@Evileyes You are exactly the kind of person I built this for. Enjoy!

Have you considered From Beyond for a sacable creature each turn without eating up your cards?

I really like the concept of this deck so much that I built this and the variant with the red splash :) I'm wondering though: what is the game plan against Esper Dragons? With the red splash deck, I had access to Crackling Doom and Butcher of the Horde. I was running Flamewake Phoenix though and I think that screws up my mana base even more :/

Oh and have you ever considered Infinite Obliteration?

Oh I forgot to ask why Felidar Cub instead of Dromoka's Command?

@Frodomouth I've considered From Beyond as a sideboard card for control matchups, but I haven't tested because I don't think it's better than any of the cards I currently have in my board. 4 mana is this deck's top end, so it just feels like it comes down too late against anything that isn't Esper.

@neek-oh I haven't had the opportunity to test this latest version of the build against my friend's Esper Dragons deck, but I think the plan would probably end up being something like -2 Bone Splinters, -1 Murderous Cut, and -1 something else (likely a Blisterpod) for +2 Abzan Charm and +2 Fleshbag Marauder. That way, we end up with better answers to their dragons and more long-game potential.
Felidar Cub is in the deck over Dromoka's Command because:

• You can find it with Evolutionary Leap
• It interacts favorably with Abzan Ascendancy, Liliana, Heretical Healer, Zulaport Cutthroat, and Smothering Abomination
• It can attack

What about Blighted Fen and Display of Dominance

Blighted Fen as a non-counterable way to get rid of Ojutai and his crew. If you're not splashing red then the manabase should be able to handle 1-2 copies of this land...I think? :o

Display of Dominance hits Sorin, Jace, Kiora, Ob Nixilis, Narset, Sarkhan and Liliana as Planeswalker targets.

Only made a minor tweak with my own copy of this, I'm running A few silkwrap in the side, it's just a good answer to hangarback walker, and deals well enough with anafenza and mantis rider :)

After extensive testing of a very similar list, I found that Smothering Abomination actually hurt me a lot. A far better draw engine from death triggers is Grim Haruspex. Give it a try

I can see the value of every card in this deck except for evolutionary leap. Im not saying its wrong im just not seeing all the value it produces. Can you please explain to me about its purpose in the deck. I know its a sac outlet ,but what else?

And in the side board why run felidar cup over caustic catterpillar?

+1 from me.

Also why the fourth ascendancy over another removal spell like a third bone splinter?

+1 sac is love, sac is life... I think

Love this deck! +1 From me!

A simple question however. What would you side out in favor for Arashin Cleric when going up against aggressive decks?

Thanks and have a good weekend!

I like this deck, but I agree with neek-oh that you definitely need Display of Dominance not only for planeswalker removal, but also to protect against Languish. This deck isn't fast enough to beat a control player before they boardwipe you and proceed to win the game.

@clbnrwd Evolutionary Leap is the deck's main way of generating massive card advantage. It always gets another creature to sacrifice while most of the creatures in the deck leave behind a body when they die. It allows this deck to stay relevant and powerful in the late game. I'm running 4 Abzan Ascendancy because it helps buff up the 1/1 tokens in the deck to make then into real threats, especially Spirits and Thopters. It also plays the important role of adding a Doomed Traveler effect to all of the creatures I sacrifice, enabling huge value with Nantuko Husk, Evolutionary Leap, and Smothering Abomination. It's a very powerful card here, so I've decided on 4.

@PaganThrone I usually side out both Abzan Charm and Smothering Abomination when I play against highly aggressive decks, since neither of those cards does much in the matchups. Evolutionary Leap is also a solid cut against aggressive strategies if you need more room since it is more of a mid-to-late game value card.

@PhantomWang Unfortunately, Display of Dominance does nothing against Languish or any other board wipe. Additionally, this deck doesn't mind board wipes too much because most of the creatures leave something behind when they die (and they all do if there is an Abzan Ascendancy out. This deck is not supposed to be aggressive and try to go under control players. It is supposed to be able to play the long game with them.

I like your version of the deck, although I think it is a little on the slow side. I would suggest Carrier Thrall instead of Sultai Emissary since you are running more non-creatures and no Catacomb Sifters for fixing the manifest. I prefer the 1 extra power on turn 2 and a scion that can sac itself if need be. And Caustic Caterpillar seems more versatile than Felidar Cub in sideboard since the caterpillar eats Hangarback turn 3.

I have a friend who runs the G/B version that is very close to your deck minus the Abzan Ascendancy, and I can usually beat him to the combo finish with Rally even when the board gets full.

Also please check out my take on Abzan Aristocrats. I went with a creature heavy version, and threw in some red for a little quicker land fetching and Crackling Doom sideboard spiciness. Testing has been very favorable so far.

I really like the Abzan version of this deck, but I have a couple questions for you:

1) Why no Catacomb Sifter? It seems like an auto-include in any aristocrat deck that has green and black. I would love to hear your reasoning as to why you chose not to include it.

2) I'm very bad at side-boarding decks. I really appreciate that you explained in-depth when to bring in each card, but could you go into a bit of detail for which main-board cards you take out for those cards in each matchup?

@Onions I'm running Sultai Emissary over Carrier Thrall mostly because manifests interact better with Abzan Ascendancy than Eldrazi Scions do. I also like having a 2/2 on the back end because this deck loves to sacrifice creatures, so I'd rather have the bigger body after I sacrifice the creature rather than before. Your red-splash list looks good, but I'm shocked not to see Butcher of the Horde make the cut. I have my own list with a red splash that I've been working on, and I'll go ahead and put it in the description in the FAQ section.

@KStu I like Catacomb Sifter, but this deck's 3-drop slot is already way too crowded and I don't think it is better than any of my other 3 drops. As for your question about sideboarding, I can try to work some information into the guide at a later date but I usually just go with whatever feels right, e.g. Smothering Abomination and Abzan Charm come out against aggro and Bone Splinters comes out against control.

Through extensive testing with my version of this deck, Drana, Liberator of Malakir is just much more powerful than Smothering Abomination. I'm not going to be one of those guys, but if you want to see mine just ask. The version of my deck shown is under my own budget due to me being 15, but I've been testing a more expensive one similar to this and I really like Drana. If the deck is running right she will just pump all of your stuff while Abomination gets you extreme card advantage it's also very situational.

I also don't see any copies of Catacomb Sifter may I ask why?

@iCryEryTime I've just updated the deck to reflect the red splash I am now using, but Smothering Abomination was great in the Abzan version. Drana is is a great threat when your board is big, but it seems a little win-more in the Abzan version of the deck since it mostly plays defensively until it has taken over the game. Catacomb Sifter is a solid card, but my 3-drop slot was (and is) too crowded. I just never had the room.

I know adding red is very useful for butcher of the horde and crackling doom but do you think there is any way to squeeze 4 colors into a budget deck. Currently is seems abzan aristocrats is the cheapest only due to GolgarI usually going 4 collected company. So is 4 colors hurting me more than helping due to using dual lands that enter in taped?

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=92651 I'm referring to this btw

@iCryEryTime I made room for Catacomb Sifter since Liliana, Heretical Healer  ^Flip isn't as good in this version of the list. I'm very impressed by it so far.

Hello, can you explain in what case use the sideboard, i'm not very good with sideboarding xD