Trust me when I say that this deck has gone through a lot of revisions. It started with an idea to make a deck around Resplendent Angel, but had solider, knights, and angels (all for flavor value). I initially built it around lifegain for Resplendent, but I was doing too much overall and the deck's performance suffered from weak board presence and sub-par spells. Then I cut back and focused on synergizing knights with lifelink, as well as life-gaining noncreature spells, but the deck consistently hit its stride around turns 5-8, which was much too slow.
This is the third iteration where I focus more on board presence, protection, and removal, while supporting Resplendent's passive in various other ways. Through playtesting I'm seeing much better potential board control as early as turn 3.
The Strategy for Board Control
Before the angels hit I want to have a good field presence with knights that can hold their own. Turn one Dauntless Bodyguard starts whacking people. Turn two sees Knight of Meadowgrain for solid board control, or Metallic Mimic poised to buff. Then the main force arrives on turn three with Knight Exemplar for buff and protection, Benalish Marshal as a solid 3/3 presence with buff, Resplendent Angel for early token prep (or just a flying with 3/3), and History of Benalia for steady and insane creature value (which, when followed by Knight Exemplar on turn 4, can be pretty powerful.)
While possible to spawn Resplendent's first token on turn four at the earliest with Chaplain's Blessing, or Blessed Alliance with Meadowgrain, I would instead elect to cast her with Dauntless Bodyguard to prepare for the inevitable removal spell, or have Brave the Elements ready to go. Then on turn 5 drop Chaplain's Blessing with Gisela, the Broken Blade so that you'll more than likely get at least one flying creature with 4 power on the field. When turn 6 rolls around Lyra Dawnbringer is there to act as a finisher.
This is definitely a staggered deck; once 4 mana hits the field it is not advisable to spend everything on a single creature if it can be avoided.
Now the Non-Creatures
I want to kiss whoever made Brave the Elements. Next to Heroic Intervention, this has to be my favorite cheap protective spell. Protection and removal will be key, because let's be real, the strategy for board control that I've illustrated above is a "perfect world" scenario. This deck is going to get hit from all sides from getting pinged, enchantment destruction, sacrificing, and token generators overwhelming its creatures. Being able to meet those threats with removal from Banishing Light, Journey to Nowhere, and Blessed Alliance, while keeping protective spells like Brave the Elements, Felidar Umbra, and Dauntless Bodyguard in reserve is the key to success.
Now We Second-Guess Ourselves
I still have a bit of a Maybeboard at 12 cards. Do I add Authority of the Consuls to slow aggro-haste decks while increasing my lifegain capabilities, then reintroduce Seal Away and Take Vengeance for combo removal? Do I slightly stray from Knight buffs to include Aerial Responder, a wonderful mid-range card with lifelink? Do I introduce Danitha Capashen, Paragon, another knight with lifelink, knowing full-well I wont quite get full value from her due to a lack of equipment and auras? Or Lone Rider
, a lifelink knight with the ability to turn into a monster as early as turn 3? Or Angelic Chorus for late-game token spawning?
These are the questions that have me staring at my screen for hours at a time. They drive me nuts. Any and all help is appreciated, thank you for taking a look at my build!
