Topic: [Standard] - Abzan Combo

More of a brew deck that I want to make better. I have had success at my local FNM, which averages about 60 players. A mix of brew and t1 decks. The t1 decks with good pilots get to the top 8 though the last two weeks I have come from left field with this build to split top 4.

I am first going to list the deck and then explain the combo, though after seeing the list it should be obvious.

Creatures
4 Satyr Wayfinder
3 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Nyx Weaver
4 Nighthowler
4 Siege Rhino
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
4 Gray Merchant of Asphodel

Spells
2 Murderous Cut
4 Crux of Fate
3 Rally the Ancestors
2 Commune with the Gods

Planeswalkers
1 Liliana Vess

Lands
3 Forest
1 Plains
3 Caves of Koilos
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
4 Windswept Heath
2 Temple of Malady
2 Temple of Silence
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
1 Agent of Erebos
2 Doomwake Giant
3 Drown in Sorrow
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Thoughtseize


So the Goal is to fill up my graveyard, play the Rhino's or any other creature and turn 6 Crux of Fate the board, turn 7 Rally with x=5; sets up all the Gray Merchants and Rhinos for a scapeshift type finish. I will say though, that a nighthowler bestowed on a Rhino has made many of my opponents groan and scoop. I guess the idea of a 11/12 trampler isn't fun?

So here are my questions, what changes should I adopt to reflect a more R/W meta, I feel my sideboard is decent but maybe could use a little tweaking.


Thank You all!

Re: [Standard] - Abzan Combo

The biggest thing I see lacking here is Whip of Erebos to give you both the lifegain and the added access to your yard.  Other than that, it seems alright.

Re: [Standard] - Abzan Combo

TyWooOneTime wrote:

The biggest thing I see lacking here is Whip of Erebos to give you both the lifegain and the added access to your yard.  Other than that, it seems alright.

My concern is that the whip is a nonbo with Rally, as whip exiles. However I was thinking of two in the side to deal with the RW tokens Floating about.

Re: [Standard] - Abzan Combo

While yes, it does exile, having redundancy for a primary strategy is rather important.  Given that Rally is only 3x in the list you likely shouldn't depend on it entirely for your wins.  Whip can easily prolong games with lifelink, adds to your black devotion for Gary, and provides one-shot recursion for any of your creatures while you're waiting to draw Rally (and perhaps you won't even need them).