You Can Count(er) On It

Standard* AzureVigil

SCORE: 12 | 53 COMMENTS | 2821 VIEWS | IN 5 FOLDERS


Sideboard/Maybeboard Updates —Oct. 3, 2015

Few minor updates for BFZ Launch.

First, I'll make my suggestions, then I'll explain them.

+1 Hardened Scales

+2 Dromoka's Command

+1 Managorger Hydra

+1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit

+4 Scythe Leopard

+4 Undergrowth Champion

+1 Evolving Wilds

-3 Forest

-3 Plains

-1 Dragonlord Dromoka

-1 Dromoka, the Eternal

-3 Enduring Scalelord

-3 High Sentinels of Arashin

-4 Salt Road Quartermasters

+As many as possible Collected Company

(in lieu of Collected Company, Gather the Pack is usable)

Alright, now my reasoning. First and foremost, there is no reason not to run a fourth Hardened Scales, unless the problem is simply that you don't own another. Second, you might notice that I recommended taking out all of your creatures with Converted Mana Cost greater than 3. The expensive creatures are exciting and impressive, but they simply aren't worth it, particularly on an aggressive plan like this deck is. You say in the description that control-heavy decks can shut you down, dropping your mana curve will help with that. It's far simpler to counter or kill-spell a Scalelord or a Dromoka than it is two or three smaller threats. In this deck, the new cards Scythe Leopard and Undergrowth Champion are really in a position to be huge threats. They can come out early and keep getting bigger as the game goes on, and even a single Hardened Scales turns them into huge threats in just a couple turns. I would HIGHLY recommend acquiring them as soon as possible. I suggested another Managorger and another Anafenza because both are cheap, efficient creatures that have a very large effect on the game. Also, 25 lands is a really high amount. An aggressive deck like this usually shouldn't be running more than 20. That said, I would recommend making Evolving Wilds a four-of, both for mana-fixing and for double landfall triggers. (Windswept Heath would admittedly be optimal, but it's kind of expensive.) Last, if you can run Collected Company as a four-of, you should do that. It's a very powerful card. However, because it's so powerful it is somewhat expensive. Adding Gather the Pack to this deck gives you the ability to dig for more of your threats if your opponent is able to continuously remove them, and also to keep the threats coming if you have the advantage.

Hope it helps. Good Luck.

September 25, 2015 5:18 p.m.

Mavert says... #3

Gleam of Authority could be your best friend

September 25, 2015 9:21 p.m.

deathbite says... #4

no reason not to be running 4 dromoka's commands.

September 26, 2015 6:14 a.m.

Ephemeral Shields could shield you from a bit of removal, maybe sideboard it?

September 27, 2015 11:24 p.m.

AzureVigil says... #6

Ephemeral Shields is out of Standard on the 2nd of October, but I'll put it on Maybeboard for when this deck eventually turns to Modern.

September 28, 2015 9:07 a.m.

Rageinn says... #7

Should still have 4 Hardened scale not 3. Same thing for dromoka command 4 of them or feat or resistance. you can salvage mayby 1 Citadel siege and the 3 High Sentinels of Arashin.

Mark my word ... using 2 differents color type cards using 2 mana from the same color type like GG or WW or 1WW is risky and requieres alot of land control like dual lands or fetch lands. You will often end up not being able to cast them fast enought with bad draws. i use Sandsteppe Citadel to replace the Theros dual lands. And evolving wild works but fetch lands with 1 life cost are more aggro and can make win or lost in competitive game.

September 28, 2015 9:39 a.m.

IsThisWolfe says... #8

If it's in your budget either Drana, Liberator of Malakir or Hangarback Walker would work great in your deck.

September 28, 2015 2:34 p.m.