan Energy.
I've been playing and refining this deck for a couple weeks, and just took it to a 4-1 finish in my first competitive league in Aether Revolt standard, losing only to a 4c Saheeli deck that combo'd me twice on turn 4.
Here's a detailed rundown for those interested:
Card Advantage Engine:
Ask yourself, how many cards are Glint-Sleeve Siphoner,
Aethergeode Miner
, and Tireless Tracker really worth? Siphoner is bob in this deck, hell he might even be better than bob; we have 10 ways to make sure he's drawing cards on the third upkeep, oh yeah he also has menace. Miner could be the most underplayed card in standard, the flexibility to transition from offense to defense and back is great, and against controlling decks like Temur Tower, he's agonizingly difficult to deal with. What can I say about Tracker that hasn't already been said? I guess that a clue crack into Renegade Rallier isn't a bad way to spend your fifth turn. Speaking of Rallier, getting back a Siphoner is a great play, but its really fun to get in your opponents head with Miner attacks: bait a bad block, dont blink, trade, and rally it back.
The Best Removal:
Our Fatal Push is better than anyone else's in the meta; clue tokens, Miner, Evolving Wilds, Rampager, and aggressive attacks can all trigger revolt. Hoping to 2 for 1 with disintegration is definitely nice, but in a format so saturated with walkers, Anguished Unmaking is great, especially because our creatures will almost always outclass our opponent's.
The Best of the Rest:
Winding Constrictor is nuts and you knew that, the increased energy production really allows Longtusk Cub and Bristling Hydra to go off.
aetheresphere harvester
is an all-star in the matchup vs vehicles; it blocks Heart, evades Push, and gains life in addition to putting a huge body in the air to diversify our boardstate.
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
is a monster with how far ahead on board we can get, but you all know the drill with him.
Our Sideboard is Great:
Vehicles Matchups:
Note: So far our deck consistently outplays Mardu. Our removal, evasiveness, and size lines up well against them.
Running Ballista, on the Draw: cut 4 Siphoners and 1 Miner for 2
Vengeful Rebel
and 3 FragmentizeNo Ballista, on the Draw: Cut 2 Siphoners, 1 Hydra, and 1 Cub for 2 Rebel and 2 Fragmentize
On the Play: Cut 2 Trackers for 2 Rebels
Other Situations: Opponent having both Avacyn and Ballista could justify adding the Heroic Intervention. If they transform their sideboard to the walker/control type of build, respond by adding a some numbers of Nissa, Vital Force and Liliana, the Last Hope and intervention, if you see fumigate.
Four Color Saheeli:
On the Draw: Cut 2 Miner and 2 Giddeon for 3 Authority of the Consuls, 1
Declaration in Stone
,
On the Play: Cut 2 Siphoner and 1 Cub for 3 Authority of the Consuls, 1
Declaration in Stone
BG:
2 Rampager 1 Rallier for 2 Rebel, 1 Tracker,
Temur Tower:
On the Draw: Cut 4 Fatal Push, 2 Constrictor, and 2 Cub for 3 Fragmentize, 1 Tracker, 1 Nissa, 2 Liliana, and 2 Heroic Intervention
On the Play: Cut 4 Fatal Push and 2 Siphoner for 3 Fragmentize, 1 Nissa, 1 Tracker, 1 Intervention
Marvel:
Cut 4 Fatal Push for 3 Fragmentize and 1 Lost Legacy
