This is my current standard deck which evolved from the Mike Sigrist Build, into a modified version of Rietzl & Sperling's Build, and is now closest to Andrew Boswell's Build. I won game day with it last weekend :).
Let's take a closer look:
1-2 Drops: the deck is built around having a nice aggressive curve being able to keep tempo with many of the more aggressive decks in the format, and really punishing your opponents if they miss a beat. You will rarely keep a hand without at least one two drop, and you prefer 2 (I've kept bile blight into anafenza, and post board bile blight into drown in sorrow),
Warden of the First Tree
Is absolutely excellent. A 3/3 for 3, sounds fair, but the key is that the mana base is built so that he is often a 3/3 haste on turn two, which is unfair, I usually only give him one activation, against RDW, RW and burn decks if the game drags on a second activation isn't uncommon as he can put me out of lethal range pretty effectively. I have never in a real game dumped counters on him, although it could be relevant. Fleecemane Lion is the bread and butter of the deck. A 3/3 for two is great rate, and the monstrous is relevant in a lot of matchups (although the tempo loss of spending 5 mana on it is unfortunate).
Rakshasa Deathdealer
rounds out the 2 slot. A great creature that can apply early pressure, even attacking into caryatids and coursers, and is relevant late in the game too.
Remaining Threat Base: 4x Anafenza, the Foremost is the business. she applies huge pressure and can run away with games. I don't mind running four because if one is stuck in my hand, it means the one on board has stuck and I am likely ahead. Siege Rhino needs no introduction, he is an absolute beater and the 6 life swing defines the format. Wingmate Roc rounds out the traditional curve. In the mirror he who rocs most wins, but I've found that multiple in hand can really mess up your gameplan, and so after much tweaking have settled on two. The last two threats are in the flex spots,
Boon Satyr
, and
Herald of Torment
can also fill these slots depending on meta. I am running Sorin, Solemn Visitor; after finding him not very impactful in a lot of situations I was on the fence about him and had cut him in an earlier version, but then I had a revelation, that -2ing him when ahead is totally relevant; his +1 can help you race, or attack into the mirror. Tasigur, the Golden Fang Tasi Tas is pretty solid when you can cast him off curve, I find him most effective when you can slam him and another creature in one turn after either an aggressive bout of removal by your opponent, a lot of trades, or a board wipe. I play him for the tempo advantage, but card advantage is nice too.
The removal package can be tweaked for the meta. Bile Blight is the allstar here, it gives great tempo and can win games almost on its own. It's the go to answer to a slew of enemy creatures and when you get to two for one after playing a warden or lion, oh man does it feel good. Valorous Stance allows the deck a lot more flexibility; it is a little weak against the agro decks, but if you give up some tempo it can (and has) saved relevant threats nerfing stock the flames and the like. Where this card shines however is against other mid-ranged decks, or even to hold up against control. Abzan Charm a solid all around card that can kill (err... exile) threats, pump your creatures (saving them or letting them run down enemy creatures while growing) and occasionally (like 10-15% of the time) giving you some card draw. It also kills forst walker while pumping your creature, which is hilarious. This is usually the first card sideboarded out for more targeted answers, but against an unknown opponent it definitely pulls its weight. Hero's Downfall rounding out the removal package is the classic kill spell. I often board out HD for more efficient answers, but this card is a great catch all. It is also my only answer to Stormbreath Dragon, or resolved planeswalkers (other than post board
Glare of Heresy
versus Elspeth).
Ah, the mana base. I spent a lot of time tweaking this.
Mana Confluence
allows me to only run 6 taplands, and 12 untapped green sources to increase consistency of casting a turn 1
Warden of the First Tree
. If I have a warden in the opener, I am usually playing my first tap land on turn 3, going warden into pump into 2 drop; otherwise, it plays a lot like the less agro version going tap land into two drop into anafenza or removal. I have 17/16/16 Green/White/Black sources, with green the main color, urborgs helping smooth out BB requirements, and Rocs my only WW cards.
The sideboard can obviously change depending on meta. My first rule of sideboarding is that I almost never sideboard out any of my 24 threats; the 11 removal spells are the flex spots. Thoughtseize one of the staples of the format, in a lot of builds, this card is mainboard, hoping to take an on curve threat to throw off your opponents' tempo or against slower opponents take what you can't deal with. I am not quite as high on the card (although it is undoubtedly powerful) especially with the prevalence of agro in my meta. I bring in Thoughtseize pretty much exclusively against control. Nissa, Worldwaker this is the second anti-control tech, spitting out threats that dodge ugin and vault. You have to be careful not to make too many lands that can get wiped by a Crux of Fate but making one 4/4 and holding up the threat of another activation is pretty solid. I can see bringing this in against the mirror, but I already have enough tech there.
Hunt the Hunter
I love this card. It is such a tempo blow out against the mirror and more mid-ranged Abzan or Green devotion builds. I wish I could run more, but those decks aren't as prevalent at my LGS as they used to be.
Glare of Heresy
this is also nuts against the mirror and can also hit elspeths vs Abzan walkers. This card also comes in against RW (or the random BW or Mardu).
Back to Nature
when this card is good, it is great. It's excellent against any type of constellation strategy (obviously), green ramp, and surprisingly some of the RW builds. I wouldn't bring this in if all I saw was chained to the rocks, but if I also saw an Eidolon of the Great Revel or Outpost Siege then watch out, it's 2 for 1 city. Drown in Sorrow great versus RDW, RW, BW, Jeskai etc, just don't forget to scry (and be careful if you suspect a transformational sideboard).
As always, advice welcome and appreciated!