✨✨Doran's Evolving Woods ✨✨

Modern* BGW (Abzan, Junk) Enchantment Four Color GWUB Midrange

OriginLeon

Creature (28)

• 2x Arbor Elf
• 4x Birds of Paradise
• 1x Brain Maggot
• 1x Courser of Kruphix
• 3x Doran, the Siege Tower
• 2x Gaddock Teeg
• 1x Scavenging Ooze
• 1x Selfless Spirit
• 1x Siege Rhino
• 3x Spellskite
• 3x Treefolk Harbinger
• 3x Wall of Omens
• 3x Zur the Enchanter

Land (20)

• 2x Breeding Pool
• 1x Dryad Arbor
• 2x Forest
• 2x Murmuring Bosk
• 2x Overgrown Tomb
• 1x Plains
• 1x Swamp
• 3x Temple Garden
• 4x Windswept Heath
• 2x Wooded Foothills

Instant (3)

• 1x Path to Exile
• 2x Path to Exile

Sorcery (6)

• 4x Eldritch Evolution
• 2x Lead the Stampede

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Assault Formation
• 2x Detention Sphere

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Sideboard

Enchantment (7)

• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Nevermore
• 1x Rest in Peace
• 2x Spreading Seas
• 1x Stony Silence
• 1x Unflinching Courage

Creature (6)

• 1x Aegis of the Gods
• 1x Chameleon Colossus
• 1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
• 1x Reclamation Sage
• 1x Selfless Spirit
• 1x Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive

Sorcery (2)

• 1x Slaughter the Strong
• 1x Slaughter the Strong

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DORAN'S Evolving Woods

I saw a against the odds from SaffronOlive with this idea when I was in the middle of assembling an Abzan Thoughness deck (which revolves around Doran, the Siege Tower) and I really really liked the idea so I prepared a list to test and it turns out I like this one even more then the "Zurless" version.

General description of main deck

• Doran, the Siege Tower and Assault Formation -> Ass-beating effects, main engine of the deck, probably won't have any shot of winning if none of them enters the battlefield pre-side.

• Zur the Enchanter -> Part of the toolbox aspect of the deck. When Doran, the Siege Tower is not present, it will usually grab Assault Formation. Otherwise it can grab creatures like Courser of Kruphix, Brain Maggot and Eidolon of Rhetoric. For control purposes it can grab other enchantments like Detention Sphere, Rest in Peace, Ghostly Prison and any other enchantments I may have sided in.

• Treefolk Harbinger -> Enters the game grabbing Doran, the Siege Tower, Murmuring Bosk, Temple Garden, Overgrown Tomb. Breeding Pool, Dryad Arbor or even regular Forest according to what you need for the next draw. Also attacks for 3 when ass-beating effects are in place.

• Spellskite -> Like in all modern decks this is here to protect my more important cards, in this case normally the Zur the Enchanter, Zur the Enchanter or Assault Formation. Added value in this deck specifically since it can attack for 4!

• Gaddock Teeg - The main reason for theese are the 3 most used board sweepers in modern (Wrath of God, Damnation and Supreme Verdict). But it turns out it's really usefull now with unbanning of Jace, the Mind Sculptor! Also stop a bunch of other staples from various decks like Cryptic Command, Collected Company, Chord of Calling, Scapeshift, Karn Liberated, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Archive Trap, ad nauseum and a lot more! It may be a fragile card but with 3 Spellskites and a Brain Maggot in the main deck to hold off those spot removals it may be a good deal.

• Dauntless Escort - This deck was hurting too much to board wipes, so I added this guy to help protect agains those. Any dork can be traded for him with Eldritch Evolution soh one copy i think is enough.

• Birds of Paradise and Arbor Elf -> General mana ramp and fix.

• Wall of Omens -> Added to raise the card advantage a little. Also a good blocker and the first choice of sacrifice to Eldritch Evolution to grab my 4-drops.

• Scavenging Ooze -> Modern staple mainly in a toolbox deck. Graveyard hate that can also go big in some mathes after a wipe and get me back in the game with a bunch of life.

• Courser of Kruphix -> This one becomes a "4/4" beater for three mana that also compensate life loss from shocklands and fetchlands. Also good synergy with Treefolk Harbinger since you can fetch a land and immediately play it! Unfortunately it also dies to enchantment destruction. Fetchable with Zur the Enchanter.

• Siege Rhino -> This one becomes a "5/5" that also compensate life loss from shocklands and fetchlands. Without Doran, the Siege Tower in play is already a good creature in it's own right. Good fetch with Eldritch Evolution trading for a Wall of Omens also gaping 6 damage advantage over the opponent. Main star of the deck against burn.

• Brain Maggot -> Complement of the control aspect of the deck. Not the best discard effect, but can really help since it's fetchable both with Lead the Stampede and Zur the Enchanter. Used especially to grab removals and board-wipe effects when attacking with Zur the Enchanter for the first time depending on the matchup.

• Lead the Stampede -> Using this one instead of Collected Company for the lower CMC, for being able to also get Zur the Enchanter and for the card advantage effect other than putting it directly on the battlefield. This can be better for this deck especially if you are dealing with wipe effects.

• Eldritch Evolution -> The new namesake of the deck. This card is my new approach to this idea turning it into some kind of aggro-toolbox deck. During my recent tests online it is performing really well. Any dork can grab me a Doran, the Siege Tower or a Spellskite. My 2-drops Wall of Omens and Brain Maggots will usually fetch me a Zur the Enchanter, a Siege Rhino or a Chameleon Colossus after sideboard. For aditional value I can even sac the Dryad Arbor to get a Spellskite or even a Gaddock Teeg after sideboard (%@&@# u Jace, the Mind Sculptor).

• Path to Exile -> Creature removal for added protection. Also helps with mana fix in a pinch since I run some basics.

• Detention Sphere -> Permanent removal and important part of controlling the match. Can get opponents by surprise removing flying blockers when attacking with Zur the Enchanter. Very good against "4 of everything" decks and tokens.

• Dryad Arbor -> Can be useful as a surprise block you can grab with a fetch, or as sac for Liliana of the Veil for example, or fodder to main Eldritch Evolutions to grab important 2-drops. Also it's the only land fetchable with Lead the Stampede.

Updates

02/10/2017

• Removed 1 Nyx-Fleece Ram from main deck.

• Added 1 Knight of the Reliquary.

10/10/2017

• Removed Knight of the Reliquary from main deck - In the end I think another 3-mana creature did not help my curve, and a single reliquary in the deck is not ideal. It's also a nombo with my own Rest in Peace in the sideboard.

• Removed 1 Lead the Stampede from main deck - I think I may be running one too many of this.

• Added 1 more Brain Maggot to main board - In the end I am getting the feeling my biggest concern here right now is board sweepers, and Inquisition of Kozilek won't hit those so I added one more of theese to raise control of the deck a little bit.

• Added 1 Unflinching Courage to main board.

10/10/2017

• Removed Nyx-Fleece Ram from sideboard - It's not specific against any type of deck I found myself rarely sliding it in. Since I added Unflinching Courage to main deck for lifegain this seems kind of pointless now. I also have Scavenginz Ooze for additional lifegain too.

• Added 1 Choke to sideboard.

23/01/2018

• Added 1 Slaughter the Strong to sideboard.

• Removed 1 Ghostly Prison from sideboard - Since I added Slaughter the Strong for the same purpose and this one is fetchable with Zur the Enchanter I cut 1 of these.

07/02/2018

• Added 1 Bow of Nylea to main deck.

• Moved 1 Eidolon of Rhetoric from main deck to sideboard - From my recent matchups, it seems this is not as good for a main deck as I previously thought, since there is a lot of matchups it will disrupt my game more than my opponents, so I moved it to the sideboard.

• Removed 1 Scavenging Ooze from sideboard - Since I added Bow of Nylea, which have similar effects (remove stuff from my graveyard, lifegain and +1/+1 counter). Bad thing this won't prevent shenanigans with/from the opponents graveyard but I still have Rest in Peace for that, so I'll test without this one for a while.

20/02/2018

• This is my biggest update since I started describing all of them. It changes how the deck is played. It is now a little more thoughness aggro-focused / toolbox deck. The reason I did those changes are becouse I sensed a little inconsistency on my previous builds, I had little way to obtain card advantage and because of it was relying too much on top draw on some matches after a wipes, removals and discards. Also Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Bloodbraid Elf are comming and I suspect Abzan midrange is loosing ground because of them.

• Removed all Inquisition of Kozilek from deck - This is a midrange tool so I removed it. I still have a little disruption on my Braing Maggot.

• Removed all Abrupt Decay from deck - This is another midrange tool so I removed it. I still run permanent some removal in Detention Sphere.

• Removed Bow of Nylea from deck - Was a little slower than I'd hoped, and in my more aggro focused strategy i think is ocupying a creature slot.

• Removed 1 Treefolk Harbinger from maindeck, reducing to 2.

• Removed 1 Arbor Elf from maindeck, reducing to 2.

• Removed 1 Doran, the Siege Tower from maindeck, reducing to 3.

• Removed 1 Zur the Enchanter from maindeck, reducing to 3.

• Removed 1 Brain Maggot from maindeck, reducing to 2 - Since I do not plan to play a midrange anymore, this is not included planning to arrive early game as general hand disruption, but rather to arrive later to remove wipes and removals.

• Removed Choke from sideboard - Could never get it to work, mainly because against blue is attacking with a Zur the Enchanter is harder, and usually I have more important thinks to fetch (like Brain Maggot or Rest in Peace).

• Removed all Seal of Primordium from sideboard - Was not being so necessary since I can already remove artifacts with Detention Sphere if Zur the Enchanter is attacking. And now with the toolbox aspect of Eldritch Evolution I added Relamation Sage.

• Added full set of Eldritch Evolution to maindeck - This card was the whole motivation of the change, creating a more toolbox aspect to the deck. More detailed on cards description.

• Added 1 more Path to Exiles to maindeck, increasing it to 3. - Even though the deck is more aggro-focused I increased 1 of theese to deal better with troublesome creatures and also to help me get my mana fix in a pinch.

• Added 1 more Slaughter the Strong to maindeck.

• Added 2 Siege Rhinos to maindeck.

• Added 3 Wall of Omenss to maindeck.

• Moved Unflinching Courage to sideboard - This was frequently a bad card to draw in some matches, and now I have a little lifegain + evasion with Siege Rhinos.

• Moved Scavenging Ooze to maindeck - This was traded with the Aura above, since more creatures = more aggro. Also good card to have in a toolbox deck.

Description of sideboard

• Slaughter the Strong - It will rarelly remove any of my creatures on the board (maybe 1 if Courser of Kruphix is arround) and will most likelly clean a lot of threats from my opponent. To get against matches where it will be relevant, like Merfolk, Elves, Abzan, Jund, Eldrazi, Humans, etc. It will rarelly remove any of my creatures on the board (maybe 1 if Courser of Kruphix is arround) and will most likelly clean a lot of threats from my opponent.

The creature sideboard option fetchable with Lead the Stampede and Eldritch Evolution:

• Chameleon Colossus -> Hate against black decks, not being targeted by Fatal Push and a awesome block against Death's Shadow (really prominent in my meta). Also this guy can also be tutored with Treefolk Harbinger.

• Grand Abolisher -> Testing it out as a sideboard against decks that run a lot of control. Also great agains Collected Company decks. Can come out as a surprise with Eldritch Evolution when opponent does not expect it arriving, thus locking them of further answers within that turn.

• Selfless Spirit -> One more sideboard against board-wipes heavy decks. Also extra blocker against spirits or other decks with lots of flying creatures. Unfortunatelly a nombo with Doran, the Siege Tower

The following sideboard option are fetchable with Zur the Enchanter:

• Ghostly Prison -> Intended to resist against very creature-heavy aggro or combo decks like elves, merfolk or tokens.

• Unflinching Courage - I feel I had to few lifegain on main deck so I added this. Also I ran a little tired of 1/1 chump blockers holding my game long enough till the combo hits the board. Good agains agrresive non-reactive decks that I see my life going down with Zur the Enchanter in hand... If he succeds in attacking ans fetching this on attacking Doran, the Siege Tower thats 7 life i'm getting back.

• Nevermore - Can lock combo decks and prevent mass-wipe effects when you know which ones are used.

• Spreading Seas -> Land hate mainly against tron but can also be used against a great number of decks. Also added draw.

• Stony Silence -> Protection mostly against affinity, but can also be used against tron if it arrives early-game.

• Rest in Peace -> The best graveyard hate there is. Not a problem for me since I have zero graveyard interaction.

And at least the following sideboards option is fetchable with Zur the Enchanter, Lead the Stampede and Eldritch Evolution:

• Aegis of the Gods -> Cheap alternative to Leyline of Sanctity that synergizes with my deck. Kind of a nombo with Doran, the Siege Tower but it's not there for attacking anyway. Easily removable but it's there to disrupt a little. Good mainly against discard/burn since they will need to waste removal/burn spell which can make a real difference on the endgame. Can also help against scapeshift if Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle does not arrive early (as it could remove it).

• Eidolon of Rhetoric -> Becomes a "4/4" beater that also locks your opponents to only one spell per turn. Very good against combo decks and some control decks. If you are able to get him with Zur the Enchanter it won't affect you as much since you can keep getting value with Zur's ability in addition to the spell you cast.

Game plan

Not exactly an easy Deck to play with. I'm still learning a lot how to pilot the deck against different matches. I really believe it can perform really well with a tuned decklist when I'm more experienced with it. It has aggro, combo and control all within a late-toolbox-type build rs. Knowing the meta is very very important and misplays often cost me the game. The description here is more of an example, considering how much the gameplay and pacing may differ each match.

Turn 1: Play Murmuring Bosk revealing a Doran, the Siege Tower. Cast a Birds of Paradise or an Arbor Elf.

Turn 2: Play a shockland like Temple Garden or even a Forest and cast a Doran, the Siege Tower. If not available yet, I can put a Wall of Omens on the table for blocking and card advantage.

Turn 3: Play a Breeding Pool if you cast an Arbor Elf and any other shockland if you cast a Birds of Paradise on the first turn. Cast a Zur the Enchanter if Doran, the Siege Tower is already on the battlefield. Attack with Doran, the Siege Tower for 5 damage. If I have none of them I can sac my Wall of Omens to Eldritch Evolution to grab any creature on the deck I find is necessary right now (depends a lot on the matchup).

Turn 4: Play maybe a Spellskite for protection, or a Assault Formation for guaranteed effect of Ass-beating. Attack with Doran, the Siege Tower and Zur the Enchanter for 9 damage. Grab something usefull with Zur the Enchanter according to the match. Maybe a Eidolon of Rhetoric to lock opponents with only one spell per turn. Or maybe a Courser of Kruphix to compensate the life loss form fetchlands and shocklands, and also take advantage of controlling the top of your deck. You can also fetch a Detention Sphere and remove a bothersome blocker (especially good against tokens).

Turn 5: Zur the Enchanter must always keep attacking fetching what's necessary accordingly. If Doran, the Siege Tower is removed you can also fetch a Assault Formation to keep the ass-beating effect. When I draw Eldritch Evolutions I can keep "evolving" my dorks to better creatures according to what's necessary on the match (Spellskite for protection, Gaddock Teeg against wipes or Jace etc, Siege Rhino to even out life and dump a good body on the field, Scavenging Oozer for graveyard hate etc). Keep it up until opponent is beatdown.

Please give me your thoughts and comments as to what can/should I change and upvote the deck if you like. I am aware this is a not a tier deck but I honestly just find it really cool and I wanted to build it. I've been testing it out in XMage and I think is doing okay so if you're up for a match just message me!

I'd also like to know what you guys think about recent changes in mainboard and sideboard.

Top Ranked	Achieved #15 position overall 6 years ago
Date added	6 years
Last updated	5 years
Exclude colors	R
Splash colors	U
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	5 - 0 Mythic Rares 39 - 8 Rares 8 - 5 Uncommons 4 - 2 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.20
Folders	Modern, Budget, Delta's Deck Collection, Decks I like, Interesting Modern Decks, aggro, modern decks, Ideias, Modern, Modern Decks to Try
Based on	Abzan Creature Ass-Beating OriginLeon MDN