There are multiple routes to go with Kwende:
1) Play a horde of generally powerful creatures + a lot of first strike lords. Would need card selection, lol. Uninspiring, IMHO - you just play a deck with a lot of
Rage Reflections.
2) Go "all in" on small first striker aggro. Optionally, may include knight tribal.
3) Equipment. Boring.
4)
Use Kwende as a tool to make good creatures better, and play "first strike midrange". Which is what I am going for.Ability cocktail cards probably need building around to actually be good. Now, they'd mostly give flying to our creatures plus double strike to those that don't already have it. Also, they kind of harm the spirit and charm of the deck by making first strike irrelevant.
First strike giving cards are useful, but:
1) We have only 14 creatures without first strike or a way to get it.
2)
Wall of Omens,
Oreskos Explorer,
Mentor of the Meek,
Mother of Runes, and
Intrepid Hero don't really benefit from double strike much.
So, we have 21 self-sufficent first strikers, 9 creatures that want to have first (double) strike, and 5 creatures that don't really give a carp.
3) At this rate, I like having three first strike lords with other useful benefits, and three cards that give first strike to a chosen creature with other very useful benefits (TPW, where did you find those "random first strike Equipment/Auras" ? There are none.)
Light from Within is probably a good idea, seeing as 18/35 creatures gain an extra buff.
Diviner's wand is evasion plus stat boost plus card draw. It just does everything we want, if inefficently.
Marshal's Anthem is a real deal. It's good early, it's good late, it's going to save us from losing to board wipes and targeted removal (both are equally deadly for us)...
Baneslayers and Angelic Destiny are out cause of budget. Also they piss me off.
I HAVE searched for saboteur abilities, thank you very much : )
Sadly, there aren't a lot of other good big first strikers. Akroma, two Baneslayers,
Razormane Masticore... that's pretty much it.
Loxodon Warhammeris OK, but pales in comparsion to
Sword of Vengeance or
Heirloom Blade, IMHO. Trample is nice... wish we had more ways to get it. Maybe
Dragon Throne of Tarkir is worth it ??
Crescendo of War is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.