Abzan Blade - European Highlander

Highlander BGW (Abzan, Junk) Competitive Death and Taxes GWUB Midrange Primer

HallOfStats

Creature (38)

• 1x Arbor Elf
• 1x Avacyn's Pilgrim
• 1x Birds of Paradise
• 1x Deathrite Shaman
• 1x Elves of Deep Shadow
• 1x Elvish Mystic
• 1x Fyndhorn Elves
• 1x Hexdrinker
• 1x Llanowar Elves
• 1x Noble Hierarch
• 1x Dark Confidant
• 1x Gaddock Teeg
• 1x Qasali Pridemage
• 1x Scavenging Ooze
• 1x Stoneforge Mystic
• 1x Tarmogoyf
• 1x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
• 1x Tidehollow Sculler
• 1x Voice of Resurgence
• 1x Anafenza, the Foremost
• 1x Aven Mindcensor
• 1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
• 1x Bygone Bishop
• 1x Courser of Kruphix
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Kitchen Finks
• 1x Knight of Autumn
• 1x Knight of the Reliquary
• 1x Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
• 1x Loxodon Smiter
• 1x Lurrus of the Dream-Den
• 1x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
• 1x Luminous Broodmoth
• 1x Palace Jailer
• 1x Questing Beast
• 1x Restoration Angel
• 1x Shifting Ceratops
• 1x Siege Rhino

Land (32)

• 1x Arid Mesa
• 1x Bayou
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Flooded Strand
• 1x Forest
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Horizon Canopy
• 1x Indatha Triome
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Karakas
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Misty Rainforest
• 1x Nurturing Peatland
• 1x Overgrown Tomb
• 1x Plains
• 1x Polluted Delta
• 1x Savannah
• 1x Scrubland
• 1x Snow-Covered Forest
• 1x Snow-Covered Plains
• 1x Snow-Covered Swamp
• 1x Stirring Wildwood
• 1x Sunpetal Grove
• 1x Swamp
• 1x Temple Garden
• 1x Verdant Catacombs
• 1x Wasteland
• 1x Windswept Heath
• 1x Wooded Bastion
• 1x Wooded Foothills
• 1x Woodland Cemetery
• 1x Yavimaya Hollow

Instant (13)

• 1x Darkblast
• 1x Fatal Push
• 1x Funeral Charm
• 1x Mental Misstep
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Abrupt Decay
• 1x Assassin's Trophy
• 1x Eladamri's Call
• 1x Eliminate
• 1x Tainted Pact
• 1x Kaya's Guile
• 1x Mythos of Nethroi

Sorcery (8)

• 1x Blackmail
• 1x Duress
• 1x Inquisition of Kozilek
• 1x Thoughtseize
• 1x Collective Brutality
• 1x Demonic TutorGC
• 1x Hymn to Tourach
• 1x Call of the Death-Dweller

Planeswalker (5)

• 1x Kaya, Orzhov Usurper
• 1x Liliana of the Veil
• 1x Liliana, the Last Hope
• 1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
• 1x Kaya, Ghost Assassin

Artifact (3)

• 1x Shadowspear
• 1x Sword of Feast and Famine
• 1x Sword of Fire and Ice

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Sylvan Library

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Welcome to Abzan Blade for European Highlander

"Disruption and efficient beater" is the name of the game

Introduction Show

What is "Abzan Blade"? "Abzan Blade" is a midrange deck which is based upon the general idea of the known midrange archetypes "Jund" (Modern), G/B and the "Blade"-Variants. This deck capitalizes on undercosted beaters backed up by arguably the best removal in the game. Strip away the key card in your opponents hand with Thoughtseize, deploy a threat and clear the way with your removal to go in for the kill.

Pro//Con Show

Pro:

+customizable

+easy to learn

+great against blue mages

+streamlined gameplay

Con:

-Blood Moon//Back to Basics

-no "ups i win combo"

-combat math is key

-can get outvalued on board

Construction Show

Building this deck we tried something different this time. Instead of relying on "autoincludes" we wanted to get to the root of decks like this. To accomplish that, we deconstructed different versions of a "Jund" (Modern) list as well as "Death and Taxes" and G/B (Modern/Legacy). The "Jund" list was used to build the backbone of this deck. We wanted to make this list as consistent as "Jund" is. To achieve that we figured out which spells the deck uses in which spot. For example "Jund" plays 12 1-Mana spells. Six of them are great "on the draw" and six of them are great "on the play". We used these numbers and scaled them up for 100 cards.

6 (cards "Jund" used) * 1,66667 (the factor to get to 100 cards) = 10

It was clear that we needed to play 10 spells that are good "on the draw" and 10 that are good "on the play" so we searched for that. In the best case you find functional reprints of the effect you want to use. Most of the time that will not be the case. For example "Jund" uses discard or removal for turn one. Discard being great on the play while removal is great on the draw. Problem being: There are not enough high quality discard spells with 1-CMC to implement. We had to use something else. We settled for the following: 10 creatures "on the play" and 10 Spells "on the draw". This provides us with better 2-drop options while disrupting our opponents´ plan by removing the one-drop or their turn-two play.

We double-checked if we hit the same probability for our turn-one plays as "Jund", so we used a hypergeometric calculator. "Jund" has a probability of 80% for hitting one of their spells for turn 1 in their first seven. According to our calculations we accomplished the same probability.

We used the same process for every turn.

1. Check in the list you use as the backbone of your deck for spells that should be played the turn you are checking for.

2. Multiply that number by 1.66.

3. Find copies of the effect you are looking for (maybe use other effects that support the strategy).

4. Double check with a hypergeometric calculator, if you hit the probability you wanted. Depending on the probability you wanted. Depending on the probability you want, there might be rounding errors. Use these free slots simply as flex slots in your deck.

Game plan Show

Step 1: Be on the play (statistically speaking being on the play gets you higher winrates )

Step 2: Check if you are in the driver seat

2.1 Setting the tempo of the game --> pump out efficient beaters or hatebears that prey upon your opponents strategy

2.2 You need a comeback --> use disruption, then slam the appropiate "Hatebear"

Step 3: Carry it home! This is easier said then done. Always consider step 2 when your turn comes up. Focus on combat math and use disruption and removal wisely. Every card you have counts, since your deck does not provide you with as much card draw as other decks.

Card choices Show

Now to the bread and butter: The card choices!

Lets start with turn 1:

As previously mentioned in the construction part: Elves, discard and removal. While on the play you want to look out for cards like Llanowar Elves, Avacyn's Pilgrim or maybe Mother of Runes. The elves beeing the best start but mother and giver are also forces to reckon with. On the draw you want to look out for cards like Thoughtseize, Inquisition of Kozilek, Darkblast or Fatal Push. These cards should be used to either kill your opponents´one drop or to discard the follow-up spell. In either of those cases you need to ask yourself, if it is worth using those tools on what you see. Most of the time you want to "bolt the Bird". In our case "push the Elves". Just because it might become scary, if other decks start ramping out big stuff. When playing against control, you want to discard their options to draw cards or spells that would trade up with your plays mana-wise. In short: If you see a Forked Bolt in your opponents hand, while your hand consists of elves, discard that.

Turn 2:

We run cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Gaddock Teeg or Fleecemane Lion to represent early aggression. The 2-drop slot is mostly filled with creatures that tax our opponent. This slot is mostly used to play two spells a turn, which is efficient against control or for stacking up specific "Hatebears" that disrupt our opponents' deck. It is crucial, that the 2-drops do not require two mana symbols of the same color. Cards like Knight of the White Orchid may be a good choice for mono-white or even Selesnya, but are most of the time uncastable for us on turn 2. This makes them dead cards in our hand, what we simply can not afford. If you want to switch some 2-drops, keep that in mind. Sidenote: Most of our tutors are 2-drops and are rarely used on turn 2. Try using them to find answers if you need one right away or to find that one good evasive beater that can seal the deal, like Questing Beast. If you were able to keep your elf from the first turn, try pumping out 3-drops like Loxodon Smiter. Your 3-drops are fairly powerful and if you can deploy them early, the game will shift in your favor.

Turn 3:

The crucial turn in our format at the moment. The 3-drops in this list are the value-engines. Anafenza, the Foremost and Kunoros, Hound of Athreos single handedly hate "Reanimator",Loxodon Smiter and Kambal, Consul of Allocation simply prey on blue decks. If you have four Mana on turn 3, you can use Hexdrinker to fulfill a similar role, because you can play it and level it up to three in the same turn. That makes him tough to deal with for most decks. This is also the turn for our Planeswalkers to enter the battlefield. Kaya, Orzhov Usurper is great against "Aggro" matchups, because she threatens a big amount of damage with her ultimate while gaining life every time she ticks up. Nissa, Voice of Zendikar is your choice if you have an established board since she buffes your team while staying alive while being able to produce a new board after a boardwipe. Liliana, the Last Hope is mostly used to kill opposing elves (which can be also be a good choice on turn 2 otp with an elf on board), yet sometimes you need to buy back a specific hate-piece. Stay focussed on what options your cards can provide you with and use the "big-beaters" like Shifting Ceratops to finish your opponent or to deploy a big threat after a "Wrath".

Date added	5 years
Last updated	4 years
Legality	This deck is Highlander legal.
Rarity (main - side)	16 - 0 Mythic Rares 57 - 0 Rares 13 - 0 Uncommons 8 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.22
Tokens	Cat Soldier 1/1 W, Clue, Companion Zone, Elemental */* GW, Emblem Liliana, the Last Hope, Plant 0/1 G, Spirit 1/1 WB, Monarch Emblem, Zombie 2/2 B
Folders	Highlander FNM, EDH