Quote from Teia Rabishu »There's a lot about the pro scene that really trickles some bad values down through the playerbase when you get right down to it. Problem is I can only antagonize so many people in one article, you know?
True that.
There's only so many times I can handle people questioning why I mainboard Duress instead of Thoughtseize or inquisition of Kozilek, when those cards are outrageously priced and someone would have to have either gotten lucky with their drafts or have a lot of disposable income devoted to magic just to have them. But yeah, it goes back to the whole deal of Wizards needing to print something like Vingolf Engage Knights each rotation that contains all the dominant main deck cards found in top pro-tour decks that are rotating out. Just slap two of each in there and sell them at msrp 35 usd to all major retailers.
That statement largely depends on the meta one is playing in (the group I play with tends to all have it either side-boarded or already as a four of in their deck). I love undergrowth champion, it's just that Anafenza has more advantages than disadvantages if someone is already playing abzan colors. If burn is more common as removal, though, then undergrowth takes the lead.
On a side note, it's kind of fun how hardened scales is mostly Kahns block stuff. We got most of the tools already in our binders for it if we've been collecting. Well, unless you're like me and have the worst luck ever on crack-a-pack day. Only got one hangarback walker sitting around and zero Den Protector.
Edit: I think Den Protector is now on my "To Buy" list for the deck as well. They spoiled the rest of the set for Battle of Zendikar and I don't see anything that really stands out that gives good card advantage otherwise.
Keep in mind, while the "core" is still staying around another standard season, the deck has lost Keeper and Fleecemane lions, so removal is going to have an easier time with Abzan once rotation hits. Part of the reason there's a hardened scales thread right now is because there are people trying to find suitable replacements for the missing cards, as well as brewing with different color combinations.
I'm migrating from the official WOTC forums since they are shutting down soon and this place actually seems active. Hope to have many fun postings with everyone here!
If someone is going with a CoCo version of the deck, though, Undergrowth champion might be a better fit then hangarback.
The only thing disappointing about the new set is the fact they don't have as many useful tools for non-eldrazi, non-ally decks. But then again, that is what Kahns block is for. I mean, hardened scales might become a thing now!
Yeah, I came to the same conclusion last night when I was opening up the new origins clash packs and building my current "Much less focused" playtesting deck that the core deck is going to be strongly green. Deathmist + Den protector is a good combination and having both servant of the scale and honored hierarch fills out the low level well in an aggro build. Also, in Mono-green using Sword of the Animist might pay off as it gives another way to get landfall outside of pinging ourselves painfully with fetch lands. On the plus side, we got the cheapest fetches in standard as windswepts are only 10 usd right now, and for once I don't really see a problem using evolving wilds as a budget filler option while saving up for wooded foothills or that blue white one (second most expensive...)
I've got a feeling we will see Undergrowth champion spike like mad when the new set gets released just from the fact so many of us are already seeing how useful it might be. Albeit, I don't think it's the next hangarback walker unless hardened scale decks really take off on the pro-tour.
was going to say that the land would fit in. Costs an arm and a leg to activate, though. Oh yeah, and having Undergrowth Champion without Sword of the Animist should be a crime. The guy is built for it!
My mind set on Drana is we probably want to see what the vampire tribal looks like. If it has a focus on attacking and "growth", we definitely can go abzan with strong green and black while using white for utility. Otherwise, for GBW we'd probably be better off finding another generator. I actually sort of like Anafenza the Foremost at the moment since at the very least she forces the opponent to exile anything that dies.
Abzan charm will be very useful critter removal in a meta with tons of fatties, and doubles as a +1/+1 counter generator or card drawing utility in a pinch. Plus black gives hand disruption and access to better removal. Most of the eldrazi I've seen make me want to remove them before they hit the game board rather than after.