Is Hardened Scales a Thing?

Standard Deck Help forum

Posted on Oct. 2, 2015, 9:40 a.m. by DirtDiver12595

The deck in general seems pretty decent. Not top tier but definitely a competitive deck. The only problem is that when you have Hardened Scales it's great, but when you don't have it, it meh.

With no way to fetch up Enchantments or really dig for them in standard right now I think the deck just isn't good enough. What do you guys think?

Boza says... #2

You are saying that the card the deck is named after not being in play is a problem. I do not know how to break the news to Dragonstorm, Pyromancer Ascension storm, Early Harvest decks, Twin decks...

Basically, HC decks are a combo deck that needs the card to go off. Otherwise, it is your run of the mill abzan aggro deck that has been good up until now and will continue to be good.

(Adding a way to search for the card is not an option, even if there were such a thing - searching for a 1 mana enchantment that does not win the game like Fastbond is horrible anyways.)

October 2, 2015 9:50 a.m.

Mandalorian says... #3

Its basically like Boza said. Without Hardened Scales its a run of the mill 'whatever colors your running.' With Hardened Scales, stuff can get out of hand but by no means is it a sure win even if you have one or two out.

October 2, 2015 10:09 a.m.

rorofat says... #4

Huh can I see a sample list? I have 4 (my bro insisted they were good so we bought 4 when they were 50 cents)...

Is it actually a deck? :)

October 2, 2015 10:09 a.m.

Boza says... #5

Here is the run-of-the-mill abzan version I just thought of. Playing 8 Siege Rhino is awesome.

October 2, 2015 10:14 a.m.

Boza says... #6

Basically, you are playing the same abzan midrange game that gets boosted by having the Scales out, but is not in any way necessary, it just makes the monsters bigger.

October 2, 2015 10:24 a.m.

Mandalorian says... #7

Maybe even Managorger Hydra

October 2, 2015 10:28 a.m.

Boza says... #8

You can cut anafenza for mana engorger hydra and cut rhino and charm for lower drops and have a more aggressive GW version or another splash. Deck is cool and legit and is the new future of abzan aggro/midrange.

October 2, 2015 10:30 a.m.

Shill says... #9

The deck is good for sure. I played against it with esper control and won but he was dropping 8/8 fliers and stuff every turn. A few hits get through and I was in trouble.

October 2, 2015 11:31 a.m.

There could be bant version that runs Stratus Dancer and Skyrider Elf. That could be fun.

October 2, 2015 12:35 p.m.

rorofat says... #11

Holy crap curveing Hardened Scales into Skyrider Elf? That'd be sick.

October 2, 2015 6:26 p.m.

glad i picked up a playset at $0.70 a pop :)

Happy to see they're going for 5 each now

October 3, 2015 1:32 p.m.

asasinater13 says... #13

I think the deck is cool but the build I want is G/W with 4x Hangarback Walker, 4x Endless One, 2-3x Hooded Hydra and 2-4x Managorger Hydra, 4x Avatar of the Resolute, 4x Undergrowth Champion. the x spells make the deck because you can play heavy aggro and still have the 10ish spells that, with nothing but mana, get bigger than rhinos on their own. I might consider the blue splash for Skyrider Elf, but I don't know what I would want to cut. I really want to try out Hooded Hydra because the card is very good.

also note out of sideboard it has Hidden Dragonslayer to deal with bigger creatures and burn simultaneously. not often a card does those two things together.

October 4, 2015 2:36 a.m.

asasinater13 says... #14

I'm also not sold on but considering Den Protector. I'm also not convinced Servant of the Scale is worth a spot, just because you want either Hardened Scales or a tapped land on turn one, then you don't want it anywhere after turn one. Sure it can be cool as a trick with play it with two counters, it dies give something three counters. if you have it with Hardened Scales, and you have the time to play it, and it dies with something else in play. A lot of ifs for a card that's bad alone.

October 4, 2015 2:42 a.m.

This discussion has been closed