FNM Warrior - Avengers Assemble

Happy Saturday Magic Players!  Today, I would like to talk about the deck I took to FNM this week.  Many players would refer to this deck as "Super Friends".  However, I prefer to use the name "The Avengers", because it seems better suited in terms of power and flavor.

"As a planeswalker, I have traveled the multiverse far and wide.  My adventures have allowed me to forge friendships, but at the same time have uncovered ancient evils hellbent on my annihilation.  Every Friday night, I encounter many of these foes and must fight to keep my spark from being extinguished.  It is here that I call upon my my friends and allies to join me in battle, and save the countless innocent worlds where we find these evils.  Maybe they unleash their hordes and maybe its too much for us, but we will not cower.  Because, if we can't protect this plane, you can be damn well sure we will avenge it."  - Jatal Fendal, Planeswalker

Hope you enjoyed that tiny bit of flavor.  Now, lets take a look at the actual decklist.

The deck utilizes all five colors using an assortment of eleven unique planeswalkers.  The mana cost of our spells does not make for an easy mana base.

By making the deck based in green, it allowed the use of Sylvan Caryatids and Coursers of Kruphix.  Not only do both of these creatures help fix our mana, but also stop the early onslaught of creatures from aggro players.  In the control match up, they allowed us to ramp into our control cards quicker and Courser provides pressure on the opponent as well.

At my last FNM, I managed to go 4-0-0 after a few skill intensive games.

Round 1 - UR Aggro/Combo

From what I gathered during my games, this deck uses Spellheart Chimeras and Chasm Skulkers to beat down their opponent while casting spells that help pump the creatures for extra value.  The deck, being a neat concept proved not to be quick enough to end the game before I gained control.  I was able to get the match 2-0.

Round 2 - Bant Monsters

Much like its Mono-Green cousin, this deck utilizes blue mana to flash out their beaters during the end step.  With Kiora main boarded, the player has the ability to quickly ramp or prevent early damage.  White gives them access to Banishing Light and Elspeth, Sun's Champion.  Encountering a turn four Elspeth is no joke and is hard to deal with.  After a skill intensive third game, I got the match 2-1.

Round 3 - Grixis

Not quite sure how to categorize this deck.  Having played against this deck in previous weeks, I am still unsure how this deck functions.  In earlier weeks, this deck played Ashiok and ran heavy on counter magic.  Though with early creature plays, I managed to get a Courser and a Nissa resolved to beat in some damage.  However, this week, he didn't seem to have any early spells, but managed to land double Stormbreath Dragons during game one.  With him tapped out, I was able to resolve an Elspeth to quickly deal with the pesky reptiles.  Game two ended with Nissa waking the world and Xenagos summoning his followers.  After 40 minutes of play, I got the match 2-0.

Round 4 - Mono-Red Aggro

Mono-Red is a archetype that I feel is a favorable match-up for me.  Caryatids and Coursers gum up the ground enough to extend the game and give me time to stabilize.

During game one, with a combination of Monastery Swiftspears and Titan Strengths, my opponent managed to get me to 2 life.  On my next turn, I was able to gain life with my Courser, then cast Garruk to sacrifice my Courser to gain 4 more life to get out of range of any burn spell he might topdeck.  After stabilizing, Nissa and Elspeth managed get me the game.

Game two was less to be desired.  I kept a slow hand that cost my dearly.  I opponent managed to turn one Swiftspear, then turn two swiftspear.  This then lead to a turn four kill.  I kept a triple Temple hand with a Caryatid and Courser.  I needed the ability to cast the Caryatid on turn 2 and courser on turn 3.  Being a turn slower managed to break me.  He got game two.

Game three started with me on the play.  Being on the play allowed me to get a turn ahead and land a Hornet Nest to deter incoming attacks.  On following turns, I resolved a Courser and a Caryatid to cement my control of the game.  From there, Sorin joined the party and started my climb to victory with his +1 ability.  I get game three.

After four hard fought rounds at FNM, I now have some more insight into my decks strengths and weaknesses.  Over the next week, I am going to try a few changes.  If they prove to be better, I will run the new build next Friday night.

Have a wonderful day spellslingers!