Abzan Bugler Toolbox (adjusted from Naya) (Standard)

I created a Naya deck that is the same build as this one. I thought it would be interesting to change out cards to make it an abzan deck instead.

What is the decks concept?
The construction of the deck is to abuse Militia Bugler as much as possible. The deck plays 28 creatures that Bugler can grab. These creatures fall into several categories: creatures that are bigger than starting power, card draw, pump/anthem, and removal.
The utility cards in the main board are toolbox type cards that are designed to be a dead draw as little as possible.
*The deck plays an aggressive style as it curves out nicely and packs much bigger swings then a deck that centers around 2 power creatures should.

Militia Bugler targets:

a) Militia Bugler
*never a bad thing to chain them together.

b)
In- Ravenous Chupacabra
amazing removal addition.
the deck becomes slower, but is still punishing in a whole other way.

OUT- Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice
the pure power card in the deck. Much more than 2 power.
gives the deck so many options entering combat whether it be where to place the pump or what creature to mentor.

c) Bishop of Binding
removal on a stick that can target a ton of threats that are problems.
usually will be a pretty big body to attack with.

d) Beast Whisperer
*the perfect card draw engine in this deck.

e) Trostani Discordant
*anthem that comes with bodies, in this deck the one power is a positive.

f) Knight of Autumn
so much utility
much like Aurelia, far stronger than the 2 power.

g) Mentor of the Meek
*a major payoff card for the synergies that can draw multiple cards.

h) Knight of Grace
possible 3 power.
love first strike in combat.

Note: has gotten better with addition of black permanents

i) Merfolk Branchwalker

• possible 3 power
  *lets us feel good about playing less lands.

j)
IN- Knight of Malice
*will often be 3 power as the deck plays plenty of white permanents.

OUT- Dire Fleet Daredevil
first strike is great, makes it turn 2 playable.
I count these as removal, but it has other utility as well.

Utility cards:
*The deck has only so many utility slots to go around and there is a lot you want to accomplish. The utility cards should draw cards, remove creatures, help reduce mana count, and protect the decks creatures. Here is what I came up with:

a)
IN- Assassin's Trophy
*just a big upgrade.

OUT- Response // Resurgence
Response answers threats pretty high up the chain.
Resurgence is not an anthem, but doubling up your attack step is devastating also.

b) Flower // Flourish
reduces the land count nicely.
late game anthem effect.

***Note: slightly weaker as we need black in higher numbers than Naya needed red.

c) Shalai, Voice of Plenty
excellent protection for our creatures.
often forgotten is the anthem pump ability.

d) Vivien Reid
fantastic card draw
serves as removal in a pinch.
*is protection against white as it can blast away Conclave Tribunal and similar white removal spells to get your creature back (perhaps ETB triggers again).

The sideboard plan:

a) Assure // Assemble
Assure protects our midrange creatures from spot removal.
Assemble is difficult for midrange decks to deal with as spot removal will struggle to answer 3 bodies.

b) Settle the Wreckage
*I want to have access to a panic switch.

c)
In- Ravenous Chupacabra
*the best removal for this deck, these may all belong in the main board.

OUT- Justice Strike
*does a great job taking care of some of the nastiest threats out there.

d)
IN- Vraska's Contempt
*slower, but an upgrade in every other way.

OUT- Lava Coil
*when you need to exile.

e) Conclave Tribunal
*a catch all.

f)
IN- Moment of Craving
a little slower, but the same amount of damage with a life gain bonus.
still works as a trick with first strike.

OUT- Shock
*kills a lot of creatures out there and works great with our first strikers.

g) Remorseful Cleric
*graveyard hate is looking really important right now. Maybe main board important.

h)
IN- Assassin's Trophy
*significant card to have in the flex slot of a sideboard.

OUT- Shield Mare
*just some added insurance in games versus RDW.

Final Conclusions:
abzan is a bit slower than Naya, with less potential for gigantic explosion turns.
the removal is FAR better in this version of the deck. Off the charts better.
outside of losing Aurelia, the deck was upgraded at every other possible slot.
while Bishop of Binding has the potential to do some big things, it is likely that these slots would be better given to Ravenous Chupacabra.
*mana base is worse in this deck since we need double black in this deck, where as we did not need double red in Naya.