Brewing at CDW

 CDW

What gender is the one in the middle? Seriously. 

        That's right, Tallen is going to be doing some mental aerobics in conjunction with his physical workouts to prepare for the next FNM, at his local card shop.  FNM (Friday Night Magic.) for the new people, is a gathering of players looking to take a break from the rigors of the week to play Magic.  The ultimate goal of this event is to gain new players, keep the old ones interested and enjoy Magic as a community.  Speaking of community, the deck I'm going to be testing for this coming Friday's tournament is based around preserving my community of high powered, under costed and aggressive creatures.  This will be the first of a two article series.  The first is a pre-Theros brew that involves two of competitive Standard's least beloved planeswalkers.  The second will be my take on a post-Theros deck.  Utilizing the cards spoiled so far.

Deck: G/Walker Aggro (Pre-Theros Rotation)

Creatures:16
Experiment Onex4
Elvish Mysticx3
Imposing Sovereignx4
Loxodon Smiterx4

Other Spells:17
Call of the conclavex4
Selesnya Charmx4
Rootborn Defensex2
Read/Willingx2
Advent of the Wurmx4
Oblivion Ringx2

Planeswalkers:6
Ajani, Caller of the Pridex3
Gideon, Champion of Justicex3

Lands:
Godless Shrinex4
Overgrown tombx3
woodland cemetaryx1
Temple Gardenx4
Selesnya Guildgatex1
Forestsx4
Plainsx5

      Competitive players, you just had a reaction.   Big or small you had it.  "Tallen..." you say.  "Where's Voice of Resurgence in your two drop slot?"  It's the ultimate green/white card right?  It makes a token whenever your opponent plays a spell on your turn.  This token's power and toughness are equal to the number of creatures you have on the battlefield.  Which is a huge boon to creature based decks.  So why isn't it here?  Well ,as Harry Potter learned, power comes with a price and the price tag retailers have decided to put our elemental deer at is over $30.00.  Now without going into a rant about how overpriced the Voice is let's look at why I chose to avoid it here.

 

       Taking center stage ,at the two drop slot, in place of Voice of Resurgence, is the Imposing Sovereign.  This tiny human has a major board effect that favors aggro strategies.  Tapped creatures can't block and allows the deck to get its early beats in without resistance.  The Sovereign's ability is also crippling against other aggressive decks' creatures.  Forcing their creatures to come into play tapped means not only can they not block, but their haste creatures cannot attack the turn they enter play.  Giving us the edge in a race scenario, where the goal is to get them down to zero life first.   Against any deck running creatures Imposing Sovereign will often have a valid role. This is the main reason I'm running it over the Voice, beside the fiscal cost.  

       Next let's do an analysis of G/Walker Aggro.  The deck is comprised of many high power for their cost creatures, with  access to the cards to ramp into them (Elvish Mystic) and protect them (Rootborn Defense, Ready/Willing.)  Allowing the pilot to ride the deck's efficient beaters to victory.  Despite its very direct approach G/Walkers has access to a certain level of subtle play.  There are a total of twelve instants in the deck which is pretty high for an aggro deck.  Allowing you to respond to your opponents plays and maintain your strong board position.  A great example is the oddball choice of Ready/Willing.  This is a powerful combat trick that can allow us to gain life and make great trades with opposing creatures. Or allow us to play offense and defense with its ability to untap our creatures, oh and they are indestructible blockers as well.  The deck has access to two Oblivion Rings as well to enhance the its flexibility.

        A significant difference you'll see in this deck from other green and white decks is the use of Ajani, Caller of the Pride and Gideon, Champion of Justice.  These two planeswalkers have seen little to no use in major competitive events.  They are also the two of the most aggressive planeswalkers in standard.  Ajani's minus ability is an amplified silverblade paladin ability.  Turning one of your creatures into a flying, double striking beater and Gideon is an indestructible creature who can become massive with his plus one ability.
        Like many I had almost zero interest in these two planeswalkers because their abilities are somewhat underwhelming on their own.  Paying three mana for just one +1/+1 counter isn't impressive at all in Ajani's case and Gideon's plus one is dependent on your opponent's board.  However Craig Wescoe, a well known pro-player, who specializes in white aggro decks has started showing them in different builds he's preparing for Theros.  His articles made made me want to try these two planeswalker pariahs,  in my own build. Now let's stop and summarize what they bring inside of a vacuum.
               
                   Ajani Pros:                                                          

• He's cheap at 3 mana. He makes big creatures bigger.  
• His minus ability grants evasion and massive potential damage output.  
• His final ability can break open a game if allowed to go off.  

                  Ajani Cons:

• Weak plus one ability.
• His second ability makes him easy to kill.
• His final ability is near impossible to pull off.  

               

                Gideon Pros:

• Can easily become a 6/6 or 7/7 with his first ability, for four mana.   
• Povides an indestructible attacker with his second ability.
• Similar to Ajani, if he's allowed to use his third ability it's game over.
• dodges wrath effects and most removal.

                  Gideon Cons:

• His size depends on your opponents field.  
• Cannot block.
• His final ability should never happen.

       So the key factors both planeswalkers bring to the deck is the ability to attack your opponent from different angles and present different kinds of threats to your opponent.  Ajani is similar to a double barrel shotgun.  You use him the turn he lands to deal massive damage to your opponent and anything else he does is gravy.  If your opponent leaves him alone then they can take a second round from an Ajani powered creature.  Should your opponent decide to kill Ajani this means they wasted time on him and you can continue to beat in on the opponent.  Gideon dodges wraths and is a hard to deal with attacker, which is great if the game goes late.  Remember this lesson aggro players, attack from multiple angles.  Many of the most successful aggro decks in Standard have been able to achieve consistent Top 8 results because they are designed to have more than one attack vector and ways to deal damage.  A great example of this Philosophy is the Junk Aristocrats deck run by Brad Nelson back in June.  The deck has many ways to attack the opponent's life total.  Either through tried and true combat damage, blood artist triggers, multiple forms of evasion or resilient threats.   Junk Aristocrats found the way to get at the opponent's life total.  

        Junk aristocrats is rotating this month with the coming of Theros.  However its example should be followed by all aggro pilots and deck creators looking to make a Top 8.   This brew is definitely still in its infancy, but I will be testing it this coming week and be back with my thoughts, changes and results.    

       Good luck this coming Friday my fellow aggro players.  If your opponents rage about losing to a "brainless" aggro deck then you should smile.  Because you know the truth about good aggro decks. 

(All credit goes to Mr. Wescoe, for being willing to give Ajani and Gideon a chance in competitive play.)