Would You Like me to Kill You in a More Humane Manner?

Hello Everyone!

In drafting with Dark Ascension, there is one card that has consistently been an all-star for me! That card is Avacyn's Collar. It may be because I also had Gather the Townsfolk and Increasing Devotion in my deck, along with some counterspells, but my opponent was quickly cold turkey to my infinite 2/1 build your own Doomed Travelers that also made good blockers. I had to ask, why not play this card in standard?

UW is clearly the color of the Spirits, so that made me think about the intentional Human colors: GW. The major problem with the GW decks is that they're just a pile of dudes that have no resiliency to a Slagstorm effect. Clearly having Avacyn's Collar would quickly change that as we can fearlessly play out a Mirran Crusader or Hero of Bladehold knowing that even if it dies, we still get something to work with next turn. That combined with the Gavony Township which already makes every threat a must kill, this deck can blow you out if you're not ready.

Here's my initial thought for a list:

4x Chmpion of the Parish
4x Wolfbitten Captive
2x Elite Vanguard

4x Loyal Cathar
4x Hamlet Captain
4x Mayor of Avabruck

4x Mirran Crusader
2x Fiend Hunter

3x Oblivion Ring
2x Avacyn's Collar
2x Sword of War and Peace
4x Gather the Townsfolk

4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Sunpetal Grove
3x Gavony Township
6x Plains
4x Forest

This deck is VERY fast. Your 1 drops should be hitting for 2 or 3 on turn 2, and the rest of the deck piles on the pressure. It might just be wrong to not play Hero of Bladehold or Geist-Honored Monk or Increasing Devotion in this deck, but I think with the current build a ton of quick pressure that will put any deck on its back heel from turn 1. Just 21 lands means we have a ton of gas. A sweet addition to this deck is Wolfbitten Captive, which often transforms on turn 1 if on the play, and even though it's not a human, a 1 mana 2/2 that is randomly a 6/6 never hurts. Loyal Cathar also does work as resiliance to wrath as it can be suited right up with a sword or collar and get back into the red zone.

Now that Zombies is seeing play, I wonder if Elite Inquisitor may ever be a good card? Also, Deranged Outcast is good vs spot removal, but is still poor to sweepers (although it can save 1 dude from a slagstorm/whipflare, which is relevent and might be enough to make it worth playing).

I wonder if the major problem with this deck going forwards is the Wolf Run matchup. Honestly, I just don't know how to deal with that matchup It might be that aggression can just outrace them, with a timely O-ring on their fatty, but maybe I'm just paranoid of their slagstorms and whipflares.

We already knew humans had the capability of killing very fast, and now they have the resiliance that was much required before, so maybe we have a new deck up our sleeves? I think I will have to give it a try! That's all I have for today! Until next time, stay classy!

Ryan Lackie
Ryan.Lackie92@gmail.com
@ThingsILack
ThingsILack on mtgo