Abzan Battle Priest

Creature — Human Cleric

Outlast {W} ({W}, {T}: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Outlast only as a sorcery.)

Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has lifelink.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (51)

TheVectornaut on Rise of the Griffins

6 months ago

While I like the idea of the current enchantment combo, I don't know that it's really necessary. Privileged Position already protects your stuff without the need to get out 2 cards. Further, turning all of your lands into enchantments opens you up to instantly losing the game to something like Spring Cleaning, although players are more likely to play mass wipes that will also destroy or exile their permanents due to Enchanted Evening's symmetry. Speaking of, you can try to take advanatge of that symmetry in other ways like playing Azorius First-Wing as an unblockable griffin, assuming you don't mind going into blue. Otherwise, I'd still try to upgrade the griffins here to be a little faster and more impactful. Diving Griffin and Resplendent Griffin have the potential to be better than Sunspire Griffin, depending on the final build. Fearless Fledgling and Griffin Rider are both aggressive options to shore up the 2 slot in a way I think would be more impactful than Crashing Drawbridge or the currently underwhelming Pearl Medallion. Finally, Wanted Griffin may be better than Senate Griffin at 4, again depending on what your game plan ends up being. Mutavault and Metallic Mimic are some less budget friendly options that could help the tribe's limited card pool.

As for anthems, I usually prefer the 2 cost options to the 3, although I do like Always Watching. Honor of the Pure is the vanilla option while Rally the Ranks or even Obelisk of Urd could fit in a tribal shell. One thing I thought of while looking at the high number of white pips making the Medallion worse was that you could lean into that and go for a mono-white devotion build. Some anthems like Flowering of the White Tree and Benalish Marshal already fit well in such a deck. You'd definitely want a playset of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx and some sort of payoff for the extra mana like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, Walking Ballista, or whatever other bomb you prefer. You'd also want something to play on 1 for that strategy. War Falcon has some synergy with Griffin Rider, Esper Sentinel is a generically powerful draw engine, and Weathered Wayfarer is a classic way to find Nykthos. War Falcon also brings to mind the idea of leaning more into broad flying support like Sephara, Sky's Blade and Rally of Wings, although I acknowledge going down that path could severely dilute the tribal identity of the deck. One final approach I can think of is pivoting to focus on lifegain to use the Griffin Aerie in your maybeboard. You'd definitely need cheaper ways to gain life than True Conviction, especially since I think it's already one of the weaker cards in the deck. The reality is that you'd probably be nudged towards splitting the griffins with angels to take advanatge of Angelic Accord, Bishop of Wings, Speaker of the Heavens, and even Archangel of Thune. Outside of that, the options are more limited. Maybe mass lifelink could be made cheaper with Metallic Mimic plus Envoy of the Ancestors or Abzan Battle Priest. This is the only route where I actually see Path of Bravery being worth it.

Exoflo on ABZAN HOUSES

10 months ago

Forgotten Ancient needs one full turn to trigger and the reward is not that great

Smothering Tithe has no synergy with your deck, you just become the archenemy instantly

Thalia and The Gitrog Monster is not a good card for your deck imo

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon brings no synergy to the deck but is a strong kill. This is better than Thalia and gitrog however

Toxic Deluge is a very good card but is anti-synergistic with your deck because it goes over indestructible (so you can't protect you board and then wrath). Consider Damning Verdict if your are the only counter-matter player in your playgroup

Abzan Battle Priest is a strong card because lifelink is a powerful mechanic, even more when you keep your creature in defence

Keep in mind you only have 8 black creature + your commandant for Flare of Malice

You have very strong creature cards in deck like Sovereign Okinec Ahau. If members of your playgroup play tutors, you can improve your deck by adding Eladamri's Call and others

Anyway, this is a very good brew for sure and never forget to play the cards you like rather than the strong ones.

Darb_the_Bard on Emiel: Flickering Unicorn

1 year ago

rwn1971 Emiel is one of my favorite decks. Outlast would be decent. I know I have run Tuskguard Captain in decks before, but I seem to always cut it for something more powerful that comes along. I just did a scryfall search to see what other outlast creatures would be available in these colors. Abzan Battle Priest, Abzan Falconer, and Arcus Acolyte could be helpful, but the main focus of the deck has been ETB creatures. The +1/+1 counters is more a sub-theme, which means I prioritize cards that add +1/+1 counters while also synergizing with Emiel's ability to blink them over and over. Hence, the inclusion of cards like Filigree Vector, Primeval Protector, Rishkar, Peema Renegade, Champion of Lambholt, and Armorcraft Judge. Even Conclave Mentor, Cathars' Crusade, and Tribute to the World Tree get a lot stronger when I'm blinking one or more creatures over and over.

Bravo_Christian on Abzan Scales

3 years ago

Hey man, your deck is very similar to my abzan scales deck. I made mine when Khans first dropped and have made small improvements to it but it's still a pretty consistent deck.

For creatures I do run 1 Abzan Battle Priest and 2 Mer-Ek Nightblade. I Appreciate the buffs they give but that's usually after a few turns. Ainok Bond-Kin and Abzan Falconer are also great to have as they come out earlier and give creatures first strike and flying. You already have the falconer of course.

For spells I run Citadel Siege, Brave the Sands, Bioshift, Feat of Resistance, and Solidarity of Heroes. Kin-Tree Invocation is also very nice. Recently I paid two mana to get a 9/9 spirit. For removal I use Hunt the Weak, Naturalize, and Putrefy.

Don't forget about proliferate. You're using Planeswalkers to create tokens which will work, but I always find that Planeswalkers are easily removed. Cards like Courage in Crisis and Grateful Apparition are cards I've been thinking of adding and they might work for you too!

BlackoutX on Lathiel's got gains

3 years ago

Lets start with a list of easy cuts from a deck like this, Nearheath Pilgrim, Predator Ooze, Abzan Battle Priest, Archon of Sun's Grace, Oketra the True, and Pounce.

Legion's Landing  ^Flip This card is good in white decks since they need ram, your in green so it doesn't matter nearly as much. Dawn of Hope is another card good in white bad in green (even with the synergy) and the same with Cosmos Elixir.

Some good card draw for your deck would be cards like Greater Good, Rishkar's Expertise, Momentous Fall, and Life's Legacy these all work very well with a big creature strategy and especially well with cards like Ajani's Pridemate or a less budget option Ajani, Strength of the Pride.

Greens most powerful attribute is its land ramp due to it being very hard to interact with. Unless you are running a three-drop commander that you really need out right away you shouldn't be relying on mana dorks. Cards like Harrow, Three Visits, and Primal Growth are exemplary due to getting untapped lands while still being on curve for a four-mana commander. Cards such as Rampant Growth or Roiling Regrowth are still good but come with the downside of getting tapped lands.

I also personally like Wild Growth and Utopia Sprawl although they aren't actually land ramp, they can be used with Arbor Elf (one of the only man dorks that I would still suggest running) to get even more value.

Another thing that you should get for this deck is some protection for your commander, the easiest options for this are Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots.

Lastly I would suggest running, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun, Nesting Grounds and Karn's Bastion due to the synergy with your deck

ClockworkSwordfish on Life Gain

3 years ago

This looks like a good start! I think to really get Lathiel working, you'll want cards that gain you life in huge chunks - some good, cheap options include Ordeal of Heliod, Life Goes On and Feudkiller's Verdict. Cards that do nothing but gain a little bit of life at a time, such as Ajani's Mantra or Marble Chalice, build up an advantage over a long time but aren't quite as flashy. Likewise, enchantments just meant to make creatures bigger - that is, Vinecraft, Siegecraft and Castle - are somewhat redundant, as you can expect to make creatures bigger by virtue of gaining life!

The other key element to Lathiel is that you're accruing +1/+1 counters, so creatures like Conclave Mentor, Abzan Falconer and Abzan Battle Priest will capitalize on that fact. Having access to lifelink is probably key, since it will essentially allow your creatures to double in size each turn. Other good ways to ensure that include Loxodon Warhammer, Behemoth Sledge Vitality Hunter. Hopefully some of these pointers help give you a leg up!

MindAblaze on How many counters do I …

3 years ago

Player A is attacking with an 0/4 with five +1/+1 counters on it. They also control an Odric, Master Tactician, Orzhov Advokist, Archangel of Thune and an Abzan Battle Priest, none of which are attacking.

Player B (the attacked played) controls an Undead Alchemist, a Shepherd of Rot, Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver a decayed zombie token and a normal 2/2 zombie token, all untapped.

Say Player B chooses to block, how many counters would player A’s creatures get if the attacking creature dies to combat damage, with no other shenanigans going on?

InfectedToe on BOROS modular fun

3 years ago

This is a pretty fun deck, kinda wanted to build a Zabaz deck at one point myself but you're the resident Boros enjoyer so I knew you would at some point lol.

Regardless, I do have some suggestions: Panharmonicon is an absolute must-include, it literally doubles counters across the board. Also, Extruder could be a great explosive finisher.

As for slightly weaker but still good cards to include, Abzan Battle Priest could offer a good amount of lifegain, Cloud Key is basic artifact tribal, and Core Prowler is another cheeky infect wincon with bonus proliferation.

As far as cards to replace, Chief of the Foundry is pretty weak here as it doesn't actually count as counters for modular creatures, and Energy Chamber is exceedingly slow in practice.