Table of Contents
Prepare the defences and mobilise the Wall. Sorry what?!
Welcome to the Abzan Armor, where we like big butts and are ready to fight. In this blog I will be giving 10 new upgrades to help power up the deck and try to give a little more power to the precon deck.
While you might want to [[Revel in Riches]], this won’t be a [[Cache Grab]], as I am going to be doing all 10 upgrades for less than £10.
The Abzan Houses are all about [[Endurance]]. Well not the card, but the idea. This is shown in their mechanic, Outlast.
Abzan Amour as a Commander deck is no different. It plays large toughness creatures that will survive any hit and, when ready, hit back hard. It turns toughness into power.
I wasn’t joking when I said to mobilise the walls, as these creatures have some of the biggest defences around.
The Commanders
Face Commander
The face Commander for Abzan Armor is Felothar the Steadfast.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/4/felothar-the-steadfast
The static abilities allow you to bypass the defender restrictions and does an Uno reverse for how damage works.
Oh [[Doran, the Siege Tower]], how the mighty tree has fallen. [[Doran, the Siege Tower]] used to be the go to Commander for a wall/toughness matters commander deck, as it did the 2nd ability of Felothar.
Then came along [[Arcades, the Strategist]] and he was pretty much replaced.
Now Felothar the Steadfast, is the final nail in the coffin for [[Doran, the Siege Tower]]. Felothar is the same colours with all the upsides plus a 3rd activated ability to draw you cards.
Farewell sweet prince, you will live on in the 99. I do think [[Doran, the Siege Tower]] is a reasonable addition for this deck, but I will cover that in the upgrades.
Alternative Commander
The alternative commander and the bonded spirit dragon for Felothar is Betor, Ancestor's Voice.
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/1/betor-ancestors-voice
Again this is a secondary commander that has some synergy with the face commander, like with the Jeskai Striker deck. But for me the cards you want are completely different.
Personally, I would rather do a complete rebuild of the deck if you are looking to run Betor as the commander. For the price of the precon you can build a solid list. Although this will take some skill if you don't trust another person's deck list.
Betor, Ancestor's Voice is more about manipulating your own life total than a ‘toughness matters’ commander.
But that is getting off topic. Let's build a [[Great Wall]] and make your opponents pay for it. It's time for the upgrades.
Upgrade 1/2
IN: Ancient Lumberknot + Bedrock Tortoise
https://scryfall.com/card/vow/230/ancient-lumberknot
https://scryfall.com/card/lci/176/bedrock-tortoise
There have been quite a few cards that allow your creatures to assign damage as toughness instead of power. This allows you to not be as reliant on the commander.
There are even some in the deck already, such as [[Baldin, Century Herdmaster]] and [[Assault Formation]].
The other ones I have chosen to add are Ancient Lumberknot and Bedrock Tortoise.
There is even a planeswalker version, [[Huatli, the Sun's Heart]]. Planeswalker are even more vulnerable than creatures, so I went with those.
Both of these creatures have the static ability that assigns toughness as power.
Ancient Lumberknot has it worded slightly differently as it only does this if the creature has higher toughness. So that means you always get the most damage.
Bedrock Tortoise also gives all your creatures hexproof while it's your turn. This is the reason why I have picked it. It's a simple yet powerful effect, giving you protection, albeit only temporarily.
OUT: Betor, Ancestor's Voice + Staff of Compleation
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/1/betor-ancestors-voice
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/326/staff-of-compleation
I am cutting the alternative commander of Betor, Ancestor's Voice.
While this does have some synergy with [[Felothar the Steadfast]], I think the deck needs a whole revamp to suit Betor and it's better as a completely separate deck with it as the Commander.
Pair it with cards like [[Doom Whisperer]] that not only loses how life can also set up your graveyard for reanimation. A potent combination.
As I am cutting Betor, Ancestor's Voice I am also cutting some of the synergy cards with it.
Staff of Compleation is the first one. While this can still work, Staff of Compleation works so much better with Betor, Ancestor's Voice, as it relies on life gain and life loss far more.
What hurts is the amount of life loss for card draw. At 4 life it's a pretty steep cost for the cards. Normally you pay a rate of 1 life per card. Adding in more card draw is recommended to replace this cut card.
If your opponents wise up and kill on site [[Felothar the Steadfast]] then you might find yourself stuck with an empty hand.
Upgrade 3
IN: Wave of Reckoning
https://scryfall.com/card/c16/79/wave-of-reckoning
Having creatures with low power but higher toughness allows you to play some interesting and spicy cards. Wave of Reckoning is one of them.
Wave of Reckoning allows for a one sided board wipe. This only kills 5 of the creatures in our whole list. It does a similar job to [[Expel the Interlopers]], which is already in the deck.
There are more cards like this, such as [[Dusk // Dawn]] and [[Fell the Mighty]]. There are also some other black versions of the board wipes, such as [[Languish]].
As you have the higher toughness this won’t kill your creatures.
OUT: Jaddi Offshoot
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/260/jaddi-offshoot
Jaddi Offshoot is my next cut. Again this is some support for [[Betor, Ancestor's Voice]]. The 3 life otherwise isn't really worth having Jaddi Offshoot as a card, as otherwise it's an unimpressive 0/3 for one mana. Let's keep in the big damage and bigger effects like [[Wave of Reckoning]].
Upgrade 4
IN: Fecund Greenshell
https://scryfall.com/card/blb/171/fecund-greenshell
Fecund Greenshell gives you some additional sustain, allowing for all your creatures to either get lands off the top of your deck, or draw you a card. It lets you deploy your creatures while still keeping a full hand.
This is a back up to [[Felothar the Steadfast]]. Even though [[Felothar the Steadfast]] can draw you cards with the last ability, it requires you to sacrifice a creature. Also, having more ways to draw cards is always good.
OUT: Wakestone Gargoyle
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/137/wakestone-gargoyle
Wakestone Gargoyle is another unimpressive card.
This was a necessity when you played [[Doran, the Siege Tower]], as before the printing of [[Assault Formation]] it was one of the few ways you could let your defenders attack.
Now though there are more ways to attack with defenders. There is already [[Assault Formation]] in the deck as well as [[Walking Bulwark]].
These combined with the commander gives enough ways to let the Defenders attack. These are purely backup options incase [[Felothar the Steadfast]] is off the table.
I have also reduced the number of Defenders in the deck, so the effect isn't required as much either.
Upgrade 5/6
IN: Essence of Antiquity + Tree of Perdition
https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/15/essence-of-antiquity
https://scryfall.com/card/emn/109/tree-of-perdition
So how about some threats. This is the reason to play this playstyle. High toughness creatures with low power can come at a lot cheaper mana costs.
Getting 10 power like you would with Essence of Antiquity, you would be paying around 8 mana or have some heavy colour requirements like on [[Gigantosaurus]] or [[Quakestrider Ceratops]].
Otherwise you would have some sort of downside. Essence of Antiquity actually comes with upsides. When flipped, it gives Hexproof to your creatures for a turn and untaps them. So you can flip it up for a surprise 10 damage or keep it ready for the protection.
Essence of Antiquity can also do a fun trick. It does require 9 mana, but it will allow you to draw a lot, so it's a trade off.
First, turn Essence of Antiquity up and trigger it. Holding priority while the trigger is on the stack, activate [[Felothar the Steadfast]] and sacrifice Essence of Antiquity. This allows you to draw 10 cards, while also giving hexproof and untapping [[Felothar the Steadfast]]. This is where the last 3 mana are required. You can sacrifice another creature to draw even more cards.
The secondary large creature is Tree of Perdition.
This is a call back to [[Tree of Redemption]]. However, Tree of Perdition is way better for this deck. On the surface you get a four mana 13/13. At least when you have your commander out.
While certainly a decent creature to beat your opponents with, Tree of Perdition has an impressive activated ability that lets you exchange an opponent's life total with it’s toughness.
So you can upgrade it to a 0/40 while also nuking an opponent's life total down to 13, setting them to be taken out by another creature and your huge tree killing a different player.
OUT: Wall of Limbs + Wall of Reverence
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/200/wall-of-limbs
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/139/wall-of-reverence
Wall of Limbs seems a bit superfluous now as I have reduced the lifegain aspects of the deck. This just ends up as an overcosted 0/3.
It can still work with some of the other cards, like the new [[Canopy Gargantuan]], but not having synergy with the rest of the deck sucks. Hence why it's now being cut.
Wall of Reverence is another lifegain card. It’s a weird choice. I get it works because of high toughness etc., but the entire deck is built around low power creatures, so the amount of life gained by Wall of Reverence is going to also be low.
This doesn't seem worth it. It's different if [[Betor, Ancestor's Voice]] is your commander, as you can keep gaining increasing amounts of life and keep stacking for bigger creatures as well.
Upgrade 7
IN: MacCready, Lamplight Mayor
https://scryfall.com/card/pip/108/maccready-lamplight-mayor
We have some powerhouse creatures that can deal some big damage. But how do we actually get that damage through?
Well we could go with the classic trample, but this gives our opponents the option of absorbing some of the damage.
How about some unblockable damage?
Normally this costs a lot of mana. Rightfully so, as it's a strong effect. But we can use the low power to our advantage once again. Skulk is a mechanic originally from Shadows of Innistrad. It reads:
“Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)”
Normally this just lets your small creature get in for some chip damage, but in Abzan Armor it allows our 0/13 to be unblockable, but still hit like a truck.
Unfortunately there are only 3 ways to give all your creatures Skulk. First there is [[Odric, Lunarch Marshal]] but this requires you to have a creature with skulk already.
The other two ways are MacCready, Lamplight Mayor and [[Behind the Scenes]]. [[Behind the Scenes]] is already in the deck though. This just allows you to double up on the effects.
OUT: Hornet Nest
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/259/hornet-nest
I love Hornet Nest as a card and design. There is even great synergy from dealing your own damage to it to generate the hornets. The problem comes with how this deck is already.
You are going to have a wall of meat that your opponents aren't likely to be able to attack through. So if they aren't already attacking you, then you won't be able to block to make the hornets.
On the flip side, it only has 2 toughness, so would only do 2 damage. So when you attack. If your opponents are smart. They will either let the 2 damage go unblocked. Or block it with only 2 damage. Just enough to kill it but give you minimal tokens.
Upgrade 8
IN: Refuse to Yield
https://scryfall.com/card/snc/27/refuse-to-yield
Let's talk about some combat tricks. This is another place we get some serious discounts on.
Normally to get some big power buffs it costs a lot of mana. Getting some big toughness effects? Not so much.
[[Tower Defense]] is one such card that's already in the deck. Refuse to Yield is my actual pick though. The untap effect pairs well with [[Felothar the Steadfast]], allowing for another activation.
This also gives a massive +2/+7, which is a very weird stat block to add. But that also translates to +7 damage. This can be a massive surprise. Combine that with potentially ambushing a creature because you untap and create a sudden blocker.
OUT: Colfenor's Urn
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/315/colfenors-urn
Colfenor's Urn is an old and weird one. For this deck it would allow you to bring back most of the creatures.
The problem is it isn't whenever you choose. It requires you have 3 or more creatures exiled with it, as well as being at the end step. So it gives your opponents a chance to respond and blow it up before you get the value.
Colfenor's Urn also isn't a ‘may’ sacrifice ability, so you are forced to exile 3 or more with it. So no stacking loads of creatures under it in hope to bring them all back for a big turn.
If you want an effect like this I would personally run [[Mimic Vat]] instead. While this takes a mana to activate, this creates a token copy. So you can just sacrifice these to [[Felothar the Steadfast]] for extra value.
Upgrade 9
IN: Sapling of Colfenor
https://scryfall.com/card/eve/128/sapling-of-colfenor
Sapling of Colfenor is a card that actually works for both commanders.
While also being on an Indestructible body, it gets you card advantage and life gain for [[Felothar the Steadfast]].
Where it really shines if you're using [[Betor, Ancestor's Voice]], as it gives you both life gain and life loss all in one trigger.
OUT: Arboreal Grazer
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/245/arboreal-grazer
Arboreal Grazer is my next cut. While good in the early turns to accelerate you ahead, in the mid to late games this card can suck.
If you don't have an extra land drop to make use of it, it's pretty sad. Even if you do, the extra ramp isn't as useful. And when it's all said and done, you are left with an 0/3 body.
Not the most scary creature around. Unlike my next addition…
Upgrade 10
IN: Raise the Past
https://scryfall.com/card/fdn/22/raise-the-past
Time for some more abuse of the low power.
Raise the Past is meant to get you your little creatures back, but we can use this to bring back all our creatures. You can't normally reanimate this many creatures for such a low cost, but again we are abusing the fact that all the creatures we have are low power, high toughness.
This is like the new card [[Reunion of the House]] and the card [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]]. When you mutate Nethroi you can bring back creatures with a total of 10 power. When some of the creatures have 0 power these are just free to bring back.
There is a neat trick you can do as well if you have a creature with negative power. Yes, you can have that. Normally in Magic, any negative power is treated as 0, so you can't do negative damage to a creature and heal it. But for Nethroi, we actually use the negative value when calculating the total power.
[[Death’s Shadow]] is a creature that can have negative power. This is not worth adding for this deck and usually only playable when [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]] is your commander.
I went with Rise the Past as not only does it cost less mana, it also doesn't require another creature on the battlefield to get it going. As Mutate also requires a non Human, we can’t even Mutate into Felothar.
OUT: Wingmantle Chaplain
https://scryfall.com/card/tdc/141/wingmantle-chaplain
My final cut is Wingmantle Chaplain. This is because I have already cut down a number of Defenders in the deck. The final count is only 13, so you would get even less value from Wingmantle Chaplain.
Even still, you are only getting 1/1 flying [[Bird]] tokens. This was a great card for the defender deck in the Dominaria United draft. Commander is a different story. We aren't synergising with tokens and have smaller flyers that are, at best, just going to chip away at life totals.
Final Thoughts
I have always liked the ‘toughness as power’ deck idea. It's an interesting mechanic that lets you abuse cards in ways they weren't intended for. As I have been showing with some of these upgrades.
When I started playing EDH I had a Doran deck. Oh, how much Magic has changed since then, giving it way more flexibility and versatility. You can chose to go for cheap big creatures and hit hard and fast. Or take it slower and get more complex creatures like [[Colfenor, the Last Yew]], allowing you to bring back another creature when you sacrifice one to Felothar.
Another benefit for Abzan Armor is it's going to be relatively cheap to upgrade. Even past my suggestions. The cards that these sort of decks want aren't what most other decks care for. Other than the standard staples like tutor etc., the rest are unique. People aren't wanting the high toughness low power creatures. They want it the other way around to pile on the damage.
Where this deck falls down is the lack of synergy with [[Betor, Ancestor's Voice]]. As I already explained, when cutting it, I would have preferred it to have a complementary effect like [[Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper]]. That is in the deck but isn't the full Abzan colours. This effect would have made a great alternative commander. But that is what we are seeing with the spirit dragons. Similar mechanic but wanting different cards to make up the deck.
Hopefully this has given you some ideas. But remember good luck and have fun.
P.S.the total cost of the suggested upgrades were below 10 GBP at the time of writing.
Non-budget Upgrades
Looking for even more upgrades? Try these 10 cards that didn't meet our budget requirement, but synergise with this deck:
https://scryfall.com/card/mrd/243/slagwurm-armor
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/172/last-march-of-the-ents
https://scryfall.com/card/dtk/205/shape-the-sands
https://scryfall.com/card/tdm/24/smile-at-death
https://scryfall.com/card/c19/204/trostani-selesnyas-voice
https://scryfall.com/card/dtk/207/sight-of-the-scalelords
https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/166/fangorn-tree-shepherd
https://scryfall.com/card/znr/2/angel-of-destiny
https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/277/toxic-deluge
https://scryfall.com/card/emn/176/ulvenwald-observer
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