Abzan Panharmonicon (Modern)

--- Modern Abzan Panharmonicon ---

Objective: Duplicate a bunch of neat effects to gain card advantage and powerful creatures.

Strengths: While we have to wait at least 3 turns for Panharmonicon, we can pass the time with good-old mana-efficient creatures. We're able to go wide pretty quickly as well as stay on the defensive with Wall of Omens or Siege Rhino. Once we start getting multiple ETB triggers, the game quickly gets out of hand, with KoA able to cover a lot of ground. She can go tall, get us some much-needed artifact/enchantment removal, or extra life in a pinch. Rhino gets us 6 damage in addition to 6 life, which, when made repeatable with Restoration Angel, quickly adds up.

Weaknesses: As with any creature-heavy deck, boardwipes are really bad for us, so it's important to know when and where you'll be running into them, and holding back when necessary. Eternal Witness helps us a lot, so be sure to keep her in your hand to prepare for a boardwipe.

--- How to Play ---

Early Game (turns 1-3): Shore up defenses with Wall of Omens and Knight of Autumn.

Midgame (Turns 4-6): Once you get a Panharmonicon or Restoration Angel down, start repeating ETBs, like Siege Rhino or Wall of Omens.

Midgame II: If Panharmonicon isn't showing up, concentrate your offenses into Resto+Rhino and keep up with the life and damage you get from the ETB. Best time to do it is at the end of an opponent's turn or in response to a removal spell.

Midgame III: You can stall for time with Eternal Witness/Primal Command recursion and prevent your opponent from drawing anything useful.

Endgame (Turns 7+): Eventually, either the recurring life loss from the Rhinos or the considerably buffed KoAs will be too much to handle each turn.

Sideboarding: We have a variety of tools to handle different kinds of decks.

• U/W Control: +3 Kitesail Freebooter, -2 Path to Exile, -1 Shalai

  • Stealing important instants and sorceries turn 2 is really powerful, even more so if you manage to do it with Panharmonicon active later on.

• Burn: -1 Panharmonicon, -1 Primal Command, +2 Shriekmaw

  • The charm won't hit anything Burn has, and Primal Command is too slow. Shriekmaw is hard removal for 2 mana, but doesn't get you hurt from Eidolon (since it checks CMC rather than alternate costs). KoA also hits the Eidolon, so be sure to use it ASAP.

• Humans: +1 Settle the Wreckage, +2 Shriekmaw, -2 Panharmonicon, -1 Primal Command

  • Mass removal at the right time typically wins us the game, while Shriekmaw is excellent removal and an unblockable creature late-game.

• Living End: +2 Eerie Interlude, +1 Relic, +1 Sigarda, -1 Primal Command, -1 Panharmonicon, -1 Shalai, -1 EWit

  • Regardless of flavor, a well-timed Eerie Interlude can stop Living End from wiping our board. Sigarda also prevents the sacrifice clause from triggering.

• Mardu Pyromancer: +2 Illness in the Ranks, +1 Worship, +1 Sigarda, -1 Primal Command, -1 Panharmonicon, -1 Flickerwisp, -1 Eldritch Evolution

  • Illness disables their token strategy, leaving us to deal with their (still smaller) creature base. We're not too concerned over Blood Moon due to how effective KoA is.

• Death's Shadow: +1 Worship, +1 Settle the Wreckage, -2 Panharmonicon

  • Worship usually stops their aggro strategy long enough for us to remove threats or deal large amounts of damage. Siege Rhino is really good in this matchup due to the ETB being hard to avoid.

• Storm: +2 Damping Sphere, +2 Illness in the Ranks, +3 Kitesail Freebooter, -3 Path to Exile, -1 Eldritch Evolution, -2 Panharmonicon, -1 Primal Command

  • Slowing down our opponent is critical here, whether that's through stealing their Gifts Ungiven, killing off their tokens, or stopping them from casting multiple spells. Shalai is really strong in this matchup, but keep in mind that she's not hexproof - use Restoration Angel to protect her!