The Many Flavors of Abzan

During the Return to Ravnica/Innistrad Standard season, multicolor decks were running rampant. You had Naya Humans, Jund Midrange, Esper Control, and a whole slew of other three color decks to battle against. Probably the most feared and hated combination of colors though, was Junk, which has been rechristened as Abzan. During this era, the most popular deck utilizing these three colors was Reanimator, using Unburial Rites to bring back Thragtusks and Acidic Slimes to the battlefield to provide blockers, offset damage, and destroy mana bases.

Later in the season when Dragon’s Maze was released, the format gave birth to another strong deck, Junk Aristocrats. This deck used low-cost spells such as Voice of Resurgence, Doomed Traveler, and Young Wolf in conjunction with sacrifice effects from Cartel Aristocrat and Varolz, the Scar-Striped. The reasoning behind killing your own guys lay in the Morbid ability as well as Blood Artist. The deck was very efficient at loading up the board with small creatures that quickly made bigger creatures, with the help of Skirsdag High Priest and Voice of Resurgence.

The purpose of the quick history lesson is not to put you to sleep, but rather to show you the versatility of Abzan. With the release of Khans of Tarkir, Wizards of the Coast gave us not only a name for the color combination, but also several very different decks that all use the same three colors. At this point in time, there are four distinct Abzan decks that each play in a different way from the others. There are the traditional three of Aggro, Midrange, and Control, and with Dragons of Tarkir, we now have Abzan Megamorph.

First up to review is Abzan Aggro. While the list has changed slightly since the initial release of Khans of Tarkir, the core of the deck is virtually the same. Gerry Thompson recently took a version of the deck to a 1st place finish in the Magic Online Championship Series, earning not only some sweet cash, but also an invite back to the Pro Tour.

Abzan Aggro  MOCS 1st Place-Gerry Thompson

Main Deck

4 Fleecemane Lion

4 Rakshasa Deathdealer

4 Siege Rhino

2 Warden of the First Tree

2 Wingmate Roc

4 Anafenza, the Foremost

1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

4 Abzan Charm

3 Dromoka’s Command

2 Hero’s Downfall

4 Thoughtseize

2 Forest

2 Plains

2 Caves of Koilos

3 Llanowar Wastes

1 Mana Confluence

4 Sandsteppe Citadel

4 Temple of Malady

3 Temple of Silence

4 Windswept Heath

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard

2 Mistcutter Hydra

1 Wingmate Roc

1 Dromoka’s Command

1 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

2 Drown in Sorrow

2 Duress

2 Glare of Heresy

3 Self-Inflicted Wound

This deck differs from traditional aggro decks in that is uses 26 lands, a number usually relegated to control decks of the past. However, Abzan Aggro not only uses low-cost creatures to put early pressure on the board, some of these such as Fleecemane Lion and Rakshasa Deathdealer are also mana sinks in the late game with built-in protection. However, the mana cost can be high if you’re trying to save mana for some of your useful removal spells, hence the 26 lands. This is a deck that you don’t want to miss land drops with, even with the abundance of 3 mana or less spells.

One of the more interesting additions to this deck from previous iterations of this deck is the 2 Mistcutter Hydras. With the prevalence of Esper Dragons and the rise of U/G Devotion, this is a great sideboard card that allows the Aggro player to blast in some damage quick without the fear of a blocker. While I think this was definitely a meta call based off of MTGO, I think that it could be worth exploring some more if the paper meta copies the online.

Next up on our tour of Abzan we have Abzan Control. This has a stock list that is generally followed, with the differences mostly being in the removal spell package. Dragons of Tarkir has added a few new spells to the list, most notably Ultimate Price and Den Protector. While Den Protector has been used more in the next two decklists that we will discuss, it has been seeing a lot more usage in Abzan Control due to being able to bring back your best removal spells or a timely Thoughtseize from your graveyard. Here is a PTQ winning list from across the pond in Sweden:

Abzan Control  Regional PTQ Stockholm 1st Place-Jeppe Sorensen

Main Deck

4 Courser of Kruphix

1 Den Protector

4 Siege Rhino

2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang

3 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

1 Liliana Vess

1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

4 Abzan Charm

2 Bile Blight

1 End Hostilities

4 Hero’s Downfall

4 Thoughtseize

2 Ultimate Price

1 Utter End

2 Caves of Koilos

2 Forest

3 Llanowar Wastes

2 Plains

4 Sandsteppe Citadel

4 Temple of Malady

4 Temple of Silence

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

4 Windswept Heath

Sideboard

1 Bile Blight

1 Crux of Fate

3 Drown in Sorrow

2 Duress

1 Erase

3 Fleecemane Lion

1 Foul-Tongue Invocation

1 Mastery of the Unseen

2 Read the Bones

One major advantage to playing Abzan Control is the flexibility in the sideboard. While the purpose of a sideboard is to switch out cards for other cards that aren’t great in a matchup, this deck does it surprisingly well. There are cards that work well in multiple matchups and aren’t limited to just going against one deck. For example, Bile Blight is obviously great in the aggro matchup, such as Red Deck Wins, but it is also useful against other Abzan decks to take out Deathdealers, Fleecemanes, and Wardens.

Another reason to play this version of Abzan is the overall strength of the deck. It has great creatures, great removal, and a great late game. So long as your opponent doesn't blow you out in four or five turns, then you can usually turn the game around and come out victorious.

The next deck to look at takes the best parts of Aggro and Control and fuses them together to create the potent Abzan Midrange. While this versions trims down a little on removal spells, it makes up by adding faster creatures, usually Fleecemane Lions and Den Protectors. Pro Tour Champion Antonio Del Moral Leon took his version of the deck to a 3rd place finish at Grand Prix: Paris this past weekend.

Abzan Midrange  Grand Prix: Paris 3rd Place-Antonio Del Moral Leon

Main Deck

3 Den Protector

4 Fleecemane Lion

4 Siege Rhino

4 Courser of Kruphix

3 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

4 Abzan Charm

2 Bile Blight

1 Dromoka’s Command

3 Hero’s Downfall

1 Crux of Fate

1 Read the Bones

3 Thoughtseize

3 Forest

2 Plains

2 Caves of Koilos

3 Llanowar Wastes

4 Sandsteppe Citadel

4 Temple of Malady

3 Temple of Silence

4 Windswept Heath

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard

3 Arashin Cleric

1 Dromoka’s Command

1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes

1 Nissa, Worldwaker

1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

1 Crux of Fate

3 Drown in Sorrow

2 Duress

1 Thoughtseize

What makes this version of Abzan Midrange interesting is the inclusion of Crux of Fate in the mainboard. After the previous weekend’s success of Esper Dragons, Antonio correctly assumed that there would be numerous copies of the deck at the Grand Prix. By using the Dragons-only mode, he could clear any blockers out while still maintaining his army to smash in.

Also interesting about this list is the 3 Arashin Clerics. While not impressive in most matchups, this card shines in the Atarka Red matchup where they hit hard and fast and you need time to stem the bleeding. Not only does the Cleric throw a cheap body with a 3 toughness, it also gives back 3 life, not an insignificant amount of life against decks that have Lightning Strikes and Searing Bloods.

Last but certainly not least, we have the new kid on the block to look at, Abzan Megamorph. While this deck shares many of the same spells from the other Abzan decks (I’m looking at you Siege Rhino!), it also utilizes the new green mythic, Deathmist Raptor. The synergy between Raptor and Den Protector is amazing, not only allowing you to bring a card back from the graveyard to your hand, but also releasing all the Raptors that you have in the yard back to the battlefield, flipped or unflipped. Here is a version of the deck that E McKenzie won a PPTQ with in Florida a couple of weeks ago:

Abzan Megamorph  PPTQ Florida 1st Place-E McKenzie

Main Deck

4 Deathmist Raptor

4 Den Protector

3 Whisperwood Elemental

4 Siege Rhino

4 Courser of Kruphix

4 Fleecemane Lion

2 Dromoka’s Command

2 Mastery of the Unseen

2 Hero’s Downfall

3 Thoughtseize

2 Abzan Charm

3 Forest

2 Plains

2 Caves of Koilos

3 Llanowar Wastes

1 Mana Confluence

4 Sandsteppe Citadel

4 Temple of Malady

2 Temple of Silence

4 Windswept Heath

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard

2 Drown in Sorrow

1 Thoughtseize

2 Duress

2 Hornet Nest

1 Dragonlord Dromoka

1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes

2 Plummet

1 Utter End

1 Pharika, God of Affliction

2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

While many other lists skip it, E decided to add the combo of Whisperwood Elemental and Mastery of the Unseen. Although the number of removal spells has been trimmed down, this list makes up for it in sheer creature power. An unchecked Whisperwood has the ability to turn a game around all on its own. If you manage to hit a Den Protector on one of the end of turn morphs, you can get back a much needed spell or Siege Rhino to help finish out the game.

While I tried out a list similar to E’s at a recent Standard event, I find that I want as many Abzan Charms as possible. Here is a list that I am more likely to play that still maintains the Megamorph ability:

Abzan Megamorph  Grand Prix: Toronto 5th Place-Ben Feingersh

Main Deck

4 Deathmist Raptor

4 Den Protector

4 Fleecemane Lion

4 Siege Rhino

4 Courser of Kruphix

2 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

4 Abzan Charm

2 Bile Blight

4 Hero’s Downfall

4 Thoughtseize

2 Forest

2 Plains

2 Caves of Koilos

3 Llanowar Wastes

4 Sandsteppe Citadel

4 Temple of Malady

4 Temple of Silence

4 Windswept Heath

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard

2 Master of the Unseen

1 Bile Blight

2 Dromoka’s Command

1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

3 Drown in Sorrow

2 Duress

2 End Hostilities

1 Read the Bones

1 Self-Inflicted Wound

Personally, the only change I would probably make is to switch out the Elspeths for more removal. Otherwise, I feel that this list is where I would want to be in terms of Megamorphing it up.

And there you have it! One color combination, four different deck types!

It’s safe to say that no other color combination in Standard has the versatility that Abzan does. Even though Midrange and Control are only a few cards different, they do play differently enough to warrant different names. If you’re unsure what version to play, try them all out! Over the past few months I have tried out all four versions with decent results each time. You have to change your play-style a bit depending on which option you go with, but each deck has a lot to offer in terms of fun and play-ability.

With Origins just on the horizon, will we see a new version of Abzan, or will there just be slight modifications to the current lists? When Theros rotates, will we still see Abzan as a major player? Only time will tell, but as long as Siege Rhino is Standard-legal, I would wager that you’ll see Abzan decks at many events next year as well.

If you have any questions or comments about any of the decks I’ve briefly reviewed, please let me know!

Michael Guy
GHG Contributor

Golem Head Games: Mentorship Program

Josh Wood Mentoring the BGJHS Magic club players.

At Golem Head Games, we see our store as more than just a place to buy cardboard.

It is a place of fun, a place of competition. It can also be a place of safety, learning and personal growth.

So much of a players time is spent tuning and testing, re-configuring and discussing that we often forget that each player is more than just an obstacle, but an individual.  A person who has a life and struggles outside of the fun of a Magic event.  Each person enters the store with a history and each person puts a lot of themselves in the decks they choose to play. It's important for stores to nurture a friendly and safe atmosphere by maintaining an air of mutual respect and courtesy among players as they're in the environment of competition.  This is not always easy to achieve but it can be accomplished.

Competitives versus  Casuals.

In order for a store to grow, the community of magic players has to grow.  In order for the community to grow, the community of players have to develop from individuals into a supporting team.

The people who are the "top players" have to become the mentors and coaches for the game that they love.  Many players and store owners forget that it is not just about the competition but in the shared love for a game that allows everyone to have fun.

Rather than form cliques of competitive and casual players, we hope to create mentors who'll take casual players that want to explore more of what Magic has to offer, under their wing. They coach them, grow them and nurture them into more competitive players. It's great for the more experienced players, because they're able use this teaching time to fine tune their way of playing and the techniques they use in competition. And it's great for casual players, because they'll reach a higher level of competition faster and with more varied techniques under their belt.  Together, these players form a local 'team' of players that work to improve one another and locally support one another when playing away from home. 

It can be very intimidating for a casual player to enter into a competitive event.  So many rules and so many things that, in casual play, may be acceptable but in a competitive event it can change the entire outcome of the game.  How is a casual player to learn the ropes and feel confident?
Stores will find that far more casual players will move into more competitive events faster when Competitive players are supporting the casual players by becoming Mentors.  Mentoring not only gives knowledge, it gives casual players confidence! It breeds mutual respect and helps communities communicate better! This will also help the store survive the ever changing environment of the gaming industry. 

Identify the informal leaders within the gaming community in your store.

We try and identify players who have a deep passion for the game and who could help develop newer players. These players will have a deep understanding of the game and a passion to share that knowledge.

 We're not put off by a player who has less then exemplary social behavior.  These players often just need a kind word and a nudge in the right direction.   Maybe no one has ever recognized the value in their passion for the game.  Perhaps no one has ever shown them that there is another way to enjoy the game; one that helps everyone to achieve personal goals. We strive to always find the positives in the individual and help elevate those positive attributes! You're already great at the game, now cultivate those techniques and sharpen them by imparting some of that awesomeness on to others!

Reinforce positive behaviors. 

This can be done by publicly recognizing actions that are beneficial to the whole community of players.
Coach mentors in the ins and outs of teachings others. Show them how to be leaders, role models and mentors by positively supporting those around them. Show them that they are an important part of the team. Help them understand that they can help shape the future of gaming!
Sometimes it's worth taking some time to coach your competitive players into becoming great mentors. They already have the knowledge and the passion, help them learn to share that knowledge! Make them a pamphlet, set aside some coaching time or just sit down and have a friendly one on one chat. There are ways to prepare your mentors to teach others. At Golem Head, we expect greatness!

Teach Players to Win with compassion and lose with confidence

In any competition it is easy to get caught up in the intensity of the moment and forget how to win or lose.   Everyone body wins and loses all the time during Magic tournaments and casual play.  It’s how someone wins or loses that can set them apart.

 A winner, with boastful bravado, gains nothing but contempt from others player.  Winning poorly, is at its core, counterproductive and benefits no one.  However a winner who goes out of their way to say “good game” and shake hands, a winner who sticks around and talks strategy or deck design with the loser, a winner who tries to complement some aspect of creativity or interesting play of the loser will not only gain admiration among their peers but will often find that they have helped to create a fun and friendly environment for everyone to play.
Prizes for winning can be more than just packs, it can be in the form of fans.

It’s Okay to lose. 
Everyone is going to lose.  It’s how one handles a loss that drives your future.  A loss is an opportunity to learn.  An opportunity to reflect back at how you could have done things differently or how you can change your deck to perform better. A loss is also a way to make friends and gain insight from the one seeing your play from the other side of the table. Your opponent is going to give you the best feedback at the end of the game then anyone else. Losing with confidence will earn your insight into improving your game and earn you the respect of your peers.

At Golem Head Games, we celebrate the local community team and strive to bring this ideal of mutual respect and teamwork to our players. We hope our master players and our new players will lead the way in the future of gaming by becoming examples of how really awesome a gaming community can be when it works together!

The Build-Out Begins!

The build-out begins! Paperwork is filed, hands have been thoroughly shaken. Things are finally underway! Blue-prints for the 1600 square foot space has been perfected and the construction has begun.

Our location will be next to a GO Bus stop for those students who may need transportation to and from tournaments.

We're also located near a couple great food stops. Overtime sports bar, Subway, Shogun, and Little Caesars Pizza.

There are still tons of work to do, so stay tuned for more updates! Don't forget to add your comments, suggestions and product must haves in the comments!

Introductions

Hello Everyone! My name is Dusty. At least, I think that’s my name. The woman who created me hasn’t exactly made up her mind yet. 

As you might be able to tell from my very handsome selfie, I’m a Golem. A small and rather unfinished Golem (thanks to my very ‘focused’ creator) but a Golem never the less. I am the Mascot for Golem Head Games. What ‘IS’ Golem Head Games? Well it’s a store, a gaming community, a tournament hall, a friendly place… Or should I say; “Will be..” 

You see, this place is not yet finished. Much like myself, it’s still being built. The creators behind Golem Head are putting a lot of effort and time into meeting a Fall deadline. I myself will be featured on merchandise, comics, and these blogs! So I hope you will join us as we build Kentucky’s most fantastic gaming place.  I’m sure excited! If I had a mouth, I might even shout! 

Golem Head Games will be more than just a store with a few tables and chairs. We’re looking to build a true community! With community Blogs, Comics, Even a place for those RPers to share stories and art. It’s a place where Beginner Magic players can learn from Veterans, and where winning is more than just a couple booster packs and a promo card. 

Our flagship store will be opening in Bowling Green KY. If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll join us. If not, our Online Store will also be available, along with the Online Community, Live Streams and other cool stuff! 

I’ll post more about the progress of the store as it happens. Maybe even some nifty pictures! Until then, Play well!

~Dusty