Here is what I have been using:

""

I've been experimenting with midrange Abzan for a few days now so I'll just leave it here.
It's still heavily going through changes so I'd be glad to test any suggestions. This is rather fresh, older versions had win rate about 80%

Abzan Midrange

Creatures (20)
2 x Deathcap Cultivator
2 x Sylvan Advocate
4 x Sylvan Ranger
2 x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2 x Bygone Bishop
2 x Tireless Tracker
1 x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 x Archangel Avacyn
1 x Greenwarden of Murasa
1 x Linvala, the Preserver
1 x Woodland Bellower

Instants (5)
3 x Grasp of darkness
2 x Anguished Unmaking

Sorceries (6)
2 x Declaration in Stone
2 x Languish
2 x Tragic Arrogance

Enchantments (2)
2 x Oath of Nissa

Planeswalker(3)
1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 x Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 x Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Lands (24)
4 x Plains
2 x Swamp
4 x Forest
2 x Hissing Quagmire
2 x Shambling Vent
2 x Canopy Vista
2 x Isolated Chapel
2 x Woodland Cemetery
2 x Sunpetal Grove
2 x Westvale Abbey


Comments;
Oath - I simply like it; early on it's a decent +0 enabling us easier PW plays, later on it helps us looking for the card(s) we might need
Ayli - going heavily against the curve since our other early plays are either green or white. Still deciding on her, but she can be neat.
Grasp of Darkness - instant speed makes it good, since it does wonders if timed right
Bygone Bishop - draw. Great with Tracker, good on its own, flying helps
Tragic Arrogance - I like it better than Planar Outburst. It rarely hurts us that much, but it makes Kalitas much better, gives extra value to our engine/big creatures and helps against PW heavy decks/fields
Woodland Bellower - I find the tutoring to be worth it. It also has a nice body which is both useful for beating and keeping opponent distracted from our other stuff.

Almost exactly what I am running currently:

Options

Description
Azban Control deck

Creature(21)
4x Sylvan Ranger
2x Sylvan Advocate
1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2x Eldrazi Displacer
2x Bygone Bishop
2x Tireless Tracker
1x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2x Thought-Knot Seer
1x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1x Conclave Naturalists
1x Archangel Avacyn
1x Greenwarden of Murasa
1x Linvala, the Preserver

Instant(5)
3x Grasp of Darkness
2x Anguished Unmaking

Sorcery(4)
2x Declaration in Stone
2x Tragic Arrogance

Enchantment(3)
3x Suppression Bonds

Planeswalker(3)
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1x Ob Nixilis Reignited
1x Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Land(24)
2x Shambling Vent
2x Plains
2x Swamp
2x Hissing Quagmire
2x Forest
2x Isolated Chapel
2x Woodland Cemetery
2x Sunpetal Grove
3x Rogue's Passage
4x Evolving Wilds
1x Wastes

To view this deck go to: http://www.magicduelshelper.com/decklis ... 3d8fb6a16d

Created using Magic Duels Helper: http://www.magicduelshelper.com

Your deck looks more consistent, while mine is more diverse, perhaps too diverse.

Curious how games vs Superfriends go for you? That deck is the main reason that I have Suppression Bonds. I will say that Suppression Bonds/Tragic is a decent combo, but since it is an enchantment, it is not always a permanent solution.

As far as your card evaluations, I completely agree. I would like to add Oath, but just no slots. As is, I would like a second Conclave, but they just won't fit. I was not as impressed w/ Bellower, but then again, my mind set is more control then beat down, and TBH, I could probably use some more beatdown. Kind of surprised that you do not have a single Reclamation Sage to give you some option to deal with enchantments. It seems a natural fit w/ Bellower. Of course, a 2/1 is not that useful if there are no enchantments, and it is why I run Conclave instead.

You should try Displacer at some point. The card is so good. Yes, it adds another mana requirement, but replacing 1 plains w/ a wastes should do it. You have 8 tutors that can pull it after you have your main colors set up, and 2 other sources in Westvalley. A displacer has so many uses in this deck. Paired w/ Avacyn, you have indestructibility on demand. With Greenwarden, you can recover anything from your graveyard. With Linvala, you can catch up in life quickly. Heck, even rangers can block something, and live through it while fetching you a land.

Even by itself, it can be very useful. It kills tokens that Superfrieds pops out. It removes creatures from combat, or taps them so you can get damage through. It removes counters from things like Woodland or Awakened lands. It removes Auras. The list goes on. Even if it has no targets, it is still an emergency 3/3 for 3. IMO, the best creature in the deck.

Anyway, maybe I will give Bellower another chance. I wasn't running displacer then, and that does add even more value.

Tnx for the feedback

Actually, I prefer Reclamation Sage over Conclave because cmc. It's just that I'm not encountering enough decks that would justify inclusion of such enchantment hate. Sure, it does help against Superfriends (Oaths and general control), Mill and Mono white rush (Always watching is a pain). But I'm not encountering mills...at all. And the other two decks are backed up by enchantments, I don't find them to be the main problem. Inclusion of Tragic Arrogance is my answer to anything enchantment heavy.

I actually did play it in my first version, and I simply love it Azorius (Reflector mage being evil), but here splashing Wastes was a bit too much for me, felt like pushing 3-colour deck as 4-colour and Displacer was often Dead, not even close to its full potential. True, it was before I added playset of Rangers so now I could remove 2 Ayli and try returning 2 Displacer. If I did so, I would probably move out Isolated chapels, one Westvale and something to add wastes and 3-4 Evolving Wilds just for testing (already thinking about removing chapels and one Westvale for Evolving, but this would surely make me do it).

I wouldn't bounce Bellower, but it has other uses;
Tracker - free draw, Extra threat.
Advocate - 4/5 vigilance AND your manlands are +2/+2...; Shambling Vent becomes a killer and Hissing Quagmire can actually live to see another day. That being said, you'll have no worries leaving open lands in late game, be it for manlands OR Grasp of Darkness that could knock off key defender/tempo card for the game...
Cultivator & Ranger - mana, it's good

It's not mandatory, far from that, but as a player I love me some tempo plays, and this card really does it. It's one-card instant field your opponent can't ignore, giving you chance to recover, give it a push for a finish or strengthen the field.

I understand where you are coming from on not running enchantment hate. We do have Anguished and Tragic for Enchantments, but I like having the extra option, especially having the Displacer. Enchantments that made me keep it on board: Always Watching, Evo Leap (Rare, but really messes w/ my creature removal. Nets too much card advantage for them) Fevered Visions (Can actually be useful at times, but like to be able to take it out) From Beyond, Oaths (Low priority normally, but still a target) Tutelage (With 1 Conclave, I have as many ways to kill it as they have copies of Tutelage, so even odds.) Masquerade (Seeing more Vamp decks, and with a good draw, kind of brutal. Hate the First strike more then the +1s) Suppression Bonds in Mirror matches and a variety of Jank. But, Enchantments are rare enough that I would prefer to pay 5 for a 4/4 instead of 3 for a 2/1. The 2/1 is not a threat, but the 4/4 most definitely is. Vs most enchantments, I don't need removal until T5ish anyway (Always Watching and Masquerade being exceptions).

As far as the Mana......I was running 23 mana previously w/o too many issues, but added another Passage to deal with Superfiends and add another source for Displacer and Thought Knot. It is rare I have mana issues beyond the hands that only have 2 or less mana in them and no Ranger. Wilds are also good for Tracker. Unless I need to grab a specific mana early, I prefer to play Tracker on T4 and use Wilds. That way, even if he gets killed (likely) I have two clues for a net card advantage. All that said, I do go back and forth adding cultivator. The Delirium makes it decent late game as well as early.

Speaking of card advantage, imo that is what this deck is really about. Most cards besides the targeted removal give you real or potential card advantage, and they are all very efficient cards. I think that is why I like the deck so much.

Dr Johnny:

In general you have a good number of early creatures but they are not really aggressive, plus you have four board wipes to remove all of them. I would suggest adding 2-3 more non-creature permanents/ spells that can survive your boardwipe and create card advantage. Evolutionary Leap would give you card advantage and help In the long game. Shadows of the Past gives you card advantage without paying any mana, and an alternative win condition. Tamiyo's journal is virtually as powerful as a planeswalker if you do not need immediate help stabilizing the board. Or just add in a little more in the way of draw spells, such as Read the Bones.

Of these choices, I like Evoleap the best. You are good vs agro, you have healthy early drops and board wipes. And you are evenly matched vs some midrange decks. But I think you may have a hard time recovering after a boardwipe and ~1 removal spell. I would cut bygone bishop. Ayli may conflict with evoleap... but if I had both I would sac 1 toughness creatures to evoleap and bigger ones to Ayli.

Just used this a few times and it decimates bro. Im somewhat new to magic so this helped alot lol thanks

Yup, I'm a dumbass. Sorry...I put the deck in the right forum.

Tnx for the feedback!

I've been thingking about EvoLeap for some time now. Shadows of the past is neat, I'll be sure to give it a shot. I'm probably cutting Ayli rather than Bishop because she interferes a lot with the curve and is essentially dead in early game. As soon as I return to tinkering Abzan, I'm implementing (some) of these.

I was leaving Azban untouched, because I feel right now W, B and G are the best 3, and I like to tackle first less powerful combinations, to not get hooked, lol...but I finally had to give it a go

This is my first draft

2 x Deathcap Cultivator
2 x Sylvan Advocate
2 x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2 x Duskwatch Recruiter
2 x Declaration in Stone
3 x Grasp of darkness

2 x Bygone Bishop
2 x Tireless Tracker
1 x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 x Anguished Unmaking
2 x Pulse of Murasa
1 x Ulvenwald Mysteries

2 x Woodland Wanderer
1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

1 x Archangel Avacyn
2 x Planar Outburst
1 x Ob Nixilis Reignited

1 x Greenwarden of Murasa
1 x Woodland Bellower
1 x Even After
1 x Sorin, Grim Nemesis

3 x Plains
3 x Swamp
4 x Forest

2 x Hissing Quagmire
2 x Shambling Vent
2 x Canopy Vista
2 x Isolated Chapel
1 x Woodland Cemetery
2 x Sunpetal Grove
4 x Evolving Wilds


Curve not as weird as most new Abzans...0-13-10-4-4-4

Some points: I much prefer Recruiters over Rangers (with 25 lands and Caps, I'm ok)... or even Visionaries, as Kryder play.
Better stats, you usually end drawing 1, even 2 or more creatures with him, if flipped he becomes awesome acceleration and a bigger body, goes ok with all the instants...what's not to like?
And the deck generates plenty clues, the last touch of synergy to help flipping him

Pulse: I love that card in a deck packed with awesome creatures and sweepers and that needs a bit of time to get rolling, like this one. Also, combos FTW. Deciding between 1 and 3, 2 sounds ok for the moment

Woodland Wanderer, in spite of the opinion of some clever people, I think is still relevant, and the 4 CC spot could do with some more flesh. A 5/5 vigilance trample for 4 mana is something that hasto be dealt with...and other versions I have seen of this deck lack a bit of meat, imho

Ulvenwald Mysteries is this time that card that I always have to include and that nobody plays besides me
In a deck with Bishops, Trackers and sweepers it's simply too good, more than enough to compensate the tempo loss...

If it ends being dissapointing, it could be well become a Tragic Arrogance

Tragic Arrogance, as noted, is awesome with Kali and against 4cPW, Fevered Mill/Mill and tribals...but Outburst becomes another wincon playing 4 manlands and Advocates that are gonna be back from the grave. So for the moment I'll keep those Outburst and see if they are enough.

Even After gives games too in a deck like this...just that it isn't that good in multiples early, and anyways I hate to draw too many 5-6 CC cards, so just one of them

The rest are the standar choices for this shard

I'll try it out. Can't tell if you're going midrange or control. I fear this will go long and lose to control, walkers and even ramp.

Midrange, totally

The only control aspect are basically the Outburst...which makes sense with 4 manlands and the couple Sylvans.
They can clean an unfavorable board, can make Vents pretty tough, and with the Pulses, Murasa and EA, I can recover my best creatures. I like Midrange decks that can go a bit grindy if the game goes long.

The rest is pure creature/PW value, with the best W removal. I should be fast enough for ramp, above all with the good removal to take care of any early fatty. And gringy enough for Control to lose the race.

In fact, it's the same deck that Kryder is playing in the Showdown, and that CGB endorses as top tier, just with a bit less creature/enchantment control (lol) and a bit more muscle/PW control (Wanderers, Recruiters, Bishops)

Where he has 2 Visionaries, 1 Languish, 1 Even After, 1 Sage, 1 Winnower and 1 Fleshbag... I have 2 Recruiters, 2 Bishops, 2 Wanderers and 1 Ulvenwald/Tragic Arrogance (still playtesting)

I think wall of resurgence would do well. Especially with the manlands.

The synergy with the manlands is ok...but a wall in a Midrange deck? Even an agressive one? I can't see it...that would make the match with control AND ramp harder, imho. I want menaces, grind and removal, not stalling waiting for...what?

It blocks every 5/5 and below. Can save you if you don't draw a sweeper. You're also getting a 3/3 creature, with haste post t4 . That's 2 for 1. It also can be sacrificed to Ayli for 6 life. Survives a Planar and can be given more counters as well. The land gets buffed with Advocate too. Can slow down Aggro and Inhave never drawn it late game and been upset.

Downside is now they can kill your land.

Check your card count too. Seems like it was missing something.

It looks ok to me, 25 lands and 35 spells

That is a pretty big downside. I tried for a bit because I was also running Displacer, and it worked okay.....until a Languish, Grasp, Burn or some other kind of creature destruction. Early game, I started to get nervous play it, and later game when I had land, it didn't improve my board enough.

Just my experience.

You don't have to use the ability. I wish I would have them in my deck in the last tourney game I just played. Off the top of my head he had at least eight, 4-5 power creatures. I was able to chump block to victory, but no need with the wall.

Ran across a pretty neat low-curve sacrifice Azban deck that I tried recreating, would appreciate any input.

To the Slaughter
4 x Blisterpod
2 x Hanweir Militia Captain
3 x Carrier Thrall
3 x Duskwatch Recruiter
4 x Sylvan Ranger
4 x Bloodflow Connoisseur
1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2 x Smothering Abomination

4 x Bone Splinters
2 x Declaration in Stone
2 x Anguished Unmaking
2 x Languish

1 x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
1 x Liliana, Heretical Healer
1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

4 x Plains
6 x Swamp
5 x Forest
2 x Canopy Vista
2 x Woodland Cemetery
2 x Isolated Chapel
2 x Sunpetal Grove
1 x Westvale Abbey


Another sac style creature I've considered is Rot Shambler, played it for a bit but cut it for languish, which I can usually handle by saccing all to the Bloodflow Connoisseur.

In regards to enchantments something like Shadows of the Past or Ulvenwald Mysteries.

And lastly some of the usual higher curve options like Sorin, Grim Nemesis, Archangel Avacyn, and Ob Nixilis Reignited.