Sorry I have been absent for such a long time to the few I may have that read here. I have had a hard time getting caught up after I missed the M14 pre-release and release being gone for my 2 week Annual Training for the National Guard. So I was way behind with the cards in M14. I did however, pre-order a box of M14 and was pleasantly surprised with the few good pulls I got. No good Planeswalkers, but I did manage to score a copy of the M14 Ajani, Caller of the Pride in a trade early on.
So I have been moving forward with a W/G/B Life-gain Enchantments deck, but it just lacked teeth and fell prey to removal very quickly. And I have tested it using removal as well, and it just didn't function how I wanted it. But here is my decklist based on what I started with and then I will look at what's been spoiled already that will make this even better.
Lands (22) Sideboard (15)
1x Forest 3x Abrupt Decay
4x Godless Shrine 3x Gaze of Granite
4x Overgrown Tomb 3x Orzhov Charm
4x Plains 3x Putrefy
5x Swamp 1x Vraska, The Unseen
4x Temple Garden 2x Path of Bravery
Creature (23)
1x Archangel of Thune
2x Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3x Blood Scrivener
3x Deadly Recluse
4x Festering Newt
3x Fiendslayer Paladin
4x Lotleth Troll
3x Tenacious Dead
Artifact (6)
3x Bubbling Cauldron
3x Elixir of Immortality
Enchantment (7)
2x Ethereal Armor
2x Gift of Orzhova
3x Unflinching Courage
Planeswalker (3)
3x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
So I was trying to go for a cyclic effect with the Lotleth Troll, pumping it by discarding creatures, giving it flying and lifelink and then bringing everything back into my hand with Elixir of Immortality, and sacking creatures as they die to gain life through the Bubbling Cauldron. It actually works fairly well, except with spot removal. It's horrible against spot removal.
So I'm looking at a slightly different line-up once Theros hits. There are things I am wanting to keep, and things I am definitely wanting to change. For the keepers.
Creatures: (13)
1x Archangel of Thune (perfect for the LG)
2x Blood Baron of Vizkopa (is still a dynamite card)
3x Blood Scrivener (for card draw when topdecking, and with Scry coming up and LG, why not?)
3x Fiendslayer Paladin (This card is just awesome)
4x Lotleth Troll (might be subject to change, now that the cyclic effect is going away)
Enchantments: (5)
3x Unflinching Courage (because it's just so awesome)
2x Gift of Orzhova (for the flying and +1)
3x Ethereal Armor (because the added enchantments are going to make this dynamite!)
Planeswalkers: (3)
3x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
So the matchup problems I have (should I want to stick with W/B/?) are Unfliching Courage and Lotleth Troll, because of the Green. BUT we have this fun thing coming up.
Which could be a game changer for that extra needed mana to cast something outside of your color spectrum, that fact that it has hexproof is just an added bonus.
So let's just say we add that in there, it could make up the ability to splash an extra 4th color in a deck, but not that I am necessarily looking to go that far. It's just a fun idea to look at, however, it does help with mana fixing and even a slight ramp as well. Which I am a fan of.
Another card I would look at playing for this build is
Looking forward, a token producing lifegain seems like it might be a good idea. We have Advent of the Wurm, Call of the Conclave and this, with the already token producing Ajani, Caller of the Pride, and now this guy comes into the field producing tokens as he rides in. To be fair though, you are going to want to have some black creatures out there, so that the loyalty hits pretty hard, but at minimum you are getting 8 power for 7 cost, all with flying. Seems good to me, almost better than the Blood Baron if you give this lifelink through Gift of Orzhova.
Speaking of token producing LG, we have this pretty bombshell I wouldn't mind throwing in a good 2-3 of:
I mean wow, she costs 6, but she is sure worth it as she brings 3 onto the field right away, or kills anything that might be worrying you.
Then we have the black bomb that I am in love with so far:
This is probably one of my favorite cards from the set coming up, it's got a low bestow cost, and replaces itself if the creature it's attached to becomes the victim of removal, and even grows. It's like Bonehoard with Bestow!! And I loved Bonehoard and was so sad that I never got to play it. And it feeds off Lotleth Trolls discard ability, and pumps this as well! Win Win!
And then there's this, and I love it, love it, love it. With LG being played, who cares about losing life. I'd pay 2 life to get rid of my opponent's best card no matter what!
And this is useful as well, following the order, you'd look at the top 2 cards, decide if you want both, one or any of them, and then either place them on the bottom of the library and draw two different ones, or you can draw them, or you can put one on the bottom of the pile and draw one and one mystery. I lose 2 life to do this, which I get back when my Fiendslayer Paladin swings this turn . . . hmmm. How about yes please.
Oddly, if I add this, my Fiendslayer Paladin gains flying until end of turn, not sure if that's better than the Gift of Orzhova which adds +1 and the flying. There is a lot yet to be spoiled though, just a possibility that I see.
And then we have this guy, who just does excellent things when he has enchantments cast on him, or has creatures attached to him. He is a good possibility.
This one is a solid addition, cycles back in cards, adds life, adds counters . . . it's just excellent, and adds deathtouch!
Also, pausing to mention, with all this enchantment craziness, I need to look at enchantment removal as well. Because cards that remove enchantments are going to become really valuable all of the sudden when these hit.
