Bant Midrange (deck 9a in series) (Frontier)

*Continuation of my three colored midrange series. I'm building classic midrange decks in each three colored pairing. The first deck, in each color, is built by choosing the best midrange cards in that color and then building from there. I will often build additional decks where I start with a theme and then create from there. Mostly an exercise to see if good stuff decks can stack up to synergy based decks.

What the deck does:

What inspired the deck:
I enjoy playing bant colors, however the decks tend to be more tempo then midrange.
My goal here is to build a true midrange deck.

Step 1: Choose my core midrange cards.

a) Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. 4 copies.
*even with the extra exile removal running around, Gideon is still a boss.

b) Archangel Avacyn. 4 copies.
She is so versatile. Can be a beater, a defender, spot removal, or mass removal.
She is a legendary creature that can be great in multiples because she transforms.

Step 2: What can be a subtheme.
I'm looking at building a deck around transforming Avacyn.
I want creatures with 4+ toughness or that will be immune to the damage.
*We also need creatures that can sacrifice or easily die to make Avacyn flip.

Step 3: Best sacrifice creatures.

a) Selfless Spirit. 3 copies.
Great protector, quality early attacker, and great at flipping Avacyn.
Best creature we have at protecting other creatures we control from Avacyn flipping.

b) Siren Stormtamer. 2 copies.
Great at protecting our valuable creatures against spot removal.
Is an answer for Settle the Wreckage or other spells that target you.

Step 4: Creatures that survive Avacyn flipping.

a) Rishkar, Peema Renegade. 2 copies.
survives the Avacyn flip.
can provide a late game boost for another creature or two.
*Can get us some ramp into the midgame.

b) Gideon of the Trials. 2 copies.
solid attacker.
survives Avacyn flip.
dies to Grasp of Darkness (more relevant with Hazoret and Felidar Guardian in the format)
can be a solid defensive card or even game saving card.

Step 5: Mana Accelerators.

a) Legion's Landing. 2 copies.
the 1/1 lifelinker gives us a chump blocker, but little consequence.
should transform regularly with our flyers and above curve powered creatures.
tokens are valuable against grindy decks.
ramp is significant midgame.

b) Knight of the White Orchid. 3 copies.
I prefer it when I'm on the draw for turn 3.
We side it out when we are on the play.

Step 6: Card draw.

a) Smuggler's Copter. 4 copies.
Great at fixing our hand.
great attacker or blocker.
*survives most removal.

b) Tamiyo, Field Researcher. 2 copies.
Great card draw on offense or defense.
Excellent defensive card.

Step 7: Removal.

a) Dromoka's Command. 2 copies.
We play plenty of threats, however they are not online all the time to be targeted.
covers us against Ixalan enchantment lands and other white decks removal.

b) Stasis Snare. 2 copies.
*Exile instant speed removal always needed.

c) Cast Out. 2 copies.
*We need exile and planeswalker removal.

d) Reflector Mage. 2 copies.
*Great against creature heavy decks.

Step 8: Sideboard.

a) Authority of the Consuls. 2 copies.
fights the battle against aggro.
impedes haste creatures.
*turns off Saheeli combo.

b) Blossoming Defense. 2 copies.
*extra protection for spot removal.

c) Disdainful Stroke. 2 copies.
*catches all the major threats in the format.

d) Merfolk Branchwalker. 3 copies.
*vast improvement over KotWO on the play.

e) Settle the Wreckage. 2 copies.
it's just good to have in your back pocket.
great answer for red decks

f) Sorcerous Spyglass. 2 copies.
planeswalkers, vehicles, Aetherworks Marvel, The Scarab God, fetch lands,...
having a way to see the opponents hand in a deck that doesn't play black can be very valuable on turn 2.

g) Tormod'S Crypt. 1 copy.
*play against delve, The Scarab God, and Tormod's Crypt.

Step 9: mana base
needs- 19 white (double white turn 3), 14 blue (blue turn 1), 13 green (green turn 2)
*we want to be able to play blue on turn one, therefore we want 10+ blue land that enter untapped turn 1

a) Flooded Strand. 4 copies.
b) Windswept Heath. 4 copies.
c) Canopy Vista. 1 copies.
d) Prairie Stream. 3 copies.
e) Plains. 4 copies.
f) Island. 2 copies.
g) Forest. 1 copy.
h) Botanical Sanctum. 2 copies.
i) Port Town. 2 copies
j) Yavimaya Coast. 1 copy

Final Thoughts

A) having a turn 1 card in a secondary color really puts a strain on your mana base.

B) bant has so many good 3cmc cards, there is no way to play them all.

C) I believe the two best option for this deck would be: to consider dropping green entirely and become an azorius tempo deck or drop the curve, play more creatures, and become a Collected Company deck.