Abzan Midrange (Frontier)

The deck is an attempt to be as balanced as possible, while still having enough attacking potential to threaten in an aggressive format.

1) Removal:

*Vraska's Contempt and Cast Out are a 2-2 split. I actually like Cast Out a little more as it can remove more threats and can also be pitched to draw a card. The downside is that Thrashing Brontodon is seeing a fair amount of play, so I still like the idea of playing a couple Contempt. I actually have found that I have had very few times on MTGO where I feel like having Cast Out in play is a liability, weak against other players playing white removal.

*Seal Away can be your best removal in a lot of matchups. The format is so fast and aggressive that it catches a ton of powerful creatures. The downside is that a smart opponent can play around it with certain cards like The Scarab God, which does not need to attack or tap.

*Fatal Push is still worth a two of due to the large amount of aggro in the format.

*Ravenous Chupacabra and Angel of Sanctions round out the removal suite. I wanted to play at least a couple removal pieces that could also do some damage.

2) Card Draw

*Live Fast is not the flashiest way to draw cards, however it nets two cards. Giving us two energy is a big bonus to fuel Aether Hub or Glint-Sleeve Siphoner.

*Glint-Sleeve Siphoner is our best way to keep out hand full, while still applying pressure to our opponent. Has to be sided out versus Goblin Chainwhirler.

3) Protection

*Shalai, Voice of Plenty is the perfect answer to spot removal, Settle the Wreckage, and anything that targets you directly.

*Gideon can be a dangerous attacker, but it can also be a very effective stall card against bigger creatures.

*Authority of the Consuls is both an offensive and defensive card. Normally a sideboard card, I feel it is the perfect main deck card in this aggressive format of red haste creatures. It also shuts down much of our opponents ability to block effectively.

4) Wincons

*Lyra Dawnbringer turns games on their head. An unanswered Lyra can take over a game as it is hard for an opponent to race you when you are gaining back 5 life every attack.

*I looked at planeswalkers and settled on Carnage Tyrant. It just makes opponents scramble for answers. Often, the only answer is to match it with multiple large creatures, something most decks will have trouble doing.

*Knight of Malice can be a wincon. Not something often said of a 2cmc creature, against any deck that is heavy white it is so hard to deal with. It's not a fast clock, but if you play around Settle the Wreckage or have a Shalai on board, three guaranteed damage a turn is a lot.

*History of Benalia is more of a value card, but just on its own it is great. Couple it with Knight of Malice and you can see some huge swings.

Sideboard:

vs Control
In- Nissa, Vital Force, Duress, Knight of Malice, Cast Out, Servant of the Conduit x1
Out- Angel of Sanctions, Fatal Push, Seal Away, Ravenous Chupacabra, Authority of the Consuls

vs Chainwhirler decks
In- Servant of the Conduit, Knight of Malice, Cast Down, Aethersphere Harvester.
Out- Glint-Sleeve Siphoner, Live Fast

vs Dimir Midrange
In- Duress, Nissa, Vital Force, Cast Out
Out- Fatal Push, Authority of the Consuls, Lyra Dawnbringer

vs Stompy
In- Settle the Wreckage, Cast Down, Cast Out, Servant of the Conduit, Aethersphere Harvester
Out- Carnage Tyrant, History of Benelia, Knight of Malice

vs Constrictor
In- Settle the Wreckage, Cast Down, Cast Out
Out- History of Benelia