Updated version of the Abzan Midrange I'm testing:
Creatures(19):
- 4x Elvish Mystic
- 4x Sylvan Caryatid
- 4x Courser of Kruphix
- 4x Siege Rhino
- 3x Genesis Hydra
Planeswalkers(9):
- 1x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
- 2x Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
- 2x Nissa Worldwaker
- 1x Liliana Vess
- 3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Spells(8):
- 2x Thoughtseize
- 2x Abzan Charm
- 4x Banishing Light
Land(24):
- 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
- 4x Windswept Heath
- 2x Mana Confluence
- 4x Llanowar Wastes
- 3x Caves of Koilos
- 3x Temple of Plenty
- 2x Temple of Silence
- 4x Forest
- 1x Plains
Sideboard(15):
- 4x Mistcutter Hydra
- 4x Nyx-Fleece Ram
- 2x Drown in Sorrow
- 2x Thoughtseize
- 2x Plummet
- 1x Stain the Mind
Lots of little changes here going on to make the deck more efficient. I've been playing with the deck for the past week constantly, and I've identified some problems that just had to be changed. The number one problem was curve. I had way too many 3-mana spells and a huge hole at 4. I spent too many games with an extra mana or two or not being able to play two cards when I needed to.
So I cut Brimaz, and with him a copy of Sorin and added a playset of Siege Rhino. Brimaz is an insane card that synergizes well with the rest of the deck, but he just wasn't coming out on or ahead of time. Also, this deck only wants creatures that either ramp or provide immediate value for the sake of Genesis Hydra, which Brimaz is weak at. My choices came down to Seige Rhino, which is a great trample body and significant immediate lifegain(because some draws we just hurt ourselves with land too much) or Wingmate Roc, which helps defend against the deck's weakness to flying and is a classic 2-for-1 value creature that also gains life. What it came down to was that the extra mana and the inconsistency of wingmate roc off of Genesis Hydra made the Rhino a better choice.
I moved Liliana from the sideboard into the mainboard. If she sticks around, chaining Genesis Hydras back to back is insane and will end every winnable game.
The other change is more slight, but I turned an orzhov painland into a temple. The deck loves having card advantage and even though I can't have too many tapped lands, the bonus of not taking as much pain from black sources helps a lot.