Might want to consider Bloodsoaked Champion. This creature can be brought back from the grave to the field mid combat through the raid function and even multiple times in one turn. He becomes a great sac option as he can keep coming back to the field to strengthen the husk or find other creatures through the effect of Evo leap. This also means you will be able to generate even more tokens through Ascendancy.

@razelfark I actually did test Bloodsoaked Champion, but I found that it wasn't a great fit for the deck. It's nice to be able to generate value with if I have a bunch of mana, but one of the main strengths of this deck is its ability to sit behind a wall of chump blockers while it builds advantage, and Bloodsoaked Champion really detracts from that. When I was playing Champion in the deck, I found that I never really wanted to draw it so it ended up getting cut.

Nice list Thumbs up

I was just building almost the exact same deck. Have you considered running Collected Company and Rally the Ancestors? Both work beautifully for the deck, making it so much easier both to get ahead and to go off for lethal. If you're interested, here's my take on it. Post-rotation Abzan Rally Maybe it'll help you out.

@YourRightfulKing I started out with 3 copies of Collected Company in the list, but found that they weren't quite good enough with this creature suite. Rally the Ancestors is an undeniably powerful card, but it really encourages an explosive, one-turn kill that this deck just isn't really compatible with. I'm going more for a classic Aristocrats grindy game plan here rather than the Rally style of play.

Considering you have Zulaport Cutthroat i could see adding, at least, one copy of Rally the Ancestors as a way to catch opponents off guard by closing out the game quickly

Why no Smothering Abomination?

cutting 2x Evolutionary leaps? I think four is too excessive leading to if you do draw more they would basically be dead drops too you. I run two in my abzan elves and if i do draw the last one its basically a dead draw for me.

@amazingdan I was originally running it, but took it out for a 25th land. It may make it back into the deck at some point, though.

@Dontknowgabe I think 2x Evolutionary Leap is too few, since it's really the deck's cornerstone card. I have considered going to 3, but haven't done it yet because it's just too powerful here. This is a sacrifice-based deck, and we really want sacrifice outlets that give advantage.

What do you think about swapping Hangarback Walker with Siege Rhino for a more budgety build? I know they serve two different purposes and Rhinos aren't really a good sac target

@sutballes I think that Hangarback Walker is a huge part of making this deck playable, but I could see replacing it with Carrier Thrall if you want to keep the sacrifice synergies of the deck strong. Siege Rhino is an undeniably powerful card, but it doesn't really do anything we want it to do here. It's just a big dumb beater.

Grim Haruspex?

@IsThisWolfe I suspect that Grim Haruspex isn't as good in this deck as I'd like it to be, since it has a nontoken clase. Smothering Abomination, on the other hand, counts tokens and has a much better body at the cost of just one extra mana and a small drawback. I think that if I decide to add another card advantage engine to this deck that it will be the Abomination, but Haruspex will go in the maybeboard for now. Thanks!

Sultai Emissary --> Catacomb Sifter scary to think I might manifest Hangarback. +1.

After some minor research: Carrier Thrall, Hooded Hydra. Shadows of the Past, I still like Catacomb Sifter better, but in a mirror situation I like this too.

@JKLawson89 Thanks for your suggestions. Catacomb Sifter and Carrier Thrall are fine cards, but Sultai Emissary just interacts better with the deck. For one, the manifested creature that it leaves behind could be something useful, e.g. a Blisterpod or something that I do want to flip up. Hangarback Walker is the only creature that's bad to manifest. More importantly, however, manifested creatures aren't tokens, so they can be used to flip Liliana, Heretical Healer  ^Flip and they will give an additional 1/1 Spirit when Abzan Ascendancy is on the field. That's why I'm running it over the other 2-drop options.

I know it's been suggested, but I think Rally the Ancestors could be really good here. I don't know how good and I do think it would be better if you had more ETB effects, but if you have Abzan Ascendancy in play, you do get a nice little swarm of spirits to go with your sac effects.

Also, I think I like Grim Haruspex more than Smothering Abomination even in this deck. Haruspex can refuel your hand pretty quickly and is a bit more flexible in how your creatures die whereas Abomination is "only" one extra card a turn and the creature has to be sacced. Obviously there are some trade-offs (like how Haruspex specifies non-token creatures), but I'm sure you're already aware of them to have Smothering Abomination be the card currently in your deck. I will say that I think you'll be saccing more non-token creatures than token creatures.

Anyway, cool deck! I was thinking of making a Standard Aristocrats deck, but can't find the time to do so. Glad to see someone did what I can't!

@Phelgming I'd like to point out that Smothering Abomination isn't "only" one extra card a turn -- it triggers whenever I sacrifice a creature, regardless of what causes me to sacrifice it. As a result, it counts when I sacrifice creatures to Nantuko Husk, Evolutionary Leap, and Merciless Executioner.

Also, having played the deck many times on Cockatrice, I've found that I actually do end up sacrificing tokens more often than I sacrifice nontokens because of Abzan Ascendancy and Hangarback Walker. I also like the fact that Smothering Abomination is actually just a big threat on its own, and it trades with Dragonlord Ojutai on defense if need be.

Finally, regarding Rally the Ancestors, I have discussed that in other comments. I think it's a different deck entirely.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my deck, I really appreciate it.

What do you think of adding red for Butcher of the Horde and Flamewake Phoenix? Possibly even Mardu Ascendancy?

my only suggestion would be potentially Whisperwood Elemental but this deck gets a +1 from me it looks really good.

i would personally take out 2 Evolutionary Leap, i know its a nice enchantment, but if you hit a second one its a dead draw, that way you could even maybe add something else. maybe a collect company (coco) or a den protector?just suggestions and maybe bad one at that, needless still a very cool deck.

+1 good sir, it is a really nice deck, looking forward to try it out :)

Qarsi High Priest is another sac outlet that generates non-token creatures and Rot Shambler is like a Managorger Hydra in this deck - it keeps growing while you do your regular stuff and becomes a bigger and bigger threat to the opponent.

veyDer, Rot Shambler isn't really on par with Managorger Hydra because of the lack of trample.

Siege Rhino never stopped being good, and the value when you Liliana it back... AAGH! Making me move like the guy in your gif.

Hey this looks fun! +1 from me