Official W/x Humans in Standard

[Roknruin1]

Okay so in my complete opinion, I consider Kessig and UB control to be the firm holders of t1 with UW aggro balancing between t1 and t2. UW aggro has been wolf run's complete and utter downfall from my experience so far and that has led me to believe that UW could be its worst match up (and that puts our decks in a very very good postion). Anyways lets get to the lists we are all running.

This build is slightly different than my list that got me 10th at states... please comment.

UW Aggro

Creatures 24
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
3 Gideon's Lawkeeper
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Accorder Paladin
2 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Mirran Crusader
3 Hero of Bladehold

Spells 12
4 Honor of the Pure
2 Bonds of Faith
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Angelic Destiny

Land 24
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Moorland Haunt
10 Plains
2 Island

Sideboard 15
3 Celestial Purge
3 Leonin Arbiter
3 Timely Reinforcements
3 Revoke Existence
3 Negate

Edit: Something I have seriously considered adding is Leonin Skyhunter. Now I know he isnt as good as sticking a t2 Grand Abolisher but I really think that the flying could go a long way down the line, and can get early inkmoth kills if your really putting the pressure on. I think an Angelic Destiny would be a good follow up after something like that maybe? =)

Maybe -2 Accorder Paladin, -1 Gideon's Lawkeeper, -1 Oblivion Ring (im iffy about the ring but I would be comfortable with leaving it in to add only +3 Leonin Skyhunter. Im going to try it out on lackeyccg while im thinking about it.

Edit 2: 2 games in with the skyhunter and hes so far proving him self worthy. It is making a T1 Champion of the Parish weaker but maybe cut 1 of them. This build does run quite the lot of 1 drops.

[Roknruin1]

I took first place at game day yesterday with this list. Its slightly different than my regular but my Super Secret Tech, Due Respect, This card WON me games. Early game it let me keep aggro decks tapped out and control deck on their turn one.

UW aggro can and will kill on turn 4 quite often. It allows for that extra push early game or that for sure victory after you let your opponent swing before he plays more creatures. It saved my *** against kessig in round 5 and against the mirror in round 4. Kessig I passed turn with an angelic crusader on the board and at my opponents upkeep I cast it only to see the his card he drew was the Inkmoth Nexus that COULD have saved his life. Round 4 my opponent and I kept trading chumpers after we are both beating over and over with our crusaders (he had a hero out but couldn't swing because of Gideon's Lawkeeper). I end up revoking his O-ring on my crusader and kept 5 mana open to protect my self from his mana leaks as I drew Due Respect. I left my self open for 13 points of damage I believe to taunt my opponent into attacking with all his board in hopes that he would drop some chumpers to try and save him. Sure enough he swings all out and then attempts to drop a Blade Splicer. Due Respect sealed that game for me and it was a great victory.

UW Aggro
Creatures 24

1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
2 Gideon's Lawkeeper
2 Alabaster Mage
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Mirran Crusader
3 Hero of Bladehold

Spells 13

4 Honor of the Pure
4 Oblivion Ring
3 Due Respect
2 Angelic Destiny

Lands 23

4 Moorland Haunt
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Seachrome Coast
10 Plains
1 Island

SB
same.

Mikaeus is a new card im testing out, He does seem slightly slow but he can really allow for that extra push late, mid, or early game. Poorly enough I haven't managed to draw him once in my practice games or the tournament. 23 Lands is something im trying out as well. So far I really think this deck NEEDS 24 lands if your going to be running more than 3 four drops. Too often have I been mana screwed with 3 of my 5 four drops in hand only to see 3 lands at most. Ill edit this post in a little bit with more info and thoughts on this build.

[krako]

I went to my game day yesterday and i was owned. I went 1-3 (1 was a bye) and 1-6 in games.

My list:

3 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
3 Elite Vanguard
1 Gideon's Lawkeeper
4 Grand Abolisher
2 Accorder Paladin
4 Mirran Crusader
3 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Hero of Bladehold

4 Honor of the Pure
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Angelic Destiny

10 Plains
1 Island
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Moorland Haunt

SB:
3 Mana Leak
3 Timely Reinforcements
2 Nevermore
2 Revoke Existence
3 Leonin Arbiter
2 Dismember

Really was hoping for better results.

Game 1 i lost 2-1 to a mirror. Game two lost 2-0 to a RDW (really Timely Reinforcements is a bad card for this deck). Game three lost a GW aggro list with Elspeth.

I would like your opinion my thinks are the same. In a metagame full of UB control and Wolf Run Ramp the deck seems a nice choise but i think it is pretty owned by GW aggro.

[muaddib20]

I'm having a lot of trouble knowing which direction to go in with this deck, current list is like this:

4 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
2 Gideon's Lawkeeper
4 Grand Abolisher
3 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Mirran Crusader
2 Hero of Bladehold

4 Angelic Destiny
3 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Honor of the Pure

4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Moorland Haunt
10 plains
1 island

I feel that I really want to play Geist on turn 3, and Angelic Destiny on turn 4 most of the time, but I have gone down to 3 Geist because it is legendary. I'm not sure why some builds have less of these, as it seems like the best thing we can do.

I definitely like Doomed Traveler over Elite Vanguard, as it is better against sweepers, and we can carry on beating down, especially with Honor of the Pure out.

I also like 4 Moorland Haunt, as I really want to draw one each game - but I could see going down to three.

I also like Mana Leak, as it can stop their sweeper, or their titan etc from coming down - but it does mean I'm playing less creatures in the deck.

Finally there are a number of cards I can't even fit into the deck at the moment, but would love to try. These include Accorder Paladin, Fiend Hunter, Feeling of Dread, and Guardians' Pledge. If anyone has tried these, please let me know if they were any good, or not.

I hadn't even thought of Due Respect, as suggested by Roknruin1 above - nice suggestion Rok.

So many ways to take this deck, and I really don't know which direction is best.

[Penguinmaster3]

I am trying to blend the Spirits. After reading this thread it gave me the focus I needed to build the deck.

Here's what I am to start testing, and build (as I don't have everything listed, but will soon, as denoted with an *)

1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch*
2 Angel of Flight Alabaster
2 Geist of Saint Traft*
2 Accorder Paladin*
4 Mirran Crusader*
2 Champion of the Parish*
2 Grand Abolisher
4 Spectral Rider
4 Doomed Traveler

4 Midnight Haunting
4 Honor of the Pure
2 Angelic Destiny
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Mana Leak

4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Moorland Haunt
10 Plains
2 Island

[Roknruin1]

If you guys get a chance, see if you can fit two - three Apostle's Blessing. It has been amazing to be able to keep my Mirran Crusader or Hero of Bladehold alive when I really need to get damage through. All you have to do is leave 1 mana open and that will instantly make your opponent feel safe to play something. Its helping against kessig for inkmoth, Mono B Infect for removal and inkmoth, RDW for all its removal, and anything that is playing Oblivion Ring, It has been strengthening my game 1 against everything I need to worry about and after side board it just gets even stronger. Everyone knows how versatile white is already, it can answer just about everything atm.

It's been doing pretty good against rogue Heartless Summoning decks and all their wurmcoil 's as well. Though they are not t1, there is probably atleast one person playing it at your local fnm.

I really cant decide if I would like to run 3 or 2 Gideon's Lawkeeper. I love the controlling nature of him but sometimes he just isn't the 1 drop that I need. Against control decks I can keep their heavy hitters at bay for a long time with 3 lawkeeper's. Tapping down their guys to swing in for lethal damage is wonderful too.

Does anyone have thoughts on Apostle's Blessing or Due Respect?

[Roknruin1]

I'm having a lot of trouble knowing which direction to go in with this deck, current list is like this:

4 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
2 Gideon's Lawkeeper
4 Grand Abolisher
3 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Mirran Crusader
2 Hero of Bladehold

4 Angelic Destiny
3 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Honor of the Pure

4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Moorland Haunt
10 plains
1 island

I feel that I really want to play Geist on turn 3, and Angelic Destiny on turn 4 most of the time, but I have gone down to 3 Geist because it is legendary. I'm not sure why some builds have less of these, as it seems like the best thing we can do.

I definitely like Doomed Traveler over Elite Vanguard, as it is better against sweepers, and we can carry on beating down, especially with Honor of the Pure out.

I also like 4 Moorland Haunt, as I really want to draw one each game - but I could see going down to three.

I also like Mana Leak, as it can stop their sweeper, or their titan etc from coming down - but it does mean I'm playing less creatures in the deck.

Finally there are a number of cards I can't even fit into the deck at the moment, but would love to try. These include Accorder Paladin, Fiend Hunter, Feeling of Dread, and Guardians' Pledge. If anyone has tried these, please let me know if they were any good, or not.

I hadn't even thought of Due Respect, as suggested by Roknruin1 above - nice suggestion Rok.

So many ways to take this deck, and I really don't know which direction is best.

Personally i'm not a fan of four Angelic Destiny. I find that with two I see it more than enough when I need to. Say I have a hero and a destiny in my hand, unless I have an absolute kill im almost for sure going to play the hero. Angelic Destiny is just that card that you dont want too much cause it can cost you the game.

Its definitely a great card but I have been in the situation where if I could have made some chumps with hero I would have won, but no, all I had was an Angelic Destiny as my four drop and its either Die this turn or die next turn. You want hero of blade hold to be your main four drop. The enchantment is easily disrupted on weenie creatures where as hero would just ignore that Incinerate. Or they can just Oblivion Ring your creature and 'poof', your 4 drop AND a body was just made useless. If you want to run 4 destiny I would very much recommend 3 Apostle's Blessing in your deck, maybe over the Mana Leak. Even with 10 blue sources in my build I dont see enough blue mana pretty frequently to make me feel comfortable enough to use a counter. That also makes your build slower unless your just trying to counter sweepers. Your going to have to play fast and very aggressive to win the game before UB or Wolf Run can take over and that makes Mana Leak significantly weaker as the game goes on.

I also think 24 lands should be a staple in your build. I see 6 four drops and I know that at 24 lands and 5 four drops I don't see the land to get a t4 Angelic Destiny or Hero of Bladehold a fair amount of the time. I would probably drop the island and add in two plains. Since you have 14 overall creatures that require 2w mana. It will make your turn 3 Geist of Saint Traft less likely but increases your chances that Grand Abolisher will enter the field t2 against control, or that turn 3 crusader that you, Im going to say 'need', against wolf run.

The majority of my losses have been from the well known mana issues that aggressive builds can some times present when you NEED to get certain cards out. Other than that I have been able to pull through just about every game as long as I can atleast get 3 mana out. Kessig is definitely my best matchup. Trying to get past a viridian emmisary wall can be annoying but lawkeeper surely helps out against that and prevents me from taking two over and over.

[Penguinmaster3]

Apostle Blessing seems like it could be a really nasty card. I might have to steal that from you Roknruin1. Do you have any thoughts on Invisible Stalker? Granted its not White, but it has Hexproof and is unblockable.

EDIT: Not enough Blue.

I got to do some playing around with the deck and I learned Midnight Haunting is ehh! Dropping it. For an extra Mana Leak or Oblivion Ring, 2 Apostle Blessing and 1 Additional Plains.

[tyrkae]

Wow Due Respect is a sweet as peat card why have i not seen this before i bought at least 2 fat packs and never saw it when i look thru the binders this is really nice for white aggro lands come in tapped creatures as well AND YOU GET TO DRAW A CARD all FOR 2 MANA even in late game it makes a Titan or a Wurmcoil come into play tapped great for early game as well making them not be able to do anything turn 2 is great

[krako]

I ll ask again as i didn't see anyone bother.

What is our options against a GW aggro build?

How do you answer turn 2 Blade Splicer after turn one birds and turn 3 Garruk and Turn 4 Elspeth. Don't say that all of these are going to happen just all of these are difficult to answer.

I play UW aggro and had good match up against control, i like my chances against wolf run but hell i was beaten down really hardly against an opposing GW aggro which makes me think that those mana accelerators turn one are beating me down really hard.

I would like to hear you on that.