Help Requested: Archangel Avacyn
& Spear of Heliod are both place-holders. They're fine effects, and do what the deck wants; however, they aren't essential. One of the 2 could come out for a 1-off effect the deck is missing, or both for a 2-of role-player. Suggestions for these slot(s) and an explanation for your suggestion is both requested and appreciated.
A white weenies style deck that uses Devotion and Nykthos to play huge closers.Each of the 2-drops & 3-drops provides 2 devotion, so turn 4 shoukd always see 4-5 five devotion (minus interference). This gives you 5-6 mana with 4 land drops (including Nykthos), enough to play one of your payoff cards (Heliod, Linvala, Avacyn).
The maybe board represents sideboard cards that were in the board, or will come into the board based on the prevelance of certain decks.
Loxodon Smiter
+
Wilt-Leaf Liege
: Threats to bring in against discard heavy decks, like Liliana of the Viel. Both provide high devotion.
Grand Abolisher: Provides double devotion and messes with instant speed shenanigans. Most useful against decks running counter spells.
Brave the Elements: Fights removal while doubling as a finisher by getting all your guys unblocked. Best against removal heavy decks when threats start to converge in 1 or 2 colors.
Leyline of Sanctity: Freeish devotion, and great when burn and storm are popular.
Blood Moon: I'm using almost all basics. There are simply some matchups where saying no to non-basics and siding out the top-end cards is the best way.
Celestial Flare
: This is "targeted" removal for use against boggles and infect. It will become Blessed Alliance when Eldritch Moon releases.
Declaration in Stone
: Anti-token removal that can double to exile a problem creature in a pinch.
Linvala, the Preserver
+
Timely Reinforcements
: Tools for aggressive matchups. Reinforcements is almost always in the side, and Linvala comes in when I expect a higher density of aggressive decks. Avacyn sides to Linvala.
Disenchant: Flexible instant speed removal for when you need to break an artifact or enchantment.
Mana Tithe: Force Spike is useful tempo in a format where decks want to be as efficient as possible. Playing the same card in a color people expect no counters from can be even better.
Nevermore: Flexible hate against many "unfair" decks. It also provides 2 devotion as a bonus while it interferes with their plans.
Return to the Ranks: Recovery for battling removal heavy matchups.
Path to Exile: Efficient, permanent removal. Sometimes you need the 4th one.
Thalia, Heretic Cathar: A good aggressive body that punishes fetch heavy decks and works with Archangel of Tithes to stop Kiki-combo decks from killing me.
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