Hello, and welcome, to Anafenza Tribal, where things grow huge and stompy! Batteries and Jace's not included!
This is an abzan Hardened Scales based deck that uses +1/+1 counters to make everything absurdly massive. Most of the cards can pull their weight even without the scales, but when 1 or 2 Hardened Scales hit the field on turn 2 your opponents in for a rough (and pretty short) game.
Unlike a lot of my other decks, I have actually playtested this, and so far it's been surprisingly powerful, which is great given that this is 100% homebrewed.
The cards and why:
Anafenza, the Foremost: Laughs at the curve with that 4/4 body. The counter on attacking is great, but the second ability busts graveyard mechanics, and makes Hangarback Walker cry.
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit: Everything you play makes your board bigger. While your opponent is dealing with 'more dangerous' threats, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit is there making stuff big and setting up for a monumental Avatar of the Resolute.
Avatar of the Resolute is just a generic counter-themed stompy. Importantly, it's a stompy that trample over chump blockers and is capable of killing a Wingmate Roc in defense.
Managorger Hydra. This is where the fun begins. Every time anyone plays ANYTHING it grows. And grows. With a Hardened Scales out they have 1 or 2 turns to remove it before GG.
Hangarback Walker. It gets played everywhere else, so why not in a deck where it actually fits? It soon becomes too big to simply remove, so ends up eating chumps until they can exile it.
Servant of the Scale: This came in to replace Undergrowth Champion. It's cheap, has a counter, and keeps power on the board when it dies. With a Hardened Scales out, its a 1 mana 2/2 that puts 3 power onto the field on death.
Dromoka's Command. The one we know and love. Counters, taking out
Silkwrap
, it's all here.
Feat of Resistance has been a personal favourite since my first counter-themed deck. In here it's basically a beefed up Gods Willing. Can save stuff or let me swing for game.
Abzan Charm: Useful, multi purpose, punishes Hangarback Walker, counters - all good stuff to be doing. I like it.
Hardened Scales. The one and only. 1 CMC and enough power to close a game. It's a free win if played early on and allows you to push the game over if played later game.
Lands: Well... They let me play stuff. Not much more to say. I had all the cards so didn't bother with budget for the landbase, hopefully it's as good as possible.
So, that's the reasons why I'm playing things, but if you disagree with anything or have amy questions/suggestions, feel free to ask me in the comments. Same goes for the sideboard and maybeboard. (especially the sideboard as I haven't had much practise sideboarding).
That's all from me, so if you like counter themes, stompy stuff or just like the look of the deck, feel free to drop a +1
